Asian Military Review - August 2018

Volume 26/issue 5

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UAV DIRECTORY SMALL ARMS FOR SPECIAL FORCES Precision Guided Weapons www.asianmilitaryreview.com

Contents

AUGUST 2018 VOLUME 26 / ISSUE 5

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Australian Army soldiers from 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment demonstrated the PD-100 Black Hornet Nano UAS during a training exercise at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland, on 4 May 2018.

The Australian Army Headquarters (AHQ) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Sub Programme is supporting the initial issue of the Black Hornet Nano UAS across an Australian Army Brigade.

AMR’s country-by-country annual review of new and in-service aerial unmanned vehicles within Asia Pacific. Compiled by JR Ng

ASIA-PACIFIC UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE DIRECTORY 2018

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DOORSTEP DELIVERY

EVALUATING SMALL ARMS FOR SOF OPERATORS

Stephen Miller examines the current crop of tactical precision munitions for the battlefield.

Whether as offensive weapons or for personal protection, SOF operators want the best they can get. Report by Andrew White.

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UNMANNED MARITIME WATCHDOGS

THE QUEST FOR POWER

Dr. Joetey Attariwala finds out how Unmanned Service Vessels (USVs) are being honed to meet a wide variety of naval missions.

Power, power and more power. Peter Donaldson profiles where the next thrust is happening in military platform power.

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Index of Advertisers

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Editorial WILL REVIVING ‘MADE IN BRITAIN’ WORK POST BREXIT?

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he Australian Government’s decision to select BAE Systems as the preferred bidder for the ‘SEA 5000’ Future Frigate competition was not only a huge win for the company, it also provided a major boost for the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Theresa May who continues to be battered by multiple factions within as well as outside British politics over the progress of the Brexit negotiations.

British industry has had warnings from the monolith European Airbus Group that times will get difficult for the UK in a post Brexit world. On 21 June, in an open statement, Tom Williams, chief operating officer of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, warned that: “In any scenario, Brexit has severe negative consequences for the UK aerospace industry and Airbus in particular…We have sought to highlight our concerns over the past 12 months, without success… Put simply, a No Deal scenario directly threatens Airbus’ future in the UK.” At the end of April, Airbus announced that it was partnering with Dassault Aviation to develop and produce a new generation fighter, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). This new partnership leaves out BAE Systems and Leonardo who worked together as the development team behind the canarddelta wing, Eurofighter Typhoon.

In July at the Farnborough airshow this development appeared to have been already countered following an official announcement by the British Government’s Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson that industry would receive funding of $2.6 billion (£2 billion) to develop its own next generation aircraft, the Tempest. The new Team Tempest comprises engine manufacturer Rolls Royce, Italian company Leonardo (still with several holdings in the UK including its helicopter production site at Yeovil), the UK part of missile developer MBDA, and BAE Systems. The full-size mock-up of the aircraft, revealed for the first time, showed that it would be twin-engined and manned. it would probably fly from 2040 onwards, but it is still only a concept.

This venture forms part of the recently launched MoD Combat Air Strategy, aptly subheaded “An ambitious vision of the future.” The document calls for “changing behaviours in industry and Government” matched by “new, collaborative ways of working which will align incentives,minimise transactional costs and ensure all sides are held to account for performance.”

It seems as though rhetoric is being established early against the loss of defence connectivity with European companies by returning to the well trod past of generations gone that ‘British is best.’

However, the UK would invariably have to find international partners to share the burden of project development - even the mighty Lockheed Martin needed global buy-ins to help fund the ultraambitious F-35 Lightening II. But this might also prove that, in the long-run, both the European Union and the UK might still cooperate in future projects if the end result will be of benefit to all.

The Government actually ‘hedges its bets’ within its own document: “Success will prove that the UK is in a strong position to lead in delivering affordable next generation capability. Alternative options and greater flexibility in our national requirements will have to be considered if performance does not meet expectations.” There already seems to be an indication of a lack of self-belief.

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Saab

Saab Dynamics STRIX was developed to provide an armoured vehicle defeat capability to the 120mm mortar. It allows a commander to target armoured forces beyond the line-of-sight of forward positions.

DOORSTEP DELIVERY The arrival of precision guided munitions for tactical weapons on the battlefield has largely negated the need for an area barrage of unguided artillery fire and unguided weapons launched from the air.

by Stephen W. Miller

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he ‘shock and awe’ in the opening days of the Gulf War was the public’s introduction to precision guided munitions (PGMs). As impressive as this appeared the more revolutionary use of the PGM has been in tactical weapons. Advances in miniaturisation and ruggedised electronics today allow PGM warheads to be fitted to projectiles as small as 70mm.

As a result, precision engagement of targets is possible from mortars, artillery, naval guns, attack helicopters, and close air support aircraft. The ability of brigade and lower units to utilise pinpoint fires to support manoeuvre adds a significant new capability. An infantry company having the ability to quickly destroy a bunker delaying its advance with a single roof top hit from one of its own mortars has huge tactical benefits.

PGM Basics PGMs are projectiles with special features and guidance that allow it to hit a target with extremely high accuracy. They can be laser homing systems with a seeker in the warhead that senses and then ‘homes in’ on radiated energy from a laser target designator in the hands of a team on the ground or an aircraft. Another PGM is

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programmed with the target coordinates and then uses an on-board GPS receiver to locate and attack the target. Another approach is using an electro-optic link whereby the operator views the scene displayed by a video camera in the nose of the projectile and identifies and tracks the desired target. Finally there are warheads with a sensor that detects the highest heat signature in its view and then attacks that target.

Mortar PGMs The mortar is the ‘hip pocket artillery’ of the company and battalion commander.

They are light enough to move with the front line combat unit and being organic to the unit are readily available to offer the most responsive fires on call. Availability of PGMs for mortars provides additional options particularly for engaging targets, point targets in defilade and beyond line-of-sight. Being more accurate than the free flight mortar round there is lower chance of collateral damage, an increasing concern in counterinsurgency and urban operations. Using a PGM makes it possible to destroy a target with less fired rounds. Conserving ammunition is a major consideration especially for forward gun crews which

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have a limited amount of ammunition immediately available. For example the US Army Stryker M1129 Mortar carrier has only 60 rounds on board. Mortars of infantry units may have much less since they need to be man-packed.

One of the earlier mortar PGMs is the 120mm STRIX from Saab Dynamics.

It uses an infrared imaging seeker and is designed to engage stationary and moving armoured vehicles. Its standard range is 4 km but a special sustainer motor can be fit that reaches 7.5km. Once fired it picks out and targets any vehicle in its field of view as it descends. It was fielded by Sweden and Switzerland in 1994. STRIX and the similar British developed 81mm MERLIN were a response to large scale armoured attack anticipated by NATO at the time.

The US Army developed and fielded its Precision Guided Mortar Munition (PGMM) as an urgent requirement by forces in Afghanistan. Their requirement is very different than that of MERLIN and STRIX. Here the objective is true precision, meaning placing the round exactly on the specific target intended.

The round developed by Orbital ATK utilizes components of the Excalibur 155mm artillery PGM. A standard 120mm high explosive round is fitted with a

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Rheinmetall

GPS receiver in the nose and computer controlled aerodynamic directional fins. Orbital ATK’s PGMM work was an accelerated program and it was being used in combat within 11 months of contact award.

With the PGMM the mortar man programs the target coordinates into the warhead and selects impact, air burst, or delay detonation. Once fired the round has a range of up to 7km and a CEP Circular Error Probability) accuracy of five meters. By using GPS guidance the PGMM is able to engage targets in defilade and out of the line-of-sight. Its precision made it well suited to the nature of the combat in Afghanistan fighting small groups in steep terrain and, at times, in villages. US Army Captain Brian Costella who served as a mortar platoon commander in Afghanistan wrote in Infantry Magazine that his unit was able “to employ indirect fires safely as close as 80m from manoeuvre forces”. Effective delivery of 120mm fires this close is particularly useful where the enemy’s objective is to get close to friendly positions so as to neutralise the effectiveness of the opponents supporting arms fires. Singapore’s Defence Forces acquired 2,000 of Orbital ATK’s projectiles.

General Dynamics has a similar mortar bomb kit the RCGM (Roll Controlled Guided Mortar). Its GPS and

Rheinmetall’s SMArt155 carried sub munitions with sensors that deploy over the designated target area and then autonomously detect and engage armoured vehicles in a top attack using an EFP warhead.

US Army

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A mortarman loads a M395 PPGM into the 120mm mortar of a M1129 Stryker while conducting a fire mission in Afghanistan. PPGM was developed by Orbital ATK and fielded in an accelerated acquisition based on an urgent need requirement.

control surfaces are a section fit between the round main body while it still uses the rounds normal fuse.

The US Army had been seeking an improved precision mortar projectile in its High Explosive Guided Mortar (HEGM) with accuracy one meter CEP using a dual GPS/Semi-Active Laser guidance. It would have allowed engaging moving targets and to operate in a GPS-degraded environment.

However, in January 2018 the Army announced it had “will not release an RFP for the 120mm XM1160 HEGM due to a change in Army modernisation priorities.”

The US Marines were also pursuing a 120mm GPS guided mortar round called PERM for its Expeditionary Fire Support System with a 2015 contract to Raytheon.

Testing was being completed and production was to begin in 2018, however, the Commandant’s recent announcement to withdraw their 120s from active service could impact on this.

Still other armies continue efforts to field mortar PGMs. In France TDA of Thales displayed its 120mm PGM in 2017.

TDA’s approach is to have a common precision laser guidance kit that can be used with mortar, artillery and rockets. The mortar round is said to have a 15km range.

Russia has its KM-8 Gran laser guided top-attack round, while the Peoples Republic of China’s army has both the GP120 a terminal guided round and GP140 semi-active laser guided mortar round.

Artillery PGMs Where the mortar is controlled directly by battalion commanders and below, artillery

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is a brigade or higher fire support asset.

Although it has greater range and generally more lethal (as it carries a heavier explosive load) a request for artillery support can require more time to be filled. Still with the introduction of digital communications and fire controls it is technically possible to have rounds on the way in minutes. The pursuit of PGMs for artillery has for these reasons received much attention. Artillery PGMs generally use either GPS or SAL (semi-active laser homing) guidance. GPS requires a GPS signal to determine its strike point but is not limited by weather or visibility. GPS, however, cannot be used against moving targets and has a CEP of 5-10m. SAL requires the target to be designated by a ground or aerial platform so the target must be visible; however it is accurate to 1-2m.

An early SAL PGM was the M712 CLGP Copperhead a laser homing 155mm projectile intended to destroy tanks and armoured vehicles. Fielded like STRIX to be used against massed armoured attack it requires an observer to designate a specific target for attack. The tactical concept was to use Copperhead to destroy key enemy capabilities like command and air defence vehicles. This use of PGMs against critical continues to be one of the key objectives for PGMs. One of the better known artillery PGMs is the M982 Excalibur a 155mm GPS guided projectile manufactured

by BAE Systems and Raytheon. A BAE spokesperson shared that “Excalibur is a purpose built PGM with a GPS programmed nose and folding fins that is provided as a complete round.” Its range

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US Army

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Mortars are organic to the battalion and company and thus are typically the most responsive fire support available to a unit in contact.

Having mortar PGMs allow threats to be engaged and neutralized quickly so as to reduce friendly casualties and to maintain the momentum of an operation.

Here a 120mm mortar fires on targets in Afghanistan.

is 40 km fired from a .39-caliber artillery to 50km with a .52-caliber artillery. This extended range is achieved through the use of folding glide fins. These permit the round to actually glide to the target once it begins its downward course.

The US Army and Marines, Sweden, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands have all fielded Excalibur. A Raytheon spokesperson indicated that “the company is independently developing a laser-guided version, the Excalibur S. This variant incorporates a digital semiactive laser seeker, allowing it to hit moving targets, engage and strike targets without accurate location information, and to perform despite GPS jamming.”

Rheinmetall has its own 155mm PGM the SMArt 155 specifically designed for precise top attack of armoured vehicles.

The projectile releases two autonomous munitions on parachutes with IR and millimetre wave radar fused submunitions to sense targets and an EFP (Explosively Formed Penetrator) warhead. Once released they descend autonomously seeking a target which is engaged by the EFP. It is intended for deep use against follow-on echelons of an attacking armoured force. The 155 BONUS artillery round, a cooperative development by

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Bofors of Sweden and Nexter performs in a similar way and has been acquired by France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, and it is planned by the US Army.

While Excalibur and SMArt 155 are purpose built PGMs the M1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) manufactured

by Orbital ATK converts a standard 155mm high explosive projectile to one with five times greater accuracy. PGK replaces the conventional nose fuse and contains a GPS and small control surface (fins). The RGK increases the accuracy of the shell to 50m (against 267m for the conventional round). It is less expensive than Excalibur and allows use of existing 155mm ammunition stocks. Jarrod Krull of Orbital ATK explained that “the PGK has, since completing its first production Lot Acceptance Testing in June 2015, demonstrated a median accuracy of less than 10m. Plus, our programme of incremental improvements has increased performance from less than 50m to less than 30m. A further improvement has been to apply the technology to the 105mm calibre and to incorporate delay and timed fusing. “ The PGK, in fact, in field firings as shown even higher accuracies when fired from more advanced artillery systems

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with rounds reliability impacting to within 5m. In addition, PGK has a “failsafe” option with prevents the round from detonating if it calculates it will land beyond 150m of the intended target grid.

