Asian Military Review - Sept 2014

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VOLUME 22/ISSUE 5

ASIA PACIFIC’S

SEPTEMBER 2014 US$15

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ANTI ARMOUR SOLDIER MODERNISATION TANKER-TRANSPORTS SEARCH & RESCUE

DEFENCE

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AIRBORNE RADIOS NAVAL HELICOPTERS MISSILE DEFENCE

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Contents SEPTEMBER 2014 VOLUME 22 / ISSUE 5

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Rocket Man Troops have a range of anti-armour weapons that they can bring to the fight to defeat protected mobile and static threat, Washington-DC defence journalist Stephen W. Miller observes.

Front Cover Photo: Small infantry units have found a need for versatile shoulderfired weapons that can engage a range of threats and provide target marking and illumination.

Saab’s Carl Gustav has successfully filled this requirement due to its continuous improvement over the years © Saab

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Rescue Me

The Wizard and His Cat

US-based defence journalist and former US Navy captain Marty Kauchak investigates the efforts to procure Combat Search and Rescue aircraft around the Asia-Pacific.

UK-based defence journalist Andrew Drweiga takes a detailed look at the Royal Navy’s two latest maritime support helicopters, and the capabilities that they could offer navies in the Asia-Pacific.

Universal Soldier UK-based defence journalist Peter Donaldson discusses a variety of infantry soldier modernisation programmes ongoing and scheduled in the Asia-Pacific region.

AMR editor Thomas Withington contemplates the threat presented by the Democratic Republic of Korea’s ballistic missiles, and efforts ongoing in the Asia-Pacific to address this.

PULSE

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The Magic Bullet

David Oliver, a UK-based aviation journalist, examines the offerings of Boeing and Airbus regarding tanker-transport aircraft, and procurement programmes to this end around the globe.

SEPTEMBER 2014

Airborne radios are essential for aircraft to stay in touch with one another and with those on the ground. AMR editor Thomas Withington profiles some of the latest developments in this domain

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

Fueling the Fires

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On The Air In The Air

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Index of Advertisers

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Editorial

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FIT FOR A QUEEN

s the bottle of Scotch Whisky smashed against her hull on 4 July 2014 at Rosyth Dockyard in eastern Scotland, the Royal Navy was heralding a new era in global power projection. For the ship in question being launched in the customary fashion was HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of two new eponymous class aircraft carriers which the Royal Navy is to receive.

Expected to commission in 2017, the new ship represents a step change from the three ‘Invincible’ class light aircraft carriers they will replace. However, the ‘Queen Elizabeth’ class ships will bring altogether more punch. Displacing 65000 tonnes these vessels are a notably larger than the 22000 tonnes displaced by the ‘Invincible’ class ships. The new vessels will embark up to 40 aircraft, including the UK’s new Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning-II multi-role combat aircraft, along with a wide range of maritime support and British Army helicopters. The ‘Invincible’ class was limited to 22 aircraft, chiefly BAE Systems Harrier GR7/9 or Sea Harrier FA.2 ground attack and fighter aircraft, and accompanying helicopters.

The ‘Invincible’ aircraft carriers, the last of which, HMS Illustrious, retired ten days after HMS Queen Elizabeth was launched, were of their time. Designed during the early 1970s their role was always to assist NATO in performing anti-submarine warfare in the North Atlantic during any confrontation with the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. Yet they proved themselves highly capable of contributing to UK expeditionary operations when required, the deployment of HMS Invincible, along with the ‘Centaur’ class aircraft carrier HMS Hermes, during the Falklands War being a case in point when these two ships represented effectively the only airbases that the UK had near the theatre of operations in the South Atlantic Ocean.

The future of HMS Queen Elizabeth’s sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, remains in doubt. She is under construction, but the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review performed by the UK government to evaluate the country’s strategic priorities committed the Royal Navy to operating only one carrier. Penalty clauses in the government’s contract with BAE Systems, the prime contractor for the ‘Queen Elizabeth’ class, meant that the cancellation of construction would cost more than procuring the ship. HMS Prince of Wales may now be mothballed or offered for sale once built. Whether the ‘Queen Elizabeth’ class includes one or two carriers, it is certain to revolutionise the Royal Navy and to enhance its power projection capabilities both in the Asia-Pacific and around the world.

Thomas Withington, Editor

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PULSE

by Thomas Withington Radar

Israel Aerospace Industries’ Elta Systems division showcased its new EL/M-2138M Green Rock tactical Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (CRAM) radar at the 2014 Eurosatory defence exhibition held in Paris in mid-June. The EL/M-2138M is a mobile radar which can be installed onboard a four-wheel drive vehicle. The radar can move together with a manoeuvring force to provide a “defence bubble” over the force, according to the company. The radar provides accurate RAM launch location so as to target the hostile launcher immediately.

The radar incorporates Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology and incorporates an S-band (2.6-3.0 GHz) radar for trajectory measurement, the detection of targets with a low radar cross section and for tracking accuracy. In terms of performance, the EL/M-2138M can detect Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and gliders, along with conventional artillery threats, at ranges in excess of ten kilometres (six miles). The radar comes in several configurations outfitted with one array covering 90 degrees, two arrays covering 180 degrees and four arrays covering 360 degrees in azimuth. The radar’s elevation coverage is 90 degrees.

According to Igo Licht, director of marketing and sales for Elta Systems, the firm was awarded the contract to develop the radar in 2012.“It is currently in the process of being delivered to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF),” Mr. Licht told Pulse. “We will finish deliveries by the end of 2014, and we expect to have a follow-on contract from the IDF for the delivery of more radars in 2015.”

Elta Systems also took advantage of the Eurosatory exhibition to launch the company’s new EL/M-2222S NAV-GUARD radar.

Designed to be installed onboard a vessel, EL/M-2222S has been developed to enhance the protection of warships. The radar is intended to provide warning of incoming Anti-Ship Missiles (AShM) and also anti-tank guided missiles which are increasingly being employed by insurgents to attack naval vessels from the shore. The Israeli Navy is no stranger to missile attack. On 14 July 2005 the INS Hanit, one of its ‘Sa’ar-5’ class corvettes, was damaged by a China Haiying Electro-Mechanical Technology Academy C-802 AShM fired by Hezbollah insurgents while the ship was patrolling near the coast of Lebanon causing the loss of four crewmembers. The radar detects an incoming missile, automatically alerts the crew to this end and then commences the dispersal of chaff and flare countermeasures. The EL/M-2222S uses AESA antennae with four antennae providing 360 degrees of coverage. Each antenna has 16 transmit/receive modules, can be operated by a laptop computer and connected to a ship’s Combat Management System. The S-band EL/M-2222S has a range of circa four nautical miles (seven kilometres) and can be used in conjunction with Rheinmetall’s Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) naval self-defence equipment which can launch infrared and ultra-violet flares plus chaff decoys. Elta Systems has used elements of the architecture from the firm’s EL/M-2248 MFSTAR air and surface surveillance radar in the form of one of the antenna tiles which is used to comprise the EL/M-2222S antenna.

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Israel Aerospace Industries’ Etla Systems division took advantage of the 2014 Eurosatory exhibition to launch its new EL/M-2138M Green Rock counter rocket, artillery and mortar radar © IAI Elta Systems

Czech radar specialists Retia will deliver its second two-dimensional (range and azimuth) ReVISOR ground-based air surveillance radar to the Czech armed forces by November 2014. The company has already delivered a single radar to the 25th Ground Based Air Defence Regiment of the Czech Armed Forces, which was handed over in April 2014. The ReVISOR is a short-range Xband (8.5-10.68 GHz) radar which has an instrumented range of 13 nautical miles (25 kilometres), and a 16400 feet (5000 metres) ceiling. Employing an AESA antenna, the radar has an integral Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) secondary radar and can exchange its data using the ASTERIX (All Purpose Structured Eurocontrol Surveillance Information Exchange) and AWCIES (Air Command and Control System Wide Common Information Exchange Standard) radar data protocols. One of the key features, according to Retia experts with whom the author conversed at the Eurosatory exhibition, is the radar’s accuracy which is particularly effective against targets with a low radar cross section such as UAVs. To this end, targets can be detected with an accuracy of up to 50 metres (164 feet) in range and up to 0.25 degrees in azimuth.

Meanwhile, on 17 June 2014, the United States Army awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin worth $35.7 million to procure new AN/TPS-59A ground-based air surveillance radars. The

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PULSE contract announcement did not specify how many radars Lockheed Martin will deliver to the force, although it did state that the work is expected to be completed by July 2017. The AN/TPS-59A uses AESA architecture and transmits in the Lband (1.215-1.400GHz). The radar scans at between six and twelve revolutions-per-minute providing a 360 degree azimuth and covers a range of between four and 400 nautical miles (ten to 740km). It has a ceiling of 164nm (305km) with an elevation of up to 60 degrees. In terms of protection against electronic and kinetic attack, the radar employs random transmit frequency selection. AN/TPS-59 user countries, in addition to the United States, include Egypt, Bahrain and Taiwan. In US service, the radar is also used by the United States Marine Corps.

Staying in the United States, Raytheon is moving forward on the FlexDAR (Flexible Distributed Array Radar) for the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The FlexDAR concept aims not to develop a new radar product in itself, but instead to develop a test-bed for technologies and concepts which can be integrated into tomorrow’s naval air and surface surveillance radars. In February 2014, the firm was awarded a base contract worth $8.5 million to design the FlexDAR antenna front end. At the core of this work is the development of a digital antenna which can transmit and receive Radio Frequency (RF) energy for radar, communications and electronic warfare. The rationale behind this is to move closer to the maritime radar ‘holy grail’ of reducing the number of antennae on a vessel’s topside thus reducing its overall visual signature and radar cross section. Additionally, enhanced radar capability using bi-static (i.e. separate transmit and receive antennae) and network-linked sensors will be demonstrated under the programme.

During the 2014 Eurosatory exhibition, Czech radar manufacturer Retia According to Jeff Holley, Advanced Technology programme announced that it will deliver its second ReVISOR ground-based manager at Raytheon, once the critical components and subair surveillance radar to the Czech armed forces by the end of 2014 © Thomas Withington assemblies of the front end are demonstrated, a pair of multi-function antennae will then be constructed and delivered to the Naval Presently, both these radars are equipped with an AN/TPXResearch Laboratory in Chesapeake Bay on the Eastern Seaboard 48(V)7 IFF interrogator. According to Doug Stevenson, senior proof the United States for testing. Mr. Holley states that the antenna gramme manager and director-Poland, integrated air and missile integration will occur in the 2016 timeframe. defence at Raytheon the IFF interrogator, which is being jointly Staying with Raytheon, the company announced in June 2014 developed by the US company and its Polish counterpart, will be that it would be partnering with Polish defence electronics speoffered as a retrofit for existing AN/MPQ-53/65 users, and for cialists Bumar Elektronika to develop a new Identification Friend new MIM-104 customers. He adds that “the design and developor Foe (IFF) interrogator to equip the Raytheon AN/MPQ-53 and ment process is expected to take three-to-four years and it is our AN/MPQ-65 radars furnishing the company’s MIM-104 Patriot intention to begin offering (the new IFF) to our existing and future family of medium-range, surface-to-air missile systems. These customers as soon as it is available.” two radars perform target acquisition, detection, tracking and In addition, Mr. Stevenson remarked that the company had illumination for the MIM-104. Using a phased array antenna, this recently tested a new Gallium Nitride (GaN) AESA antenna for the C-band (5.25-5.925GHz) radar reportedly has a range of up to AN/MPQ-53/65. Compared to legacy Gallium 92nm (170km). In terms of radar designation, Raytheon and Arsenide AESA antennae, Gallium Nitride the AN/MPQ-53 equips Raytheon’s MIMoffers even higher performances as antennae 104A/B/C/D Patriot variants, with the Bumar will jointly using Transmit/Receive modules constructed AN/MPQ-65 outfitting the MIM-104F. The develop a new IFF from this material can operate at comparativeAN/MPQ-65 has an additional travelling wave for the Patriot ly higher power levels. Mr. Stevenson says tube to increase its target search, detection and SAM radar that, regarding the new GaN antenna, “We tracking capabilities vis-à-vis the AN/MPQ-53.

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Systems in 2013. Production of the Tranche-3 aircraft is currently ongoing at production lines across these four nations and is scheduled to conclude in 2017. Among the design features of the Tranche-3 variant of the aircraft is the ability to house the CaptorE radar.

The Captor-E radar is in turn based upon the current CaptorM radar used by the Typhoon. The Captor-M radar owes its lineage to the Ferranti (now BAE Systems and Selex) Blue Vixen Xband radar which was developed for the British Aerospace/BAE Systems Sea Harrier FA.2 fighter aircraft which equipped the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. The Captor-M is a pulse Doppler radar with a mechanically scanned array. It has been developed by the Euroradar consortium involving Selex ES, Airbus Defence and Space, and Indra. Open sources say that the Captor-E design is based extensively upon the Captor-M. What this may mean in practice is that the radar’s back end is probably largely unchanged save for the addition of new software and processing algorithms to handle the increased capabilities of the AESA antenna in terms of multitasking.

The decision of the UK government to award a risk reduction contract to BAE Systems for the Captor-E radar means that a full contract to develop the radar could be awarded by the end of 2014. Once this is achieved the way would then be open for the Eurofighter consortium member countries (Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) along with current customers such as Saudi Arabia and Oman to procure the Captor-E radar for their Tranche-3 aircraft. Ultimately, the radar could be available to equip the Tranche-3 jets by 2016. Very little information exists in the public domain regarding have successfully tested a prototype and we Commtact will the projected performance of the Captor-E. want to introduce this into the US Army’s conclude deliveries Selex has publicly announced via its website Patriot Modernisation Roadmap.” This initiaof its new UVR that the air-to-air range of the radar will be tive seeks to ensure that the MIM-104 Patriot increased vis-à-vis the Captor-M and that the systems the US Army uses can meet tomor- radio to an unnamed radar’s reaction time for detecting air-to-air row’s threats, although the roadmap is yet to Asian customer by targets will also be improved. It has added become a formal programme. As well as offerlate 2014 that simultaneous air-to-air and air-toing a GaN AESA antenna for the AN/MPQground modes will also be available for the Captor-E. The work 53/65, Raytheon is proposing to reconfigure the radar’s antenna which BAE Systems will perform as per its risk reduction contract architecture to equip it with four flat panel GaN AESA arrays as will include flight tests of a prototype radar, ground testing and opposed to the single array that it has at the moment so as to protesting of the radar using BAE Systems Electronic Warfare facilivide full 360 degree coverage. ties at Wharton, in northwest England. In 2009 Selex, one of the After a rather long wait (21 years in fact), the Eurofighter partner nations Euroradar consortium, was awarded a $32 million Typhoon Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) may finally receive contract to mature AESA technology for the requirements of the an AESA radar in the form of the Captor-E. During the Royal Air Force.

Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom during mid-July 2014, the UK Ministry of Defence announced a $123.2 million three-year E-Scan Extended Assessment Phase contract award to Tactical Radio BAE Systems to perform a risk reduction for the Captor-E radar Israel-based defence communications specialist Commtact hopes prior to its installation on Tranche-3 Typhoons. The Tranche-3 proto conclude deliveries of its new UVR airborne radio to an duction run includes the manufacture of 112 Tranche-3A aircraft unnamed Asian customer by the end of 2014, according to which will equip the air forces of Germany, Spain, Italy and the Sharon Shlomo, vice president of marketing at the company. The United Kingdom with 124 Tranche-3B jets equipping the same company launched the UVR earlier this year. It is an airborne nations. The first Tranche-3 aircraft underwent test flights by BAE Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency (VHF – 30 to 300 Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract worth $35.7 million in June 2014 for the supply of new AN/TPS-59A ground-based air surveillance radars to the United States Army. This radar is also used

by Egypt, Bahrain and Taiwan © Wikimedia Commons

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PULSE (35km). These ranges make the MDLS ideal for equipping mini and micro UAVs which traditionally operate over short ranges.

Moreover, the company says that the MDLS can be used to equip loitering munitions. The MDLS performs its transmissions in the S- and C-bands (2-4GHz/4-8GHz).

SATCOM

Raytheon is planning a series of enhancements for the AN/MPQ-53/65 radar which equips the MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system family, including new flat panel antennae for the radar to provide 360 degrees of coverage © Raytheon

Megahertz/MHz, UHF – 300MHz to three gigahertz) multiband, multimode radio which can handle voice and data traffic in both analogue and digital formats (see the ‘On The Air, In The Air’ article in this issue for more information regarding Commtact’s airborne radio products).

“We have clients using this radio on both manned and unmanned aircraft,” Mr. Shlomo continues. The radio has a modular architecture meaning that customers can tailor its capabilities to the tasks that the aircraft is to perform. In terms of performance, Commtact’s official literature notes that the UVR radio has a range of circa 135nm (250km). In terms of data, it can transmit up to 250 kilobits-per-second. Using under one watt of power, the radio weighs around 65 grams (2.2 ounces). Regarding interfaces the UVR works with the RS-422, RS-232 and RS-485 standards.

Moreover, it is certified to MIL-STD-810F (Military Standard 810F) and MIL-STD-461E regarding environmental conditions and electromagnetic compatibility.

