Four Australia's Submarines in Formation

19 Februari 2019

Four Collins class in formation (all photos : RAN)

Rarely, four of Australia's Collins-class submarines sailed in formation off the coast of Western Australia this week.

The submarines, HMAS Collins, HMAS Farncomb, HMAS Dechaineux and HMAS Sheean, were conducting exercises northwest of Rottnest Island.

The Collins class takes its name from Australian Vice Admiral John Augustine Collins; all six submarines are named after significant Royal Australian Navy personnel who distinguished themselves in action during World War II.

HMAS Collins Class Data

Displacement    
surfaced: 3,100 tons
dived: 3,407 tons

Dimensions

Length: 77.8 meters (255 feet)
Beam: 7.8 meters (26 feet)
Draft: 7 meters (23 feet)

Speed    
top speed: 20 knots
dived: 20 knots
surfaced: 10 knots
snorting: 10 knots

Range    
surfaced: 11,500 nautical miles
dived: 400 nautical miles
snorting: 9,000 nautical miles

Complement
sailors: 38
officers: 10
plus trainees

(Maritime Executive)

Thai Junta Shoots Down Proposal to Slash Defence Spending

19 Februari 2019

Thailand defence budget is USD7.1 billion (THB227.67 billion) for 2019 (photo : ThaiDefenseNews)

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand's junta defended its US$7 billion (THB227.67 billion) defence budget and annual draft on Monday (Feb 18) after political opponents proposed slashing military spending by 10 per cent and ending conscription after elections.

The country spends among the most on defence in South-east Asia and recent big purchases - including submarines and tanks from China - have drawn criticism in a state riddled with inequality and corruption.

Its generals have grabbed power a dozen times since 1932 with defence spending spiking in lockstep with each coup.

Last year, the junta-picked National Legislative Assembly proposed a defence budget for 2019 of US$7 billion, a US$1 billion increase since the latest 2014 coup.

But Pheu Thai, linked to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the country's most popular political party, has vowed to end conscription and cut spending by 10 per cent if it beats the odds and returns to power after the March 24 polls.

Junta chief Prayut Chan-o-cha - who hopes to become civilian premier under an army-aligned party after the elections - on Monday justified the increase as necessary to upgrade obsolete gear.

"If we do not have it, our military quality cannot be compared with other countries," he told reporters.

Mr Prayut said the breakout of war was impossible to predict and in peacetime the army "fights against drugs and illegal entry" into the country.

Military conscription, he added, is "a duty of all Thai men".

The army runs an annual draft for 100,000 men each year - all male citizens must participate at least once after they turn 21, but are exempted if they are students.

Thailand has not fought a full-blown war in living memory, although border disputes have previously turned into bloody conflicts with Laos and more recently Cambodia.

The military has used its might more frequently inside the country, quelling street protests, staging coups or fighting insurgents in the Muslim-majority "Deep South", bordering Malaysia.

Army chief Apirat Kongsompong gave a coded slapdown to Pheu Thai's leadership over the proposal to cut military spending, insisting they should listen to a nationalist Cold War-era propaganda song, Nhak Paen Din.

Roughly translating as "Scum of the Earth", it was the anthem of paramilitary units who led a massacre of at least 41 students protesting against the return of a military dictator in October 1976.

The #NhakPaenDin was top trending on Thai Twitter on Monday, a sign of the bitter memories it evokes, particularly among Thailand's pro-democracy movement.

(Straits Times)

Jankel Achieves ‘Production Ready’ Status for HUNTER Tactical Intervention Vehicle (TIV)

19 Februari 2019

Hunter Tactical Intervention Vehicle (photo : Jankel)

World-class specialist in design and production of high-specification armoured vehicles and survivability systems, Jankel, has announced the achievement of ‘production ready’ status for their latest generation HUNTER Tactical Intervention Vehicle (TIV) in preparation for the imminent manufacture of another major order from an undisclosed customer in the Asia Pacific region. The vehicles will be built at JLVM, Jankel’s Jordanian facility, a Joint Venture with KADDB. This announcement coincides with IDEX 2019 taking place 17-21 February at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), where Jankel is exhibiting on stand number 05-C09.