Using the PGK significantly enhances confidence in providing close support fires in proximity to friendlies. PGK, which was also developed and fielded in an accelerated acquisition, has been widely adopted with the US, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands.

Rocket PGMs One of the most intriguing applications of PGM technology has been its adaption to the 2.75 inch/70mm FFAR (Folding Fin Aerial Rocket). The 2.75" was developed in the 1940s and has been extensively used in an air-to-ground role. It was notably inaccurate but simple and performed well as an area weapon being especially useful firing multiple in ripple or salvos. It is was and remains used on helicopters and light attack aircraft. BAE Systems has given the 2.75" an entirely new capability. As Paul Roberts of BAE Systems explained its “Advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS) guidance kit transforms the unguided 2.75" (70 millimetre) rocket into a precision-guided rocket with surgical

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USMC

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US Army

Excalibur PGM achieved the longest range ‘kill’ in combat fired by the crew of a US Marine M777 155mm lightweight howitzer (shown) in Afghanistan. It successfully struck insurgent positions 36km from the gun position.

The M1156 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) developed by Orbital ATK converts a standard 155mm HE projectile to a PGM. A nose section with the GPS guidance and control fins replaces the normal fuse to achieve the 50m CEP objective. An incremental improvement program is further improving its accuracy to 30m and adding capabilities.

accuracy”. The APKWS adds a mid-section that includes advanced DASALS seeker optics located on four guidance wings. The target is “painted” by a laser designator and the rocket is fired. The wings deploy allowing the optics to find and lock in, guiding the rocket to the target.

APKWS has been qualified on a number of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft including the Tiger and Apache attack helicopters, the A-10 and the OV10 Bronco. In combat use it has been shown to be able to reliably place a rocket into a doorway or window even in pitch darkness. The seeker can lock on at 3km range but the rocket can be fired by helicopters at targets up to 5km distance and 12km by fixed wing

aircraft. The performance of the APKWS offers new opportunities for employing the 2.75" support of ground manoeuvre.

Threats even in close proximity to friendly positions can be safety engaged.

A number of rockets can be carried on a single aircraft as the 2.75" has both seven and 19 rocket launch pods. This combined with its relative low cost compared to other air delivered missiles, like for example Hellfire, allows it to address a number of targets individually from a single platform with high expectation that they will be neutralized.

Direct Fire PGMs A relatively new application of precision guidance has been to direct fire cannon,

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particularly tank main guns. Traditionally tank main guns fired at high velocities to enhance accuracy and lethality. However, tank cannon launched guided projectiles have been introduced by Russia, the PRC, Israel, and the Republic of Korea.

These include the Russian 9K112 Kobra and 9M119 Svir/Refleks for the 125mm cannon. The former is a Semi-Automatic Command Line of Sight (SACLOS) missile with 4km maximum range that is fired from the gun which requires the gunner to continually track the target.

The later is a laser beam riding missile with 5km range. Israeli’s LAHAT is a laser homing missile that requires the target to be designated and has over 8km range ground launched. LAHAT can be fired from 105 and 120mm cannon and other platforms including helicopters.

In each of these mentioned systems the projectile has its own propulsion making more a missile. They also require observing the target. The Korean Army’s KTSMII is a true projectile and functions very similar to Diehl’s SMArt155. In fact, Diehl was involved in KTSM’s development.

The projectile is fired at elevation from the K-2 tank 120mm cannon toward the target area. The projectile has its own navigation and aided by four stabilisation fins deploys two parachute equipped sub-munitions when it senses it is at the designated target area. The munitions then use small millimetre band radar and infrared sensors for target identification and acquisition. Attack is downward

by EFP. KTSM allows engagement of targets in defilade and out of sight out to 8km. The K-2 MBT, thus, has the unique ability to fire on enemy vehicles that have reversed to hide behind a hill slope.

Future PGMs Tactical precision guided munitions are relatively new to the battlefield so adapting tactics and procedures to make the best use of them are still being worked out. For example is the same level of battlefield airspace coordination with aircraft necessary when an artillery fire mission consists of only a single round rather than a salvo of eighteen? Another question is the determining in which situations and missions will the PGM be preferred over conventional ‘dumb’ rounds? Still there is no question that the PGM offers a new and potent capability to the tactical commander. It is likely to receive even greater attention should its price drop, thereby, allowing substantially wider fielding. AMR

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US Army

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Soldiers from Group Support Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) conduct weapons training at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

EVALUATING SMALL ARMS FOR SOF OPERATORS Small arms and light weapons are a critical capability for special operations forces (SOF), whether they be required for personal defence or offensive action.

by Andrew White

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omprising handguns, assault rifles, personal defence weapons (PDWs), light machine guns (LMGs), sharpshooters and sniper systems, the small arms market continues to be dominated by military and paramilitary organisations with the sector expected to reach a total value of around $4.92 billion by 2020, according to Markets and Markets research report in 2017.

Describing an annual growth rate of nearly four per cent, the report described how the further proliferation of small arms is attributed to growth in “rising conflicts, wars, cross-border disputes and terrorism worldwide, forcing armed forces to procure more advanced and

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efficient small arms and weapons for their different operations”.

However, despite the prevalence of multiple requirements across the international market, developments in small arms technology continue to grow at a relatively slow pace with the most exciting developments focusing heavily upon the integration of tactical accessories designed to enhance lethality, accuracy, ergonomics and mobility.

Such efforts include the proliferation of ambidextrous controls (designed to allow a shooter to engage in left- and right-handed shooting); lighter weight ,and networked optical weapon sights (for enhanced target acquisition and lethality); as well as reconfigurable buttstocks, pistol

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grips and foregrips in order to maximise ergonomic handling of each weapon.

Indian Requirements The largest requirement in small arms across Asia Pacific continues to be pursued by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) which over the last few years, has sequentially postponed the procurement of CQB carbines for SOF. Ongoing evaluation programmes selected Israeli Weapon Industries’ (IWI’s) ACE carbine following multiple lengthy field evaluations against competition which included Colt Defense, Beretta, and Ceska Zbrojovka’s (CZ). The Indian Army’s Para SF Commandos are seeking a 5.56mm x 45mm solution with short

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barrel length and ability to feature an integrated suppressor.

The MoD has been considering options for both 5.56mm x 45mm and 7.62mm x 51mm assault rifles although during the course of 2016 elected to cancel procurement of the Ordnance Factory Board’s (OFB’s) 5.56mm x 45mm Excalibur assault rifle.

However, on 16 January 2018 the MoD approved a ‘fast-track’ procurement over a 12-month period of 93,895 CQB carbines according to a statement released by the Press Information Bureau. The news follows a similar requirement from the air force’s Garud Commando Unit which released a requirement for 600 assault rifles in 7.62mm x 51mm calibres in May 2017.

The Indian MoD has suggested it remains open to both indigenously manufactured weapons as well as internationally-produced solutions with a variety of options becoming available to SOF. Beyond ongoing OFB concepts, the development of indigenous assault rifle designs continues to gather pace with Indian armour specialist MKU announcing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with Thales to cooperate in the development and production of the F90 CQB weapon and associated weapon sights and sensor systems.

Announced on 10 April, a company spokesperson explained to Asian Military Review how the partnership would see MKU “committed to enhancing the nightfighting capabilities” of Indian armed forces. Thales Australia already provides the next-generation EF88/F90 to the Australian Army in 5.56mm x 45mm NATO calibre.

The spokesperson also confirmed the MOU would directly target Indian SOF requirements with one option being the provision of an upgraded variant of the F90. One option comprises the F90BMR Modular Assault Rifle, first unveiled to the market at the Defence and Security Exhibition International (DSEI) event in London on 15 September 2017.

According to Thales officials, speaking to AMR at the event, the modular weapon system has been designed to equip the ‘modern integrated soldier’ demanded by the COE. The bullpup weapon comprises a total weight of 3.25kg and features a rail adaptor system in the 12-, 3-, 9- and 6- o’clock positions for the attachment of tactical accessories including torchlights;

IWI

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IWI’s ACE carbine has already passed qualification tests with Indian SOF although the company has yet to receive a contract to supply Indian Special Forces with a next-generation CQB carbine.

laser designators; and optical weapon sights. The rifle features ambidextrous controls including magazine release catch; cocking handle; and fire selector switch, designed to achieve the most rapid reaction times during CQB and MOUT scenarios in particular, company sources highlighted.

The rifle is available with multiple barrel lengths which can be fitted for relevant mission sets (CQB; conventional; long range patrolling; sharpshooting) while it has also been tested for maritime operations with an ability to fire after remaining submerged. The F90BMR has a maximum effective range of 600m, similar to other legacy NATO standard 5.56mm x 45mm assault rifles.

Alternative manufacturers Elsewhere in the region, Singapore’s ST Kinetics is also offering up a series of next-generation weapon systems in multiple configurations with modularity in mind for SOF. The Bullpup Multirole Combat Rifle (BMCR) comprises a 5.56mm x 45mm solution which is capable of featuring multiple barrel lengths for mission specific requirements. Options, according an official spokesperson for ST Kinetics explained to AMR, include 14.5- and 20inch barrel lengths, providing operators with a maximum effective range out to 600m.

With a total weight of just 2.9kg, the

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gas operated BMCR is ideally suited to CQB and MOUT scenarios, providing soldiers with a light weight and easily manoeuvrable solution. ST Kinetics officials also explained to AMR how the weapon can be fitted with the company’s own 40mm underslung grenade launcher, the ST Kinetics 40GL. Meanwhile, Russian small arms specialist Kalashnikov Group has also started to actively market its latest AK-12 and AK-15 assault rifles following their successful evaluation with Russian armed forces which was completed over the course of 2017.

The AK-12, available in 5.45mm x 39mm; 5.56mm x 45mm; and 7.62mm x 39mm calibres, has also been certified for service with the armed forces’ Ratnik future soldier programme although the rifle has yet to be networked to any C4ISTAR systems carried by infantrymen or special forces operators.

Weighing 3.5kg, the AK-12 has a maximum effective range of 400m with standard free-floating barrel providing enhanced accuracy over legacy AKvariant models, a Kalashnikov Group spokesperson explained to AMR, speaking from the annual Army 2017 exhibition near Moscow on 21st August.

Other weapon characteristics include a rail adaptor system allowing for the attachment of weapon accessories similar to NATO-standard configurations. It also includes a foldable buttstock, specifically

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ST Kinetics

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Singapore’s ST Kinetics’ BMCR has been designed as a modular and multi-role solution for SOF and conventional armed forces.

designed for airborne and special operations including parachute insertion and discreet or even covert carriage.

The AK-15 comprises a 7.62mm x 39mm weapon system providing operators with a maximum effective range of 800m. The AK-15 measures 3.74kg in weight and includes ambidextrous controls as well as capacity for the integration of a suppressor, again responding to demand from the special operations community.

The development of AK-12 and AK15 weapons has been initiated as options to overhaul legacy weapon systems including the AK-103; AK-104; and AK105 systems as well as AK-74 and AKM solutions.

Calibre Options Asian Pacific customers are also closely monitoring the slow proliferation of alternative calibre weapon systems across NATO armed forces.

Defence sources associated with the NATO Special Operations Headquarters explained to AMR how calibre selection continues to play a major role in the selection of assault rifles, with the hybrid nature of the COE demanding lethality to not only sucessfully neutralise targets but also minimise collateral damage to civilian populations and infrastructure.

In March 2017, the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) released a solicitation on the Federal Business Opportunities calling for a conversion kit to upgrade the legacy Colt Defense 5.56mm x 45mm M4A1 carbine to a Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) in .300 Blackout (300 BLK) calibre.

The 300 BLK, equivalent to a 7.62mm

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x 35mm round, is essentially a 7.62mm bullet head encompassed by the case jacket of a smaller 5.56mm cartridge, with multiple SOF organisations around the World considering this particular ammunition type as more suitable for CQB and MOUT operations when relying upon shorter-barreled carbines.

On 12 February 2018, USSOCOM awarded Sig Sauer an undisclosed contract to deliver a total of 10 PDW conversion kits for evaluation with operators from the organisation’s various force components which includes army Special Forces Groups and navy SEAL Teams.

Programme requirements call for the modified M4A1 to weigh no more than 5.5lbs, while measuring no more than 26 inches with collapsible buttstock fully extended. However, it must be capable of being reduced in length down to 15 inches with buttstock retracted while the total height of the weapon system must not exceed 7.5 inches.

‘The weapon shall be fully functional when collapsed or folded. Kit should include a 5.56mm barrel that can be changed from 300 BLK to 5.56mm in less than three minutes,’ with accuracy of no more than 5.0 Minutes of Angle at a range of 300 yds, the solicitation confirmed.

Defence sources from USSOCOM explained to AMR how the contract award represented a significant shift in trend for the Tampa-based Command which has solidly relied upon the M4A1 as the staple, general issue assault rifle for operators from the various components.

The ability to switch between 5.56mm x 45mm and 300BLK calibres with the M4A1 could represent an interim step ahead of the wider employment of dedicated

| Asian Military Review |

300BLK carbines across USSOCOM Component Commands, especially with NATO Special Forces partners including the Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Force (NL MARSOF) and army’s Korps Commandotroepen (KCT) having already selected 300BLK carbines as a primary weapon to provide alternative options to Heckler and Koch 5.56mm x 45mm HK416 carbines.

