Nov 2007 - Defence Review Asia

Transcription

DECEMBER 2007/JANUARY 2008
VOLUME 1, NUMBER 8
MICA (P) 150/03/2007
Low-level air defence solutions
Malaysia’s first Scorpene launched
Russia’s trade future in Asia
French Tigre
New generation fighters for Asia
CONTENTS
6
New generation fighters target
Asian markets
12 French Army Tigre HAP
operational debut
16 Latest SHORAD solutions for Asia
20 Finding the right operational mix a
major challenge for RMN
23 New Joint Forces Command highlights
C4I equipment shortage in MAF
40 Naval & Defence 2007 Busan
31 Asian security contractor
casualties in Iraq
44 KD Tunku Abdul Rahman
Scorpene launched
32 Russian trade outlook in Asia
46 Russian helicopter industry anniversary
36 Korea Watch: ROK still wants
RQ-4 Global Hawk
48 East Asia after the APEC Summit:
Strategic agendas
37 India Outlook:
Tejas test-fires R-73 AAM
38 Australian Army growth on track but
NCW plans delayed
50 Bookshelf: China’s Future Nuclear
Submarine Force
Vladimir Karnozov
25 Prospects for Russian-type
carriers in Asia
30 Pacific 2008 preview
MiG-29KUB
DECEMBER 2007/
JANUARY 2008
VOLUME 1, NUMBER 8
MICA (P) 150/03/2007
Front Cover: A pair of French Army 5e RHC
Tigre HAPs take off from Nogaro-en-Armagnac
during the type’s first tactical evaluation in
October. Both machines are armed with live 30
mm ammo rounds. Credit: Jean-Michel Guhl
Editor
Ross Butler
Contributors
Dzirhan Mahadzir
Keith Jacobs
Jean-Michel Guhl ([email protected])
Miroslav Gyürösi
James C. O’Halloran
Nicholas Merrett
Robert Brooks
Simon Watson
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MICA (P) 150/03/2007
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DEFENCE
DEFENCEREVIEW
REVIEWASIA
ASIA 33
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EDITORIAL
By Dzirhan Mahadzir
“COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS”
he more advanced and affluent a country or
civilization becomes, the harder it is to find
not only people willing to become soldiers but
also individuals with the right qualities or skills to be
effectively transformed into soldiers in a short period
of time. This is further complicated by the nature
of today’s society where many civilian pursuits and
sports such as hunting and shooting, which provide
the civilian population with skills easily applicable
to military duty, have largely gone out of favor or
are deemed to be politically incorrect. Increasing
urbanization has also led to a smaller rural base
of such people who had the necessary ‘stock’ for
hard work and the innate fieldcraft skills that made
them excellent soldier material. The result is that
most advanced society’s military’s now need to
spend more time and effort turning their recruits into
viable soldiers. At the same time though, developing
physical and fieldcraft skills in soldiers is not enough,
as the same soldier needs to learn how to operate
the various complex items of equipment the modern
soldier now operates. This translates similarly to
sailors and airmen, where in the past, civilian sailors
and airmen, both professional and amateurs could
easily form a readily available pool of manpower for
navies and air forces, whereas the complexities of
modern warships and combat aircraft now precludes
this. And naturally in affluent and comfortable
societies, it becomes very difficult to recruit people
when the financial rewards and benefits of other
jobs can be far greater but also because military
service carries hardship and the risk of death. This
has been so for much of the late 20th century and
the present, a problem that many Western societies
have been grappling with in the maintenance of their
armed forces. However this is also an issue that
T
Asian governments also need to consider for the
rising standards of living and development in Asia are
also set to produce similar situations for most Asian
countries in the near future. Most Asian armed forces
are used to either conscription or having a level of
underdevelopment that creates a viable recruitment
pool for volunteer armed forces. Conscription
becomes a source of internal dissatisfaction as
a society progresses, and as the United States in
Vietnam and Russia in Afghanistan and Chechnya
have shown, a war going badly with a conscript army
is enough to destroy or severely disrupt such a system
not to mention bring about large protests in society.
If the situation in Southern Thailand deteriorates
to an extent where the Thai military takes heavy
casualties, a similar breakdown could occur there.
Yet a volunteer system is not a perfect solution either.
Western countries already show that it is increasingly
difficult to recruit and maintain a significant voluntary
military force and the same trends can slowly be
seen in some Asian countries such as Malaysia,
which maintains an all-volunteer system but faces
problems recruiting sufficient soldiers. Both Western
and Asian countries have made one major mistake
on this issue - namely leaving the responsibility of
finding enough recruits largely in the hands of the
defence ministries and the military. Addressing the
problems of society producing sufficient potential
soldiers for recruitment is an issue that needs to be
addressed via a holistic approach that encompasses
all aspects of governance and society. Ironically,
while advanced civilizations have trouble finding
enough people to become soldiers, it is disturbing to
note that terrorist groups seem to have no difficulties
finding enough recruits from these very societies to
martyr themselves. Q
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
5
NEW FIGHTERS IN ASIA
Saab
Gripen of the Swedish Air Force
By Richard Gardner
New generation
fighters target Asian markets
hroughout the Asia Pacific region, from
India to Japan, air force planners and
government funding departments are being
forced to address the issue of ageing fighter fleets.
Most operators of front line fighters have retained
second and third generation jets far longer than
originally intended as, on the whole, threat levels
have not justified more frequent upgrading or type
replacement. But the political landscape is changing,
and as a consequence, the balance in relative air
power capability is also gradually shifting. The arrival
into service in the region of highly advanced multirole combat aircraft (such as the Sukhoi MK30) has
brought new pressures on air force chiefs to retain
their national self-defence margins. This is causing
a “ripple effect” as more air arms look at what might
be suitable for an improvement in fighter strength
whilst at the same time keeping the cost of a new
fleet at an affordable level.
Such issues like industrial off-set, bartering
and licence production are often key elements in
T
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
final decision-making, as is the matter of whether
selection of a new fighter will be approved by the
original supplier’s government. This alone can kill
a potential order stone-dead and, as in the case
of the previous Pakistani order for F-16s, prevent
delivery even after the aircraft have been ordered
and manufactured. Pakistan is now back out of the
cold for US arms supplies, including resumed F-16
sales. However, strict export controls by Western
nations do play an important role in deciding
whether high performance combat aircraft can
be acquired. This decision-making takes place
in a highly competitive military market, including
Russia anxious to increase fighter exports and
with some impressive products available. For the
West, the loss of a valuable export sale has to be
balanced against wider strategic implications. Also,
the full export value of a sale has to be considered
alongside the added burden created by overambitious customers offsetting demands which
can wipe out most or all of the profits that would
be expected from such deals. Further, this can also
add to delays and overall increase in costs. Whilst
competing suppliers are very keen to drive home
deals that might lead to further export success, if
the rewards appear too marginal or too balanced in
favour of another bidder, then the company might
just walk away from the next competition. This
happened after Dassault lost the South Korean
fighter order to the Boeing F-15K after the Rafale
was chosen on technical merit.
There is little doubt that trade barter deals
are considered less appropriate now that new
generation combat aircraft are so highly expensive.
Through-life support contracts and wider trade
deals allow more scope for a more sophisticated
offset arrangement, rather than an aircraft being
paid for by the sale of millions of hens or pigs, as
has happened in the past! But barter deals are still
going on where the supplier is prepared to take
whatever the customer can offer, especially if short
of procurement cash.
Vladimir Karnozov
The RMAF Su-30MKM taxiing after its first flight.