In addition to the news regarding the UVR radio, Commtact has announced that deliveries have commenced to an unnamed customer of the company’s MDLS (Micro Data Link System), with Mr. Shlomo stating that this radio is “now in service with this customer”. Designed to equip small UAVs and unmanned ground vehicles, the MDLS weighs a mere 100 grams (3.5 ounces), and consumes circa ten watts of power. The environmental conditions tolerated by the MDLS are similar to those of the UVR, while AES-256 encryption provides communications security. In terms of range, the MDLS can perform transmissions across 2.7nm (five kilometres), 5.3nm (ten kilometres) and 19nm

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On 17 June 2014, European defence electronics specialists Airbus Defence and Space (formerly Cassidian) announced that it had performed the first end-to-end link between the Athena-Fidus satellite and the French armed forces Comcept Satellite Communications (SATCOM) network. The FrancoItalian satellite was launched on 6 February 2014 and will allow two-way Ka-band (27-40GHz) wideband (ten megabits-per-second) fixed and mobile SATCOM for the next 17 years. Comcept is expected to enter service with the French armed forces by the end of 2014. Initially, the overall Comcept infrastructure will include 20 High Data Rate (HDR) ground stations which will be operated by the DIRISI (Direction Interarmées des Réseaux d’Infrastructure et des Systèmes d’Information/French Ministry of Defence InterForce Infrastructure, Networks and Information Systems Department), a joint unit tasked with the provision of SATCOM

The Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role combat aircraft moved one step closer to receiving its Captor-E Active Electronically Scanned Array radar with announcements regarding the radar’s development made at the 2014 Farnborough Air Show © Airbus Defence and Space

across the French navy, army and air force, according to Eric Soulères, head of operations and engineering within the communications, intelligence and security division of Airbus Defence and Space. The HDR ground stations are fixed, although mobile SATCOM terminals will also be delivered to the French armed forces as part of the Comcept programme. Mr. Soulères says that the quantity of mobile terminals to be delivered remains confidential, as are the dates as to when these will commence and conclude deliveries.

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CSAR:AMR

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SEARCH

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RESCUE

RESCUE ME

As this article will explain, nations in the Asia-Pacific have two different acquisition strategies for procuring fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft for Combat Search-and-Rescue (CSAR). Several nations are investing in their CSAR assets both with dedicated platforms and through configuring existing platforms to perform this mission.

by Marty Kauchak

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nder one philosophy, nations buy aircraft specifically configured and equipped for CSAR. A more popular option finds other nations using multi-purpose aircraft that can be quickly scaled and configured, for taking a crew into harm’s way to rescue and recover an individual or small unit. While this latter group of aircraft can complete a CSAR mission, they may also be assigned other tasks such as personnel recovery, humanitarian, cargo transport, and Search-and-Rescue (SAR) operations.

An interesting mix of aircraft capable of completing CSAR missions is entering the air orders of battle across the Asia-Pacific and with nations deploying to the region.

Some aircraft already in service inventories or on the order books are specifically CSAR-built and equipped; Airbus Helicopters’ EC-725 medium-lift machine being one example which will be discussed in more detail below.

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Australia

The Boeing CH-47D/F Chinook also has a prominent presence in the Asia-Pacific region. This helicopter’s record of use throughout the region include disaster and relief operations © Boeing

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Australia is representative of the nations that do not have a dedicated CSAR fleet, but which rather use multiple aircraft for multi-mission assignments. A spokesperson in the nation’s Department of Defence Media Operations office told AMR in an email: “There is no dedicated unit or platforms for CSAR in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The most appropriate air platform to conduct these operations is dependent on the circumstances and requirements of the task.”

As a result the ADF currently operates a number of fixed- and rotary-wing platforms suitable for SAR and CSAR operations.

These include the Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules freighter aircraft operated by the Royal Australian Air Force, and the Australian Army’s Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk medium-lift helicopter, Australian Aerospace (NH Industries) MRH-90 Taipan medium-lift machine and the Boeing CH-47D Chinook heavy lift helicopter, all of which are operated by the Australian Army Aviation Corps.

Airbus Helicopters reports significant activity in the Asia-Pacific CSAR market,

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and is satisfying the demand of some regional customers for a dedicated CSAR platform with its EC-725 aircraft. A corporate spokesperson remarked in an email to AMR that this rotary aircraft “has reached a mature configuration satisfying most, if not all of the market requirements”.

In addition to the twelve EC-725 units acquired by the Royal Malaysian Air Force, three EC-225s were delivered to the Republic of China Air Force for SAR in November 2011 and entered service in July 2012. The spokesperson further revealed the company’s order books include four EC-725 CSAR helicopters for the Royal Thai Air Force and six EC-725 CSAR aircraft for the Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (Indonesian Air Force), to be delivered by local firm PT Dirgantara Indonesia.

The partnering agreement between Airbus Helicopters and PT Dirgantara Indonesia will further strengthen Indonesia’s indigenous aerospace industry.

The six EC-275s will be shipped to Indonesian Aerospace’s facility in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, where they will be reassembled and customised before delivery to the Indonesian Air Force. The

Airbus Helicopters spokesperson added, “This process will occur from the end of 2014 until 2016, with the deliveries first going to PT Dirgantara Indonesia for completion and customisation (which will take a few months, depending on the works), before being delivered to the air force.”

Airbus Helicopters’ EC-725 is one of several aircraft presented in this article whose CSAR capabilities and airframe matured through real-world missions. In the case of the EC-725, French Forces successfully operated this rotorcraft in the challenging Afghanistan theatre of operations. The EC725 also provides one insight of how industry is meeting the operational rigors which contemporary end users’ demand from CSAR rotorcraft. The aircraft’s unrefuelled range is 700 nautical miles (1296 kilometres), and the platform has both air-to-air refueling and hover-inflight refueling capabilities.

Elsewhere in the market, Bob Carrese, director of international military business development for Bell Helicopter, told AMR that the Bell 412EP and Bell 412EPI medium-lift utility helicopters offer reliable performance in some of the most extreme

climates on the planet and are the cornerstone of mission critical helicopter operations throughout the world – especially in Asia-Pacific with user countries including Indonesia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia and Japan. Mr. Carrese notes that these two models support a variety of missions, including military utility and general transport, police air support, border patrol, law enforcement, SAR, and coast guard operations. “In all, there are 118 Bell 412 helicopters being used in the region for these various missions,” he disclosed.

Other Actors

Bell has two new platforms operating with the US Marine Corps in the Asia-Pacific region: the UH-1Y medium-lift helicopter and the Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor.

The Marine Corps is responsible for providing its own CSAR capability and does not have a dedicated platform for that mission. Rather, the service utilises its aviation and amphibious assault assets to accomplish a broad range of missions, much like its Asia-Pacific counterparts. Mr. Carrese emphasises that both the UH-1Y

Airbus Helicopters has delivered twelve EC-725 medium-lift helicopters to the Royal Malaysian Air Force and three EC-225 aircraft to the Taiwan Air Force for Search and Rescue missions © Airbus Helicopters

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humanitarian and rescue missions around the world, the CH-47D/F and V-22 have played prominent roles in supporting relief efforts following major disasters in the region.

The CH-47D/F’s record of use throughout the Asia-Pacific for disaster and relief operations includes the 2004/5 Indian Ocean tsunami rescue and recovery operations, the response to the Japanese tsunami in 2011, and earthquake and flood relief in Pakistan during the last decade. “The MV22’s role in the recent disaster relief effort in the Philippines (following Typhoon Yolanda in 2013) is a prime example of the value of the aircraft in this CSAR role,” Jim Armington, Boeing Defence, Space and Security’s vice president for East Asia and Pacific Business Development, told AMR. Mr. Armington further recalled that with the widespread destruction of the island nation’s infrastructure, the Osprey provided a vital connection from the relief effort

Bell Helicopter’s 412EP and Bell 412EPI offer reliable performance in some of the most extreme climates on the planet and are the cornerstone of mission critical helicopter operations throughout the world © Bell Helicopter

The Marine Corps is responsible for providing its own CSAR and does not have a dedicated platform for that mission

and the V-22 could be utilised in an on-call basis to complete the CSAR mission.

“Doctrinally, the Marine Corps deploys the aircraft in a task-organized ‘package’ known as Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel. The mission package is sized to the specific threats of each mission, including recovering downed aircraft. A recent example of such a mission carried out by a V-22 was the rescue of a (United States) Air Force pilot whose aircraft went down in Libya (during combat operations there in

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2011),” Mr. Carrese added. In addition to supporting Operation Unified Protector in Libya, the V-22 airframe has evolved during its deployment supporting US missions in Afghanistan.

The Boeing CH-47D/F Chinook heavylift helicopter also has a prominent presence in the Asia-Pacific theatre of operations. At the time of writing (June 2014) more than 100 CH-47C/Fs and V-22s were serving in the Asia-Pacific region. While the two models are used in wide-ranging

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to storm survivors. Mr. Armington added that the “V-22 Ospreys, self-deployed from Okinawa airbase in Japan, were among the first to connect survivors with basic food, water and medical supplies, covering vast inland distances quickly and then moving from village to village to deliver life-saving supplies and evacuating those most in need of medical treatment.”

Mr. Armington emphasised that neither the CH-47D/F nor the V-22 requires modifications to perform the CSAR mission or other specific mission sets, in essence making them ready for duty for assignment on short- or no notice. “They are in the field performing these missions today, and we have several documented rescues at altitudes above 16000 feet (4877 metres), at wind speeds above 70 knots (130 kilometres-per-hour) and at distances in excess of 500nm (926km),” Mr. Armington added.

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The US Marine Corps deploys the Bell-Boeing in a task-organised package known as Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel. The mission package is sized to the specific threats of each mission, including recovering downed aircraft © Boeing

Israel is poised to become the first international V-22 operator of what the US Department of Defence is calling the V-22I variant. As of 11 July 2014, the Defence Security Cooperation Agency was unable to provide an estimated delivery date of the first V22I to the Israeli customer. Mr. Armington confirmed that other unspecified nations in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions are considering V-22s for their defence forces. These prospective customers “view the Osprey as a critical part of their future force structure. As international interest in the Osprey continues to grow Bell-Boeing is poised to support the US government in all potential foreign military sales of the V-22 Osprey,” Mr. Armington concludes.

The US Air Force’s venerable HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet of combat search-andrescue helicopters, of which an unspecified number of airframes are assigned to Asia-

Pacific regional units, have the well-earned prospect of retirement on its horizon.

As part of the 2014 National Defence Authorisation Act, the US Congress gave the US Air Force’s new Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) programme $334 million.

The service will use that funding to kickstart the initiative as part of the broader Department of Defence CRH contract awarded on 26 June 2014 to an industry team of Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin.

The CRH program covers 112 new helicopters to replace the service’s aging HH60G machines and could be worth as much as $7 billion. The Sikorsky/LockheedMartin team was the only competitor to actually bid on the programme. Sikorsky will provide the helicopter with LockheedMartin’s Owego, New York workforce handling the new helicopter’s modernized mission systems and other special equipment.

The winning bid was a ‘heavily modified’ UH-70 Black Hawk medium-lift utility helicopter design, with enhanced

The US Air Force’s venerable fleet of HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search-and-rescue helicopters, includes the unit depicted here from the 33rd Rescue Squadron, Kadena airbase Japan © USAF

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company has a huge customer base across the Asia-Pacific. Indeed, Haley Ellison, the public relations manager for the Americas at FLIR Systems told AMR that the company “has hundreds of systems deployed throughout almost every country in Asia in CSAR aircraft applications – (but) unfortunately we cannot go into detail on the exact end users.” Ms. Ellison added that with hundreds of systems deployed, platforms such as the EC-725, Bell 412, AW-139 and Sikorsky S-70 represent a small portion of CSAR aircraft which utilise FLIR’s Star SAFIRE III, Star SAFIRE HD and Star SAFIRE 380-HD optronics.

FLIR is addressing the changing requirements in this equipment sector. High

While there are very few dedicated CSAR aircraft in the Asia-Pacific, some operators are noteworthy in the use of such aircraft including the PZL-Swidnik W-3 Sokol helicopters recently delivered to the Philippine Air Force © AgustaWestland

avionics and mission systems. In addition to avionic upgrades, the CRH design is based on Sikorsky’s HH-60 family, which means it has similar structural upgrades integral to these helicopters such as composite rotor blades.

Enabling The Mission

An AgustaWestland spokesperson noted that while there are very few dedicated CSAR aircraft in the Asia-Pacific, many SAR and utility helicopters could be used for CSAR duties if required. For its part, AgustaWestland’s AW-139M, AW-159, AW-149, NH Industries (in which AgustaWestland is a partner) NH-90TTH and the AW-101 medium-lift machines are among those which can be configured for CSAR or other rigorous, demanding missions. Indeed, the spokesperson noted the company is in the process of delivering the first AW-101s to the Aeronautica Militaire (Italian Air Force), which have personnel recovery as one of their primary missions.

“The aircraft is ideal for this type of mission due to its range, endurance, speed, large cabin space, low noise signature and its ability to carry a large range of equipment in addition to special forces troops,” the spokesperson noted. The spokesperson added that the firm had ”recently” delivered PZL-Swidnik W-3 Sokol helicopters, which are used for SAR duties, to the Philippine Air Force. AgustaWestland acquired PZL-Swidnik’s factory in 2010.

The spokesperson also noted that

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FLIR Systems has hundreds of systems deployed throughout almost every country in the Asia-Pacific to support the CSAR applications. The MERLIN MTI and Star SAFFIRE (SS) 380-HDc represent FLIR Systems newest offering to the CSAR aircraft community © FLIR

AgustaWestland, as an original equipment manufacturer, can outfit these platforms for CSAR with a wide range of mission equipment, including rescue hoists, abseiling equipment, forward-looking infrared, radar, electronic countermeasures, a defensive aid suite, missile approach warning system, stretchers, medical treatment equipment, optronics, night vision goggle compatible cockpits, and window and ramp-mounted guns.

FLIR Systems of the United States is one representative supplier of CSAR and related aircraft mission subsystems. The

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definition, along with the ability for data analysis and advanced scene processing features integrated into the system, are increasingly being demanded and responded to by FLIR Systems with its 380-HD, MERLIN Moving Target Indicator (MTI), MERLIN Mission Systems and other products. “End users and governments are no longer satisfied with yesterday’s technology (namely) a standard electro-optical/infrared surveillance system,” Ms. Ellison emphasised. The MERLIN MTI and Star SAFFIRE (SS) 380HDc represent FLIR’s newest offering to the CSAR aircraft community.

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ROCKET MAN

The demoralising shock effect experienced by an caused by the speed and apparent invulnerability of armoured vehicles rapidly assaulting a position is easily overwhelming for the soldier facing it. Anyone that has stood before a main battle tank even on static display recognises its awesome size and power.

by Stephen W. Miller

ow, imagine that these monsters are closing on you with thunderous engines, firing machine guns and cannon without stopping, bullets whining overhead as this unstoppable steel machine crushes everything before it.

It takes an extremely well-trained and disciplined soldier to hold their ground. Yet, even they would be hard pressed to do so without some effective to counter this

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The NAMMO M72 LAAW has the advantages of lightweight and compactness making it an ideal man-portable anti-armour weapon. Its portability and new ‘specialty’ warheads have given it a new lease of life providing explosive firepower for small and special force units © US Army

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onslaught. Anti-armour weapons provide that capability for the infantry.

The term ‘tank country’ suggests open, rolling countryside. However, as demonstrated time-and-time again on the battlefield, armoured vehicles can be decisive in areas where vehicles are limited by terrain, urban growth, close vegetation or other factors. The fact that they are not expected allows even small numbers to have an overwhelming impact. Thus, military planners in the Asia-Pacific have given a priority to the selection and fielding of anti-armour weapons.

Anti-armour systems have two classifications: individual man-portable and crew-served.

The former, called MANPATs (Man-Portable Anti-Tank), need to be carried by a single soldier so a light weight and compactness are primary concerns. The trade-off is that MANPATs have a shorter range and may be less lethal due to their limited warhead size.

MANPATs are available as re-loadable weapons and one-shot disposable weapons which the soldier carries in addition to his individual weapon and equipment. The soldier can face a range of different targets based on the combat situation, not just tanks and armoured vehicles. Thus, there are considerable benefits in a weapon than can be effective against different targets.

Crew-served weapons are heavier but have much longer range and accuracy.

These are now generally guided to the target offering 90 percent hit probability at over 2000 metres (6561 feet). They can require several soldiers for transport and

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A soldier is seen here about to fire a shoulder-launched Saab Carl Gustav anti-tank guided missile © Saab

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even then carrying the launcher, fire control system and ordnance is challenging for fully-dismounted units. Therefore, these systems are mounted on some type of vehicle, either a light tactical truck or as part of an armoured vehicle weapon suite.

MANPATs

The United States Army’s M72 LAAW (Light Anti Armour Weapon) now produced and improved by NAMMO of Norway weighs 2.5 kilogram (5.5lb), is compact and has less than 50 percent hit probability beyond 200m (656ft). Aiming aids like the low-cost laser aiming device co-developed between NAMMO and Crimson Trace of the United States can significantly increase this accuracy. The M72 remains in service with Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the US. The latest versions include improved penetration, confined space firing capability and high explosive warheads. Combined, these factors make it ideal for adding explosive direct firepower for small units and it is especially favoured by special forces.

John F. Hill, vice president, growth, strategy and technology at NAMMO’s US subsidiary stated that they feel “The market is broader than anti-armour and will continue to move away from armour defeat as a primary requirement. The market will focus on lightweight, multi-purpose, fire from enclosure weapons. Cost will be a factor, but it is not the defining requirement.”

One of the most successful anti-armour weapons fielded is the Carl Gustav from Sweden which is a 84mm breech-loaded reusable recoilless weapon. It is currently fielded by over 44 armies including the US, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and others in the Asia-Pacific region.