Beyond the advent of 300 BLK ammunition, the special operations community continues to witness the evolution of additional technologies designed to reduce the physical burden on soldiers operating across the COE. Options include 6.5mm and 6.8mm ammunition types, designed to provide an interim cartridge type lying somewhere between 5.56mm and 7.62mm as well as Cased Telescoped (CT) ammunition which continues to be developed by the likes of Textron Systems and General Dynamics Ordnance Tactical Systems (GDOTS). Such developments have also been accompanied with the development of lighter weight carbines, assault rifles and LMGs, defence sources explained to AMR. However, 5.56mm x 45mm and 7.62mm x 51mm cartridges appear to remain the calibre of choice for the majority of armed forces moving forward with industry continuing to upgrade these ammunition types in line with emerging operational requirements.

ST Kinetics, for example, continues to market its 5.56mm PLUS Ammunition family, with emphasis on lightweight cases capable of surviving the high chamber pressures associated with modern assault rifles.

ST Kinetics claims the technology retains ballistic performance of legacy 5.56mm ammunition, while providing a more effective solution for MOUT with up to 30 percent in weight savings. This, company officials explained, amounted to 1kg for every seven magazines (of 30 rounds each) carried.

Elsewhere, BAE Systems has certified a 5.56mm x 45mm Enhanced Performance (EP) round, following on from the success of its 7.62mm High Performance (HP) ammunition, the latter of which is now currently in operational service with UK Special Forces, according to Craig Fennell, Future Programmes Director for Land at the company.

7.62mm HP ammunition has the capacity to penetrate 3.5mm thick steel plates at ranges greater than 1km, Fennel

L A N D W A R F A R E

described to AMR while upgraded 5.56mm EP solutions have been designed to extend capability against steel plates and armour by up to 30 per cent and at ranges out to approximately 800m.

Finally, Textron Systems continues to develop its Cased Telescoped (CT) family of small arms and ammunition with Textron Systems’ Vice President, Control and Surface Systems, Wayne Prender, explaining to AMR how current options include a 5.56mm x 45mm CT LMG; 6.5mm CT carbine; and 7.62mm CT medium machine gun.

“Textron Systems’ CT programme seeks to enhance and improve upon the army’s current technology. To accomplish this, the Textron Systems 5.56mm and 7.62mm CT Machine Guns offer reduced system weight, lower ammunition weight, and increased lethality and reliability,” Prender explained to AMR. Furthermore, the 5.56mm and 7.62mm CT weapon systems are interchangeable requiring only the exchange of a barrel part to alternate between calibres, Prender added while highlighting the obvious logistical and maintenance

benefits of running both weapon systems in a platoon.

The CT LMG has also conducted live fire field tests against legacy M249 SAW weapons, with one of the latest evolutions being conducted at the Swedish Army’s Land Warfare Centre in Kvarn where both weapon systems were tested to compare ‘accuracy, mobility and maintainability’, it was explained.

The LMG, which has reached Technology Readiness Level 7 in development, comprises 30 per cent weight reduction in ammunition while also providing warfighters with ’20 per cent’ increased accuracy at undisclosed ranges while also allowing for easier maintenance, trigger operation, recoil reduction and burst fire control, an official after action review from Textron Systems claimed.

The US Naval Special Warfare Command, based out of Coronado, San Diego is also understood to have evaluated the weapon system.

Prender also highlighted how the CT LMG had reduced engagement reaction time during CQB and short

range scenarios while also reducing the weight carried by squads conducting reconnaissance, standing and fighting patrols.

“As we develop these weapons, our intent is to make them as lightweight as possible while also improving performance – these tests and developments validate that we are accomplishing these goals,” Prender concluded.

As SOF units across Asia Pacific continue to identify next-generation small arms solutions, procurement agencies are aligning efforts with rapidly evolving improvements in the development of tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) for the operation of small arms solutions which continue to be upgraded in line with emerging requirements from the COE. In addition, the small arms market also continues to witness the gradual introduction of technology improvements, with specific emphasis on the adoption of more modular and lightweight weapon systems; alternative and lighter calibre types; 3-D printed accessories; enhanced optical weapon sights; and targeting devices. AMR

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United States Air Force

When operational, the MQ-4C Triton HALE UAV will provide Australia with a long-range and highly persistent maritime surveillance and reconnaissance capability.

ASIA-PACIFIC UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE DIRECTORY 2018 Increasingly sophisticated and capable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and their associated payloads are gaining increasing traction in the Asia Pacific region as a relatively inexpensive method of acquiring capability through moderate expenditure.

by JR Ng

A

ccording to the US-based Market and Markets consultancy, the global UAV market was valued at $18.14 billion in 2017 and is projected to reach $52.3 billion by 2025 at a compound annual growth rate over 14 percent from 2018 to 2025. The demand for UAVs in the Asia Pacific accounts for 30 percent of the projected growth, second only to North America which accounts for 45 percent of the total growth figure.

“The demand for UAVs is swiftly increasing among different endusers across the globe,” the report stated. “The market is driven by number of factors such as rise in their demand across commercial and non-commercial end-users, various consumer-centric technological developments and declining prices, among others.”

Indeed, the proliferation of UAVs across the Asia Pacific is indicative of the increasing maturity of such platforms and their associated technologies, as well as the growing confidence and desire of regional countries to incorporate these into their military forces.

The driving factors underpinning this growth are many. For example, new and more capable mission equipment that – when combined with the persistent airborne presence offered by UAVs which can be measured in days as opposed to hours for manned aircraft – are enabling unmanned aircraft to undertake a much wider spectrum of operations than before. In some instances,

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these platforms will soon replace manned missions, freeing up valuable technical and manpower resources.

Additionally, next-generation human-machine interfaces (HMI) will lower the barriers of entry to UAV vocations for the growing demographic of technology-savvy millennials, who are already highly proficient in the use of mobile communication and computing devices such as smartphones and tablets, but may not have the typical fitness level or even aptitude for traditional military service.

From the market perspective, recent changes to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), an agreement among 35 countries that governs the export of missiles and long-range UAVs, could also make it easier for regional countries to acquire these systems. These developments are no doubt prompted

by China’s many recent successes in exporting high-end, and armed systems that have been previously out of reach of certain countries due to the MTCR or Western sanctions.

With rise of UAV operations in the Asia Pacific, Asian Military Review presents a timely overview of the key acquisitions and development efforts within the region.

AUSTRALIA Australia is looking to significantly expand its inventory of UAVs, particularly in the medium-altitude long endurance (MALE)

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■ FIELDED CAPABILITIES Textron Systems Aerosonde: A number of Aerosonde UAVs have been acquired for the Australian Army, which was deployed in 2003 to support Operation Anode, a peacekeeping mission in the Solomon Islands. The Aerosonde is also being used by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) for UAV and payload experimentation.

Boeing-Insitu ScanEagle: Initial flight trials to assess the operability of the long-endurance ScanEagle UAV system aboard the RAN's three Adelaide class FFG-7 frigates were completed aboard HMAS Newcastle in June 2016. The system is now in operational use aboard the Adelaide-class frigates and was deployed in June 2017 along with HMAS Newcastle as part of Operation Manitou in the Middle East, where its visual and ranging system (ViDAR) helped gather surveillance data. While on its deployment, the ScanEagle UAV was also involved in the RAN’s first operational manned/ unmanned teaming (MUM-T) with the frigate’s Sikorsky MH60R helicopter in September 2017.

Schiebel Camcopter S-100: The RAN selected the S-100 Camcopter under the Navy Minor Project 1942 tender request.

Although the number of S-100 systems was not disclosed, the rotary UAV was to be used for operational training and development ahead of a future phase of Joint Project 129 that aims to select one to two vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV platforms to conduct operations from the RAN's Future Frigates and offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). Delivery of the first S-100 systems powered by 55hp (41kW) Diamond piston

The Royal Australia Navy has tested the S-100 for a future shipborne UAV capability.

engines occurred in mid-2017, with additional heavy-fuel capable systems delivered in December 2017 for initial ground testing activities. The RAN commenced its shipborne evaluation of the S-100 in March 2018 and plans to trial the S-100 UAVs on all of its aviation-capable vessels.

AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems/Textron Systems RQ-7B Shadow: The acquisition of two complete RQ-7B Shadow 200 tactical UAV systems at a cost of $133 million (AUD$175m) for the Australian Army was announced in August 2010 under Joint Project 129 Phase 2. The package comprised 18 aircraft, four ground control systems, support systems, and initial training.

It also included funding to deliver the UAVs to Australian troops in Afghanistan. The first system was received in August 2011 followed by the second in April 2012 and were operated by 20 Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Regiment. By September 2013, the type had completed 10,000 flying hours in support of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops before returning to Australia the following month.

Elbit Skylark I: The Australian Army operates a number of the hand-launched Skylark-I UAVs. These are equipped with day and night observation and data collection payloads, and are powered by a quiet electric motor with an operating range of up to 10km and featuring fully autonomous take-off and landing.

The Skylark-I is gradually being phased out in favour of the RQ12 Wasp AE. AeroVironment RQ-12 Wasp AE: In June 2017 the Australian government announced a contract worth up to $36.5 millionfor the delivery of hand-launched AeroVironment Wasp AE UAVs to fulfil the army's small unmanned aerial system (UAS) requirement under Project Land 129 Phase 4. The Army plans for every combat team to be equipped with the 1.2kg Wasp AE mini-UAV, which can operate for up to 50 minutes out to a range of 5km. The UAV is equipped with a pan-tilt-zoom Mantis i22 AE gimballed payload that delivers live, streaming colour and infrared IR) The Australian Army is equipping its combat teams with the hand-launched RQ-12 video.

Wasp to improve their tactical situational FLIR PD-100 Black Hornet awareness.

II: The Australian Army

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Australian Army

and high-altitude long endurance (HALE) classes to support the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as it seeks to increase the surveillance and detection range of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Under Project Nankeen, the RAAF formerly operated four Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Heron 1 MALE UAVs leased from Canadian company MDA, while an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for logistics and training support was concluded with Canadian forces deployed in Afghanistan. The first Heron UAV was handed over in early December 2009 and subsequently dispatched to Kandahar, Afghanistan. The ADF formally accepted the Heron 1 UAVs in late January 2010, paving the way for operational deployment of three air vehicles to commence by the end of that month. The fourth air vehicle was retained in Australia for operator training.

Following the ADF’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, two Heron 1 UAVs were retained at the Woomera test range in south Australia to ensure that RAAF personnel continued to hone their operational skills prior to the introduction of future MALE and HALE platforms. These were subsequently retired in July 2017, having trained over 200 pilots and accumulated more than 30,000 flight hours. At present, a dedicated RAAF UAV capability is absent until a new armed MALE platform is selected through Project Air 7003.

Schiebel’s S-100 Camcopter UAS is being used for trials and evaluation by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The trials are being conducted as part of Australia’s Navy Minor Project (NMP) 1942 programme, which seeks to imbue the RAN with interim shipborne vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAS competencies. NMP 1942 is widely seen as a precursor to the country’s Project SEA 129 Phase 5, which will equip the RAN’s offshore patrol vessels and major surface combatants with operational UAS capabilities.

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Schiebel

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Australian infantry platoons will equipped with the PD-100 Black Hornet II nano-UAVs, which can be easily carried and deployed by a single dismounted soldier.

from the base station.

outlined plans in 2017 for each combat platoon to be equipped with FLIR PD-100 Black Hornet II 'nano-UAVs'.

Deliveries commenced in early 2018 and are expected to be completed by 2019.

Weighing approximately 18g, the hand-launched UAV features a tadpoleshaped fuselage design that is propelled by an electric motor driving a 120mm twobladed main rotor and tail rotor. It can stay airborne for up to 25 minutes on each full charge, and can operate to a maximum range of 1.5km

■ UNDER DEVELOPMENT/CONSIDERATION/TRIALS Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton: A HALE UAV capability for persistent long-range maritime patrol and other surveillance missions is being sought under Project AIR 7000 Phase 1B, with the latest Defence White Paper in 2016 stating that up to seven of these UAVs are expected to be acquired from the early 2020s. An MoU was signed with the United States in March 2017, confirming Australia’s intent to acquire the Triton platform on the successful conclusion of the US Navy’s development trials. Deliveries are expected to commence in 2023 once acquisition approval is secured. When in service, the Triton UAVs are expected to complement the RAAF’s Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, paving the way for the retirement of the service’s ageing Lockheed Martin AP-3C Orions.

BANGLADESH Although Bangladesh does not presently operate any military UAVs, the country’s procurement agency – the Directorate General Defence Purchase (DGDP) – issued a tender notice in December 2017 to procure a MALE-class UAV for the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). The DGDP said the UAV will be used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and targeting operations under the military’s Forces Goal 2030 modernisation plan.

The UAV is expected to have a maximum speed of 200km/h and maximum range of 1,000km, as well as a maximum ceiling of 6,000m or higher. Also desired is a ground control station, avionics systems, sensors, datalinks, electro-optical and IR payloads, and the provision to carry weapons.

DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (DPRK) The DPRK’s interest in UAVs can be traced back to the 1970s, although it was not until the late 1980s when a number of ASN104/D-4 UAVs were acquired from China. During the 1990s a small number of Russian-made DR-3 Reys were received from Syria and Pchela-1T UAVs from Russia.

By the early 2000s North Korea possessed not only a growing inventory of UAVs but had begun to manufacture a UAV based on the ASN 104, known locally as the Panghyon I. The improved Panghyon II based on the ASN-105 followed several years later.

