07 Mei 2019
AW-159 helicopter of the Philippines Navy (photo : pdff)
AW-159 choppers can detect submarines: Empedrad
MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) now has the capability to detect, locate and hunt submarines with the arrival of its two AugustaWestand (now Leonardo) AW-159 "Wildcat" helicopters Tuesday.
This was bared by Navy flag-officer-in-command, Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, on the sidelines of the send-off ceremonies for the military, police and government contingents tasked to secure the May 13 mid-term elections in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
"These helicopters will give the PN the capability to detect and locate submarines due to its sonar capabilities," he said in Filipino.
Empedrad said this is a big leap for the PN, considering that in the past, the Navy does not have the means to detect subsurface threats.
The PN chief said that the sonar capabilities of the AW-159 will be further augmented by the proposed upgrades of the three Del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels, which include the installation of sonar equipment.
AW-159 helicopter of the Philippines Navy (photo : Paul Carreon)
Empedrad said the helicopters will be placed in Navy service shortly after the blessing and commissioning ceremonies in Sangley Point, Cavite this coming May 27, which coincides with the PN's 121st founding anniversary.
These helicopters are to be based on the two missile-armed frigates Hyundai Heavy Industries is constructing in South Korea. These aircraft were acquired for PHP5.4 billion including its munition, mission essential equipment and integrated logistic support.
The AW-159 (previously called the Future Lynx and Lynx Wildcat) is an improved version of the Westland Super Lynx military helicopter.
The helicopter has been ordered for the Royal Navy and British Army. It is capable of speeds of 291 km/h (181 mph), range of 777 km (483 miles), ferry range of 963 km (598 miles) and an endurance of one and a-half hours (fours hours and 30 minutes if fitted with auxiliary fuel).
The AW-159 can also be armed with rockets, machine guns, missiles, torpedoes and depth charges.
(PNA)
07 Mei 2019
Warships from participating ADMM-Plus countries docked in Busan, ROK. The Maritime Security FTX will see participation from a total of 19 ships, 10 aircraft and about 700 personnel from the 18 ADMM-Plus countries (photo : Sing Mindef)
Twelve countries will join a naval exercise off Busan from Monday to Thursday to counter maritime crimes, the Navy said Sunday.
It said the four-day exercise was the first of a two-part exercise involving 18 members of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), a defense dialogue involving ASEAN and other Asia-Pacific countries.
The second part of the exercise will take place from May 9 to 13 off Singapore.
The 12 countries participating this week are South Korea, the United States, China, Japan, Australia, India, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
They will send a combined 16 warships and six aircraft.
The remaining six ADMM-Plus members — Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, New Zealand and Russia — will join as observers.
For this week's exercise, South Korea will operate the 4,400-ton destroyer Wang Geon, the 2,500-ton frigate Jeonbuk, the 4,900-ton landing ship Cheonjabong, two UH-60 helicopters and one Lynx helicopter. The Wang Geon will also take part in the second part of the drills.
Led by the South Korean Navy, the first part of the exercise will focus on rescuing ships hijacked by armed groups.
The Singaporean Navy will lead the second part of the exercise aimed at stopping and searching ships suspected of carrying banned items.
Some military sources speculated that the Singapore drill was mainly targeting North Korea amid suspicions that it has been engaged in ship-to-ship transfers of crude oil and other items banned by the United Nations.
From 2017 to 2020, South Korea and Singapore are serving as co-chairs of the maritime security expert working group of the ADMM-Plus.
The ADMM-Plus was launched in 2010. It had meetings in 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
(Korea Times)
07 Mei 2019
Exercise preparation (photo : Hun Manet)
Nearly 1,600 soldiers will participate in a five-day live fire exercise called the Golden Hanuman 2019 in Kampot province this week.
According a statement by Defence Ministry spokesman General Chhum Sucheat, the Golden Hanuman will take place at a training ground in Chum Kiri district’s Trapaing Veng commune from Saturday until Wednesday.
“Golden Hanuman 2019 is designed to strengthen the capacity, knowledge and expertise of army officers and soldiers in protecting current and future territorial integrity,” Gen Sucheat said.
Lieutenant General Hun Manet, deputy commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and commander of the army, is expected to preside over the opening ceremony on Saturday.
