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Contents DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015 VOLUME 22 / ISSUE 8

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Front Cover Photo: Beechcraft’s T-6 Texan-II turboprop trainer which can be configured as a counterinsurgency platform is one of several aircraft examined in David Oliver’s ‘COIN In The Slot’ article in this issue.

Deterrence and Doctrine Japan-based Asia-Pacific security expert Alex Calvo examines some of the recent developments in Pakistan’s military modernisation.

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The Grim Reaper’s Text Message

Microwaveable Radar provides an ever-present sentinel for ground forces, not only for the detection of hostile fire, but also hostile personnel and vehicles, as AMR editor Thomas Withington explains.

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Tanks for Everything Vibrant interest in Main Battle Tank procurement and upgrades is being witnessed in the Asia-Pacific, as John Ross, a United Kingdom-based defence journalist discovers.

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Combat operations maybe winding down in Afghanistan, yet investment into remote-controlled bomb protection for convoys is continuing, as AMR editor Thomas Withington discusses.

PULSE

United Kingdom-based aviation journalist David Oliver explains some of the latest evolutions in counter-insurgency and armed reconnaissance aircraft.

AMR editor Thomas Withington’s ‘Pulse’ column provides all the latest news and analysis across the defence RF (Radio Frequency) spectrum.

United Kingdom-based defence journalist Peter Donaldson explores the world of naval guns, detailing a range of technological developments which are keeping these weapons relevant.

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Asia-Pacific militaries are pouring investment into their synthetic training equipment and simulators as United Kingdombased defence journalist Claire Apthorp finds out.

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Editorial

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COMING IN FROM

THE COLD

ietnam has not received any United States supplied defence materiel since the latter country withdrew from its involvement in the Vietnam War in 1975. This followed its dramatic evacuation of 7000 American personnel and South Vietnamese nationals from the city of Saigon in the south of Vietnam, now known as Ho Chi Minh City, on 29 April 1975. The North Vietnamese Army would roll into Saigon the following day, effectively unifying the country under the communist government controlling North Vietnam. Predictably enough US-Vietnamese relations subsequently chilled.

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Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon against a backdrop of improving US-Vietnamese relations. On 11 July 1995, US president Bill Clinton signed a normalisation agreement establishing full diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Since then a bilateral trade agreement was signed in July 2000, followed by subsequent agreements covering civil aviation and the textile industry. The net effect of these efforts is that support for the United States in Vietnam has soared with 76 percent of the population viewing the US in a favourable light according to a 2014 survey performed by the Pew Research Global Attitudes Project based in Washington DC.

Germany/Austria/Switzerland/Italy/UK Sam Baird, Whitehill Media Tel: (44-1883) 715 697 Mobile: (44-7770) 237 646 E-Mail: sam@whitehillmedia.com East-Central Europe/Greece/Turkey Zena Coupé Tel: +44 1923 852537, zena@expomedia.biz

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While US-Vietnamese trade and diplomatic relations have warmed, cooperation in the military domain has remained stagnant. The Vietnamese People’s Ground Forces order of battle still includes some US-supplied equipment absorbed from the South Vietnamese Army, notably M48 Patton Light Tanks which could justifiably be considered museum pieces. That said, on 2 October 2014 the US State Department announced that it would lift its ban on the supply of lethal military equipment to the country. Any future supplies of materiel are expected to be witnessed in the naval domain. This is unsurprising given Vietnam’s tensions with China in the South China Sea regarding the sovereignty of the Spratly and Paracel Islands. The United States has been concerned for some time regarding China’s maritime machinations in this stretch of the Pacific. Supplying Vietnam with equipment to this end could win Washington DC support in the region as it seeks to diplomatically counter Chinese maritime muscle-flexing.

The specific platforms which Vietnam may obtain have not been formally announced by the State Department, although press reports have hinted that Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, possibly drawn from US Navy stocks as the aircraft are retired, could be on Hanoi’s wish list.

USA (West/South West)/Brazil Diane Obright, Blessall Media LLC. Tel : (+1 540) 341 7581 Email: blackrockmediainc@icloud.com

All Other Countries Vishal Mehta, Media Transasia India Limited Tel: (91) 124 4759625, Fax: (91) 124 4759550 E-Mail: vishal@mediatransasia.com

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Jakhongir Djalmetov, Media Transasia India Limited Tel: (91) 124 4759539, Fax: (91) 124 4759550 E-Mail: joha@mtil.biz

Some opposition has been voiced in the US, notably from the Republican senator for Arizona John McCain who stated that any arms sales must be dependent human rights improvements in Vietnam, which remains a communist-ruled one-party state.

Nevertheless, the State Department has said that further relaxations of the US arms embargo will require progress on human rights in Vietnam.

Thomas Withington, Editor

Editor: Thomas Withington Tel: (33) 562 271 697, E-mail: t_withington@hotmail.com

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by Thomas Withington Radar

During the Euronaval exhibition held in Paris between 27 and 31 October 2014, Thales unveiled its new Sea Fire 500 naval surveillance radar. This S-band (2.3-2.5/2.7-3.7 gigahertz/GHz) radar has a modular design and can thus be scaled up or down to equip vessels displacing from 3500 tonnes up to in excess of 7000 tonnes. The only element of the radar which changes in this regard is its antenna size, with the back end remaining the same.

The company is using Gallium Nitride technology in the radar’s Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antenna which promises significant performance enhancements compared to the Gallium Arsenide that AESA antennae currently use for their transmit/receive modules. The radar also has an integrated uplink to provide radar guidance for active radar homing surface-to-air missiles. The Sea Fire 500’s architecture includes four flat-panel AESA antennae, each of which provides 90 degrees of coverage, and an instrumented range of circa 216 nautical miles (400 kilometres).

Currently the radar is still in development, although production could commence in 2019 with deliveries following in 2020. As well as being a standalone radar, Thales states that it could be offered as part of the firm’s I-Mast family of integrated naval masts. In addition, the firm states that the radar is fully digital and performs Electronic Counter-Counter Measure (ECCM) support Thales unveiled its new S-band Sea Fire 500 radar at the October 2014 Euronaval exhibition in Paris. The radar has a modular design and can thus equip surface combatants of varying sizes © Thales

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using a software-only approach, with a similar approach being used for future upgrades of the radar.

On 13 October 2014 Raytheon announced that it had delivered its tenth AN/TPY-2 ballistic missile defence radar to the United States Missile Defence Agency (MDA), the division of the United States Department of Defence which manages ballistic missile defence capabilities across the US armed forces.

This latest radar will form part of the fifth Lockheed Martin Terminal High Altitude Air Defence (THAAD) high-altitude surface-to-air missile system which is equipping the US Army. In addition to the five AN/TPY-2 radars equipping the THAAD systems which the US Army has in service and on order, five additional AN/TPY-2 radars are deployed around the world to provide ballistic missile defence surveillance. In October 2013 Japan granted permission to the US Government to supply and install a new X-band (8.5-10.68GHz) AN/TPY-2 radar at Kyogamisaki Air Force Base, close to Kyotango on the western coast of Honshu Island. Japan is already home to a AN/TPY-2 radar which is deployed in the north of the country. Other AN/TPY-2 units are deployed to Qatar to provide ballistic missile detection over the Persian Gulf, and in eastern Turkey and the Negev Desert in Israel to provide similar surveillance over the eastern Mediterranean. The deployment of the AN/TPY-2 to Turkey represents a key part of the first phase of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) European Phased Adaptive Approach ballistic missile defence initiative.

The AN/TPY-2 uses an AESA antenna comprising 25344 Transmit/Receive modules. The radar has a ceiling of around 536 nautical miles (1000 kilometres) and can be used to detect both

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The United States Missile Defence Agency took delivery of its tenth Raytheon AN/TPY-2 ballistic missile defence radar in mid-October 2014. As well as equipping the United States Army, these radars have been forward-deployed to Japan © Missile Defence Agency

Longbow LLC, a consortium which includes Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, is upgrading the AN/APG-78 Longbow radars equipping the Boeing AH-64E Guardian attack helicopter with a maritime mode © Lockheed Martin

short- and long-range ballistic missiles, and to discern these from other objects such as space debris.

Indonesia is investigating the purchase of coastal surveillance radars from China according to local press reports in early October 2014. The radars are to be procured to monitor maritime activity in the Strait of Malacca which flanks the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the Torres Strait in the south of the country, and the Celebes Sea to the west of Kalimantan, Indonesia’s portion of the island of Borneo.

According to quotes from Indonesia’s defence minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, the country is interested in procuring the China National Electrics Import and Export (CNEIE) SLR-66 radars to this end. There is no word regarding how many radars Indonesia may acquire, when deliveries will commence, or when they might conclude. Details are similarly sparse regarding the capabilities of the SLR-66. However, it is known that the radar is capable of overthe-horizon surveillance with a 269nm (500km) range, although no details have been published regarding the radar’s operating frequencies, architecture or performance characteristics.

The United States Army is planning to develop a maritime mode for the Longbow LLC (a joint venture between Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin) AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radar equipping the Boeing AH-64E Guardian attack helicopter.

Speaking during the Association of the US Army exhibition held in Washington DC in mid-October 2014, Colonel Jeffrey Hager, project manager for the AH-64E at the US Army’s Project Management Office told the press that plans are afoot to improve the radar’s ability to detect large vessels in differing sea states.

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According to Wade Griswold, Lockheed Martin business development manager for the AN/APG-78 radar, enhancements are being planned for all radars equipping the AH-64E fleet. The US Army plans to acquire a total of 634 AH-64Es derived from legacy AH-64Ds upgraded to the Echo standard, along with 56 new-build AH-64Es, the latter of which will commence production in 2019. As of 2011, the US Army has begun to accept deliveries of rebuilt AH-64Ds equipped to the AH-64E standard. Mr. Griswold states that the maritime mode capability insertion for the AN/APG-78 radar is expected to commence during the start of the Lot-6 production run for the AN-64E which should begin later this decade. This should then enable the rest of the AH-64E fleet delivered to the US Army to receive the maritime mode upgrade. The AN/APG-78 is a Ka-band (33.4-36GHz) system with a range of around four nautical miles (eight kilometres).

In early October 2014, Thales was awarded a contract worth $112 million by the French Direction Générale de l’Armement (General Armament Directorate) defence procurement agency to perform research for new capabilities to be rolled out onto the company’s RBE-2 X-band Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) radar. The RBE-2 furnishes the Dassault Rafale-F3B/C/M MRCA equipping the Armée de l’Air (French Air Force) and Aeronavale (French Naval Aviation). The aircraft has also been selected as the preferred candidate to fulfil India’s Medium MRCA requirement for 126 new jets.

The DGA contract is to be four years in duration and is intended to develop technologies which can be rolled out onto the RBE-2 later in the radar’s career, and also be utilised for future Unmanned

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PULSE Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs). In particular, work is focusing on extending the range of the radar’s AESA antenna and reducing the probability of interception of the radar’s emissions.

According to Bruno Carrara, vice president for electronic combat systems at Thales, “Through this advanced study contract Thales will demonstrate the technological readiness of various components and design a new generation of multifunction arrays. These new technologies will ultimately equip the RBE-2 AESA.” The company has demurred from providing a timeline as to when these new components may equip the RBE-2, although Mr. Carrara adds that, “After validation, the results of these advanced studies will be applied to the next phases (of development for the radar) and then industrialisation (and) serial production.”

Dassault Aviation commenced deliveries of four Rafale-F3A/B MRCAs equipped with Thales RBE-2 to the French Air Force in early November 2013. These aircraft followed the delivery of the first RBE-2 equipped Rafale-F3A/Bs to the service in October 2012.

The RBE-2 can perform simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground surveillance, automatic target prioritisation, terrain following and avoidance, and the detection and tracking of sea-skimming targets such as anti-ship missiles. It has low sidelobes helping to reduce its chance of detection by electronic support measures, along with ECCM and open architecture to enable the radar to be relatively easy to upgrade and modify in the future.

Electronic Warfare

The Pakistan Air Force’s new Exelis AN/ALQ-211(V)9 self protection pods for its Lockheed Martin F-16A/B Block-15 MRCA have been certified for use on these aircraft, the company announced on 1 October 2014. Exelis’ AN/ALQ-211 SIRFC (Suite of Integrated RF Countermeasures) product family can detect, classify and counter a wide range of ground- and air-based Radio Frequency (RF) threats including Pulse Doppler and Continuous Wave radars. In addition to its RF capabilities the AN/ALQ-211 can provide infrared and laser warning.

As its nomenclature denotes, the AN/ALQ-211 system is available in a number of variants. For example, the AN/ALQ211(V)9 is delivered in a podded configuration which provides digital radar warning, high power jamming and threat geolocation in a modular, scalable package. The other eight versions of the AN/ALQ-211 are designed to outfit rotorcraft and fixedwing aircraft with an internal self defence system. Certification of the AN/ALQ-111(V)9 pods for the Pakistan Air Force was provided by the United States Air Force Seak Eagle office (AFSEO).

The AFSEO is tasked with certifying aircraft internal and external stores including subsystems, weapons, drop tanks and pods.

The conclusion of the AFSEO certification process effectively clears the pod for use on Pakistan’s F-16A/Bs. For more news regarding these aircraft, please see Alex Calvo’s Deterrence and Doctrine, and the Pakistan receives upgraded F-16s from Turkey news story in this issue.

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Tactical Radio

Exelis has been awarded an order from the US Army to supply its SideHat SRW (Soldier Radio Waveform) appliqué radios to the force for evaluation. The order, announced in mid-October 2014, will see 50 SideHat radios being delivered to the army, according to Tim White, Exelis’ night vision and communications solutions spokesperson. Deliveries are expected to be completed by the end of November 2014. Mr. White adds that the radios will be used for “both field and bench testing” adding that “the tests will take place at Fort Huachuca (primarily for field testing), Arizona and Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland for field and bench testing.”

The SideHat radio is designed to enable vehicular tactical radios carrying the SINCGARS (Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System) Very High Frequency (30-87.975 megahertz/MHz) waveform to use the new Soldier Radio Waveform. The SRW, developed by Exelis, uses Ultra High Frequency (UHF/300MHz to three gigahertz) and L-band (one to two gigahertz) frequencies.

The waveform has been developed as part of the US Joint Tactical Radio System and is designed to provide data and voice communications at the lowest tactical level between dismounted troops, and dismounted troops and their vehicles. Adding the SRW to vehicular radios via the SideHat appliqué allows squad and platoon commanders to then seamlessly connect to their troops and to higher echelons of command.

Data Link Solutions (DLS), a joint venture involving Rockwell Collins and BAE Systems announced on 16 October 2014 that it was adding its TacNet Tactical Radio (TTR) to its military aircraft communications product line. The TTR can be used to handle NATO Link-16 tactical data link air-to-air and air-to-ground protocol communications. Link-16 allows the transmission and reception of voice and data traffic at speeds of between 2.4 kilobits-persecond (kbps) up to 16kbps across UHF radio channels.

The United States Army is taking delivery of Exelis’ SideHat Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) appliqué tactical radios which will enable transceivers using the SINCGARS waveform to also utilise the SRW © Exelis

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According to Doug Schmidt, director of DLS, the TTR terminal is in production and has flown on the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor MRCA during ‘Project Missouri’. Project Missouri is an initiative led by Lockheed Martin to demonstrate a data link capability to connect the company’s F-22A MRCA with its F-35A/B/C Lightning-II series of MRCA. The programme aims to widen the communications links available to the F-22A which was originally designed to link only with other F-22As in a bid to reduce the aircraft’s radio emissions and thus preserve their low observability.

However, reductions to the original order size for the F-22A (187 aircraft purchased as opposed to an original anticipated order size of 648) have enhanced the imperative for the F-22A to be able to communicate with other platforms such as the F-35A/B/C. Using the Link-16 waveform, the TTR can handle up to 238kbps of traffic, with the potential for this to increase to two megabitsper-second (mbps), Mr. Schmidt continues. He says that the radio “is specifically designed for space-constrained platforms needing Link 16 situational awareness. Additionally, the radio’s weight and cost bring customer value above the larger, traditional Link 16 terminals for these disadvantaged user platforms such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, small boats and ground vehicles.” This will be important in potentially rolling out Link-16 connectivity onto platforms which traditionally have not been able to benefit from this because of the physical size and power demands of existing Link-16 terminals. Looking towards the future, Mr. Schmidt continues that TTR design evolutions could encompass “a two-channel variant to include an airborne networking waveform”. This could extend the TacNet radio’s capability beyond the Link-16 protocol.

Finnish defence firm Patria unveiled its new CANDL (Compact Airborne Networking Data Link) in early October 2014. CANDL is designed to provide connectivity for UAVs and their ground control stations using a data link which provides up to eight megabits-per-second of bandwidth. This will enable the data link to handle full motion video as well as digital voice communications and internet protocol networking using a software defined radio terminal.