Reports also indicate that the DPRK is developing a longendurance UAV, with Republic of Korea (RoK) officials revealing that “numerous test flights” by such prototypes have been

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detected since early 2016.

■ FIELDED CAPABILITIES Xi'an ASN Technical Group ASN-104/D-4: Development of the D-4 began in March 1980 and was originally intended to be a low-altitude, low-speed UAV for civilian applications such as aerial survey and mapping. This was subsequently acquired by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) for tactical missions such as front-line reconnaissance and electronic jamming.

Panghyon I and II: Domestically manufactured versions of the X’ian ASN-104 (described above) and ASN-105 UAVs. The Panghyon II is essentially the same airframe but incorporates an extended range control system.

Yakovlev OKB Pchela-1T: Developed in the early 1990s to meet a tactical surveillance and electronic countermeasures requirement, the Pchela-1T adopts a pusher-propeller propulsion arrangement and carries a TV camera with zoom lens. It is believed that the DPRK acquired up to 10 of these UAVs. Taiyuan Navigation Technologies Sky-09P: The Sky-09P is powered by a two-blade propeller driven by a tractor engine mounted in the nose. It is now likely that the DPRK is locally manufacturing the type, following the acquisition of several of these UAVs in the 1990s.

MALAYSIA The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) presently operates leased UAVs – the Boeing-Insitu ScanEagle and the indigenously developed Alliance Unmanned Developmental Research Aircraft (ALUDRA) Mk1 tactical UAV. The country is looking to expand its use of UAVs – particularly by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) as it seeks cost-effective measures to monitor developments in the South China Sea, Straits of Malacca, and the Sulu Sea near Sabah.

At the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2018 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, the Republic of Korea’s (RoK’s) Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD) agreed to transfer technologies and expertise to the Malaysian company DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies (Deftech). This would allow it to support local production of the Korean Unmanned System (KUS)-FS MALE UAV, the KUSFT tactical UAV, the KUS-VH vertical helicopter, the KUS-VT tiltrotor, and the KUS-HD hybrid multi-rotor UAV. Deftech is also partnering with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to meet an anticipated RMAF requirement for wide area surveillance with its Anka MALE UAV, also with potential technology transfers in advanced aero composites and control technology.

■ FIELDED CAPABILITIES Boeing-Insitu ScanEagle: Malaysian company Unmanned Systems Technology (UST), a subsidiary of Composites Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM), is contracted to provide UAV surveillance covering sections of land and sea in and around Sabah.

ScanEagle UAVs have been leased by the MAF Joint Force Headquarters to operate from its Kudat base.

Unmanned Systems Technology (UST) ALUDRA Mk1: Development of the ALUDRA Mk1 can be traced back to a number of earlier efforts by CTRM and SCS (SR-1 and SR-2; Nyamok) that commenced from 2003. At least 15 systems are believed to be operated under lease since 2006, with UST as main contractor.

Thales España Fulmar: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) acquired six Fulmar UAVs for its latest New Generation Patrol Craft (NGPC) in 2016. The Fulmar UAV is

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UAV which is expected to be completed by 2019. The Camar is constructed from reinforced composites is 2.5m long with a 4m span. Deftech states that the Camar will be capable of flying for up to six hours with a control radius of approximately 80km.

MYANMAR The Myanmar Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay) is believed to be operating a squadron of Chinese-manufactured UAVs based at Meiktila Air Base in north-central Myanmar. Reports of UAVs being tested by the Tatmadaw in Rakhine State near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border surfaced in early 2015 before the outbreak of the Kokang conflict.

Malaysia has acquired the ship-launched Fulmar UAV for maritime enforcement missions.

designed to support ISR roles and can carry an 8kg payload.

The MMEA-specific model will carry one high-resolution video camera with automatic target tracking capabilities. The MMEA’s Fulmar UAV is launched via a catapult launcher, situated just behind the ships’ SMASH 30mm naval gun system. The UAV is recovered using an impact-absorbing net deployed on the deck space immediately behind the bridge.

■ Under Development/Consideration/Trials Unmanned Systems Technology (UST) ALUDRA Mk2: The ALUDRA Mk2 is intended to be acquired by the MAF, although this requirement appears to have lapsed with the armed forces still operating the Mk1.

Deftech ALUDRA Camar: Deftech and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) are jointly developing a 40kg-class surveillance

■ Fielded Capabilities China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) Cai Hong/Rainbow (CH)-3: CASC’s CH-3 UAV, developed by its China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA) subsidiary, features a cranked wing design a span of 8m as well as forward canards. The UAV has a maximum take-off weight of around 650kg. It is powered by a rear-mounted piston engine driving a three-bladed pusher propeller and can carry a payload of up to 180kg. The company has stated that it can fly for up to 12 hours with a control radius of 200km via line-of-sight (LOS) datalinks. Between 10-12 CH-3 UAVs are believed to have been acquired by Myanmar.

NEW ZEALAND The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has expressed its desire

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■ Fielded Capabilities Skycam UAV Kahu: The Kahu has been designed as a high performance, aerodynamically efficient mini-UAV that is equipped with an autopilot system designed by the New Zealand Defence Technology Agency. It is presently operated by the New Zealand Army and can carry a range of high performance still, motion video and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors, with a flight endurance of two hours and a range of 25km.

INDIA India has been involved in UAV development for over two decades, with research and development (R&D) organisations such as the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), developing UAVs with ISR, targeting, and weapon guidance capabilities for a number of years.

The country has a growing UAV requirement for its military, paramilitary, border security forces, and commercial organisations across the platform size spectrum. Indigenous efforts have thus far resulted in a number of deployable mini- to tactical-class UAVs, although local industry has been struggling to develop larger platforms in the MALE and HALE class.

However, collaboration with foreign developers such as Israel’s IAI as well as technology research institutes – which are also involved in R&D or part-manufacture of more advanced platforms – could finally provide the necessary breakthroughs in the development of larger multi-role UAVs. ■ Fielded Capabilities IAI Heron 1/2: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is known to operate at least 20 Heron MALE UAVs for long endurance ISR mission, with the first examples delivered in 2001. Meanwhile, the Indian Army signed a $218 million contract in February 2013 for additional Heron UAVs that were delivered from early 2014 to equip its artillery regiments situated along the disputed SinoIndian border. The army earlier acquired 16 Heron UAVs in 2009.

The Indian Navy (IN) is believed to operate at least 12 Heron UAVs, with a number of these located at its Porbandar facility on the west coast to monitor the waters off Karachi. However, a Heron UAV crashed soon after take-off in March 2018. Taken together, the total number of these air vehicles in Indian military service likely exceeds 50 units.

IAI Searcher Mk II: All three services of the Indian armed forces have also been operators of the tactical-class Searcher II UAV since 2001. The MkII variant features extended-span wings and

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an AR 682 rotary engine that provide improved flight endurance over the earlier model. It is also configurable for tactical surveillance and communications relay and can carry multiple payloads simultaneously.

IAI Harop/Harpy: Although not specifically a UAV, the IAF has procured at least 10 units of the Harop loitering munition under a $100 million deal in 2009, which were operational by 2013 to provide an all-in-one search, observe, track, and attack capability against fleeting targets of opportunity. The IAF also operates a number of the Harpy anti-radar attack munitions.

■ Under Development/Consideration/Trials IAI Heron TP/TP-XP: In September 2015 India's Minister of Defence approved a US$400 million purchase of 10 Heron Turboprop (TP) MALE UAVs, with deliveries within 12-18 months of contract signing. However, these air vehicles have IAI

for aerial ISR UAVs in its Future Land Operating Concept 2035 paper, which outlines potential challenges for its armed forces in the next decade and beyond.

A similar desire had also been highlighted by the NZDF in its latest 2016 Defence White Paper, which has proposed $14 billion (NZ$20 billion) out to around 2030 to enhance the capabilities of its various services, although both documents do not offer any specific timelines or preferred systems.

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has also indicated an interest to field a maritime UAV aboard its Otago-class OPVs, which would greatly benefit from an organic high-speed surveillance capability for their extended maritime and economic exclusive zone (EEZ) patrols. However, no formal requirement has been raised to date.

IAI has developed the Heron TP-XP UAV to comply with MTCR regulations.

yet to materialise – likely due to India's entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). In February 2017, IAI announced a new export-version of the Heron TP called the Heron TP-XP. This export variant has a reduced payload of 450kg compared to the 1,000kg capacity of the original model to enable members of the MTCR to acquire it without violating the regime’s obligations.

DRDO Rustom I/II: The DRDO’s Rustom programme aims to produce an indigenously developed multirole MALE UAV to equip all three Indian military services. The platform is expected to undertake long-endurance missions, including communications relay, ISR, maritime patrol, as well as artillery fire direction and battle damage assessment (BDA). In 2012, the agency suggested that a strike capability involving the integration of the Helina missile – an air-launched variant of GA-ASI

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The Predator B Guardian UAV is specifically designed for long-range maritime patrol.

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the Nag anti-tank guided missile currently under development – could be pursued at some stage. Following its maiden flight in November 2016, Rustom II has been renamed the Tactical AirBorne Platform for Surveillance-Beyond Horizon 201 (TAPAS BH 201) and is expected to be employed primarily as an ISR platform.

DRDO Nishant: Work on the catapult-launched Nishant multirole tactical UAV began in the mid-1990s with its maiden flight in 2008. Four of these systems were acquired by the Indian Army in 2011, although a series of crashes between 2013 and 2015 prompted the service to cease acquisition of the system.

A conventional take-off and landing variant with a wheeled undercarriage, designated Panchi, was under development but this effort also appears to have ceased following the cancellation of the army’s order.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) Predator B Guardian: Up to 22 units of the Guardian, an unarmed maritime variant of the MQ-9 Reaper MALE UAV system, worth $3 billion could be acquired for the Indian Navy under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. Capable of operating at a maximum altitude of over 15,000m, the turboprop powered Guardian is fitted with a Raytheon SeaVue multimode maritime radar under its belly that provides wide-area maritime ISR coverage for 27 hours. A potential deal is presently being fast-tracked by both Indian and US governments, although timelines have not been set.

The TNI-AU operates an Israeli-made tactical UAV that features a stabilised, gimbal-mounted day/night electro-optic sensor, and a CommTact datalink. It is powered by a 38hp Zanzottera piston engine with a two-blade pusher propeller, enabling it to reach a service ceiling of 5,500m and an operational radius of 200km with an endurance of 14 hours. This type is being operated by the service’s Aviation Squadron 51 based near the city of Pontianak in West Kalimantan.

PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI)/Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) Wulung: The Wulung UAV programme, which began in 2004, originally sought to produce an indigenously developed UAV to perform a variety of civilian missions across the country's extensive archipelagic territory, from illegal fishing and logging surveillance to cloud-

INDONESIA Indonesia has maintained a stated need for UAVs for several years in a bid to shore up defences across its huge territorial waters, which include around 17,000 islands. Attempts to procure and indigenously develop UAV platforms for the Indonesian armed forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI) have been hindered by a lack of industrial and technical capabilities as well as financial constraints.

The country’s top defence officials have reiterated a requirement for armed MALE-class UAVs. In January 2018 PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) indicated an interest in collaborate over such a development – likely based on the Anka UAV – for the Indonesian Air Force (TNIAngkatan Udara, TNI-AU). Officials have also outlined an interest to acquire armed UAVs from China, with an eye on technology transfer that could eventually enable PTDI to develop advanced UAV platforms and systems.

■ Fielded Capabilities Aeronautics Defense Systems Aerostar:

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seeding missions and supporting firefighting activities. The TNI subsequently requested an improved variant with increased endurance and range for potential intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. PTDI is understood to have delivered up to 11 Wulung UAVs to the TNI-AU by end of 2015.

JAPAN Although the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) is widely seen as one of the most technologically advanced defence forces in the Asia Pacific, it is interesting to note that its present UAV capabilities have been for many years comparatively modest compared to regional peers such as China and South Korea.

However, since 2014 the country has outlined a series of initiatives to grow its indigenous UAV development capabilities, with the aim of introducing new and more capable air vehicles that can perform persistent ISR and early warning missions across it vast maritime domain and airspace.

■ Fielded Capabilities Boeing-Insitu ScanEagle: The March 2011 earthquake and ensuing tsunami and nuclear crisis prompted the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) to improve its humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and ISR capabilities, awarding a contract with then Insitu Pacific to deliver a ScanEagle UAV via Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for operational testing. The system was developed and tested by Insitu Pacific in collaboration with MHI to meet Japanese spectrum requirements and was delivered by May 2013.

Fuji Heavy Industries FFOS: Development of a rotary UAV for the JGSDF for target acquisition, artillery fire-control, and BDA commenced in 1991. Known as the Forward-Flying Observation System (FFOS), a prototype performed its maiden flight in December 1993 and trialled for the Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) until 1997. The FFOS carries a daylight TV or FLIR sensor mounted under the fuselage and can

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The RQ-4 Global Hawk has been acquired by Japan to extend its surveillance net, a much needed capability given the increasing assertiveness of its regional rivals.

also be equipped with a laser rangefinder.

Yamaha R-MAX Mk IIG: A rotary UAV first developed as the R-50 from 1983 for commercial agriculture and entered service in 1991. The more advanced R-MAX featuring an improved engine, flight stability, and safety functions was introduced in late 1997.