Exercise preparation (photo : Khmer Times)
Gen Sucheat said the exercise will include 1,595 soldiers from RCAF infantry, Bodyguard Unit, Air Defence Command, Brigade 70, Special Forces Paratrooper Brigade 911, Engineering Command and Transport Division 90.
“Heavy weapons used will include 152mm and 122mm artilleries, 23mm guns, 37mm guns, BM-21 rocket launchers, RM-70 rocket launchers, tanks, armored vehicles, fire trucks, military trucks and helicopters,” he said.
Royal Cambodian Army spokesman Brigadier General Mao Phalla yesterday said it will be RCA’s first drill under Lt Gen Manet’s command.
“It is our military habit. We have no intentions of threatening any group or country,” Brig Gen Phalla said. “We want to test our military abilities and measure the knowledge of the army and their expertise. We also want to compare to previous drills.”
Exercise preparation (photo : Khmer Times)
“We will cooperate with the Air Force Command, and most units under the jurisdiction of the RCA will also join us,” he added. “The previous drill was led by RCAF High Command, but this time it will be led by the Royal Cambodian Army.”
Brig Gen Sucheat said over the past decade, Cambodia has held three similar military drills, the first in 2010, the second in 2013 and the third last year.
Last year, the Golden Hanuman took place in Chum Kiri district, where the RCAF used 20 rocket launcher mounted vehicles and 22 artillery guns.
At the time, more than 1,000 soldiers from various divisions, headquarters and units participated in live-fire drills. The RCAF used heavy equipment such as three helicopters, 20 vehicle-mounted BM 21 rocket launchers, artillery, 32 tanks, and 68 trucks.
Exercise preparation (photo : Hun Manet)
Defence Minister General Tea Banh lauded last year’s drill because military personnel were able to accurately hit their marks.
“This is to show the capacity and technology which we attained from hard work,” Gen Banh said. “We have the ability to use live-fire if needed.”
Earlier this year, China and Cambodia held the Golden Dragon 2019, a military exercise. Both forces attended the event for 10 days in order to strengthen good cooperation.
Gen Sucheat said people living nearby the training ground should be alert and steer clear of the area.
“All the people who live around the training area in Kampot province’s Chum Kiri district, do not be alarmed by the drills,” he said. “We ask for understanding for any inconvenience.”
(KhmerTimesKH)
06 Mei 2019
PN Wildcat with torpedo (photo : Liam Toohill)
One of the AgustaWestland AW159 Mk.220 Wildcat naval helicopter bound for the Philippine Navy was photographed last month with a training torpedo mounted in it.
Based on previous information which were also posted here at MaxDefense, the torpedo to be supplied by Leonardo will the South Korean-made LIGNex1 K745 Blue Shark lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes, a few warshot and training rounds were included in the contract between Leonardo and DND.
The helicopters are on the way to the Philippines and are expected to arrive today 06 May 2019.
(MaxDefense)
06 Mei 2019
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing when on a goodwill visit to Saint Petersburg of the Russian Federation (photo : Min Aung Hlaing)
Myanmar will own submarines soon, said Commodore Moe Aung, Chief of Staff (Navy) on March 18 while answering to the media after the Combined Fleet Exercise-Sea Shield 2019.
“The Senior General already explained about the possession of submarines. They can be seen at Myanmar navy soon. Submarine arm is an armed forces and its operation area is under water. There are natural disasters as well as dangers from the enemies which can attack anytime. If there will be a problem, it is difficult to save them. So we are considering about long term plan. Another thing is to train submariners. It is required to train the submariners. A skillful submariner needs at least four years training to handle the submarine and to operate it. So our marines are having trainings for a long time,” said the Commodore.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services said during September 2015 that the Tatmadaw is planning to possess submarines within over four or five-year time.
“If we buy the submarines, we can own them now. We are thinking about many ways. We bought the navy vessels before and now we are building them. If we can build them, we can build them what we like. We can build the navy vessels based on the budget. If we cannot build them, we have to think of buying them from other countries,” he said.
In the submarines, attack submarines or hunter-killer submarines are called SSK which used diesel engines and SSN Nuclear which used nuclear power. Moreover there are ballistic missile submarines, cruise submarines and nuclear submarines.
Analysts said Myanmar should possess diesel powered submarines.