Dassault
THAI TAKE-AWAY
Rafale
It might have been thought almost inevitable that
Thailand would select F-16C/D fighters to replace its
ageing F-5Es, as its air force has always been close
to the US military and is already an F-16A operator. It
has also bought surplus F-16s from Singapore, but
according to local Thai reports, the US government
is still unhappy following the 2006 military coup
and is unwilling to supply the latest generation of
fighters, including the F-16C/D or F/A-18 E/F. This
narrowed down the choice of new aircraft under
consideration to replace the 1960/1970s era F5E/Fs. With Burma, Vietnam and China re-arming
with Mig-29s, F-7s, Su-27s and Su-30MKs, and
Malaysia and Indonesia modernising their air forces
with Su-30MKs, Thailand also looked at the Sukhoi
family. Notwithstanding, on 17 October it finally
announced that it had selected the Saab JAS-39
Gripen lightweight multi-role fighter.
Considered by many to be an outside choice
in this competition, the selection represents an
Asia Pacific sales breakthrough for the Swedish
fighter, which is widely regarded as a greatly underrated fourth/fifth-generation all-rounder. With an
advanced all-digital flight control system, integrated
avionics and communications systems and an
ability to carry a wide range of missiles and sensor
pods, the Gripen is gradually establishing itself as a
popular choice in former Eastern European states
and as an international contender to replace a
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
7
J-M Guhl
Mi29M OVT (aka MiG-35) with Klimov RD-33MK swivelling exhausts.
wide variety of older supersonic fighters. It is very
compact compared to its main rivals, taking full
advantage of the fact that modern digital electronic
systems require far less onboard volume, freeing up
internal space and reducing weight. It is extremely
agile and able to operate off short runways, with a
minimum of ground support equipment. This is a
Swedish legacy from years of dispersed operations
and gives customers a versatile air platform which
can provide a highly credible air defence capability,
with the latest air-to-air missiles, but can also carry
a worthwhile load of precision weapons, including
stand-off missiles, bombs and rockets. It has a
limited range, but large underwing tanks and airto-air refuelling probes can be carried. If to replace
existing fighters such as the Mirage and Mig-29,
the Gripens built-in fuel reserves are adequate
although the company is addressing the need to
increase range and endurance.
The Gripen C/D remains in production for
Sweden and for export customers. A new
development programme is now underway to
equip the aircraft with the GE F414G engine and
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
a 40% increase in internal fuel, along with a repositioned and strengthened main landing gear
and more underwing weapons pylons. This new
version is aimed at providing more competition
to the F-35 and the latest F-16E/F and F/A-18
fighters, offering advanced features at a competitive
cost. The version to be delivered to Thailand will
almost certainly be built to the current Gripen C/
D standard, although some of the improvements
to be introduced on the development programme
could be retro-fitted later.
The Royal Thai Air Force is initially planning to take
just six Gripens starting in late 2008, with plans to
order six more for delivery after 2013. The $1billion
deal will also include up to two Saab Erieye AEW&C
(early warning and command/control) aircraft.
The Ericcson Erieye phased-array radar is fitted
onto modified Saab 340s or 2000s, according to
customer preference. Pakistan has already ordered
six Saab AEW&C 2000s and Sweden has its own
fleet of Erieye-equipped Saab 340s. In selecting
such a modern surveillance and command and
control air asset as the Erieye, Thailand is well
placed to fully exploit the operational capability of
the Gripens. This added battlespace awareness
and the aircraft connectivity with ground stations
and control centres will produce an air defence (or
offensive support) capability out of proportion to
the relatively small numbers of fighters planned to
be in service.
INDIAN REQUESTS
The Gripen is also on the bidding “short list” for India’s
requirement for 126 new fighters to supplement
its new heavyweight Su-30MKs. This is turning
out to be one of the hardest fought air platform
competitions for some time. If selected, Saab
would be required to set up an Indian assembly line
with HAL. Saab could have a winner on its hands in
this competition, following its success in Thailand,
as India is believed to be looking for an advanced
fighter that is simpler and cheaper to operate than
the awe-inspiring Su-30MK. This might weight the
competition against the Eurofighter Typhoon and
Dassault Rafale, which both offer a premium multirole performance which is probably too close to that
Networking ...
... to defeat aerial threats
Saab Bofors Dynamics develops and produces short to medium range, man-portable, and vehicle-mounted, ground-based air
defence systems.
The systems are uniquely un-jammable, command to line-of-sight systems designed to enable building of an air defence
network where the BAMSE medium range system can co-ordinate and command connected RBS 70 SHORADS.
Each system is designed to be an optimised ground-based air defence system, avoiding any compromise.
Saab Bofors Dynamics – engaged in precision
SAAB BOFORS DYNAMICS
www.saabgroup.com
Boeing
F/A-18F.
of the Su-30MK to offer value as an intermediate
fighter. The Russian offering in this competition
is based on the latest development of the Mig29 OVT, now known as the Mig-35. This has thrust
vectoring and a greatly upgraded specification with
larger wings, heavy weapons load and a solid-state
Zhuk multi-track radar. India is already a big-time
user of the Mig-29, and whilst fully aware of its
shortcomings in terms of reliability, it must regard
the Mig-35 an attractive offer as it is in effect almost
an all-new aircraft compared to the original version.
The US is offering the latest versions of its F-16
and F/A-18, but India might have been discouraged
from ordering the F-16 by the US decision to supply
advanced Block 50 models to Pakistan, along with
upgrade kits for earlier A/B versions and resumed
delivery of blocked orders. The F/A-18 E/F might
have appeal for India but it is unclear how easy it
would be for HAL to participate in local production of
either the F-16 or F/A-18 as technology transfer on
the more advanced systems might become an issue.
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
This is a subject that the US bidders are not willing
to discuss. India (through HAL) has shown itself to
be highly capable in producing advanced operational
fighters under licence, and such programmes have
shown more success in production than India’s
indigenous programmes, such as the LCA Tejas.
Engine availability has been a problem on the LCA
but it is still India’s stated intention to develop both the
lightweight fighter and a larger medium-size combat
aircraft, with land-based and naval versions of both. It
remains to be seen whether there is enough defence
funding available to embark on all these schemes,
along with continued licence production of Su30MKs, upgrades to Su-27s and Mirage 2000s and
the 126 new “interim” medium fighters. The current
outstanding requirement for 126 aircraft is seen by
manufacturers (both Eastern and Western) as too
good an opportunity to miss, when home markets
are reducing, so it can be reasonably assumed that
India will get the offset demands it will undoubtedly
demand.
ACROSS THE BORDER
The Pakistan government is now a US ally in the
so-called “war on terror” even though dissident
elements in its wild North-West frontier border
regions provide a steady flow of weapons and
volunteer fighters to Afghanistan. Since taking steps
to clamp down on the fundamentalist extremists
within its own borders, Pakistan has been able to
turn to the US for upgrading its ageing combat air
fleet which was previously mainly supplied with
Chinese sourced fighters. The co-developed F7
series is in widespread service with around 150
on order. Now that the latest F-16s are being
delivered there is less need for strategic reliance
on Chinese military aircraft. Pakistan has also been
a large-scale user of Dassault Mirage fighters for
many years, dating back to the Mirage III from the
late 1960s but subsequently supplemented by
Mirage Vs ROSS not sure if Richard is trying to say
Pakistan subsequently supplemented the Mirage III
with Mirage Vs or that as a general note aside that
CHINESE EXPANSION
Despite the onward march of the Su-27 and Su-30
family, the continuing sales success of the F-15 and
F-16, together with ongoing upgrade programmes
(and slippages on the JSF), has reduced regional
pressure to commit to the next generation Western
fighters, such as Rafale, Eurofighter and the F35. Japan is growing ever more concerned at
Chinese economic power, and its ability to fund
a major expansion of military capability. Its longer
term fears include Chinese expansion of military
ambitions beyond its current borders. China is
Jean-Michel Guhl
the Mirage III was subsequently supplemented by
Mirage Vs….?, many of which have been acquired
from pre-owned stocks declared surplus by other
users such as Libya and France. Possible slight
rewrite:- Pakistan has also been a large-scale
user of Dassault Mirage fighters for many years,
dating back to the Mirage III from the late 1960s.