An evolved version, G-1, was introduced in October 2005 and certified in January 2008. This was followed by a military variant, the MkIIG, which entered service with the JGSDF and deployed for peacekeeping missions in Iraq in 2005.

■ Under Development/Consideration/Trials Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk: In December 2013, the Japanese MoD confirmed plans to purchase three RQ-4 Global Hawk HALE UAVs, and announced its firm decision in January 2015. This was followed by a US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announcement in November detailing the request and potential sale of three RQ-4 Block 30 aircraft to Japan at an estimated cost of $1.2 billion. In October 2017, Northrop Grumman signed a $130 million contract to acquire long-lead materials for three Global Hawk Block 30s, two ground control elements, enhanced integrated sensor suite, as well as spares and site survey. The Japanese government is selecting a base for the UAVs, which is anticipated to be Misawa Air Base in northern Japan.

Pakistan has acquired at least three EMT Luna tactical UAVs for battlefield reconnaissance missions.

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■ Under Development/Consideration/Trials UMS Skeldar V-200: Indonesia became the first customer of UMS Skeldar to receive a heavy fuel variant of the Skeldar V-200 VTOL UAV, with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) deploying the air vehicle for performance and acceptance tests in late 2016 ahead of potential acquisition and pilot training. The number of Skeldar V-200s delivered to Indonesia remains undisclosed.

UMS Skeldar Rajawali-330/F-330: The Indonesian Army (TNI-Angkatan Darat, TNI-AD) acquired three fixed-wing Rajawali-330 surveillance and reconnaissance UAVs and associated equipment under a 2015 contract. The air vehicle – which is equipped with an EO/IR camera, a hyper-spectral camera, and a mapping camera with light detection and ranging (LIDAR) capabilities – is a derivative of the F-330 and is being codeveloped under licence by Indonesian defence manufacturer PT Bhinneka Dwi Persada (BDP). Training was conducted from April 2016, with all three air vehicles believed to be delivered by mid-2016.

PT Indo Pacific Communication & Defence (IPCD) Tactical UAV: The hand-launched Tactical UAV was first unveiled by IPCD at the 2014 Indo Defence exhibition in Jakarta. The air vehicle, which typically carries a high-definition camera, is backpack transportable and is operated by a two-person team.

It is believed that several of these examples were trialled by the Komando Pasukan Khusus (KOPASSUS/Special Forces Command) in mid-2014.

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■ Fielded Capabilities Advanced Computer Engineering Services (ACES) Uqab II: The Uqab II is a tactical short-range UAV system developed from the Eagle Eye and has an operational range of 150km and a ceiling of 10,000ft. It is fitted with a pan-tilt-zoom camera and can downlink digital video in real time. The Uqab UAVs have GPS-based navigation and tracking systems that can be preprogrammed and altered during flight. They can also operate under manual control and use conventional take-off and landing.

Boeing-Insitu ScanEagle: Pakistan has acquired an unspecified number of ScanEagle UAVs under a $15 million FMS contract awarded in September 2015. The contract, which emerged after nearly seven years since the country expressed its interest in the air vehicle, was handled via the US Naval Air Systems Command and is believed to cover up to 30 systems if all options were fully exercised. Deliveries of the ScanEagles commenced from the third quarter of 2016 to the Pakistan Navy.

CASC CH-3: At least 20 CH-3 UAV systems are believed to have been delivered to Pakistan in 2011. See earlier entry for air vehicle details.

EMT Luna: The fixed-wing Luna is a short-range battlefield reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition UAV with a flight endurance of approximately six hours and an operational radius of 100km. Potential payloads include a daylight CCD camera with zoom, a thermal imager, or a miniature single aperture radar. At least three systems have been acquired for the Pakistan Army.

Leonardo Falco: Originally developed by Selex ES/Finmeccanica, the long range Falco UAV comprises a fuselage module that supports a fixed tricycle undercarriage, shoulder-mounted gull wings and a rear-mounted pusher engine. The company states that the air vehicle has an operational radius of 200km and a 14 hour endurance, although this can be further extended via command handover between ground control stations (GCS).

Deliveries of the Falco to the Pakistan Air Force is believed to have been completed in 2008 with service entry in 2009.

Global Industry and Defence Solutions (GIDS) Burraq: Claimed to be a fully indigenous development by the state-owned National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), the Burraq appears to be heavily inspired by the Chinese-made CH-3 tactical UAV with its canard and swept-wing configuration and pusher-propeller propulsion arrangement. The Burraq entered service with the Pakistan Air Force in November 2013 and is equipped with two underwing hard points, which can be used to launch a variety of munitions including Barq laserguided missiles.

Global Industry and Defence Solutions (GIDS) Shahpar: Adopting a similar airframe configuration with the Burraq, the Shahpar is optimised for ISR missions and does not feature an offensive capability. It is presently equipped with a four-stroke Rotax 912 ULS engine that provides up to seven hours with an operating radius of 250km while carrying a 50kg payload, although the company is planning to upgrade the air vehicle with a new and more powerful engine.

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Chinese industry has introduced scores of unmanned systems over the past decade, mainly produced by state-owned defence primes such as the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and CASC, although the number of private firms involved in military and dual-use UAV development has also increased significantly. Indeed, the US Department of Defense (DoD) believes that the country could manufacture as many as 41,800 UAVs worth over $10 billion by 2023.

The DoD also believes that the development and acquisition of longer-range UAVs will increase the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA’s) ability to conduct long-range reconnaissance and strike operations, with notable developments such as the Wing Loong (Pterodactyl) and Xianglong (Soaring Dragon).

Although information about the capabilities of in-service systems remains shrouded in secrecy, these programmes represent major advances in Chinese technology.

■ Fielded Capabilities CASC CH-1: The short-range general-purpose CH-1 entered production for the PLA’s artillery forces from around 2003. The tactical UAV carries a 20kg payload comprising a range of electrooptical sensors appropriate for its intended missions, which include artillery fire direction, battlefield damage assessment, as well as reconnaissance and surveillance within a radius of 100km.

CASC CH-2: The CH-2 medium-range general UAV is essentially a larger and night operations-capable air vehicle based on the CH-1 design and was produced from 2005. The newer platform improves on almost every aspect of its predecessor, including an increased operating radius of 200km and an endurance of eight hours. An increased payload capacity of 30kg enables the air vehicle to take on a greater variety of roles, such as data communications relay.

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PAKISTAN Pakistan has attempted to acquire Western made UAVs since the early 2000s, but it was not until 2006 before it acquired the German-made Luna and Italian Falco UAVs. Concerted efforts to develop its indigenous UAV production capabilities have also borne fruit, with a number of domestically produced systems already in service with the Pakistan armed forces.

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The Wing Loong I UAV is in People's Liberation Army Air Force Service as the Gongji-1.

AVIC Wing Loong-1/Gongji-1: Developed by AVIC’s Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute (CADI) subsidiary, the Wing Loong-1 is a MALE-class UAV that has a wingspan of 14m and shares a close physical semblance to the US-made RQ-1 Predator. The air vehicle – which is identified as the Gongji-1 (GJ-1) in People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) service –

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has a payload capacity of 200kg and can carry munitions, such as the indigenous HJ-10 anti-armour missile, CS/BBE2 50kg highexplosive bomb, and LS-6-50 small-diameter bomb.

Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (BUAA)/ Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG) BZK-005: The existence of the multirole BZK-005 MALE UAV was first made known in 2006 in a promotional video. Equipped with a satellite communications (SATCOM) datalink and carrying up to 150kg of stores and equipment, the air vehicle can stay airborne for up to 40 hours and is specifically designed for longrange reconnaissance missions. It is believed to be in People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF) service, and this was proven in April 2018 when the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force announced that it had photographed a BZK-005 flying over the East China Sea to the north of Taiwan.

Guizhou Aviation Industry Group Xianglong (Soaring Dragon): The Xianglong is believed to be the primary HALE UAV operated by the PLAAF for high-end ISR missions. Often compared to the RQ-4 Global Hawk.

The UAV debuted as a concept at Airshow China 2006, with prototype reportedly performing its maiden flight in 2009.

Commercial satellite imagery captured in February 2018 showed at least two Xianglong UAVs deployed to the Lingshui naval airbase on Hainan Island: a strategic location for military operations in the South China Sea. It is the third known operational location for the Xianglong, which have been seen operating from Shigatse airbase, which is in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China near the disputed Doklam tri-junction, since August 2017, as well as Yishuntun airbase in northeastern China in February 2018.

Xi'an ASN Technical Group ASN-206: Development of the short-range tactical ASN-206, which reportedly incorporated technical assistance from Israeli firm Tadiran Spectralink, began in December 1994 with serial production believed to have occurred from 1996. The ASN-206 has a payload capacity of 50kg and has an operational radius of 150km and flight endurance of up to eight hours.

Xi'an ASN Technical Group ASN-207: The ASN-207 was revealed in 2002 and is essentially a larger and more capable version of the ASN-206, featuring a 100kg stores carrying ability, a 600km operational radius, and a 16 hour endurance.

Xi'an ASN Technical Group ASN-209: The ASN-209 multirole tactical UAV, which appears to be derived from the earlier ASN-

The jet-powered WJ-600 UAV is remarkably similar to a cruise missile in terms of physical form.

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206/207 design, is believed to have been acquired by the PLA Navy (PLAN), with several examples reportedly sighted during a major naval exercise between Hainan and the Spratly Islands during July 2011 as a shore-based surveillance platform and communications relay.

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) WJ-600: The WJ-600 is a high-speed, armed reconnaissance UAV that adopts a form factor that is comparable to that of a cruise missile and is available with a turbojet (WJ-600) or turbofan (WJ600A) engine. It is believed to have been acquired by the PLAAF, although it has yet to be seen in operation despite multiple public appearances at defence exhibitions around the world.

However, the existence of operational WJ-600s was proven when at least two examples were displayed during Turkmenistan's Independence Day parade in October 2016.

■ EXPORT-ORIENTED SYSTEMS AVIC Wing Loong II: Unveiled in its production-ready form at the 2016 Airshow China Exhibition, the Wing Loong II has an overall length of 11m and wingspan of 20.5m. The air vehicle has a stated internal payload capacity of 200kg, with provision for up to 480kg of external stores, and can operate for up to 20 hours. It reportedly made its maiden flight on 27 February

AVIC's Wing Loong II is an improved version of the Wing Loong I UAV, with improved endurance and payload capacity.

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2017, with AVIC announcing that it had secured an unidentified international customer on the same day.

Beihang Unmanned Aircraft System Technology TYW-1: The export-oriented TYW-1 is thought to be a strike-capable MALE UAV that is based on the in-service BZK-005. It reportedly features a 370kg payload capacity and is equipped with four underwing hard points, with a flight endurance of up to 40 hours.

CASC CH-3: The CH-3 has found regional success with Myanmar and Pakistan acquiring a number of these systems for armed reconnaissance missions. The company has also developed civilian variants for applications such as geological survey and low-level aerial mapping. Advanced flight control technologies resulting from these efforts have also benefited its military systems.

CASC CH-4: Inspired by the US-made RQ-1 Predator, development of the MALE-class CH-4 UAV commenced in 2009, with the first production-ready example rolled out in 2014. Glass fibre-based composite materials are used extensively to reduce the overall weight of the air vehicle as well as its radar crosssection (RCS). Two variants are currently offered: the CH-4A,

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which is configured principally for reconnaissance missions with a flight endurance of 30 hours; and the strike-oriented CH4B, which can carry a 345kg weapons payload but has a shorter flight endurance of 14 hours. At least 30 CH-4s – valued at $700 million – have been exported worldwide since 2014.

CASC CH-5: Also unveiled in its production-ready form at Airshow China 2016, the CH-5 features a lightweight allcomposite airframe that measures 11.3m long with a wingspan of 21m and bears a striking resemblance to the US MQ-9 Reaper UAV. The company claims it can carry a maximum payload of 1,200kg. The air vehicle has a stated flight endurance of over 40 hours, although a heavy fuel variant with an extended endurance of 60 hours is under development. The company has specified an operating radius of 250km via line-of-sight control, although this can be extended to 2,000km when a SATCOM datalink is fitted.

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■ Under Development/Consideration/Trials AVIC Wing Loong I-D: State media reported in January 2018 that AVIC is developing the Wing Loong I-D, an improved version of its Wing Loong I UAV. It will feature a wider wingspan of 17.6 m and be able to carry up to 400kg of external stores. The company has stated that it aims to have the I-D variant production-ready by the end of 2018.

AVIC AV500W: Under development by AVIC's China Helicopter Research and Development Institute (CHRDI), the AV500W is a modified version of the civilian model AV500 VTOL UAV with a more robust structure and improved performance. The AV500W is stated to have a payload capacity of 160kg. This typically comprises a chin-mounted, stabilised electro-optical infrared sensor turret as well as internally carried payloads such as a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) or communications relay systems.

Weapons can also be carried on its stub wings.

CASC CH-4C: CASC is developing an improved variant of its widely exported CH-4 MALE UAV with an updated electronic architecture that will enable it to carry more powerful mission payloads. Designated the CH-4C, it has been seen carrying what appears to be an electronic warfare (EW) or signals intelligence (SIGINT) pod during flight trials in early 2018.

The AV500W is a militarised version of the AV500 commercial VTOL UAV.