CANDL enables both air-to-air and air-to-ground communications. In terms of frequency it operates across NATO’s so-called ‘IV Band’ (4.4 to five gigahertz), as well as the International Telecommunications’ Union’s UAV command and control frequency band as defined by the 2013 World Radio Congress.

According to Sini Makipaja, senior vice president for business development at Patria, along with UAVs, “CANDL is suitable for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms including MRCAs.” In addition, the size, weight and power configuration of the CANDL optimises it for mini and medium-sized UAVs. Patria has experience of equipping UAVs with data links, with the company’s Multi-Purpose Networking Data Link (MPNDL) having been used onboard Airbus Defence and Space’s Barracuda test-bed UAV. In addition, the MPNDL is used to provide a data link for the Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force)

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McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-18C/D MRCA which forms the backbone of the service’s combat fleet. Although CANDL is expected to fly on another platform before the end of 2014, Patria has not revealed which aircraft this might be. In terms of performance, the CANDL offers an air-to-ground range of 80nm (150km), although this can be extended with the addition of an external power amplifier and advanced antennae.

SATCOM

Israeli defence electronics specialists Elbit Systems are to deliver ELSAT-2100 terminals to the Canadian Army, according to an announcement made by the company on 31 October 2014. The ELSAT-2100 terminal was launched by the company in 2012 and is designed as a low-profile Satellite Communications On-The-Move (SOTM) capability for vehicular communications.

Elbit Systems of Israel is supplying its ELSAT-2100 satellite communications on-the-move terminals to the Canadian Army, which are being delivered in X-, Ka- and Ku-band configurations © Elbit Systems

Offering up to 110 degrees of elevation, the ELSAT-2100 provides robust satellite tracking and relocking using global positioning system, gyroscopic and signal strength indication to ensure that the terminal stays locked with its satellite and relocks with the minimum amount of fuss in the event of a link loss. In terms of performance, the ELSAT-2100 offers uplink speeds of ten megabits per second and downlink speeds of up to 50mbps. The ELSAT2100 is also outfitted with a planar array which allows the antenna to perform beam steering to help ensure that the terminal remains connected with the satellite.

According to a statement provided to AMR by Elbit Systems, Kaand Ku-band (26.5-40GHz and twelve to 18GHz) versions of the ELSAT-2100 have already been delivered to the Canadian Army, with X-band (eight to ten gigahertz) ELSAT-2100 variants expected to be delivered during the first three months of 2015. The firm is expected to deliver around 24 X-band systems to this end.

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Today’s soldier has several means at their disposal to detect targets in their locale. At the most basic level, they have their own eyesight and hearing. These two sensors can be augmented with optronics and acoustic sensors.

Another tool that they can apply is radar.

by Thomas Withington

mploying microwaves to detect targets has increased in popularity during the United Statesled combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Ground surveillance radars have two distinct applications in war zones: firstly, they can be employed to protect potential targets such

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as airbases or forward operating bases against attack by monitoring the locale.

Secondly, they can be deployed in the field to provide an additional means of target detection for troops to observe moving vehicles or people, or even for short-range air defence to detect low-flying aircraft or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

For the un-initiated, a Pulse Doppler radar transmits a pulse of RF energy, which is perhaps a millisecond in duration at the speed of light (161,840 nautical miles per second/299,727.7 kilometres-per-second).

This pulse hits an object and is reflected back to the antenna. The time taken for the pulse to return to the antenna is measured by the radar signal processor providing the range to the target from the antenna. The Doppler Shift is the subtle frequency change which occurs in a pulse when it hits the object and is reflected. This is a similar effect to the change in pitch of an emergency vehicle’s siren as it drives past the listener. By calculating this change in frequency, it is possible to determine the speed of a target by measuring the changes in frequency as the object moves through the radar’s field-of-view.

RADA Electronics of Israel provide a range of ground surveillance radars including the RPS-42 member of the firm’s Multi-mission Hemisphere Radar (MHR) which were recently used by the Israeli Defence Force in the Gaza Strip © RADA

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RF energy transmitted from each antenna module it is possible to ‘steer’ the RF transmission using constructive/destructive transmission techniques by which RF transmissions at certain frequencies will alter the direction of neighbouring RF transmissions at other frequencies thus pushing them in a certain direction. This means that it is possible to look in a certain direction without necessarily needing to move the antenna. The major attraction of PESA antennae is that they are considered less complex and thus less expensive to construct compared to their AESA counterparts. Mr. Booth adds that these benefits translate into cost savings for the operator, delivering “the key advantages of maintenance free operation and low cost of ownership to customers.”

Israeli Ingenuity

Blighter Surveillance Systems’ ground surveillance radars have sold well around the world. The firms’ customers include the Republic of Korea which has purchased Blighter’s wares to help safeguard the country’s border with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea © Blighter

Several radars discussed below use Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antennae. An AESA antenna houses a multitude of Transmit/Receive (T/R modules) on its surface. Each of these T/R modules generates its own RF pulse and measures the characteristics of the returned RF pulse, displaying this to the operator. The benefit of an AESA antenna is that as it uses several T/R modules, a selection of these T/R modules can be tasked to perform different duties simultaneously. For example, some can watch the ground, while others monitor the air.

Moreover, AESA antennae benefit from socalled ‘graceful degradation’ in that the failure of one T/R module will not cause the entire radar to become unserviceable, as other working T/R modules can still perform their tasks.

Along with Pulse Doppler architecture, some ground surveillance radars employ FMCW or Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology.

Whereas Pulse Doppler radars transmit a pulse of RF energy, FMCW radars transmit a constant stream of RF. However, they continually vary the frequency of the trans-

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mitted RF energy. Every time the frequency of the RF energy is changed, the exact time and frequency at which the RF energy was transmitted is recorded. Thus when this RF energy is reflected back by the target the time delay between this particular ‘bit’ of RF energy and its reception is measured and the range determined. Another important attraction of FMCW architecture is that it produces less transmitted power, improving efficiency, as notes Nick Booth, a spokesperson for UK radar specialists Blighter Surveillance Systems (see below): “FMCW is also very efficient allowing considerably less transmitter power to be required. It is like a whisper compared to the shout from traditional rotating radar’s high power pulsed transmitters,” making it comparatively difficult to detect.

Other radars examined in this article use a Passive Electronically Scanned Array or ‘PESA’. Whereas an AESA employs T/R modules generating their own RF energy (see above), a PESA uses RF energy generated from a single source although this RF energy is then transmitted from each individual antenna module mounted on the antenna array. By altering the phase of the DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY 2015

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It is common knowledge that several Israeli companies excel in the design of defence electronics. A desire to maintain defence design, research, development and production, plus the country’s security situation, has propelled the realisation of robust and advanced materiel equipping not only the Israeli Defence Forces (the umbrella command for the country’s army, air force and navy), but several other nations around the world. RADA Electronics Industries manufactures the RPS-42 which provides tactical surveillance to an altitude of between 30 feet up to 30000ft (nine to 9144 metres). The

Kelvin Hughes’ famous SharpEye family of radars includes the SxV ground surveillance radar. The company announced in mid-October 2014 that it had secured an unnamed British customer for ten of these radars © Kelvin Hughes

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Airbus Defence and Space’s Spexer ground surveillance radar family includes the Spexer500 and the Spexer-1000. Both of these radars use an Active Electronically Scanned Array antenna © Airbus Defence and Space

radar has a solid state architecture (i.e. is not dependent on vacuum tubes), employing Pulse Doppler RF (Radio Frequency) signals transmitted from an AESA antenna. The S-band (2.3-2.5/2.7-3.7GHz) RPS42 uses four AESA antennae each of which provides 90 degrees of azimuth scanning.

By grouping four such antennae together it is possible to perform 360 degree surveillance. The RPS-42 forms part of RADA’s Multi-mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR) family which were deployed by the IDF into the Gaza Strip on Israel’s Mediterranean coast during Operation Protective Edge mounted on 8 July 2014 to detect hostile rocket launches by the Hamas Palestinian insurgent organisation. According to Dubi Sella, chief business development officer at the company, “during the conflict, the radars were linked to the (Israeli) central early-warning system, and assisted in the detection of mortar shells, short-range rockets, and UAVs.” The firm is currently supplying its MHR family radars to an unnamed AsiaPacific customer with deliveries concluding in October 2014.

RADA’s offerings are reinforced by those of Israel Aerospace Industries’ Elta Systems division. The firms’ EL/M-2105 family of X-band (8.5-10.68GHz) radar use a rotating antenna to detect targets across a 360 azimuth. The EL/M-2105 can detect a walking person at five kilometres (three miles), with such ranges increasing to eight kilometres (five miles) for the EL/M-2105ER and 15km (nine miles) for the EL/M-2105LR. All three radars can track up to 200 targets simultaneously.

Foxtrack, meanwhile, is a portable ground surveillance radar produced by Elbit Systems. This X-band FMCW radar can detect pedestrians at six kilometres (four miles) range, and large vehicles at up to 24km (15 miles). Up to 50 targets can be tracked at any one time, and 1000 targets displayed with the entire Foxtrack ensemble being vehicle-mounted.

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UK Utility

Based in England, Blighter Surveillance Systems has carved a niche as a leading supplier of ground surveillance radars. In the Asia-Pacific their products are in service helping to defend the Republic of Korea’s (RoK) northern border with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Blighter’s stable includes the Revolution 360, the B400 series (which equips the RoK), the B303 and the B202 Mk.2. The Revolution 360, as its name suggests, provides 360 degree surveillance and can be deployed either in a vehicle-mounted or a fixed configuration. This Ku-band (13.414/15.7-17.7GHz) radar uses PESA and FMCW architecture and can track up to 700 targets per scan which it can detect at ranges of up to 17 nautical miles (32 kilometres), for a large moving vessel, with a crawling person being detected at 3.2 kilometres (two miles). Some detection of low-flying targets is possible as the radar

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offers 20 degrees of elevation. Bligher’s B400 series are also Ku-band FMCW, PESA radars. They can monitor up to 700 targets, but can see a crawling person at six kilometres (3.7 miles). The principal differences between the B400 family members is found in azimuth: the B402 scans across 180 degrees, the B422 across 270 degrees and the B442 across 360 degrees.

The architecture for the B303 is similar to the B400 and Revolution 360, although it has a detection range of 1.5km (one mile) for a crawling person and up to eight kilometres (five miles) for a moving vehicle providing a 180 degree azimuth. Like its siblings, it is able to monitor up to 700 targets. Finally, Blighter’s B202 Mk.2 has a similar detection range to the B303 for a crawling person, and for a large moving vehicle, with an azimuth of up to 90 degrees. Blighter has supplied its radars to customers in the United Kingdom, the United States, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, to name just a few nations.

According to Mr. Booth, “The systems gained credibility in the security market through their deployment in 2008 by the British Army as part of an urgent operational requirement.”

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Thales’ flagship ground surveillance radar product is the firms’ Squire. The radar can be used in a vehicle-mounted or a standalone configuration alongside an integral optronics system. The Squire has been used extensively in Iraq and in Afghanistan © Thales

Much like Israel, the UK is something of a centre of excellence for ground surveillance radar design and production.

Navtech’s Advanced Guard radar family offers eight distinct products which can detect a pedestrian at between 200-760 metres (853-2493 feet) across 360 degrees of azimuth. The radars use FMCW and operate at 76-77GHz (W-band). Similarly, Kelvin Hughes’ ground surveillance radar products include the X-band SharpEye SxV mobile surveillance radar. This X-band radar can detect a pedestrian at five kilometres or a small vehicle at 15km (nine miles).

Using a rotating antenna this Pulse Doppler radar has a high resistance to jamming. The company recently announced, on 14 October 2014, that it had commenced the delivery of ten of these radars for an undisclosed UK customer, possibly the British special forces community, although this has not been confirmed either by the manufacturer or by the British Ministry of Defence.

European Excellence

Both the pan-European defence electronics company Airbus Defence and Space, and French defence electronics specialists Thales are involved in the design and man-

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ufacture of ground surveillance radars.

Airbus Defence and Space’s products are focused on the Spexer Security Radar family. Of most interest to this article are the firms’ X-band AESA Spexer-500 and Spexer-1000 products. Users of the Spexer radar family include the Heer (German Army) which has mounted it onboard a Krauss Maffei Wegmann Dingo-2 fourwheel drive armoured vehicle, of which it has received 75 examples. The Spexer-500 can detect a pedestrian at five kilometres, and a truck at nine kilometres (5.6 miles).

The radar also has the wherewithal to detect flying targets, seeing UAVs at 1.3nm (2.5km) range and a low-flying helicopter at 4.8nm (nine kilometres). The Spexer1000 expands these ranges, with the detection of a pedestrian possible at eight kilometres (five miles) range, a truck at 17km (10.6 mile), a UAV at two nautical miles (four kilometres) and a low-flying helicopter at 8.6nm (16km).

Terma’s SCANTER-1002 ground surveillance radar operates at the higher end of the radar spectrum, notably in the Kuband. Providing 360 degrees of surveillance, the radar can detect a person at 3.7km (two miles), and a large vehicle at

twelve kilometres (7.4 miles). The SCANTER-1002 transmits a pulse compression waveform. In layperson’s terms this provides very accurate range resolution and also increases the signal-to-noise ratio of the RF pulses transmitted which assists the radar in discriminating targets from noise, typically ‘clutter’, and reflected RF signals from unwanted targets such as wave crests on the sea surface.

Thales’ ground surveillance radar offerings include its Squire product. Providing 360 degree azimuth scanning and an instrumented range of up to 48km (29 miles), the radar transmits in the band and has a very low output power of one watt, making its detection difficult. The Squire can detect a person at a range of 13km (eight miles) and a helicopter at ranges of 19km (ten nautical miles). The Squire can present up to 1000 tracks to its operator and also includes an integrated infrared optronics system, plus a mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicle detection mode. According to Gerrald Korenromp, marketing and sales manager for ground surveillance radar activities, the Squire “can be used in both a stand-alone and vehicle-mounted configuration.” In terms of operators, Mr.

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Korenromp continues that the radar is used by some customers in the Asia-Pacific region, although the company does not disclose their identity. He continued that “the Dutch have used the Squire in Afghanistan, as have Canada and the Danish armed forces. The radar has also been used in Iraq.” The Squire uses FMCW architecture with Doppler filtering to determine target speed.

American Adaptability

US suppliers of ground surveillance radar include Telephonics, SRC and FLIR Systems. Telephonics’ manufactures the ARSS (Advanced Radar Surveillance System). This X-band Pulse Doppler radar is in service with the US armed forces who have used it to protect Forward Operating Bases in Afghanistan and Iraq. A peak power output of five watts help to reduce the radar’s chances of detection and interception by electronic warfare systems.

Capable of detecting a pedestrian at twelve kilometres and a large vehicle at 30km (19 miles), the radar, like the Spexer family discussed above, can also detect aircraft such as a hovering helicopter at a range of eight nautical miles (15km). An automatic trackwhile-scan function is sufficient to monitor up to 300 targets, with 360 degrees of azimuth being covered. Customers purchasing the ARSS have the option of installing a weapons location function onto the radar to assist the detection of artillery fire. SRC’s SR Hawk is a Ku-band radar which can track up to 350 targets simultaneously across a 360 degree azimuth. The radar can detect air targets as it has an elevation of up to 22 degrees. Using Pulse Doppler RF transmissions, the SR Hawk can detect a pedestrian at twelve kilometres, with a vehicle being detected at 30km and a small aircraft such as an ultralight at seven nautical miles (13km). Like many of the ground surveillance radars discussed in this article, the SR Hawk can accommodate an optronics system to provide additional information to the operator regarding the target that they are seeing. Paul Venesky, a programme manager at the company says that it has supplied its SR Hawk family radars to “Taiwan Taoyuan Airport for perimeter surveillance and avian radars for

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SRC’s Hawk ground surveillance radar can be used to not only detect ground targets but also aircraft and incoming artillery fire. The radar typifies the trend towards multifunction systems which can monitor the locale for a variety of threats © SRC

bird strike avoidance.” A robust design is also standard, with Mr. Venesky noting that the radar “has been designed to operate in a wide range of environments including extreme hot and cold, wind, rain, salt, humidity, ice and snow.”

