25 September 2019
Acquire first submarine for PN projected in 2027 (photo : Liputan6)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy is looking to acquire its first-ever submarines by 2027.
Navy chief Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad said they had started to send personnel abroad in December last year for training ahead of the procurement of the submarines.
“As early as December last year, we sent personnel to France to train for our submarine acquisition program, which hopefully will have the first deliveries of two submarines in 2027,” he said in his speech in the ceremonial blessing for new amphibious vehicles and multi-purpose attack craft at the Navy headquarters in Manila on Monday.
The planned acquisition of submarines was already approved by President Rodrigo Duterte last May, along with two brand new corvettes, six offshore patrol vessels and six fast attack interdiction craft.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said they have not yet selected the supplier for the submarines, but the Navy had started preparing for it.
“Wala pa namang napili, pero we have already a submarine force. Wala pang submarines, pero we are trying to improve their capabilities to run a submarine, para bago pa lang kunin yung equipment alam na ang gagawin. Para pag dumating yun, we can use them immediately,” he told reporters.
[We have not chosen a supplier, but we already have submarine force. We don’t have submarines yet, but we are trying to improve their capabilities to run a submarine so that when the equipment is delivered, we already know what to do. So when they arrive, we can use them immediately.]
The Philippine Navy has been preparing itself for the acquisition of upcoming assets.
Empedrad said they have also sent 28 personnel to South Korea to start training for the Navy’s two missile-capable frigates scheduled for delivery in the next two years.
“Our personnel are trained well for these new capabilities,” he said.
(Inquirer)
25 September 2019
Development of transport aircraft in Indonesia (image : Lapan)
Jakarta (ANTARA) - National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Lapan) and stakeholders discussed the national aviation industry development roadmap at AeroSummit 2019, Jakarta, Sept 24-25, to promote the aviation industry and human resources for realizing golden Indonesia 2045.
"The main objective of this international seminar and AeroSummit is to bring together researchers, engineers, and industrialists to jointly develop space technology, particularly the aerospace technology," Lapan Chairman Thomas Djamaluddin remarked during AeroSummit 2019 at Bidakara Hotel in South Jakarta on Tuesday.
Themed "Streamlining the Synergy in Aerospace Industry," the second edition of AeroSummit, is organized by Lapan in collaboration with state aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia and Indonesia Aeronautical Engineering Center (IAEC).
The discussion of the roadmap involved all relevant stakeholders including those from the Transportation Ministry, Industry Ministry, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, aviation industry, the association of aviation and the National Committee for Economy and Industry.
In addition to highlighting the roadmap, the AeroSummit will also shed light on the key task, function, and membership of the board of trustees to expedite the development of the national aircraft technology and industry.
With this roadmap in place, the Indonesian aerospace industry is expected to develop at a quicker pace and register progress.
"To develop the aviation industry, ranging from aircraft to components, of course, we need support, including aftersales maintenance services," he stated.
He expressed hope that the roadmap discussed at the AeroSummit 2019 would be mirrored in the medium-term national development plan (RPJMN).
"The roadmap is still being prepared. Hopefully, the initial draft would be formulated soon. We will coordinate with Bappenas (the National Development Planning Agency) as far as possible to align it with the RPJMN," he added.
(Antara)
25 September 2019
First Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (photos : Aus DoD, DTR Magz)
Delivering the next generation of capability for the Australian Army
The first of the fleet of new Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) for the Australian Defence Force has been unveiled at a ceremony at Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane.
The 211 new Boxer 8x8 CRVs will be delivered by Rheinmetall Defence Australia under the $5 billion LAND 400 Phase 2 Mounted Combat Reconnaissance Capability program.
Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the new vehicles, with their high levels of protection, firepower and mobility, will provide a world-class capability to the Australian Army.
“These new vehicles are part of the Liberal National Government’s $200 billion investment in our defence capability to ensure the Australian Defence Force is equipped to succeed in our challenging strategic environment,” Minister Reynolds said.
“They will be able to undertake a range of missions from regional stability and peacekeeping through to high-threat operations, and will provide improved safety to Australian soldiers on deployment and on exercises around the world.”
Minister for Defence Industry the Hon Melissa Price welcomed the approximately 1,450 jobs across Australia that would flow from the construction of the vehicles.
“This project presents an exciting opportunity for Australian industry to play a vital role in delivering leading-edge capability and technology to Australia’s Army,” Minister Price said.
