Singapore Operationalised SPYDER Air Defence Missile System

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) replaced its 30-years old Rapier air defence system with the Surface-to-air PYthon-5 and DERby (SPYDER) ground based air defence system beginning in 2011. The system was declared fully operational in July 2018.

Singapore has a multi-layered networked island-wide networked  Island Air Defence (IAD) system. The IAD system integrates sensors, weapon systems as well as the command and control systems.

 The SPYDER is an improvement on the Rapier system as it is able to intercept not just aircraft but also missiles and projectiles. The all-weather SPYDER can intercept aerial threats at more than twice the range and three times the altitude of the Rapier, while engaging multiple targets at the same time. The SPYDER system is also more manpower-efficient. It only takes four men 15 minutes to deploy a SPYDER – a vast improvement from the one hour needed for 15 men to deploy the Rapier.


MINDEF

New Zealand Buy P-8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft

New Zealand has agreed to a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) buy of four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from the United States Government.

The aircraft will replace the Royal New Zealand Air Force's (RNZAF) six aging P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft that have been in operation since the 1960s. The current Orion fleet is expected to each the end of their operational life in 2025. The new aircraft, training systems and associated infrastructure will cost a total of $2.346 billion. The aircraft will be delivered and begin operations from 2023.

beehive.govt.nz

Philippine Navy's Submarine Ambition

The Philippine Navy (PN) has advanced its plan to operate diesel-electric submarine from the 2023-2027 time frame to 2018 - 2022. The PN is discussing with the Russian Navy on possible collaboration on submarine training, operation and maintenance. Russia has expressed willingness to provide the PN with two "Kilo"-class diesel electric submarines.  This design is already more than 30 year old although there is an improved Kilo design (Project 636).  A newer design is the yet un-ordered Amur.

philstar.com

Preparation for the RSAF's 50th Anniversary Airshow [Link to Video Clip]

Video clip on the preparation that goes into the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) airshows for its 50th anniversary air spectacle.



Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/videos/what-it-takes-to-be-a-top-gun-in-the-rsaf-10674156

CNA

Malaysia Reveals Force Structure for Air Force in 2055

The Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) has published an infographic detailing its force structure plans up to 2055. Based on the plan, RMAF fighter jet fleet will be two types, a multi role combat aircraft (MRCA) and the light combat aircraft (LCA) organised into five squadrons. Currently, the RMAF operates a mixed fleet of Su-30, F-18C/D and MiG-29 with additional supplement for the light attack roles from the trainer fleet - Hawk and MB339.

The transport squadrons will be reduced from four to three units with the aircraft type reduced from four to two. The A400M should still be a major transport asset in the next few decades. The helicopter fleet will be standardized into a single aircraft type. This seems to indicate that attack helicopter procurement is not in the plan.  However, there are plans for one squadron of Airborne Early Warning aircraft  and long endurance Unmanned Aircraft as well as one squadron of maritime patrol aircraft. The RMAF of the future will maintain air defence radars and one regiment of ground based air defence system which does not seems to be adequate for wide geographical spread of the country.

RMAF

Singapore's Littoral Mission Vessel Programme

On 18 August 2018, ST Engineering Marine launched the seventh vessel for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) under the Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV) programme. The RSN LMV fleet will comprise of eight ships. The first-of-class, RSS Independence, RSS Sovereignty, RSS Unity and RSS Justice have been delivered. Each 1250 tonnes LMV is equipped with one 76mm, one 25mm and two 12.7mm guns as well as non-lethal weapon in the form of two Long-Range Acoustic Device 500 Xtreme. Air defence coverage is provided by a 12-cell vertical launched MICA surface to air missile system.

Australia Sign for MC-4 Triton

Australia will acquire six Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to enter service starting in 2023. The initial A$1.4billion investment includes the first aircraft, training, and the necessary infrastructures to operate from RAAF Base Edinburgh, Adelaide and RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory.

The Triton will undertake a range of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks. It will complement the new RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft by providing sustained long-range surveillance to cue the P-8A for close-in investigation.

ADT

Thailand To Operate Elbit H450 Hermes Unmanned Aerial Systems

Thailand has placed a 28million dollars order for the H450 Hermes unmanned aerial system (UAS) to be operated by the Royal Thailand Army (RTA). The H450 Hermes UAS consists of four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and a ground control station.

The H450 will be used for tasks such as Imagery Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), target designation, and aerial mapping. The H450 will be operated by the 21st Aviation Battalion, RTA Aviation Centre in Lopburi Province. The base has been operating the IAI Searcher Mk II UAVs since 2001.

ADT

BMW of the Deep: Insights Into the Type 218SG Submarine

Interesting insights into the design considerations of the Republic of Singapore Navy's newest submarine - the Type 218SG.