These were subsequently supplemented by Mirage
Vs, many of which have been acquired from preowned stocks declared surplus by other users
such as Libya and France. It is conceivable that
Pakistan might take another look at the Rafale, if in
due course it wishes to retain a more independent
procurement policy.
Indonesia’s air force has been suffering from a
general national economic malaise that over the last
decade has transformed one of the most ambitious
pro-aviation nations in the Asia Pacific region into
an air power backwater. It still operates a handful
of F-16s and Hawk 209 lightweight fighters, but
it has been attempting to upgrade its air defence
capability with Su27s and Su-30MKs. Only a small
number are now in service, but it is intended to
expand the numbers to establish two operational
squadrons of each type making around 50 in total.
Malaysia has a small but very mixed front-line fighter
force comprising F/A-18Ds, F-5Es, Hawk 208s,
Mig-29s and Su-30MKs. The Mig-29s in particular
have suffered from serious availability issues, and
at different periods have been grounded. The new
Su-30MKs have changed the strategic balance
locally, providing a far more credible all-round
enhancement in air power, leading to a desire in
Singapore to invest in a strengthened air defence
force built up around a new fleet of F-15SG multirole fighters and upgraded F-16As and newer
C/Ds. Because of the continuing security threat
to global shipping from pirates operating in the
Malacca Straits, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and
Indonesia signed an agreement in 2005 to jointly
patrol the area. Although largely carried out at low
level by maritime patrol aircraft, the agreement is
backed up by the occasional appearance of fighter
firepower which is effective in providing a visual
deterrent.
Eurofighter.
certainly indulging in a spending spree on new
front-line air power, with Russian help. The main
enhancements to fighter power come from orders
and licence production of Sukhoi types, including
the Su-27SK (J-11A) and Su-30MKK. Over
100 Su-27s have been bought from Russia with
200 more being produced in China. Over 130 Su30MKKs are expected to be delivered over the next
few years. Some of these aircraft (such as the naval
Su33s) are intended for use aboard the ex-Russian
aircraft carrier that will give China a global maritime
air power capability for the first time. Japan is not
allowed to buy the F-22 raptor, so for the time
being its main fighter force comprises F-15s and
the F2, a locally made derivative of the F-16. The
FX (a new programme) is intended to replace the
remaining 130 plus F-4 Phantoms, but in view of the
numbers required will almost certainly be a licencebuilt foreign design. The Eurofighter Typhoon or
Dassault Rafale would fit the requirement perfectly,
but there will be immense US political pressure
on Japan to stay with a US design – perhaps the
F-35. At the top end of the air defence shopping
list in Japan is an alternative air superiority (or
air dominance) platform to the F-22 which could
defeat the Su-30MKK. A full-size mock-up of an
indigenous Japanese stealthy fighter design has
been tested in a French radar cross-section facility,
but virtually no details have been released of the
weight or performance of this project, and the likely
development costs for domestic Japanese use
only (military aircraft exports being forbidden by
Japanese law) would be extremely high.
Taiwan and South Korea are two more regional
countries concerned at the Chinese military build
up, but both know that they can rely on continuing
US strategic support, with large scale US military air
power available in-country. Taiwan has produced
its own advanced fighter, the F-CK-1A, which
resembles a cross between an F-16 and an F/A18. A new upgraded version is being developed
and it might re-enter production soon, some 130
examples of the initial version having been made.
These serve alongside over 100 F-16As and a
similar number of F-5Es. Around 60 Dassault Mirage
2000-5s have also been supplied (from 1997) and
probably provide the most effective multi-role fighter
performance. South Korea has a large fighter force
of F-5Es, Phantom F-4Es, F-16Cs and F-15Ks,
which are replacing the remaining Phantoms. The
home-produced KAI A-50 (a combat version of the
T-50 supersonic advanced trainer) is expected to
be ordered in larger quantities to replace the F-5Es.
South Korea has initiated a study that might lead
to the KFX becoming a full programme. This would
be a larger, more capable combat aircraft than the
A-50 and would fly alongside the F-16 and F-15 to
replace more F-4s and F-5Es.
The regional Asia Pacific market for new fighters
is being fuelled by a combination of concerns over
China and more local disputes where a balance
in capability is regarded as essential. There is no
shortage of suitable fighter platforms – affordability
remains the key. Q
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
11
FRENCH ARMY TIGER
Jean-Michel Guhl
French Army Tigre HAP
operational début
xactly four years after the first series production
Tigre (Tiger) HAP for the French Army made its
maiden flight at Marignane, the French Army
Light Aviation (ALAT) corps finally started operating
its brand-new machines at squadron level this
autumn, the Tigre having been approved for service
last summer.
Indeed, the first ever European-designed advanced
attack helicopter actually commenced its operational
career in earnest during the last week of October
2007 when a trio of EC 665 Tigre HAPs from the 5e
Régiment d’Hélicoptères de Combat performed an
initial “Experimentation tactique”, or Taceval, during
a week-long field deployment from a small offset
regional airport in Nogaro-en-Armagnac. Located
in the Gers region of France, a rural area known to
attract more retired Britons than any other group
in Europe, Nogaro was chosen because its airport
is precisely situated midway between Pau airfield,
home of the 5e RHC, and the Captieux gunnery and
bombing range south-east of Bordeaux, therefore
providing for a shorter (and safer) transit time
between live shooting sessions.
The tactical experiment, supervised by Major
Vincent Vermorel, chief of the first Tigre-cell (EHAP
1) of the 5e RHC, was conducted using a three
Tigre flight backed by a pair of Gazelle and Puma
helicopters. It lasted one week and included day and
night live firing sorties over the Captieux range in
good and bad weather conditions. All crewmembers
were equipped with the latest version of the Thales
TopOwl helmet-mounted sight and display individual
system (identical to the one selected by the USMC
for the AH-1Z crew). In addition, the pilot in the front
seat has a specific head up display that is due to
disappear on the later model Tigres. The German
Tiger crew, are for their part equipped with BAE
Systems Integrated Day and Night Helmets while
Australian Tigers have the Helmet-Mounted Sight
Display (HMSD) from Thales Australia.
E
J-M. Guhl
One of the first series production Eurocopter EC 665 Tigre HAPs delivered last summer to the 5e Régiment d’Hélicoptères de Combat of
the French Army light aviation corps (ALAT).
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
FRENCH ARMY TIGER
J-M. Guhl
Each crew station is equipped with a Control and
Display Unit (CDU). Navigation, communications
and system status are controlled via the CDU. The
CDU includes a Data Insertion Device (DID), which
is a removable memory pack preprogrammed with
mission data at a ground station.
