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)