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Indian Shipbuilder Wins Contract for Philippine Frigates

India's state-run Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has emerged as the winner for Philippine Navy's long-drawn light frigate modernisation programme.  GRSE is the lowest bidder in a field that started with six potential suppliers, including South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries Inc., Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. and Navantia S.A. of Spain. The purchase of new frigates was authorised in 2013 after the failed negotiation for a pair of ex-Italian Navy Maestrale-class frigates.

GRSE's winning design is based on the Indian Navy's Kamorta-class anti-submarine corvette. The Philippine Navy specified a requirement for a 2,000-tonne frigate that is at least 95 meters long and can accommodate a 12-ton helicopter. The Komorta is over 3000-tonnes and hence, will have plenty of growth potential.

UPDATE: GRSE has been disqualified from the tender.  Apparently, the company was assessed to be at risk of not having the necessary financial capacity to fulfill the contract.  The next lowest bidder, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). HHI's proposed design is slightly larger than GRSE's.


HHI offered a variant of its HDF 3000 class multipurpose frigate, which is already in service with the Republic of Korea Navy.  The HDF 3000 is 114 m long, 14 m wide with a draught of 4m and a displacement of about 3,200 tonnes at full load. It is capable of achieving a maximum speed of 30 kt. The maximum sailing range is 4,500 n miles at a more economical speed of 13 kt. The Philippine had specified a vessel with a minimum length of 95m and displacement of 2000 tons.

Photo of HDF3000 class frigate, Incheon.
By 대한민국 국군 Republic of Korea Armed Forces - 20130626 대한해협 전승행사 (4), CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36996908

Janes

defensenews

manilalivewire

Philippine Navy's Strategic Sealift Vessel

Philippine Navy's Strategic Sealift Vessel, SSV LD601 was launched as BPR Tarlac. The warship has been delivered to Philippine and now in the country, fittingly before the 118th Anniversary of the Philippine Navy on 20 May 2016.

SSV BRP Tarlac prepares to be docked in Manila on 16 May 2016, following a two-week long voyage from Indonesia. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) 

President of Philippine Office

philstar

The Strategic Partnership between the Kangaroo and the Lion: Australia and Singapore Deepen Defence Ties

Australia and Singapore has signed a joint declaration on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement. A major feature of the CSP is the expanded scope and depth of defence cooperation. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is allowed to expand existing training facilities to boost the number of troops on training from 6000 to 18000 each year. Singapore will invest about A$2.25 billion to upgrade the training facilities near the city of Townsville and at Shoalwater Bay.

Currently, the Singapore Armed Forces used Shoalwater Bay Training Area to conduct the Exercise Wallaby series. Joint tri-service exercises with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in the form of Exercise Trident were also conducted when troops were deployed for Exercise Wallaby.

A  Lowy Institute paper on the defence and security aspect of the CSP argues that both countries should seek to expand defence ties further beyond the use of training space. Interestingly, the paper also acknowledged the long list of engagements between ADF and SAF.  It remains to be seen what other areas that the two advance military forces will cooperate on.

channelnewsasia.com

Straits Times

World Affairs Journal

China's People Liberation Army (PLA)'s Slick Recruitment Video

"With duty always on the mind,
Enemy always in sight,
Always shouldering responsibilities,
With a strong will.
War can break out at any time.
Are you ready?......"



The slick recruitment video includes images of China’s first aircraft carrier, latest tanks, combat aircraft and ballistic missiles.

scmp.com

Royal Malaysian Air Force Jet Trainer Crashed

17 May 2016: A RMAF MB-339CM crashed earlier today. The two pilots ejected safely. According to RMAF, the Kuantan Air Base aircraft encountered technical problem at around 12.54pm during on a training sortie. The aircraft crashed into a paddy field in Kampung Serun, Nenasi, about 50km from Pekan town.

Photo from New Straits Times

This is the second RMAF aircraft crash in three months. On 26 February, a CN-235 transport aircraft made a crash landing in the water near the coastline of Kuala Selangor. The aircraft apparently experienced engine problem and made an emergency landing. All crew and passengers were unharmed but a local villager apparently drowned while trying to reach the crashed aircraft to rescue those onboard.

Video of Crashed CN-235

nst.com