Produced by Saab the system has been continuously improved with new technology. For example, introduction of a metal and carbon fibre construction reduced the weight with the latest M3 version (the US designation) weighing 8.5kg (18.7lbs). The 84mm calibre has also lent itself to a wide range of munitions optimised for various targets and tasks. These range from

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Continuous improvement and versatility of the Saab Carl Gustav recoilless weapon since its first introduction in 1948 has kept the system relevant. With its range of munitions including HEAT, high explosive, smoke and illumination it is used both as an anti-armour and general support weapon © US Army

improved HEAT (High Explosive AntiTank) tandem warhead with 500 millimetres (20 inches) of penetration, High Explosive (HE), a bunker-buster HEDP (High Explosive Dual Purpose), smoke and illumination. Its versatility, a 5001300m (1640-4265m) range and accuracy make it a favourite of small combat units.

Russia

Any discussion of man-portable antiarmour weapons would be amiss without covering the Soviet-designed RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) produced by the Russian company Bazalt with versions also manufactured in China. The RPG 7 is in services in over 40 countries, 16 of these in the Asia-Pacific. The latest version is the RPG-7V which has different warhead rounds available. It has a maximum range of 920m (3018ft) but the effective range

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against a point target is closer to 200m (656ft) where its hit probability is 50 percent. With a seven kilogram (15lb) nominal total weight it requires a dedicated gunner who can also carry up to four grenades.

The simple operation, reliability, and moderate price make the RPG-7 attractive.

Users have found new ways to employ the RPG outside its original intent, including against helicopters, for indirect fire, antipersonnel and employed in mass.

The MATADOR (Man-portable Anti-

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Tank, Anti-Door) was developed in a collaboration between Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems and Dynamit Nobel Defence (DND). A 90mm man-portable, 8.9kg (19lb) disposable weapon, it is effective against both armoured vehicles and buildings. It uses a counter-mass of shredded plastic projected out of the rear when it is fired. This reduces recoil and back blast so it can be fired in a confined space. The warhead’s delay mode creates a 450mm (18in) hole in a masonry wall. This is useful in built-up areas to clear a room or to provide an entry point for soldiers. First fielded in 2000 in addition to Singapore, Israel, the United Kingdom, Germany and Vietnam have fielded the MATADOR. Another successful man-portable recoilless system from Saab is the AT-4

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W E A P O N S infantry in large numbers. Its portability and effectiveness against an array of targets offer an ideal supplement to infantry squad weapons as a small unit antiarmour system.

It is clear that a growing importance is being given to weapons compatible with the vastly different environmental, field needs and challenges faced by forces fighting in built-up areas. A spokesperson for the US Marine Corp’s programme manager for individual anti-armour weapons confirmed this by indicating that all future orders for the AT-4 would be exclusively for the CS version (see above). In addition, industry is devoting its own funds to improve this capability. As an example, Gary Ostendorf, NAMMO business development and special projects manager, reflected their soon-to-be completed work on a true Fire From Enclosure (FFE) weapon with the lowest possible launch pressure over the shortest duration, minimal back-blast signature and noise level.

Crew-Served

which is a 6.7kg (14.8lb), 84mm single-use weapon in a throw-away launcher. The AT-4 warhead is specifically designed for use against light and medium armour with optimising of the behind-armour effects inside the vehicle, building or bunker. The rationale is that attempting to penetrate the frontal armour of an MBT is beyond current technology given the size and weight limitations of a man-portable weapon. Subsequent improvement have been made including, most importantly, fielding of the ‘CS’ (Confined Space) version that uses a saltwater counter mass in the launcher rear to dissipate the back blast allowing firing in a building or enclosed space. The AT-4 is used by several nations including the US, UK and Indonesia. Since the weapon is simple and straightforward to operate and is a selfcontained munition it can be supplied to

The US Army Raytheon BGM-71 TOW (Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire guided) is widely in use in various versions worldwide. First introduced in 1968 it automatically guides the missile to the target by sending signals to it either via

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trailing wires or, in the latest model, via radio signal. All the gunner needs to do is to continuously track the target in his sight. The latest BGM-71D TOW-2 versions have an increased range of 4750m (15583ft), an improved tandem warhead, and thermal day and night sights. The weapon is in service with several countries including Japan, the RoK, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore and the US, and is found on a wide-range of infantry, vehicle and helicopter platforms.

Japan’s Ground Self Defense Force has a mix of anti-armour weapons both domestically-sourced and imported. Of particular interest are their dual mission systems intended for engaging both armoured vehicles and landing craft. The Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) Type 79 Jyu-MAT is similar to the BGM-71 (see above) but uses either shaped charge warheads against tanks, or a delayed action fuse optimised for fragmentation inside landing craft approaching the shoreline.

Uniquely for wire guided systems, it can be operated remotely up to 50m (164ft) from the launcher. Another local design is the KHI Type 87 Chū-MAT a laser-guided anti-armour missile. The laser designator can be positioned up to 200m from the launcher. The operator ‘paints’ the target by tracking it with the laser and the missile

Design of the Saab AT-4 was influenced by the conscious recognition of the limitations in an individual anti-tank weapon capable of defeating a main battle tank’s frontal armour. The weapon thus uses behind armour effects for the engagement of lighter armoured vehicles or MBTs from the side and rear © US Army

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seeker homes in on the reflected signal.

The Type 87 has a range of 2000m.

The trend today is toward ‘fire-andforget’ anti-armour missiles. With these weapons the operator does the target acquisition and initial tracking with final tracking and terminal ‘lock-on’ performed by a seeker in the missile. The key advantage over a Command-guided Line-ofSight (CLOS) fire control system is that the gunner does not need to stay on the target throughout the flight time of the missile, which can be as long as 20 seconds during which time the target can move out of sight or fire on the gunner’s position.

The K-ATGM is a new development from the RoK. It is considered a third-generation ‘fire-and- forget’ tandem-warhead ATGM. It is offered in two versions, a ‘portable’ one for dismounted use and a heavier model for use on vehicles. The latter is used on the new Doosan K-21 Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle which entered production in 2009. The tandem-warhead is designed to defeat the latest spaced armour.

Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems has had success in offering its Spike

ATGM to some forces in the Asia-Pacific.

The Basic Spike is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance using a tandem-charge warhead. It has several variants including a ‘Fire, Observe and Update’ mode, where the missile allows the operator to launch and then observe the target area, selecting and ‘locking on’ to a target after the missile has launched. It is unique as the operator ‘views’ through the imager in the missile’s nose. In flight it is linked with a fibre-optic line to the control unit. The system is offered in short, medium, long and extended ranges effective from 800- 8000m (2624-26246ft). A NLOS (Non-Line-of-Sight) version reaches 25000m (82201ft). The weight and size of the long, extended and NLOS variants are suitable only for vehicles. Spike was fielded by Singapore in 1999 and in 2013 the RoK announced its deployment of the

The RoK’s K-ATGM is offered in dismounted and vehicle-mounted configurations

Japan has developed and fielded its own Command Line-of-Sight guided missiles similar to the US Raytheon BGM-71 TOW. The Type-79 has either shaped-charge warheads for use against tanks, or a delayed action fuse for use against approaching landing craft © Wikimedia Commons

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NLOS variant. Thailand is currently evaluating both the medium range Spike and the US Raytheon/Lockheed Martin FGM-148 Javelin ATGM. India is another opportunity. Initially only Rafael responded to the requirement, but a US Department of Defence representative confirmed that the FGM-148 was now being offered to India through the US Foreign Military Sales programme. The contract is anticipated to be worth $1.5 billion.

The FGM-148 is another fire-and-forget missile with lock-on-before-launch and an automatic self-guidance tandem-warhead.

Fielded to US forces in 1996, it has since been adopted in the Asia-Pacific by Indonesia and Taiwan. Its ‘soft launch’ approach ejects the missile from the launcher before the main motor ignites, permitting it to be fired from a bunker or inside a building. The completed unit and missile weight of 22.3kg (49.2lb) requires a minimum operational crew of two while the missile’s size limits a soldier to carrying two missiles easily. The FGM-148’s ‘top attack’ engagement technique puts the missile up to 150m (500ft) above the target, better assuring that the seeker will lock before descending on the target. This also enhances the lethality by impacting on the thinner vehicle roof armour.

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been developing the NAG third-generation fire-and-forget missile in a $50.4 million programme. At 42kg (93lb), the NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier) version is a lock-on before launch system intended for vehicle mounting. The gunner acquires the target using a thermal sight and then locks-on the nose-mounted infrared seeker. With a range of up to five kilometres (three miles) the challenge for ATGMs with extended ranges such as the NAG and Spike is obtaining an unobstructed line-of-sight at these distances. A solution, at least for vehicle systems, is to elevate the sight, and possibly the missile, well above the vehicle. It is understood that such an approach using a telescoping mast is being considered for an improved version of the NAMICA. Initial Indian Army fielding of 450 Nag missiles and 13 NAMICA carriers is projected for 2015.

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China has its own indigenous ATGM designs with its principle focus being the China North Industries Corporation HJ-8.

Experts suggest that reverse engineering in the late 1970s of several Western ATGM designs contributed to the HJ-8 that entered production in 1984. The system is optically-tracked, wire-guided and has experienced improvements and the development of new variants. The original 3000m (9842ft) range has been extended to 6000m (1828ft), a new tandem warhead and even an anti-ship version have been introduced. Outside China, other HJ-8 users include Pakistan where it is manufactured as the Baktar-Shikan and exported to Bangladesh, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

Benefits and Drawbacks

The widespread introduction of infantry anti-armour weapons offers a counter to armoured vehicle dominance, However, anti-armour weapons, particularly crewserved and long-range, remain essentially

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Rafael Advanced Defence System’s Spike could be termed a ‘family of missiles’ as it is offered in versions for dismounted, vehicle and helicopter use. It uses the missile’s thermal seeker for the gunner’s sight picture. This allows the gunner to launch and seek targets and ‘lock-on’ while the missile is in flight © Royal Netherlands Army

defensive systems. Additionally, although the delivery medium and guidance techniques they use differ, all rely on the shaped charge HEAT warhead. This is especially true for individual soldier systems which cannot easily increase the warhead size without compromising their portability. A protection breakthrough that reliably defeats this warhead could have serious impact on the effectiveness of anti-armour defences. Already enhanced passive protection, stand-off and supplemental armour, spall liners and the successful demonstration of active protection that disrupts the shaped charge are being introduced on armoured vehicles.

The exclusive reliance on guided missiles as the primary crew served antiarmour systems has the advantage of

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offering engagement at extended ranges of 2000-4000m (6561-13123ft). The drawback is that the flight velocity of these missiles is typically around 300 metres-persecond (984 feet-per-second). This can mean the gunner must track the target for a long time (15 seconds or more at maximum range) after firing, as the missile flies to the target. During this time the gunner is vulnerable to counter-fire or the target could be obscured by vegetation, terrain or smoke, including smoke launched by the target vehicle. The introduction of terminal seekers is a way to solve this. However, these are more susceptible to electronic countermeasures, signature masking, and decoys, all of which are commonly employed already by combat aircraft.

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SOLDIER MODERNISATION

UNIVERSAL SOLDIER

With Singapore, Japan and Australia as notable exceptions, soldier modernisation programmes in the form of fully-integrated systems are in the conceptual or early acquisition stages in the region, with most countries looking to leadership in the technology from NATO nations.

by Peter Donaldson

owever, Selex ES notes increasing interest and demand from a number of countries, above all India.

Special forces in the region sometimes act as what Selex terms ‘icebreakers and stakeholders’ in the process of testing and reviewing this new approach to the battlefield in extreme operational conditions. Ultimately, the aim is to spread the soldier systems to infantry in general according to the customer’s operational requirements and level of ambition, says the company.

While most programmes progress in phases that emphasise different parts of the whole ensemble, such as command and control, plus lethality and survivability, for example, Selex emphasises the importance of a coordinated approach. “To create efficient and powerful soldier systems, all these components have to move in a synchronised manner,” says the company. Also vital are “a flexible architectural design able to cope with the customer’s operational requirements and level of ambition, involvement of local industry, integration of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), command and control capabilities afforded by battlefield communications and information systems, and advances in weapon aiming and fire control.”

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Private Jackson Bartlett from the fifth Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, takes aim on his target, during testing of the Steyr SL40 GLA on the EF88 Austeyr at Kangaroo Flats firing range near Darwin © Australian Department of Defence

Australia’s Land 125 Phase 3

Australia’s soldier modernisation effort, Land 125, has completed the first two of four phases and is now going through the third, which addresses dismounted command and control (Phase 3A), survivability (Phase 3B) and lethality (Phase 3C). Phase 3A is expected to achieve full operational capability during 2014 (see below), Phase 3B is “progressing for government consideration” according to the Australian

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MODERNISATION Army’s July 2014 modernisation update, while Phase 3C should be complete by 2020. This last phase is focused on an upgrade of the Austeyr F-88 bullpup assault rifle to EF-88 specification overseen

by Thales, which is now in the process of selecting suppliers for a range of accessories that must fit the weapon’s STANAG 4694 rail system.

Even with Steyr Mannlicher’s SL40 under-barrel grenade launcher being selected in late January 2014, an extensive list of equipment remains, most of which comes under the category of sights and aiming devices. The list includes an enhanced day sight and a backup sight that can, preferably, be fitted at the same time as the day sight. There is also a need for a laser aiming and illumination device to be used with the day sights and an inline image intensified sight. Naturally, this image intensified sight is on the list and must be suitable for fitting concurrently with the enhanced day sight, as must the required in-line thermal imaging sight.

There is no need to use the thermal and image intensified sights together. A foregrip is also on the list, as is a bipod that would displace the foregrip or grenade launcher as necessary.

The Australian Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), which oversees defence procurement in the country, is now putting these lethality enhancements through a risk mitigation process and looking to achieve second pass clearance in June of 2015, a step on the road to initial and final materiel releases in 2016 and 2020 respectively. A contract for Phase 3A, the dismounted Battle Group and below Command, Control and Communications (BGC3) system went to Elbit Systems in March 2010 and an initial operational capability was declared in April 2012.

According to the Australian Army’s modernisation update, full operational capability is expected in 2014 with the delivery of the final equipment as part of Land 200 Tranche 1, a portmanteau effort that has subsumed elements of other projects including Land 125’s battle management system along with the Mercedes Unimog and G-Wagon protected mobility vehicles. As Australia’s soldier system is largely based on the Elbit Dominator concept and technologies, the dismounted battle management element of BGC3 is most likely to be a version of

This is the new Steyr SL40 grenade launcher attachment (GLA) on the EF88 Austeyr assault rifle being trialled by soldiers from the Fifth Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in Darwin © Australian Department of Defence

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This soldier from the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) is equipped with the developmental test bed equipment from which Soldier Enhancement Version One capabilities were developed © Australian Defence Materiel Organisation

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TORC2H, which the company describes as an all-in-one command and control system.

TORC2H has combat networking capabilities and provides soldiers with a simplified interface, improved situational awareness and data communications. Designed for use by all dismounted and mounted soldiers and platforms, it is highly effective at integrating sensors and weapons into command and control, says Elbit.

The protective, load-carrying Soldier Combat Ensemble (SCE) is the focus of Phase 3B and consists of a tiered body armour system, pouches and packs, a pelvic protection system, helmets, glasses and goggles, and enhanced hearing protection, many of which have already been fielded to support combat operations.

Phase 4

Land 125 Phase 4 refers to a next-generation soldier system that has yet to be fully defined and which has been affected by budget cuts that have pushed its first pass approval back a year to 2015, with completion anticipated in 2023 when the new equipment is due to enter service.

Overarching goals include enabling Australian soldiers to take on peer and irregular threats in any terrain and developing capabilities focused on other areas including peace support and enforcement, stability and humanitarian operations.

Inevitably, a reduction in overall weight is a central goal approached through the use of lightweight common modular components and power sources that will integrate with existing equipment. Lastly, Phase 4 is intended to enhance further the survivability, surveillance and target acquisition, precision engagement, fire effect, lethality, situational awareness and decision making capacities of individual soldiers and small combat teams.

F-INSAS

Known as the Futuristic Infantry Soldier As a System (F-INSAS), India’s soldier modernisation programme could eventually become one of the biggest in the world, but is reported to be bogged down in the definition process for its more demanding command and control and reconnaissance phases, according to crit-

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Japanese soldiers equipped with elements of the ACIES infantry soldier system.

The standing soldier has the helmet camera and both wear the combat suit.

The thermal sight for the Howa Type 89 rifle is not shown © USMC

ics. They argue that the programme has been hamstrung by the government’s insistence on using the domestic Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to design its components along with the Defence Public Sector Units and the state Ordnance Factory Bureau (OFB) to build them, processes which require extensive technology transfer.

As with most such programmes, the FINSAS is divided into phases. Phase 1 covers weapons, body armour, clothing and other individual equipment and entered the procurement phase in 2012 following the sign off on its acceptance of need. Reconnaissance is the focus of Phase 2 and the schedule calls for procurement to start in 2015, with the command and control-centred Phase 3 following in 2020, by which time the Indian Army plans to

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have 465 infantry and paramilitary battalions ready for it. All of these milestones are assumed likely to slip significantly because of what an unnamed senior Indian Army officer interviewed by Defence and Security of India magazine called “a lack of focus and clarity within the higher echelons of the army on system requirements”, a problem exacerbated by defence cuts and the weakness of the Rupee against the US dollar.