Although well known for their optronics, FLIR Systems offer a range of ground surveillance radars in their Ranger product line. The Ranger R1 is a Ka-band radar which can detect targets such as a person crawling at ranges of between five and 700 metres (16-2296ft). Like the Ranger R1, the Ranger R2 is also a Ka-band radar, although it has detection ranges of between five and 1400 metres (16-4593ft) for people

Although well known for their optronics, FLIR Systems offer a range of ground surveillance radars

and vehicles. Ranges increase still further with the Ranger R20SS which can detect a pedestrian at up to ten kilometres (six miles), while the company’s Ranger R3D is somewhat unique in integrating both FMCW and Pulse Doppler architecture.

This enables the operator to use the ideal type of RF transmission depending on their operating environment. Other ground surveillance radars in the company’s stable include the Ranger R5 designed to operate

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in unforgiving desert environments and the dual mode FMCW/Pulse Doppler Ranger R5D perimeter surveillance radar.

Future Trends

In terms of the expected design trends for ground surveillance radar, Mr. Korenromp argues that one of the trends which will be increasingly witnessed is the utilisation of AESA technology. As this article has illustrated, some ground surveillance radars are already using AESA, such as RADA’s RPS42 and Airbus Defence and Space’s Spexer family. In addition, the range of tasks which such radars will be expected to do could expand further to include tasks such as weapons location for artillery fire. Armies already have dedicated weapons locating radars such as the Raytheon AN/TPQ36/37 Firefinder family which are used across the world. There may be some scope to fold in some, if not all, of the weapons locating functions into tomorrow’s ground surveillance radars. Telephonics’ ARSS (see above) is blazing a trend in this regard. The advent of AESA technology, which increases the number of tasks which a single radar can perform simultaneously, could offer potential in this regard. Allied to the ability to detect hostile fire, the proliferation of small UAVs around the world for battlefield reconnaissance could also shape future design criteria with the growing importance for ground surveillance radars to be able to detect and track such targets.

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COIN IN THE SLOT

One of the lessons learnt during recent conflicts is the importance of armed reconnaissance aircraft and the rediscovery of the Counter-Insurgency (COIN) role developed with great success by the United States during its involvement in the Vietnam War, but largely disregarded since.

by David Oliver

aving a counter insurgency capability has grown in importance especially during the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Libya, and, currently in Iraq. The result is that, in the latter conflict, US-led Coalition forces have used fast jet combat aircraft in the COIN role with the United Kingdom and France deploying their fourth-generation Eurofighter Typhoon-F/GR4 and Dassault Rafale-F3B/C/M Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) to search for and destroy targets on the ground. The United States Air force (USAF) has even resorted to using its fifth-generation MRCA, the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor for operations against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) forces in these two countries.

However, these advanced MRCAs have only been used where there is practically

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no air threat and limited ground threats.

They are also extremely high cost assets to deploy for striking relatively low-value targets. According to the US Secretary of the Air Force Comptroller Office in 2013, the F22A’s Cost-Per-Flying-Hour (CPFH) was $68362, compared with $17716 for the Fairchild Republic/Lockheed Martin A-

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10C Thunderbolt II; arguably the most effective Close Air Support (CAS) aircraft in the US Air Force’s inventory.

Designed by Fairchild Republic during the Cold War to destroy Warsaw Pact tanks, the A-10C, nicknamed ‘The Warthog’, made its combat debut in the Gulf War in 1991, and having been subsequently deployed to

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the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and now Syria, is now under threat of early retirement. The US Department of Defence reasoning is that USAF cannot sustain the elderly subsonic A-10C fleet while acquiring an ever-more expensive Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II MRCA; the choice is between a ‘low and slow’ CAS platform and a ‘fast and high’ solution. This is an option that most air forces do not have, although the USAF realised this in 2010 when it issued a Light Air Support (LAS) aircraft requirement for the Afghan Air Force (AAF) to be fielded by 2013.

Afghan Acquisitions

The programme called for a fixed-wing single-engine turboprop platform, with a number of critical requirements that the winning aircraft had to fulfil including a

rough-field capability without ground support, dual controls, ejection seats, specific air-to-ground weapons and systems, and a defensive-aids suite.

The two contenders for the LAS programme offered adaptations of basic turboprop trainer aircraft, the Brazilian Embraer A-29 Super Tucano and the US Beechcraft AT-6B Texan II, while a third was a modified agricultural crop sprayer, the Air Tractor AC-802U. None were designed as armed reconnaissance/COIN platforms, although an outsider, Boeing’s reworking of the original North American/Rockwell International OV-10 Bronco, dubbed the

OV-10X, was. The OV-10’s service life began during the Vietnam War and 50 years later it has proved to be a hard act to follow and continues to serve with several South American and Asian air forces including Colombia and Venezuela, and the Philippines. However, the OV-10X was rejected for the LAS programme largely on size, cost and delivery concerns.

On 1 January 2012 the USAF announced it had selected the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano for the LAS programme and awarded a contract for 20 aircraft and associated support valued at $355 million.

Almost immediately, Hawker Beechcraft,

Paramount Group’s AHRLAC, the first light aircraft designed from the ground up to fulfil the dual COIN/reconnaissance role since the OV-10, made its maiden flight in South Africa in August 2013 © Paramount Group

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The first production Embraer A-29 turboprop COIN aircraft that won the USAF Light Air Support aircraft requirement for the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps was delivered to Moody Air Force Base in September 2014 © USAF

the then manufacturer of the competing AT-6B, claimed unfair contracting practices and after a series of protests and counterclaims, a revised request for proposals was issued in May 2012. Finally, on 27 February 2013 Embraer and its partner Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) was awarded a $427.5 million contract to supply 20 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano LAS aircraft to the AAF. The contract covered the production of the aircraft in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as the provision of ground-based training equipment, pilot and maintenance training and logistical support.

The first production A-29 was delivered to the USAF’s Moody Air Force Base (AFB), Georgia on 26 September 2014 prior to the training of 30 Afghan pilots and 90 maintainers as part of a requirement from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to conduct training outside Afghanistan. The need for the A-29 comes as the current Afghan COIN aircraft, the Mil Mi-35 attack helicopter, reaches the end of its service life in January 2016.

USAF Major General John McMullen, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task

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Force commander, spoke about Afghanistan’s need for the aircraft. “Clearly the biggest gap in the Afghan Air Force is the ability to deliver fire from the air to the enemy on the ground. The missing piece that is vital to the Afghan National Security

The biggest gap in the Afghan Air Force is the ability to deliver fire from the air to the ground

Force success is an air-to-ground platform that can drop precision weapons, that has the speed and the range to reach out to all of Afghanistan, and that platform is the A29. It is the perfect aircraft for the terrain in Afghanistan, it’s the perfect aircraft for the conflict in Afghanistan, and it’s the perfect aircraft for the Afghanistan Air Force.”

Embraer’s Efforts

The first production Embraer A-29 Super Tucano was delivered to the Força Aérea Brasileira (Brazilian Air Force) in December 2003 and since then more than 200 have

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been produced. It is powered by a single Pratt and Whitney PT6A-63-3 turboprop.

The light attack aircraft’s armament includes one FN Herstal 12.27mm machinegun in each wing and the provision of a variety of ordnance including two Nexter NC621 20mm cannon pods, Mk.81/82 unguided bombs and Mectron MAA-1 Piranha Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM). A FLIR Systems AN/AAQ-22 Star SAFIRE multisensor laser designator provides the aircraft’s optronics capability.

The Embraer A-29 light attack aircraft has been selected by more than a dozen air forces worldwide that includes the Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara (Indonesian Air Force), which previously operated the OV-10F Bronco, which has ordered a total of 16 A-29s delivered between 2012 and 2014. The Philippines is considering the acquisition of six turboprop COIN aircraft to replace its aging OV-10s and the A-29 is one of the leading contenders with its Department of National Defence looking for a $114 million ‘government-to-government’ procurement deal with Brazil to acquire them. Thailand, another former OV-10

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The Embraer A-29 night vision goggle-compatible cockpit features two main mission and display computers, a 24-degree field-of-view head-up display, and the Martin-Baker Mk 10 LCX zero-zero-ejection seat © David Oliver

operator, is also one of Embraer’s main targets in the Asia-Pacific region.

Of the other COIN contenders, the AT-6 Texan II, developed from the successful T-6 basic trainer, which in turn was based on the Pilatus PC-9, has been less successful in attracting sales in the Asia-Pacific region although it remains a contender for the Philippines and Thailand requirements (see above). Beechcraft flew the first production AT-6B light attack aircraft on 19 August 2013. Powered by a Pratt and Whitney PT6A-68-D turboprop, it can carry laserguided bombs, rockets, air-to-ground missiles and a 25 mm cannon developed from General Dynamic’ GAU-12 weapon on its six under-wing hardpoints. For reconnaissance it is equipped with the L3 Wescam MX15Di optronics system.

The third unsuccessful USAF contender was the Air Tractor AT-802U single engine turboprop aircraft designed for reconnaissance, precision strike, and rugged dirt strip utility missions. Developed from the AT-802 tandem two-seat crop-sprayer and fire-fighting aircraft, the AT-802U combines an 8000lb (3629kg) payload and the ability to perform missions of up to ten

Beechcraft’s AT-6 Texan II turboprop developed from the company’s successful T-6 basic trainer, which lost out to the A-29 in the USAF LAS competition, has yet to break into sales in the Asia-Pacific region © David Oliver

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The fear factor of an insurgent actually seeing an attacking aircraft is exemplified by the fearsome firepower of USAF’s Lockheed Martin/Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II which is being threatened with early retirement © USAF

hours duration. The AT-802 is combatproven in counter-drug operations in the United States Southern Command area of responsibility by the US Department of State for spraying coca fields in Latin America. Twenty-four AT-802U light attack aircraft have been delivered to the United Arab Emirates Air Force, six of which have recently been donated to the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

Powered by yet another variant of the Pratt and Whitney PT6A turboprop, the AT-802U has four hard points under each wing plus three more under the fuselage capable of carrying a large arsenal of weapons including dual 12.7 mm GAU19/A three-barrel guns, seven-tube rocket launchers, bombs, Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire II air-to-surface missiles, Lockheed Martin DAGR (Direct Attack Guided Rocket) laser-guided rockets and the Raytheon Mini-Talon global positioning system-guided rocket. The AT-802U has been equipped with the Wulfsberg Flexcomm tactical modular multi-band airborne radio which enables the aircrew to maintain communications with practically any tactical radio used by ground units. For reconnaissance mis-

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sions, options by the manufacturer for the aircraft include a retractable L3 Wescam MX-15Di optronics system and a Compact Multi-channel Data Link (CMDL) capable of providing full-motion video downlink and satellite communications.

South Africa

Since 2013, two completely new light attack aircraft have taken to the air, neither of which is based on existing trainer or agricultural aircraft designs. South Africa’s Paramount Group’s self-funded Advanced High Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft (AHRLAC) is the result of a threeyear development project with its partner company Aerosud. The largest privatelyowned group of defence companies in Africa, Paramount Group develops and designs solutions to tackle defence, internal security and peacekeeping issues. The company’s success has its roots in South

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Africa’s apartheid legacy that saw the development of an indigenous defence industry intended to outflank international sanctions imposed on the country.

Paramount Group is also involved in the aerospace, maritime and communications markets and in 2014 it acquired a majority stake in Aerosud, South Africa’s largest independent aerospace company that manufactures components for Eurofighter Typhoon MRCA, Airbus A400M strategic turboprop freighter and Boeing and Airbus commercial aircraft.

Launched in September 2011, Paramount claims that the AHRLAC is the first light aircraft designed from the ground up to fulfil the dual COIN/armed reconnaissance role since the OV-10. The company adds that the aircraft offers a highly flexible form of ‘clip-on-clip-off’ payload enabling it to be transformed quickly between operational roles. It can stay in the air for seven-to-ten hours, making it the ideal solution for patrolling large land areas, borders and oceans.

The AHRLAC flew for the first time from Wonderboom Airport north of Pretoria on 7 August 2014. Paramount Group Executive Chairman Ivor Ichikowitz told AMR that “Aerospace is vital for South Africa’s economy. This project is an excellent reflection of the capabilities of the country’s engineering fraternity.

The incredible progress made by local engineers has put them at the forefront of global aerospace innovation and their joint expertise has turned them into pathfinders, who are proudly setting new milestones, through continuous innovation.”

The high-wing, twin-boom tandem two-seat design, fitted with Martin-Baker Mk.17 ejection seats, is powered by the ubiquitous PT6A turboprop driving a three-blade pusher propeller. The aircraft has a top speed of 272 knots (504 kilometres-per-hour), a maximum range on internal fuel of 1165 nautical miles (2159 kilometres) and an endurance of over seven hours.

Its armament features an internal 20mm cannon and its 1760lb (800kg) payload carried on six under-wing hard points includes bombs, rockets, laser guided munitions and anti-tank and AAMs

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Developed from the Air Tractor AT-802, a rugged agricultural spraying aircraft used by the US Department of State for counter-drug operations in South America, the two-crew AT-802U is heavily armed © David Oliver

Production of the South African AHRLAC is based in the Centurion Aerospace Village (CAV) the highly successful industry-clustering initiative that has grown next to the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria. First customer deliveries are scheduled for 2015 with a competitive base price of $10 million.

While the turboprop light attack aircraft are in the ‘low and slow’ category, one

COIN/armed reconnaissance newcomer is aimed at the heavier faster niche that has been the A-10C’s preserve to date. The jetpowered Scorpion was unveiled by Textron in September 2013 and performed its maiden flight three months later after only two years from initial design.

Powered by two Honeywell TFE731 geared turbofans, the tandem two-seat air-

The Textron Scorpion attack aircraft can be armed with a variety of precision-guided munitions, has been designed and flown within two years to fill a gap between the turboprop and turbofan multi-role combat aircraft © David Oliver

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craft fitted with Martin Baker Mk.16 ejection seats is designed to have a cruising speed of 448 knots (830km/h) and a maximum range of 2397nm (4440 km). The Scorpion made its surprise European debut at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) in the United Kingdom in July 2014.

The large straight-wing aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 21250lb (9660kg) and an impressive payload of 9300lb (4228kg) of which 3000lb (1364kg) is a reconfigurable internal weapons bay for the carriage of precision guided weapons.

The aircraft also has six under-wing hard points for rockets, bombs and AAMs. In the reconnaissance role, the Scorpion will be fitted with a retractable L3 Wescam MX-15 sensor turret while other larger specialised sensors for foliage-penetration radars and wide-area surveillance systems can also be accommodated. Textron is looking for potential customers in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific and is confident of a launch customer by early 2015.

With the worldwide threat of insurgencies and hybrid warfare, there is a growing market for affordable and capable fixedwing reconnaissance and strike aircraft, and there are plenty for choose from.

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TANKS FOR EVERYTHING

Almost every country in the Asia-Pacific has embarked on military modernisation programmes which include overhauling their Main Battle Tank (MBT) fleets. This article will examine MBT procurement and upgrade programmes ongoing around the region.

by John Ross

ilitary analysts at IHS Jane’s note the increased defence spending of AsiaPacific countries which has risen from 13.5 percent in 2012, to $24.5 billion in 2014, with that figure projected to rise to $40 billion by 2016. In Indonesia military spending increased by 82 percent from 2002 to 2012.

Singapore, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), has become the fifth largest arms importer in the world allocating over 20 percent of its national budget to defence.

Thailand’s defence expenditure is being driven by modernisation initiatives in

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addition to border disputes and security threats. The country aims to increase defence expenditure as a percentage of its gross domestic product from 1.5 percent in 2011 to 1.8 percent in 2016. A large amount of this increased spending throughout the Asia-Pacific will go towards enhancing MBT fleets.

India

The Indian Army plans to procure a total of 1657 Uralvagonzavod T-90 MBTs by 2020, which will include 1000 tanks produced indigenously under a full technology transfer agreement with Russia, with all parts made in India. A total of 59 armoured

regiments are to be equipped with around 1600 tanks. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) which oversees procurement in India has cleared manufacture of 235 T-90 tanks at the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) located at Avadi in southeast India. For those T-90s already in operation with the Indian Army, the force will upgrade more than 600 of these MBTs with new optronics, navigation systems and fire control for a total of $250 million.

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) formally approved the army’s three-yearold proposal for the T-90 upgrade in February 2014. In keeping with the country’s overriding desire to move towards

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation has produced the Arjun Main Battle Tank in the Arjun Mk.I and Arjun Mk.II configurations, the latter of which offers improvements with regards to firepower, mobility and protection © Ajai Shukla

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Although something of a veteran today, the T-55 Main Battle Tank, a mainstay of the Soviet Red Army during the Cold War, remains in service with People’s Army of Vietnam Ground Forces and the Indian Army © US DoD

The Arjun Mk.II is fitted with advanced optronics and has improved communication and navigation systems. Secondary armament consists of a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and a roof-mounted remotecontrolled weapon station, armed with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun.