Tengoen Technology TB001 ‘Twin Tailed Scorpion’: A new starter in China’s UAV industry, Tengoen took the opportunity at the 14th China-Association of Southeast Asian Nations Exposition in in Nanning in September 2017 to unveil its twin-engine, twin-boom TB001 armed reconnaissance UAV. The TB001 has a stated maximum range of 6,000km and an

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endurance of 35 hours, and is equipped with two hard points under each wing. State media reported that the prototype air vehicle performed its maiden flight just days after its public unveiling in Nanning.

PHILIPPINES Despite engaged in decades of counterinsurgency (COIN) operations, the modernisation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been hampered by a lack of funding and ineffective policy. The Department of National Defense (DND) has in recent years made significant efforts to boost AFP capability and transform it from a COIN-oriented force into one that can undertake the full spectrum of military operations, which has seen its services benefit from a number of new acquisitions. The AFP initially adapted hobby drones for tactical ISR support, but has recently taken delivery of US-made military systems.

■ Fielded Capabilities AeroVironment RQ-11B Raven: The Philippine Army has taken delivery of the RQ-11B Raven system comprising three UAVs as part of a United States-supported counterterrorism support programme. According to a US embassy announcement in February 2017, the army will also receive operations and maintenance training.

Boeing-Insitu ScanEagle: The Philippines was revealed to have acquired the ScanEagle UAV in a US Navy Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) solicitation published in June 2017. In September 2017, the US Department of State announced that the Philippines is to receive a ScanEagle system comprising six UAVs by 2019. This was handed over to the Philippine Air Force during a ceremony held at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City in March 2018.

The system is operated by 300 Air Intelligence and Security Wing (AISW) out of Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan.

Philippine Army Research and Development Center (PARDC) Raptor: Publicly unveiled at an AFP open house event in Camp Aguinaldo in December 2013, the Raptor is a fixed wing drone based on the airframe of a commercially available remotecontrolled aircraft. It has an endurance of around three hours and carries a video camera that provides real-time imagery and video out to an operating radius of 3km. The Raptor was first deployed during the Zamboanga City crisis in September 2013.

Philippine Army Research and Development Center (PARDC) Knight Falcon: Similar to the Raptor, the Knight Falcon is a fixed wing UAV that was adapted from a commercial airframe, although it is larger and features a longer range of around 7 km.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA The Republic of Korea (RoK) is one of a handful of Asia Pacific countries that possess advanced aerospace industries and are pursuing wide ranging unmanned aircraft system development programmes. At present, the RoK’s military forces rely on a mix of indigenously developed systems – with the majority of these operating at the tactical level and below – from established international manufacturers at the MALE-class and above, such as IAI’s Heron I and Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk.

Present domestic development efforts largely centre on MALE-class platforms for the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) and Republic of Korea Army (RoKA), the introduction of an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) capability, as well as vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), and tiltrotor platforms.

UAVs are also expected to be an important element of the

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so-called 'Kill Chain' integrated surveillance and strike system for detecting and neutralising hostile missile launches from the DPRK. Beyond serving the needs of its armed forces, the country aspires to be one of the leading manufacturers and exporters of worldclass UAV systems, with key government agencies and industry primes such as the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD) spearheading efforts to advance its UAV technology base.

■ FIELDED CAPABILITIES KAL-ASD Korean Unmanned System-FT (KUS-FT)/RQ102: KAL-ASD, a unit of the South Korean national airline specialising in military systems, secured a contract from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in 2016 to manufacture the KUS-FT tactical UAV system for the RoKA. The company will deliver 16 complete systems – each comprising four UAVs – by the end of 2020. The RQ-101is designed for short take-off and landing operations, and can stay aloft for 24 hours.

It is equipped with automatic target tracking capability with an effective range of up to 10 km.

Daewoo/KAI RQ-101 ‘Night Intruder 300’: The RQ-101 is the RoKA’s first tactical-class UAV platform, which adopts a fixedwing configuration and offers a 120km operating radius with lineof-sight control or up to 360km with ground relay stations. It has a payload capacity of 45kg which is dedicated to high-definition day and infrared sensors as well as a SAR device. Deliveries are understood to have been completed by the end of 2004.

Elbit Systems Skylark II: Elbit’s Skylark II is a larger and more capable version of the hand-launched Skylark I with an endurance of six hours and an operational radius of approximately 59 km.

The system typically comprises up to two air vehicles, associated payloads, and a truck-mounted rail launcher and GCS. Foosung Group/UCON Systems Remoeye: The RoKA signed a contract with Foosung Group for its RemoEye 002B mini-UAV in 2013, with deliveries of 120 systems – each comprising four air vehicles – commencing in the third quarter of 2015. The RemoEye 002B is hand-launched and recovered with an airbag cushion system. The electrically powered air vehicle has an range and endurance of 10km and 60 minutes, and is equipped with a nose-mounted, stabilised electro-optical infrared payload with pan and tilt scanning.

IAI Heron 1: IAI announced in December 2014 that the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) selected its Heron 1 MALE UAV for the RoK armed forces’ corps-level UAV requirement. An unspecified number of these air vehicles are understood to be operated by the RoKA. At least one of these air vehicles have been reported performing reconnaissance missions over the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ).

KAL-ASD KUS-FS: Previously known as the Medium-Altitude UAV, the KUS-FS MALE UAV is being developed for the RoKAF and is in the same class as the US MQ-9 Reaper UAV. The multirole air vehicle is expected to perform missions such as communications relay, electronic warfare (EW), ISR, as well as signals intelligence (SIGINT). Images showing a prototype in flight reveal that it is also equipped with two hard points under each wing, indicating a potential strike capability. Development of the air vehicle expected to be completed by end of 2018, which will then be transferred to the RoKAF for operational testing and evaluation.

KAL-ASD KUS-VH: KAL-ASD is developing a rotary-wing unmanned platform based on the MD-500 light attack helicopter.

Flight endurance is extended to four hours with the installation of a large fuel tank in place of the rear passenger seats. If successfully developed, the KUS-VH could potentially support manned/unmanned-teaming operations with the RoKA’s AH64E Apache Guardians, which already feature the ability to command UAVs. KAL-ASD KUS-VT: An unmanned tiltrotor aircraft developed jointly with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and based on the TR-60 system. The KUS-VT can carry a 30 kg payload and has an operational radius of 200 km with an endurance of 6 hours. It is expected to perform autonomous VTOL and shipboard operations.

Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk: The RoK has acquired four RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawks along with two GCS systems and two spare engines under a $657 million FMS contract, which will equip a RoKAF ISR unit. Two aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in 2018, with a further two in 2019.

REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) The Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) has been reluctant to adopt unmanned technologies, with no UAVs known to be currently in service. The country’s largest and most capable UAV, the tactical-class Chung Shyang II, is operated by the Republic of China Army (RoCA).

The country’s UAV development efforts are being spearheaded by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST).

Existing stocks of MD500 helicopter could be exploited to develop unmanned VTOL UAVs for the Republic of Korea Army.

■ UNDER DEVELOPMENT/CONSIDERATION/TRIALS KAI Next Corps Reconnaissance UAV II, Tactical UAV, and unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV): KAI is developing a range of next-generation UAV platforms positioned to meet the future requirements of the RoK armed forces. Detailed information on these developments have yet to be released.

KAL-ASD KUS-FC: Very little is known about the stealthoptimised, turbojet-powered KUS-FC UCAV. The company has stated a wingspan of approximately 16 m and a flight endurance of 6 hours at the ADEX 2017 exhibition in Seoul, but has withheld further information.

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■ Under Development/Consideration/Trials NCSIST Teng Yun: The prototype of a new MALE-class UAV was revealed at the 2015 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE), which appears to be modelled after the US RQ-1 Predator platform with proposed mission sets including communications relay, persistent ISR operations, as well as coastal patrol and civilian research missions. An updated prototype with underwing hard points was subsequently rolled out at TADTE 2017. In December 2017, President Tsai Ing-Wen announced that the air vehicle, now designated Teng Yun (Cloud Rider), would enter production.

Taiwan's NCSIST is developing a medium-altitude long endurance UAV called the Teng Yun.

SINGAPORE Singapore has been described by some observers as an ‘enthusiastic user’ of UAVs. The country first began unmanned aircraft operations with the army-operated Tadiran Mastiff tactical UAV in 1979, but has since acquired newer and more capable platforms that are now operated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s UAV Command, which was inaugurated in 2007 and now oversees all major military UAV operation.

With a perennial shortfall in manpower, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) see technology as a critical force multiplier with the ongoing modernisation effort focusing deeply on the integration of command and control, ISR, and precision strike. In that regard, UAVs are seen as a key enabler for the SAF’s transformational initiatives.

■ Fielded Capabilities Boeing-Insitu ScanEagle: The Republic of Singapore Navy

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■ Fielded Capabilities NCSIST Cardinal II: The Cardinal II is a small hand-launched UAV that is understood to be in RoCA and Republic of China Navy (RoCN) service. The air vehicle is powered by an electric motor and can stay aloft for up to 60 minutes, and is recovered via parachute-assisted landing. An electro-optic camera enables it to capture ISR imagery.

NCSIST Chung Shyang II: Also known as the Albatross, the Chung Shyang II is a reconnaissance platform that is presently in RoCA service. Around 32 UAVs were acquired for the army under a $120 million contract inked in 2010. The package included eight complete control suites, each comprising a command post, GCS, launch and recovery system, remote video terminal, and other support equipment. Three of these air vehicles reportedly malfunctioned and were lost during routine operations and training in 2012, 2013, and 2016. Further work is underway to improve reliability and performance.

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The Republic of Singapore Navy has integrated the ScanEagle UAV to some of its Victoryclass missile corvettes.

(RSN) operates the ScanEagle UAV as part of the upgrade and life extension of its six Victory-class missile corvettes, providing these vessels with an organic airborne ISR capability. The air vehicle is launched via a pneumatic launch catapult installed on the aft deck. A Skyhook recovery system is fitted just astern of the superstructure to snare the returning vehicle in mid-air.

Elbit Systems Hermes 450: The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has operationalised a number of Hermes 450 tactical UAVs in March 2015, which were first delivered in 2007. The RSAF's Hermes 450 UAVs are operated by 116 Squadron, which is based at the western Tengah Air Base. The air vehicle carries a 150kg payload, although the service opted for a belly-mounted turret with high-definition colour daylight TV and IR cameras, as well as a laser designator.

IAI Heron 1: The RSAF’s primary long-range UAV is the MALEclass Heron 1 UAV, which was introduced in May 2012 and replaces the ageing IAI Searcher tactical UAV. The service’s Heron 1 UAVs were declared fully operational in March 2017, and are operated by the 119 and 138 Squadrons. It has opted for a MAN 4x4 truck-based mobile GCS configuration for general UAV and mission payload operation, with two modular workstations that handle critical mission planning, control, command, and processing functions.

ST Engineering Aerospace Skyblade II: The Skyblade II is described as a short-range mini-UAV. The 5kg air vehicle is hand-launched and parachute-recovered and is powered by a hybrid propulsion system and has an endurance of one hour and operating radius of up to 8km. It is equipped with an automatic ‘return-home’ function and can be programmed to autonomously fly user-defined flight paths via waypoint-setting and also features three pre-determined loiter patterns.

ST Engineering Aerospace Skyblade III: At least six Singapore Army units have been equipped with the Skyblade III miniUAV since 2010. The Skyblade III is a 5kg, man-portable UAV can be transported in two backpacks weighing 20kg each. It can be readied for flight within 20 minutes and launched by hand, flying for up to one hour out to a range of 8km.

■ Under Development/Consideration/Trials DSO National Laboratories V15: The V15 is Singapore’s first locally developed fixed-wing surveillance UAV with a VTOL

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Thailand's Falcon V is a unique fixed-wing UAV with a vertical take-off and landing capability.

capability. Unveiled in November 2017, the V15 is equipped with a day/night camera and is designed specifically for use in urban environments where conventional UAV take-off and recovery is a challenge. The V15 has a 3 hour endurance and has also demonstrated an ability to take-off and land on a moving unmanned ground vehicle.

Schiebel S-100 Camcopter: The RSN has reportedly conducted shipborne trials for the rotary-wing S-100 Camcopter aboard one of its latest Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessels. It is understood that the service is yet to commit to a buy, and is also exploring other similar UAVs before it selects the appropriate platform.

ST Engineering Land Systems Stinger: The Stinger Unmanned Aerial Multi-Rotor Gunship is envisioned to be a semiautonomous, company-level reconnaissance and fire-support platform. Although still in early development, the company is aiming for an endurance of over 30 minutes when carrying highdefinition daylight and thermal imaging cameras, a fire-control system (FCS), and a 5.56mm calibre Ultimax 100 Mk8 light machine gun.

SRI LANKA Since the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War, the country’s armed forces have been tasked with an increasing spectrum of missions, including air defence, strike, and cyber warfare, but is primarily geared towards providing tactical air support during COIN and naval interdiction operations. To this end, the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) maintains a range of UAVs that have supported the ground forces for more than a decade.

■ FIELDED CAPABILITIES IAI Searcher: Operated by SLAF’s 111 UAV Squadron, the longendurance Searcher UAV is believed to have conducted 265 sorties in support of ground troops during the civil war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam from 1983 to 2009.

EMIT Aviation Consult Ltd Blue Horizon II: An unspecified number of the long-endurance Blue Horizon II tactical UAVs – which have a flight endurance of 24 hours and an operational radius of up to 150km via a datalink – have been acquired after a 2009 request from the Sri Lanka government. These are believed

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to be operated by the SLAF’s 112 UAV Squadron.

