Asian Military Review - April/May 2016

Volume 24/issue 3

april/may 2016 us$15

AsiA PAcific’s LArgest circuLAted defence MAgAZine

CBRN PROTECTION SOLDIER MODERNISATION DEBRIEF MALAYSIAN ARMED FORCES NAVAL GUNS ASIA-PACIFIC FIGHTER MARKET PRECISION GUIDED ARTILLERY www.asianmilitaryreview.com

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Contents

april/may 2016 VOlUmE 24 / iSSUE 3

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VexIng QueSTIonS Malaysia faces both conventional and unconventional threats.

Dzirhan Mahadzir examines how the country is meeting such risks in a fiscally-constrained climate.

Front Cover Photo:

Iraq’s army has increasingly been on the frontline of chemical weapons attack, as examined in Andy Oppenheimer’s Countering the Chemicals article in this issue © US DoD

16 Soldier Modernisation Modernisation of infantry soldier equipment, particularly concerning individual weapons, is afoot in the Asia-Pacific with Andrew White giving a roundup of the latest developments.

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The Hertz Locker

Cannon Fodder

Countering the Chemicals

Thomas Withington examines some of the technical challenges presented to tactical radio engineers when designing such equipment for the Asia-Pacific region.

Naval gunfire support is essential to naval and amphibious operations.

Gerrard Cowan examines recent developments in this domain

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Role With It The market for new and upgraded multi-role combat aircraft is in rude health across the Asia-Pacific region, Joetey Attariwala finds out.

Andy Oppenheimer examines the continuing weapons of mass destruction threat to the Asia-Pacific, and the measures being taken to combat it.

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Spot on!

Stephen W. Miller reviews some of the ongoing efforts to improve the precision of artillery fire to enhance its support of ground manoeuvre.

Thomas Withington’s regular column providing all of the latest news and analysis regarding events in the defence radio frequency domain.

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Index of Advertisers AIMPOINT AIRBUS ARMY BOEING V24 COPENHAGEN SENSOR TECHNOLOGY DATRON ESRI EURONAVAL EUROSATORY FNSS FLIR IDEAS PAKISTAN INDO DEFENCE NEXTER OTOKAR ROSOBORONEXPORT SUBSCRIPTION TRIJICON TEXTRON AVIATION UKRSPECXPORT VEXTRONIX

19 9 47 COVER 4 31 2 21 49 56 COVER 1 - 2 27 55 51 13 7 39 COVER 3 17 25 33 37

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Editorial PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE?

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hat have the possibility of the United Kingdom voting to leave the European Union during its referendum on its future membership of this multinational organisation on 23rd June, the possibility of a new Cold War between Russia and the West, following its armed interventions in Syria in 2015 and Ukraine 2014, and the possibility of an oil price shock have in common? They are all seen as potential risks to global peace, security and prosperity during 2016 by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) the London-based sister research organisation of The Economist newspaper.

All of these are distinctly unpalatable scenarios, yet one risk highlighted by the EIU, but not mentioned above did catch AMR’s eye, notably the prospect that Donald Trump, the presumed Republican Party candidate for the United States Presidential Election in November 2016 is reckoned to have a ‘moderate probability’ by the EIU in its 17 March report.

already ‘set out his stall’ as far as his prospective policies towards the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are concerned, blaming the country for “taking our jobs and making our products and manipulating their currency”. It is not AMR’s desire to decide whether the PRC does or does not manipulate currencies.

However, one would caution whether it is wise to already direct provocative remarks towards a nation which Mr. Trump may well have to work with should he be elected as commander-inchief on 8 November. The US and the PRC are indeed both trade and strategic rivals, particularly as it potentially already poisons relations between Mr. Trump and Beijing, before the former has even secured the Republican nomination.

Secondly, Mr. Trump’s stance on the situation in the Middle East could also be a strategic

Tel : (+1 540) 341 7581 Email: margiespub@rcn.com Blackrock Media Inc Tel : (+1 858) 759 3557 Email: blackrockmediainc@icloud.com All Other Countries Vishal Mehta, Tel: +66 2204 2370, Mobile +66 9 8252 6243 E-Mail: vishal@mediatransasia.com Tel: +66 2204 2370, Mobile: +66 81 6455654 Email: joha@mediatransasia.com

proposing to ban all Muslim immigration into the United States. Similarly is his hawkish stance regarding increasing the breadth and depth of US-led military operations against the Islamic two countries. An end to ISIS and the fascist ideology it propagates cannot be achieved without winning the ‘hearts and minds’ of Muslims within and without the region; Donald Trump’s comments do little to help in this regard. Mr. Trump’s foreign policy as articulated so far does seem a cause for concern. In times of economic uncertainty and geopolitical instability it is perfectly understandable to lash out at their sources, be they real or perceived. Yet, as Mr. Trump should know, polemic words do little to cool tempers, at a time when cool heads need to prevail.

Thomas Withington, Editor Editor: Thomas Withington Tel: (33) 562 271 697, E-mail: t_withington@hotmail.com Chairman: J.S. Uberoi Media Transasia Limited,1603, 16/F, Island Place Tower, 510 King’s Road, Hong Kong President: Egasith Chotpakditrakul Sasakorn Dumavibhat General Manager International Marketing: Vishal Mehta Marketing Manager: Jakhongir Djalmetov Sales & Marketing Coordinator: Wajiraprakan Punyajai Khakanaa Suwannawong Kanda Thanakornwongskul Porames Chinwongs Media Transasia Ltd. 75/8, 14th Floor, Ocean Tower II, Soi Sukhumvit 19, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.

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by subscription. Subscription rate for one year (8 issues) is U.S.$ 100.00 Readers should contact the following address: Media Transasia Limited.

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by Thomas Withington New radars are on the horizon for the Philippines and Romania, while both India and the US Navy are enhancing their Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities, with the US Army buying tactical radios, and the German armed forces overhauling their Satellite Communications (SATCOM).

The acquisition of new EL/M-2288 radars for the Philippines Air Force represents an important ‘shot-in-thearm’ for that country’s ground-based air defences © IAI

able in two versions; the EL/M-2288-MR (Medium Range) which has a range of circa km), and the EL/M-2288-ER (Extended Range) which can detect aircraft at circa 259.1nm (480km). Both radars can detect targets at an altitude of circa 100,000 feet/ft which EL/M-2288 radar variant the Philippines will receive. The same family of radar has been exported to Azerbaijan (one radar thought to have been acquired in 2014), Honduras (one radar acquired for $25 million in 2014) and Vietnam (two radars ac-

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he Philippines will acquire three Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) ELTA Systems’ EL/M-2288 groundbased air surveillance radars for $56 million. According

delivered by the end of 2018. The sources added that the radars will be installed at Ilocos Horte, on the northern tip of Luzon Island, itself in the north of the Philippines archipelago.

The other two radars will be installed on Lubang Island, on the west coast of the Philippines, and on Palawan Island, also on the archipelago’s west coast.

The positioning of the radars at these locations will improve the country’s coverage of the South China Sea. The Philippines has suffered worsening relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) since the 8 April 2012 so-called Scarborough Shoal Stand-Off. The Scarborough Shoal is located in the South China Sea off the west coast of the Philippines and is claimed by the Philippines, the PRC and Taiwan. During the incident, the Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas (Philippines Navy) investigated Chinese blocked by ships from the China Maritime Surveillance agency, with relations between the two countries subsequently souring.

The acquisition of the EL/M-2288 radar by the Philippines is an important enhancement of the Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas (Philippines Air Force) surveillance capabilities. According

Israeli radars may well replace the existing Bendix AN/TPS-1 ground-based air surveillance radars which the country acquired from the United States in 1960.

Beyond the Philippines, mystery surrounds an announcement in early March that the Indian Air Force (IAF) is to receive a new Airborne Early Warning (AEW) platform. It was reported by the local Indian media that the country’s cabinet had approved the $1.1 billion purchase of two Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) ETLA Systems’ EL/W-2075/90 Il-76 turbofan freighters. range of which has not been revealed, but which is envisaged should this purchase now go ahead, the IAF may receive the more advanced EL/M-2090 member of the Phalcon family. This radar still employs L-band transmissions, although it uses an Active Electronically Scanned Array, and may employ technology which IAI developed for its EL/W-2085 AEW system which is vice with the Israeli and Republic of Singapore air forces. There are no details regarding if and when the IAF’s acquisition of the two new AEW radars will take place. Sources close to IAI told AMR had heard of the initiative, and that the company had as yet replanned purchase. As such, there are no details on when these new aircraft will be delivered. ground-based air surveillance radars are ongoing in Europe, with Romania announcing on 22 February that it will procure two Lockheed Martin AN/TPS-77 radars. Romania has acquired

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India may well receive new EL/W-2090 AEW radars in the future. This radar is thought to incorporate technology from the EL/W-2085 AEW radar which is deployed by the Republic of Singapore Air Force on G550 airframes, as pictured here Š Thomas Withington

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Electronic Warfare

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For ele Aeriene Române see above -

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electromagnetic spectrum.” At present, the FSSR initiative is at the research stage, and there are no immediate plans to integrate this technology onboard existing combatants. “The FSSR programme is a technology development programme that will demonstrate capabilities envisioned for next-generation electronic warfare systems.

Although these capabilities are broadly rel-

the award in late February of a contract worth $11 million to BAE Systems to advance the initiative. The FSSR programme is being led lease disclosing the contract award, to provide “near-instantaneous battlespace situational awareness, emitter tracking, threat warning and countermeasure cueing.” What this means in plain English is that the FSSR will be able to monitor a major slice of the electromagnetic spectrum and detect friendly and hostile radars, and then simultaneously direct a vessel’s electronic countermeasures to counter the hostile threats, and to be able to do this in real time.

have been established to integrate FSSR

the coverage and decrease response times for electromagnetic threat detection and response, compared to existing systems. The FSSR efWarfare Discovery and Insertion Programme which intends to “develop and demonstrate a broad range of next-generation EW systems that exploit, deceive or deny enemy use of the

Romania is expected to receive new AN/TPS-77 radars from Lockheed Martin, following the conclusion of a contract which could be worth at least $30 million for two of these radars © Lockheed Martin

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Steve Hedges, technical director of technology solutions for BAE Systems.

Mr. Hedges also disclosed that the FSSR intends to cover the frequency range of 0.5GHz to ten gigahertz. This will enable it to detect emissions from low frequency ground-based air surveillance radars in the Very/Ultra High Frequency hertz which are increasingly being used radar cross section, along with existing

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naval surveillance radars, and also X-band (8.5-10.68GHz) raradar which accompanies the Russian KBP Instrument Design Bureau AK-630M1/2 close-in-weapons system. X-band radars are also used by Anti-Ship Missiles (AShMs) such as the ARGS35E X-band terminal active radar homing system employed by the Zvezda Kh-35 AShM family. Such weapons, and their ability to deny access to the US Navy and its allies to stretches of water such as the Persian Gulf (Iran is a user of the Kh-35 family) are of increasing concern to the force.

Tactical Radio

In late February, Harris announced that it would supply the Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas (Philippines Army) with new vehicular radios. The contract, worth $12 million, covers the supply to the force of the company’s RF-7800V-V511 Combat Net radio to be integrated with its RF-7800I vehicular intercom. In addition, the

Airbus’ Defence and Space subsidiary has received a contract to continue its support of the German armed forces COMSATBw-1 and COMSATBw-2 SATCOM constellation until 2022 © Airbus

for general use by the army. The RF-7800V-V511 is a VHF vehicular radio which carries the company’s proprietary TDMA (Time-

these radios is expected to commence by the fourth quarter of 2017. These radios are to be used by mounted and dismounted

enables up to 64 users to be accommodated on a single net, while

Small Form Fit (HMS) tactical radio acquisition, which was spun out of the erstwhile JTRS (Joint Tactical Radio System) initiative, following that programmes’ demise in October 2011. The AN/ PRC-158 covers the V/UHF range of 30MHz to 2.5GHz with two channels enabling the radio to transmit and receive simultaneously. The radio carries a wide array of waveforms including the legacy Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System for voice and data VHF ground and air communications, and the UHF HAVE QUICK-I/II waveforms also for ground-toair/air-to-ground communications. This is in addition to Har-

ter Measure) waveform which helps to protect the radio against hostile interference. The RF-7800V, meanwhile, is a handheld VHF sources inform AMR that the radios will be delivered during the next nine months, with completion expected by the end of this year. The sources continue that the RF-7800V-V511 radios and RF7800I intercoms will be installed onboard the BAE Systems/Unitthe Philippines Army acquired from the United States and Israel in 2015, acquiring 114 and 28 examples respectively. For more analysis on tactical radio communications in the Asiathor’s The Hertz Locker article in this issue.