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domestic defence provision self sufficiency, an Indian MoD source said that the tender for the upgrade will be sent only to domestic defence companies.

In addition to the T-90s, the Indian Army’s fleet of some 1900 Uralvagonzavod T-72M MBTs is being upgraded with new optronics and navigation equipment, the latter of which will outfit those T-72Ms configured to provide command and control.

Upgraded T-72M tanks are entering service and the upgrade has afforded a life extension that will allow them to remain operational beyond 2025. As far as India’s domestic Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Arjun Mk.I MBTs are concerned, all 124 tanks have been delivered to the Indian Army. The force’s 43rd and 75th Armoured Regiments are fully operational with 45 tanks each. Trials of the Arjun Mk.I’s sibling, the Arjun Mk.II began in 2012. Series production is expected to begin in 2016. It offers improved protection, firepower and mobility over its predecessor, and it should eventually replace the Indian Army’s ageing Cold War-era T-55 and T72M tanks in service with the Indian Army.

Compared to the Arjun Mk.I, the hull and turret of the Arjun Mk.II has been redesigned. It has improved protection and locally-developed explosive reactive armour modules have been added. Armour

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modules counter APFSDS (ArmourPiercing, Fin-Stabilised, Discarding Sabot) and HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) rounds, as well as Rocket Propelled Grenades. Ammunition is stored in the turret bustle which is equipped with blowout panels. The Arjun Mk.II is also fitted with advanced laser warning and countermeasures systems which confuse enemy sensors. Furthermore, this new MBT is armed with a fully-stabilised 120mm rifled gun which is loaded manually. A rifled gun of such calibre is only used on the British BAE Systems Challenger-2 MBT. This gun is more accurate at long range compared to smoothbore guns. India claims that during trials this new Indian tank outgunned both the T-72M and T-90 (see above). The Arjun Mk.II is also compatible with Israel Aerospace Industries’ LAHAT (LaserHoming Anti-Tank) surface-to-surface missiles. These missiles are launched in the same manner as ordinary projectiles, and the tank can accommodate a total of 39 rounds, including the LAHAT missiles.

The Arjun Mk.II offers improved protection, firepower andmobility over its predecessor

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Pakistan’s two main tanks are the Al-Zarrar and Al-Khalid MBTs, both of which are manufactured by the Government-owned Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) organisation.

Although The Al-Khalid initially entered service in 2001, around 300 are in service but this is expected to rise to 600 with an improved version which will include a more powerful diesel engine, more ammunition storage and a better Fire Control System (FCS) together with new optronics (see Alex Calvo’s ‘Deterrence and Doctrine’ article in this issue). The Al-Khalid is a license-built version of the Kharkiv Morozov T-54 MBT. An Al-Khalid Mk.II is in development which will feature a new turret, modular armour and a new power pack. Recently HIT signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Norinco for ongoing technology transfer, help with exports and profit sharing. HIT sees possible markets existing in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and possibly the Middle East.

Bangladesh and Indonesia

Bangladesh has ordered 44 Norinco MBT2000 tanks and three recovery vehicles with deliveries having commenced in 2014. Indonesia, meanwhile, has committed to buying 93 Rheinmetall Leopard 2A4 MBTs and ten engineering and support vehicles. At least 61 of the Leopard 2A4 MBTs which Indonesia has purchased will receive elements of the Rheinmetall ‘Revolution’ modular upgrade package. These upgraded MBTs have been re-designated as the Leopard RI, to denote ‘Republic of Indonesia’. In 2012 the German government gave

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The Republic of Korea Army’s Hyundai K1 and KI1A1 MBTs form the lynchpin of the service’s armoured fleet, with around 1500 serving to this end. The company is currently developing the K2 Black Panther MBT © US DoD

Rheinmetall the green light in 2012 to export 104 Leopard 2A6 tanks, 50 Marder 1A2 infantry fighting vehicles and ten other platforms, including armoured recovery vehicles, mobile bridges and military engineering vehicles to Indonesia.

According to Indonesian officials, the initial agreement for 130 tanks was valued at $280 million, while Rheinmentall’s press release placed the figure at $293.7 million.

The deal includes training, logistical support and an initial supply of practice and service ammunition. The deliveries are due to be concluded by 2016.

Malaysia and Singapore

Malaysia purchased 48 Polish Bumar Labedy PT91 Twardy MBTs in the early 2000s. These MBTs are in turn developed from the T-72M (see above). There appear to be no plans to replace these in the

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foreseeable future as Malaysia has other defence priorities. Like Indonesia (see above) Singapore purchased 66 ex-Heer (German Army) Leopard-2A4 MBTs plus 30 spare tanks, together with ten Bergepanzer-3 Buffel armoured recovery vehicles in 2007-2008. Most of the tanks were recently upgraded to the Leopard2SG standard with advanced modular armour protection from IBD Deisenroth Engineering of Germany and Singapore’s ST Kinetics. They are fitted with IBD’s Evolution suite that boasts fourth-generation Advanced Modular Armour

Malaysia purchased 48 Polish Bumar Labedy PT91 Twardy MBTs in the early 2000s

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Protection (AMAP), which employs steel alloy, aluminium-titanium alloy, nanometric steel, ceramic inserts and nanoceramics. Steel slat armour is installed on the hull and turret rear and flanks while the hull bottom is reinforced against mines.

The Evolution suite increases the tank’s weight from 55 tonnes to 60 tonnes.

Thailand

Thailand’s government signed a $240 million contract for the purchase of 49 Malyshev Factory T-84 Oplot MBTs from Ukraine in March 2011, the T-84 being chosen ahead of the Republic of Korea’s (RoK) Hyundai K1A1. Thai-Ukraine cooperation is at an all-time high following the earlier purchase of Kharkiv Morozov BTR-3E1 eight-wheel drive armoured personnel carriers. Thailand could possibly acquire up to 200 T-84s to allow retirement of its elderly Cadillac/General Motors M41A3 light tanks. It is anticipated that Thailand will eventually purchase up to 200 tanks with the first 50 being delivered in 2015.

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Vietnam

Amongst all ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) armies, Vietnam has the largest MBT fleet and has been a long time user of Soviet-era T-54/55 series and Norinco Type 59 MBTs, with several units actually being Vietnam War veterans.

Sources say that 600 to 850 T-54/55 tanks remain in Vietnamese service, with around 310 modernised using Israeli technology to take them to T-54/55M3 standards which involved the replacement of the original Soviet 100mm gun with a 105mm M68/L7 gun, along with the installation of explosive reactive armour, smoke grenade launchers, a new engine, a 60mm mortar and upgraded sensors. There were previous reports that Vietnam planned to purchase 150 T-72 main battle tanks from Poland, but the order did not materialise and the budget was instead used to purchase naval assets as the threat to its offshore interests from China are considered more strategically pressing.

China

China is a major producer of innovative tanks, the newest of which is the Norinco ZTZ-99. The ZTZ-99 (Type 99), 500 of which are in service with the Peoples

Liberation Army (PLA), features significant advances in technology and protection. It is equipped with Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA), a laser warning system and a 125mm ZPT-98 main gun. The newest variant is the ZTZ-99A2 with improved ERA, a modified rear hull and turret, a new panoramic commander’s sight, a millimetre-wave radar, an upgraded FCS and a digital Battle Management System (BMS).

Another project is the Type 99KM which is equipped with a modular Active Protection System (APS), an active laser defence system and a larger-calibre gun able to fire next-generation kinetic ammunition. Norinco is developing and marketing the third-generation MBT-3000. This is an upgrade of the MBT-2000 (see above) and it could deploy with the PLA by the end of 2014. The MBT-3000 has a 125mm gun capable of firing missiles, and is powered by a turbo-diesel engine.

Republic of Korea

The mainstay of the RoK’s MBT fleet is around 1500 Hyundai K1 and K1A1 vehicles. General Dynamics has assisted Hyundai to upgrade the KIAI with the addition of a Battle Management System

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(BMS), global positioning system-based navigation, an identification friend or foe system and new optronics for the driver.

The Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) has been testing this modernised K1A1.

Hyundai is also developing the 55-tonne K2 Black Panther for the RoKA. The service intends to order 397 K2s. It will feature a 120mm main gun coupled to an autoloader, a missile approach warning system, BMS and an indigenously-designed soft-kill APS. It also fires the innovative high-trajectory, fire-and-forget KSTAM (Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition) anti-tank round. The K2’s introduction was delayed until March 2014 because of mechanical problems with the locally developed Doosan DST engine and S&T Dynamics automatic transmission. As a result the first 100 production vehicles will use MTU-890 engines and RENK transmissions both imported from Germany.

The K2 Product Improvement programme (PIP) expected to commence in the future will have add features such as nonexplosive reactive armour, an upgraded suspension and a hard-kill APS. An electrothermal-chemical gun may also replace the existing 120mm armament. Designers

The Australian Army is equipped with General Dynamics M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks. The country purchased 59 of the vehicles in 2006 to replace its legacy Leopard AS1 MBTs © Australian Department of Defence

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The Japan Ground Self Defence Force is a major user of the Mitsubishi Type-90 main battle tank. It is currently downsizing its Type-90 fleet to around 400 examples and inducting the Mitsubishi Type-10 MBT © Max Smith

are attempting to integrate an unmanned ground vehicle into the K2’s architecture to give the MBT a remote scouting capability.

The RoK intends to offer the K2 for export but this may prove difficult given the number of cheaper refurbished tanks available.

Japan

Japan is planning to downsize its fleet of MBTs, which consists mainly of Mitsubishi Type 90s to 400 examples. It is intended to replace the bulk of these, which are considered too heavy and unsuitable for Japan’s highly urbanised environment with the new Mitsubishi Type 10 MBTs. The hightech Type 10 is lighter than its predecessor and builds on lessons learned from counter insurgency and asymmetric warfare in Iraq. It has a remote-controlled machine gun atop the turret, while the modular armour package can be adjusted to suit threat levels. In the turret is a 120mm

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smoothbore cannon that fires a new APFSDS round with greater penetration. Its engine is connected to an innovative continuously variable transmission that allows the vehicle to drive equally fast either forwards or backwards. Furthermore, a BMS connects tanks to each other and to higher echelons of command. Both the Japanese and the RoK MBTs discussed above feature hydropneumatic suspension, as the ability to kneel is extremely useful in rugged terrain since it gives the gun more elevation and depression. It is expected that 68 Type 10s will be in service with the Japan Ground Self Defence Force by 2015.

Taiwan

Taiwan has a need to replace its sizeable fleet of M41 and M48 MBTs and is negotiating with the US to purchase refurbished General Dynamics M1A1 Abrams MBTs which are becoming available as the US

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army downsizes its fleet. Sources within Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence recently said that Taiwan needs up to 200 new MBTs. Although no order has yet been made it is expected that Taipei will give governmental approval for the acquisition in the near future.

Summary

Many commentators forecasted the death of the MBT following the end of the Cold War and the experience of counter insurgency and asymmetric warfare in the Middle East and Central Asia since the turn of the century. However, throughout the Asia-Pacific region this is far from the case as the expansion of tank fleets continues apace fuelled by the availability of materiel as Western nations downsize their legacy Cold War tank fleets, along with continuing geopolitical rivalries in south Asia and Chinese expansion.

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Naval Combat:AMR

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68 GUNS

Once nearly eclipsed by the guided missile, the naval gun is enjoying something of a renaissance thanks to advanced fire control, networked sensors, smart fuses and precision guidance systems making these weapons increasingly flexible and able to engage a wide target set.

by Peter Donaldson

he need to engage close-in surface and airborne threats in littoral environments and asymmetric conflicts makes the naval gun’s ability to provide a graduation of force, from the classic shot across the bows in warning to decisive lethal fire, an essential tool in contemporary warfare.

The retirement in the 1990s of the 406mm gun with the United States Navy ‘Iowa’ class battleships that carried it has led to anything larger than 76mm calibre being categorised as a heavy naval gun, with this

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sector dominated by BAE Systems and Italy’s Oto Melara with competition, in ships of Russian design at least, from Russian manufacturers such as JSC Arsenal Machinery Plant in St. Petersburg and the Burevestnik Central Research Institute in Nizhny Novgorod western Russia with several Chinese designs based closely on some of these Russian weapons.

Oto Melara’s regional manager for marketing and sales in the Far East and Oceania regions, Gabriele Colombo, told AMR that, in his experience, navies and

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shipyards tend to consider guns up to and including 40mm in calibre to be small, between 40mm and 100mm to be medium calibre, and everything above that to be heavy calibre weapons. BAE Systems’ Mark Wilson, vice-president, export and sales for south Asia, concurs but shifts the definition of medium weapons to encompass 30mm to 76mm guns.

Shifting Definitions

In practice, widely deployed western medium calibre guns include BAE Systems’

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Among the ‘heavy’ guns in service today is the British 114.3mm Mk.VIII, a 55 calibre automatic weapon whose actual bore diameter is 113mm. This weapon was originally designed by the former United Kingdom Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment—which eventually became the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory—and further developed by Royal Ordnance, now part of BAE Systems. The company also offers its Mk.45 Mod. 4, a 127mm gun, which is operational with both 54 and 62 calibre barrels, and the 155mm Advanced Gun System (AGS) developed for the US Navy’s ‘Zumwalt’ class destroyers. Oto Melara’s rival is the 127mm, 64 calibre gun at the heart of its VULCANO naval gun system.

Larger Russian combatants are commonly armed with the 130mm AK-130, often in twin mountings, while China is developing the H/PJ38 single-barrel 130mm weapon that is reportedly replacing smaller calibre guns in the PLAN fleet.

Medium Calibres

“The Asia-Pacific segment of the market seems to be mainly conditioned by the evolution of the (security) situation in the China Seas (both south-eastern and eastern),” Mr. Colombo told AMR. “At present, many projects for new ships are going to be launched or have been already launched,” he said, citing the examples of Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. He said that the corvettes, frigates and offshore patrol vessels will be equipped with medium calibre 76mm and 57mm weapons as their primary guns and small calibre 12.7mm and 30mm guns as secondary armament, with coast guards and police forces obliged to use the smaller calibres. “Only Japan and the Republic of Korea seem interested in large calibre (127mm) guns, which they have traditionally used and for which the availability of long-range guided ammunition could become a real interest.”

The Russian Navy’s ‘Udaloy’ class destroyer RFS Admiral Chabanenko fires her twin AK-130-MR-184 130mm guns at a distant target during a gunnery exercise as part of an exercise. The AK-130 series is Russia’s heaviest naval gun and China produces an equivalent © US Navy

Bofors 57 Mk.III (known in the US as the 57mm Mk.110), Oto Melara’s 76mm, 62 calibre Super Rapid, and the French 100mm automatic, for which Nexter still makes ammunition, the 35mm Rheinmetall Millenium Gun. Russia’s Burevestnik offers the 57mm A220M, the 76mm AK-176M1 and the 100mm A190 in two variants, which are used on Russian and Indian Navy ships. China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) uses various 76mm and 100mm weapons derived from French, Russian and indigenous designs.

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Oto Melara’s STRALES system brings guidance technology to 76mm, 62 calibre naval guns, the main components being the gun, the DART guided ammunition with its microwave programmable multifunction fuse and an accompanying RF guidance system © Oto Melara

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“The naval market in (the Asia-Pacific) continues to develop in response to ongoing geopolitical events,” Mr. Wilson agreed. “BAE Systems expects to see continued growth in regional naval forces in terms of both quantities and capabilities.

Naval guns will be part of this development, especially as guided projectiles become more widely available.” New ship programmes are the company’s primary focus, although he expressed optimism about the upgrade market also. “We have found that replacing one gun system with another on a deployed ship is a relatively infrequent step,” he told AMR. “If and when such an action takes place, it is usually because the navy in question has a need to improve the capability of the gun mount, not to simply replace old guns with new ones. Naval guns do not really wear out as might be expected with other equipment items, such as armoured vehicles or tactical trucks.”

Upgrade Potential

BAE Systems regards the potential for upgrades to be strong, but with reservations. “We recognise that competing demands for budgets sometimes makes it quite difficult for international navies to justify upgrades for gun systems when faced with competing (and more expensive) demands for upgrades to combat systems, missile systems, hull, mechanical and electrical systems.”

Mr. Colombo noted a significant shrinking in demand for new naval guns, particularly in the medium and large calibre segments over the last five years. He cites a substantial reduction in the budgets available for new big ship programmes, and even where there is the money for new ships there is a tendency to re-use existing guns, which might be more than 30 years old yet still very capable. This reuse, he pointed out, generates business for repairs, overhauls and upgrades.

However, he told AMR of a shift away from this tendency in the Asia-Pacific market during this period. “With a significant number of new projects for which new guns are required, mainly when small calibres are requested, the new gun represents more value for money.”