The assault rifle requirement is currently the subject of a competition involving Beretta, Colt and Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), all of which are currently having their candidate weapons evaluated by the Indian Army (see the News Round-Up in the July 2014 edition of AMR). November 2013 brought the announcement of formal cooperation between Israel and DRDO to

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develop a variety of F-INSAS components, including the command and control system based on a rugged, encrypted portable computer.

Japan’s ACIES

With Hitachi as prime contractor, Japan’s Advanced Combat Information Equipment System (ACIES) went through evaluation between 2005 and 2008 with delivery of the first ACIES equipment sets taking place in 2012. The system includes a helmet-mounted display from Shimadzu accompanied by a 70-gram (0.15-pound) NEC uncooled infrared two megapixel camera said to enable recognition of a human face at 200 metres (656 feet), an image-intensified night observation device, also from NEC, a wearable command and control computer that fits into a chest pocket, an integrated health monitoring system that includes a heart rate monitor and an accelerometer system, soldier radios and protective clothing. In addition to the helmet, the clothing includes a combat suit, a ballistic jacket and a storage vest with pockets for armour plates. With the aid of deployable repeaters, the soldier radios form mobile ad hoc networks that include the platoon/squad vehicle with a monitor for the commander. The Howa Type 89 assault rifle mounts a thermal weapon sight, complemented by a handheld target location system. US company Brentronics’ 10.8V SMP battery powers these connected devices.

RoK’s Future Warrior

Due to begin the acquisition process in 2016, the Republic of Korea’s (RoK) Future Warrior effort is now in the concept phase and scheduled for first fielding with the army in 2020. Research and development efforts are led by the Agency for Defence Development (ADD) with Samsung Thales as prime contractor.

Focusing on the challenges of sensor fusion, virtual simulation and energy supplies, ADD is looking for leverage from international cooperation.

One area in which the RoK’s programme stands out is in the fielding of the Daewoo K11, which is a combined assault rifle and 20mm grenade launcher very

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The Republic of Korea is set to field around 4000 Daewoo K11s during 2014, having taken a lead in the fielding of combination weapons.

The K11 combines an assault rifle with an integral 20mm grenade launcher © S&T Motiv

One area in which the RoK’s programme stands out is in the fielding of the Daewoo K11, which is a combined assault rifle and grenade launcher close in concept to the cancelled US Army Objective Infantry Combat Weapon (OICW). The K11 resembles a conventional assault rifle with a bullpup-configured grenade launcher grafted on top and to the rear so that the 20mm muzzle is just

United States Marines practise a multilateral assault with Thai and Republic of Korea marines during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 in Hat Yao, Thailand. Thailand’s own SFT 21 soldier modernisation effort is in the concept phase © USMC

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above and behind the bipod and the 5.56mm barrel is in the conventional position. The magazine holding 20 or 30 rounds of 5.56x45mm ammunition is ahead of the pistol grip, while the one containing up to six 20x30mm grenade rounds is behind it. The assault rifle is gas operated, but the soldier must cycle the grenade launcher’s action by hand.

The dimensions of the grenade round are for the cartridge only and the projectile itself is longer than the case. The grenade features an airburst fuse that is programmed to function at the most effective distance from the target by the fire control system, which includes an optical sight fed with aiming corrections generated by the integral ballistic computer and the fuse setter.

A small number, reportedly seven out of 20, K11s which deployed to Afghanistan suffered problems with barrel location, the striker mechanism and fire selector, and condensation in the fire control optics, severe enough for production to be halted while they were corrected. In November 2013, the Korean Defence Acquisition Programme Administration announced that the problems have been dealt with and that it was about to begin deliveries of the modified weapon, which has been through “extensive and realistic” field tests that involved firing more than

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A Republic of Korea marine provides security during a simulated assault at the Kahuku Training Area in Hawaii in July 2014, during RIMPAC 2014. RIMPAC is a US Pacific Fleet-hosted biennial multinational maritime security exercise © USMC

10000 rounds to confirm its safety and durability. Around 4000 K11s are due to be fielded by the end of 2014.

SAKTI

As of February 2014, Malaysia’s Soldier Advanced Kombat Technology Integrated (SAKTI) programme remained unfunded, but reportedly could be bought into the Network Centric Operations Phase 1B in the upcoming five-year plan. Malaysian defence firm Sapura has made a proposal with technical support from the Science and Technology Research Institute for

Defence (STRIDE), which is also developing a new fractal pattern camouflage for the programme. On the firepower front, production of the Colt M4A1 assault rifle is due to begin in 2014.

Philippines

In the Philippines, military procurement is governed by Republic Act 10349, which went into effect in December 2012 as effectively a revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernisation Act, extending the legislation for 15 years with a budget of $1.15 billion for the first five years,

A Malaysian soldier’s arm patch shows his national flag at the Wat Chalheamlap Temple School in Chonburi, Thailand, during the Cobra Gold 2012 exercise. Malaysia’s SAKTI programme could be funded under the country’s next five-year plan © USMC

and the Future Soldier programme comes under it.

The headline equipment items for the army is a total of 152 M113A2 armoured personnel carriers in various configurations, but small arms also figure significantly with a purchase of 63,000 new

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Singapore’s minister for defence Dr Ng Eng Hen with National Service soldiers from 702 Guards after Exercise Golden Sand, which required the unit to conduct a battalion coastal ‘hook’ to test integration and readiness with other elements of the country’s armed forces © Singapore Mindef

pounds), it consists of a palm-sized smart device with command and control software, a wireless mobile ad hoc network module that links it with the voice and data radio, navigation systems and a central power system that includes software to optimise power consumption to squeeze the most out of a standard military battery.

ACMS Lite’s key features include blue force tracking, red force marking, distress alerts such as calls for a medic and noting of

Remington M4 carbines confirmed in March 2014. Plans call for M4s issued to rifle platoons to be fitted with infrared laser aiming devices, and soldiers to receive image-intensified monocular devices that work with the lasers, plus handheld radios. The assault rifle procurement closely followed an order for 400 US-built Airtronic RPG-7 rocket launchers to replace obsolete M18 and M67 recoilless rifles. On the survivability front, an order for a reported 44080 force protection equipment sets is in the offing, each comprising a ballistic vest, plate inserts and a soft ballistic panel and weighing between six and seven kilograms (13–15 lb).

Ratnik-2

Deliveries of Ratnik-2, Russia’s ’second generation‘ integrated soldier system, are due to begin by late 2014, according to Dmitry Semizorov, chief executive officer of TsNIITochMash, the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering. With a total weight under 24kg (53lb) , the system comprises more than 40 elements including the assault rifle and sighting components command and control, navigation and targeting equipment, along with protective clothing including a one-kilogram (two pound) ballistic helmet. The programme has been delayed awaiting correction of defects in Kalashnikov’s new AK-12 assault rifle.

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Soldiers from the Singapore Army and the Royal Brunei Land Forces during Singapore Assault Rifle 21 handling training as part of Exercise Maju Bersama. This exercise included a combined planning and field exercise, urban training and live-firing © Singapore Ministry of Defence

ACMS

With three battalions equipped with the Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS), Singapore’s small army has travelled furthest down the soldier modernisation road since the award of the ACMS programme to ST Electronics in June 2009. While the complete ACMS includes protective clothing and load carriage, the latest iteration is known as ACMS Lite and is focused on connectivity and situational awareness for soldiers and tactical commanders.

Weighing less than two kilograms (four

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the response, and marking of danger areas.

The communication subsystem includes a voice and data radio, while the navigation element includes a global positioning system and a dead reckoning module. With its long standing connection to the Israeli military and consistent, practical approach to developing its own technological capabilities where appropriate and buying them in where it makes sense, Singapore could usefully serve as a model of how to take such programmes forward, one that India would be well served to study.

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ROSOBORONEXPORT: NOT ONLY TO SELL, BUT ALSO TO SUPPORT DELIVERED MILITARY EQUIPMENT

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rom September 11 to 13 the Baku Expo Center will be hosting the 1st Azerbaijan International Defense Industry Exhibition (ADEX 2014). This is the first demonstration of modern weapons and equipment in the country and in the Caucasus region.

More than 170 companies from 33 countries announced their participation in the exhibition. Among its prominent exhibitors will be Rosoboronexport, part of the Rostec State Corporation and the sole Russian state special exporter of the final military and dual-use products, technologies and services.

Nowadays, Rosoboronexport is a steadily growing company. It has been showing high growth rates of export deliveries which increase by $500-700 million every year. $13.2 billion worth of weapons and military equipment were supplied to foreign partners last year alone. Thus, the Company’s annual exports have quadrupled in less than fifteen years of its activity.

Based on the results in the first six months of 2014, Rosoboronexport’s deliveries exceeded $5 billion and the order book amounted to about $40 billion, even in defiance of international sanctions. Air Force equipment and weapons traditionally hold the lead among the concluded contracts (36.7%), followed by air defense systems (25.7%), land weapons (21.2%) and naval systems (11.8%).

Rosoboronexport values its reputation as a reliable, competent and trustworthy partner in the sphere of military-technical cooperation with foreign countries.

Expanding the prospects for cooperation, the Company offers different options of integrated after-sale service systems together with weapon and military equipment deliveries.

“This is especially relevant for countries having a large number of Russian weapons in service” said Esen Topoev who heads Rosoboronexport’s delegation at ADEX 2014. In addition to the routine issues related to promoting Russian weapons, we’ll

also discuss various aspects of after-sale service with our foreign partners at the show in Baku.

The vast majority of the eight dozen countries receiving Russian weapons and military equipment have accumulated significant arsenals of airplanes and helicopters, armored and various automotive vehicles, air defense systems, submarines, ships and boats over the years of mutually beneficial cooperation. But no matter how perfect and effective were these weapons, they require constant maintenance, repair, life extension and modernization while in service. All this will help not only maintain military equipment in working condition, but also improve its performance characteristics and bring it to the level of future warfare requirements.

Rosoboronexport assumes that support service of equipment throughout its life cycle should be carried out by its operators together with the original suppliers (manufacturers) of the equipment. In this case, by support service is meant the whole range of services including the supply of original spare parts, equipment repair and modernization, training, the establishment of service centers, etc. Unfortunately, there have been cases when, in the pursuit of cheapness, some operators of Russian military products resorted to outside organizations from third countries. This entailed low-quality repair, counterfeit parts, components and assemblies, and unproven upgrade solutions. As a result, equipment failure and even destruction, loss of life occurred. Rosoboronexport repeatedly informed its customers that in such situations it would not be responsible for such accidents and would not guarantee the compliance of equipment with its original performance specifications.

Meeting the needs of the partner states

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intending to develop their own production, the Company proposes to establish service centers at customer premises for qualified maintenance, repair and modernization of previously supplied military equipment.

Similar facilities have been set up and are in operation, proving their effectiveness in different countries on many continents.

Developing and improving this area of its activities, Rosoboronexport is ready to discuss proposals for establishing domestic enterprises to manufacture military equipment under a license with its partners. One of the latest examples of successful collaboration is a project to produce the RPG-32 Luchnik grenade launcher (official name in Arabic is Nashshab) in Jordan. The plant is primarily focused on meeting the needs of the Royal Jordanian Armed Forces. In future, as the parties agree, the grenade launchers may be promoted on third-country markets. The feasibility of setting up a knockdown assembly line for KAMAZ trucks in Cuba, where the volume of production will be 500 vehicles per year is under consideration. Similar projects are being discussed with other countries.

At the current stage of its activities, Rosoboronexport is engaged with developing a life-cycle support system for weapons supplied to customer, which focuses on an umbrella approach to issues related to the supply, maintenance, repair, modernization and even disposal of export military equipment. In case of joint development and production of military products, the life-cycle support contract covers the entire scope of activities associated with their design, construction, financing and maintenance. It contributes to the expansion of long-term, fruitful and trusting relationship between the countries, significantly reduces costs for both parties.

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THE WIZARD AND HIS CAT

The Royal Navy’s new AgustaWestland AW-101 Merlin HM2 and AW159 Wildcat maritime support helicopters are likely to prove a potent combination. As this article will show, the importance of naval forces, having waned after the end of the Cold War, is beginning to intensify.

by Andrew Drweiga

he number of navies now acquiring aircraft carriers and amphibious-capable littoral vessels is beginning to increase with Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) being the most recent in the AsiaPacific region to begin increasing their capabilities in these areas. Moreover, the attractiveness of submarines for power projection has been growing.

Few nations are committing to submarines with the potential and complexity of those ordered in April 2014 by the United States Navy (USN) who inked a contract with General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls for ten ‘Virginia’ class Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarines (SSNs) to be delivered over the next decade. However, the submarine threat to nations with a long maritime tradition as well as those now facing increased tension in areas such as the East and South China Seas is a palpable one.

With the United Kingdom set to operate at least one new aircraft carrier in the ‘Queen Elizabeth’ class (potentially two depending on the outcome of the country’s Strategic Defence and Security Review in 2015), the requirement for an efficient and ever present anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capability is one of high importance in UK strategic naval thinking.

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The Underwater Threat

The pressure on the Royal Navy (RN) to meet this challenge has already been addressed with the upgrade of its AgustaWestland AW-101 Merlin HM1 helicopters to the HM2 standard, resulting in a much improved anti-submarine warfare helicopter. The Initial Operating Capability (IoC) for this refreshed asset was declared on 30 June 2014, four

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Embarked on the Royal Navy ‘Invincible’ class aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, the AgustaWestland AW-101 HM2 maritime support helicopter took part in the Senior Service’s Exercise Deep Blue in June 2014, simulating antisubmarine warfare, maritime patrol and casualty evacuation capabilities © UK MoD

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The Royal Navy ‘Trafalgar’ class nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Torbay is seen here with the one of the Royal Navy’s new AgustaWestland AW-101 HM2 maritime support helicopters flying close by. One of the duties of this helicopter is anti-submarine warfare © UK MoD

months ahead of schedule, following a testing work-up in the North Atlantic during the Royal Navy’s Deep Blue exercise held in June 2014.

Talking about the success of the exercise Commander Ben Franklin, the commanding officer of the RN’s Merlin Helicopter Force said that nine naval AW101 HM2s had joined the Task Force for the ten-day sea exercise with the ultimate aim of creating a ‘Ripple 3’ effect from the aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious. A Ripple 3 effect demands that two aircraft fly at all times while a third aircraft prepares to relieve the helicopter that has been on station the longest. Over 200 Squadron personnel joined the ship during the exercise.

Cmdr. Franklin has a long history with the AW-101 helicopter. He flew the initial AW-101 HM1 when they came into service in 1998, served as the executive officer of 814 Naval Air Squadron (NAS), the first to operate the AW-101, in the front line and then commanded 829 NAS. He has

also served as a helicopter warfare instructor. Four submarines from the Royal Navy, and the French and Dutch navies had been tasked to act as aggressors and during the final five days of the exercise the AW-101 force was flying the Ripple 3 tactic on a 24-hour basis. During the deployment the nine AW-101s logged around 480 flying hours, averaging around 50 hours per aircraft.

Cmdr. Franklin said that “(t)his was the biggest exercise this century (conducted by the Royal Navy) and a fantastic step forward towards the introduction of the new carrier later this decade. We can hunt submarines in two different ways: by using the active dipping sonar to put

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sound into the water and listening for returns; or just passively use sonar buoys to listen for submarines. Once they’ve been located, we can hunt them.” He added that the pressure on the AW-101 force during the exercise helped the crew to further understand the aircraft and its systems. “While we have always done (anti-submarine warfare) we are looking to get back into it in a big way,” he said.

Captain Ed Tritschler, Merlin Team Leader at the UK’s Defence Equipment and Support (DES) organisation and an ex-commander of HMS Illustrious, said that the success of the AW-101’s achievement during the exercise represented a decade of work from design to implementation. He stated that the AW-101 HM2 was one of the most advanced helicopters of its type in the world: “Although the HM2 looks similar to predecessor (AW101 HM1), it contains 14 kilometres (nine miles) of looming, a glass cockpit compatible with night vision goggles, and an

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AgustaWestland’s AW-159 Wildcat maritime support helicopter which is used by the Royal Navy was on display at the 2014 Farnborough Air Show. Along with equipping the Royal Navy, this helicopter will also furnish the British Army Air Corps © Andrew Drweiga

architecture mission system which compiles sonar buoy, radar and active dipping sonar data. It can operate during the day and night and in all weathers.” The benefit of the HM2’s open architecture allows the interchange of sensors and various hardware within the aircraft to allow role change at fairly short notice. Capt.

Tritschler added that the Crow’s Nest Project, which will add an Airborne Early Warning (AEW) capability to these helicopters and which will be a fundamental part of the AW-101’s mission profile, was making good progress through its assessment phase. Thus the AW-101 helicopters will eventually provide two major capabilities: Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and AEW.

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Protecting the Carrier

The air wing expected to operate from the UK’s new ‘Queen Elizabeth’ class aircraft carriers should comprise twelve Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning-II Multi-Role Combat Aircraft and 14 AW-101 HM2s. It is expected that nine AW-101s would be available for ASW while the remaining five conducted the surveillance role. At

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times of conflict the number of AW-101s could be increased.