THAILAND Thailand’s requirement for improved intelligence gathering has increased in recent years, with a concomitant growth in indigenous UAV research and development capability. Earlier efforts to manufacture locally made systems have largely revolved around highly affordable but technically rudimentary products from private- and military-owned firms with foreign assistance from countries such as Israel.

However, increasingly sophisticated and capable UAVs are beginning to emerge in recent years, following a Ministry of Defence initiative that was introduced in 2009 to was reduce dependency on foreign UAV technologies and imports. Today, the ministry’s Defence Technology Institute (DTI) is spearheading efforts to grow its indigenous UAV production capabilities and spur innovation within the local defence industry.

■ FIELDED CAPABILITIES Aeronautics Defense Systems Aerostar: The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) fielded its first UAV, the tactical-class Aerostar as part of the military's wider effort to introduce surveillance and reconnaissance UAVs into service to support its fighting forces.

Local media reported that a new unit, 404 Squadron, was created at Takhli to operate the AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven: The Royal Thai Army is believed to have acquired around 12 of these hand-launched mini-UAVs in 2010 for tactical ISR missions.

Elbit Systems Hermes 450: The Royal Thai Army has reportedly acquired the Hermes 450 UAV in 2017 with an unspecified number of these air vehicles operated by the 21st Aviation Battalion in the central province of Lopburi. The Hermes 450 is a long-endurance tactical UAV that can carry approximately 180 kg of stores and can operate for 17 hours on a standard fuel tank.

The air vehicle has a stated maximum range of 300km.

RTAF Research and Development Centre for Space and Aeronautical Science and Technology Tigershark II: Designed around 2015, the medium-range Tigershark II tactical UAV is stated to have an operating range of up to 150km while carrying

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a 30kg payload. Ministry of Defence reportedly awarded a US$18 million contract in 2016 to procure parts for up to 17 Tigershark II UAVs. Local firm AVIA Satcom reportedly responsible for systems integration and testing, while G-Force Composites is constructing the airframe.

■ Under Development/Consideration/Trials R V Connex Sky Scout: A smaller tactical UAV with a similar airframe configuration is also being developed by local firm R V Connex for DTI. The Sky Scout tactical UAV has a 10 m wingspan is capable of carrying a 10kg payload with a flight endurance of up to six hours. It is said to have accumulated over 200 hours in flight testing.

Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Naval Research and Development Office Tarem: Unveiled at the 2017 Thailand Defence & Security Exhibition in Bangkok, the multi-rotor Tarem tactical UAV is being developed by the Thai Naval Research and Development Office for communication and surveillance missions. It is also equipped with a stabilised mount that can accommodate a 9mm calibre automatic pistol.

Top Engineering Group Falcon V: The Falcon V is a fixed-wing surveillance UAV with a VTOL capability that is being developed under a DTI contract. It can carry a 5kg payload.

VIETNAM There has been an observable emphasis on UAV development in line with a requirement to boost the ISR capabilities of the Vietnamese armed forces. The country is understood to have

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begun developing UAV technologies such as flight control and navigation systems, operating software and airframe design, since 2011. Moreover, programmes led by the state-owned Vietnam Aerospace Association (VASA) has ostensibly resulted in cooperation with Russia's Irkut and Sweden's Unmanned Systems Group (UMS) to develop and produce tactical UAVs based on the Irkut-200 and UMS Magic Eye 1 UAVs, although it appears that the momentum has since stalled with little known progress on development.

■ Fielded Capabilities Viettel Group Patrol VT: The military-owned telecommunications firm Viettel Group publicly showcased its indigenous Patrol VT tactical UAV in 2014. The air vehicle, which is developed by the company’s Flight Instrument Centre, is stated to be capable of operating out to 50km and carries an optical infrared camera that provides real-time transmission of high-definition imagery.

■ Under Development/Consideration/Trials Academy of Science and Industry/Ministry of Public Security HS-6L: Vietnamese media have reported the existence of the HALE-class HS-6L, which has a twin-boom airframe and a wingspan of 22m. Stated performance include a range of up to 4,000km and a 35 hour flight endurance. The air vehicle is thought to be destined for military patrols over the South China Sea, where Vietnam maintains several claims. A prototype was reportedly completed by November 2015 with flight testing occurring during the second quarter of 2016. AMR

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UNMANNED MARITIME WATCHDOGS Navies around the world are beginning to discover the utility of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs).

by Dr. Joetey Attariwala

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nmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) are versatile platforms which are primarily designed for dull, dirty, and dangerous missions. Through increased deployment, navies around the world are increasingly offloading tasks to unmanned systems which act as force multipliers. USV technology is advantageous in that they are not subject to physical fatigue which is a factor of manned systems, thereby making unmanned operations much safer while delivering operational efficiency and cost savings.

USVs are typically controlled through line-of sight communication, although in some instances via beyond line-of-sight through satellite connectivity.

USVs have various modalities of operation: autonomous USVs can conduct their preprogrammed missions without human intervention; while semi-autonomous USVs usually have a human in-the-loop who controls the vehicle by way of a ground control station. In reality all USVs have human control, whether it be through mission planning or mission control.

USVs are typically built to withstand high sea-states and the corrosive effects of water and sun. Another critical design element for these platforms is the need for adequate power generation as USVs not only have to survive at sea, but they also need power to sail, power to communicate,

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and power to reliably operate payloads and sensors. In fact, some manufacturers are building USVs that exclusively use renewable energy in order to mitigate this issue. The AutoNaut USV is a prime example as it uses patented Wave Foil Technology which enables long-term mission duration for maritime surveillance.

Powered entirely by renewable energy the AutoNaut uses solar energy to power an extensive range of sensors and equipment for 24/7 operation.

Similarly, Liquid Robotics designs and manufactures Wave Gliders which are long duration USVs. Both the Japan Coast Guard and Royal Australian Navy are customers who have deployed Wave Gliders. The company is also working with other navies and coast guards in the Asia-Pacific region to provide unmanned solutions. According to the company, fleets of Wave Gliders can be prepositioned in hot spots or off coastlines to provide persistent surveillance, 24/7, even through the most severe weather.

Liquid Robotics continues to make advances in Wave Glider technology to increase system endurance, sensor payloads and autonomy.

One area of focus is using Wave Gliders as a communications gateway. The company states that Wave Gliders can acoustically communicate to manned and unmanned systems from the sea floor up to space for real time, actionable information.

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“To address the increasing military threats in the Asia-Pacific region requires new approaches and innovations to deliver real-time actionable information to the region’s navies and coast guards,” said Joe Zerucha, regional vice president, Asia Pacific, Liquid Robotics. “Wave Gliders, used by the US Navy and others around the globe, are the most proven, long duration USVs and can provide this advantage in region today.”

The key to virtually every USV role is marrying a platform of sufficient size, endurance and performance, with the ability to accept various payloads depending on the mission at hand. Some USVs are built for a single type of mission, but most operators recognise that multimission capability is the key to a robust USV platform, making the sensors, weapons and other payloads fielded aboard USVa of equal if not greater importance than the platform itself.

The prevalence of USVs in navies today is still relatively small, but growing. There are numerous technology demonstrator programmes with the acknowledgement that the potential uses of USVs is increasing. Weaponised platforms brings up all the social and ethical discussions which until recently has been focused primarily on the UAV industry and its operators and stakeholders.

A prime example of a USV combat system is Rafael’s Protector USV, an unmanned integrated system capable of performing a variety of naval and security missions. Originally designed for maritime security and force protection missions, the Protector USV can carry a variety of modules enabling it to perform naval dominance roles such as precision strike and electronic warfare missions.

The Protector’s core systems include a comprehensive sensor suite comprising radar, Toplite electro-optical director and an all-around 360 degree navigation camera.

The security payload includes the MiniTyphoon Stabilised Weapon Station for up to 0.5 inch caliber guns, a high pressure water cannon system and auxiliary sensors.

A stabilized Spike missile launching system may alternatively be integrated to provide a remote, precise strike capability. The Protector USV can be delivered in nine or 11 metre variants, a maximum speed of 40 knots, and an endurance claimed at greater than 48 hours.

The French Naval Group has been assessing the current and future requirements for naval and coast guard integrated unmanned solutions, and views

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USVs as a tool to extend the scope of a ship’s mission for multiple tracking/ targeting, and for heterogeneous data collection for fusion and analysis. Capabilities currently being studied by Naval Group include persistence at sea, security, and integrated artificial intelligence (AI).

Speaking to the role of USVs in the Asia-Pacific region, the Naval Group's international sales director, François Dupont, shared the following with AMR: “Naval Group responds to the evolving trends of the defence market.

We are aware of the increasing demand regarding drones and as a result we provide solutions to integrate all kinds of unmanned vehicles on our ships. i4drones is our leading innovation that collects and treats the data collected through the unmanned assets.”

Inshore protection A common naval use for USVs is for harbour or coastal surveillance missions - a task which is particularly well suited to platforms configured for persistence.

Speaking to this point was Kevin Tucker, vice president and general manager of

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Surveillance at FLIR Systems.

“USVs typically take a lot of shock, especially when traveling at speed on the water. It’s therefore extremely important to have sensors that are durable and able to routinely handle that type of shock. It’s also important to have sensors that can operate in the harsh conditions that are found on the water - primarily the corrosive effects of salt water,” explained Tucker. “The expectation for reliability is always important, and it seems even more so for maritime sensors.

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Most of these systems are left on for extended periods of time which has huge implications for power utilisation. We have tremendous experience in this area with our built-for-purpose SeaFLIR product line which is ruggedised, draws little power, and provides stabilised EO/IR imagery, location, laser rangefinding, and a laser pointer.”

Numerous other companies also produce sensors for USVs. CAE is now marketing its Magnetic Anomaly Detection-Extended Role (MAD-XR) sensor

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which is used primarily for the detection of submarines. The MAD-XR is a MAD sensor with reduced size, weight, and power requirements allowing it to continue to be used on traditional platforms, and also non-traditional ones like USVs. USVs are also used in route clearance mine detection and mine countermeasures; and hydrographic survey. Companies such as Elbit Systems provide solutions in this domain with its Seagull USV which can be mated to Kraken’s Katfish sonar for mine countermeasures and underwater intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations.

Similarly, Textron Systems’ Fleet-Class Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSVTM) is used for the minesweeping and neutralisation role, ISR, and harbour security monitoring or protection.

Another stand-out company in this area is Singapore based ST Engineering Electronics which has leveraged years of work to develop such capabilities. ST Engineering's electronics sector began conceptualising and designing their first USV prototype in 2007. By 2010, the company had completed a trial deployment of a nine metre USV for mine-countermeasure operations. Since then, ST Engineering has developed the 14m Venus USV for maritime security purposes, and has created a scaled-up 16m variant for prolonged endurance.

Both of these platforms are currently being marketed world-wide. The 14m Venus USV has a beam of 3.3m, displaces eight tons, and can achieve speeds in excess of 50kts. The 16m Venus USV has a beam of 5m , displaces 22 tons, and can achieve speeds in excess of 35kts. The latter platform was first trialed in 2015 during Exercise Highcrest in Singapore.

This effort was in part to demonstrate key

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features such as automatic navigation and obstacle avoidance.

According to the company, the Venus USVs are equipped with sophisticated sensors to monitor its surroundings 24 hours a day. The USV can determine stationary or moving obstacles, understand water depth and navigation boundaries like shipping channels or anchorages, enabling automatic navigation in commercial shipping traffic.

Both variants are equipped with navigational intelligence to operate in congested maritime traffic environments aided by a repertoire of radio frequencybased and vision-based sensors for situational awareness, as well as inertial navigation systems for localisation accuracy. They can also be equipped with various payload features like long-range electro-optics, acoustic warning devices and searchlights.

Military variants can be equipped with remote weapon stations, towed array sonar, expendable mine disposal system and dipping sonar and are available with Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) hulls or aluminium hulls.

USVs in training Although missionised platforms are growing in prevalence, the greatest preponderance of naval USVs are found in the training regime. It is here where USVs serve as targets for surface ships and military aircraft to hone their antisurface warfare skills. These USVs must present threat representative profiles like that of Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC).

In this capability, companies like ASV Global; QinetiQ Target Systems; the U.S. Navy designed High Speed Maneuvering Sea Target (HSMST); and Sistemas de Control Remoto (SCR) stand out.

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QinetiQ Target Systems is one key player in the live-fire training market with their Hammerhead and Barracuda USVs. The company has delivered USVs to customers around the world, including Australia, Japan, and South Korea.

Additional QinetiQ USVs are fielded in the Asia-Pacific region through a servicebased application for joint exercises and multinational events.

Vincent Malley, interim deputy managing director at QinetiQ Target Systems spoke to AMR about their USV platforms: “The Hammerhead USV is more of a traditional target platform, and also a test and evaluation tool. Hammerhead continues to be a platform which can replicate the piracy and fast inshore attack craft that we are seeing in many parts of the world. Some of the geopolitical conflicts around Asia and the Middle East have grown the demand for the target; and last year we sold the 400th Hammerhead the most sold USV in the world.”

QinetiQ has designed two variants of the Hammerhead, the first being a petrol-fueled version, while the other is a newer heavy-fuel (diesel) engine variant optimised for deployment from ships this variant is named Humpback. The company’s Canadian office is currently developing unique electronic warfare payloads to integrate into their USVs for anti-ship missile defence and a decoy spoofing capability.