On the Combined Fleet Exercise-Sea Shield 2019, the navy performed exercises to prevent danger of enemy in the territory. While the fleet was heading with Formation-5, the information about an enemy submarine is reported. Two anti-submarine war vessels conducted an exercise in which the vessels attacked and destroyed the enemy submarine using torpedo, RDC rockets and LDC submersible bombs.
(Eleven Myanmar)
06 Mei 2019
Kongsberg bridge simulator (photo : RAN)
The Royal Australian Navy has awarded Kongsberg Digital a contract for the delivery of two K-Sim full mission bridge simulators at its HMAS Watson Bridge Simulator Facility in Watsons Bay, Sydney, Australia.
The Watson facility contract follows an earlier one from November 2018, under which Kongsberg was to deliver two simulators for a new training facility at HMAS Stirling in Perth.
The project is a noteworthy addition to Kongsberg’s service delivery contracts with the RAN, which includes multiple shiphandling and engine room simulators delivered at training facilities across the country.
The requirement for expansion and intensification of RAN’s training program is the result of a sustained period of growth and capability enhancement for the navy. Its shipbuilding program is currently fully occupied with the construction of new Hunter-class anti-submarine Future Frigates and Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels, while the navy is also taking delivery of two Supply-class AOR (Auxilliary Oiler Replenishment) vessels.
“Our simulator training requirements continue to grow and Kongsberg has shown the flexibility to support our requirements, even in a compressed timeframe,” said Commander Chris Doherty, Head of Command and Navigation, RAN. “This latest delivery reflects the depth of our partnership as well as the importance of high-quality simulator training to the safety and operational performance of our people and fleet.”
(Naval Today)
04 Mei 2019
KAAV-7A1 of the Philippines Marines Corps (all photos : Defense Times)
[Biz Korea] Hanhwa Defense delivered a Korean-type landing armored car for the Philippine Marines, which contracted for 60 billion won, to the Philippines. According to military and defense officials, four of the eight Korean-type landing armored vehicles ordered by the Philippine Army were delivered in April.
The amphibious armored car is an amphibious armored vehicle that has landed on the coast where the enemy occupies the marines in the sea and has been in use since 1951. In 1998, the AAV7-A1, which is used by the US Marine Corps, was manufactured in Korea under the technology introduction scheme and is being operated under the name of Korean-type landing armored vehicle (KAAV-7A1). In addition to the KAAV-7A1 for troop transport, command vehicles and support vehicles were also produced.
Korean marine amphibious assault armored vehicles are used not only for landing operations but also for Doha operations with the army. In November 2009, ten Korean LVT-7A1s were delivered to the Indonesian marines for free, as Korean-type landing armored vehicles were produced. Korean Marines are currently operating more than 160 AAV7-A1, the world's largest, after the US Marines.
Currently, Hanwha Defense is the only company in Korea that has production lines for AAV7-A1, except the United States, which is the original developing country. In April 2016, Korea's Korean landing armored vehicle was awarded BAE Systems' AAV7A1 in the landing assault armored car project which was promoted as a part of Philippine's plan to strengthen the book defense capacity.
At the time, the Philippine Department of Defense handed selects Hanwha Defense, which offered better conditions in terms of performance and price, in the project of introducing eight landing assault armored vehicles of 2,423 million pesos (about 60.1 billion won). In October last year, the Marines of the Philippines dispatched 20 Marines such as Bacolcol (Jean) to our marine training training team to acquire various know-how in order to operate Korean-type landing assault vehicles. In addition, various technical manuals of the Korean-type landing armored vehicles were also translated into English.
Four Korean-type landing armored vehicles delivered to the Philippine Army are likely to be released locally on the Philippine Navy Day on Thursday, defense officials said. Our army is carrying out Korean-type landing car-II project which is superior to Korean-type landing armored car currently in operation.
The Marines' next landing assault vehicle is expected to have a battle weight of 35 tons, 7.4 tons heavier than the Korean-type landing armored vehicle, and an engine output of 1500 horsepower, higher than the existing 400 horsepower. The main weapon is equipped with a 40mm cannon, which boasts a powerful firepower and will be more than doubled in protection. The maximum speed of the water is known as 20 km/h. The appearance of the next amphibious assault vehicle is known to be similar to that of an Expeditionary Combat Vehicle (EFV) that the US Marines are relinquishing at too high a price.
(BizHankook)