First flight trails are expected soon for both of the competing Crow’s Nest contenders. The first is being conducted with the Lockheed Martin Vigilance system in early August 2014, and then after with the Thales’ Cerberus which is already being used on RN AgustaWestland AsaC (Airborne Surveillance and Control) Mk.7 Sea King maritime support helicopters. ExUK secretary of state for defence Philip Hammond said via a UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) statement on 3 February 2014 that Crow’s Nest would provide the new ‘Queen Elizabeth’ class ships “with vital surveillance and intelligence” adding that it will protect the carrier group as soon

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Nine of the Royal Navy’s AgustaWestland AW-101 HM2 maritime support helicopters were tested on 24-hours, seven-days-a-week anti-submarine warfare operations in the Atlantic Ocean after successfully entering service with the Royal Navy four months early in June 2014 © UK MoD

as the system becomes operational around 2020. The current ASW mission is fulfilled with the ASaC Mk.7 Sea Kings although the helicopter’s out-of-service date which has been set at 2016 is rapidly approaching, leaving the RN with a potential two-year gap in capability. Additional missions that will be expected of the onboard AW-101s will include their potential conversion to casualty evacuation aircraft, anti-piracy missions beefed-up with an FN Herstal M3M machine gun and carrier onboard delivery for logistics supply.

Industry Teaming

The main contractor for the HM2 upgrade has been Lockheed Martin UK together with other industry partners including

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Qinetiq, Selex, Thales, CAE and a handful of small and medium enterprise partners.

In 1991 Lockheed Martin UK and AgustaWestland won the contract to supply the Ministry of Defence with 44 AW101 ASW/ASuW (Anti- Surface Warfare) helicopters. In 2006, the UK MoD signed an agreement with Lockheed Martin UK to sustain the capability of the AW-101 fleet, with AgustaWestland being awarded a 25-year Integrated Operational Support (IOS) contract. Under the Merlin Capability Sustainment Programme (MCSP), 30 AW-101 HM1s were initially selected for conversion into HM2s by 2015. This would allow a total of 25 AW101 HM2s to be operational with the fleet at any one time.

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The lead unit to upgrade to the AW-101 HM2 first was 824 NAS, followed by 829 NAS, 814 NAS and finally 820 NAS. While the upgrades were occurring other AW101 HM1 aircraft were still operating with the surface fleet, but were under pressure due to the number of AW-101s taken out of service to complete the upgrade. “We had our challenges during that time,” remarked Cmdr. Franklin.

During the 2014 Farnborough airshow Capt. Tritschler said that the MoD has been re-evaluating a further eight optional AW-101 conversions over the original 30 helicopters and some, if not all, may be upgraded due to the pressure on the AW101 HM2 fleet once the ‘Queen Elizabeth’ class enters Full Operating Capability

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British Army Air Corps (AAC) in two different versions; 34 for the RN and 28 for the AAC. It is predominantly a naval platform designed to work from the back of small frigates and destroyers.

The first squadron to operate the AW159 will be 825 NAS from September 2014, delivering initial training and comprising the first four aircraft to go onboard RN vessels. According to the schedule, the next squadron to convert will be 815 NAS midway through 2015 with the final old Lynx Mk.8 maritime support helicopter out-ofservice date set for the end of March 2017.

The AW-159 programme is running behind that of the AW-101, with the IoC expected in 2015, although the AAC versions should reach their IoC by the end of 2014.

The AW-159 has a semi-rigid rotor head with composite rotor blades. It is powered by two LHTEC CTS800-4N engines, each providing up to 1361 shaft horsepower.

The glass cockpit provides four large displays together with an integrated avionics suite and mission system. The breaking news to come out of the 2014 Farnborough Air Show was the long-awaited contract

(FoC). With a minimum of 14 operating from one carrier, requirements from other smaller ships as well as aircraft needed to support training and other missions, a boost of a further eight aircraft would go some way to easing the pressure that could build quickly.

The Cat

The other half of the RN’s maritime support helicopter fleet is the AgustaWestland AW-159 Wildcat, the newest iteration of the company’s Lynx family of helicopters.

It provides the fleet with a reconnaissance role, as well as anti-surface attack. The AW-159 Wildcat is the most modern iteration of the Lynx helicopter and is coming into service with the Royal Navy and the

The AW-159 found its first foreign customer in 2013 with the RoK Navy ordering eight helicopters

between the MoD and AgustaWestland that will lead to the integration of the MBDA and Thales Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) missile onto the AW-159. The $154 million contract encompasses the integration of both types of missile destined for the AW-159, the FASGW Heavy (FASGW(H)) weighing 100 kilograms (220 pounds) and the FASGW Light (FASGW(L)).

A design review has been set for 2016 with the MoD confident that the FoC for these missiles will be achieved by 2020.

Once the design reviews have been completed, the actual flight testing of the missiles from the AW-159 has been scheduled for a twelve-month period from 2017-18.

The missiles are a joint development

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between Britain and France with the FASGW(H) giving a stand-off anti-ship capability, guided by an infrared imaging seeker. Known as the Sea Venom in the UK, it will replace the ageing MBDA Sea Skua anti-ship missile. In France, known alternatively as the ANL, it will be used by the Marine Nationale’s (French Navy) NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH). The Thales FASGW(L) is a lighter missile for use against small, potentially faster targets such as light inshore attack boats. The missile development had been stalled, apparently by a lack of a high-level requirement and therefore funding from France, although in March 2014 both countries finally signed a $500 million agreement to complete the development of FASGW(H).

In 2013, the AW-159 also found its first foreign customer in the Republic of Korea (RoK) Navy with a $560 million order for eight helicopters together with supporting aircrew and maintainer training, initial spares and support. Deliveries will begin in 2015 and should be completed by 2016.

The RoK Navy currently operates 24 Super Lynx Mk.99 helicopters with wheeled undercarriage rather than skids. The latest AW-159 helicopters, labelled Maritime Operational Helicopters (MOH) are likely to be earmarked to serve on board the force’s new Future Frigate Experimental (FFX) ‘Incheon’ class frigates.

These AW-159s will be armed with Israeli Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Spike NLOS (Non-Line of Sight) missiles; the first helicopter to operate the missile in a maritime environment although it is already in service with the RoK Army. This will give them a stand-off capability. They will also have a Thales Flash dipping sonar and anti-submarine torpedoes. The RoK’s AW-159s are taking on the mantel of a ‘jackof-all-trades’ in that its mission profile may well encompass everything from anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, maritime surveillance as well as search and rescue missions. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2015 and be completed by the end of the following year. There is also interest in the AW-159 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which could use the helicopters on its BRP Gregorio del Pillar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz frigates.

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22460E patrol ship

PROJECT 22460E PATROL SHIP:

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A “RUBY” IN THE RUSSIAN NAVY’S CROWN he organizers, guests and spectators of the 22nd Olympic Winter Games could enjoy not only the beautiful performances of their sports idols. A beautiful ship, which differed sharply from passenger vessels, pleasure boats and yachts in its strict graceful forms and deck superstructures, could also be seen in the roadstead of the port of Sochi from the coastal boulevards and embankment of the Olympic Park. This is a Project 22460 Rubin (Ruby) class border patrol ship, which successfully ensured security of the Olympic Games in Sochi jointly with another ship of the same project operated by the RF Russian Border Guard Service.

Today the naval forces play a leading

role in the life of almost every coastal country and are one of the most combatready, universal and enduring services of the armed forces, capable of handling a wide range of missions not only on high seas, but also in the coastal areas of the likely land theaters of operations. Their participation in providing reliable security at milestone social and political events, whether it’s Olympic Games, visits or meetings of the heads of state, is just one aspect of their activities.

Maritime powers develop modern naval doctrines and concepts with regard to countering regional conflicts and transnational threats, WPD proliferation, preventing destabilization of separate regions and countries. In peacetime,

almost every maritime nation faces the need to ensure reliable protection of its borders in the territorial sea, protect its marine bio and energy resources in the exclusive economic zones, counter international terrorism, smuggling, drug trafficking, piracy, illegal migration, as well as carry out rescue operations.

However, not all countries are capable of building combatant ships and boats for their navies. In addition, the navy of each coastal country has its own specifics.

Some navies need aircraft carriers, large surface ships and large submarines, while others do with modern fast wellarmed boats. That is why the naval hardware procurement is a real way to strengthen the national navies.

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JSC Rosoboronexport is the sole Russian state-owned intermediary agency responsible for export of the full range of defense and dual-use end products, technologies and services. Among the best models of military hardware, the Company presents advanced products from the Russian shipbuilding industry on the world arms market, which can design and build combatant ships and auxiliary vessels of all classes, as well as manufacture all kinds of naval weapons and equipment. Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, handed over to the Indian Navy in the fall of 2013, is a vivid example.

Russian developers are traditionally strong in the systematic approach to the design of naval equipment. With a high level of its science, design and shipbuilding technologies, strong production capabilities, highly skilled personnel and vast experience of foreign trade activities, Russia holds a leading position in exports of naval equipment and weapons in the world.

These qualities of the Russian defense industry have long been appreciated by

Rosoboronexport’s foreign customers.

Offering its partners a wide range of surface ships, submarines and boats, Rosoboronexport implements an active marketing policy based on the analysis of the interests and needs of our potential partners. Moreover, in most cases we can speak not only on the supply of naval equipment, but also on its joint design and construction both at customer’s and Russian shipyards. Of great importance is not only the after-sales service system, but also a trend towards supporting the whole life-cycle of military equipment built in the interests of foreign customers, which has been evident in recent years.

This approach has helped Rosoboronexport significantly expand its sales geography. For Rosoboronexport, there are no big or small contracts The Company treats each partner delicately and respectfully.

Among the recent offers from Rosoboronexport is the Project 22460E patrol ship, designed around the existing Project 22460 Rubin class border guard ship.

The 630-ton Project 22460E ships are designed to guard the state border in the 12-mile border zone, territorial waters, continental shelf, and protect bio and energy resources. They can successfully conduct rescue operations, environmental monitoring, participate in disaster relief operations. Along with protection of the state border, the ships of this class are tasked to fight terrorism and maritime piracy, ensure the security of milestone social and political events held in the coastal area.

The most advanced FORAN 3D shipbuilding CAD/CAM system has been actively used in developing the Rubin class ship. This provided a rational and convenient layout of machinery and systems inside the hull, high maintainability of the ship, and most importantly - the shortest possible design time and high construction rates. Owing to the architecture incorporating stealth technology, the patrol ship is virtually invisible to potential enemy radars.

With its dimensions (length - 62.5 m, beam - 11 m, draft - 2.7 m) and German 22460E patrol ship at the shipyard

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22460E patrol ship

MTU diesel engines, the Rubin class ship is capable of moving at high speed: about 30 knots in calm water and 25 knots at Sea State 4 to 6 without losing maneuverability. Its cruising range is 3,500 miles, endurance exceeds 30 days.

A high level of control automation is an important advantage of the Project 22460E ships. They are equipped with a modern integrated control system that complies with automation Class A1. This requires a high degree of training from each crewmember and reduces the size of crew to 24 people. In particular, the bridge watch consisting of four crewmembers ensures full control of the ship systems and mechanisms.

The ship is armed with one 30mm sixbarrel AK-306 CIWS and two 12.7mm Kord machine guns. Such armament is sufficient to perform the tasks assigned to Rubin class ships.

One of the Rubin’s main features is a helipad located in the aft and intended for a Ka-226 light helicopter or a helicopter UAV. Here, there is also a multifunctional hangar/shelter to accommodate environment monitoring and protection equipment or high-speed rigid inflatable boats designed, for example, for fast delivery of a boarding team to an intruding vessel. A search helicopter, UAV and fast boats significantly extend the functionality of these relatively small ships. It is noteworthy that the designers have been able to place the hangar and a 5-ton aviation fuel storage room on a ship with a displacement of less than 700 tons.

Moreover, the Rubin class ship has a significant upgrade potential.

In designing the ship, provision was made for its use in different regions of the world. Therefore, Rubin can navigate both in equatorial waters and in the

AMR Marketing Promotion

continuous one-year ice up to 20 cm thick.

The developers have paid great attention to maneuverability of the ship and its capability to perform tasks in skerry areas, reduced visibility conditions and shallow waters.

Given the service specifics of the Project 22460E ships, the designers and builders have taken care of comfortable living conditions for the crew. There is a sauna on board and all crewmembers are accommodated in comfortable suites equipped with modern ergonomic furniture, air conditioning, individual bathrooms with showers.

Owing to all that, the Rubin can be considered a new generation ship, which has proved itself excellently during the toughest trials and several years of service at sea. As expected, Russia will build approximately 20 ships of this series by 2020.

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Boeing is building 179 KC-46A Pegasus multi-role tanker-transport aircraft for the United States Air Force to replace its veteran KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10A Extender tanker fleets. The KC-46A is based on the company’s 767-2C airliner © Boeing

FUELING THE FIRES

With an estimated cost of $35 billion, according to figures from the United States Department of Defence, the United States Air Force (USAF) KC-X contract will replace scores of Boeing KC-135R tankers with 179 Boeing KC-46A Pegasus refueling aircraft. It is the world’s largest tanker programme.

by David Oliver

dapting a jet commercial aircraft as a tanker – in the case of the KC-76A the baseline aircraft is a Boeing 767-2C airliner – dates back to the iconic Boeing 707, although when Boeing signed up its first customer for the type in March 1955, it was the USAF that ordered an initial fleet of 29 KC-135A Stratotanker aircraft. A total of 732 were built, the last leaving the Renton, Seattle production line in 1966. Since then the type has been subject to numerous upgrades, including new more powerful and fuel-efficient engines in the form of the General Electric/SNECMA F108-CF-100 powerplant. Another military derivative of a commercial aircraft, the three-engine civilian McDonnell Douglas/Boeing DC-10-30CF, known as

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the KC-10A Extender, first entered USAF service in March 1981. While its primary mission was aerial refuelling, incorporating an in-flight refuelling boom with hose and drogue coupling, the KC-10A combined the tasks of tanker and cargo aircraft by refuelling fighters while carrying the fighters’ support personnel and equipment during overseas deployments. The aircraft is capable of transporting up to 75 people and some 170000 pounds (76560 kilograms) of cargo a distance of 3825 nautical miles (7040 kilometres). In its four wing tanks and two underfloor fuselage tanks, the KC-10A carries almost twice as much fuel as the KC-135 Stratotanker which has a maximum transfer fuel load of 200000 lbs (37,648 kgs).

The United Kingdom also resorted to

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modifying commercial aircraft into military tankers for the Royal Air Force (RAF) but they were ex-airline airframes rather than new-build aircraft. The first was the last allBritish long-range commercial airliner, the British Aircraft Corporation/Vickers VC10. A total of 14 C.Mk.1 passenger variants entered RAF service in 1966, 13 of which were converted to a dual role as transports and tankers in 1992. These aircraft joined a growing fleet of 23 ex-civil VC-10 and Super VC-10 aircraft that were converted to their tanker role between 1981 and 1995, although only four of the latter had the dual tanker-transport capability designated K.Mk.4 in RAF service. The RAF VC10 fleet served with distinction until its withdrawal from service in September 2013.

Following the Falkland Islands cam-

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T A N K E R paign in 1982, the RAF decided to augment its tanker-transport fleet, selecting another long-range passenger aircraft for the role, namely the three-engine Lockheed Martin L1011-500 TriStar. The initial purchase of six ex-British Airways aircraft was followed by three ex-Pan American Airlines aircraft in 1984.

Converted by Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge, eastern England, the twopoint tanker-transport K.1 variant had 100000lb (45350kg) of transferable fuel available plus seating for up to 100 passengers. The L1011-500 together with the KC-10A Extender tanker-transports became the role models for the current crop of long-range Multi-Role TankerTransport (MRTT) aircraft.

KC-X

In 2001 the USAF began its long and convoluted KC-X programme to replace some 400 KC-135R Stratotankers and 58 KC-10A Extenders. The first proposal was to lease 100 tanker derivatives of the Boeing 767200ER (ER - Extended Range) airliners for

ten years with an option to eventually purchase these planes. This project was abandoned in 2004 following US Congressional Budget Office criticism of the programme as being fiscally irresponsible, and a plan to procure 179 new aircraft was launched with a draft Request For Proposals (RFP) released by the USAF on 25 September 2006. Boeing offered the KC-767 while EADS (now Airbus Group) teamed with Northrop Grumman and proposed a tanker variant of a hybrid version of the Airbus A-330 airliner equipped with the same wings as the A340-200/300 jet, with the latter bid being selected as the winner on 29 February 2008. Almost immediately, Boeing submitted a formal protest alleging flaws in the acquisition process and six months later the US Department of Defence (DoD) cancelled the competition.

A new revised KC-X competition was launched a year later with the same two bidders for the 179 aircraft contract, although Northrop Grumman had withdrawn from the contest, leaving EADS to contest it unilaterally. After submission

deadlines were extended by nearly a year, the DoD announced that Boeing’s contender had been selected as the winner of the $34 billion KC-X contract, with the aircraft now designated as the KC-46A. The KC-46A is a wide body aircraft with a digital flight deck featuring cockpit electronic displays that are also used on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner airliner. It will accommodate a crew of three, two pilots and a boom operator, along with up to 114 passengers, 18 cargo pallets, or 24 stretchers.

New defensive systems and cockpit armour protection to enhance crew survivability include a Northrop Grumman Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system, a Raytheon AN/ALR69 digital radar warning receiver and digital anti-jam Global Positioning System.

The KC-46A will be capable of refuelling all fixed-wing receiver aircraft including simultaneous multi-point refuelling, with an advanced design fly-by-wire boom based on the proven Cobham KC-10A boom, plus centreline and wing-mounted

The Royal Air Force’s first wide-body Multi-Role Tanker-Transport, the Lockheed Martin L1011 Tristar is seen here refuelling Eurofighter Tyhoon F.GR4 and Panavia Tornado GR4/A multi-role combat aircraft on the last operational flight on 25 March 2014 © David Oliver

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T A N K E R configuration, may take longer than anticipated according to unconfirmed reports. In March 2014, USAF estimated that the cost of development would rise to $1 billion over budget, but any additional cost over the capped $4.4 billion Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) programme must be covered by Boeing.