Elsewhere, Harris has been awarded an indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract from the US Army to supply AN/ dios. The contract has a ceiling of 65000 AN/ PRC-158s and includes

New tactical radios are to equip the Philippines Army in the form of RF-7800V-V511 vehicular radios (pictured here), which are expected to equip a significant number of the force’s recently-acquired M-113A2 tracked armoured personnel carriers © Harris

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option. According to a press release announcing the news released

by Harris in late-February, full production of

level by dismounted troops, facilitating communication between troops and their vehicles.

Satellite Communications

In the SATCOM domain, Airbus’ defence and space subsidiary was awarded a contract, announced on 9 March, by the Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr tion Technology and In-Service Support) worth $163.3 million to operate the German armed force’s COMSATBw satellites and their supporting infrastructure. The COMSATBw constellation consists of two spacecraft, COMSATBw-1 and COMSATBw-2.

Airbus has been providing these services for this constellation since 2006. This new contract covers a seven and a half year services until 2022.

In terms of services, these satellites provide the German armed forces with UHF (240MHz and 270MHz) and X-band (7.9plus additional SATCOM in the C-band (5.925-6.425GHz for the American continent to East Asia for the German armed forces using these satellites. AMR

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Conventional warfare remains a key part of the Malaysian Army’s mission.

Here Malaysian soldiers carry out a beach landing exercise with US Marines using Landing Craft Air Cushioned vehicles © Dzirhan Mahadzir

Vexing Questions Prior to the 2013 Sabah Incursion, the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) was focusing its capabilities on performing all aspects of conventional warfare. The incursion of 2013 has changed that, with the MAF now improving its conventional and non-conventional capabilities alike.

by Dzirhan Mahadzir

D

uring the Sabah Incursion, also known as the Lahad Datu stand-off which occurred between 11 February and 24 March 2013, insurgents from the so-called Royal Security Forces of the Sultanate of Sulu and Northern Borneo, laid claim to the region of eastern Sabah on behalf of Jamalul Kiram III, the self-proclaimed Sultan of the Sulu Sultanate. The stand-off was ended by military action involving the MAF and the Malaysian security forces. coupled with the depreciation of the ringgit, the national currency, has resulted

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in the development of all three services of the MAF (The Royal Malaysian Navy, Malaysian Army and the Royal Malaysian Air Force) being limited, particularly in regard to key conventional requirements for the Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM/Royal Malaysian Air Force), the multi-role support ship programme for the Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM/ Royal Malaysian Navy) and the tactical transport helicopter for the Tentera Darat Malaysia (TDM/Malaysian Army).

The defence budget for 2016 recorded an increase in development expenditure allocation. For 2016, the development ex-

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penditure is $918.4 million in contrast to 2015’s $911 million. However, it would be considering that for 2015 the ringgit was pegged at a much higher value and as such the increase for 2016 is likely due to the need to factor in the depreciating ringgit in regard to progressive payments on the Airbus A400M Atlas turboprop freighter procurement for the TUDM, the DefTech AV-8 Armored Fighting Vehicle for the TDM, and the Littoral Combat Ship programme for the TLDM, with the latter two, though built domestically, having a high percentage of imported components.

It should be noted that save for small

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value or scale procurement, the defence budget allocation for development is not an indicator of the availability of funds for large ticket procurements or an indication of overall funds available for procurement. The purchase of most major defence equipment is normally indicated

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A Royal Malaysian Air Force A400M freighter; four were ordered of which two have already been delivered, with the remaining pair to be delivered this year and next year respectively © Dzirhan Mahadzir

rather than the annual defence budget allocation. The current Malaysia Plan is the eleventh Malaysia Plan of 2016-2020 and, based on parliamentary debates and procurement priorities include a new Mk.108/208 light attack/lead-in jet trainer aircraft, additional Pilatus PC-7 Mk.II turboprop trainers, new Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), naval support helicopters for the TLDM, and additional groundbased air surveillance radars. Save for the Hawk Mk.108/208 upgrades and Pilatus PC-7 Mk.II, there is little indication that any of these targeted programmes are proceeding and the likelihood of some of the more expensive initiatives such as the term appears remote.

One programme requested for under namely the procurement of a Manportable Air Defence System (MANPADS) for the three services in the form of the Thales Starstreak. A formal contract signing was held in September 2015 in London during the Defence Security and tion where it was disclosed that the contract was worth more than $140.8 million.

A statement by Thales stated that the integrated arms package for the Malaysian

armed forces comprises the Starstreak missile and ControlMaster-200 groundbased air surveillance radar. During the Defence Services Asia exhibition in Kuala Lumpur in April 2014, Weststar exhibited a Starstreak Lightweight Multiple Missile Launcher mounted on its GK-M1 four-wheel drive vehicle. It is not known whether the vehicles are included in the contract or will form a separate contract? The purchase was largely to replace the Starburst systems used by the TLDM’s Base Air Defence Unit and the TUDM’s 401 and 402 GBAD (Ground-Based Air Defence) Squadrons though the Malaysian Army would receive some units also. The Starburst system was phased out in 2013 by the navy and air force and both services were said to have been temporarily loaned KB Mashinostroyeniya 9K38 Igla MANPADS belonging to the army until a replacement for the Starburst system was procured.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force’s Hawk Mk.108/208 fleet is due for an upgrade. Shown here is one of the aircraft which also carries markings showing ordnance dropped by the aircraft during the 2013 Sabah Incursion © Dzirhan Mahadzir

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The TDM also operated the Starburst system but phased it out in 2012, having replaced it with the People’s Republic of China’s FN-6 MANPADS. A tri-service requirement for a medium-range air defence system exists on paper but givmaterialize soon.

The split of priorities between preventing a repeat of the 2013 Sabah Incursion (see above) via strengthening nonconventional capabilities and at the same time strengthening conventional capabilities to allow the MAF to meet any porecent developments of the three services of the Malaysian Armed Forces which are outlined below.

Malaysian Army In 2015, when asked about the major challenges and issues that the TDM faced, the chief of the Malaysian Army, General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi told the writer, “There are numerous challenges faced by us today but the chief among them is the non-traditional threat. The security environment is becoming more dynamic and is categorized as VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambigious). The Malaysian Army understands the need to analyse and respond to this security environment in order to ensure a high state of readiness to counter any possible threat towards the well-being of the nation. Besides that, limited resources are another matter that needs us to be more creative in planning and executing our responsibilities.” He also stated the need for the Malaysian Army to develop both its non-conventional and conventional warfare capabilities, saying, “The future development of the army will therefore attempt to strike a balance in its roles and

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The AV8 Gempita IFV-30 variant, deliveries of which are due to commence this year with 68 on order. The Malaysian Army will also receive several other variants of the vehicle © Dzirhan Mahadzir

capabilities in facing both traditional and non-traditional threats.”

Plans call for the army to expand its presence in East Malaysia with the addition of a new division, the 5th Infantry Division to supplement the 1st Infantry Division already there and the establishment of an Eastern Region Command for East Malaysia. Previously Army Field Command was responsible for Peninsular and East Malaysia regions. Gen. Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi told the writer, “Based on the current situation in the Eastern Region of Malaysia, namely Sabah and Sarawak, there is an urgent need to increase the army’s force level and state of readiness in both of these states. In this regard, the Malaysian Army has established the Eastern Region Command Headquarters to perform the duties of planning, commanding and controlling all land operations in the Eastern Region. This Headquarters is also modelled on the Field Command Headquarters in Peninsular Malaysia and will be equipped with sufbat service support units in order to carry out its role and tasks effectively.” The Malaysian Army has also formed up the Task Force 450 command in Sabah to concentrate on the various land operations in the state with the aim of allowing the 1st Infantry Division to focus on land operations conducted in Sarawak instead of the whole of the Eastern Region. Task Force 450 will subsequently progressively transform into the 5th Infantry Division.

The rate of the division’s establishment will depend on the availability of manpower and equipment to be allocated for it along with the completion of infrastructure to support the Division.

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Regarding army procurement programmes, the indigenous AV8 AFV initiative is currently in the delivery stage, with the IFV-25 amphibious variant being supplied to the army, with the other main variants, namely the IFV-30, which is equipped with a Denel LCT-30 turret, and the LCT-30 ATGW version which includes the LCT-30 turret equipped with a Denel Ingwe Anti-Tank Guided Missile, both expected to commence delivery this year. The AV-8 is built by Malaysia’s with a one-person FNSS Sharpshooter turret armed with a stabilised Orbital ATK M242 25mm dual-feed cannon and an FN Herstal MAG 58M 7.62mm co-axial machine gun. Of the 257 vehicle order of twelve variants, 46 IFV-25s have been ordered and 40 had already been delivered by the end of 2015 based on the statement in Parliament on 30 November 2015 by deputy defence minister Datuk Wira Johari Baharum who said that 27 vehicles had already been delivered and another 13 would be delivered at the end of the year. Regarding the IFV-30, a total of 68 have been ordered. Of the remaining ten the LCT-30 ATGW of which 54 have been ordered while the remaining variants consist of command and control, and armoured recovery vehicles.

While the AV8 programme represents the conventional aspect, being the replacement for the army’s ageing Rheinmetall Condor four-wheel drive armoured personnel carriers and six-wheel drive SIBMAS IFVs, the unconventional warfare aspect is represented by the army’s purchase of the Chaiseri First Win MRAP (Mine-Resistant/Ambush Protected) vehicle, mar-

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keted in Malaysia by DefTech as the AV-4.

Twenty vehicles are to be purchased, with a portion of them to be assembled in Malaysia by DefTech and these vehicles will have the Dillon Aero Hybrid M134D-H 7.62mm minigun on a crew-served mount.

The AV-4s will be deployed in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE) as part of the army’s role in the joint military/ paramilitary/civilian security command known as Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM). ESSCOM was formed in the aftermath of the 2013 Sabah Incursion (see above) and its mandate is to ensure security in the area is maintained and no repeat incidents occur.

Related to the ESSCOM requirements is the purchase of six MD Helicopters’ MD-530G rotorcraft announced in early February. The six helicopters will be assigned to the Army Air Corps and will area of operation. On a similar note, the Army Air Corps is expected to soon receive four ex-Royal Brunei Air Force Sikorsky S-70A Blackhawk medium-lift utility helicopters donated by BruneiDarussalam to Malaysia and these will also be deployed to East Malaysian for ESSZONE operations. In the meantime a number of the Army Air Corps’ Agusta Westland AW-109 light utility helicopters are deployed to the ESSZONE area to provide support there.

The Army Air Corps will also have ten Sikorsky S-61 Nuri medium-lift utility helicopters transferred from the TUDM to form a tactical transport helicopter squadron. Plans originally called for a new-build helicopter but budgetary constraints have resulted in the S-61 transfers. A total of four S-61s were transferred in December 2015. Chief of the air force

A Royal Malaysian Air Force S-61 Nuri helicopter: Ten will be transferred to the Malaysian Army to form a tactical transport squadron for that force © Dzirhan Mahadzir

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The PT-91M fleet of 48 tanks form the Malaysian Army’s sole tank regiment. Plans call for a second regiment but budgetary constraints have prevented this from being realised © Dzirhan Mahadzir

General Tan Sri Roslan Saad told the writer that the rate of transfer depended on the transferred helicopters reaching their scheduled MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) appointment, following which they were transferred to the army.