EHAP 1 is provisionally equipped with three Tigres
and should have two more by Christmas. It should
have its full unit complement of eight Tigres by June
of next year when a second escadrille (EHAP 2) will
trade its old Gazelles for new Tigres. By the end of
2008, a total of 20 Tigre HAPs will be based at Pau
including four assigned to the French special forces
(DAOS), by which time a first cell of four Tigre HAPs
should have been deployed in support of ISAF and
NATO contingents in Afghanistan.
The result of tight German and French cooperation
for an advanced multi-role battlefield helicopter
started back in 1984. The joint venture between MBB
and Aérospatiale reached the starting block when,
in November 1989, the future Eurocopter company
(created in 1992) received a contract to build
five prototypes (PT1 to 5). Three were to be three
unarmed testbeds and two weaponised prototypes:
one for the German anti-tank variant (PAH-2) and
the second for the French escort helicopter variant
(HAP), at first named Gerfaut (or gyrfalcon) by the
French ALAT.
Serial production of the Tiger began in March
2002 and the first flight of the first production Tiger
HAP for the French Army took place in March 2003.
The delivery of the first four of the eighty helicopters
ordered by the French took place in September 2003.
All went to the joint Franco-German (EFA) training
centre in Le Luc, France, where all formation on the
Tigre is consolidated. So far, the Tiger is in service
in the land forces of Australia, France, Germany
and Spain.
AIRFRAME CONSTRUCTION
With an airframe constructed mainly (80 percent)
of carbon fiber reinforced polymer and Kevlar with
titanium structures and aluminium ribs, the Tigre is
a highly advanced combat helicopter whose rotors
are made from fiber-plastic able to withstand combat
damage and bird strikes, as well as stopping up
to 23 mm cannon fire shells. The baseline Tigre is
equipped with a complete ECM suite consisting of an
AN/AAR-60 MILDS system providing radar and laser
warning plus a missile launch/approach detector
developed by EADS, connected with a Thales
central processing unit. A twin MBDA Saphir-M chaff
and flare dispenser is also fitted to the tail boom
right under the twin engine jet exhausts to provide
360° close self protection as distant visual, radar,
infrared and noise signatures have been drastically
minimalised on the EC 665.
Wearing Thales TopOwl headgear, a 5e RHC Tiger pilot gives pre flight directions to nearby ground personnel.
The EC 665 is also equipped with a navigation
system made of a pair of Thales three-axis ring
laser gyro units, two magnetometers, two air data
computers, BAE Systems Canada CMA 2012
four-beam Doppler radar, radio altimeter, global
positioning system and an extensive suite of low air
speed sensors and sensors for terrain following.
The helicopter’s communications ensemble
includes HF, MF, VHF, UHF, military SATCOM and
a full datalink system with Link 4A and soon to be
implemented Link 16 (or TADIL-J) coupled with an
IFF system to allow use of the MBDA Mistral AAM.
Production breakdown of the Tigre is divided into
two main lines, with the cannon armed HAP variant
for France’s ALAT on one side and the anti-tank UHT
variant for the German Bundeswehr on the other.
Three configurations exist: UHT multi-role fire support
for the German Army and HAD multi-role combat
and HAP combat support for the French Army. Each
country has agreed to purchase 80 copies over a
period of ten years.
The German Tiger UHT multi-role fire support
helicopter is quite different from the HAP/HAD/ARH
variants. Fitted with a Sagem Osiris mast-mounted
sight, with Infrared Charge Coupled Device (IRCCD)
camera and laser rangefinder, the UHT also has a
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
13
FRENCH ARMY TIGER
J-M. Guhl
Tigre HAP c/n 2013 seen over the Captieux gunnery range during a live training exercise in October 2007.
nose-mounted Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) with
a 40° x 30° field of view identical to the one mounted
on the newly delivered NH90 MRTT helicopters of
the Bundeswehr. It is however devoid of a swiveling
30 mm gun like on the baseline Tiger, something the
German crew interviewed at the EFA consider as a
serious “shortcoming” in view of the present combat
trends and the likely use of this helicopter in counter
terrorist operations.
In France, the French Army Tigers are clearly seen
as a deployable support weapon to be used with
expeditionary forces shipped to distant overseas
theatres aboard the new BPC (LPH) of the French
navy. From 21 May to 7 June this year, Eurocopter
along with the French procurement agency (DGA)
carried out the first navalisation trials of the Tiger
aboard the LPD “Siroco”, followed by operations
from different vessels equipped with a suitable
helipad like the La Fayette-class “Guépratte” frigate.
Some 300 deck landings were performed during
this sea campaign, including a spell of rough “rock
and roll” trials in extreme conditions with 20 ft swells
and 60 mph gusts where the Tiger did well touching
down at deck angles well over 10° on several
occasions.
Meanwhile export of the EC 665 is well underway
although all deliveries are clearly lagging behind
because of poor planning at industrial level with
Eurocopter’s much spread out divisions. Normal
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
production rate of the EC 665 will not become fluid
before 2009 or 2010 with only about over a dozen
copies produced annually before that.
MTR 390-E ENGINE
All of the ‘Step 2’ EC 665 Tigers for France’s ALAT are
powered by a pair of MTR 390-2C turbines producing
873 kW each and capable of delivering 1,160 kW for
30 seconds in case of emergency to cope with oneengine-inoperative safety requirements. Normal power
output shaft speed is 8,000 rpm. Offering 958 kW
(1285 shp) at take-off, with ample emergency power
the MTR390 perfectly meets NATO one-engineinoperative safety requirements. However to cope
for more demanding needs, the Standard 2 Tigers
will receive the newer ‘E‘ version (Enhanced) engine
when available. The MTR390-E will give a 14 percent
power increase compared to the existing baseline
version. While the 2C-model output is regarded as
sufficient for operations in temperate climate, the Emodel power growth is needed for missions in “hot
and high” environmental conditions in which the new
HAD helicopter will soon have to operate.
The MTR390E version is thus earmarked to power
the mid and late series Tiger HAD helicopters as
ordered by Australia (22 Tiger ARH), Spain (24 Tigre
HAD) and by France (40 Tigre HAD). All earlier series
machines already in service should be retrofitted at
a later stage.
The result of a joint venture between MTU of
Germany, Turbomeca of France and Rolls Royce
in the UK, the MTR 390 is a very compact engine
comprising three modules for easy maintainability.
It is controlled by an ECMU (Engine Control and
Monitoring Unit). With a growth potential of up to
25 percent, the MTR390 engine powers helicopters
in the five to seven ton class. The Tigre’s present
overall combat weight is six tonnes.
The MTR390 offers a simple modular concept for
first and second line maintenance “on-condition”
and is thus fully suited to the spartan needs of land
forces in distant operations. So far, the French and
the German governments have ordered 320 engines
and 22 spares for a first batch of 160 helicopters
while Australia confirmed an order for 55 enhanced
MTR390s and Spain a purchase of 60. The IP
covering the development programme of the new
Eurocopter Tiger HAD version and its MTR390-E
‘Enhanced’ engine was signed in Toulouse on
December 2005.
A further campaign scheduled for the end of
this year should see the Tigres engaged in strafing
tests using the four suspended 68 mm rocket pods,
each housing 22 TDA free flying high energy rockets
capable of striking targets at a distance of four
kilometers. Q
Jean-Michel Ghul visited Nogaro-en-Armagnac in
late October
ANTI-SHIP MISSILES
Andrew Whithers
Using the Kh-35E missile to build new
on-shore integrated defence systems
Kh-35E.
ver recent years many developing countries
have chosen to buy arms from Russia rather
than the United States since Russia is much
less likely to suspend deliveries of components and
munitions for previously supplied military hardware,
as Washington has done with India, China, Iran and
even its closest ally Israel, due to political reasons.