Jankel’s focus for IDEX will be further sales of their Counter Terror and Special Forces vehicles to complement their numerous vehicle fleets already in service in the Middle East. Jankel will also be promoting their survivability systems, including their range of BLASTech mitigation seats.
This latest order for the HUNTER TIV has been re-engineered to have increased internal and stowage capacity. The vehicle has also received automotive improvements to meet the exact specifications demanded by the customer, delivering versatility, maneuverability and protection for Internal Security missions.

Jenkel Hunter of the Paskhas TNI AU (photo : defence.pk)

Jankel has enjoyed considerable success in the Middle and Far Eastern regions in recent years. The establishment of the JLVM Joint Venture in Jordan has enabled regional manufacture of vehicles to meet the demanding environmental and capability requirements of this wider geographical area. To date, Jankel has over 350 vehicles in service across 11 countries in the Middle East and neighbouring regions, as well as an established and comprehensive support services network that expands across 14 different regional sites, ensuring the customer can always maximise the capability on offer. 

Dan Crosby, Commercial Director at Jankel said: “The Middle and Far Eastern regions continue to be strategically important markets for Jankel and we are glad to announce that we’re ready to put the latest generation HUNTER TIV into volume production for the first time. We’re proud of the fact that we can build vehicles in the region using our Jordanian facility and sell to surrounding countries and the wider-reaching markets beyond”. He added: “IDEX is an important show for us that will provide Jankel with an excellent opportunity to network further and showcase our products to countries that would not normally be so easy to reach.”

(Jankel)

Vietnam Interested in T-6 Texan II to Prepare for F-16?

19 Februari 2019

Beechcraft T-6 Texan II training aircraft (photo : smed)

Information of Vietnam interested in T-6 Texan II primary training aircraft announced by Admiral Philip S. Davidson has caused many questions.

On February 12, Admiral Philip S. Davidson at a hearing in the US Senate Military Commission provided information about Vietnam's intention to order T-6 Texan II propeller training aircraft, unmanned scouting UAV Scan Eagle and received more patrol boats of Hamilton class.

If Vietnam wants to have another 3,200-ton patrol ship or receive Scan Eagle reconnaissance UAVs, it is no wonder that these are the means we are missing, the T-6 trainer causing great surprise.

This is because Vietnamese military pilots are currently trained on the Yak-52 propeller aircraft and must follow Yak-152 instead of another T-6 system is in use, what is the cause?

According to analysts, having planned to order American trainer aircraft is definitely a way to move toward owning future jet fighters, because pilots need to familiarize themselves with the platform before. controls that cannot be performed on Russian-made aircraft.

The T-6 Texan II is designed with a digital cockpit capable of perfectly simulating the manipulation of 4th generation fighter aircraft serving in the US Air Force, all American pilots are must pass the T-6 line before being lifted to higher-class aircraft.

USAF F-16 Fighting Falcons, mothballed at AMARG Boneyard (photo : Peter Cook)

Although the appearance of the T-6 trainer looks like it was born half a century ago, it is in fact integrated with American and NATO ultra-modern avionics, helping Public avoidance crestfallen when working with later jet fighters.

In recent years, the Vietnam Air Force is still actively looking for a 4th generation light fighter line to replace the retired MiG-21 as well as preparing for the Su-22 fleet to be nearing the deadline stop flying.

There has been a lot of information about how Vietnam has made contacts with many Western manufacturers to learn about the features of JAS 39 Gripen or Eurofighter Typhoon fighter but their high cost is considered to be main obstacle.

The most feasible solution for Vietnam is still to buy a used F-16 squadron stored at the Davis-Monthan base, which is the optimal option when meeting both cost criteria. and tactical skills.

The US Embassy in Vietnam has provided quite a bit of information about our pilot student groups to your country to learn about the fighters, now more information about T-6 Texan training planes II is probably the most obvious sign of the F-16 being able to be present in the S-shaped strip of land.