“We describe the Humpback as a more operational USV with multi-role capability.

It can be used for unique payloads, surveying and mapping capability, and a host of other roles which are outside of our typical market which is live-fire training and test and evaluation. From a quantity perspective we’re selling more Hammerheads, but the Humpback is being used in a greater variety of roles because it has a larger fuel tank which allows operation in excess of 20 hours,” said Malley. “We also have the Barracuda USV and it continues to be a workhorse. We’re getting a lot of interest in the Barracuda from Asia-Pacific countries where we’ve been delivering systems year-on-year over the last 10 years.

One can see that companies are expending considerable effort in USV technology. It is certain that usage in the Asia-Pacific region will grow as navies look to scale USVs globally, and to do so from the shore to the deep ocean. This will require persistent operations and fleets of USVs working in unison, most likely as a “system of systems” with other unmanned systems such as UAVs. AMR

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generate 11,687lb of thrust in military power and 18,210lb in afterburner, with respective specific fuel consumption figures of 79.52kg and 207kg of fuel per kN of thrust per hour, and a thrust to weight ratio of 7.8:1.

Advances under water

The Chinese made Xian WS-15 engine is set to power later varients of the Chengdu J-20 fifth generation fighter.

THE QUEST FOR POWER Every warfighter wants more power - in the air, on land or at sea. AMR looks at some of the newest developments that will enter the Asian region.

by Peter Donaldson

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f there's one area of core military technology that has proved the most difficult to master for Asian nations striving for superpower status it is propulsion systems for high-end platforms such as jet fighters and submarines. More generally, anything that moves under its own power comes to be defined by the technology that enables it to do this, and truly independent military capabilities depend to some extent on the ability to develop competitive power plants locally.

Combining competitive thrust, thrustto-weight ratio, fuel efficiency, ease of handling with reliability is extremely demanding, and both China and India have struggled to develop their own fighter engines and still rely heavily on foreign designs for many of their frontline aircraft, although China has successfully fielded its own designs, while India has stumbled but perseveres. China's most ambitious fighter engine is the Xian WS-15 low-bypass afterburning, thrust-vectoring turbofan, a pair of which is intended to power later production variants of the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation’s J-20 stealth fighter. The WS-15 is intended to

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produce 44,000lb of thrust and a thrust to weight ratio of almost 11:1 and a turbine inlet temperature, a rule of thumb indicator of engine efficiency and technology level, of 1,850 Kelvin.

An explosion on a test bed in 2015, blamed partly on problems with quality control on single-crystal turbine blades, put a big questionmark over its reliability and meant that the first J-20s entered service with earlier Xian WS-10 engines.

This reportedly limits their combat capabilities by, for example, precluding supercruise, which is the ability to cruise at supersonic speed without using the afterburner.

India has put decades of development effort into the HAL Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the GTX-35VS Kaveri, eventually splitting the two in 2007/8. In 2007, India ordered 24 General Electric F404-IN20 engines to power the first operational Tejas squadron.

Various reports indicate that development of the Kaveri continues with help from the Russians and potentially from Safran as part of a deal in which the Rafale's M88 engine might power the Tejas.

The engine itself is designed to

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Submarines are similarly severe in the demands they make on their propulsion systems, but for reasons to do with underwater endurance without access to atmospheric air and with noise.

Again, China has the advantage over India here in that it has developed and fielded three generations of nuclear powered fleet submarines (SSN) along with two generations of ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) with a third under development.

India, meanwhile, launched its first SSBN, INS Arihant, in 2009 and is building a second. In February 2015 the government announced plans to build six SSNs. Responsible for all these vessels are the Directorate of Naval Design and the Shipbuilding Centre at Visakhapatnam, with reactors provided by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. The Indian Navy build operating experience with nuclear submarines by leasing a Russian Charlie and Akula class boats.

Indo-Chinese rivalry also extends to Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) for non-nuclear submarines (SSKs). China announced last July that some of its nonnuclear submarines have been equipped with Stirling engine based AIP for at least a decade. Chinese officials emphasised that the technology was indigenously developed, but it is believed to have been influenced by technology acquired from Sweden.

India is also developing AIP, but its system is based on Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC) technology under development by the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) at Ambernath, which is part of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). Plans had called for this to be fitted to the last vessel of the six Naval Group Scorpene SSKs delivered, but it was not considered mature. In February, however, it was reported that the Indian Navy has decided to incorporate the NMRL's AIP system into hull extension plugs for all six during their first major refit, the earliest candidate being INS Kalvari from around 2024, by which time DRDO is confident that it will be ready.

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China's IEP

Australian Power and Propulsion Team whose stated purposes are China is working on various highto transfer technology and and technology programmes including intellectual property, and create Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP) hundreds of jobs in Australia. and permanent magnet motors The team is to work with for warships, electromagnetic the RAN and local companies catapults for aircraft carriers, an including small and medium electromagnetic rail gun and a enterprises and partner with variable flow, solid fuel ramjet Australian academia. It is also to engine for air-to-air missiles. consider construction of onshore In IEP systems, the prime testing and integration facilities movers such as nuclear, gas locally, and create ‘pathways’ for turbine or diesel engines don't the export of the resulting products drive the propellers directly, but into overseas naval shipbuilding instead turn electrical generators programmes. P&P Team members' that power electric propulsion India’s Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL), part of experience includes work on motors and charge batteries the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has testing the power and propulsion via high voltage, high current been developing an an air-independent propulsion system that systems on the RN’s Queen regulation, rectification/inversion will fit into hull extension plugs for all six new Scorpine SSKs Elizabeth Aircraft Carriers. and switching systems. This during their first major refit around 2024. means that all the engines can operate in their most efficient ranges at a Chinese patent had been run on several Faster missiles all ship speeds and that electrical power naval vessels. PM motors offer lower Back in the air and at the other extreme can be distributed very flexibly between fuel consumption, easier maintenance in terms of speed, China announced that propulsion, ship service and combat and greater reliability thanks to the use it had been testing a solid-fuel variablesystem loads. of high flux-density magnets made from flow ramjet engine for air-to-air missiles IEP is established in western designs rare earth alloys such as neodymium to arm the Chengdu J-20 and other such as the Royal Navy’s (RN) Queen iron boron (NdFeB) in the rotor. Efficient Chinese fighters. However, it seems that Elizabeth class carriers, Spain's King Juan throughout their speed range, they only the engine is a technology demonstrator Carlos class and Australia's Canberra need power consuming electro-magnetic that would have to be scaled down to class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) coils in the stator, in contrast with fit a missile that a fighter could carry. A vessels, but China’s second generation induction motors that use electromagnets potential range of 300km and a speed carrier designated the non-nuclear Type in both the rotor and the stator. Their beyond Mach 5 for the weapon once 002 will be its first vessel to use the control systems switch the current on and it “achieves miniaturisation” has been technology. off in the sets of windings on the stator claimed by ex-PLA sources.

In November, the Chinese military to create a rotating magnetic field for the Speeds beyond Mach 5 are regarded announced that a team of engineers led permanent magnets on the rotor to follow. as hypersonic, and the report indeed by the country's top naval engineer, Ma The Chinese military's statement describes the missile in those terms, but Weiming, had developed a new medium- confirmed that the motor uses rare earth such speeds are normally thought beyond voltage DC transmission network for the PM technology and said that as well the capabilities of ramjets because of the Type 002 that will provide enough power as offering greater power density than pressure rise that occurs in the intake for heavy electrical loads beyond vessel comparable induction motors, the new when the air slows to subsonic speed for propulsion, such as electromagnetic technology also reduces noise output. combustion. With air-breathing engines, catapults comparable with the US China is also reportedly using this speeds faster than Mach 5 are thought to Electro-Magnetic Aircraft Launch System technology in the development of a be the domain of Supersonic Combustion (EMALS) and even laser weapons and shaftless, rim driven pump-jet propulsor Ramjets (scramjets) and other exotica, so electromagnetic rail guns. This IEP for its nuclear submarines, which would claims about the weapon's speed may be technology could also be applied to other also suggest that that its IEP technology is exaggerated. naval vessels such as the new Type 055 also being incorporated into nuclear boats Hypersonic air-breathing propulsion destroyers. in steam turbo-electric form. How far the in general is very much on the research development of either has got is not clear. and development agenda and both Russia and India have programmes, but Permanent magnet motors inevitably the US has ramped up its This announcement came in the wake Australian centre of excellence of another announcement of an advance Australia is also looking to boost its home- efforts to stay ahead. in electrical technology, in this case a grown naval propulsion capabilities successful set of tests of a Permanent and, in mid-December, BAE Systems Combined cycle hypersonics Magnet (PM) propulsion motor for both announced a major effort in the country On 23 January, Orbital ATK announced surface ships and submarines, including to support the Royal Australian Navy’s receipt of a Defense Advanced Research nuclear boats.

(RAN) new ASW frigate development. Projects Agency (DARPA) contract The China Shipbuilding Industry Along with David Brown Santasalo, under the Advanced Full Range Engine Corporation (CSIC) announced in L3, Naval Group, MTU/ Penske and (AFRE) programme to study potential October last year that a PM motor with Rolls Royce, the company is forming an integration of turbine and hypersonic

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electric hybrid propulsion for airliners, initially for regional services on routes no longer than 1,609km by the early 2020s and beyond that by 2030. The company has also demonstrated the ability to drive a 1MW generator by diverting gas from the high-pressure and low-pressure turbine sections of a General Electric (GE) F110 fighter engine, which could provide power for directed energy weapons.

GE has also demonstrated a 1MW electric motor that could be used to drive a propeller powered by a gas turbine generator and capable of producing the same sort of thrust as a Pratt & Whitney PT6A turboprop.

Better engines for US armour DARPA’s Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) programme is examining how an affordable system would combine turbine and hypersonic engine technologies for seamless transition from lowspeed takeoff to Mach 5+ and back.

engine technologies into a new aircraft propulsion system capable of operating from zero speed to hypersonic flight and back again, allowing the aircraft to operate to and from conventional runways.

The overarching goal of the programme is to explore the concept of a combined cycle engine technology in which an off-the-shelf turbine engine would accelerate the aircraft to supersonic speeds, then a dual-mode ramjet would transition to hypersonic speed. A dualmode ramjet is designed to operate as a ramjet at moderate supersonic speeds and as a scramjet beyond Mach 5. Such engines have been investigated for many years, with test runs of experimental devices going back at least a decade.

A DARPA concept drawing of one likely combination powerplant configuration shows that the two engines would share a common inlet and a common exhaust nozzle, but with separate airflow paths between them.

A comparable effort is under way in the UK in the form of the Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) concept from Reaction Engines, in which the UK government, BAE Systems and, most recently, Rolls-Royce have made investments.

The SABRE is unique concept in that it is designed to operate as a liquid fuelled, air-breathing rocket from a standstill to Mach 5.4 then as a pure rocket up to Mach 25, enabling the vehicle to go into earth orbit before re-entering and landing.

To improve propellant efficiency, SABRE uses a turbine driven compressor to feed air from the inlet into the rocket

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chamber, air that has to be cooled to a safe temperature that won't melt the compressor! This is the job of an advanced heat exchanger in the air flow path that uses gaseous helium as its working fluid and liquid hydrogen fuel as a heat sink.

Helium heated by the intake air is also used to drive the compressor turbine.

The cooler is one of the SABRE's three core building blocks, the others being the engine core and the thrust chamber, each of which, says the company, can be developed and validated using independent ground based demonstrations, saving time and money.

Announcing the investment on 12 April, Rolls-Royce chief technology officer Paul Stein said: “We are delighted to become a strategic investor in Reaction Engines Limited, an innovative UK company that is helping push the boundaries of aviation technology.”

Reaction Engines aims to test a fully integrated SABRE engine core in 2020 and says that it is working with partners to lay the groundwork for the first vehicles that will follow the ground test and subsequent flight test programmes.

Hybrid electric aero engines Still with aviation, battery electric propulsion is well established for small UAVs and is making its way into manned general aviation aircraft, but gas turbine electric power is starting to look very promising for civil and military aviation in much larger and more powerful aircraft, with benefits in terms of fuel consumption.

GE Aviation is working on gas turbine

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Improving the efficiency of military ground vehicle engines to enhance their performance, survivability, fuel economy and range is also a major challenge, and one that the US military is addressing through its Advanced Combat Engine (ACE) programme, a major milestone in which was reached last year with the completion of a $47.4 million ACE technology demonstration programme

by Cummins and Achates Power, which was awarded by the National Advanced Mobility Consortium.

At the heart of the effort is opposed piston diesel engine technology from Achates Power. In an opposed piston engine, two pistons share each cylinder, forming the combustion chamber between them and turning separate crankshafts.

The idea is old, but new technology is being brought to bear that allows them to run hotter and therefore more efficiently than standard diesel engines.

Cummins and Achates imply that by methods including a 21 percent reduction in heat rejection compared with current Cummins-supplied combat vehicle engines, they can improve power density by more than 50 percent, and reduce fuel use by 13 percent in comparison typical combat vehicle engines.

Commenting in September, Achates Power's CEO, David Johnson, said: “This award builds upon 14 years of extensive development by Achates Power to modernise and optimize the opposedpiston engine.”

Propulsion has always been one of the most demanding technologies for all classes and types of vehicle, with major advances often defining revolutions in transport. For different reasons, hypersonic aero-engines and hybrid electric propulsion seem capable of precipitating this kind of change. AMR

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