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While missile evolution over the last 20 to 30 years has diminished the role of guns in air defence, except in the close-in arena, the continuing development of guided projectiles and smart fuses holds real promise increasing their utility. Mr. Colombo points to fuses that have introduced an air burst capability in small (3035mm) ammunition and Radio Frequency (RF) proximity fuses in medium calibre projectiles. He emphasised that RF, Global Positioning System (GPS), infrared and semi-active lasers have changed both the capabilities of naval guns and the roles they can take on. All of these systems have

Replacing one gun system with another on a deployed ship is a relatively infrequent step

gained significant advantages from the big step forward in Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technologies (the miniaturisation of electronics and mechanical systems), he commented to AMR.

Flexibility

“The drift towards missiles was mainly determined by the manoeuvrability of the missiles—considered the only possible means to defend against manoeuvring threats,” Mr. Colombo added. “Today, with guided ammunition and the smart fuses, the gun is able to play some of the roles of missiles with the multi-role flexibility of a gun in a cost-effective way. We expect, therefore, a return to guns, especially in asymmetric warfare where a progressive reaction (from warning shot to the kill) is manageable.”

Mr. Wilson believes that the shift from guns to missiles and back is a

Developing guided ammunition for naval guns may be easier than adapting 155mm systems for shipboard use. This is Oto Melara’s 127/64 LW gun, which can fire the VULCANO family of Ballistic Extended Range (BER) and Guided Long Range (GLR) rounds © Oto Melara

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The 127mm Mk.45 Mod.4 naval gun has a 62 calibre barrel, strengthened gun and mount subsystems, enhanced fire control system, a reduced signature and a low-maintenance gun shield. BAE Systems supports more than 250 US Navy applications of this weapon and ten allied fleets © BAE Systems

manifestation of the eternal struggle between weapon systems and countermeasures, which he fully expects to continue. “New intelligence and surveillance capabilities, and weapons technologies will improve the lethality and utility of naval guns. In turn, navies will seek to counter this improved lethality and utility by developing technologies to keep naval guns out of range, and to disperse, hide, and harden possible targets.”

With the Advanced Gun System aboard the US Navy’s ‘Zumwalt’ class using 155mm ordnance and a similar weapon under consideration for later batches of the Royal Navy’s ‘Type 26’ class Global Combat Ships, bigger guns are in vogue once more, although the inevitable complexities have slowed progress, as Mr. Colombo explained.

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The ‘Oliver Hazard Perry’ class frigate USS Ingraham fires its Oto Melara 75-76 mm/62 calibre gun during a live-fire exercise. This family of weapons is the leading western medium calibre gun and remains a popular choice for smaller combatants © US Navy

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Capability with Complexity

“One possible approach was to use a land system howitzer and try to find a naval application for it. In such a case, unless you use the gun only as a howitzer, you risk less than great performance in direct fire mode when used as a ‘gun’. Furthermore, if you want to re-use components, you have to face the problem of the salt environment; last, but certainly not least, the ammunition used in land applications has modular charges and its management on board is not easy.” An implication that flows from this, he added, is that it becomes easier to develop a 155mm naval gun starting with a 127mm naval system than with a 155mm land howitzer, but that still leaves the problem of ammunition.

“You need to invest in one-piece or twopiece ammunition for the 155mm.”

BAE Systems’ business development director for weapon systems, Chris King, takes a similar view. “A 155mm naval gun coupled with modern guided projectiles provides a superb capability; however, it has associated financial, space, and weight costs that are prohibitive for many navies,” he told AMR. “There are a limited number of navies in the world that have sufficient ships of the right size to justify the investments needed to support a 155mm gun system in their fleet, especially when their existing ship and shore-

Guided projectiles for naval guns have been a long time coming, compared to land-based artillery

based infrastructure has been developed around different sized naval guns.”

Guided projectiles for naval guns have been a long time coming, lagging behind those for land-based artillery for example.

Mr. King pointed out that, as with many weapons technologies, initial promise proves very difficult to execute in the “incredibly harsh” environment in which military operations are conducted. “Initial failures or less than predicted operational performances does not mean the technology is a failure and will never work.”

Mr. King went on to point out that naval gun technology development is somewhat slow because the need for installed systems is relatively limited. “It is simply not possible to build, test and redesign naval guns as one might with computers and smart phones. The result is a

A shell is captured in flight as the Royal Navy ‘Duke’ class frigate HMS Northumberland conducts a gunnery exercise. The faceted gun shield has a lower radar cross section than the earlier curved design. The future ‘Type 26’ class Royal Navy ships will feature the larger BAE Systems 127mm weapon © UK MoD

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The ‘Zumwalt’ class destroyers of the US Navy are equipped with BAE Systems’ 155mm Advanced Gun System (AGS). It is designed for a maximum sustained firing rate of ten roundsper-minute to deliver precision, high-volume fires at ranges greater than 60 nautical miles (111 kilometres) © BAE Systems

much smaller number of more expensive programmes that do not always lead to the expected level of success. However, as the relevant technologies develop over time they will be incorporated into naval guns, and as the financial and programmatic situation permits they will be incorporated into production gun mounts.”

Algorithm Potential

Guided projectiles require highly-miniaturised technology at affordable cost, Mr. Colombo pointed out. “Guidance has a cost and reduces the warhead of the projectile, therefore it is necessary to find the proper trade off between the payload and the cost,” he noted. “Furthermore, the

The Long-Range Land Attack Projectile (LRLAP) is a Global Positioning System/Inertial Measurement Unit (GPS/IMU) a guided and rocket-assisted munition capable of delivering a unitary highexplosive warhead at extreme range thus greatly increasing the range of traditional naval gun systems © BAE Systems

accelerations generated by guns are extremely high, with the consequential need to use equipment that can resist very strong forces. The technology has required time to arrive at the proper level of costperformance.” Today, he argued, MEMS technology (see above) and ruggedised equipment enable industry to achieve the required performance at the right cost, in part thanks to high volume civil applications of technologies originally developed for the military, citing the use of GPS receivers in mobile phones. Of the two strands of projectile technology, precision guidance and smart fuses, the former offers more potential for improvement, Mr. Wilson said, while Mr. Colombo added that providing the fuse with the target’s position makes it more effective. “This information, via uplink connection, is already available for guided ammunition.”

There is further room for improvement in guided munitions through fire control algorithms. “Improvements will be needed for target-weapon pairing, determining the optimal number of munitions required to achieve a desired target effect, and computing the arrangement of aim points and arrival times that will yield the highest target effects while using the fewest munitions,” Mr. King said. Mr. Colombo adds that new fire distribution algorithms might be used to optimise multiple fires from many ships with networked sensors and effectors.

Ancient but Relevant

In the nearly seven centuries since the gun’s first recorded use at sea, when three cannons and a hand gun were fired from the English ship Christopher against French opposition in the Battle of Arnemuiden off the coast of the Netherlands in 1338. The gun gun was dominant until the rise of the guided missile. Looking towards the future even the rise of the laser weapon seems unlikely to eclipse it.

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Amphibious Operations Apr-May 14:AMR

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PROTECTION

THE GRIM REAPER’S TEXT MESSAGE

Like the Panzerfaust rocket-propelled grenade of World War Two and the AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifle used in numerous insurgencies around the world, the remote-controlled roadside bomb remains a signature weapon of the twenty-first century.

by Thomas Withington

The British Army deployed the Talisman suite to Afghanistan to help protect its forces against roadside bombs and other threats. It uses optronics, armoured vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles to help neutralise this threat © UK MoD

nited States-led forces deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq soon became au fait with the remote-controlled roadside bomb threat, following the commencement of combat operations in these two countries in 2001 and 2003 respectively. The threat that such weapons present speaks for itself. According to the website icasualties.org, between 2008 and 2014, a total of 1239 casualties have been caused by insurgent bombs in Afghanistan; this has represented over 40 percent of casualties to all causes.

Of particular concern to land forces are the remote-controlled bombs which can be placed by the roadside and detonated

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when a convoy of vehicles drives past. The use of remote control, either by radio, cellphone or infrared, allows the insurgents to position themselves some distance from the target area, to then observe the targeted convoy and to detonate the device.

Effectively this makes such bombs insurgent ‘stand-off’ weapons. This can be done in such a fashion as to destroy the lead vehicle in a convoy, a favourite technique if it is moving down a narrow ravine with little room for escape. This enables the nowstatic convoy to be ambushed.

Alternatively, a single vehicle such as a petrol tanker, or lightly defended vehicle can be selected with the aim of causing as many casualties as possible.

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Modus Operandi

As noted above, three mechanisms of remote control can be used to active a roadside bomb, principally radio, cellphone or infrared communications. Of interest to this article will be the systems which can be used to protect a convoy of vehicles against radio-controlled bombs. Radio detonation uses an RF (Radio Frequency) receiver which is in turn connected to an electrical firing circuit. This then triggers a switch which activates the bomb’s initiator causing its detonation. Coding can also be employed so that the RF receiver ‘recognises’ the incoming RF signal to prevent the bomb’s accidental detonation by other RF sources. A number of RF devices can be

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PROTECTION used to trigger such bombs including car alarm remote controls, pagers and civilian Ultra High Frequency (300 megahertz to three gigahertz) radios. Cellphones can also be used to trigger a bomb, with the cellphone connected to an electrical firing circuit outfitting the device. A phone call is made to the device which is routed via a base station transceiver (the cellphone towers adorning the rooftops of buildings in urban areas and microwave towers in the countryside) to the cellphone equipping the device which then causes the bomb’s detonation.

Counter RF

The key to defeating an RF-activated roadside bomb is the utilisation of RF energy to disrupt the incoming RF signal. The rationale behind this is to prevent the hostile RF energy from reaching the device which it is intended to detonate. For military convoys, vehicle-borne jammers can effectively provide a ‘bubble’ of jamming energy around the convoy which prevents hostile RF signals from reaching within a certain safe distance around the vehicles. However, the art of jamming is a sophisticated one.

Simply transmitting large amounts of RF energy to jam any incoming signals risks also jamming one’s own communications.

Military vehicles use vehicular tactical radios which operate in the UHF band, albeit often in a different part of the UHF spectrum from civilian cellphone traffic, so simply blasting out electronic noise to jam all UHF signals risks jamming one’s own radios. Instead, jamming has to be ‘smart’ so as to prevent hostile RF signals detonating devices, while preserving one’s own use of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) combat operations under the auspices of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) may be winding down in Afghanistan, with British troops leaving the troubled country at the end of October 2013, but investment is still ongoing into jamming technology to protect military convoys in preparation for the conflicts of the future. For many years, the US Army has employed SRC’s CREW Duke protective system. Designed with a lightweight

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construction, the CREW Duke has been cycled through several versions since its deployment last decade. It has been designed with low power consumption, ease of use and a compact size to ensure that it is relatively easy to integrate into military vehicles regardless of their size and engine horsepower. The CREW Duke replaced Exelis’ Warlock Green jammer which had been in use with US forces in

The key to defeating an RF-activated roadside bomb is the utilisation of RF energy

Iraq since 2003. Exelis now offers the CREW Vehicle Receiver/Jammer (CVRJ) which detects incoming hostile RF signals and then jams each of these accordingly.

According to Exelis’ official literature, the CRVJ has been deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq and is relatively energy efficient for the vehicle accommodating it, using 30 amps of power.

Smart Jamming

On 14 October 2014, the United States approved the low-rate initial production of Northrop Grumman’s new fixed, dismounted and mounted jammer which is part of the Joint Counter RadioControlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) programme.

Low-rate initial production of the system will commence in 2015. Beyond Northrop Grumman’s efforts, several firms are continuing to provide military convoy jammers. They include the JAMX Mk.4 which is installed on an AM General Hummer four-wheel drive vehicle, itself a civilianised version of AM General’s M998 High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle or ‘Humvee’. SESP of France, which manufactures the JAMX Mk.4, says that the product can provide up to 1585 watts of output power across the 20 megahertz to three gigahertz frequency range, encompassing not only UHF signals, but also Very High Frequency (30-300MHz) and the upper end of the High Frequency (3-30MHz) parts of the radio spectrum.

The operator can decide exactly which

A US Army AM General High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle outfitted with an electric device in a dome on the rear of the vehicle to neutralise the threat presented by remote-controlled roadside bombs © US Army

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PROTECTION on a daily basis. The country is parts of the spectrum they wish to home to Phantom Technologies jam on account of the threat that which provides jamming products they are facing; alternatively all freto protect military convoys. These quencies can be jammed continuously. The device uses an omnidevices can develop 1400 watts of directional antenna allowing a wide output power and cover between area around the vehicle and convoy three and six gigahertz worth of to be cleansed of RF threats. spectrum according to customer France is also home to Thales requirements. Other Israeli prodwhich provides the TRC 6274 wideucts include Elbit’s EJAB (Electronic band jammer. With an output of up Jamming Anti-Bomb) which has to 50 watts, this can perform widebeen field-proven and is believed to band jamming to cover as much of be in service with the Israeli Army. the frequency spectrum as possible, As well as jamming cellphone and typically across the HF to UHF radio communications, the EJAB can perform similar treatment for ranges. Jamming can be achieved satellite communications. using selective responses. These Away from Israel, include spot jamming where a speGEW cific frequency, or set of frequenTechnologies of South Africa manucies, are jammed and responsive factures the GMJ10000 multichannel jamming, where a jamming is initijammer which can disrupt several ated in response to a specific RF frequencies simultaneously. This is a threat. So-called ‘smart’ barrage particularly useful function if a secjamming can also be employed by ondary frequency is employed to which a wide spread of frequencies trigger a remote-controlled bomb, in are jammed to cover a wider range the event of the primary RF trigger of threats, but this jamming being being jammed. Like several of the performed in such a fashion so as devices surveyed in this article, it Israel Aerospace Industries unveiled its Counter-Improvised Explosive Device and Mine Suite (CIMS) at the October 2014 not to disrupt friendly communicacovers the upper HF to UHF specAssociation of the United States Army Exhibition in trum, affording 300 watts of jamming tions. DRFM (Digital Radio Washington DC. CIMS uses radar, optronics and magnetic power. Similarly, Tangreat of China Frequency Memory) repeater jamdetection to discover roadside bombs © IAI has developed the WF-D12 JAM high ming can be undertaken by which hostile RF energy detected by the power wideband roof-mounted consystem is manipulated and then retransend HF up to UHF transmissions. voy protection jammer. This covers a simimitted back to the sender—a well-foundAdditional UK-based remote-controlled lar frequency range to the GMJ10000 dised technique employed in radar jamming bomb jamming system providers include cussed above, although with the ability for to spoof the radar regarding the informaHomeland Security Strategies which offer this to be extended to six gigahertz so as to tion it derives from the pulse that the the VIP-300F jamming module which can incorporate jamming against S-band (tworadar transmits. The TRC 6274 is joined outfit several vehicles in a convoy so as to to-four gigahertz) and C-band (four-toby Thales’ Eclipse which also performs provide overlapping protection. One pareight gigahertz) satellite communications. reactive and proactive jamming, across a ticularly interesting product developed by Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Scientific wide set of frequency bands using a high the company is the VIP-300WOTS which Research Institute for All-Round performs barrage jamming effects using a Automation based in the country’s capital power transmitter. random multiband sweep allowing the Other European convoy protection sysKiev has developed the GARANT remotetem providers include Airbus Defence simultaneous disruption of several narcontrolled bomb jammer. This is designed and Space which has developed the row-band communications. to provide barrage jamming and forms an Vehicle Protection Jammer. This detects RF protective zone around the vehicle. The hostile RF signals, classifies these signals entire system comprises twelve jamming Output Power and then initiates jamming using the origantennae each of which covers a specific Much as the United States and its counterinal signal’s frequency band, a process frequency band. The company states that parts have experienced the wrath of the which is measured in milliseconds.

GARANT can equip a diverse array of remote-controlled bomb in the theatres Airbus Defence and Space’s products are vehicles including main battle tanks and where they have operated, the Israeli joined by those of the United Kingdom’s armoured personnel carriers, although it Army is no stranger to such dangers, parEnterprise Control Systems’ whose Griffin can be retrofitted to other vehicles if ticularly given the threats which it experidesired by the customer. ences from Palestinian insurgent groups vehicle-mounted jammer covers upper

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Remote-controlled roadside bombs have exacted a heavy toll on US-led combat forces in recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. As this photo illustrates, such weapons also pose a serious threat to civilians. Š NATO

Spending Priorities

As this article has illustrated, although investment continues to flow into jamming equipment for convoy protection, as witnessed by recent developments in the United States discussed above, questions must be asked as to whether such levels of spending on this technology will continue in the future. By 2015, the majority of NATO-led forces will have left Afghanistan. Mercifully, for the armies involved, this will bring a corresponding reduction in casualties caused by remotecontrolled bombs. However, with defence budgets still under pressure around the world, particularly in the west, there is the chance that convoy protection equipment is one area where spending reductions could occur as countries seek to rein in their defence budgets to curb government

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spending. With no existential threat, planners in defence ministries globally may take the opportunity to cut back convoy protection expenditure to make savings.