(BaoDatViet)

Singapore Navy's First Invincible-Class Type 218SG Submarine Launched

18 Februari 2019

Type 218SG submarine (photo : Shephard)

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen officiated at the launch ceremony of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s first Invincible-class submarine, Invincible, at the thyssenkrupp Marine Systems Shipyard in Kiel, Germany, on 18 Feb 2019. The submarine was launched by Mrs Ng, wife of Dr Ng. Chief of German Navy Vice-Admiral Andreas Krause, Republic of Singapore Navy's Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Lew Chuen Hong and senior defence officials from both countries attended the launch ceremony.
    
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Ng highlighted that, "The RSN plays a key role in keeping [the] Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs) open, not only for Singapore, but indeed, for the world. And the maritime environment around Singapore also faces security challenges… In this context, the acquisition of the new Type 218SG submarines is timely." He added that that the new submarines were designed based on experience and expertise garnered through more than two decades of operating submarines, and the launch of the Invincible marked a significant milestone in the RSN’s submarine capability.

Type 218SG submarine (photo : MediaCorp)

Invincible is the first of four customised submarines designed for operations in Singapore's shallow and busy tropical waters. Custom-built to Singapore's needs, the new submarines will possess longer endurance and higher payloads. Following the launch, Invincible will undergo a series of sea trials before delivery to Singapore in 2021. The remaining three submarines are under construction. Dr Ng also announced the names of the remaining three submarines – Impeccable, Illustrious, and Inimitable. 

The launch of Invincible is testament to the warm and growing defence ties between Singapore and Germany. Bilateral defence relations have strengthened with the signing of the enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (eDCA) in 2018. The eDCA paves the way forward for cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as in submarine training, defence technology and cyber defence. Both countries also cooperate and interact widely through high-level visits and dialogues, military exchanges, cross-attendance of professional courses and technology collaboration.

Dr Ng was in Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference from 15 to 17 Feb 2019, where he spoke at the conference and had bilateral meetings with his foreign counterparts. 

(Sing Mindef)

HMNZS Te Kaha Undergoing Upgrade in Canada

18 Februari 2019

HMNZS Te Kaha F77 (all photos : NZDF)

HMNZS Te Kaha undergoing its frigate systems upgrade in Canada.

Taking shape. HMNZS Te Kaha's Frigate Systems Upgrade in Canada is reaching an exciting stage with new forward and aft masts and pole mast being installed during a dry dock phase.

Work done in Lockheed Martin Canada and Seaspan Victoria Shipyards for a combat system upgrade under the Anzac Frigate Systems Upgrade (FSU) project.

The vessel will receive an upgraded combat management system (CMS) based on Lockheed Martin’s CMS 330, in addition to the integration of other sensors, the Sea Ceptor anti-missile system, and a combat systems trainer, to be refitted for further service.

(NZDF)

Sea Trials of the BT-3F Armored Personnel Carrier Began to Replace the MT-LB

18 Februari 2019

BT3F amphibious APC (photos : Yuripasholok)

MOSCOW - RIA News. Sea trials of the newest Russian armored personnel carrier BT-3F, designed to replace the Soviet MT-LB, have started, told Abralov Sergey Avtolov, chief designer of the Special Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering (SKBM, is part of the Kurganmashzavod structure, told RIA Novosti)

"Sea trials began, they will be completed in the autumn of 2019," said Abdulov.

The new amphibious tracked armored personnel carrier BT-3F was first presented at the Army 2016 forum. It can navigate and parachute from transport aircraft. The crew of the BT-3F - three people, while the armored personnel carrier takes on board up to 14 paratroopers.

A remote-controlled combat module with a 7.62-millimeter machine gun with a thermal sight and a laser rangefinder is installed on the roof of the combat vehicle. The diesel engine with a capacity of 500 horsepower allows it to reach speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour on land and up to ten kilometers per hour afloat.

Earlier, the deputy general director of Rosoboronexport, Sergei Goreslavsky, said that Russia was negotiating with Indonesia about the supply of BT-3F. In addition, the intention to purchase the latest armored personnel carrier was also expressed by the Russian military department.

(RIA Novosti)