CNA

Royal Thai Air Force Upgrades Fighter Fang

The Royal Thai Air Force will upgrade its fleet of Northrop F-5 Tiger II fighters with advanced IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missiles. The RTAF is already using the lethal armament on its fleet of Gripen and F-16 fighters.  A repeat order was placed with German manufacturer Diehl Defence to increase the number of missiles in the RTAF war stock.

Diehl Defence briefed that, "The new procurement plans to integrate the missile onto the F-5, making IRIS-T a standard armament of the Royal Thai Air Force."

India Test-fired Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile

India today successfully test-fired two BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles over two days which validated the operation of several unspecified new components. These new components will allow India to extend the service life of its existing missile stock by replacing old parts which may be facing obsolescence or has reached the end of their storage life.  In March, India tested an indigenously made seeker.  The current test is believed to be to validate an indigenously designed rocket booster.

India hopes to upgrade the BrahMos to a hypersonic weapon within a decade.

Economic Times

Economic Times

F-15 Beats F-35 - Sometimes

The F-35 based at Kadena Air Force Base in Japan reportedly get beaten by F-15 occasionally in training missions.  However, it is inconclusive which is the better aircraft because the training scenario is unknown. For example, the F-35 Lightning II is able to claim an impressive kill ratio between 24:0 to 15:1 in other exercises. The superb kill ratios are achieved when the F-35 is used as designed - maximising its stealth and electronic warfare capability while operating with other supporting aircraft.

Training exercises can be also simple academic set up - one versus one basic fighter maneuver or tactical intercept scenario. This is where the F-35 may not always achieve good result.

Military.com

The Aviationist

China's Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Ready for Sea Trial

China's first indigenous aircraft carrier, the Type 001A, is being readied for a sea trial from a shipyard in Dalian city, northeast China's Liaoning province. The warship is expected to start sea trials imminently according to a source close to the navy. The Liaoning Maritime Safety Administration had announced on 20 Apr 18 that three areas in the northeastern Bohai and Yellow Sea would be cordoned off for military activities from April 20 to 28. The restricted areas are close to the shipyard in Liaoning province where the new carrier is being constructed. A main engine start was conducted on 17 Apr, indicating that sea trials could possible be soon.

SCMP

Philippine Air Force Acquired Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has received an Insitu Scan Eagle unmanned aircraft system from the United States. The system comprises of six unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), ground control station, launching and recovery stations.

Scan Eagle 2 UAV mounted on the launcher system.
(Photo from Reuter)

US Embassy in Philippine

Australian Boxer

The Rheinmetall 8x8 Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) has been confirmed as the winner of the Australian Project Land 400 Phase 2. The Boxer knocked out rival offerings based on formidable armoured fighting platforms such as the Patria AMV35, General Dynamics LAV 6.0 and ST Kinetics Terrex.

Boxer CRV facing a M1 Abram Main Battle Tank.
(Photo from Australian Government Department of Defence)

A total of 211 CRV will be purchased to replace the 257 Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAV) currently in service. The first vehicle is expected to be delivered in 2019 from Germany with the first delivery from the Australian production line in 2021.

Australia Defence

Singapore Air Force Bolstered S-70B Seahawk Fleet

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has increased its fleet of S-70B Seahawk from six to eight according to Jane's International Review (Apr 18. Vol 51).  MINDEF confirmed in a statement to Jane's that the RSAF will have a total of eight Seahawk after the delivery of two additional S-70B ordered in 2013.  It was also revealed that the S-70B was undergoing landing qualification trial onboard the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) latest warships, the Littoral Mission Vessels (LMV).  The RSN does not operate any manned aircraft. Instead, dedicated assets like the S-70B Seahawk and the Fokker 50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft are operated by the RSAF in support of the RSN.  The RSAF's AS332 Super Puma fleet was also deployed onboard the RSN's Endurance-class Landing Ship Tank for peace support operations and anti-piracy patrols. The S-70B Seahawk was also deployed operationally for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden embarked on the RSN's Formidable-class stealth frigate.

RSAF S-70B Seahawk onboard the RSN's frigate
(Photo from MINDEF facebook)

Missiles Used In Strike On Syria

On 13 April 2018, the United States of America, United Kingdom, and France struck at the alleged chemical weapon facilities of Syria.  The combined air and naval strikes hit three targets, a research centre, a weapon storage facility and a weapon bunker.

Here are the weapons employed for the air strikes. Basically, three types of air-launched missiles were used. These are Tomahawk, the AGM-158B JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range) and Storm Shadow/ SCALP EG.