Furthermore, there may be an increasing aversion to deploying ground troops into war zones in the wake of the casualties sustained in Iraq and Afghanistan. As this article was being written, the United States had embarked upon Operation INHERENT RESOLVE which, in concert with a number of coalition partners, has

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mounted an air campaign to assist the Iraqi Army and Kurdish Peshmerga insurgents in rolling back the territorial advances made by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Islamist movement in Iraq. So far, the US and its coalition partners have demurred from deploying ground troops, save instructors for the Iraqi and Kurdish forces, to support the air campaign. A reluctance to deploy ground forces in this and future campaigns could mean a similar reluctance to invest in RF jamming equipment with a view that such technology will not be necessary. However, the remote controlled bomb is sadly here to stay; a lack of investment in jamming technology today could have dire consequences on the battlefields of tomorrow when a reluctance to deploy ground troops no longer becomes an option.

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Kaman is supplying ten SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite naval support helicopters, spare parts, a full mission flight simulator, and related logistics support to the New Zealand Ministry of Defence under a $120 million contract signed in April 2013 Š Kaman Aerospace

PERSONNEL TRAINER

The military training and simulation industry is developing new and innovative ways to allow armed forces to train as they fight, and many armed forces in the Asia-Pacific region are increasingly exploiting advanced technology to improve their training methods across the air, land and sea domains.

by Claire Apthorp

he use of simulation technologies in particular is growing, accounting for an increasingly large portion of training solutions for personnel, allowing training to be standardised across programmes and ensuring that every user can prepare for a wide range of operating conditions that would otherwise be difficult and expensive to replicate.

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Seasprite

Fixed and rotary-wing aircraft requirements currently dominate the most high-profile training and simulation programmes in the Asia-Pacific, with a number of recent developments in high-value projects.

As the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) gears up to take delivery of its first Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite naval support helicopters by the end of 2014, the New

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Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) is working to ensure that its synthetic training devices are up to scratch to enable the seamless fleet transition to the new model from its existing SH-2G Seasprite fleet. The New Zealand MoD signed a contract to acquire the SH-2G(I) in April 2013, with all ten aircraft expected to be delivered by mid-2015.

Simulation specialists CAE of Canada announced on 20 October 2014 that it had

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AND SIMULATION tion and the addition of the latest generation CAE Medallion-6000 image generator and the common database (CDB). The CDB is an open database architecture that enhances the ability to correlate and rapidly update databases to support training and mission rehearsal requirements.

Under a separate contract announced at the same time, following delivery of the SH-2G(I) synthetic training devices to Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Base Auckland in 2015, CAE will provide through-life support, on-site training support and maintenance services through 2030.

Fixed-wing

Among multiple other projects in the region, including its work on the CAE Brunei Multi-Purpose Training Centre in Brunei-Darrussalam, and the Beechcraft King Air 350 turboprop transport training programme for the Royal Australian Air Force, CAE is involved in the programme to deliver a comprehensive pilot training system to the RNZAF as part of a programme led by Beechcraft. This firm was awarded two contracts, announced in January 2014, to supply a training system based on the Beechcraft T-6C Texan II turboprop trainer,

been contracted to upgrade an existing SH-2G Full Mission Flight Simulator (FMFS) and SH-2G Part Task Trainer (PTT) that are being acquired as part of the package. CAE will commence major updates and obsolescence management to the existing SH-2G(I) FMFS and PTT. The work will include updates to the host computer, sensor systems, tactical environment and the instructor operator sta-

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along with spare parts, training, logistics and maintenance support. Eleven aircraft will be supplied under the contract, along with two CAE operational flight training simulators, computer-based training courseware and customised RNZAF pilot training syllabi, all of which will be integrated to create a comprehensive leading edge learning management system.

CAE is developing two T-6C operational flight trainer simulators, computerbased classroom training systems, and courseware customised for RNZAF pilot training. The simulators will include a high-fidelity replica of the T-6C cockpit with a fully-enclosed 270 degree by 70 degree field-of-view display system driven by the CAE Medallion-6000 image generator. It will also feature the CAE-developed CDB, both of which are being utilised in the SH-2G(I) simulators (see above), enabling the RNZAF to cost-effectively reuse synthetic environment databases.

The T-6C aircraft and simulators will replace the Pacific Aerospace CT-4E Airtrainer in the primary phase of the RNZAF Wings Course and Flight Instructor Course (FIC) training role, and the King Air B200 turboprop transport in the advanced phase of the Wings Course.

CAE and the government of Brunei-Darussalam established a joint venture company to develop and operate the CAE Brunei Multi-Purpose Training Centre in the country in 2012. The inauguration of training at the facility was conducted in September 2014 Š CAE

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The King Air 350 training programme in Australia for the RAAF is the first companyowned/company-operating training centre to be providing military training to the ADF. The centre includes the CAE 5000 Series Beechcraft King Air 350 turboprop transport full-flight simulator © CAE

The new systems will be based at RNZAF Base Ohakea in New Zealand’s North Island, where they will support primary through to advanced aircrew training before they move on to operational squadrons or the FIC. Beechcraft will deliver the four T-6C aircraft in November 2014, whereupon the RNZAF will begin validation flying in preparation for integrating the aircraft into pilot training by mid-2015. All eleven T-6C aircraft will be delivered by mid-2015.

Australia

The Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) ongoing fixed-wing training requirements form one of the longest-running programmes in the Asia-Pacific region. As outlined in the Australian Department of Defence’s (DoD’s) 2012 capability plan, Project AIR 5428 “will introduce a new basic and a new advanced flying training system to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the ADF’s (Australian Defence Force’s) fixed-wing Pilot Training System (PTS)”.

With a gestation period of almost a decade, delays to the programme have required the ADF to extend the life of the current PTS at the ADF’s Basic Flying Training School (BFTS) in Tamworth, in south eastern Australia, with BAE Systems

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awarded a six-year contract with six oneyear extension options in May 2011 for Interim Basic Flying Training services utilising the CT-4B trainer aircraft.

Graduates from BFTS move onto the ADF’s principal basic training aircraft, the Pilatus PC-9A turboprop trainer at the No.2 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia, where pilots are trained to ‘wings’ stage. Already with more than 25 years of operation completed

for the ADF, the PC-9A was originally intended to retire from service in 2016; due to programme delays its life has had to be extended until AIR 5428 reaches Initial Operational Capability (IOC) which is expected to occur in 2017.

Mat Sibree, AIR 5428 capture manager for BAE Systems, told AMR that the longevity of the incumbent and legacy systems is likely to have created a training burden for the operation unit due to the gap in aircraft systems for pilots training on a PC-9A aircraft then moving on to the Boeing C-17A Globemaster-III strategic freighter or Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multi-role combat aircraft BAE Systems leads one of two consortium teams that have been down-selected for AIR 5428. The other is led by Lockheed Martin (with Pilatus and Beechcraft which is also known as ‘Team 21’).

BAE Systems Australia has teamed with Beechcraft and CAE, with a bid based on the T-6C military training aircraft, delivered as part of a flexible learning environment with CAE Level Six synthetic Flight Training Devices (FTDs). BAE Systems Australia will draw on it experience in running the RAAF’s BAE Systems Hawk Mk.127 Lead-In Fighter (LIF) in-service support contract. Now in the contract’s third iteration, the company maintains and supports 33 Hawk Mk.127 aircraft as leadin fast jet trainers, with logistics support

CAE Australia has upgraded the Australian Army’s Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk medium-lift utility helicopter full flight and mission simulator with electronic warfare capabilities and the latest CAE Medallion 6000 image generator © CAE

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and three enhanced operational flight trainers manufactured by CAE also in use.

“The reason BAE Systems chose Becchcraft and the T-6 is because we wanted to offer a single-type system,” Mr. Sibree said. “Currently the ADF rely on two aircraft, the CT-4 and the PC-9, and we believe you could replace that with one aircraft, and the best platform that offers the most compelling kit for both basic flying, but to also continue the learning curve trajectory, is the T-6C.” BAE Systems Australia believes that further efficiencies could be made under AIR 5428 by exploring the potential to unlock capacity in the underutilised Hawk Mk.127 LIF fleet, suggesting that the reintroduction of fast-jet training to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) undergraduate system would not only deliver advanced competencies, but also have a positive influence on culture and student motivation.

“From an AIR 5428 point of view the Hawk Mk.127 is outside of scope, but as

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Team 21, which includes Lockheed Martin Australia, Pilatus and Hawker Pacific, is offering a Pilatus PC-21 turboprop trainer-based solution for the ADF’s future Pilot Training System, Project Air 5428, which draws on the team’s successful provision of flight training facilities to Singapore © Pilatus

the turnkey service provider for that platform we believe we could offer some good efficiencies if the aircraft was injected back in to the pilot training stream rather than sitting outside it,” Mr. Sibree said.

BAE Systems will also draw on its experience of providing turnkey fixed-wing and rotary-wing pilot training for the Royal Brunei Air Force and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force from its Flight Training Academy in Tamworth, and its support of the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s Air Grading Course since 2000.

As the leader of Team 21, Lockheed Martin’s AIR 5428 has teamed with Pilatus Aircraft and Beechcraft to offer a comprehensive PTS for Project AIR 5428 based on the Pilatus PC-21 turboprop trainer. The team will apply experience gained from the delivery of flying training to the Republic of Singapore Air Force (Basic Wings Course) at RAAF Base Pearce, which it is currently in its eighth year of a 20-year performance-based contract.

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HATS

Following on from recent rotary-wing training upgrades for its existing fleet, including a major upgrade to the Australian Army’s Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk medium-lift utility helicopter FFMS (Full Flight Mission Simulator) by CAE, Australia is working to upgrade its train-

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ing and simulation capabilities as it prepares to bring a number of new helicopter platforms into service.

Boeing was announced as the preferred partner for the ADF’s $700 million (potentially worth up to $1 billion) Project Air 9000 Phase 7 to provide a new Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) in October 2014; however, contract negotiations continue.

The joint HATS, to be based at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, south-eastern Australia, will meet the requirements of the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to overcome the broadening gap in training systems required for the advanced operational helicopters to be operated by the future ADF, including 22 Airbus Helicopters EC-665ARH Tiger attack helicopters, 47 NH Industries MRH90 Taipan medium-lift helicopters, 24 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk maritime support helicopters, and seven Boeing CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. This will allow the retirement of Bell Helicopter OH58A Kiowa reconnaissance and attack helicopters operated by the Australian Army and 13 Airbus Helicopters AS-350BA Squirrel helicopters operated by the RAN. Boeing, which has teamed with Thales for its solution, beat competition from the

The need to update the Australian Tiger FFMS reflects trends across the simulation market

other-two down-selected tenders from Australian Aerospace and Raytheon Australia. Boeing’s solution will include purpose-designed syllabi based on 15 Airbus Helicopter EC-135 twin-engine ‘glass cockpit’ training helicopters, three full-motion Thales EC-135 Flight Simulators, and the addition of a flight deck to the RAN’s new sea-going training vessel.

According to the Australian DoD, the IOC for HATS is late 2018 but the systems will begin to receive students before then.

Tiger Upgrade

In September 2014, Thales Australia also completed delivery of a significant upgrade to the Australian EC-665ARH simulator as part of a team including prime contractor Airbus Group. The improvements to the FFMS’ Visual Display System (VDS) mean the Australian EC-665ARH simulator now has the highest levels of ‘out of the window’ realism of any Tiger FFMS in the world.

The FFMS consists of two domes, one for the Pilot and one for the Battle Captain.

The project consisted of removing the Barco Sim 6 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projectors, including the associated control systems, for each dome, and replacing the projectors with the Barco F35 projector, along with a new projector control system.

Each dome uses nine projectors, covering a field-of-view 240 degrees horizontal by 85 degrees vertical. In addition, the SGI-based Image Generator for each dome was also replaced with a computer-based solution, using the latest graphics cards.

“The new visual system provides a significantly improved performance. As well as rendering imagery at a higher resolution, it is much brighter, the colours are clearer, and the overall focus is much improved,” Phil Swadling, technical and engineering manager, avionics, training and simulation at Thales’ Australian subsidiary, told AMR. “The upgrade ensures the FFMS continues to be available to train ARH aircrew over the coming years.” The need to update the technology in the Australian Tiger FFMS is reflective of a trend across the simulation market, largely due to the fast pace of technology development.

“Projector technology is moving rapidly, with a number of technology changes occurring in a relatively short period of time, so while the LCD projectors fitted on the original delivery were state of the art at the time, in the intervening period at least two new generations of technology have come onto the market,” Mr. Swadling explained. “In the main, the advancements in projector technology have been driven by the demands of the entertainment industry.”

“One consequence of this is that projectors are becoming unsupportable more quickly than in the past, creating a more frequent need for upgrades. At the same time, the newer projector technologies are generally providing improved image quality, so customers will be interested The SGI-based Image Generator used for the Australian Army’s Airbus Helicopters EC665ARH attack aircraft was state-of-the-art at the time of delivery but has since been superseded by a number of generations of computer-based hardware evolutions © Thales

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The maritime simulator classroom delivered by VSTEP for the Royal Australian Navy includes twelve NAUTIS Desktop Trainers and two NAUTIS Instructor Stations. The simulators use the NAUTIS Naval Task Force software module © V-Step

in the improved training capabilities that could be achieved particularly by military customers.”

Flexible Solutions

Earlier in 2014, Dutch company VStep completed delivery of two Class A NAUTIS Full Mission Bridge (FMB) simulators to the Indonesian Navy. The simulators were ordered for the Kobangdikal marine training facility in Surabaya in East Java.

The Indonesian Navy added new ‘Sigma’ class corvettes to its active fleet in 2012 as part of a wider modernisation programme to allow the navy to more effectively combat maritime crime and piracy.

The NAUTIS FMS simulators allow realistic training of the ‘Sigma’ class bridge personnel, with each simulator offering a 270 degree field-of-view projected on a cylindrical screen. The simulator bridges match the actual corvette bridge, allowing efficient and true-to-life bridge operations and navigation training. The Indonesian Navy also ordered five custom-built ports to

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equip the simulator’s software, and customised navigation screens.

Originally VStep worked with the ‘Sigma’ class vessel, Damen Naval Shipbuilding of the Netherlands, to build an exact bridge replica of the vessel to enable the Indonesian Navy to train in an identical system. However, the cost of integration drove the team to instead to make a ‘look-alike’ bridge with touchscreens and displays designed to replicate the ‘Sigma’ class bridge.

“You see also in helicopter training these days that it is more about procedures so you don’t always need the complete cockpit in a simulator, depending on the exact training needs,” Pjotr van Schothorst, chief executive officer of VStep, told AMR. “So (for a bridge simulator) some of the controls such as the physical engine controls and radar system were sourced from the original supplier, but some of the other less high-priority panels were replicas that looked like the real thing but were touch-screen controls rather than physical controls.”

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“That way we were able to deliver the whole bridge for a fraction of the cost, and that’s quite a cost-effective way to deliver this type of training capability. Many navy customers, like the Indonesian Navy originally plan on an exact match for their simulator requirements but then opt for a more flexible solution that allows them to train for more than one type of vessel, which gives them the option to turn off certain devices or more easily change components to look and feel like another type of vessel,” Mr. van Schothorst continues.

The company is also working with the maritime wing of the Australian Army on a soon-to-be announced programme to install a VStep simulator classroom at its Townsville base in eastern Australia. The maritime simulators are to be used for landing craft operations and navigation training.

With the use of simulation technology gaining traction in the training of military personnel across the region, more armed forces are benefiting from solutions that are cost-effective, flexible, and able to deliver on a range of requirements simultaneously.

Consequently, personnel can benefit from more dynamic and real-life training across a wider range of platforms.

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As submarines proliferate in the Indian Ocean, navies are making an effort to develop their anti-submarine capabilities.