The basic KC-767A is already in service with the Italian and Japanese air forces, each of which operates four tanker-transport aircraft, although their introduction into service was delayed by a number of development issues including buffet problems with the wing pods of the Italian KC767A. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) converted a commercial Boeing 767 into an MRTT for the Fuerza Aérea Colombiana (Columbian Air Force) and is converting two B767-300ER aircraft for the Força Aérea Brasileira (Brazilian Air Force) under its KC-X2 programme to replace four Boeing KC-137 Stratotankers.

Four Boeing KC-767J tanker transports are operated by the Japanese Air Self Defence Force with a boom only fit.

Japan is also joined by the Italian Air Force which operates the KC-767A variant of the tanker-transport © Boeing

Airbus hose and drogue systems. The KC-46A will have a total of 207672lb (94200kg) of transferable fuel available.

The programme’s Critical Design Review (CDR) milestone took place in September 2013, which determined that the design of the KC-46A was mature and ready to proceed to the manufacturing phase. Although the USAF programme office claimed in April 2014 that development of the KC-46A was more than fifty percent complete, the production schedule is tight with flight of the first prototype, which will be the 1065th 767 airframe produced, planned before the end of 2014.

Delivery of the first aircraft to the USAF will take place in 2016, with 18 combatready tankers delivered by 2017 and the last of the 179 airframes on order by 2027.

Already the programme has encountered problems, chiefly with its electrical wiring systems and delays in production of the refuelling boom due to design changes and subsequent late parts deliveries, according to a report in the Air Force Times official publication of the USAF. There is also a risk that software-related issues may have an impact on the pro-

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gramme and that the dual Federal Aviation Administration (the US body tasked with certifying commercial aircraft) certification process, which is intended to yield an amended type certification for the 767-2C to cover the KC-46A, and a supplemental type certification for the militarized tanker

The Boeing KC-767 was offered for the UK’s Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) requirement to replace the RAF VC10 and L-1011 fleets but the Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker-Transport (MRTT) aircraft was instead selected in January 2004.

Through a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract worth some $20 billion, the

AirTanker is providing the Royal Air Force with 14 Airbus A330-MRTT aircraft, locally designated as the K.2/3 Voyager under a 27-year Private Finance Initiative contract from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence © AirTanker

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A Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A being refuelled by a French C-135FR Stratotanker that may be replaced in the future by the A330-MRTT. Paris has reportedly shown interest in acquiring around twelve of the type© Airbus

AirTanker consortium comprising EADS, Rolls-Royce, Thales and Babcock, is providing a comprehensive service for the RAF with a total of 14 A330-MRTT aircraft, powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 772B engines to ensure the full operational availability of the fleet over a 27-year period.

AirTanker is providing the K.2 Voyager (as the aircraft will be known in RAF service) variant of the A330-200 airliner, which are two-point tankers equipped with Flight Refuelling Limited Mk. 32B-900E pods, plus the three-point K.3 tankers fitted with an upgraded Fuselage Refuelling Unit (FRU). Under the PFI contract, AirTanker is to deliver to the RAF a core fleet of four K.2 aircraft and five K.3 aircraft, with the remaining aircraft accessible on request and available for lease to other military users or commercial operators. Very few internal changes were required to the A330-200 to modify it for the Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) role. No additional fuel tanks are required, and as K.2/3 shares the

same wing as Airbus’s four-engined A340, there is a pre-strengthened location available for mounting the Mk. 32B-900E underwing pods where two of the aircraft’s engines would have been if the wing had been fitted to an A340 airliner. The AAR systems are controlled from a Fuel Operator Console positioned in the cockpit which can display refuelling on a twodimensional and three-dimensional screen to perform day and night refuelling. Its defensive aids sub-system includes the Northrop Grumman LAIRCM which also adorns the KC-46A (see above).

The full passenger and cargo capability can be used while K.2/3 is configured for AAR operations. On a typical RAF

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deployment across the Atlantic, a single aircraft would be able to refuel Panavia Tornado GR4/A and Eurofighter Typhoon F.GR4 Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) and still carry up to 291 passengers plus eight NATO-standard freight pallets. The A330-MRTT design can also be used on towline mission, whereby it can be on station for five hours at about 500nm (930km) from its base, with the capability to provide 132000-lb (60000kg) of transferable fuel for receivers.

Built by Airbus in Toulouse, southwest France, the AirTanker A330s were converted to their MRTT configuration at Airbus Military’s facility at Getafe outside the Spanish capital Madrid, before being equipped for the tanker role by Cobham Aviation Services in the UK. Since entering service in April 2012, four K.2 and five K.3 Voyagers have been delivered to the AirTanker Hub at RAF Brize Norton airbase in southern England, flown by crews of 10 and 101 Squadrons, each of

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The Cobham centreline Fuselage Refuelling Unit (FRU) fitted in a recess in the Royal Air Force’s K.2/3 Voyager tanker-transport aircraft’s rear fuselage for use when the tanker is refuelling large aircraft © David Oliver

which has a complement of 15 crews which are supplemented by seven RAF Reservist crews. The Voyager has taken over the operational role of support of the air bridge between the UK and Afghanistan and is now supporting RAF Typhoon F.GR4 MRCAs on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) cover for the UK and the Falkland Islands.

As the A330 MRTT has both civil supplemental type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA),

which acted as the certification authority for the aircraft, and military certification by the Spanish Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Aerospacial (INTA/National Institute for Aerospace Technology), one aspect of AirTanker’s contract is the facility to lease the aircraft for civil operations or to other military operators when not immediately required for RAF use and with UK Ministry of Defence authorisation. The first commercial customer for the AirTanker consortium is reported to be the travel company Thomas Cook which plans to operate the A330-MRTTs on UK routes from Glasgow, Manchester and London to the United States and Mexico.

The second military A330-MRTT customer was Australia which selected the aircraft for its AIR 5402 requirement in December 2004. Five General Electric CF680E1A3-powered aircraft were purchased

Six A330-MRTTs have been sold to Saudi Arabia and three to the United Arab Emirates

One of six Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) A330-MRTT aircraft, two of which refuelled RSAF McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-15S Strike Eagle multi-role combat aircraft across the Atlantic to a United States Air Force Red Flag exercise in March 2014 © Airbus

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for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

They were converted to the tanker role by Qantas Defence in partnership with Australian Aerospace, ADI and GKN Aerospace but the first aircraft was not delivered to the RAAF until June 2011 after delays in the development of the flyby-wire boom.

Equipped with the Airbus Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS), Cobham 905E underwing pods, FRU, and the Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle System Installation (UARRSI) for self inflight refuelling, the RAAF aircraft, designated as the KC-30A in RAAF service, has a similar specification to the AirTanker A330-MRTT but is equipped with the Northrop Grumman ALN/AAQ-24 DIRCM [(Directional Infrared CounterMeasure) system instead of the LAIRCM (Large Aircraft Infrared Counter-Measure) system. They can carry up to 380 passengers in a single class configuration and also easily be converted to accommodate up to 130 stretchers for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions. The KC-30As are operated by 33 Squadron based at RAAF Amberley airbase

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An Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Boeing 767-300ER aircraft is seen here performing flight tests for the company's fly-by-wire refueling boom. Several countries around the world operate tankers converted from airliners by IAI © IAI

southwest of Brisbane and were released for service in February 2013.

Six A330-MRTTs have been sold to Saudi Arabia and three to the United Arab Emirates. Earlier this year the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) deployment of eight McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-15S Strike Eagle MRCA to Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) in the United States for the Red Flag 2014 exercise were supported by two of its A330-MRTTs by the RSAF’s first combatready tranche of ARBS-qualified crews who successfully offloaded around a million pounds (188,240 kgs) of fuel through the fly-by-wire boom during the mission.

This year Singapore ordered six for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) with Qatar ordering two for the Qatar Emiri Air Force to bring the total sold to 34, while India is in the final stages of contractual negotiations for six aircraft and France has a declared requirement for twelve A330 MRTTs.

Other Players

Israeli Aerospace Industries revealed in August 2014 that it had completed success-

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ful test-flights of a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft equipped with a fly-by-wire boom refueling system. The firm says that this boom can outfit a number of aircraft types including Boeing 707 series transports, and Lockheed Martin C-130 series and Ilyushin Il-78 turboprop and turbofan medium and strategic freighters. The company’s Bedek division specialises in converting airliners

The boom operator crewman at his Fuel Operator console in the Japan Air Self-Defence Force Boeing KC-67J tanker, the first of which was delivered in February 2008. The type is operated by 404 Hikotai (Squadron) at Komaki airbase near Nagoya in Honshu, the main island of Japan © US Air Force

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into MRTT platforms and has twelve customers for its aircraft to this end, including the Israeli Air Force.

Although selling in small numbers, strategic tanker-transport aircraft are a niche market but with a five-year lead over Boeing’s rival KC-46A, Airbus is confident that there will be several new customers for its A330 MRTT, particularly in the AsiaPacific region, as well as Europe. Both the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Defence Agency (EDA), which overseas aspects of defence procurement in the European Union, have recognised that recent operations demonstrated a significant European AAR shortfall and are considering buying or leasing a multinational MRTT capability by 2020. However, AirTanker’s projected over capacity may provide a solution to the NATO/EDA problem while the defence community, as well as the US DoD, waits to see if the KC-46A Pegasus, named after the mythical ‘Winged Stallion’, can keep to its tight schedule and capped costs to become a viable competitor in the international MRTT market.

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THE MAGIC BULLET

In the latest example of its attention-seeking behaviour the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) performed two short-range ballistic missile test launches on 9 July 2014. Such actions concentrate the minds of decision-makers in the Asia-Pacific regarding Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD).

by Thomas Withington

he actions of the regime of DRPK dictator Kim Jong Un may alternate between Monty Python-esque eccentricity and outright barbarism, but the young progeny of the late ‘supreme leader’ Kim Jong Il learnt from his father how to capture the attention of the international community. Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), and the wherewithal to deploy them in the form of ballistic missiles have a habit of concentrating the minds of politicians not only in the AsiaPacific but in the wider world. Mr. Kim has taken after his father in realising that WMDs and the missiles to deliver them represent ideal mechanisms to remain in the public spotlight. Without such despotfriendly toys, the DPRK would have largely become a somewhat forgotten totalitarian regime producing little but occasional leaked news reports of privation and cruelty from dissidents fleeing the country.

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The latest DPRK missile test took the form, according to the Republic of Korea’s (RoK) Yonhap news agency, of the launch of two short-range ballistic missiles, believed to be Hwasong-5 weapons which have a range of circa 269 nautical miles (500 kilometres). The missiles were thought to have been launched from an airbase in Hwanghae just north of the Demilitarised Zone ceasefire line which separates the DRPK from the RoK. The base possibly belongs to the DPRK’s Strategic Rocket Forces, the part of the DPRK’s People’s Army which controls the country’s ballistic missile forces. On this occasion, the missiles splashed harmlessly into the sea. However, the pulses of the DPRK’s neighbours always race a little higher when the Hermit Kingdom pulls one of its stunts, with a tangible fear that next time the missile launch may not be a test and may instead be carrying conventional explosives, or something much worse, towards any one of the country’s neighbours in the region.

Lockheed Martin’s Theatre High Altitude Area Defence surface-to-air missile system is entering service with the United States Army.

Japan is currently considering its acquisition to improve its ballistic missile defence capabilities © Lockheed Martin

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GMDS

Such concerns are the driving forces behind investments into BMD technology ongoing around the world. As long as the missile tests continue so do the efforts in developing BMD platforms made by the United States and others in the region. On 22 June 2014 the United States Missile Defence Agency (MDA), a US Department of Defence organisation tasked with developed BMD technology, announced that it had performed a successful test of the Ground-based Midcourse Defence (GMD) system. Designed to protect the Continental United States against ballistic missile attack, the GMD architecture uses Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) and radar to detect and then engage incoming ballistic missiles when they are in their so-called ‘midcourse phase’, i.e. following their launch when they are at an altitude of around 647nm (1200km). The ‘kill’ is performed by the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) developed by Raytheon which is carried aloft by the Orbital Sciences Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI).

Once in space, the EKV separates from the interceptor and smashes into the ballistic missile causing its destruction by brute force alone.

The prime contractor for the GMD programme is Boeing, although Raytheon (also responsible for the system’s AN/FPS-123 PAVE PAWS and AN/TPY2 missile detection and early warning radars) and Northrop Grumman which produces the Battle Management System for commanding and controlling the GMD are also involved. By 2017, it is estimated that the programme will have cost $40 billion, according to a March 2013 US Government Accountability Office report.

The GMD test which occurred on 22 June

As long as the missile tests continue so do the BMD efforts made countries around the world

2014 saw a GBI launch from Vandenburg airbase in California and the successful destruction of a ballistic missile target, launched from the US Ronald Reagan BMD Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, the collision taking place over the Pacific Ocean. Along with the Vandenburg site, a GMD launch site exists at Fort Greely in Alaska, with plans

announced in 2013 to eventually situate a third launch site on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. The June 2014 test marked the 65th successful missile interception test during 81 attempts since GMD testing commenced in 2001; an 80 percent success rate.

SBIRS

Work is ongoing regarding other aspects of the US BMD architecture. For example, on 25 June 2014 Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract worth $1.8 billion to produce the fifth and sixth Geosychronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites (numbers 5 and 6) which comprise the Space-Based Infra-Red System (SBIRS). The contract for the production of the GEO-1 and GEO-2 spacecraft was awarded by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 2012, with GEO-1 launched on 7 May 2011, and GEO2 following shortly after. Both satellites commenced operations in 2013. The GE0-3 and GEO-4 spacecraft are undergoing assembly and test in preparation for their launch. The SBIRS constellation employs infrared imaging to detect the heat signature of a ballistic missile’s engine after launch and thus provide early warning.

While Lockheed Martin is the prime con-

Construction begins on the European Phased Adaptive Approach Raytheon RIM-161C SM-3 Block-IB surface-to-air missile facility at Deveselu airbase in southern Romania © US Navy

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its quarry using infrared guidance to see the missile’s heat signature. So far, export sales of THAAD have followed to the United Arab Emirates and Oman. In addition, according to the Army Recognition Journal, the RoK expressed an interest in acquiring the THAAD in October 2013 in an effort to strengthen its defences against missile attack by the DPRK. Along with its interest in a potential THAAD acquisition, the Japanese government has eyed the possibility of procuring a land-based variant of the Raytheon RIM-161 Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) SAM (see below).

Presently, the RIM-161 SM-3 is a shipbased missile which equips both the US Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF). Several variants of the weapon have been produced which have added progressively more capability.

Currently, the JMSDF deploys the RIM161B SM-3 Block IA missile which uses a colour seeker to detect a missile’s heat signature and a Solid Divert Attitude Control

Should a ballistic missile be launched at Japan the ‘Kongo’ class destroyers would attempt to intercept it

The Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force’s ‘Kongo’ class destroyers are equipped with Raytheon RIM-161B SM-3 Block-IA surface-to-air missiles which provide them with a means to intercept hostile ballistic missiles © US Navy

tractor for the SBIRS initiative, supplying the satellites and their ground infrastructure to the USAF, Northrop Grumman is the SBIRS payload integrator.

Japan

While US BMD efforts are ongoing in the United States, the threat posed by the DPRK is causing Japan to think seriously about acquiring BMD capabilities. The country’s defence ministry is currently examining its options regarding BMD sys-

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tems showing a distinct interest in the Lockheed Martin Theatre High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) SAM system. In service with the US Army, the THAAD like the GMD (see above) relies on kinetic power to hit and destroy theatre ballistic missiles. The missile itself has a range of 108nm (200km) and is capable of reaching an 81nm (150km) altitude. Target detection and fire control is provided by the Raytheon AN/TPY-2 X-band (8.5-10.68 gigahertz) radar, with the missile detecting

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System (SDACS) to improve the SAM’s manoeuvring. These missiles are deployed onboard the JMSDF’s ‘Kongo’ class Guided Missile Destroyers.

These ships and missiles form an essential part of Japan’s two-tier BMD architecture. Should a ballistic missile be launched at Japan the ‘Kongo’ class destroyers would attempt to intercept the weapon using its RIM-161B SM-3 Block-IA missiles while the ballistic missile is in space.

Should this fail the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) would bring its Raytheon MIM-104F PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3) SAMs to bear to intercept it.

The MIM-104F employs Lockheed Martin PAC-3 missiles which have a range of around eleven nautical miles (20 kilometres) and a ceiling of 79,000ft (24,200m).

Unlike the THAAD and GMD SAMs which use kinetic energy to kill hostile missiles, the PAC-3 contains a blast frag-

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Lockheed Martin’s Aegis combat management system can be used to perform ballistic missile defence and is in service on the ‘Arleigh Burke’ class destroyers of the US Navy, and the ‘Sejong the Great’ class destroyers of the Republic of Korea Navy © US Navy

mentation warhead activated by a proximity fuse. If procured by Japan, the THAAD would provide a platform which could perform an engagement between these two stages. Although, as the discussion above notes, the JMSDF operates the RIM161B SM-3 Block IA, the Japanese government is interested in procuring land-based SAM missiles which could include the RIM-161C SM-3 Block-IB or the as-yetundesignated SM-3 Block-IIA SAMs. The RIM-161C SM-3 Block-IB has a two-colour infrared seeker to improve missile detection, a Throttleable Divert Altitude Control System for missile manoeuvring and an advanced signal processor. The SM-3 Block-IIA includes improvements to the missile’s seeker to enhance its ability to distinguish between the ballistic missile it is targeting and any decoys which this missile may release, along with an improved kinetic warhead design.

