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.