This Hafei Z-9EC naval support helicopter is one of six in the Pakistan Navy’s 222 ASW Squadron © Pakistani Navy Official Website

DETERRENCE AND DOCTRINE

Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella has given the country breathing space to modernise her military, with a sea-based deterrent on the cards. Islamabad is pursuing a policy of self-reliance and export promotion in the defence sector, based on an emerging strategic relationship with Beijing.

by Alex Calvo

he October 2014 centenary anniversary of the arrival of the first British Indian troops on the European Western Front during the First World War is a good moment to examine the current military modernisation plans of one of the successor states of British India: Pakistan. This is a country where the armed forces are widely seen by both experts and the population as the backbone of a still-ongoing process of nation-building. At the international level, Pakistan remains a state which is strategically essential to both Beijing and Washington DC. The existence of Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent has provided some breathing space to confront India without the need for a conventional parity in terms of materiel and personnel, allow-

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ing Islamabad to focus on military modernisation and internal security. Her nuclear force also widens the scope to wage or at least tolerate sub-conventional and limited conventional warfare against India, including the use of proxy actors such as armed militants in the disputed region of Kashmir without fear of escalation.

In addition to infiltration in Kashmir, incidents blamed on proxy Pakistan actors in recent years include the 26 November 2008 seaborne attack against Mumbai and the 23 May 2014 strike against the Indian Consulate in Herat, western Afghanistan.

Domestically, the Pakistan military has managed to develop a strong esprit de corps, seeing itself as more advanced and modern than the country’s surrounding society and its politicians. It has also

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become a meritocratic avenue for social advancement. While fears of Islamist infiltration into Pakistan’s armed forces persist, most officers are considered to be Pakistani nationalists; loyal to Pakistan as nationstate rather than the Ummah, Islam’s universal community of believers.

Pakistan has to contend with three strategic imperatives: bringing together a diverse population in terms of language, ethnicity and economic interests, confronting India, and preventing the emergence of a unified, hostile Afghanistan.

Reza Fazli, a Kabul-based researcher at the United Nations Non-Governmental Organisation Liaison Office, active in research and peace-building, who follows regional dynamics, believes that Pakistan is “an expansionist state bent on destroy-

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M I L I T A R Y ing, occupying or at least weakening Afghanistan”, while pointing out that “it is the Pakistani military that sets the tone of Pakistani foreign policy, particularly with regards to Afghanistan (and India)”.

Islamabad’s motivations to try to weaken Afghanistan include avoiding encirclement and the emergence of a unified Pashtunistan, an area of land encompassing parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan inhabited by the Pashtun ethnic group. In addition to these concerns, a fourth preoccupation of Pakistan is maritime security while the country remains one of the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping operations.

In defence industrial terms, Islamabad can be expected to continue her drive for self-reliance partly prompted by past United States sanctions against her nuclear weapons programme, diversification, and a push for exports, with China as the Pakistan government’s preferred partner.

Saudi Arabia is one of Pakistan’s most significant clients, with some observers concerned that Islamabad may enable Riyadh to acquire a nuclear deterrent through the export of know-how to this end.

Conventional Land Forces

Traditionally the senior service, Pakistan’s Army has a strength of more than 600,000 (1,400,000 adding reserves and paramilitary forces), it fields more than 2500 Main Battle

The gates of Heavy Industries Taxila the manufacturer of, among other products, the Al-Khalid main battle tank. Its motto ‘strength through self reliance’ is a reminder of Islamabad’s efforts to develop a domestic defence industry © Heavy Industries Taxila

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Tanks (MBTs) and 4000 armoured personnel carriers and other armoured vehicles, and its artillery is believed to comprise more than 3000 towed guns and almost 500 self-propelled pieces, as well as different types of anti-tank guided missiles, including the AQ Khan Research Laboratories Bakhtar-Shikan, and 92 multiple launch rocket systems. The MBT inventory include more than 300 (600 planned) Heavy Industries Taxila Al-Khalid MBTs which is closely based upon the Russian/Soviet Kharkiv Morozov T-54, plus 320 Kharkiv Morozov T-80 MBTs, 320 Heavy Industries Taxila Al-Zarrar T-59s along with Norinco Type 85-II and Type 69-II MBTs, as well as 345-450 General Dynamics Land Systems M48A5 and 50 Kharkiv Morozov T-54/55 MBTs. The armoured vehicle inventory includes 2000 domestic-developed amphibious Heavy Industries Taxila Talha and Saad armoured personnel carriers, 300 BAE Systems M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and more than 1600 Food Machinery Corporation/BAE Systems M113 armoured personnel carriers.

Auxiliary Forces

A significant portion of Pakistan has never been fully brought under the control of the central government, including the FATA (Federally-Administered Tribal Areas), located in the north west of the country. Rather than civilian police and conventional army units, a number of militia and constabulary-type forces constitute Islamabad’s most visible face in those regions, leaving the army free to face India. To this end, the Frontier Corps are recruited from the Pashtun population near the Afghan border. Created by the British, it is separate from the army and sometimes works with irregular village forces. The Frontier Corps are joined by the Laskhars, a part-time tribal militia made up of civilians available to take up weapons. Lightly armed, they on the other hand know the physical and human terrain in the areas where they operate.

Paramilitary police forces in the FATA include the Levies, armed with weapons provided by the authorities (the Laskhars use their own) and more formal training compared to the Lashkars.

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Navy

A junior service in comparison to the army, it is nevertheless tasked with key roles such as coastal protection and the defence of Sea Lines Of Communication (SLOCs). It operates eleven frigates and destroyers (including six ‘Amazon’ class frigates and one ‘Leander’ class frigate in a training role), three ‘Eridan’ class Mine Countermeasures (MCM) vessels, four ‘Jalalat’ class fast attack craft, and eight auxiliary ships, plus oilers and Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). The subsurface fleet includes five French-made ‘Khalid’ class conventional hunter-killer (SSKs) boats purchased in the 1990s and two ‘Hashmat’ class SSKs which were bought in the 1970s, plus three midget submarines.

Pakistan’s naval aviation comprises four Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), eight Fokker F27-200 MPA, and three Dassault Breguet Atlantique ATL-I MPA. The naval support helicopter fleet includes six AgustaWestland Sea King Mk.45 rotorcraft and twelve Hafei Z-9EC aircraft, among

others. Weapons used by the Pakistan Navy include China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) C-602 anti-ship cruise missiles, purchased from China and with an estimated speed of 529 knots (980 kilometres-per-hour) and range of 151 nautical miles (280 kilometres). In addition, the Pakistan Air Force operates a specialised anti-ship squadron equipped with Dassault Mirage V strike aircraft. The personnel strength of the navy includes more than 22000 active and 5000 reserve officers and sailors.

Traditionally, the port of Karachi has been the home of the Pakistani Navy. A crowded harbour, in a city sometimes described as ‘feral’, it experienced an attack on the Mehran Naval Air Base there in 2011, when Pakistani Taliban cadres

In defence industrial terms, Islamabad can be expected to continue her drive for self-reliance

destroyed two Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion patrol aircraft. John P. Sullivan, a senior research fellow at the Centre for Advanced Studies on Terrorism (CAST), explains that “a feral city has lost the ability to moderate gangs, crime and violence.

The rule of law is replaced by impunity for criminal conflict and a lack of state solvency (legitimacy plus capacity). The absence of the state is reinforced by the primacy of the illicit economy”. Mr. Sullivan adds that “Karachi fits this model”. Gradually, the Navy is diversifying into other bases, such as PNS Siddique in Turbat, in the southwest, near the strategic deepwater port of Gwadar and border with Iran, designed to host some naval air assets. Another base is Pasni, where the P-3Cs are located. In April 2014 Pakistan shifted the bulk of her operational fleet (submarines included) from Karachi to Jinnah Naval Base, also located in the south-west of the country.

Pakistan’s navy is planning to expand and modernise. Current procurement initiatives include four more ‘Zulfiqar’ class frigates. The first three were built in China

The PNS Zulfiquar frigate was inducted into Pakistan Navy service in 2009. This Chinese-built ship gives her name to a class of four frigates, one of which, built in Pakistan, is currently undergoing trials © Pakistan Navy Official Website

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Commodore Peter Leavy of the Royal Australian Navy onboard the PNS Saif ‘Zulfiquar’ class frigate. Pakistan regularly takes part in bilateral and multinational drills. This picture was taken in September 2014, during Exercise KAKADU 2014, in the ship’s machinery control room © Royal Australian Navy

and the fourth in Pakistan. The ‘Zulfiquar’ class displaces 3000 tons and carries CASIC C-802A long-range anti-ship and China Academy of Defence Technology FM-90 surface-to-air missiles, depth charges, torpedoes, a 76mm gun and a close-inweapons system, while embarking a Hafei Z-9EC naval support helicopter. Also four modern corvettes are to be built at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works, at an unspecified date, and Pakistan has requested the purchase of six ‘Oliver Hazard Perry’ class frigates from the US, however US Congressional hostility which may prevent the deal. Candidate corvettes to meet Pakistan’s requirements include DCNS’ ‘Gowind’ class, ThyssenKruppMarineSystems ‘MEKO A100/D’ class or Istanbul Naval Shipyard’s ‘Ada’ class. Naval procurement plans also cover additional oilers, MCMs and OPVs. In order to replace her ‘Daphne’ class SSKs, decommissioned in 2006, there are reports that the Pakistani Navy is negotiating the purchase of DCNS ‘Marlin’ or Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH ‘Type-214’ class submarines. Other reports point out that China may have offered to sell six ‘Yuan’ class SSKs. Sino-Pakistani cooperation in naval construction is not only further proof of the strong bilateral relationship and move away from US procurement by Pakistan, but is also geared towards exports to third countries and shows that Islamabad, like Beijing, is enhancing its maritime power.

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Air Force

Pakistan’s air force operates some 800 aircraft from seven air bases, and its personnel numbers 65000 (with around 3000 pilots).

Its front line strength remains focused on the General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F16A/B/C/D Block-10/15/50/52 multi-role combat aircraft, with Islamabad buying a further 13 from Jordan in 2014, bringing her total to 76. In September 2014 the last of 41 F-16A/Bs to be modernised by Turkish

Aerospace Industries (TAI) were delivered back to the air force following both structural and avionics upgrades (see ‘Pakistan receives upgraded F-16s from Turkey’ news story in this issue). However the Chenghu/Päkistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 Thunder MRCA, co-produced with China, is currently the air force’s first priority and is one of the best examples of Pakistan’s gradual shift towards Beijing. In December 2013 production of 50 JF-17 Block-II MRCA began, with improved avionics and weapons load, as well as an inflight refuelling capability. Plans call for the purchase up to 250 planes, replacing the Chengdu F-7 and Dassault Mirage-III/V MRCA. Beijing and Islamabad are working on a two-seater variant of the JF-17 for use as a trainer or for night strike missions expected to be designated as the JF-17 Block-III. Furthermore, there has been much

Despite growing links with China, the Pakistani Air Force retains strong links with its American counterpart. The picture shows Pakistan and American aircrew preparing for a training flight in a USAF Lockheed Martin F-16D Block-52 multi-role combat aircraft © USAF

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US defence secretary Chuck Hagel meets Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif on 9 December 2013. While an essential Cold War ally for the US, Pakistan has in the past been hit by US sanctions designed to slow her nuclear weapons programme © US DoD

speculation about the possible purchase of Chengdhu J-10 MRCA, considered to be roughly equivalent to the US F-16C/D Block-50/52 MRCA. Pakistan’s main aircraft manufacturing and maintenance centre is the state-owned Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra (Punjab). Considered to be the world’s third largest assembly plant, it was originally built to service Chinese-made aircraft. Domestic Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) manufacturers include the privatelyowned Karachi-based Integrated Dynamics (ID) and government-owned PAC, the latter producing the Uqaab UAV. While observers point out that current UAVs have not been weaponised, some have pointed out that the Uqaab may be weaponised with Chinese assistance in the future.

Nuclear Forces

Given Pakistan’s smaller population and economy, compared to India’s, her nuclear arsenal (estimated at 100-120 warheads) remains a cornerstone of her defence posture. The programme owes much to Chinese assistance and is widely considered to have resulted in proliferation assistance to third parties, through the same networks set up to procure key materials, and

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benefiting Libya, Iran, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). It enjoys popular and military support and seems to have made it easier for Pakistan to engage in asymmetrical war against India involving proxies (see above). In addition, Islamabad has never ruled out a first strike in any future nuclear confrontation.

Pakistan nuclear delivery systems include the F-16A/B (see above) carrying nuclear gravity bombs. Other delivery systems include the 173 nautical mile (320 kilometre) range National Defence Complex (NDC) Ghaznavi and 486nm (900km) range Shaheen short-range tactical ballistic missiles, with two more in development: the NDC Abdali and Nasr, the latter with an estimated range of 32nm (60km), plus the intermediate-range Khan Research Laboratories Ghauri-2 and 1349nm (2500km) range Shaheen-2. The Ghauri-2 is based on the DPRK’s Nodong intermediate-range ballistic missile which is believed to be road-mobile and liquid-fuelled, with a

Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal remains a cornerstone of her defence posture

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single stage and a range of some 1079nm (2000km). The Shaheen-2 is solid-fuelled with a similar range. To this we must add two cruise missiles in development, the airlaunched Air Weapons Complex Ra’ad with a 189nm (350km) range and the ground-launched NDC Babur, the latter of which has a range of some 348nm (644km).

It is rumoured that a naval version of the latter is also under development.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is working on the Taimur intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 3777nm (7000km).

Some observers consider Pakistan to have the fastest-growing nuclear arsenal in the world, which the country is modernising. This may be connected to doctrinal developments giving nuclear weapons a wider role. Islamabad may be working to develop a sea-based deterrent, giving her a second-strike capability. Mandeep Singh, associate editor at specialised defence website Orbat believes that this would “change the strategic balance completely” and “significantly enhance the chances of nuclear war”. Mr. Singh says that “Pakistan now has extremely competent security in place for its nuclear weapons”, although the possibility of the weapons (falling under the unauthorised possession of violent Islamist organisations) can’t be ruled out given recent experience”. He deems it credible that Saudi Arabia, “in an extremely difficult strategic position”, may purchase nuclear technology or hardware from Pakistan.

Conclusions

Pakistan is modernising key weapons systems, often in partnership with China, and gearing them also towards exports. In terms of nuclear weapons the two big questions are whether Islamabad may deploy a sea-based deterrent, thus completing its triad, and whether Saudi Arabia may obtain a nuclear deterrent with technological support from Pakistan. In the conventional arena, the continued development and possible export of the JF-17 MRCA, coproduced with China, merits careful attention, as does the progress in domestic-made UAVs. The renewal of Pakistan’s submarine fleet could also significantly contribute to the country’s military strength.

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ASIA PACIFIC PROCUREMENT UPDATE

by Pierre Delrieu

sonnel also received training on the modernised aircraft and participated in the upgrade work performed at TAI. Speaking at the ceremony in Ankara, TAI’s chairman Yalcın Kaya assured that “the upgraded F-16s will unquestionably and proudly increase the Pakistan Air Force’s reliability and functionality”. For the PAF’s deputy chief of staff

Air Marshal Sohail Aman, this deal will be the first of numerous future collaborations between Pakistan and Turkey.

Speaking during the ceremony, he explained “the future of the three countries (Turkey, Pakistan and the US) is together since their common objective is to generate global peace and make the world safer”.

TAI began domestically manufacturing F-16A/B MRCA under licence from the US for the Turkish Air Force in 1984. Nowadays, the Turkish company manufactures parts for Boeing and has become one of the world’s main aerospace companies involved in the manufacture and modernisation of the MRCA. TAI has also upgraded scores of F-16A/B/C/D MRCAs for other customers, most recently for the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

western coast of India, in the state of Gujarat, renowned for its shallow waters and extreme daily tides.

In military operations, these craft are designed for amphibious assault, logistics support and fast attack. As they do not set off mines because they produce virtually no acoustic, magnetic or pressure signatures, hovercraft are also used for Mine

Counter Measure (MCM) operations.

The ICG received six 8000TD/Ms in 2001, two of which were manufactured at Griffon’s boatyard in Southampton, UK, and four by the Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).

This new delivery brings to 18 the total number of mediumlift 8000TD/M hovercraft currently in service with the ICG. Other operators of Griffon Hoverwork’s 8000TD include the Republic of Korea Coast Guard, whose fleet includes three units of this model and the Saudi Arabian Border Guard, which operates five 8000TDs, each equipped with bow ramps and storage space for a small four-wheel drive utility vehicle.

PAKISTAN RECEIVES UPGRADED F-16 FROM TURKEY

The Pakistani Air Force (PAF) has received delivery of the last four, upgraded, Lockheed Martin/General Dynamics F-16A/B Block10/15 Fighting Falcon MultiRole Combat Aircraft (MRCA) it ordered from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), according to a statement issued by the Turkish company on 2 September 2014, following a ceremony held at TAI’s facilities in Ankara, Turkey, that same day.