In the meantime the changeover of the army’s standard assault rifle to the M-4A1

from the Steyr AUG is expected to be completed soon with the rifles supplied by SMEO Ordnance which has a licence from Colt Defence for local manufacture. The Future Soldier System, previously known as the Soldier Advanced Combat Technology Integrated (SACTI) programme, is still under development and evaluation

by Malaysia’s Sapura though the budget constraint means that when the system is eventually fielded, it will be on a smaller scale rather than widespread use. The army has long-term plans for an armoured brigade but is unlikely at the moment to receive funding for an additional regiment of tanks to add to the sole main battle tank regiment of 48 Bumar Labedy PT-91Ms currently in service.

TLDM Admiral Dato’ Seri Panglima Ahmad Kamarulzaman took over as chief of the navy on 18 November 2015, and in a speech to the TLDM on 21 December 2015 stated that other than security challenges, the navy faced the realiies of limited funding and budget, and a shortage

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of assets along with the challenges of conducting day-to-day operations with ageing ships. It is early days to see what the TLDM chief’s plans would be for future acquisitions, particularly given the fiscal constraints, but a number of programmes will eventually have to be carried out, namely the acquisition of naval support helicopters and the replacement of the fast attack craft fleet which have been in service since the mid-1970s. For the helicopter, the navy does have some breathing space as these will be operated on the six Littoral Combat Ships, based on DCNS’ ‘Gowind’ class design; the first of which is currently being constructed at Malaysia’s Boustead Naval Shipyards and scheduled to be commissioned in 2019 at the earliest. Thus the service does have a two-year window for a decision to be made, if the delivery and service entry of the helicopters are to coincide with the entry into service of the LCS. The six Littoral Combat Ships will carry the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile as its anti-ship armament with the MBDA Mica surface-to-air missile.

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‘Jerung’ class having been in service for

The training ship Teguh Samudera at its launch in 2012; originally scheduled to enter service in 2013, together with her sister ship Gagah Samudera both were left unfinished. The training ships are now being completed and should enter service later this year © Dzirhan Mahadzir

will have to be replaced though it remains to be seen whether a similar class of boats or a larger ship class will be their replacecated for such. two ‘Scorpéne’ class conventional hunterkiller submarines will be limited over the going a scheduled repair and overhaul being performed by Boustead DCNS Naval Corporation at their facilities in the TLDM’s Kota Kinabalu naval base. The Tunku Abdul Rahman entered the repair and overhaul phase in November 2015 while the KD Tun Razak will commence this process in June 2017.

The TLDM is also involved in ESsea bases stationed off the coast of Easttion from the Philippines. These sea bases take the form of the converted Bunga Mas Lima Tun Azizan, while the third sea base is the converted oil rig Tun Sharifah Rodziah.

The TLDM is also expected to receive by the end of this year its two ‘Samudera’

wound up in 2014 leaving the status of the ships in limbo while the interest of the creditors on the ships was being adjudigovernment had taken ownership of the two ships which are now in the process of being completed by Malaysian company Grade One Marine.

TUDM The key programme for the TUDM has been the replacement of the MiG-29N/

and Saab’s JAS-39E/F Gripen are all vying for a potential requirement of 18 air-

Tech of Malaysia in partnership with Daewoo of the Republic of Korea. Construction of the ships was halted in 2013 when

makes any decision unlikely in the near term. Meanwhile the future of the MiG-

with the company being subsequently

The TUDM had stated in the past that

the MiG-29N/UB would be phased out

by December 2015 though the aircraft continues to be in operation at the time of writing (March) along with the fact that 17 Squadron was conferred royal colours on 29 February; an odd situation for a squadron likely to be deactivated with the retirement of the aircraft type it operates. The possibility is that either the squadron will remain without any planes or alternately several of the 18 Sukhoi Su30MKMs in 11 Squadron could be transferred to 17 Squadron. received its second A400M on 28 December 2015 with the remaining two scheduled for arrival in late 2016 and early 2017. All four aircraft will form part of 22 Squadron. Air force chief General Tan Sri Roslan Saad told the writer in December 2015 that currently the TUDM was conducting conceptual studies on the vehicles and large equipment of the MAF that could conduct actual loading trials once the studies were completed. The TUDM is also expected to modernize its Lockheed

The Royal Malaysian Air Force MiG-29N/UB fleet was to be replaced by a new fighter, though that programme has been stalled due to lack of funds © Dzirhan Mahadzir

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A letter of intent was presented to Malaysia’s Airod in 2014 for the modernisation of such and a formal letter of acceptance and contract is expected to be issued at the Defence Services Asia 2016 exhibition to be held in Kuala Lumpur this April.

Overall the outlook for MAF development appears to be limited given the funding constraints and the need to split resources between building up conventional and non-conventional tion improves the MAF is not expected in the near term. aMr

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The New Zealand Defence Force is currently transitioning towards a soldier modernisation vision which includes the replacement of the Steyr AUG A1 assault rifle with the Lewis Machine and Tool CQB16 model © NZDF

AsiA-PAcific soldier ModernizAtion debrief The Asia-Pacific comprises a highly-congested and complicated operating environment for nations seeking to assert their authority and control over strategic areas, with armed forces around the region continuing to invest heavily in programmes to enhance the capabilities of their personnel.

by Andrew White

A

ccording to Corporation’s

the Rand operational

region in 2015, published in December 2015, one of the most prevalent threats in the areas is increasing Chinese investment into defence technology to contest the traditional air superiority of the US. One example of this is the People’s Republic of China’s plans to purchase six

battalions’ worth of Almaz-Antey S-400 medium- to high-altitude surface-to-air missile systems, reported in November 2015, expected to be delivered from Russia by late 2017. “China’s ability to project power to more distant locations is limited, but its reach is growing.

Over the next years, the Chinese PLA (People’s Liberation Army) is likely to concentrate on improving weapon systems and equipment, particularly

| april/may 2016 |

in high-priority areas such as naval, air, missile and space capabilities. All these developments are likely to improve the PLA’s overall combat capabilities,” the report articulated.

Such sentiments were echoed by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) with Dr. Tobias Feakin, its director of national security programmes, explaining how the past decade has seen the Asia-

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of strategic interest and competition,” as mentioned in the ASPI’s December 2015 end of year review. Summarising the past twelve months of military manoeuvres, exercises and industrial developments in the region, Dr. Feakin revealed, “While the US has renewed its economic and military focus in the region, China has rapidly modernised and expanded its military forces and tested the boundaries of international ‘norms’ in the South and East China Seas. Both countries seek to gain greatest access to Asia’s rapidly expanding markets.”

The result is a series of “Show of Force” posturings by major powers in the area, generally focused on disputed island chains, such as the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea (parts or all of which are claimed by Brunei-Darussalam, the People’s Republic of China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam), region with cooperative exercises, memoranda of understanding and industrial agreements designed to optimise strategic interests. Add to this the ongoing

threat of insurgency across the region, the past year has seen insurgent incidents throughout the region in Afghanistan, Indonesia and Thailand to name just a few, and militaries and security forces continue to develop technology, concepts of operations and tactics, techniques and procedures to counter such threats.

Such a focus is now seeing the main powers in the region concentrate on developing and improving Counter-Insurgency (COIN) capabilities with a particular emphasis on offensive action and reconnaissance missions as well as hostage rescue tasks. Areas of interest have ranged from lethality and protection through to mobility, Command and Control (C2) technology and support systems across a wide ranging cross-section of ground, maritime and airborne environments.

Australia Lethality remains one of the top prioriovercome insurgent combatants, who, more often than not, are equipped with powerful small arms such as the Kalash-

as homemade bombs. In Australia, the armed forces continue to respond to such threats with that country’s army now one tranche of the Thales Enhanced F88 placement of the legacy Steyr AUG F88 rilethality, accuracy and reliability.

The 1st Battalion, Royal Australian same North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) standard 5.56mm x 45mm ammunition as its predecessor, in the second half of 2015 with the remainder of the Royal Australian Army set to receive the weapon throughout 2016 as part of the Australian Ministry of Defence’s Project Land 125-3C which works to enhance infantry soldier equipment. With the proproximately $100 million, the remainder of this programme includes the procurement of ancillary equipment including optical gunsights, laser aiming devices and the Steyr Mannlicher SL40 40mm Grenade Launcher Attachment or Underslung

Thales has upgraded the F88 rifle to the EF88 configuration with the addition of a Rail Adaptor System as well as integrated an underslung grenade launcher and multiple other features to reduce weapon weight by 20 percent © Thales

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Grenade Launcher (UGL), worth a remaining $367 million. Additionally, the EF88 is said to be some 20 percent lighter than the Thales-manufactured F90 SA2 see above) and the baseline design for the EF88.

Koch, Sig Sauer, FN Herstal, Colt Canada close quarters out to long range, the tect, identify and engage” enemy targets

New Zealand Meanwhile, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF, which includes the counresponded to requirements in the contemlection of a replacement for its legacy Steyr with US smalls arms specialist Lewis Machine and Tool (LMT) chosen to supply its CQB16 weapon as part of the NZDF’s Indi-

explained to AMR. The procurement falls in line with a wider NZDF strategy to enhance the capability of ground-based units with other areas of interest comprising protection, situational awareness, mobility and support.

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Soldier As A System (FINSAS) project.

Initial iterations of the programme called for a modular weapon system which could allow soldiers to switch between calibres depending upon the type of mission being undertaken as well as supporting C2 equipment.

The two major components of the programme comprise the selection of an ter Battle (CQB) scenarios. Following enand mountainous regions of Jammu and Kashmir participating entries, including requirements. This has led the MoD to

within the NZDF between 2016 and 2017,

remains under the control of the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) which continues to consider future options for the Indian Army and Special Operations Forces. The MoD is seeking to equip more than 400 infantry battalions with a new as-

ahead of competition from Heckler and

ongoing for almost ten years now under the nomenclature of the Future Infantry

A total of more than 8000 weapons, which sign as opposed to the bullpup design of

a a

weapon with the most likely option for the Ordnance Factory Board’s Excalibur sources informed AMR programme is expected to be conducted -

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ibur get the go-ahead, a deal could see the domestic Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) -

pounds) without a magazine, the Excalibur Mk.1 includes a 400mm (15.7 inches/ in) chrome-plated barrel. The gas operated weapon provides semi-automatic and

reduced weight and foldable or retractable buttstock.

According to OFB, the Excalibur Mk.1 to 400m (1312 feet).

and mob control situations. The reason for calling it Excalibur is that it incorporates the features of a weapon which is at the same time capable of being light

tronic devices,” OFB literature explained.

Weighing a total of 3.8 kilograms/kgs (8.3

to be progressing with its CQB Carbine requirement, following the trial of the ARX-160 and ACE weapons in 2013. An available in 5.56mm x 45mm calibre, was launched back in 2010 although a larger order for up to an additional 350,000 carbines could be made dependent on future options. These weapons are set to be issued to India’s Special Forces for COIN operations. The short-barrelled ACE carbine, a conventional design as ration, comprises a 368mm (14.5in) barrel, which is also available in 7.62mm x 39mm and 7.62mm x 51mm calibres.

for the Israel Defense Force, the ACE is designed to incorporate “human engineering and ergonomics to make it suitable for the emerging unstable realities of to AMR cess of marketing small arms to the Phil-

Singapore element within Singapore’s armed forces to trial ST Kinetics’ (STK) latest series of

IWI already supplies Indian Special Forces with members of the Tavor family of weapons, such as those illustrated as used by Indian Army Para Commandos © Indian MoD

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Israel Weapons Industries’ ACE is being offered to the Indian Ministry of Defence for its Carbine Assault Rifle contract, which continues to be a slow-moving programme © IWI

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Members of the Singapore Special Operations Task Group are set to receive a series of equipment upgrades ranging from weapons through to tactical mobility platforms for operations across a range of environments © Singapore MoD

on operations. “The active cooling function makes use of thermal sensors to automatically decrease or increase the temperature, while its passive cooling function is fabric-integrated and sweat-activated.