Poland will host around 24 SM-3 BlockIIA SAMs from 2018 as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA) BMD initiative which aims to provide ballistic missile protection to NATO’s European member nations. A second EPAA facility is

being established in Romania to host RIM161C SM-3 Block-IB SAMs from 2015. The deployment of these missiles to Romania and Poland is part of the so-called ‘Aegis Ashore’ dimension of the EPAA programme. This initiative takes the Lockheed Martin Aegis Combat Management System (CMS), which equips the JMSDF ‘Kongo’ class destroyers, along with the US Navy’s ‘Ticonderoga’ and ‘Arleigh Burke’ class destroyers, (plus ships belonging to the Norwegian, Spanish and Republic of Korea navies) and its accompanying Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-1B/D S-band (2.5-3.5/2.73.7 gigahertz) air surveillance radars and configures them to be used on land.

Aegis

Israel is forging ahead with its Boeing/Israel Aerospace Industries Arrow-3 ballistic missile defence weapon which performed a recent flight test during which the missile hit a simulated target on 3 January 2014 © US Missile Defence Agency

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The Aegis CMS is already providing an atsea BMD presence in the form of the permanent deployment of US Navy ships equipped with the combat management system in the Mediterranean. The force commenced patrols to this end in February 2014 with the USS Donald Cook, an ‘Arleigh Burke’ class destroyer equipped with the AN/APY-1D radar and RIM-161B SM-3 Block-IA SAMs to provide protection against ballistic missiles launched towards

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Raytheon’s AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws Ultra High Frequency radar is designed for the over-the-horizon detection of ballistic missiles. The radar is used by the United States and has recently equipped Taiwan © Wikimedia Commons

Europe as part of the EPAA initiative.

Eventually, the US Navy plans to have four Aegis CMS-equipped ships in the Mediterranean at any one time, with two ships on patrol, and two stationed at the Armada Española (Spanish Navy) base at Rota, on the Spanish Atlantic coast preparing for their deployment.

RoK

While like Japan, the RoK is considering the procurement of the THAAD, the country has explored the possibility of acquiring the Boeing/Israel Aerospace Industries Arrow-3 SAM. Israel has developed the Arrow-3 with significant financial assistance from the United States since the programme commenced in 2008.

Designed for exoatmospheric interception (i.e. interception in space), the Arrow-3 performed a recent test launch on 3 January 2014 from the Israeli Air Force’s

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Paimachim airbase on the country’s Mediterranean coast. This most recent test saw the interceptor engage a simulated enemy missile, and followed an earlier flight test which had been performed on 25 February 2013 which saw the Arrow-3 reach an altitude of 54nm (100km).

Open source reports state that Israel may be constructing a facility for the Arrow-3 located at the Israeli Air Force base in Tal Shahar in the centre of the country. Completion of this facility is expected in late 2014, with the deployment of four Arrow-3 launchers each of which is expected to be equipped with six missiles.

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Similarly, Taiwan has enhanced its missile detection efforts with the deployment of a Raytheon AN/FPS-115 PAVE PAWS radar (see above). This Ultra High Frequency (420-450 megahertz) radar is located in northern Taiwan. With a range of 2506nm (4827km) it is designed to provide ballistic missile detection over the entire Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea, along with much of China’s territory.

There is little sign that investment into ballistic missile defence technology by the United States and its allies in the AsiaPacific will show any sign of slowing down soon. As long as the threat of ballistic missile attack remains, the need for a defence against such a threat will continue. Realistically, only one thing can slow the proliferation of BMD technology in the region, and that is the full and verifiable cessation of the DPRK’s ballistic missile and WMD programmes.

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ON THE AIR, IN THE AIR Saying that an airborne radio is just used for talking is like saying that a food blender is only a whisk. The capabilities offered by the radios which equip fixed- and rotary-wing military aircraft are increasing all the time, as this article will illustrate.

by Thomas Withington

irborne radios to equip all kinds of military aircraft are available from manufacturers in Europe, North America and Israel. European suppliers in this regard include German telecommunications specialists Rohde and Schwarz and their French counterpart Thales.

At the heart of Rohde and Schwarz’s offerings is the company’s M3AR family of Very High Frequency (VHF/30-300 megahertz/MHz) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF/300MHz to three gigahertz/GHz) airborne transceivers. Offering 20 Watts (W) of transmit power in AM (Amplitude Modulation, where the amplitude of the radio carrier wave varies in proportion to the waveform being transmitted) and 30W of transmit power in FM (Frequency Modulation, where the frequency of the radio carrier wave, rather than its amplitude is varied according to the waveform being transmitted), the radio can use a number of waveforms including the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) HAVE QUICK I/II and SATURN frequency-hopping waveforms offering secure UHF communications. The radios also accommodate the company’s SECOS frequency-hopping waveform which has integrated encryption. SECOS offers a data rate of up to 16 kilobits-per-second (kbps) and can host up to 128 participants sharing information on a network to this end.

These radios are relatively easy to integrate on an aircraft as they are compatible with

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Thales’ TMA-6000 is a new product developed by the company as a tactical datalink. The product has already been tested on maritime patrol aircraft and on the pan-European nEUROn unmanned combat aerial vehicle technology demonstrator © Thales

the United States Department of Defence Mil-Std-1553 (Military Standard-1553) protocols regarding integration with an aircraft and its subsystems, and the RS-485 Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronic Industry Alliance protocol for electrical standards. Three transceivers comprise Rohde and Schwarz’s M3AR airborne radio family which includes the MR6000R, MR6000L and the MR6000A,

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the latter of which equips the Heeresfliegertruppe (German Army Aviation) Airbus Helicopters EC-725UHT Tiger attack helicopter.

Thales’ airborne radio offerings include the company’s NextW@ve TR-6000 Software Defined Radio family which, according to a written statement supplied to AMR by the company, “equips more than 20 different types of platforms,

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R including multi-role combat aircraft, helicopters, freighters, tankers and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).” Entering production earlier this decade, NextW@ve supports several different waveforms in encrypted and frequency-hopping configurations such as Thales’ proprietary PR4G waveform and the HAVE QUICK-I/II and SATURN waveforms discussed above. In addition, NextW@ve can support national secure waveforms along with handling Link-16 traffic. Link-16 is a NATO UHF tactical datalink which handles track information, voice and data communications, the latter at speeds of up to 26.8kbps.

NextW@ve is more than capable of handling this as it offers data rates of up to 250kbps.

Beyond the NextW@ve airborne radio family, Thales is in the pre-production stage for its TMA-6000 wideband airborne datalink terminal, according to its statement. This terminal operates in the Kuband (12-18GHz) and offers 137 megabitsper-second (mbps) of bandwidth. The firm says that the TMA-6000 has already performed successful flights aboard the pan-European nEUROn unmanned combat aerial vehicle technology demonstrator and onboard a Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft of an undisclosed country. Thales is keen to emphasise that the TMA-6000 is interoperable with the United States’ Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) real-time video imagery communications architecture which involves UAVs, inhabited military aircraft and ground terminals.

communications across VHF and UHF, along with L-band (one to two gigahertz) and S-band (two-to-four gigahertz) for Satellite Communications (SATCOM).

Moreover, the SCR-7200AR is SCA-2.2.2 (Software Communications Architecture2.2.2) compliant. The SCA standards have been drafted by the US Department of Defence (DoD) to cover hardware and software interoperability with software

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defined radios, forming a key part of the erstwhile US Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) next-generation voice and data communications system which was extensively restructured from 2011. Although the programme no longer survives in its JTRS form, the procurements of new radios now being the purview of the individual armed services in the United States military, SCA standards remain a key part

Israeli Suppliers

Away from Europe, Israeli suppliers of military airborne radios include Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, Elbit Systems and Commtact. Elbit Systems’ airborne radios include its VRC-920 HF/VHF radio which includes both encryption and frequency hopping to preserve communications security. With up to 100 preset channels, the transceiver offers several power outputs of between 0.25W and 20W with data rates attainable of up to 32kbps.

Other products in the Elbit Systems stable include the SDR-7200AR which offers

Thales’ NextW@ve military airborne radio family includes several products such as the TRA-6030N multipurpose airborne terminal, and the TRA-6030 and TRA-6040 airborne V/UHF radios © Thales

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of ensuring interoperability in the radio systems that will be procured as part of these efforts.

SCA compliance is also a core element of Rafael’s Broadband Mobile Ad Hoc Network or ‘BNET’ SDR family which includes an airborne component in the form of the Global Link voice and data communications system which operates in the V/UHF range and provides L-band communications. Finally, in terms of Israeli suppliers, Commtact provides a UHF/VHF radio (see this month’s Pulse column for Commtact’s latest news) which provides both an analogue and digital data link. To digress for one moment, while this may be known to some readers, the difference between analogue and digital communications is that the latter transmits a sound or signal in its original form, whereas digital communications sample the sound or signal at rate of several thousand samples per second and turn that sample into zeros and ones for transmission to another digital device which converts these numbers back into an audible wave for the listener. Commtact’s UVR V/UHF radio offers both analogue and digital communications for both data and voice communications furnishing inhabited aircraft as well as UAVs in both a clear and secure context.

United States

Although as noted above the US JTRS programme was extensively restructured in 2011, many elements of the programme survive including the Airborne, Maritime and Fixed (AMF) component of the undertaking, for which Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor. In the airborne domain, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon are jointly developing the AN/ZRC-2 Small Airborne Radio as subcontractors as part of the AMF initiative. This radio provides UHF, SATCOM, Link-16, Mobile User Objective System (MUOS, Lockheed Martin’s next generation of narrowband tactical SATCOM for the US military), Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW, for mounted and dismounted troops), the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW, for dismounted troops) and Link-16 (see above).

This radio will equip several US Army airborne platforms including the Boeing AH64D/E Apache Longbow/Guardian attack

Commtact’s UVR V/UHF radio offers analogue and digital communications for data and voice communications

helicopters and Boeing CH-47D/F Chinook heavylift helicopters to name but two. A number of United States Air Force platforms will also receive the AN/ZRC-2, such as Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules freighters plus the Boeing KC-135R and McDonnell Douglas/Boeing KC-10A Extender tankers.

While Raytheon is involved in the AN/ZRC-2 initiative alongside Northrop Grumman, it offers other products such as the AN/ARC-231 Skyfire V/UHF radio which is used extensively by the United States Army. This SDR provides voice and data AM and FM communications along with SATCOM. Waveforms which can be accommodated by the AN/ARC-231 include HAVE QUICK-I/II and SINCGARS (Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System). The SINCGARS waveform is in widespread use around the world, and with US forces. It offers fixed frequency and frequency-hopping modes.

Other airborne radios in the Raytheon stable include the AN/ARC-232 Starblazer family which offer single-band VHF and UHF radios carrying anti-jam waveforms such as SATURN. The radio was developed by the company as a replacement for the legacy AN/ARC-164 UHF radio handling HAVE QUICK-I/II communications produced by Raytheon used by many USAF aircraft including the Boeing B52G/H Stratofortress strategic bomber.

Already a major name in the provision of tactical radios, it is little surprise that Harris provide airborne transceivers such as the RF-7850A-MR Falcon-III Multiband Multi-Channel Airborne Mission Radio.

This system has two channels and provides five watts of output power per channel.

Handling AM/FM analogue voice communications, the radio is capable of Frequency Shift Keying (FSK: an FM mode which performs digital transmissions via small changes in the frequency of the transmission’s carrier wave) and Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK: digital transmissions are per-

The Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) remains in extensive use by the US armed forces and other militaries around the world. Exelis’ ARC-201 radio family supports the SINCGARS waveform © Exelis

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R formed using changes in the amplitude of the carrier wave) Mixed Exciter Linear Prediction speech coding standard voice transmissions, FSK/ASK Continuous Variable Slope Delta voice coding modulation and ASK data transmissions. For wideband communications, the RF-7850A-MR employs the company’s Adaptive Networking Wideband Waveform (ANW2), with narrowband networking facilitated through the TDMA Networking Waveform (Time Division Multiple Access) which enables a single radio channel to be shared among a number of users via the allocation of time slots.

Data rates for the radio vary at between 64kbps up to 1.6mbps with several incarnations of the company’s Quicklook frequency-hopping waveforms and Citadel embedded encryption furnishing the radio.

Rockwell Collins joins Raytheon in offering a number of military airborne radios. In the V/UHF domains its product line includes the AN/ARC-210 Generation-5 series and the Talon family of airborne radios for international customers. In the HF domain, it provides the AN/ARC-190, AN/ARC-220 and the AN/ARC-243.

According to Doug Schoen, director, government systems business development in the Asia-Pacific for the company, these radios equip “multi-role combat aircraft, bombers, tankers, freighters, reconnaissance, transport aircraft and UAVs around the world.” In terms of communication security, Mr. Schoen adds that the firm has “the capability to provide the global customer with any level of classification from basic AES (Advanced Encryption Standard – a US National Institute of Standards and Technology encryption specification) up through Top Secret on a routine basis, including unique country-specific cryptography, and we have a number of nonCOMSEC (Communications Security) radios compatible with external, customersupplied encryption systems.” Rockwell Collins’ military airborne radios can support a number of waveforms including SINCGARS, MUOS, SRW, WNW, ESSOR (see below) and Link-16 along with the Bowman waveforms used by the British

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Rockwell Collins’ AN/ARC-210 airborne radios can support a wide number of waveforms and levels of encryption and security. Along with supporting several waveforms used by the US armed forces, it supports the British armed forces’ Bowman waveform © Wikimedia Commons

armed forces, the APCO-25 digital radio standards used for federal, state and local public safety authorities in North America and the Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) waveforms used by civilian emergency services around the world. In terms of data transfer rates, the firm’s military airborne radios handle data at rates of between 16 kbps up to 45mbps.

Like the other US military airborne radio surveyed in this article Exelis provides a range of products which includes the ARC-201 VHF family comprising the ARC-201D(V), the current production version, in addition to the ARC-201B/E for export and the ARC-341 which accommodates the Bowman waveform (see above).

Jim Kroeger, chief engineer for night vision and communications systems at the company, says that “ARC-201 radios are installed in all of the US Army’s rotary wing fleet.” He adds that “development of these radios began in the early 1980s and was based upon a common module

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approach with ground-based SINCGARS (see above) radios. Unique modules were added to the common modules to adapt them to the requirements of airborne applications. Over the next 20 years, the radios went through a number of preplanned product improvements mirroring the enhancements being incorporated into the ground SINCGARS radios.” Providing a data rate of 16kbps, these radios are equipped with US National Security Agency Type-1 level encryption.

Concerning the waveforms supported by this family of radios, Mr. Kroeger says that “these radios are dedicated channels for air-to-ground communication, and as such are required to only run the SINCGARS waveform. SINCGARS actually supports a number of different waveform variants ranging from a basic VHF-FM analogue through to a number of frequency hopping modes.” The ARC-201 family in US service will eventually be replaced by the AN/ZPY-2 radio (see above).

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Cobham’s military airborne radio offerings are ideally suited to the Special Forces user who can employ the firms’ Flexcomm special missions and tactical radio communications system. Flexcomm is a suite of products which includes the RT-5000 VHF/UHF transceiver. This covers an AM/FM analogue frequency range of 50870MHz allowing it to connect with mobile radio, military communications, air traffic control, FM broadcast and maritime radio to name but a few. Other products in the Flexcomm line include the CD5000 display unit for the RT-5000 transceiver, along with the P-2000 digital/analogue tactical FM radio which has been designed for aircraft with limited space in mind. One of the handy design features of the P-2000 is that, like the RT-5000 it can communicate with civilian emergency service communications networks which is ideal when military and civilian authorities are working together during disaster relief operations, for example. With this in mind, both of these radios support the APCO-25 waveform (see above).

Tomorrow’s Communications

Regarding future trends for airborne radio design, Mr. Schoen believes that the capabilities of such systems will only increase in the future. “Today’s newest generation SDR radios are basically ‘flying computers’ with different front ends.

The internal processing power is growing exponentially to handle the increasing demands for voice, data and video simultaneously.” Thales foresees a number of important evolutions for military airborne radios in the future. According to the statement provided to AMR by the company, these include the waveforms which accord to the European Secure Software Defined Radio (ESSOR) and Coalition Wideband Networking Waveform (COALWNW) standards. The European Defence Agency, which supervises European Union defence cooperation, is developing the ESSOR as a common architecture for European military Software Defined Radios which includes the realisation of a high-capacity HF, VHF and UHF data waveform for handling bandwidth heavy battlefield communica-

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Cobham’s RT-5000 VHF/UHF transceiver can support a diverse range of communications linking military and civilian users, deepening the level of cooperation when military and civilian authorities are working together © Cobham

tions traffic between the ESSOR partner nations of Finland, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. The COALWNW programme includes Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States which aims to develop a similar

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wideband networking waveform for use by these nations. The employment of the waveforms developed as part of the ESSOR and COALWNW initiatives will greatly accelerate and enlarge air-toground/ground-to-air communications in the same way that they will enhance tactical communications on the ground.

Beyond these waveform innovations, Thales adds that research and development efforts will accelerate the speed of air-to-air communications between inhabited aircraft and UAVs. This will become increasingly important in the future as multi-role combat aircraft act as ‘shepherds’ for ‘flocks’ of UAVs performing strike or reconnaissance missions.