Today, Russia is successfully implementing a
major project in Southeast Asia – the supply to
Malaysia of 18 Russian Su-30MKM aircraft, designed
expressly in compliance with the requirements of
the Malaysian Air Force. By year’s end, 12 fighters
will have been supplied. The remaining six will arrive
in 2008.
Kuala Lumpur needs the new fighters to protect
the country’s very large territory, which from East to
West exceeds 2,000km.
One of the assets of the Su-30MKM appreciated
by the Malaysian military is the ability of this
complex airborne system to fight seaborne targets,
which is partly made possible by the aircraft’s antiship weapons that are manufactured by Russia’s
Tactical Missiles Corporation.
The Kh-31A anti-ship high-speed missile has a
medium flight speed of up to 1,000m/s enabling
it to win a duel with virtually any ship-borne antimissile defence system - its high speed significantly
reducing the time it remains in the enemy’s air
defence zone. The missile has a low launch weight
O
Russian Kh-31A.
meaning several such rounds can be placed on
the aircraft, which also considerably enhances the
efficiency of the combat system.
The armament package of Su-30 fighters may
include Kh-59MK anti-ship extended-range missiles
launched out to 285 km and anti-submarine
systems. For this purpose they can be armed with
APR-3E (Oryol-M) anti-submarine missiles and
Zagon-1 (index S3V) guided aerial bombs. These
weapons can engage submarines in any position
- either submerged with periscope exposed or
submerged at a depth of up to 600 m (Zagon-1) or
800m (APR-3E).
The Tactical Missiles Corporation has also paid
much attention to the creation of a general-purpose
tactical strike anti-ship weapon system with the
3M-24E (sea version) missile and Uran-E shipbased missile systems being key developments.
Following acceptance trials in 2003, they were
deployed on Russian Navy ships. Today, the UranE is considered the world’s best weapon in terms
of its cost-to-efficiency ratio. Initially, the 3M-24E
missile was designed for use on other carriers.
In autumn 2004, a Bal-E on-shore mobile missile
system using the same missile demonstrated an
excellent performance at acceptance trials and was
deployed to the Russian Navy under probation.
An adaptation of the Kh-35E anti-ship missile
(airborne version of the 3M-24E) carried by an aerial
vehicle as part of Il-38SD armament package ended
in October 2005. This was the final effort under a
complex programme to develop, manufacture and
trial a standardised tactical anti-ship missile. It was
then confirmed that a standardised 3M-24E (Kh35E) missile had been created for three carrier types
– ships, on-shore vehicles and aircraft. This year
will see the end of engineering and technical work
on optimisation of the Kh-35E for use on export
versions of MiG-29, MiG-35 and Su-30 fighters.
The principal advantages of the newly created
models are low vulnerability through maximum
reduction of the radar cross section, low stealth
(dimension), lowest possible altitude of approach to
the target (up to three meters), stealthy operation
and superior anti-jamming capability to Russian
and non-Russian counterparts; small size so that
a considerable ammunition reserve can be taken
on board and a low cost of production; and high
competitiveness due to superiority over potential
foreign rivals in the cost-to-efficiency ratio.
Analysis of the global trends in the development
of anti-ship missiles shows the type is not losing
its importance. On the contrary, its capabilities are
growing. The standard nature of the Kh-35E missile
offers new capabilities in building integrated onshore defence systems on the basis of a single
combat element mounted on sea-borne, shorebased and airborne carriers. Q
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
15
SHORAD SYSTEMS
Latest SHORAD
solutions for Asia
Robert Brooks assesses the impact that SHORAD systems can make for forces and finds that the market
in the region continues to be healthy with new weapons and projects continually coming online.
s with many areas of military operations in
recent years there has been a revolution in the
way that air defence is viewed and conducted
by armed forces that is driven by changing threats
and new technologies. There has been a move to
integrate the various systems and services that are
involved in air defence to create an overlapping and
mutually supporting concept of air defence wherever
a force is likely to be deployed.
Air defence is often visualised as a layered system
that is peeled back, much like an onion skin, to
reveal ever tighter spheres of engagement. At the
innermost centre of the onion is short range air
defence (SHORAD), which in terms of the land battle
is the preserve of ground forces and is also often
termed as ground based air defence (GBAD). When
the air threat originated, ground based air defence
was the preserve of anti-aircraft (AA) guns, but as
technology has evolved the balance has shifted
towards missile systems.
Although AA guns retain some utility for most
nations in Asia the real drive is towards developing
or procuring more sophisticated surface to air missile
systems (SAMs) to deal with air threats. Those air
threats have themselves evolved with manned aircraft
being only one element added to the mix in the last
several decades, along with increasingly accurate
missile systems and unmanned air vehicles.
The SAM systems designed for the SHORAD
mission can be further broken down in to two main
types. At the lowest end of the scale are manportable air defence systems (MANPADs) that are an
important factor in levelling the playing field for forces
unable to deploy their own assets. More capable,
but more expensive, are the larger SAM systems.
A
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
In recent years these have also changed, as armed
forces, becoming increasingly expeditionary in their
outlook, demand greater mobility from the systems
they employ.
off for accuracy of the past and as air forces find
ways to deal with the threat. But despite this, forces
continue to purchase and develop the systems.
COMPETING DEVELOPMENTS
MANPADS FOR ALL
For those nations seeking to acquire or maintain
at least a limited air defence capability MANPADS
are the best option. There military utility has been
well documented over the last four decades and
for those armed forces unable to maintain their
own air capability they are a major factor in limiting
the operational utility of an opponent’s air attack
and mobility assets. The North Vietnamese Army’s
acquisition of MANPADS part way through the
Vietnam War helped to curtail the advantage the US
enjoyed in air power.
In more recent times the US supply of its FIM92 Stinger systems to Mujahideen fighting the
Soviet occupation of Afghanistan was a further
demonstration of how MANPADS could be used
as a force equaliser in an asymmetric conflict. That
lesson was also well learnt by those engaged in the
Palestine/ Israeli conflict and has been translated
across to other unconventional uses in recent years.
In fact, the danger that terrorists could get their hands
on MANPADS and use them against civil aviation has
led for calls to restrict the development and sale of
such systems, although it would be difficult to get
that particular genie back in its bottle.
Indeed, between 1972 and 2002 estimates put
the losses of aircraft due to MANPADS as between
50 and 70 percent of all losses due to ground fire.
In recent years, that figure has begun to tail off as
aircraft have been able to fly higher without the trade
As already mentioned, the US-developed Stinger is
a system that has gained worldwide recognition and
is the country’s second-generation system that also
equips many of its allies. Developed by Raytheon
Missile Systems, the Stinger is said to have a range
of 4,800m and can hit targets at altitudes up to
3,800m. Stocks are held by both Pakistan and the
Republic of China (Taiwan) and the system is also in
service with the Republic of Korea and Japan.
In order to fire the Stinger, a Battery Coolant Unit
must be inserted into the handguard, which injects
a stream of argon gas as well as a chemical energy
charge into the system that enables the acquisition
indicators and provides the missile with its power.
The batteries are said to be sensitive to abuse. Over
time, and without proper maintenance, they are
known to become unserviceable.
For those unable to tap into US technology the
other main avenue for exploration has been Soviet
MANPADS. Two families in particular, the Strela and
Igla systems, have been successful in capturing export
orders and have also been widely reverse engineered
in Asia. Strela, the older of the two systems, is now
in its third iteration, and is also the basis for local
systems such as the People’s Liberation Army’s HN5B. In these systems, the front-end seeker is cooled
using nitrogen gas marking them out from earlier
systems that used uncooled seekers.
