South East Asia Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Blackstone said:

Impressive navy compared with Philippines, Cambodia and Bahrain, but doubtful it could even stand up to Singapore in a real naval war.

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Sri Lanka prepares to launch combat aircraft procurement programme

The Sri Lankan government is preparing to issue a request for information (RFI) in support of a programme to procure multirole combat aircraft, IHS Jane's understands.

The programme, featuring the acquisition of between 8-12 aircraft, will be pursued through an inter-government agreement after Cabinet approval for the purchase was given on 11 August.

An official involved in the Sri Lankan defence procurement system said the government has yet to make any decision on the make of aircraft. IHS Jane's understands that it is likely that the RFI will be followed by a tender to procure the platform from an international supplier, although a timeframe is not confirmed.

State news in Sri Lanka had earlier cited Cabinet spokesman Gayantha Karunathilaka as saying that the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) required new combat aircraft to boost ageing inventories, maintain maritime security, and face any unexpected threat

He said that atpresent only one of seven Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir C2/C7 fighter aircraft acquired from the 1990s was operational. He added that none of the SLAF's remaining fighter aircraft fleets, comprised of a few Russian MiG-27 fighter aircraft and around seven Chinese J-7s, were operational.

"The government will consider all offers and will select a suitable [aircraft]," he said of the combat aircraft procurement programme.

In January IHS Jane's reported that Sri Lanka had agreed a USD400 million deal with Pakistan to purchase up to 12 JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, which was developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC).

However, diplomatic and political pressure by India is believed to have stalled the programme. IHS Jane's reported at the time that India, which considers Sri Lanka a security partner, was anxious to prevent Pakistan and China from jointly expanding defence links with Colombo.

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RTAF decided to use the entire fleet of F-16's new missile already equipped the Gripen C / D

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Thai F-16 Upgrade Includes German Air-to-Air Missiles

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has integrated the Diehl BGT Defence IRIS-T missile as part of a mid-life upgrade (MLU) for its Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs. The air-to-air missile was seen for the first time on F-16s that are currently deployed to Australia for a multinational exercise.

The IRIS-T is among a package of improvements fitted onto some of the RTAF’s F-16s that also includes the Northrop-Grumman AN/APG-68(v)9 radar, Link 16 datalink, the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), Terma ALQ-213 Electronic Warfare Management System and improved night-fighting capabilities.

All these were used by the RTAF F-16s taking part at Exercise Pitch Black 2016, a biannual large force multinational air combat exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in northern Australia taking place August 1to 19.

Thailand has deployed four of its F-16 MLUs and 93 personnel from Takhli-based 403 Squadron to the exercise, with the Thai aircrew relishing the vast tracts of unrestricted airspace available to conduct large force employment tactics in a coalition setting, a luxury not available in Thailand.

According to group captain Chanon Mungthanya, commander of the RTAF detachment at Pitch Black 2016, the RTAF’s F-16s undertook both air-to-air and air-to-ground sorties at the exercise, the former as part of both the attacking Blue and defending Red Air. He also confirmed that the RTAF will put 16 of its F-16A/Bs through the MLU, with the possibility of more aircraft being upgraded being dependent on budget and airframe suitability.

Speaking to AIN at the exercise, Mungthanya said that the IRIS-T is a improvement over older AIM-9 Sidewinders previously operated by the RTAF, offering increased agility, engagement envelope and off boresight targeting capability “equivalent to the AIM-9X” when used in conjunction with JHMCS. The RTAF is also using the IRIS-T on its Saab JAS-39C/D Gripen fighters.

The RTAF F-16s employed simulated laser guided bombs for air-to-ground missions at the exercise, although the Sniper targeting pods integrated under the MLU program were not employed on this occasion. Mungthanya also lauded the improved interoperability with the exercise partners offered by Link 16 on the upgraded F-16s, compared to previous occasions when communication was performed exclusively by voice transmissions.

This year’s Pitch Black saw 115 participating aircraft from seven nations including Australia, the United States, Singapore and Indonesia, with a further three nations contributing personnel.

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RNZN reveals further details of new fleet tanker

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has given further specifications of a new fleet tanker that it is acquiring from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).

The New Zealand government announced in July 2016 that it has approved the vessel's acquisition for NZD493 million (USD353 million). The platform will replace the RNZN's only replenishment tanker, HMNZS Endeavour (A 11), which has been in service since April 1988.

The new tanker will displace 24,000 tonnes, and has a length of 166 m, an overall beam of 24.5 m, and a design draught of 8.5 m. The ship will feature an 'axe bow' design for fuel efficiency, and has a top speed of 16 kt. It will be equipped with two NATO-compliant replenishment at sea (RAS) masts, one each on the port and starboard sides.

The platform will have liquid cargo capacity for 8,000 tonnes of diesel fuel, 1,550 tonnes of aviation fuel, and 250 tonnes of fresh water. The ship can also carry up to 12 standard 20 ft containers, four of which can contain dangerous goods such as ammunition, and will be equipped with a winterised crane that can lift up to 25 tonnes.

With a hangar and flight deck, the vessel can accommodate and sustain one NH90 helicopter, and features accommodation for 98 including 64 core crew members of the ship. The tanker will carry two rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) for visit, board, and seizure missions.

For self-defence, the vessel has been designed to be armed with two mini-Typhoon remote-controlled weapon stations (one each on the port and starboard sides) and one Phalanx close-in weapon system (CIWS) turret on its bow.

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The Vietnam People's Navy (VPN) has deployed the K-300P Bastion-P (NATO reporting name: SSC-5-C Stooge) mobile coastal defense missile systems (MCDMS) supplied by Moscow, according to a source in the Russian defense industry.

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MANILA, Philippines - One of two brand new South Korean-made FA50 “Golden Eagle” lead-in fighter jet platforms of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) was rendered non-operational after its engine was hit and totally destroyed by a “bird strike”.

“It’s true, na-bird strike ‘yung isa nating FA50 at natengga na dahil totally destroyed ‘yung engine niya. Ang hindi ko lang alam kung dalawang engine o isa lang. Twin engines kasi ‘yung FA50 natin,” a former officer of PAF who asked not to be identified told InterAksyon.com.

InterAksyon.com has tried but failed to get an immediate comment from PAF spokesman Colonel Araus Robert Musico.

According to the source, the bird strike hit the FA50 jet at the PAF’s runaway at Clark Airfield in Pampanga sometime in March this year.

The incident was not reported by PAF until the information was leaked to InterAskyon.com.

“Sa ngayon, ‘yung isa na lamang na FA50 ang lumilipad dahil nga sira ang makina at hindi pa napapalitan nung isang FA50,” the source said.

Birds colliding with aircraft usually result in bird strikes, which are a natural occurrence at this time of the year.

In November 2015, the first batch of two FA50s of the total 12 units ordered by the previous Aquino administration from the Korean Aerospace Inc. (KAI) was delivered to PAF. Two more FA50s are set to arrive before the end of 2016 and the rest are arriving in 2017.

The supersonic lead-jet fighters that are yet to be armed with missiles were bought by the government for a total amount of P18.9 billion.

During the election campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte had criticized the procurement of the lead-in jets as a “waste of money”.

At present, Durterte has prioritized the procurement of naval fast-crafts and high-speed combat helicopters to first address the internal security operations especially in Mindanao where kidnapping remains a problem.

But Duterte has promised to continue the modernization efforts which were started by the previous administration.

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