This means that a soldier equipped with ARCTIC wear will be able to perform at their optimum temperature for longer periods, with the fatiguing effects of extreme climates kept to a minimum. The STK ARCTIC wear technology operates in ambient temperatures ranging from minus 30 degrees Celsius to 55 degrees Celsius, keeping the soldier ahead in survivability, in both searing heat and wintry conditions,” the spokesperson added.

The POEMS comprises a smart power management system designed to manage energy from multiple power sources including batteries, fuel cells, solar power and vehicle power, in order to control multiple devices. It also allows for the recharging of batteries while on the move. As STK AMR work integration and soldier systems becoming standard operating equipment, the present day soldier needs to be constantly plugged in and powered up.” Finally, STK’s BRACES solution provides a soldier with the capability to convert mechanical energy derived from movement during a mission, into a power source for wearable C2 technology. Comprising a brace worn around the thighs, the system can also store

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electricity as well as supporting a soldier as a pseudo-exoskeleton. Another central element to the ARIELE concept is protection with STK unveiling its latest solutions to the market at the Singapore Air Show, comprising personal protection equipment including body armour and eyewear protection from ballistic and trauma threats.

Philippines Finally, in the Philippines, the armed forces continue to undergo a modernisation programme and will soon be equipped with new Harris tactical radios. A $12 million contract was awarded to the company on 16th February with elements including the Falcon RF-7800V handheld and tactical vehicle radios, and RF-7800I intercom systems. More information regarding this acquisition can be found in this issue's Pulse column. According to a company spokesperson, this solution for in-vehicle voice and data communications will provide the Philippines armed forces with secure tactical network connectivity. Harris will also provide the Falcon RF-7800V handheld Very High Frequency (30-300 Megahertz) Combat Net Radio for general use by the army. President of tactical communications at Harris, Brendan O’Connell explained, “These radios will provide soldiers in the Philippine Army with advanced command and control,

| AsiAn MilitAry review |

The Australian Defence Force’s soldier modernisation programme features new ‘Multicam’ combat apparel, also available in women’s sizes as illustrated in this image © Australian DoD

and real-time situational awareness capabilities. They also will have secure interoperability with more than 15000 Harthe Philippines armed forces.”

Conclusion With the exception of COIN operations, it appears likely that the contemporary opwill continue to witness a type of nonkinetic warfare with nations in the region more interested in shows of force as part of wider psychological and informationbased warfare. However, a mature capability at the lowest tactical level will consmaller nations seeking to ensure their own security in the region. aMr

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The F-35A/B/C is being marketed to select countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with Australia, Japan and the Republic of Korea as declared customers. Singapore has expressed interest in acquiring the F-35, and is currently a Security Cooperative Participant in the programme Š Joetey Attariwala

Role With it Discussing the multi-role combat aircraft market in the Asia-Pacific region is a daunting exercise at the best of times, and one that has many facets. This article will serve as a broad overview of recent events, programme developments and procurement initiatives in a region which effectively spans from India to Hawaii.

by Joetey Attariwala

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ecent events in the Asia-

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The Royal Australian Air Force is the first service to adopt the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in the Asia-Pacific. In recent years, Boeing has spent considerable time and effort to market the F/A-18E/F as the best aircraft to meet the RMAF’s requirements Š Joetey Attariwala

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The Eurofighter Typhoon is a formidable multi-role combat aircraft with an impressive weapons capacity as seen in this image with a loadout of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. The Eurofighter consortium is actively pursuing opportunities in Malaysia and Indonesia Š Joetey Attariwala

AMR the

ment comprising the Rafale-B/C, Eurosee above -

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The Rafale-B/C has significant air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, and is the most modern front-line fighter employed by France. Operating with the French air force and navy, the Rafale-B/C has most recently conducted combat operations against Islamist insurgents Š Joetey Attariwala

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The T-50 Golden Eagle is a family of advanced trainers and light combat aircraft developed

by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) with Lockheed Martin. The aircraft is operated by the Republic of Korea and the Philippines Š Joetey Attariwala

ing to the announcement this contract is

RoK

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aircraft. As one would

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Vexing Questions article in

this issue.

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Philippines

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issues of AMR. AMr

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L A N D W A R F A R E

An operational benefit of the artillery PGM is that the increased round accuracy will effectively neutralize a target and do so without the need for firing adjusting rounds.

This would reduce the engagement time and allow two or three guns to have the same effect as a battery of six or eight Š US Army

Spot on!

Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) have the potential to alter the way artillery indirect fires are employed and to potentially take on missions previously only possible with direct fire weapons, heralding a step change for artillery and ground operations in general.

by Stephen W. Miller

C

apitalizing on electronics miniaturization has permitted packaging advanced guidance and homing sensors into the warhead of artillery and mortar projectiles as small as 81mm but more commonly in 120mm and 155mm calibre. Using a number of techniques already well demonstrated in aircraft-delivered munitions, these PGMs at the very least

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artillery by tightening the CEP (Circular Error Probability; the size of the circle will, with high probability, impact) and, at best, will strike a point target. The employment techniques and tactics.

These sizes provide the PGM with greater effect-on-target in that the larger warhead has more explosive power, fragmentation and penetration. In addition, they have much greater range and typically broader support roles, particularly 155mm artillery, ment possibilities appropriate for PGMs.

Sensor Technologies Artillery PGMs have focused primarily on the large 120mm and 155mm calibres.

| AsiAn MilitAry review |

Northern Europe during the Cold War which emphasised destroying large num-

L A N D W A R F A R E

bers of Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact (WARPAC) armoured vehicles during an air-land battle involving the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

The objective was to attrite the expected mass of armour with main battle tanks and anti-tank guided missiles engaging lery using submunitions equipped ‘cargo’ rounds and PGMs against following units. from the 1960s through to the early 2000s toward reliance on the cargo projectile which would release a large number of high explosive and mine submunitions over large target areas. This use of submunitions (also termed cluster bomblets or CBUs: Cluster Bomb Units) was paralleled in air-delivered ordnance. However, it became evident from the aftermath of combat during the US involvement in the Vietnam War between 1965 and 1975, and during US-led interventions in Iraq and the Balkans that the bomblet submunitions retained a very high ‘dud rate’. Many would not explode and would become a hazard for months and years to friendly troops and unsuspecting civilians. As a result many of these CBUs were prohibited by the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. Any submunitions thereafter were required to have multiple redundant selfdestruct mechanisms. With most submunitions off-the-table, attention began to shift to alternates. Coincidently advances in miniaturizing electronics was opening the way for packaging these capabilities in fuses and warheads.

The Convention not only eliminated the cluster munitions, it also signalled an increasing recognition and concern for limiting collateral damage in applying weapons in general. This recognition combined with the nature of counter insurgency operations and the accompanying focus on building rather than destroying, increased attention to reducing unintentional damage and casualties.

These efforts were complicated by the areas. The concept of using overwhelmno longer a reasonable option.

Copperhead which was equipped with laser homing guidance. The M712 was developed by Martin-Marietta (now Lockheed Martin) in 1975. Its original impetus was not necessarily reducing collateral damage but rather giving artillery the capability to contribute to attriting the expected

The M712 Copperhead was introduced in 1975 as a precision strike munition for artillery. It required an observer to designate the target with a laser. The seeker in the head of the projectile would home in on the laser energy reflected by the target © US DoD

onslaught of Soviet tanks during a war in Europe (see above). The M712 was an antiarmour weapon. It homed in on the energy

tionary and moving targets as long as they were visible. A characteristic of all laser seekers is that they ‘lock-on’ to the stron-

a ground laser target designator aimed by a forward observer on the ground or from a laser designator equipping an aircraft such as a reconnaissance helicopter. Fired from a 155mm howitzer to a maximum

from behind the observer designating the

has a shaped charge warhead to defeat armoured targets. It was employed during the US-led Operation DESERT STORM to expel the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait in 1991. The M712 required that the target be painted until the round impacted. A benestruck was the one the observer had speselect, designate and reliably destroy high value targets like command vehicles and air defence assets even when they were on the move. laser-guided 152mm projectile in 1986, the 30F39 Krasnopol. Like the M712 it was base bleed (where a small gas generator increases the air pressure directly behind a shell to reduce drag 20km (12.4 miles). The ground observer’s laser designator could mark a target out to position and it could be used against sta-

| april/may 2016 |

the target. Yet in highly mobile combat or where artillery support might be provided from the observer and target this may not the trajectory of the projectile and seeker is inbound to the observer, it is possible that the designator itself could be the dominant signature and perceived by the laser seeker as the target, clearly not a desirable circumstance for the observer.

Another approach to providing an anti-armour capability to artillery is that used by Bofors and Nexter who collaborated on the development of the 155 BONUS. This 155mm artillery round uses base bleed technology to extend its range to 35km (21 miles) with a 52 calibre gun and 27km (16.7 miles) for a 39 calibre gun. It is a cargo projectile that releases two infrared imaging sensor submunitions. Once released and descending they scan for target heat signatures and steer using winglets toward the target. Once over head, they detonate with an Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) designed to penetrate the less protected top of the

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L A N D W A R F A R E

ful combat engagement during the USled intervention in Afghanistan of 36km (22.3 miles). The initial 1a version has been further improved upon in the 1b to reduce production cost, increase accuracy and address early reliability issues. Tests

The Excalibur has a near-vertical decent onto the target. This optimizes the blast and fragmentation effects on the target while also reducing collateral damage © Raytheon

target. BONUS is in service with the French, Finnish and Swedish Armies and has been evaluated by the US Army. An improved BONUS Mk.II has been developed with improved target discrimination.

The SMArt 155 is similar to the BONUS. It is a development of GIWS, a partnership between Rheinmetall and Diehl BGT Defence. It too is a 155mm artillery round, designed for a long-range and intop attack using two submunitions. A primary difference is that it uses parachutes in the descent after release from the munitions. It is in service with the Australian, British, Hellenic and Swiss armies and the Heer (German Army).

GPS Guidance

tres (16.4ft) CEP and better. An ‘S’ version adds a semi-active laser targeting capability that offers one metre (three feet) accuracy. It, as well as an ‘N’ naval version for the 127mm gun used on many naval warships, has been presented by Raytheon (please see Gerrard Cowen’s Cannon Fodder article in this issue for more discussion of naval gun developments).

Presently Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States are in possession of, or have ordered, Excalibur.

Orbital ATK has taken a different path toward providing advanced guidance to the 155mm projectile. Its PGK (Precision Guidance Kit) is a ‘course correction’ projectile provided as a kit that transforms a standard 155mm projectile into a PGM. The PGK M1156 allows the gun crew standard M549A1 and M795 155mm projectiles. The M1156 accepts a lower accuracy to bring down the unit price of each round. The last unit price of the Excalibur was $40000 but it had been $150,000. The PGK’s unit price was expected to drop in 2016 to under $11000 from $20000; how-

ever, this price could be affected if orders are lower than projected. The PGK’s CEP accuracy is under six metres (20ft). Recognising that the CEP of the standard fused M549 is 267m (875ft), this is still an exceptional improvement. The PGK is in service with the US Army, the US Marine Corps, and the Australian and Canadian armies. The design has also been adapted to the 120mm heavy mortar.