The PLA has gone on to adopt improved
MANPADS, including the FN and QW series. The
SHORAD SYSTEMS
Boeing
major improvements through these systems has
been in terms of range, where as the HN could
only reach ranges of around 3,400m the QW-3 has
a maximum range of up to 8,000m. The QW range
was recently exhibited at a number of trade shows
and is believed to be on offer to export customers.
Pakistan is believed to have acquired a number of
QW-1 systems, which it has then reverse engineered
to develop its own Anza Mk-1 shoulder launched
missile system.
In recent years Russia has also developed the more
reliable Igla MANPADS, which is a third generation
system developed by Mashnostreniya Design
Bureau. The missile equips the country’s ground
forces and has also been offered in an export variant.
The Republic of Singapore became one of the first
customers for the system and in 2002 was joined
by India, which procured the system for its ground
forces.
The Boeing Avenger SAM system based on AM General Humvee with eight Stinger missiles in two pods.
PROJECT LAND 19
Elsewhere in the region Australia is in the process of
upgrading its GBAD capability under project Land 19
Phases 6 and 7. According to the Defence Materiel
Organisation, Phase 6 of the project is seeking to
provide an enhanced RBS 70 SHORAD system
for the Australian Defence Force. The RBS 70 is a
MANPADS that can be operated independently in
stand-alone mode or can be configured with several
firing units linked with a surveillance radar to form an
anti-aircraft battery.
The Australian project will see the acquisition
of additional systems for the 16th Air Defence
Regiment, providing a full compliment to 111th
Battery, and re-equipping 110th Battery. It will also
upgrade and provide life-of-type extension of the
in-service RBS 70 weapons systems to 2015. The
equipment being procured include the latest version
of the RBS 70 weapon system, new RBS 70 night
sights, new Identification Friend or Foe, extended
range portable radars with integrated IFF, and a new
tactical command and control system. Further out,
Phase 7 will look at other upgrades or replacement
of the system.
LOCK AND LOAD
Interestingly, the low-level SHORAD mobile defence
solutions that many armed forces have turned to as
the next level of defence beyond MANPADS have their
origin in the man-portable systems. In the US Boeing
Integrated Defense Systems developed the ANTWQ-1 Avenger SAM system based on the Stinger
missile. The system was developed in the early 1980s
to provide US forces with a low-cost mobile SAM
system and similar systems have cropped up around
the world.
The Avenger is based on an AM General Humvee
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
17
SHORAD SYSTEMS
not meet the army’s mobility requirements.
As well as international competitors the DRDO
is working with MBDA on a US$500 million project
to develop the 35km Maitri SAM, a blend of the
French Mica and DRDO Trishul systems. Although
the Spyder system has been ruled out for the Indian
Army it still remains the preferred system for the Air
Force.
The Spyder system is a truck mounted SAM
that employs the Derby radar-guided and Python 5
infrared- guided air-to-air missiles (AAM) in a surface
launch version. The system is being developed
in both short range (15km) and medium range
versions. Typically a single system consists of one
Mobile Command and Control Unit and four Mobile
Firing Units.
The Spyder can launch missiles in two modes
of operation, either lock on after launch or lock on
before launch using optical as well as radar/ IR and
imaging sensors. Earlier versions had 360 degree
quick engagement capability and 60-target tracking
via IAI’s Elta EL/M 2106 ALTAR 3D surveillance
radar. The missiles can be launched from the fullreadiness state in less than five seconds from target
confirmation. The kill range of the Spyder-SR is from
less than 1km to more than 15km and at altitudes
from a minimum of 20m to a maximum of 9km.
Also competing for the Indian Army requirement
will be Raytheon with the surface-launched version
of the Advanced Medium Range AAM air defence
system dubbed SLAMRAAM. The system uses the
fire-and-forget AMRAAM, a surveillance radar, a fire
distribution centre and AMRAAM launchers. The
system has been integrated on a Humvee to meet
a USMC requirement for the development of the
Complementary Low-Altitude Weapon System.
India has ordered two batches of the Tunguska.
The Malaysian Army has procured the JERNAS system.
BAE Systems
EUROPEAN CHOICES
equipped with a gyro-stabilised turret armed with
eight Stinger missiles in two pods. Target acquisition
is conducted via an optical sight or using a forward
looking infrared system. According to the US Army
more than 1,000 Avengers have entered service
with the army and the US Marine Corps (USMC).
The US also delivered 74 Avengers to Taiwan in
the 1990s and an order was also taken from Egypt.
The Avenger production line became inactive in 2004
but has recently been restarted as part of a follow on
order by Egypt. Boeing is also hopeful it can secure
further customers for the system and has set its
sights on orders from South Korea and Thailand.
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
INDIAN COMPETITION
India has ordered two batches of the Tunguska
(KBP/Ulyanovsk)
India is also believed to have a SHORAD requirement
that Boeing, as well as Oerlikon Contraves, Raytheon
and Russia’s KPB Tula, are interested in bidding
for. The Indian Army is looking for bids to supply
56 Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM)
mobile launcher systems in a contract that could be
worth more than US$1.5 billion. The defence ministry
launched the process after the Defence Research
and Development Organisation (DRDO) said that
Israeli company Rafael’s Spyder SAM system does
A system that has applications across various
services is MBDA’s Mistral lightweight missile family
which was developed to satisfy the requirements
for ground-based and naval SHORAD as well as to
provide helicopters with an AAM combat capability.
According to MBDA, Mistral has a 93 percent proven
success rate and high reliability. The missile has
been procured by a number of armed forces in the
Asia-Pacific including Singapore for a GBAD role.
The latest version of the missile is the Mistral 2
which can be fired by various launching systems
and is fully autonomous after firing. The missile is
capable of engaging aerial targets with a low infrared
signature, such as UAVs, as well as fighter aircraft.
The Mistral 2 has a maximum speed of Mach 2.5
and its maximum interception range is 6km.
The European missile consortium is also the
developer of the JERNAS area air defence system
that is based on the Rapier system that is in full UK
operational service with the Royal Artillery and the
SHORAD SYSTEMS
The PLA have ordered 36 Almaz-Antey TOR-M1 systems
Royal Air Force. The JERNAS is in production for
the Malaysian Army, which purchased the system
in 2002, and is of interest to a number of other
companies in the region. However, JERNAS is
currently a towed system and not up to more mobile
missions.
JERNAS is designed to engage and defeat a
variety of targets including multiple cruise missiles
delivered from stand off ranges. The system is
comprised of three units, a launcher with eight readyto-fire missiles and a passive Electro Optical (EO)
tracking device, a 3D Surveillance Radar which can
track and prioritise over 75 targets simultaneously
and a high resolution all weather Radar Tracker.
RUSSIAN STANDARD
Russia has developed a number of mobile SHORAD
systems largely based on tracked chaises. One of
the most effective of these systems is the Tor Sam,
which has been developed in a number of versions
(the Tor-M1); the system has also been reverse
engineered by China under the name HQ-17.
The system is comprised of a number of
missile Transporter Launcher Vehicles (TLV) and a
command vehicle. According to analysts, a Russian
air defence Tor battalion consists of between three
and five companies, each equipped with four TLVs.
Each TLV is equipped with eight ready to launch
missiles, associating radars, fire control systems
and the battery command post vehicle.