“Our Government’s investment decisions in defence capability are complemented by a comprehensive defence industry policy agenda to support a robust, resilient and internationally competitive defence industry, which will support jobs and investment across the country.”
Over the 30-year life of the vehicles, Australian industry will secure $10.2 billion of the total investment in acquiring and maintaining the fleet.
Minister Price also today announced an additional seven small businesses that have been contracted by Rheinmetall as suppliers for the first 25 Boxer vehicles.
The companies are:
-Brisbane-based Frontline Manufacturing: supplying prototype bracketry.
-Sydney-based Precision Metal Group Australia: supplying prototype bracketry.
-Burnie-based Direct Edge: supplying prototype bracketry.
-Melbourne-based MoTeC: supplying information data logging, IT connections and system support.
-Sydney-based Axalta: supplying specialist paint and paint supply products.
-Melbourne-based Hilton Manufacturing: supplying prototype bracketry.
-Brisbane-based Rockpress: supplying mine blast protection plates.
This brings to a total of 12 small businesses across Australia who will contribute to the Boxer program, ensuring the delivery of these vehicles is a national enterprise.
The first 25 vehicles will be assembled in Germany and delivered to Australia as part of technology transfer activities to familiarise Australian workers and suppliers on the specific manufacturing techniques of these vehicles.
The remaining vehicles will be assembled at Rheinmetall’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence facility in Redbank, near Ipswich, using companies located across Australia.
(Aus DoD)
25 September 2019
Damen Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel 1604. It has two diesel engines and water jets (photo : Damen)
A tender for two medium assault craft for the Army. Based on the specifications, this is likely be part of the Army’s experimentation on the proposed amphibious brigade.
The amphibious capability was previously suggested by the Defence Ministry as part of the lessons learnt from the Lahad Datu incident but was shelved as the military wanted other capabilities. I was told that the idea was shelved as no new funding was to be allocated for the proposal even though the previous defence minister was quite keen on it.
According to the specifications released, the two landing craft should not be less than 15 metres long with a beam of four meters. It should have a top speed of 45 knots and operational speed of 30 knots and fitted with three 300hp outboard motors.
The landing craft should be able to carry a vehicle of up to 2.000kg, carrying capacity of 5.000 kg and eletrically powered bow door.
See full article Malaysian Defence
24 September 2019
GATR is an affordable semi-active, laser-guided, 70 mm (2.75-inch) rocket. featuring increased performance due to a unique aerodynamic design, a cutting-edge multi-purpose, Electronic fusing delay and IM warhead (photo : Elbit Systems)
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will be receiving Guided Advance Tactical Rockets (GATR) from Israeli company Elbit Systems.
According to MaxDefense Philippines, delivery is expected to happen approximately one year from signing of contract which transpired early 2019 which is a test buy.
MaxDefense said it “received confirmation that a contract was signed in early 2019 worth around Php156.785 million (around US$3 million), with deliveries expected to happen in around a year’s time or less.”
“An initial buy involving a few launchers and munitions to equip the PAF’s AgustaWestland AW109E Power armed helicopters was planned, which will allow the PAF to conduct its own evaluations of the system prior to deciding on purchasing in larger numbers,” MaxDefense said.
(Mintfo)
24 September 2019
KF-X/IF-X fighter (image : PTDI)
The Korean-style fighter “KFX”, which only existed in computer graphics, will finally release a full-scale mockup for the general public.
In October, the full-scale mockup of the Korean-style fighter “KFX” is finally here.
The Korean National Defense Department announced on September 19 that it will exhibit a full-scale mockup of the Korean-style fighter "KFX" under development at "Seoul ADEX 2019" to be held in Seoul on the 15th of next month.
Seoul ADEX 2019 is said to be the largest defense equipment trade fair in the Asian region at the aerospace and defense industry exhibition held in Korea once every two years.
The exhibition includes a trainer/light attack aircraft "T-50 Golden Eagle" developed by the Korean defense industry (general name), a multi-purpose helicopter "KUH-1 Surion", a tank "K-2 Black Panther". The Korean media reported that many domestic weapons such as the artillery gun "K-9 Thunder" will be on display and business talks for overseas exports will be held.
Of particular note is the full-scale mockup of the Korean-style fighter “KFX”, which Korea is jointly developing with Indonesia.
The development of KFX has already progressed to the production of prototypes, but so far only the models on computer graphics and the models exhibited at Seoul ADEX 2017 are exhibited, and the actual mockup exhibition is realized this time, seen as the purpose of raising public understanding and support for KFX development.