Naval PGMs Naval guns have, in many navies, been superseded by missiles for surface-to-surface engagements. The greater range and accuracy of the guided missile offered not provide. While generally acceptable in ship-to-ship combat the trend toward eliminating or reducing major calibre guns on naval combatants became a major concern to naval forces as naval guntile littoral areas, particularly in the initial stage of a landing before artillery can be established on the ground. The lack of shipboard guns compromised the ability ing forces. Naval guns can be on-station and immediately available to respond to fected by weather and visibility (as might be the case for close air support and batrange to allow ships to stand off the coast,

The expansion of the Global Positioning System (GPS) network coupled with advances in microelectronics has allowed precise locations to be provided in very small electronics packages. GPS has been adapted to the artillery projectile which or winglets permit the round to be programmed to steer towards and hit a spemetres. The Excalibur M928 developed by Raytheon and BAE Systems’ Bofors division (not to be confused with the Bofors mentioned above) for the 155mm howitzer uses this technique. The programme is a cooperative development that began in 2008 between the United Sates and Sweden providing a fully-integrated proof 155mm howitzers in service with both countries with accuracy of 20 metres (65.6 feet) CEP or better.

Excalibur has a range of up to 40km (24.8 miles) in its latest 1b base-bleed version and in fact achieved a success-

30

The introduction of PGMs to naval guns are giving them a new level of capability. The increased range and point target accuracy make them an effective answer to the small fast attack boat threat. Here the USS Porter fires its Mk.45 127mm gun © US Navy

| AsiAn MilitAry review |

L A N D W A R F A R E

High-end electro-op!cal solu!ons for Remote Weapon Sta!ons

The Vulcano extended range munitions use a sub-calibre projectile. Shown in this illustration it has a ‘sabot’ or collar that fills the bore but detaches as it leaves the barrel © Finmeccanica

thereby reducing their vulnerability to ground-launched anti-ship missiles. Secondly, given the increased range and recognising the limited number of ships and guns available to support a landing, navies must examine how to increase their OTO Melara (now Finmeccanica), one of the leaders in naval guns, took on these challenges. It developed the Vulcano munitions family consisting of unguided (BER) and guided (GLR) ammunition for the 127mm naval gun. Realizing the suitability of their concept to land warfare they applied the same techniques to 155mm artillery. The BER (Ballistic Extended Range) is unguided multi-role ammunition with multi-function (Altimetric, Impact, Delayed Impact, Time, Self-Destruction) programmable fusing. The GLR (Guided Long Range) is equipped with canard controls and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)/GPS guidance system with an optional SemiActive Laser (SAL) terminal guidance. and as a result are able to reach ranges of 50km (31 miles) and 80km (49 miles) respectively for the BER and GLR. The 127mm naval round also includes a version with an infrared imaging seeker for terminal guidance against ship targets.

In 2012 OTO Melara and Diehl BGT Defence signed a cooperation agreement for production and further development of these and future large-calibre conventional and guided ammunitions for naval and army use. In May 2014 the companies

of 50km using a Krauss-Maffei Wegmann/ Rheinmetall PzH2000 self-propelled howitzer at the Alkantpan Proving Ground in South Africa. Firings included production and SAL) and unguided versions. Company representatives indicated that 50km was the safety limits of the range and that the 80km capability of the system would have been otherwise attained.

OTO Melara has further adapted the sub-calibre concept of the Vulcano to offer extended range and guided 76mm projectiles for use in their 76/62 naval gun that is employed by 55 navies worldwide. The Volcano 76 round gives the gun a true multi-mission capability not only against surface targets at sea and on land but also enhances its air defence role. The 76mm Vulcano offers a range of 40km, more than double the conventional round. Coupled single gun can effectively and accurately deliver a salvo in seconds. The unguided 76mm BER was tested 2013 with the guided GLR demonstrated in 2014. The initial production is expected imminently. amphibious forces could be conducted by smaller vessels like corvettes and large patrol vessels that are both more numerous (over 153 vessel classes in 45 navies carry the 76/62) and are more likely to be readily available to be tasked with gun-

| april/may 2016 |

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L A N D W A R F A R E

The US Army, Marine Corps and the Canadian Army’s M777 155mm howitzers, shown firing in Afghanistan. They have increased their range to 40km and achieved an accuracy of five metres at that distance using PGMs © US DoD

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The herTz Locker The Asia-Pacific presents some particular challenges as far as tactical radio manufacturers are concerned. Varied topographies, varied climates and varied budgets, mean that radios for ground forces in the region must be tailored closely to a country’s specific requirements.

by Thomas Withington

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F

rom the Gobi Desert, to the Southern Alps of New Zealand, the jungles of Borneo and the tropical climes of southern

a diverse and varied geography. While it has never been AMR’s intention to become a travel brochure, the preceding sentence provides an overview of the hugely varied environments does for the regions’ diverse charms.

Such environments present challenges to tactical radio engineers, alongside the huge distances which can be encountered in nations such as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) which alone has a land mass of 9.5 million square kilometres (3.6 million square miles). Thales is highly cognisant of the challenges posed display a large variety of operating environments ranging from semi-desert with high temperatures to jungle with dense canopy,” it told AMR via a written statement.

The latter issue is particularly important. Very High Frequency and Ultra High Frequency (V/UHF) radios which operate in the 30 to 300 Megahertz (MHz) and 300MHz to three Gigahertz frequency ranges can carry hundreds of kilobitsper-second (kbps) of voice, data and im-

Topography and climate are two of the major challenges faced by tactical radio engineers vis-à-vis configuring their products for customers in the Asia-Pacific. Long operating ranges pose a third challenge © Harris

| april/may 2016 |

shortcoming: V/UHF radio transmissions are limited to a line-of-sight range.

This means that the range of the radio can be increased only by elevating the radio’s antenna to allow it to ‘see’ a wider radius of the earth’s surface. It also means that buildings, mountains and dense jungle canopy can impede V/UHF radio transmissions. This is a serious consideration for regional powers such as BruneiDarussalam, Malaysia and Vietnam, to name just three, which are home to lush rain forests. Similarly, the rugged Himalayan Mountains of the disputed region of Kashmir, or the urban canyons of ‘megacities’ such as Bangkok, can pose similar challenges to V/UHF communications.

Geography challenges tactical radio engineers, because this can affect radio operating ranges and thus mission duration.

As noted above, the PRC has a considerable land area. While V/UHF radios cannot transmit across such ranges due to the line-of-sight restrictions, the length of a mission for a platoon patrolling a particular area can be long. Therefore, as Claudio Armani chief technology

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between a V/UHF radio, between military and civilian radios, and a sovereign radio and a coalition radio,” argues Alan Callaghan, vice president and managing As the above discussion illustrates, military operations increasingly occur in the civilian space, particularly as regards authorities are often called upon to assist their civilian counterparts in the provision of humanitarian relief in the wake of wake of Typhoon Haiyan which devasregard with the porting of the APCO-25 waveform used by that country’s civiltactical radios such as Harris’ AN/PRC117G V/UHF manpack and vehicular ra-

Thales’ Geomux waveform can be used in its FastNet family of handheld, manpack and vehicular radios, the manpack variant being shown here, alongside its PR4G SDRs © Thales

sions can last between 24 to 48 hours,” and it is therefore imperative that tactical radio battery life can deal with such -

(see below

Interoperability tactical communications within the rein addressing security situations, such as -

in the future ensuring that their military tactical radios can work seamlessly with those employed by local civilian authoriTreaty Organisation-led efforts from 2001 to combat Taliban and Al Qaeda Thus it is essential that the tactical radios used by ground forces across the region are also capable of interoperability during

Waveforms only defending their territory but are also projecting forces on various theatres abroad, thus requesting interoperability

Thales’

Tactical communications interoperability in the region has received added impetus since 2011 when President Barack Obama announced the ‘pivot’ of -

data transmissions, geolocation report-

the PRC’s growing strategic power in the region, particularly regarding maritime and territorial claims that Beijing contests

radio waveforms; software programmes that direct a radio to behave in a particular manner, via radio frequency transmission propagation, or spectrum usage, to

Northern Borneo laid claim to the region -

frequency, crypto and waveform interoperability, and this can be tailored accord-

bi-product of this shift is the need for allied nations in the region to maintain forms (see below

the Malaysian armed forces and security -

offerings

regarding

custom-

perform using the Global Positioning resistance to hostile electronic counter-

abling the painstaking and precise art of manually-tuning a transceiver, as with the tactical radios used by all of the belbe performed with push-button simplic-

allows communications between ground within and without the region as part of tralian Army both deployed to Afghani-

ing trend for interoperability in the Asia-

blue force tracking simultaneously and very heavily on that … Interoperability

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AMR that its Geomux wavefrom used by its PR4G radios can perform a num-

| AsiAn MilitAry review |

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the region. In 2015, the company was awarded, “one of the biggest tactical SDR radio contracts,” of last year for FlexNet radios to an undisclosed country. The company’s statement to AMR noted that its Geomux waveform can also be used with its FlexNet radios, alongside the PR4G family discussed above, thus “givtheir own mix of radios according to their needs, thanks to the waveform ported on multiple platforms.”

Ensuring operability while reducing costs will continue to be at the core of the requirements faced by tactical radio developers. In recent years, much has been made of COTS, or ‘Commercial Off-TheShelf’ technology, with commercial or civilian technology, where appropriate, being used to meet some tactical communications requirements. However, Mr. Armani sounds a note of caution in this intensity situations and undemanding environments, but civilian products can ronment,” he said.

Internet of Things One area which could improve tactical radio performance in the future for customers both within and without the of Internet Protocol (IP) standards and techniques in military tactical communications. Much as the so-called ‘internet of things’ promises to improve civilian lives by giving appliances and electronic equipment their own IP address to enable an individual to control these appliances, or to check their status, from their computer or smartphone, a similar approach could be adapted to tactical radios, and to military electronics and subsystems in general. Mr. Callaghan said, “What an IP network for the military means is that all the radios and ancillaries on the network have an IP address. I don’t need to know what radio you are using or the frequency, just the IP address, and the network will know where you are. So a commander can pick up his smartphone and instantly contact another comrade using their radio. It is a sort of ‘military internet of things’. So we can also have

Discover Smart Superiority

things like sensor systems on the network each of which has their own IP address.”

Put simply, when using such a network, “you could dial in the IP address of an optronics system on the other side of the planet and see its imagery.” Needless to say, such connectivity offers potentially huge applications for military users, deepening still the level of connectivity

Cognitive Radio The tactical communications community is also abuzz with talk of Cognitive Radio outside the region. CR is a complex theory, but can be explained as arguably the next stage in the evolution of SDRs. As the above discussion notes, SDRs have absorbed much of the tuning burden that the tactical radios of yore required, with a radio operator manually scanning a channel to use, or to perform communications with another formation of troops.

SDRs began to absorb much of this bur-

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Harris emphasises the need for interoperability within the armed forces of the Asia-Pacific. This is not only to ensure communications with other nations’ armed forces, but also to ensure communications with local civilian emergency services © Harris

Finmeccanica’s SWAVE tactical radio family includes a number of functions to maximise communications options offered to soldiers in the Asia-Pacific, not least of these are the ability to use satellite communications waveforms to enable intercontinental ranges © Finmeccanica

AMR

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| AsiAn MilitAry review |

ROSOBORONEXPORT

LAUNCHES AN UPGRADED ORLAN-10E UAV

T

he Orlan-10E multifunctional UAV system became one of the first modern Russian tactical UAV systems which has successfully passed the full set of tests involving the RF Ministry of Defense and entered service with Russian land and airborne forces. Its reliability and efficiency have been proven by intensive use in handling various tasks in different climatic conditions. The accumulated flying time of the Orlan family of UAVs has exceeded tens of thousands of hours. Feedback from the military has enabled the developers to modify the system and implement a number of hardware and software innovations which have significantly improved its performance. The upgraded Orlan-10E is now available to foreign customers.

In its standard mobile configuration, the Orlan-10E system can be placed on virtually any vehicle (at customer’s option) and includes 2 to 4 UAVs, a ground control terminal with built-in training aids, as well as a remote antenna.