Rosoboronexport says the system can operate
autonomously with firing from stationary positions
or on the move. The set-up time is believed to be
less than three minutes and typical reaction time,
from target detection to missile launch, is less than
eight seconds. The Tor-M1 can detect and track up
to 48 targets at a maximum range of 25km, and
engage two of them simultaneously. The missile
speed is up to 700 m/sec and can engage targets
at a distance of up to 12km and at altitudes up to
6km. The system is a potential contender for the
Indian requirement.
TAKING THE ADVANTAGE
There are a wide variety of systems now available
to armed forces wanting to upgrade or extend their
SHORAD capability. There is no doubt that such
capabilities are integral to ground forces and can help
to equalise the advantages an opponent has with
superior air power. There is no mystery as to why the
PLA is interested in upgrading its equipment in this
area as well as helping to grow a domestic capability.
The choices are many and varied for Asian militaries
wanting to pursue the right option. It is likely the best
solution is to have a blend of MANPADS and mobile
systems that meet the requirements of modern
operational concepts of manoeuvre. The fact that
a number of MANPADS have been integrated with
weapons platforms also gives the canny buyer the
ability to buy complimentary systems that reduce
the logistics burden.
There are a number of ongoing programmes
to upgrade or develop new capabilities with
countries such as India and Australia leading the
way. Meanwhile a number of smaller forces are
also looking to sustain their own capabilities by
purchasing additional or new systems. With those
prospects the market for SHORAD systems in Asia
is a healthy one for all potential suppliers. Q
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
19
MALAYSIA
By Dzirhan Mahadzir
Finding the right operational
mix a major challenge for RMN
alaysia has a unique geography in that the
country is divided into two distinct parts
separated by a large body of water. The two
parts are West Malaysia or more commonly known as
Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, comprising of
the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak in Borneo.
The fact that more than 600km of water separates
the two parts means already that the Royal Malaysian
Navy (RMN) faces a major operational challenge
in maintaining maritime security but this is further
complicated by the fact that the Malaysian state of
Sabah faces the South China Sea, the Sulu Sea and
the Celebes Sea while Peninsular Malaysia forms part
of the strategic Straits of Malacca. The situation has
been made more complex by the need to fulfill external,
international roles including humanitarian relief and
anti-terrorism efforts. The 2004 tsunami disaster,
while not affecting Malaysia as badly as neighboring
Indonesia and Thailand, still indicated that Malaysia’s
armed forces be prepared for such eventualities; the
potential for terrorists to execute seaborne attacks,
particularly in the narrow Malacca Straits, meant the
RMN has also had to factor such considerations in its
operational planning.
Thus a major challenge for the RMN is finding the
right operational mix between maintaining a credible
naval deterrence, particularly given that Malaysia
still maintains territorial claims to the Spratly Islands,
and at the same time ensuring day to day maritime
security for trade, offshore assets and the Malaysian
coastline and maritime border zones, while being
prepared to handle domestic humanitarian relief
efforts if necessary.
Brian Morrison
M
New RMN region structure
Royal Malaysian Navy KD Laksamana Tun Pusmah, delivered in July 1999. There are four ships of the Laksamana Class presently serving
in the 24th Corvette Squadron of the RMN.
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
The RMN’s current two naval region structure, with
Naval Region I being responsible for Peninsular
Malaysia and Naval Region II for East Malaysia,
has been expanded to three naval regions with
the addition of Naval Region III, headquartered on
Langkawi Island. Its area of responsibility covers the
west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and the Malacca
Straits, leaving Naval Region I to fully concentrate on
the waters of the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia
and parts of the South China Sea. Naval Region
MALAYSIA
Swedish shipbuilder Dockstavaret developed the CB90H Combat Boat, which the RMN operate 17
of. Malaysian Customs purchased four in 2004.
III is currently semi-operational but is
expected to be fully operational next
year. Navy plans have also called for the
establishment of a fourth naval region
command headquarters at Sinjinkat,
Kurching in the East Malaysian state of
Sarawak, to support Naval Region II,
which would be responsible for the South China Sea
and Sabah East Coast, while Naval Region IV, (in
addition to supporting Region II), would also cover
the waters around the Malaysian state of Sarawak.
the vessels though such a requirement
appears to be currently beyond LSE’s
existing capabilities. BAE Systems has
tried to rectify some of the shortcomings
by training up to 300 LSE engineers
in the United Kingdom and LSE has
purchased additional equipment for its
facilities in preparation for the frigates’ construction
though it is clear that a significant part of the vessels
will be built in the UK and then transported to Labuan
to be mated with the parts constructed there.
Some Royal Malaysian Navy officers have
privately expressed concern over having the frigates
built locally given that LSE have never built a ship
of such size and complexity. These officers cite
the troubled OPV programme under the defunct
PSC Naval Dockyards - that has only now been
brought on track by BN Shipyards who took over
the programme - as an example of the potential
dangers of having an indigenous shipbuilder with a
lack of experience constructing a major warship. Not
only was the programme delayed but the first vessel
failed its initial sea trials and there are fears that the
same outcome could occur with the frigates. BAE
however are optimistic that the construction of the
vessels will proceed smoothly and are preparing to
propose to Malaysia, after negotiations on the Batch
II vessels have been completed, an upgrade of the
two Lekius currently in service to Batch II standards.
‘The RMN has yet to decide which local
companies are to provide maintenance
services for the submarines.’
Deterrence capabilities
Both the RMN’s submarine programme and the
planned purchase of two Batch II Lekiu class frigates
will significantly increase the RMN’s naval deterrence
capabilities. The RMN plans to establish a submarine
command to control operations of the two
submarines, which will be based at Sepanggar Bay
in East Malaysia. The stationing of the submarines in
East Malaysia clearly reflects that the RMN plans to
operate its submarines in the South China Sea rather
than the narrow Malacca Straits, reflecting Malaysia’s
territorial concerns in not only the Spratly Islands
but also the Ambalat sea region where Malaysia
and Indonesia have disputes over the maritime
boundaries of the area, which holds significant oil
and gas reserves. While training of the submariners
at the French naval base of Brest and construction
of the two vessels in France have gone smoothly, the
development of the submarine base has progressed
much more slowly, with construction on much of
the major facilities yet to begin. At the same time,
the RMN has yet to decide which local companies
in conjunction with either DCNS or Navantia are to
provide maintenance services for the submarines.
New Lekiu frigates – build concerns
Barring any unforeseen developments Malaysia
will have signed the contract for two Batch II Lekiu
frigates at the Langkawi International Maritime and
Aerospace show (4-8 December). Very little has been
released about the vessels’ specifications though they
are expected to be larger anti-air warfare versions of
the current Lekiu class in service and to carry the
Raytheon Evolved Sea Sparrow system. Both the
vessels are to be built in Malaysia at the Labuan
Shipyards and Engineering (LSE) facilities on Labuan
Island off the coast of East Malaysia. The Malaysian
government has reportedly required at least a 40
percent workshare for LSE in the construction of
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
21
Guy Toremans
MALAYSIA
KD Lekir 26 Kasturi Class.
KD Pahang Kedah Class operations room.
The RMN’s ability to maintain day-to-day
maritime protection is increasing concurrently with
the progression of the RMN’s Kedah class OPV
programme that is now back on track. Both the KD
Kedah and its sister ship KD Pahang are now fully
operational; a third vessel, Perak, was launched on
12 November and is expected to enter service next
year along with a fourth vessel which will be launched
on 6 December. The fifth and final ship of the sixship class are expected to enter service in 2009
and 2010. Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak said at
the Perak’s launch that Malaysia would likely order
further ships upon completion of the programme.