In completing this final delivery, TAI concluded an avionics and structural modernisation programme, known as ‘Peace Drive II’, a mid-life upgrade (MLU) project for 41 of Pakistan’s F-16A/Bs that was signed between TAI and Pakistan Ministry of Defence

INDIA RECEIVES LAST OF 12 GRIFFON 8000TD HOVERCRAFT

The United Kingdombased Griffon Hoverwork had delivered the last of twelve militarised GRSE 8000TD medium-lift hovercraft to India’s Coast Guard (ICG) on 5 September 2014, five months ahead of schedule.

This final delivery concludes a $51.1 million procurement contract for twelve hovercraft signed in 2011.

Capable of speeds exceeding 50 knots (93 kilometresper-hour), the 69 feet (21 metre) long high-speed hovercraft displaces 31 tonnes, can carry up to ten tonnes of payload, depending on the configuration, and up to 80 troops. It can also be equipped to carry wheeled or tracked vehicles. The 8000TD is powered by two watercooled diesel engines, com-

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in June 2009 and launched in October 2010. This project involved the replacement of more than 1300 parts, with each aircraft taking around six months to update. The United States government, through another contract with the PAF, supplied the parts, materials and technical data required for the project. In addition to the upgraded aircraft, PAF perbined with radiator coolers which operate when the hovercraft is travelling over land and cannot use cooling water.

Ideal for shallow water operation, India’s militarised version of the hovercraft, designated as the 8000TD/M will assist the country’s coast guard in its efforts to enhance surveillance, interdiction, and search and rescue operations along its most vulnerable and complex coastlines and offshore islands. Armed with a machine gun, India’s 8000TDs are capable of operating in areas inaccessible to conventional vessels. The craft will be especially useful in anti-smuggling and anti-infiltration patrols in the Gulf of Kutch near the Arabian Sea along the

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MALAYSIA WELL UNDERWAY TO RECEIVE ITS FIRST A400M BY 2015

The Royal Malaysian Air Force’s first of four Airbus A400M Atlas strategic turboprop freighters has entered the latter stages of production at the company’s Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Seville, southern Spain.

Following assembly, it will undergo ground testing ahead of a planned delivery date of 2015. This news was announced by Airbus on 23 September 2014.

With this order, placed in 2005, the RMAF has become the first export customer for the A400M. Once in service, the four-aircraft fleet will be integrated with the RMAF’s ageing Lockheed Martin C130H Hercules turboprop freighter fleet, which the RMAF has plans to upgrade in the near future. The RMAF A400M programme has cost the country $2.4 billion, $272 million of which was financed

INDONESIA’S TNI-AL INTRODUCES NEW LEOPARD CARRIER LST

The Indonesian Navy (Tentera Nasional IndonesiaAngkatan Laut/TNI-AL) commissioned its latest indigenously produced Tank Landing Ship (LST) dubbed the ‘Leopard Carrier’, on account of its ability to accommodate the Indonesian Army’s new Rheinmetall Leopard-2A4 Main Battle Tanks, on 27 September 2014. The LST was delivered despite initial uncertainties over whether its shipbuilder PT Daya Radar Utama (PT DRU) would be able to meet its October 2014 commissioning deadline.

The vessel, one of three LSTs ordered by the Indonesian government in 2012, was originally scheduled for launch on 28 August 2014, but the deadline had to be pushed back due to delays by

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by an offset deal made with the domestic company Composites Technology Research Malaysia Sdn Bhd. The country’s new aircraft will be delivered to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in the first quarter of 2015 following the completion of ground and flight tests. Two more aircraft will be delivered to the RMAF later that year, with the final aircraft schedule for delivery in 2016. Training has already begun for the first group of Malaysian pilots at the Airbus International Training Centre in Seville, along with maintenance engineers and technicians.

Airbus’s sales director in Malaysia for the A400M, Andy Cheng, told AMR that, although the country’s A400M was not configured with specific or unique items, the RMAF had specifically asked that the aircraft be equipped with a full Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) capability.

Mr. Cheng explained that the RMAF had “selected certain optional items so that all four of its aircraft can perform the full range of logistical, tactical and AAR missions. These options comprise a comprehensive avionics suite including precision navigation sys-

tems, satellite communications, a defensive aids suite, paradrop delivery equipment and a third crew member station in the cockpit to assist with tactical operations.”

Mr. Cheng added that “Malaysia was offered an industrial package proportional to its orders in a similar way to the European industrial partners … and Composite

Technology Research Malaysia was designated as the company to receive the package of composite structural components for design, engineering, testing and certification and manufacturing.”

This partnership comes as a great opportunity for the Malaysian company, which is Airbus’ sole supplier for those components. As Airbus continues with international exports of the A400M, CTRM will remain an active industrial partner in the initiative.

The A400M programme has helped CTRM develop into a world-class composite component manufacturer and the company has since taken on “additional work packages from Airbus commercial aircraft and other aircraft original equipment manufacturers, as well as producing largesize engine nacelles. Its order backlog is currently equivalent to five years of production,” Mr. Cheng explained.

state-owned manufacturer PT Pindad on delivering the ship’s onboard cranes which are used to launch and recover the vessel’s rigid hull inflatable boats.

Following that first delay, further uncertainties arose after a 28 June 2014 shipyard visit by Indonesia’s defence minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro revealed that the LST was still in early stages of construction.

However the LST, named KRI Teluk Bintuni, was finally officially inducted into the TNI-AL’s Military Sea Lift Command during a ceremony presided over by Mr. Yusgiantoro which took place in Bandar Lampung, the capital and economic hub of Lampung province, in southern Sumatra. Mr. Yusgiantoro described Indonesia’s latest LST as an example of the country’s devotion to its home-grown defence industry and revealed that a class of at

least four additional vessels was expected to join the TNI-AL by 2024.

KRI Teluk Bintuni, which is scheduled to serve with the TNI-AL from 2015, was designed to transport the TNIAL’s recently delivered Leopard-2A4 MBTs purchased from Germany in 2012.

According to its manufacturer the vessel can carry up to ten Leopard-2A4s, along with two medium-lift utility helicopters on its flight deck. The LST also incorporates a roll-on/roll-off design, allowing rapid deployment of the MBTs ashore. It is equipped with twin diesel engines and can generate a top speed of 16 knots (30 kilometres-per-hour). The LSTs can also be used for logistics support and troop transportation.

Two additional ships with similar configurations are reportedly already under construction at state-owned ship-

builder PT Dok Kodja Bahari.

The purchase is part of the Indonesia’s plan to modernise its ageing military equipment and develop and revitalise its sealift capabilities as the country faces a rise in regional tensions. Media reports in July 2013 indicated that Jakarta was looking to create a tenth Indonesian Marine Corps (KORMAR) battalion as part of its naval forces expansion and restructuring programme.

KORMAR received deliveries of a second batch of Kurganmashzvod BMP-3F amphibious infantry fighting vehicles in late January 2014, which brings its total number of mechanised infantry combat vehicle in service with KORMAR to 54. Jakarta is also rumoured to be working on a draft procurement contract to acquire Kharkiv Morozov BTR-4 eight-wheel drive armoured personnel carriers.

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ROK SIGNS $7 BILLION DEAL FOR 40 LOCKHEED MARTIN F-35AS

The Republic of Korea (RoK) has finalised a $7 billion deal with the United States government to acquire 40 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning-II Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA). The Defence Acquisition Programme Executive Committee, headed by the RoK’s minister of national defence Han Min-gu, signed the letter of offer and acceptance sanctioning the deal during a meeting held in the capital Seoul on 24 September 2014.

Deliveries to the RoK of the F-35A will start in 2018, with a final delivery estimated for 2024, according to a statement issued following the meeting by the US programme executive officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint

JAPAN’S HELICOPTER CARRIER IZUMO BEGINS SEA TRIALS

Japan’s new helicopter carrier the Izumo, the first of two 30000 ton ‘Izumo’-class vessels scheduled to enter service with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) by 2018, began intensive sea trials in late September 2014, according to the JMSDF. The ship was unveiled in late August 2014 at the port of Yokohama, south of Tokyo, and will be the biggest warship to enter Japan’s fleet since the ‘Yamato’ class battleships which the Imperial Japanese Navy operated during the Second World War. Configured with a large flight deck and hangars designed to hold up to 14 helicopters, the Izumo and her yet-unnamed sister ship were not designed with either catapults, traps or a ‘ski jump’ deck, all necessary configurations for the ship to act as an aircraft carri-

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Programme Office, Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan.

Training for the initial cadre of RoK Air Force (RoKAF) F35A pilots will also be included in the deal, and will most likely take place at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, and begin around the time of the first RoKAF F-35A deliveries.

With this deal, the RoK becomes the third Foreign Military Sales country to procure F-35 variant MRCA through the Foreign Military Sales programme, joining Israel and Japan who selected the aircraft in 2010 and 2011 respectively. The programme also currently includes participation from three US military services and eight international partner countries.

The F-35A should fulfil the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (RoKAF’s) FX-III requirement, under which the RoK initially planned to buy 60 aircraft to

update its fleet of 1970s-era McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom-II MRCA. The RoKAF eventually reduced the number of units to be procured to 40 aircraft as the $10.8 billion original estimate price for 60 F-35As prove to be too high. Lockheed Martin’s F-35A had reportedly been shortlisted for the FX-III programme as early as September 2013, when the Seoul decided against Boeing’s F-15SE Silent Eagle MRCA, judging that the aircraft lacked ‘fifth-generation’ stealth characteristics.

Eurofighter had also offered the Typhoon MRCA but this was reportedly rejected due to cost.

“The F-35 was the sole aircraft in the RoK FX-III competition that offered true, allaspect stealth,” explained Orlando Carvalho, Lockheed Martin executive vice president in a press release. “It is

designed from the ground up to meet a demanding stealth requirement that the US military services determine is vital to combat effectiveness in the future. This decision strengthens and extends (Lockheed Martin’s) long-standing security partnership while enhancing regional stability across the greater Asia-Pacific theatre.”

The Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA), the branch of the RoK in charge of administering defence procurement and also defence industrial projects, is overseeing plans to build an indigenous KFX MRCA. The KFX plan forecasts that the RoKAF will produce at least 120 aircraft with twin engines and high-end avionics systems by 2025 to replace the RoK Air Force’s aging F-4Es and Northrop Grumman F-5E MRCA.

er. The JMSDF has highlighted the vessels’ capacity to quickly respond and assist in emergency situations or natural disasters. The Izumo will nonetheless reportedly be equipped with a bow-mounted sonar for anti-submarine

The two ships will serve as replacement for the JMSDF’s two ‘Shirane’ class destroyers, the Shirane and Kurama, which were commissioned in 1980 and 1981 respectively.

Once commissioned, the ‘Izumo’ class will greatly enhance the current anti-submarine, antiship, and amphibious assault capabilities of the JMSDF, as its current ‘Shirane’ class helicopter carriers, planned for decommissioning soon after the Izumo enters service, currently accommodate ten helicopters.

The construction of Izumo began at an IshikawajimaHarima Heavy Industries shipyard in Yokohama in 2011, at a cost of about $1.5 billion. Her commissioning is currently scheduled for March 2015. The second ship of the class, currently referred to as DDH 184, will follow in 2017.

The Chinese media has

already described the Izumo as an ‘aircraft-carrier in disguise’, expressing concern that Japan would use the ‘Izumo’ class vessels for expeditionary operations. However, despite the concerns of Japan’s neighbours the JMSDF insist that the vessel will be used mainly for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and border surveillance missions.

The Japanese fleet also currently comprises two 20000ton ‘Hyūga’ class helicopter destroyers, the Hyūga and Ise, commissioned respectively in 2009 and 2011. Each of these vessels is configured to carry up to 18 helicopters and typically operates three Sikorsky SH-60K one AgustaWestland MCH-101 naval support helicopter. The ‘Hyūga’ class destroyers are also equipped with the Raytheon RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile and Lockheed Martin RUM-139 VL-ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket).

operate fixed-wing aircraft, although two Raytheon RIM116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers which will provide defence against anti-ship missiles outfit the vessel. The flight deck of the Izumo has five helicopter landing spots, and can reportedly transport 50 trucks, supplies and over 400 troops in addition to its crew.

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AUSTRALIA SIGNS F90 RIFLE LRIP CONTRACT WITH THALES

Thales Australia secured a contract from the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) in late September 2014 to enter Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) for the company’s F90 5.56mm assault rifle, developed to serve as a replacement for Steyr AUG F88 Austeyr series assault rifles currently in service with the Australian Army.

Thales’ F90 had been awarded Provisional Design Acceptance in April 2014 by the Australian Department of Defence as the result of a series of extensive tests which saw over a million rounds fired.

The decision was made official this September 2014, although no details on either the contract’s value or a delivery schedule were given by Thales.

AUSTRALIA TO SOON COMMISSION FIRST ‘CANBERRA’ CLASS

According to local press reports in early November 2014, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will commission the first of its ‘Canberra’ class amphibious support ships on 28 November 2014. The RAN is acquiring two such vessels in the class, HMAS Canberra, which will commission in late November 2014, and HMAS Adelaide, expected to be commissioned in 2016, following her launch on 4 July 2012.

HMAS Canberra was launched on 17 February 2011.

Construction of the ships was performed by Spain’s Navantia shipyard at the firms’ facilities in Ferrol, on the Atlantic Coast, with fitting out being performed at BAE Systems’ facilities in Williamstown, Melbourne on Australia’s south coast.

The ‘Canberra’ class is based upon the design for the SPS Juan Carlos-I amphibious support ship which Navantia

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published following the announcement. He added that, “backed by over a century of military weapons experience, Thales’s Lithgow facility (on the east coast of Australia) will now begin manufacturing F90

rifles as part of a de-risking exercise designed to smooth the transition in production from the existing in-service weapon to the F90.”

A licensed copy of the Austrian Steyr AUG bullpup 5.56mm assault rifle, the original F88 rifle was produced in Australia at the Lithgow Australian Defence Industries facilities, a factory which is now operated by Thales which will be developing the F90 rifle both as a weapon for the Australian Army and for export. First displayed to the public in mid-2012, Thales began initial production of the F90 in 2013.

The rifle was presented as a more reliable and comfortable alternative to the original Steyr AUG rifle and is also distinctly lighter, the standard F90 50-centimetre (20-inch) barrel weighing 0.5 kilograms

(1.1 pounds) lighter than the standard F88 rifle. Much like the original Steyr AUG rifle, the F90 is gas operated, but the trigger guard was redesigned to allow the attachment of a speciallydesigned 40mm under-barrel grenade launcher, a lightweight add-on weapon that can be attached directly to the bottom rail of the host rifle and easily removed.

Although the Australian DoD has yet to provide information on the specifics of its order, the weapon is available in five variants: the original F90 version, a grenade launcher variant known as the F90(G), the F90M ‘Marksman’ variant designed with a longer barrel, the F90M(G) Marksman which includes a grenade launcher, and a carbine variant known as the F90CQB (Close Quarters Battle).

built for the Armada Española (Spanish Navy). The two RAN ships each displace 27500 tonnes and are the largest vessels ever operated by the service. In terms of capacity the ‘Canberra’ class can accommodate up to 110 vehicles distributed across heavy and light

personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Army will be onboard to assist joint operations. Currently, the ship’s air component includes a standard complement of eight medium-lift utility helicopters, although this can be extended

vehicle decks. Regarding personnel, up to 1600 can be accommodated in an overload configuration, although the standard personnel accommodation is for 1046. The ship’s complement is 358 personnel, the majority of which are supplied by the RAN, although

to 18 such rotorcraft when maximising the hangar space.

One interesting feature of the ‘Canberra’ class is that they are also outfitted with a ski jump canted to 13 degrees which will allow the operation of Short TakeOff/Vertical Landing

(STOVL) aircraft. The Royal Australian Air Force is expected to receive 130 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning-II multi-role combat aircraft over the coming years. The F-35A is the conventional take-off and landing member of the F-35A/B/C family.

However, the addition of the ski jump would enable the ‘Canberra’ class to accommodate the F-35B version of the aircraft which has a STOVL configuration should the Australian Government decide to purchase this at some point in the future.

In May 2014, Australian prime minister Tony Abbott instructed those drafting Australia’s 2015 Defence White Paper to examine the feasibility of deploying the F-35B onboard the ‘Canberra’ class. The RAN has not operated an aircraft carrier since HMAS Melbourne a ‘Majestic’ class aircraft carrier formerly of the eponymous Royal Navy class was decommissioned on 30 May 1982.

Also referred to as EF88, the F90 assault rifle is an evolution of the F88 assault rifle which had already been adopted by the Australian and New Zealand armed forces in the late 1980s. “This is a major milestone in the F90 story,” said Kevin Wall, vice president of armaments at Thales Australia in a press release

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AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW AND AEROSPACE & DEFENCE EXPOSITION

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