Singapore Commissioned Elta Systems ELM-2311-based Safari Weapon Locating Radar

The Singapore Army has commissioned the SAFARI Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) into service. The new WLR joined other types of WLR already in service with the Singapore Artillery, namely, AN/TPQ-36, AN/TPQ-37 and ARTHUR.  Similar to the ARTHUR WLR which is mounted on a Bv206 vehicle, the SAFARI is mounted on the larger BRONCO all terrain vehicle.  The BRONCO will confer superb mobility as compared to the original 6 x 6 truck. The new radar appears to be the
Elta Systems ELM-2311 CRAM (Counter Rocket, Artillery, Mortar) CRAM system.
AN/TPQ-53 which has a 360 degree coverage mode.



Detail of the new SAFARI WLR and its performance was not revealed. However, the performance should be an improvement on the Swedish designed ARTHUR WLR. The ARTHUR WLR was previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 to provide force protection for International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) personnel in Tarin Kowt. It boosted a 100% detection rate over its 15-months deployment. The ARTHUR WLR has a detection range of up 60 km and can be brought into action with 5 minutes by a crew of 11 men. It was first introduced into the Singapore Armed Forces service in 2003.


According to Elta, the ELM-2311 is a 3D Active Electronically Scanned Array radar with a persistent surveillance sector mode of 120º or 360º rotating mode. 




In separate news, a possible sale notification of six AN/TPQ-53V target acquisition radar systems was registered with the US Congress in 2013.[This post previously identified the AN/TPQ-53 as the radar for the SAFARI WLR. This is an error.]

Singapore Army Facebook Page

MINDEF

DSCA.Counter-fire-acquisition-radar-systems

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

Commentary on J-15 Fatal Crash

Chinese observers commented on the finding of the cause of fatal J-15 crash on 27 April 2016.  There was interest on whether this indicated a delay in operationalising the Liaoning, China's sole aircraft carrier. Meanwhile, other Chinese media published reports on the largest complement of aircraft yet seen on the Liaoning - a total of eight J-15 fighters and two helicopters.

SCMP

Japan to Beef Up F-15 Fleet to Counter China

The Japan Defense Ministry is requesting additional funding for maintenance of the hard used F-15J fleet which have been scrambled more often to counter Chinese fighters. It is asking to buy more missiles to increase the number of air-to-air missiles available for each fighter.

It was reported that The Japanese Self Defense Force aimed to double the number of missiles carried by each F-15J to 16. However, this is not practical.  While the F-15J can carry up to 16 air-to-air missiles, flying often with live missiles will reduce their service life significantly. Carrying a full load of missiles also serves no practical purpose other than for saber rattling.  Without air-to-air refuelling, a Japanese fighter is unlikely to stay in aerial combat over the disputed air space long enough to need 16 missiles. The Chinese is not going to offer a mass gaggle of targets for a Japanese fighter to ripple off 16 missiles. It is more likely that the Japanese are replenishing their missile stock.  Some of their existing missiles are probably down for repair.  Flying will subject the sensitive seeker head to degradation from the elements.

Nikkei Asian Review

Japan Offering Larger Coast Guard Ships to the Philippine

Japan and the Philippine have begun talks for two 90-meter multi-role response vessels for the Philippine Coast Guard as part of a military aid deal. This is to help the Philippines patrol the disputed South China Sea.

The two brand-new ships will be in addition to ten 44-meter multi-role response vessels, worth 8.8 billion pesos, that Japan will be delivering between 2016 to 2018. The first 44-meter vessel is expected to be delivered in September 2016. These ships have a standard cruising speed of 16 knots, and a range of 1,500 nautical miles. They will be deployed to various PCG Districts across the country, including Manila, La Union, and Puerto Prinsesa.  The ships will be named after the primary lighthouses in the country to denote the importance of the lighthouse to the maritime community.




Straits Times

Depart of Transportation and Communication, Philippine

philstar

China's Fifth Generation Stealth Fighter J-20

Video footage of a J-20 taking off. Much is still unknown about this aircraft which is still in developmental stage. The first photograph was 'leaked' on the internet in Dec 2010, showing a prototype aircraft performing a runway test. The first flight was conducted on 11 Jan 2011.

The J-20 is assessed to have started low rate initial production stage in 2016. It is assessed to have stealth features such as recessed weapon bays (two lateral bays and one larger main weapon bay). It is also equipped with infra-red distributed aperture and electro-optical sensors flushed under the fuselage to allow for stealth mode targeting without using the radar.

Defense-update

scmp

V-280 Valor Tilt Rotor Aircraft

The Bell V-280 Valor tilt rotor aircraft is presented as a potential replacement for the US Army's UH-60 Black Hawk. It certainly has impressive performance as compared to the Black Hawk. Able to carry 14 troops in addition to 4 aircrew at a speed of 280 KTAS for up to a combat range of between 500 nm to 800 nm. Load carry capacity is more than 12,000 lb. The latest UH-60M Black Hawk can carry 11 troop at 151 kt to a combat range of up to 120 nm.

The V-280 Valor is smaller than the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey which can carry 24 troop and 3 aircrew. But this also means that it is cheaper and easier to produce. The first flight of the V-280 is expected in Sep 2017.

The competitor to V-280 under the multi-service Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programme is the Boeing Sikosrky SB-1 Defiant, a co-axial rotor helicopter based on Sikorsky’s S-97 design. The rear mounted pusher propeller will enable the SB-1 to attain speed of up to 250 knots. The SB-1 will carry 12 troop and 4 aircrew.

scmp.com

flightglobal