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

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

Land Forces 2016: GBAMD Systems Vying for Land 19

Land 19 Phase 7B will see enhanced Ground Based Air and Missile Defence (GBAMD) capability for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This will include a deployable short-range GBAD (Ground Based Air Defence) system to replace the in-service Saab RBS 70 MANPADS by the early 2020s. A medium-range GBAMD missile system will be acquired in the mid-to-late 2020s. In addition, the ADF wants enhanced counter-rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM) capability which would be complemented by a gun system as a last line of defence.

The Request for Tender (RfT) for Land 19 Phase 7B will be issued in the last quarter of 2016. The previously issued Request for Information (RfI) specified a sensor suite, effector suite (i.e. weapon) and C4I system that can absorb the existing functionality of Phase 7A. Multiple sensors and weapons may be specified by the tenders.

European consortium MBDA is proposing their Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions (EMADS) for the short-to-medium range solution, combined with the Mistral MANPADS for the lower level threats. The EMADS has two versions, the Common Anti-air Modular Missile (CAMM) and CAMM-ER (Extended Range). The EMADS offers a layered defensive range of 25km or 45km for the extended range option. It uses a soft vertical launch which confers a 360 degree coverage.

Saab is offering the RBS 70NG. Australia already operates the RBS 70, which was recently updated with IFF Mode 5, and the Giraffe AMB radars. Australia also purchased the Giraffes plus SRCTec Light Counter-Mortar Radars as part of Land 19 Phase 7A as an urgent requirement for C-RAM protection for Australian troops in Afghanistan. The RBS-70NG will add an auto-tracker. At Land Forces 2016 in Adelaide, Saab exhibited a scale model of a three-tube launcher mounted on a Thales Hawkei vehicle. The associated Giraffe 1X radar could also be mounted on a Hawkei to provide a mobile capability for the GBAD system. Rheinmetall may cooperate with Saab to its 35mm Revolver Gun for the last ditch gun system requirement. Northrop Grumman informed that it was working towards an MoU with Saab among other companies. Northrop Grumman is prime integrator for the US Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) and is a potential bidder for the Land 19 Phase 7B.

Rafael may offer a solution based on its battle-proven Iron Dome. The system achieved a 90% interception rate in more than 1700 launches while protecting Israel. Each truck mounted launcher can carry 20 missiles. A useful load for combat persistence. The Iron Dome has a range of up to 70km.

Raytheon and Kongsberg are partnering to offer the Medusa, an improved NASAMS 2 system (National Advance Surface to Air Missile System) based on the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Each battery would have 12 launchers. Each launcher is loaded with 6 AMRAAMs. Future growth is possible with the longer range AMRAAM-ER missiles that is currently under development.



Shephardmedia

defencetechnologyreview

mbda-systems

ADM

Tenders.gov.au

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

Australia Beef Up Chinook Fleet

The United States has approved the sale of three Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters to Australia. This will increase the CH-47F fleet in the Royal Australian Army to ten. Seven CH-47F were ordered previously with delivery starting in Mayr 15. The older CH-47D will be withdrawn from service as the new CH-47F are inducted.  The new Chinook will be equipped to operated from the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) two Canberra class landing helicopter docks (LHD).  Modifications to the helicopters include rotor brakes and tie-down points for shipboard operations as well as additional crash and ballistic protection for crew and passengers.



townsville bulletin

Janes

Australia's Regional Force Surveillance Units

The approximately 640-strong NORFORCE is one of three Regional Force Surveillance Units (RFSU) in Australia.  Together with the 51st Far North Queensland Regiment (51 FNQR)and the Pilbara Regiment, the NORFORCE provides an unique capability for the defense of the vast territory of Australia, particularly the Northern coasts. In peacetime, the RFSU are responsible for conducting surveillance and reconnaissance operations in support of border protection as well as community engagement programs for regional development.

The NORFORCE, like the other RFSUs is made up of locals who are familiar with the areas of operations. About 60% of NORFORCE are aboriginals who are experts in outback survival and tracking.

Besides weapon handling skill, soldiers in the unit are cross-trained in skills such as sniping, medical treatment, driving, small watercraft handling, tracking and operations from the aircraft.  These would be useful skill in wartime duties.

Also known as the North-West Mobile Force, NORFORCE is headquartered in Darwin with the responsibility for a 1.8 million square kilometres area of operations in the Northern Territory as well as the Kimberley region of Western Australia. This is arguably the largest area of responsibility of any military units in the world. The Pilara Regiment is responsible for 1.3 million square kilometres in North-western Australia. The 51 FNQR's area of operations cover 640,000 square kilometres.

An in-depth knowledge of their Area of Operations is gathered by conducting regular patrols by foot, vehicle and watercraft; manning static observation posts; and by close communication and liaison with the local authorities and landowners.

Soldiers from Australia's NORFORCE on Astell Island. Photo from ABC News

ABC News

ADF

Straits Times

China Issue Warning After RAAF Flights Over South China Seas

China has issued a statement warning other countries not to conduct 'freedom of navigation' exercise in the disputed South China Sea after a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) maritime patrol aircraft flew over the disputed area.

BBC reporter Rupert Wingfield-Hayes was on an aircraft near to the Mischief Reef, one of the disputed isle near the Philippines when he recorded the transmission from the RAAF AP-3C, apparently to the Chinese navy.

An Australian airman could be heard on the recording repeating "China Navy, China Navy. We are an Australian aircraft exercising international freedom of navigation rights, in international airspace in accordance with the international civil aviation convention, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Over." There was no response from the Chinese Navy in the incident which occurred on 25 November.

Australia has stated that it does not recognise China's claim in the South China Seas. The Australia Department of Defence has issued a statement in reply to queries that a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion was conducting a routine patrol as part of Operation GATEWAY.

Skynews

9 News

SBS

ibtimes

smh.com

SEA 1180 OPV Contender

Singapore's ST Marine is likely to partner with an Australian company to bid for Australia's SEA 1180 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) programme. The design offered is the Fearless 75, scaled up version of a proven 55m platform.  The design was also the basis for the Royal Omani Navy's (RON's) Al-Ofouq-class patrol vessel. ST Marine is completing USD640 million to deliver four patrol vessels for the RON.

Omani Al-Ofouq-class

The Fearless 75 design is approximately 1,100 tonnes and can accommodates a crew of about 60. It is designed for a top speed of 27 kt and a range of 3,000 n miles at 16 kt. There is a launch and recovery system for rigid hull inflatable boats at the stern and a flight deck for helicopters or unmanned aerial vehicles.

Janes

Meanwhile, ST Marine also unveiled a model of its proposal for Australia's Pacific Patrol Boat replacement programme. The programme is a replacement of the 22 patrol boats previously donated to 12 Pacific Island states and are now approaching the end of their service lives.

ST Marine has set up a consortium that includes South Australian shipbuilder Adelaide Ship Construction International (ASCI) and Texas-based Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR).

The proposed vessel has a length of 40 m, a beam of 8 m, a draught of 2.5 m, and a top speed of 20 kt. The standard range is 2,500 n miles at 12 kt. The vessel will displace about 274 tonnes and can accommodate one rigid hull inflatable boat or unmanned surface vessel at its stern. It can be fitted with 12.7 mm gun mountings.

A major feature of the vessel is the ease of operations and safety. The vessel's enclosed superstructure and lack of external walkways is designed for safety. The deck is designed with more space that can accommodate an awning, allowing the vessel to carry additional passengers on deck during humanitarian and disaster relief operations.

Janes