There is also a portable reduced version with two UAVs. The Orlan-10E can be employed by the Armed Forces to handle a wide range of tasks, including reconnaissance, target designation and fire adjustment, escorting army columns on the march, and others. The Orlan-10E is effective in border, sea area, military base and airfield boundary surveillance missions. In addition, it can be actively used for public order maintenance, during emergencies and other cases where large areas need to be monitored, because the Orlan-10E UAV can survey up to 500 square kilometers per sortie. According to Russian experts, the use of the Orlan10E system for target designation missions alone increases the effectiveness of artillery and MRL fire several times.

In its standard configuration, one Orlan-10E UAV carries a set of interchangeable payloads, including daylight still and video cameras and night imager. The UAV design has open architecture that makes it possible to quickly change the payload depending on tasks assigned and promptly test and repair equipment through replacing some modules. Accordingly, it also simplifies further upgrading of the system.

The Orlan-10E UAV’s onboard equipment set provides a takeoff from a catapult, programmable en-route flight, parachute landing, switching to manual mode and vice versa at any point of the

flight, and automatic return of the vehicle to the takeoff point if the signal is lost. Two UAVs can be simultaneously controlled from one ground station. All information is transmitted to the ground control station in real time and simultaneously recorded to the onboard flash drive.

The required objects are automatically located with high accuracy, their coordinates are fixed to a digital terrain map and transmitted to the ground control terminal, which greatly increases the operational capabilities for handling units of various branches of the armed forces The fact that the Orlan-10E can be used as a communication repeater may also be a factor which makes it possible to use the latest networkcentric communications technologies at the tactical level of control, together with traditional direct communication channels.

The developers have paid particular attention to communication and control radio link coding and immunity, which is critical when the enemy possesses modern EW capabilities. In addition, the Orlan-10E offers a low signature in a broad electromagnetic spectrum, which increases its survivability in combat.

Automation, simplicity and ease of operation of UAVs, as well as protection against incorrect operator actions help shorten the required operator training time, reduce operator workload and the probability of UAV loss due to human factors.

The Orlan-10E UAV is one among most intensively used in the Russian army. Effective operator training procedures and methods of UAV employment in a modern warfare environment have been developed since its adoption. Therefore, foreign customers will receive not only quality UAVs, meeting all modern requirements, but also highly skilled professionals, which JSC Rosoboronexport is ready to train according to advanced instruction programs

SPECIFICATIONS:

Take-off weight Payload weight Speed Flight endurance UAV-ground antenna communication range Flight altitude above sea level Max allowable wind speed at take-off

AMR Marketing Promotion

– – – – – – –

up to 18 kg up to 3 kg 70-150 km/h up to 10 hours up 100 km up to 5000 m no more than 10 m/s

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CaNNoN Fodder Guns have been a key element of naval warfare for hundreds of years. This remains the case today, with a combination of cost factors and technological advances bringing about a renewed level of interest in naval gunnery.

by Gerrard Cowan

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aval gun systems range from the small to the extremely large: from the 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine guns found on OTO Melara /Finmeccanica's Hitrole Light, to the Raytheon Phalanx family or Thales Goalkeeper Close-In Weapons Systems, to the BAE Systems’ 155mm Advanced Gun System for the United States Navy’s ‘Zumwalt’ class destroyers. Within this

BAE Systems’ Mk.110 57mm naval gun is pictured here. The company believes that naval guns are becoming increasingly relevant to modern warfare, with a demand for systems that can combat multiple different threats © BAE Systems

developed that could change the way we rail guns to lasers. “There are still a lot of advantages to guns, and moving into potential to have an even greater impact than they have had for generations,” said Eric Wertheim, a naval expert and author of the US Navy Institute’s Combat Fleets of the World. “They could really play a very important role.”

Germany’s Rheinmetall specialises

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cannon, and a new product called the

and in fact some of the older designs are really as good today as they ever need to ture new players designing new cannon

category, the company offers the Oerlikon Millennium Gun. Craig McLoughlin, senior vice president for systems at Rheinmetall, told AMR

is required means there are few companies that can manage that any more, and

now as it was a century ago. “The tech-

you just want to develop new cannons.”

However, Mr. McLoughlin said there were a range of areas in the systems sur-

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rounding and supporting the cannon in which progress was continually being made. For example, Rheinmetall supplies propellants to ammunition manufacturers around Europe, and the company sees this as an area of potential future innovation. Mr. McLoughlin also highlighted the continual advances in stabilisation and sighting systems. “The best cannon in the world is useless if your sighting system is not very good,” he argues.

John Perry, business development director at BAE Systems, echoed Mr McLoughlin’s comments, saying that “even though the fundamentals of how a gun operates and how it looks have not changed over the years, the technologies under the weather shield and inside the projectiles have.” BAE Systems manufactures a wide range of naval guns and ammunition, from 25mm up to the aforementioned Advanced Gun System, which Range Land Attack Projectile. In addition, its 40mm Mk.4 and 57mm Mk.3 naval guns are used on corvette and offshore patrol vessels, and it also manufacturers the 25mm Mk.38 and the 127mm Mk.45.

Mr. Perry said that in this age of stretched defence budgets, the company had to develop cost-effective solutions to meet the evolving needs of navies. One way of doing this was through develop-

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This picture shows the Hitrole system.

Finmeccanica became a major player in the naval gunnery market following the integration of OTO Melara into its broader corporate structure © Finmeccanica

ing multi-mission precision munitions.

He pointed to the company’s Standard Guided Projectile and the Hyper Velocity Projectile, both of which are under development for the US Navy, which could provide a capability against different

BAE Systems provides the Mk.4 40mm naval gun, which is used on corvettes and offshore patrol vessels. The UK-based company manufactures a wide range of guns for navies worldwide © BAE Systems

| April/mAy 2016 |

types of targets. The nature of the threat is changing, Mr. Perry argues, with navies having to consider the growing danger posed by a proliferation of low-cost threats. This increases the relevance of naval guns and boosts the demand for systems that can be used to combat multiple diverse threats. “The changing nature of threats to naval platforms is driving the need for multi-mission capabilities from naval guns,” he explained. “With the proliferation of low-cost, high-volume threats, the demand for precision effects and multi-mission capabilities has grown substantially. Customers are now looking to augment missile-only engagement capabilities with multi-mission, high-volume precision effects from naval guns.” cant technological developments in naval gunnery in the last ten to 15 years, including automated ammunition handling systargeting systems, gun propellant and barrel technologies. However, he drew particular attention to advances in gunlaunched guided munitions, saying that they offer a cost-effective alternative to missiles across multiple missions. “Compared to missile solutions, gun-launched munitions are lower-cost, provide much larger magazines, can be rearmed at sea, and often times the effect they deliver is more appropriately matched to the target.”

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spokesperson continued that the market had changed in recent years, “with a reduced demand for big and medium-calibre guns, (caused by) the reduced number of big ships, but with an increased (demand for) small calibre guns, from 12.7mm to 40mm.”

These were being used to equip small boats used by navies and police in different regions of the world. Finmeccanica sees the

Nexter’s Narwhal remotely-operated system comes in two variants, the 20A and the 20B. The Narwhal is currently in service with the French Navy, among others © Nexter

The Debate The potential of guns as an alternative to missiles in certain scenarios, particularly in these cash-strapped times, was also highlighted by Mr. Wertheim, who noted the potential of 114.3mm and 127mm guns stead of missiles. “You have got to get in close, that is the danger with guns as the range is not as big as missiles. But the ben-

coast guards and police,” a spokesperson for Finmeccanica told AMR. “Typically they are equipped with small calibre systems.” Finmeccanica is one of the major European suppliers of naval gun systems, following the integration of OTO Melara at the beginning of this year. The company’s main focus for naval guns is on the 40mm, 76mm and 127mm calibres. The

growth in naval gun sales, given the increased budgets in the region. The spokesperson also noted the growth in Africa, but said “the accessible market could be limited due to the presence of Chinese players.” A spokesperson for France’s Nexter also noted an increasing demand for smaller systems, particularly in the 12.7mm and 20mm domain. The company believes that “the market for naval guns is increasing, particularly for light remote-controlled systems.” Nexter manufactures two ultra-light naval mounts, the 15A and 15B, as well as the Narwhal remotely-operated system, which has two variants, the 20A and 20B.

Future Shock There is much work being carried out on the future of naval gunnery, with a number of new technologies coming into focus. An example of this is the Electromagnetic Rail Gun (EMRG), which uses electricity instead of gunpowder, and

so you have a much bigger amount of ammunition; hundreds of rounds before you run out, and the cost is much, much less compared to multi-million dollar missiles.”

Still, the potential for guns as an alternative to missiles should not be taken too far, says Mr. McLoughlin. “It is not that guns are trying to do the job of missiles, but there was a time when missiles were really proliferating, and the missile is not so great for the close-in last 1.6 nautical mile (three kilometres) surrounding the perimeter of a ship,” he said. “That’s where guns have their function … from my point of view the right argument is when is it good to have one system, say a gun, and when it is it better to have a missile?”

There has also been a shift in demand, according to some of the major suppliers, with an increasing emphasis on small vessels. This has an obvious impact on the “Small, fast boats, sometimes built by newcomers having experience in the civilian market only, are requested by navies,

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France’s Nexter manufactures two ultra-light naval mounts, the 15A and the 15B. The company believes the market for naval guns is increasing © Nexter

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The 76mm calibre range is one of Finmeccanica’s main focuses. This image shows the 76/62 Super Rapid gun mount, a light-weight rapid-fire naval gun © Finmeccanica

could launch projectiles at speeds of between 3609 knots (7240 kilometresper-hour) and 4865 knots (9010.4km/h), according to a report for the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) by Ronald O’Rourke, the CRS’s specialist in naval affairs. BAE Systems is working with the US Navy on the development of this weapon. Mr. Perry said that “getting on the right side of the cost curve with this type of technology will put a tremendous burden on an adversary’s ability to respond and overcome.”

According to Mr. O’Rourke’s report, as the US Navy worked on developing the EMRG, it realised that the guided projectile it was developing for the sys155mm powder guns. This could massively increase the speed of projectiles

mately 2000 knots/3704km/h dependent on altitude). While this is about half the EMRG, the report stated, it is more than twice the speed of a traditional 127mm ing precision-guided artillery, please see Stephen W. Miller's Spot On! article in this issue.

A third area for future development is laser systems. The US Navy tested a prototype Solid State Laser between 2009 and 2012 against Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in a series of engagements; in 2010 and 2011 it tested another prototype, the Maritime Laser Demonstration (MLD), in tests that ended with the MLD engaging a small boat, according to Mr. O’Rourke’s report. There is now a

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Laser Weapon System installed on the USS Ponce, a test bed ship, which is operating in the Persian Gulf, “to conduct evaluation of shipboard lasers in an operational setting against swarming boats and swarming UAVs.” A number of the companies AMR spoke to highlighted lasers as an area of particular interest. Matt Pryor, director of business development at MSI-Defense Systems (MSI-DS) said “We anticipate disruptive technologies like laser effectors complementing or replacing cannons in the 20-30 year time frame as lasers and their associated power controls reduce in size and weight.” MSI-DS manufactures the Seahawk naval gun system, which comes in three models: the original Seahawk mount for 25mm, 30mm, and 40mm cannons; the Seahawk Light Weight (LW) mount for 14.5mm, 20mm, 23mm and 25mm cannons; and the Seahawk Ultra Light Weight for 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine guns.

Likewise, Rheinmetall and Germany’s Bundeswehr forces) successfully tested a High-Energy Laser (HEL) installed on a German warmounted a ten kilowatt HEL effector on a MLG 27 light naval gun, and carried out a test programme in which the laser tracked potential targets such as very small surface craft and UAVs. The HEL effector was also tested against stationary targets on land, Rheinmetall said.

Mr. McLoughlin said he believed that countering low, slow and small threats such as UAVs would become an increasing priority for naval guns, and that airbursting ammunition would have an advantage in this regard. “You have got get)? So you need systems that can detect the UAVs reliably and effectively … then how are you actually going to be able to hit that thing? The odds of getting one round through the bullseye are not so great. That is why I think people are looking more and more to alternative ammunition types like air bursting.”

