North Korea is Building New Ballistic Missile Submarine: Reports

The North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity (NKIS), a North Korean dissident organization based in Seoul claims that North Korea has been developing a new 3000-ton ballistic missile submarine since 2009. If true, the new submarine will be significantly larger than the 1,650-ton (submerged) Gorae (or sometimes called Sinpo-class because of the location of first sighting) ballistic missile submarine (SSB) currently in service with the Korean People’s Navy (KPN).

The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University also came to the same conclusion based on its analysis of commercial satellite images. Its published a report on its website, 38 North that "strongly suggests that a naval construction program is underway at North Korea's Sinpo South Shipyard, possibly to build a new submarine," .

Other than the Gorea, the KPN’s submarine fleet consists of around 20 Romeo-class 1,800-ton diesel-electric boats and 40 domestically-built 370-ton Sang-O-class diesel-electric mini-submarines as well as and approximately 10 130-ton Yono-class midget submarines.

Comparison of Submarine Strength - Source: Yonhap News Agency.

straitstimes.com

38north.org

thediplomat.com

Bigger Australian Military Training Areas and Facilities for Singapore

Singapore has been granted 25 years access to Queensland's Townsville Field Training Area and an expanded area in Shoalwater Bay. The number of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) troops able to train in these areas will increase from 6,600 a year currently to 14,000. SAF troops currently train for six weeks a year at Shoalwater Bay, but this will be extended to 18 weeks for both sites. The Singapore Army is largely made up of conscripts who serve for two years each.  Hence, training is a major preoccupation of the army.

The Townsville site will be used mainly for army and air force training whereas Shoalwater Bay will be available for all three services -army, air force and navy.

Singapore will build new facilities that allow for complex training. These include a brand-new range where weapons, such as long-range artillery and Apache attack helicopters, can conduct live firing exercises. It will also build an urban warfare training facilities with multi-storey buildings.

Singapore and Australia will jointly develop the two training areas, with the Republic committing A$2.25 billion (S$2.38 billion) for the building of the joint military facilities over the next 25 years.
Although Singapore is funding the work, it will remain Australian property and will be mainly used by the Australian Defence Force.

All construction will be conducted through Australian tendering procedures. The master planning process for developing the Townsville site will be conducted over the next two years, with construction expected to start in 2019.

straitstimes.com

Singapore to pay $2bn to use Qld bases

Boost for defence and jobs

USS Coronado Deploys to Singapore

Straits Times 17 Oct 2016.

The first of the Independence class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) has been deployed to Singapore. USS Coronando (LCS-4) docked in Singapore's Changi Naval Base on 16 Oct 2016 after participating in the multi-national RimPac 2016 (Rim of the Pacific exercise).

Previously, the Freedom class LCS, USS Freedom (LCS 1) and USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) were rotated for deployment to Singapore.

Coronado is also the first LCS to deploy with the Harpoon over-the-horizon anti-ship The inaugural launch of a Harpoon Block 1C missile from a LCS was successfully conducted during RimPac on 19 July.

straitstimes.com

janes.com

Japan Mulls Indigenous Stealth Fighter

The Japanese government will have to decide between developing an indigenous advanced stealth fighter (an industry-pleasing move) and a cheaper, more cost effective conventional fighter jet (prudent spending of the taxpayers’ yen).

In March, the Defense Ministry issued a request for information (RFI) for foreign joint development of the new fighter, which would replace the ageing F-2 and operate alongside Lockheed Martin’s new F-35s JSF and still potent F-15s.

So far, Boeing and Lockheed Martin have responded to the RFI.

The new fighter, dubbed the F-3, could cost Japan as much as $40 billion, depending on the specifications chosen. It would be a major component of the future air force with over a hundred to be purchased for service. This is based on a one-to-one replacement of the F-2, of which 141 (funding was later approved for 130) were initially to be purchased before cost and technical problem forced the procurement to b pared down to 94.

Proponents of the stealth fighter aim to build an aircraft more advanced than the F-22 Raptor, which the United States refused to sell to Japan.

The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries X-2 stealth demonstrator has just made a successful maiden flight in April 2016. It can potentially be the basis for a much larger new stealth fighter.

On the other hand, building a cheaper and less technologically advanced fighter would be able to secure overseas sale to offset the developmental cost and life cycle cost.

A final decision on the project is expected by early 2018.



Japanese Self Defense Force F-2 fighters during the 2016 exercise Cope North Guam.

japantimes

defenseindustrydaily.com

janes.com

China's People Liberation Army's Z-18 Medium Helicopter

The Z-18 is a medium transport helicopter in service with the People Liberation Army (PLA). It was publicly revealed in 2014.  It is said to be developed from the Avicopter AC313, an updated design based on the Harbin Z-8. The Z-8 is a development of the Aérospatiale SA321 Super Frelon.

chinamil.com.cn

British Red Arrow Aerobatic Team To Buzz Downtown Singapore

The Red Arrow will be putting a free 30 minutes aerobatic performance over Marina Bay in Singapore on 13 Oct 2016.

Fans of the Red Arrows can use the hashtag #RedArrowsinSG across all social media platforms to get up to date information on the team's movement.

Straitstimes

Philippines Army Selects Turkish Night Vision Devices

The Philippine Army has selected Turkish company, Aselsan to supply helmet-mounted/weapon-mounted monocular night vision devices (NVD) as well as weapon-mounted infrared aiming devices and laser zeroing devices. Most of these devices will be delivered to the army’s Special Operations Command (SOCOM). This will be a PHP712.069 million ($15.4 million) contract for 4,464 A100 monocular devices.  The A100 monocular NVD weighs 320g and offers a 40º field of view and 1x magnification. The A100 monocular NVD has an advantage when compared to standard binocular night vision goggle. The user maintain adaptation to ambient light viewing and will not experience adjustment problem after the goggle is removed from the eye. The A100 can also be used as a rifle scope when it is mounted together with day sight optics.

A notice to proceed was issued by the Philippines in July and first deliveries could commence in the second quarter of 2017 with completion in late 2017 or early 2018. These new systems will allow Philippine soldiers to fight more effectively at night and in low-light conditions.

Shephardmedia

Aselsan