The naval strike employed Tomahawk sea-launched cruise missiles and SCALP Naval missiles.
The transcript of the press briefing by Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White and Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. made confusing references to "SCAT missile" and "Scout missile". It is the author's opinion that they are referring to the SCALP  EG missile (Système de Croisière Autonome à Longue Portée – Emploi Général or General Purpose Long Range Standoff Cruise Missile). The SCALP EG is identical to the British Storm Shadow except that for the aircraft interface. The MDCN (Missile de Croisière Naval) missile systems mentioned by France's Defence Minister is the SCALP Naval Missile.

France's Defence Minister Florence Parly confirmed that France used five Rafale fighter jets, five Mirage 2000 jets and two E-3 AWAC.  Five missile-equipped frigates based in the Mediterranean also launched the MCDN missile systems for the first time.naval version of the SCAT missile.
The SCALP EG and Storm Shadow missiles are virtually identical in all aspects except that they are equipped with different aircraft interface components and software. The missiles are 5.1 m long with a 630 mm diameter.  The Storm Shadow/ SCALP weigh 1,300 kg, and have a range of up to 400 km, guided by a triple navigation system, using inertial navigation, GPS, and Terrain Reference Navigation.

Targets:

76 missiles were fired on the Barzah Research and Development center- Greater Damascus area. These are 57 Tomahawks (TLAMS) and 19 Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs)

22 missiles targeted Him Shinshar Chemical Weapons Storage Facility- West of Homs. The missiles consist of US TLAMS, 8 British Storm Shadow missiles, 3 French SCALP Naval missiles, 2 French SCALP EG missiles.

7 French air-launched SCALP EG were aimed at Him Shinshar Chemical Weapons Bunker Facility—West of Homs

Naval vessels participating in the strike are the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Monterey (fired 30 Tomahawk missiles) and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Laboon (7 Tomahawk missiles) from the Red Sea.

From the North Arabian Gulf, Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Higgins fired 23 Tomahawk missiles. In the Mediterranean, French Frigate Languedoc fired 3 SCALP Naval missiles while the Virginia-class submarine USS John Warner launched 6 Tomahawk missiles.

The air assets include two B-1 Lancer Bombers (launched 19 JASSM), four British Tornado GR4 (fired 8 Storm Shadow. Apparently escorted by Typhoon fighters) and French Rafale and Mirage aircrafts (expended a total of 9 SCALP EG missiles).


DoD

France24

Singapore Invests In Smart Technologies to Boost Security

Singapore is tapping into smart technologies to boost the security for the country. Some of the initiatives revealed so far are unmanned watch tower, unmanned systems for the surveillance and patrol of key facilities and territorial water, aerial drones for runway repair and airbase security, and the use of simulation technology for troop security training. 

MINDEF

Thailand Commissions Four T-50TH Advance Trainers

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has commissioned four Korea Aerospace Industries T-50TH golden Eagle advanced jet trainers into service on 4 April. The four aircraft were ordered in 2015. A follow-on order for eight aircraft placed in 2017 will be delivered in 2020.

Flight Global

RSAF CH-47SD Chinook

New bumps spotted on the Republic of Singapore Air Force CH-47SD Chinook. They appear to be antennae for a newly installed Helicopter Integrated Electronic Warfare System.

Also seen on the RSAF C-130H, antenna for a self-protection warning system

Defensenews

Myanmar Orders 6 SU-30 Fighters

Myanmar has placed an order for 6 Sukhoi Su-30 fighter in January 2018 according to Russian new agency TASS.

TASS

Flight Global

CNA

RAAF P-8 Poseidon MPA Achieve IOC

The Royal Australian Air Force's fleet of six Boeing P-8A Poseidon fleet has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) five months ahead of schedule. Another six of the the 737-based maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft are pending delivery by Boeing.

Flight Global

JF-17 To Get Chinese AESA Radar

The latest version of the Chengdu/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 fighter will be equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the KLJ-7A AESA radar developed by the Nanjing Research Institutie of Electronics Technology.

Flight Global

China's Third Aircraft Carrier

Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard Group has started building China's second indigenous aircraft carrier last year, according to sources close to the People’s Liberation Army. The aircraft carrier will reportedly have a displacement of about 80,000 tonnes which 10,000 tonnes more than China's first aircraft carrier, Liaoning.

Liaoning was formerly Ukraine's unfinished Varyag which China bought in 1998. It was rebuilt and commissioned into service in 2012. The second aircraft carrier is an indigenous design based on the Liaoning. Construction started in November 2013, and the still unnamed Type 001A vessel was launched in Apr 2017. It is expected to be commissioned in late 2018 or early 2019.

The new vessel, designated as CV-18, will use an advanced catapult launch system that is more sophisticated than the Soviet-designed ski-jump systems used in its other two aircraft carriers.  

SCMP