Mr. Wertheim cautioned that the new technology types being pursued in the US and elsewhere are still at an early stage. cade it is possible they could have a sigabout naval gunnery. “We are not there yet. This is all very much theoretical. But years and we are right at the point where we are pretty sure.” AMR

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CounTering The ChemiCals

CW expert Col. Hamish de Bretton Gordon analyses suspected chlorine samples on the Syrian border. Col. de Bretton Gordon is a leading authority on ISIS’ use of chemical weapons © Avon Protection

In the latter half of 2015 and early 2016, the Middle East remained the main theatre where CBRN (Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear) threats are an ongoing threat, translated into reality by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

by Andy Oppenheimer

T

o this end, this organisation has employed mustard gas and chlorine in multiple attacks using bombs and mortars, mainly in Iraq throughout 2015 and into 2016. That said, any region is at risk from insurgent CBRN action and, as for protecting against incidents using and North American countries are bettercounterparts.

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Under Threat In February US Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan assessed that ISIS had used “chemical munitions the group had access to chemical precursors (which can be used to make chemical weapons) and munitions, and had the ability to make small quantities of chlorine and mustard gas. According to leading Chemical Weapons (CW) expert Colonel (rtd.) Hamish de Bretton Gor-

| AsiAn MilitAry review |

don, who provides CW advice to nongovernmental organisations operating in Syria and Iraq, leading several missions to Syria to this end, ISIS has chemical weapons albeit in very small quantities, including mustard agent and Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs) like chlorine.

Test results held by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, revealed that ISIS used sulphur mustard

L A N D W A R F A R E

-

gas against Kurdish forces in Iraq in 2015 based on samples taken from 35 Kurdish Peshmerga became ill in August 2015 near the city of Irbil in northern Iraq.

Col. de Bretton Gordon sees more CW

-

Stepping Up

also in northern Iraq. The city has been

Peshmerga forces -

under threat to demonstrate resilience to an -

used chlorine-laced bombs to defend Tistantiated speculation that they are trying

The Australian Government’s Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) provides invaluable support for the Australian Defence Force through protecting personnel from exposure to CBRN weapons and TICs. ©DSTO

bility through the protection of personnel -

bomb explosion.

ISIS Targets

utilising anthrax and possibly plague.”

East and Europe. Col. de Bretton Gordon

the ability to respond both domestically and in support of Australian forces -

deploying the Royal Australian Air Force that could be used for Radiological Disclear materials notably uranium and plutonium. In mid-February reports emerged

2015 that had been planted in a super-

stored in a laptop-sized case from a storage facility near the southern Iraqi city of Basra. A RDD can be fashioned from tals and research centres. The material

Bretton Gordon estimated this had not been acquired through the Internet but

ployed in industrial gamma radiography

gramme is based.

-

cause permanent injury to a person in and could be fatal to anyone exposed for

opportunity to strike in an attack similar to those launched by Islamists in Paris in -

the signs and symptoms of such an effect

In mid-2015 Australian foreign minister -

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The DST Group provides science and technology support to improve the Australian Defence Force’s CBRN defence capabilities.

Australia faces a tangible threat from ISIS’ use of CBRN weapons on its territory © Australian Department of Defence

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Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Battelle, focuses on developing state-ofthe-art test and evaluation systems which event’ operations. Vice president and general manager of Battelle CBRN Matt Shaw test approach and that is what makes us stand out. As the question of how to protect become more sophisticated, the tools being used to answer them, the test equipment, analysis and understanding,

RoK Readiness

Australia’s SOER provides leading-edge mobility, survivability and specialist counter-CBRN capabilities. The SOER can respond to domestic incidents and those that occur during deployment © Australian Army

recovery in Hazmat (Hazardous Materials) emergencies including analysis of CBRN material, personnel and civilians, and areas affected by CBRN materials. Its International Deployment Group utilizes the Specialist Response Group for particular medium- and high-risk planned operations or emergency incidents in addition to force protection. The Australian Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Data Centre provides technical intelligence products and services to support law enforcement and it collects, collates, analyses and disseminates invaluable technical information and intelligence when CBRN agents are used.

Indigenous Protection Australia’s indigenous CBRN protection company, Duram Products, manufactures respirators, escape hoods and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) suits for security forces, Special Forces and civilians. A mode of protection becoming more widely deployed is the escape hood. To protect against chemicals and toxic fumes, the new Duram Personal Escape Mask can be carried in pocket

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the hydrogen part of the test really did Intelligence Service also stated that the detonation, which is vastly more powerful and technologically advanced than a

charcoal specially impregnated to absorb acid gases with an optimal exhalation valve which enables rapid exhalation and improves physiological conditions for the user. Protection is guaranteed for around one hour against toxic gases discharged

The Market

Applying Fido C2 disclosure spray on a military truck can expose trace levels of nerve agents or sulphur mustard directly on the surface, at sub-microgram sensitivity, within five minutes. This can lower costs by at least 60 percent by reducing the amount of decontaminant used © Flir Systems

Out of countries facing real CBRN threats, the RoK is on constant alert in response to its northern belligerent neighbour. On 6 January the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced it derground test of a hydrogen bomb. The seismic analysis that led to this claim was, however, doubted by experts, including Rand Corporation analyst Bruce Bennett who said, “The bang they should have gotten would have been ten times greater than what they are claiming. So Kim Jong-un (the DPRK’s Supreme Leader) is either lying, saying they did a hydrogen test when they did not, they just used a

In terms of market expansion, according to the CBRN Defence Market Report 2016-2026, published by London-based research company Visiongain, overall world revenue for the prime CBRN defence sectors of detection, protection, decontamination, simulation and training is forecast to reach $11.2 million in 2016 in the following client countries: Brazil, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK), the United Kingdom and the US, and in burgeoning markets in the People’s Republic of China,

| AsiAn MilitAry review |

Nevertheless, the January nuclear test was the fourth by the DPRK since 2006.

According to US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, in January the country restarted the plutonium reactor at Centre, north of the capital Pyongyang, which provides fuel for its nuclear weapons, and had taken steps towards making an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), having launched a long-range rocket under the guise of its Bright Star-4 satellite launch on 7 February, soon after the January test. This was internationally condemned as the DPRK is banned under United Nations sanctions from using any ballistic missile technology.

DPRK Threats The DPRK has also long-posed a serious CW threat. It is not a member of the

September 6-11 Patriot Expocenter Moscow Region, Russia

www.rusarmyexpo.com Organizer:

Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

L A N D W A R F A R E

ing event focused solely on our areas of responsibilities, and allowed us to fully utilize our knowledge and skill sets without any interruptions. It is not intended for all military members or all emergency responders.” Months earlier, in March 2015, soldiers from 20th CBRNE (Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosives) Command of the United States Army carried out a two-week exercise, KEY RESOLVE, in the RoK, with UN Command multinational military forces supporting the RoK) troops from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France and the UK.

Japan

Battelle has developed a range of test and evaluation systems to help experts address CBRN incidents. Here, a Battelle employee applies chemical agent during swatch testing of military uniform fabric © Battelle

Chemical Weapons Convention and, according to the RoK 2012 Defence White Paper, began producing CWs in the 1980s and has an estimated 2500 to 5000 tons in several facilities nationwide, as well as possessing the capability to produce BWs including anthrax and smallpox. For CBRN protection, the RoK imports much of its PPE and respirators from Avon Protection (UK), Optrel (Switzerland) and Apollo Safety (US).

The threat of the DPRK’s BW has prompted the US and the RoK to carry out joint defence exercises for biological warfare, codenamed ABLE RESPONSE, every year since 2011. These involve both countries’ departments of defence and health, the US Department of Homeland Security, their disease control centres, and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This preparedness is also meant to deal with the possibility that pathogenic bacteria could accidentally spread from the DPRK, prompting the need to detect Joint training exercises are also carried out by US Air Force (USAF) Bio-environmental Engineering, Emergency Management, and Republic of Korea Air Force CBRN teams, such as that held in August 2015 at Osan airbase in the northern RoK. Two groups within the USAF 51st Fighter Wing jointly responded to an improvised explosion as part of a week-long series of

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intense, integrated emergency response capability exercises for emergency managers from the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron and bio-environmental engineers from the 51st Aerospace Medicine Squademergency responders. According to the commander of the 51st Aerospace Medicine Squadron Major Jung Lee, “this train-

Japan has experienced the worst CBRN attack to date, when the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo released near-weapons grade sarin nerve agent on the Tokyo subway on 20 March 1995. Japan also experienced the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant following the Tsunami which hit the western coast of Honshu Island in the Fukushima Prefecture on 11 March 2014. This was the world’s worst nuclear disaster since the meltdown at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant in the Soviet Union (now Ukraine) on 26 April 1986. The Fukushima disasters showed the vulnerability of nuclear power plants also to insurgent attacks. The environmental effects and psychological impact caused by the dispersion of, and contamination by, radioactive substances

The Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in 2011 was the worst since the Chernobyl meltdown in 1985 and the full environmental effects are still to be measured © TEPCO

| AsiAn MilitAry review |

L A N D W A R F A R E

in the environment and food chain from the Fukushima accident has dwarfed anything that guerrillas could accomplish to date. But a physical or cyber-attack on a nuclear power station, and particularly on a spent fuel pond, could trigger an environmental disaster on this level.

At the military level, the Japanese SelfDefence Forces (encompassing the country’s sea, land and air forces) use protective masks and protection suits to prevent internal exposure, and cooperate with agencies to measure contamination and to transfer casualties in the wake of such disasters. The Chemical Defence Units of these services are equipped with chemical reconnaissance vehicles shielded from radiation and provide practical training for civil protection by local governments every year.

The sarin incidents spurred national agency defence against chemical attacks.

Therefore the chemical protection, chemical detection, transportation of casualties, decontamination and medical activities overseen by the Chemical Defence Unit of the Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) have been boosted. Enhanced

cooperation between the armed forces and related agencies also includes lending suitable chemical protection suits and dispatching liaison personnel from the Chemical Defence Unit. The Technical Research and Development Institute of the Japanese Ministry of Defence and the JGSDF are developing and procuring personnel protection equipment and detection technologies, with research and development into CBRN technologies, CBRN Threat Assessment Systems and equipment for CBRN decontamination, chemical agent surveillance, medical countermeasures for biological agents, new system for biological agent detection and CBRN reconnaissance vehicles.

Singapore Among countries possessing gold standard CBRN defence capabilities, Singapore is in the forefront. Its Civil Defence Force (SCDF), under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, mitigates hazardous marescue and emergency medical services.

The SCDF operates a collective protec-

tion sheltering system to complement an island-wide Public Warning System used to warn of military threats such as an air raid, and have hardened metro stations to serve as civil defence shelters.