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ASIA PACIFIC PROCUREMENT UPDATE

by Pierre Delrieu

PAKISTAN PLACES BID TO UPGRADE BANGLADESHI MBTS

Pakistan's state-owned tank and armoured vehicle manufacturing unit, Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT), has offered to assist Bangladesh in the modernisation of its army ageing T-59/69 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs).

The Bangladeshi Army, which currently operates some 250 Type-69/II and 100 Type-59 MBTs, is looking to upgrade its fleet by 2019 and, if it decides to accept HIT’s offer, its upgraded MBTs would be fitted with a configuration similar to the Pakistani company’s AlZarrar MBT, currently in service with Pakistan’s army.

According to HIT, this upgrade would include new engines, a new transmission system, improved suspension, a semi-automatic loader and an updated computerised fire control system with image stabilised sights, a 125mm smooth-bore gun capable of firing armour-piercing finstabilized discarding-sabot, high explosive anti-tank finstabilised and high explosive fragmentation fin-stabilised ammunition, as well as improved protection against high-explosive anti-tank warhead rounds and an anti-mine cover placed below the vehicle.

In addition to Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and China also submitted their

AUSTRALIA DONATES SECOND PATROL VESSEL TO SRI LANKA

INDIA’S NAVAL EXPANSION

The Sri Lankan Navy

(SLN) has received delivery of a second ‘Bay’ class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) on 3 June 2014, donated by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) during a ceremony in Queensland, northern Australia.

The ACV Hervey Bay, a 38-metre (124-feet) vessel, rechristened SLNS Omaya.

It will join its sister ship the SLNS Oshadi in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where it will serve as an OPV. The donation follows a pledge made

by Australia in November 2013 to assist Sri Lanka in its continuing struggle against people smuggling.

The ‘Bay’ class OPVs were manufactured by Austal Ships, an Australian company specialising in the design and construction of aluminium vessels, in Henderson, western Australia. Prior to

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proposals with upgrade options for the Bangladesh Army’s tank fleet. Ukraine’s proposal was promptly turned down, as it failed to meet the specifics of Bangladesh’s tender, but Azerbaijan, China and Pakistan are still competing for the upgrade tender.

The MBT upgrading would, according to the Bangladeshi tender, be undertaken by local companies with the foreign partner providing kits and technical guidance to properly complete the enhancements.

In addition to the Norincobuilt T-59 and T-69 MBTs, as well as 44 T-62 light tanks, also built by the Chinese company, the Bangladesh Army’s tank

its transfer, the SLNS Omaya had served for 15 years with the ACBPS, accumulating some 3722 sea days and 272905 nautical miles (505000 kilometres) during patrols. It will be travelling the 4800-nautical mile (8900kilometre) journey from Cairns in northern Australia to Colombo accompanied by a detachment of officers from the ACBPS Marine Unit, on board to assist the crew with the familiarisation process. According to technical specifications published by the manufacturer Austral Ships, the vessel has a maximum range of 1000 nautical miles (1852 kilometres) and a top speed of 20 knots (36 kilometres-per-hour).

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India has commissioned indigenously build warships INS Kolkata & Kamrota, conceived and designed by Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design.

INS Kolkata class guided missile destroyers is built by Mazagon Dock Limited. The ship measures 164 meters in length and 18 meters in width with a full load displacement of 7400 tonnes. It has a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion system, consisting of four powerful reversible gas turbines and can attain speeds in excess of 30 knots. The ship has vertically launched Long Range Surface to Air Missiles (LRSAM) coupled with the MF-STAR multifunction active phased array radar, fitted for the first time on an Indian Naval ship. It is equipped with BrahMos Surface to Surface Missiles along with 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM)

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inventory consists of a regiment of MBT-2000 tanks, also known as Al-Khalid tanks, the variant of a modern MBT jointly developed by Pakistan and China in the 1990s. The Bangladeshi tanks were ordered in 2011 and delivered in 2013 by Norinco, in a $162 million deal consisting of 44 MBT-2000s and 3 armoured recovery vehicles.

According to the Bangladesh Ministry of Defence, the country’s army plans to create additional armoured vehicles regiments in the coming years, with an ultimate goal to attach at least one regiment to each of its infantry divisions, as per the country’s Vision 2030 blueprint.

and AK 630 CIWS, both manufactured indigenously.

INS Kamorta is the first indigenously built stealth Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette build by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers under Project 28, with an indigenous component of about 90%.

INS Kamrota measures 110 meters in length, 14 meters in breadth and displacing 3500 tons, the ship can achieve speed of 25 Knots. The ship is fitted with Anti-submarine Rockets and Torpedoes, Medium and Close-in Weapon Systems and indigenous surveillance radar Revathi. It is also capable of carrying an integral ASW helicopter.

Kamorta also boasts of other “firsts” such as a foldable Hangar Door and a Rail-less Helo Traversing System, which will give helicopter operations from the corvette a significant edge over other warships.

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KOREAN BATTLE SIMULATION CENTER SUPPORT CONTRACT

Cubic Applications, Inc.,

was awarded a firm fixed price contract to operate the Korea Battle Simulation Center (KBSC) in providing battle simulation training support to the United States Forces Korea, the Eighth U.S. Army and other U.S. units and partner nations.

Work will be performed in the Republic of Korea with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2019.

The KBSC provides theater-level, manual and computer-assisted training exercises in the Republic of Korea, Japan, and other locations around the world.

The training includes battle simulation training, live virtual gaming capabilities, planning and coordination, and facilitation of the four Services, Joint and Combined exercises, particularly in conjunction with the Pacific Theater region.

The contract award further strengthens Cubic's role as a key global provider of training and staffing services for the U.S. Department of

CHINESE AND MALAYSIAN FIRMS AGREE ON SAM MoU

China Aerospace Long

March International Trade Co., Ltd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Malaysian company Aneka Bekal Sdn Bhd to provide the Malaysian Armed Forces with Chinese-made LY-80 medium-range self-propelled Surface-to-Air Missile systems (SAM), in addition to transfers of technology, according to reports from state news agencies in both countries.

The MOU was signed during Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak's six-

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Defense. The KBSC contract includes a six month base year and four one-year option years, and is estimated value of $57 million with all options exercised. Cubic's Operations Support and Education Group (OSEG), based in Hampton, Va., will lead Cubic in execution of its new KBSC contract starting late September 2014, providing a seamless continuity of service.

"Cubic is proud to continue more than two decades of dedicated service to the Korea Battle Simulation Center. We are looking forward to bringing new innovations to the KBSC during this new contract cycle,” said Rich Bristow, senior vice president and general manager, Cubic OSEG. The winning Cubic team includes BAE Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton, Cyber-Tech, Inc., and Sonalysts. Cubic program manager, John Kling will continue to lead the KBSC team. Kling has more than 17 years of KBSC experience in program management, planning and executing large-scale and combined simulation exercises.

Russian Helicopters will be training pilots from Mongolyn Alt Corporation (MAK) at Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant's Aviation Training Centre, under an agreement on training of flight and engineering personnel. The Mongolian company operates two Mi-8/17 series helicopters – a Mi-171 and a Mi-8AMT – both produced at the Ulan-Ude plant and delivered to the customer in 2008 and 2011, respectively.

MAK staff will undergo mandatory further professional training including 54 hours of theoretical classes and nine hours of practical courses on the Training Centre's Mi-171 simulator.

Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant’s Training Centre specialises in further professional education and retraining of flight and engineering personnel for Mi171 and Mi-8AMT helicopters. The Centre provides a complete range of courses including theoretical, simulator and flight-training

work, including on helicopters owned by the customer.

The Centre began offering its full complement of services for flight and engineering staff training following the commissioning and certification of its Mi-171 flight simulator in September 2013. It helps flight crew to master piloting and navigation skills in various flight modes and all weather conditions, as well as actions to be taken in the event of pilot error, technical failure and other emergency situations.

The simulator closely recreates real flight conditions.

Previously Chinese operators of Russian-built helicopters had undergone training using the Mi-171 simulator at the Ulan-Ude Training Centre.

day official visit to China which ended on 1 June 2014, a visit initially programmed to allow talks with top officials about Kuala Lumpur’s criticized handling of the disappeared Malaysia Airlines flight MH-370.

The LY-80 is the export version of the Chinese-made HQ-16 SAM system, initially introduced in the Chinese armed forces in September 2011. The HQ-16 is based on a joint development of the Russian Buk-M1 and BukM2 self-propelled, mediumrange SAM systems, designed for use with mobile ground forces.

The HQ-16A variant of the HY-16 launcher missile

system is equipped with six missiles, designed to be mounted on to a eight-wheel drive truck containing a command and control station behind the cab, and six firing missile containers in two rows of three placed behind the stations. The Chinese-made missile is capable of intercepting an aircraft at a maximum altitude of 59055 feet (18,000 metres), with a maximum interception range for of 131233ft (40000m), and of hitting cruise missiles flying at 39370ft (12000m). In order to improve the SAM’s ability to intercept low-altitude targets, LY-80 can be equipped with a special

radar used to detect lowobservable targets.

Malaysia’s demand for missile systems, including SAMs, has been articulated for some time, and the Malaysian Army has been seeking to strengthen its mobile air defence missile capabilities to this end, but concrete procurement activities suffered various delays due to financial difficulties. China and Russia are currently the main competitors in the Malaysian arms market, and early reports suggest Russia plans to offer Malaysia the Buk-1 mobile SAM system, with hopes of completing negotiations by 2015.

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RUSSIA TO TRAIN MONGOLIAN PILOTS

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THAILAND TO RECEIVE FIRST UH-72AS

Officials from Airbus Helicopters’ production facility in Columbus, Mississippi, announced on 14 May 2014 that the first of six of the company’s UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopter, destined to equip the Royal Thai Army (RTA) had left the production line. The aircraft is to be delivered to the US Army in December 2014 and will then be transferred to the RTA, according to a company spokesman.

The delivery is part of an estimated $77 million deal announced on 28 March 2014, and represents the first international sale of the aircraft, a variant of the firms’ EC-145 civil helicopter. The initial contract included six UH-72A aircraft plus parts, training and logistical sup-

port. The remaining five Thai aircraft will be built in 2015.

Thailand had placed a request for the six UH-72As through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process in 2013, as part of an ongoing recapitalising of its rotary wing fleet. After acquiring three Mil Mi-17V-5 mediumlift utility helicopters from Russia, the RTA signed, in October 2012, a contract with AgustaWestland for two of its AW-139 medium-lift utility helicopters which were delivered in February 2014.

BRUNEI NAVY RECEIVES FOURTH DARUSSALAMCLASS OPV

The Royal Brunei Navy

PHILIPPINES TO RECEIVE PO HANG-CLASS VESSEL

Philippines’ Department of National Defence secretary Voltaire Gazmin announced on 2 June 2014 that the country’s navy will be taking delivery of 16 ‘rubber boats’ and Utility Landing Craft (LCU): which have been donated by the Republic of Korea (RoK). On 5 June 2014, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, in turn, issued a statement, adding the PN would also receive a decommissioned ‘Po Hang’ class guided missile corvette from the RoK by the end of 2014.

In addition, Seoul has pledged to donate computers to the Philippines Navy (PN), Mr. Gazmin told reporters, adding that the donated LCU represent a significant boost to the PN's capabilities to transport humanitarian materiel. The RoK-built ‘Po Hang’ class vessels were commissioned into the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) between 1986 and 1993.

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(RBN) received delivery of its fourth ‘Darussalam’-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), the KDB Daruttaqwa, during a ceremony held at the Lürssen Shipyard in Lemwerder, northern Germany, on 9 May. Peter Lürssen, managing director of the German shipbuilding company Fr Lürssen Werft (FLW), and Datin Paduka Hjh Suriyah Hj Umar, Brunei’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) permanent secretary of administration and finance, inked the signing of the ship’s delivery and acceptance certificate.

The RBN received its first two ‘Darussalam’ class OPVs,

BURMA TO BECOME FIRST FOREIGN JF-17 BUYER

According to local news, the government of Burma is looking to purchase Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC)/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) jointly produced JF-17 Thunder Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCAs).

The Rangoon-based Burma Times reported on 15 June 2014 that the

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the KDB Darussalam and the KDB Darulehsan, in January 2011, and the KDB Darulaman in December 2011.

The KDB Daruttaqwa is equipped with long-range surveillance and radar systems, and is expected to assume patrolling duties of the Brunei's coastal areas and offshore resources, patrolling Brunei's waters and protecting its economic resources, such as offshore oil rigs. The 80-metre (262-feet) long ‘Darussalam’ class vessels, displace 1625 tons and have a top speed of 22 knots (40 kilometres-per-hour). acquirement programme, would include Burma’s licensed-production of the aircraft following technology transfer from CAC and PAC. Burma has yet to confirm the report, but has already shown interest in a requirement for supplementary MRCAs, especially amidst the continuing conflict with the insurgent Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in northern Burma.

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INDONESIA RECEIVES FIRST LEOPARD TANKS The Indonesian Army

(Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat/TNI-AD) has received delivery of a first batch of armoured vehicles, including some of the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) it purchased from Germany in 2012. The purchase is part of the Indonesia’s plan to modernize its ageing military equipment and weaponry, as the country struggles to meet its Minimum Essential Force (MEF) requirement as regional tensions rise.

This first delivery consists in a total of 52 combat vehicles: 26 Leopard-2A6 MBTs and 26 medium-sized Marder 1A2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles, shipped from Unterlüss in northern Germany, after a brief ceremony held late June 2014.

Indonesia is committed to buying a total of 103 vehicles from Germany, ten of which are engineering and support vehicles.

The initial agreement to purchase the vehicles was valued at about $280 million, according to Indonesian officials, although a press released issued by Rheinmetall placed the value of the deal at $293.7 million.

The JF-17 acquirement would assist Burma in its effort to maintain parity with neighbouring Bangladesh, which is projected to soon expand its air force through an expected procurement of Russian or Chinese-made aircraft. Also known as the FC-1 Xiaolong in China, the JF-17 aircraft is currently exclusively operated by the Pakistani Air Force (PAF).

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Exercise Kowari – a land exercise – will be held in October in northern Australia and marks the first trilateral military exercise involving Australian, Chinese and United States personnel.

“The exercise will provide those taking part with an understanding of the basic principles, procedures, techniques and equipment that best support survival in a harsh environment,” Senator Johnston said.

General Fan’s visit pro-

vided an opportunity for detailed discussions regarding the bilateral defence relationship, as well as strategic matters of mutual interest and concern. It was agreed that maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and advancing defence relations based on mutual respect between China and Australia were a shared priority. Both sides also highlighted cooperation between China and Australia in the area of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and in the continuing search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370. They noted that the demonstrated capacity for PLA and Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel to work closely together had reinforced the value of continued practical defence engagement between our two nations.

Mr Tan is leading a Singaporean delegation attending a workshop on Systems Engineering and Integration organised by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation in Adelaide.

Both the countries dis-

cussed opportunities to further strengthen defence science collaboration between them.

“There are real benefits for both our countries in sharing knowledge, especially in systems engineering and integration—an area in which Singapore is considered a world leader,” Mr Robert said.

“Australia can learn from Singapore’s adoption of innovative technologies and how they readily partner with industry and universities to get enhanced capabilities into the hands of their warfighters as quickly as possible,” Mr Robert said.

Adelaide Class guided missile frigate’s (FFG) Group Maintenance Contract to Thales Australia. Contract will be for an initial period of four and half years with the potential for contract extensions to an anticipated value of $130 million. This was the second of the grouped-asset, long-term, performance-based contracts for the repair and maintenance of the Navy’s major surface ships.

Planned work on the frigates will be undertaken at Navy’s Garden Island facility in Sydney. As per the Australian govt, design of the contract will provide both industry and Navy with greater certainty and stability in the repair and maintenance of the guided missile frigates.

ment would allow the withdrawal of the ageing AP-3C Orion fleet, and enable Boeing US to place lead time orders in support of Australia’s first four P-8A aircraft.

P-8A is used for search and rescue, anti-submarine and maritime strike missions using torpedoes and harpoon missiles.

Australian industry stands to benefit by as much as $1 billion through con-

struction of facilities for these aircraft and work to meet maintenance and other support needs.

Delivery of the first aircraft is set for 2017 with all eight to be delivered by 2018.

AUSTRALIA CHINA CLOSER DEFENCE TIES

Australia has hailed the forging of closer defence relations with China following the meeting of Australian Defence Minister David Johnston with General Fan Changlong, Vice Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Central Military Commission.

During talks with General Fan and other senior Chinese military officials in Canberra, Senator Johnston strongly endorsed an agreement to conduct joint military exercises involving China, Australia and the United States.

“Exercise Kowari, in Australia, is a firm demonstration of all three countries’ intent to work together towards enhancing mutual trust and regional stability,” the Australian Defence Minister said.

AUSTRALIA-SINGAPORE STRENGTHEN DEFENCE COOPERATION Australian Assistant

Minister for Defence Stuart Robert & Singapore’s Chief Executive of Defence Science and Technology Agency, Mr Tan Peng Yam discussed closer defence science and technology cooperation between the two countries.

Increased cooperation is in line with the Australian and Singaporean Governments’ desire to enhance the relationship, including through deeper defence science and technology collaboration.

P-8A ADVANCED AIRCRAFT CONTRACT

United States Navy has executed an Advanced Acquisition Contract for Australia’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

This key defence procure-

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ADELAIDE CLASS FRIGATE MAINTAINENCE CONTRACT Australia awarded

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