In particular, many of the problems facing Korea's “KFX” are in the integration of technologies with different origins.
In addition, South Korea will continue to make improvements even after the development of KFX, and a Weapon Bay will be added to Block 2, and after Block 3, the air intake will be improved, the vertical tail will be redesigned, and the engine nozzle will become stealth. It is said that we will upgrade the onboard electronic equipment and improve the capacity to the fifth generation machine or the equivalent to the sixth generation machine, but if you make a large-scale improvement close to the redesign of the aircraft, Prices are just going up.
Although the story has greatly diverted, if you return the story to the main subject, KFX's full-scale mockup will be released next month, Korean media will also report extensively, and new KFX related information may also come out unknown.
On the one hand, it is also a very exciting part of what kind of story pops out.
See full article GrandFleet
24 September 2019
38 tonnes Griffin II light tank (photo :Jimkir)
At the 2019 Modern Day Marine annual exhibition and conference held in Quantico, Virginia from September 17 to 19, 2019, General Dynamics Corporation first introduced the Griffin II model of its light tank, which was previously selected by the US Army as one of two final applicants for the development on a competitive basis of tracked combat vehicles with cannon weapons under the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program.
Recall that in December 2018, the U.S. Army issuedBAE Systems and General Dynamics have a competitive contract for the development of tracked combat vehicles under the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program, which provides for the creation of a kind of new "light tank" with cannon weapons for the US Army. BAE Systems and General Dynamics received US $ 375.9 and 335 million contracts from the US Army, respectively, each for the construction and delivery for testing of 12 prototypes of its own version of the MPF machine at the R&D stage (Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development - EMD). The supply of prototypes should be started after 14 months and completed after 18-19 months from the date of receipt of the contract. According to the results of comparative tests of the presented prototypes, the US Army should make the final choice of a machine for serial production by the end of fiscal year 2021 and in 2022 fin. to issue an order to the selected contractor for the first pre-production batch of 26 cars with an option for the second pre-production batch of 28 cars. Full-scale serial production is expected from 2025 fin. of the year.
The current plans of the US Army provide for the purchase of 504 serial MPF machines. First of all, these vehicles should go to equip the companies planned for the formation of individual companies (staffing the company is 14 vehicles) in infantry brigades (Infantry Brigade Combat teams - IBCT). The introduction of such a company into each of the 33 infantry brigades of the regular army and the National Guard is supposed, the first such company should achieve combat readiness in 2025 fin. year.
Modular turret of Griffin II (image : Jimkir)
The Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program, launched by the US Army in 2015, provides for the creation of a tracked combat vehicle weighing no more than 32 tons at first (according to the latest data, the mass limit has been increased to 38 tons - although it may mean “short” tons), equipped with cannon weapons of 105 or 120 mm caliber and active defense complex. By design, MPF vehicles will have a higher level of operational and tactical mobility than Abrams tanks.
BAE Systems offers under this program the reincarnation of the famous M8 Armored Gun Systems (AGS) Buford, developed by FMC (then United Defense, now part of BAE Systems) at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s to replace the M551 Sheridan light tank, primarily in the airborne formations. In 1995, the M8 tank was adopted by the U.S. Army, but in 1997 the M8 program was canceled before the start of mass production due to reduced military spending. Only six M8 models were built. The light tank M8 has a combat weight of 19 to 25 tons, depending on the version of the interchangeable protection kit and is equipped with a 105 mm M35 cannon with automatic loader.
At the same time, General Dynamics is proposing under the MPF program the Griffin II machine of a completely new development, the appearance of which has not been made public until recently. It is known that Griffin II was developed on the basis of the Griffin I prototype demonstrator shown several years ago, which was the installation of a modified lightweight turret of the M1A2SEPv2 Abrams tank with the new 120 mm XM360 gun on the ASCOD 2 chassis, used in the new British Ajax tracked combat reconnaissance vehicle (developers and manufacturers of ASCOD 2 are European-owned General Dynamics-owned European companies - Spanish General Dynamics European Land Systems Santa Bárbara Sistemas and Austrian General Dynamics European Land Systems - Steyr). The total mass of the turret in Griffin I was reduced from 22 tons (for the M1A2SEPv.2 tank) to supposedly only 8 tons,
At the same time, according to a number of publications, the combat weight of the new Griffin II reaches exactly the indicated maximum limits for MPF of 38 tons. You can see that on the presented Griffin II model the tower again returned to almost “normal” sizes for the main tank - including through the installation of very impressive modular reservation blocks.
(BMPD)