Singapore’s Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute (DEMRI) conducts research into force protection against CW and BW. During the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) crisis in 2003, DMERI defence engineers perature scanning system, effectively preventing the spread of the virus. This illustrates the ‘all-hazards approach’ now prevalent in many countries to defend not only against CBRN attacks and threats but those, with the potential to cause world pandemics, produced by nature. Just as this preparedness approach is aimed at protecting populations from both deliberate and accidental attacks, all countries at risk have to become better-equipped and trained to deal with CBRN modus operandi which combine the bomb, the bullet and the machete along with hostage-taking and increasingly CBRN. AMR

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Regional news and

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s o u t h

a s i a

AsiA-PAcific Procurement uPdAte

by Pierre Delrieu SHOPPING LIST The Nigerian Air Force is looking to procure three Chengdu Aircraft Industries Corporation/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) later this year, and the Nigerian Ministry of Defence has budgeted $25 million towards this acquisition, along with the allocation of funds for two Russian Mil Mi-35M attack helicopters, and ten PAC Super The Nigerian newspaper Punch published the information after a copy of the country’s 2016 budget was leaked, following its presentation by

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to a joint session of the country’s National The newspaper also reported was allocated for ten Super Mushshak aircraft, and an additional $56 million for two Mi-35M helicopters as well as The Nigerian Air Force currently operates seven Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters, conducting counter-insurgency operations, along with eleven Chengdu F-7

Most of these models, however, are now decades old and Nigeria has long been seeking to modernise its been considered a possible the 2014 International Defence Exhibition and Seminar, held in Karachi in December 2014, a senior Pakistani MinisButt, told reporters the two countries were close to signing a contract for between 25 before the statement, the then Nigerian Air Force chief of

published on 11 January, stated that the C13B variant of the ‘Type-056’ class

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Nigeria’s Air Force was given an overall budget of $425 million in 2016, accordPunch, $308 million being destined to cover recurrent expenditure and $116 million The CAC/PAC JF-17 is currently in service within the Pakistan Air Force, which has been operating some 50 aircraft since 2007, with plans to acquire up to 200 additional units, according to Pakistani

twelve Dassault/Dornier

by the state-run China Ship Building Company, some 35 months after the contract for their acquisition was signed by the Bangladesh Government and China’s Shipbuilding Industry Corporation

NEW CORVETTES The Bangladesh Navy (BN) announced it had received two new Chinesebuilt ‘Type-056’ class corvettes which are also currently in service with China’s

Aarshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu visited Pakistan and reportedly visited the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex’s JF-17

corvettes, BNS Shadhinota and BNS Prottoy, both built at Wuchang Shipyard in the People’s Republic of China

During the handover ceremony, Commodore AKM Faruk Hasan, director of the ships’ construction project for the BN, told reporters that the cally designed for the force, adding that the vessels will be the most advanced frigates in service with the country’s navy, boosting its coastal defences and enhancing its humanitarian and disaster

journey to their home port of Chittagong on 10 January, where they were greeted with a handover ceremony attended by the Chittagong Naval Zone’s commander

Pushan Das, a researcher at the Observer Research Foundation, a think tank, in New Delhi told AMR that this purchase was “part of Bangladesh’s broader military modernisation called

The vessels were handed over

Bangladesh “is not engaged

| AsiAn MilitAry review |

he added the country “faces many challenges internally, mostly related to growing Islamisation and radicalisation, these challenges require efforts to bolster and revamp the internal security system versus building a modern explained that “Bangladesh is beginning to view itself as a emerging regional player in the backdrop of its high contributions to United Nations peacekeeping and its engagement with the PRC, adding that the country’s “defence The 90-metre/m (300-feet/m) long corvettes displace 1300 tonnes, with a powered by a twin diesel engine providing enough power to allow a top speed of more than 25 knots (46 kilometres-

Regional news and

developments

southeast asia A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT BAE Systems announced on 29 January it had signed a contract for the licensed build of an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) to be built by Bangkok Dock, at their Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard facilities in Thailand, for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN). This deal marks the second supply of a ‘River’ class OPV design that BAE Systems has made for Bangkok Dock and the HTMS Krabi accepted by the RTN in August 2013.

The deal to build the second OPV and lead the

of the type, but schedule and manufacturing deadlines reA spokesperson from BAE Systems told AMR design of HTMS Krabi development of an existing

by Bangkok Dock to suit the is a multi-mission OPV, the include protection of the country’s exclusive economic saster relief, and search and rescue. Support provided on engineering and design,

Bangkok Dock in September Bangkok Dock has expressed plans to build the second

assistance in collaboration cians involved in the current manufacture of three ‘River’ class OPVs for the Royal Navy; a programme valued

the spokesperson continued, adding that the company

expressed the possibility for additional sales of the ‘River’ class OPV in South East Asia, sel in the UK, in Thailand, and

as it encourages the maximum industrial participation

for three OPVs in December 2011, as a potential incentive

three years. The RTN projects

all six aircraft completed by

-

LITTLE BIRD TO MALAYSIA MD Helicopters (MDH) disclosed on 1 February that Malaysia’s Army Aviation is 530G light reconnaissance helicopter, as Malaysia places an order for six helicopters -

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tions systems, and optronics range of threats.

Although it failed to disclose the value of the deal,

2017. Once operational, these helicopters are expected to perform missions ranging from attack and reconnaissance to security missions in support of Malaysian Army missions in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE), ing the Sabah/Lahad Datu incursion in February 2013 by the so-called Royal Security Forces of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo.

To boost its military response and capability in this region, the Malaysian Army and secured a transfer from Brunei-Darussalam of four

announcement that delivery medium-lift utility helicopters previously operated by the Royal Brunei Air Force.

| AsiAn MilitAry review |

ed to form an attack helicopMalaysian Army’s developthe raising of three helicopter ent mission types: an attack

The light observation

Malaysian Army’s tactical-lift 61A Nuri medium-lift utility helicopters transferred from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). More information regarding Malaysian defence procurement can be found in Dzirhan Mahadzir’s Vexing Questions article in this issue.

Regional news and

developments

e a s t the People’s Liberation Army Air Force onboard the PLAAF’s Xian Aircraft Industry Corporation’s

NEW MISSILES During the Singapore Air Show in February, the People’s Republic of China’s state-owned National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), which manages export sales of aviation defence and commercial products, revealed two new weapons, the TL-2 and the TL-7 turbojet powered air-to-surface cruise missiles, reportedly manufac-

tured by the Hongdu Aviation Industry Group.

Richard Fisher, a senior fellow on Asian military affairs with the International Assessment and Strategy Centre, a think tank, told AMR that the TL-7 is the export model of the China Haying Electromechanical Technology Academy KD-88 precision-guided air-tosurface missile. The KD-88 is currently in service with

bombers and Xian H-6 strategic bombers.

“The PLA likes to promote competition among its defence companies,” explained Mr. Fisher, adding that “the KD-88/TL-7 was designed to compete with the CASIC C-802 family of anti-ship cruise missiles,” although, “unlike the C-802, the KD-88/TL-7 is not combat proven.”

According to CATIC ofduring the air show, the TL-7A variant can be launched from variant is ground-launched, while a third variant, the TL7C can be launched from ships,

sion to lift Japan’s ban on weapons exports in April 2014, the programme aims at the integration of Japanese seeker technologies into the Visual Range Air-to-Air Misthe missile’s accuracy and performance.

DEEPENING RELATIONS The governments of Japan and the United Kingdom have initiated a cooperation programme to jointly research and develop new air-to-air missile technology, as part of growing cooperation on defence-related issues between the two countries.

An agreement on developing defensive military

systems and equipment was reached on 21 January, during talks held in the UK involving visiting Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida and defence minister ish foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, as well as the UK’s defence secretary, Michael Fallon. First discussed in July 2014, following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s deci-

of talks on the co-operative research project on the feasibility of a Joint New Air-toAir Missile (JNAAM) was concluded during an earlier visit to Japan on 8 January

by Mr. Fallon. Following his visit, the ministers from discussions would move to the second stage. Mr. Fallon also expressed his enthusiasm regarding the cooperation agreement, saying that

| april/may 2015 |

a s i a

with cruising speeds of up to 566 knots (1050 kilometresper-hour). The missile carries a 704-pounds/lbs (320-kilogram/kgs) warhead and has a maximum range of 97 nautical miles/nm (180 kilometres/km).

The TL-2 is a smaller, 36.3lbs (16.5kgs) 3.2nm (six kilometre) range missile intended to arm Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) or be launched from the ground. marketed during the 2014 Zhuhai Airshow, where it was presented as a precision strike weapon to equip the Chengdu-built Pterodactyl/Wing Loong medium-altitude longendurance UCAV, currently in service with Egypt, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

“The TL-2 may also be a Hongdu product,” Mr. Fisher stated to AMR, adding that, “while it is promoted as arming the small Aisheng ASN209 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), (the TL-2) could likely arm many other small UAVs made in China.”

“Japan is (the UK’s) closest security partner in Asia and I defence cooperation between our two nations. We will do that through joint exercises, reciprocal access to our military bases, military personnel exchanges and cooperation on equipment, including a new air-toair missile.”

MoD press release, further additional Japanese and include improving amphibious and counter-homemade bomb capabilities, as well as mine hunting in the Persian Gulf. The UK also welcomed greater Japanese participation in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation joint exercises and exchanges.

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Regional news and

developments

a u s t r a l a s i a

NEW HELICOPTERS ON THE HORIZON? BAE Systems and Bell Helicopter have decided to join forces and resources to support Bell’s efforts to promote its AH-1Z Viper helicopter gunship for Australian Army Aviation (AAA), and signed an arrangement to that avail, which they announced at the Singapore Air Show in February.

According to the deal, BAE Systems will provide

Bell Helicopters with support and assistance for future Australia AH-1Z customers, including overseeing helicopter maintenance and sustainment, and supporting pilot and technician training.

Speaking following the announcement of the deal, Lisa Atherton, executive vice president of military business for Bell Helicopter explained that the deal “with BAE Systems establishes the groundwork for what

QINETIQ AUSTRALIA SIGNS ALLIANCE WITH DST GROUP QinetiQ Australia, the local branch of the British multinational defence technology company, and Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DST Group) have announced they have entered a strategic alliance to collaborate on research and development projects “in areas of strategic importance to the Australian Department of Defence” according to a statement issued by DST. DST Group, formerly known as the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), announced the agreement on 29 February, stating that the deal was signed in Canberra three days prior, on 26 February. DST Group and QinetiQ Australia already share a relationship spanning over two decades. A major

focus of the strategic alliance between the two companies will be to strengthen the existing partnership between QinetiQ’s Australia subsidiary, DST Group and the Directorate General Technical Airworthiness-Australian Defence Force (DGTA-ADF) which

54

aircraft airworthiness, and ensures the continued safe operation, enhanced capability and reduced cost of ownership for these platforms.

“This Strategic Alliance … cements the tripartite partnership between QinetiQ Australia, DST Group and the DGTA-ADF,” said Greg Barsby, QinetiQ’s Australia subsidiary managing director, adding that the alliance also “combines the strengths of QinetiQ’s global business innovation in several collaborative (research and devel-

will be the premier provider of service and support for future customers of Bell Helicopter military rotorcraft in Australia,” adding that “BAE Systems is an Australian aerospace leader with unmatched technical knowledge and expertise and this relationship aligns our interests and pursuits as we work together to pursue opportunities to strengthen and support the capability and posture of the (AAA).” In turn, Steve Drury, BAE Systems Australia subsidiary’s aerospace director, voiced his company’s enthusiasm for the collaboration saying that BAE was “looking forward to working closely on opportunities with Bell Helicopter as its sustainment and support partner in Australia,” adding that BAE Systems has been “maintaining rotary wing aircraft for more than 20 years and this long-term strategic partnership with Bell Helicopter offers a

opment) efforts.” Dr. Alex Zelinsky, DST Group’s Chief Defence Scientist emphastrategic alliance, saying that it “builds upon the strong relationship DST Group already has with QinetiQ. Leveraging the synergies between our organisations has the potential to bring real capability enhancements to the (Australian armed forces) in areas that require innovation, deep technical expertise

| AsiAn MilitAry review |

superior end-to-end military rotorcraft solution.”

The agreement with BAE Systems, which will surely enhance Bell Helicopter’s position in promoting the AH-1Z to the AAA, was announced just days before the publication in late February of the 2016 Australian Defence White Paper, which stated that the Australian government will be seeking to replace its 22 Airbus Helicopters EC-665ARH Tiger attack helicopters with a new armed reconnaissance capability from the mid-2020s. Although there is currently no formal requirement for a replacement aircraft, Bell Helicopter has reportedly already started advertising the AH-1Z’s capabilities to the AAA and AH-1Z, which is a marinised aircraft, was designed to operate from ship and shore bases, in open seas, on littoral zones, and in desert and tropical environments.

Other areas of research and development between the two companies will reportedly feature “traditional and exotic materials, signatures, (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), weapons, training, cost assurance, and integrated soldier systems,” adding that both parties “have also pledged to support ongoing skills development through training and employee rotations.”

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