Although the OPVs can be upgraded to carry antiship and anti-air missiles, RMN Deputy Chief Vice
Admiral Datuk Abdul Aziz Jaafar told the media in
22
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
October that the RMN has no current plans to carry
out such an upgrade.
While the programme comes largely under the
aegis of Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters,
the Multipurpose Support Ship programme, when
realized, will not only enhance the RMN’s amphibious
capability but also allow it to cover any pressing
humanitarian relief missions. Though no formal
tender has been issued yet, Malaysia has largely
made its requirements known - namely for a threeship class, with the joint capacity of two ships to
be able to completely transport an entire Malaysian
Rapid Deployment Force Battalion. Individual ship
requirements are for a capacity of 500 troops and
100 vehicles, an 18 knot speed with 8,000 NM
endurance using diesel engines, landing deck
capacity for 2-3 helicopters and storage capacity for
four helicopters and four LCM, along with possible
installation of a missile system for point defence and
the ability of the ship to act as a command platform
and floating headquarters for joint and amphibious
operations.
The RMN is also looking at the provision of two
frigate sized training ships for its training requirements.
The RMN has a requirement for up to two ships with
each ship being able to carry 100 cadets and 3040 instructors along with a 150- 200- man crew.
However under the 9th Malaysia Plan (2006-2010),
the RMN has no budget to purchase such ships
but its operational budget, having an excess owing
to some miscalculations for the Navy’s operational
funding requirements for that period, allows it to
lease such ships and thus requirements are for a
Malaysian company to purchase the ships and lease
them to the Navy for a period of 10 - 15 years with
the RMN likely to buy the ships after that period.
While two of the RMN’s four Mahamiru (Lerici)
class mine counter measures vessels are currently
being upgraded, the RMN is looking to replace all
four vessels with newer ships along with purchasing
a Mine Counter Measures Command and Support
vessel. Originally scheduled under the 9th Malaysia
Plan, the programme has been deferred to the 10th
Plan that begins in 2011.
Sea Skua problems
One programme that has yet to be resolved is the
Sea Skua missile system on the RMN’s Super Lynx
helicopter. A failed firing acceptance test in March
last year resulted in the RMN’s stock of missiles being
sent back to the United Kingdom for examination.
A rescheduled firing test was planned for this year
but has yet to be carried out, and it appears highly
likely the acceptance test will now be carried out
next year. Should the missile fail the test, the RMN
would have to consider either not having any antiship missile capability for its super Lynxes or to look
for an alternate weapon system. Q
MALAYSIA
Dzirhan Mahadzir
New Joint Forces Command
highlights C4I equipment
shortage in MAF
he Malaysian Armed Forces recently
established its Joint Forces Command, taking
over the operational role held previously
by Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters. MAF
Headquarters will now be solely responsible for
administration and strategic planning for the armed
forces while the Joint Forces Command will oversee
all armed forces operations including overseas
missions. The command is to be headed by a
three-star officer from one of the services though
the Malaysian Armed Forces have yet to appoint an
officer to the post; Chief of Defence Force General
Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal told reporters in September
that an appointment will be made before the end of
the year. The Joint Forces Command is also smaller
than planned with the Malaysian government only
approving 240 personnel slots instead of the 400
requested. Still the establishment of the command
means the Armed Forces will be looking for
additional C4I equipment not only for the command
but also for the three services in order to integrate
joint operations effectively. The current 9th Malaysian
Plan that governs spending from 2006 to 2010
includes allocations for the purchase of equipment
to equip the Joint Forces Headquarters building and
the purchase of a C3 cabin for the command.
Malaysian Armed Forces headquarters is also
responsible for the Multi-purpose Support Ship
programme though the ships will be operated by
the Royal Malaysian Navy. No official tender has yet
been issued but various ship manufacturers have
already proposed designs for such a requirement
and the Malaysian armed forces have also let known
the capabilities that it requires for the vessels. The
requirements are for a three-ship class, and the
joint capacity of two ships to be able to completely
transport an entire Malaysian Rapid Deployment
Force Battalion. Individual ship requirements are for
a capacity of 500 troops and 100 vehicles, an 18
T
ACV-300.
knots speed with 8,000 NM endurance using diesel
engines, landing deck capacity for two or three
helicopters and storage capacity for four helicopters
and four LCM along with a possible installation of a
missile system for point defence and the ability of
the ship to act as a command platform and floating
headquarters for joint and amphibious operations.
Industrial requirements are that two of the three
ships should be built locally in Malaysia.
Malaysian Army
The Malaysian Army recently took delivery of six
PT-91M tanks on 18 August and unveiled them to
the public on 31 August at the national day parade
in Kuala Lumpur. The PT-91Ms are assigned to the
11th Royal Armoured Corps Regiment, which will
form Malaysia’s first ever tank regiment that is slated
to become operational at the end of 2008 following
completion of delivery of all 48 PT-91Ms ordered by
Malaysia. There is also the possibility of a purchase
of 8-12 Korean K-9 Thunder 155mm self-propelled
artillery to support the tank regiment. Although the
army plans to introduce a wheeled 155mm system
for its self-propelled artillery requirements should
finances permit, it has been realised that a tracked
system would be required for the support of the tank
regiment for compatible mobility. Consequently also
funding for such a purchase, since it would involve
a smaller number of units, would be easier to obtain
in contrast for the army-wide need for a wheeled
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
23
MALAYSIA
RMAF Sukhoi.
self-propelled 155mm system. The army’s wheeled
self propelled artillery programme though has yet to
materialised due to budgetary restrictions despite the
Army already carrying extensive trials on the Caesar
system jointly marketed by France’s GIAT industries
and Malaysia’s Deftech. Industrial sources have
stated that the army is also considering the possibility
of the South African Denel G-6 system fulfilling this
requirement due to the G-6 being a self-propelled
version of the G-5 system already in service with the
Malaysian Army thus some aspects of logistics and
training could be simplified.
The Army also recently signed a contract to
purchase 18 Avribas Astros II Multiple Launch Rocket
System launchers and an undisclosed number of
Czech Vera-E radar sets to be operated by the Army’s
air defence group. The Malaysian army plans to have
one of its two 155mm Denel G-5-equipped artillery
regiments convert to the Astros II when delivery of
the Astros begins in late 2008/early 2009, forming an
additional regiment to add the single regiment of 18
Astros II MLRS currently in service. All the 22 G-5s
currently in service would then be consolidated into
the remaining regiment as part of an army plan to
reorganise and enhance its firepower capabilities.
The purchase of 48 additional ACV-300 APCs
from Turkey is also under consideration. Turkey has
been actively pushing the sale of additional vehicles
following the recent purchase of eight mortar carrier
versions for the Malaysian army, which already has 211
of the vehicles, known as the “Adnan” in Malaysian
service. The 48 ACV-300s are expected to be a mix
of specialised variants, including a command post
version that will be modified to encompass the Army
Battlespace Management System (BMS) currently
under development by Malaysian company System
Consultancy Services. SCS has already developed,
installed and maintains the Malaysian Armed Forces
24
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
PX2000 C4I system and the Malaysian army hopes
to field the BMS within the next two years.
However the army still faces a funding shortage for
some crucial programmes particularly a requirement
for at least 96 8x8 wheeled AFVs to replace the
aging Sibmas fire support vehicles. Already half of
the original 168 vehicles were cannibalized last year
to keep the remaining half in operation. Chief of
Defence Force General Tan Sri Aziz has also stated
that the army needs to replace its fleet of more than
400 Condor wheeled APCs.
Royal Malaysian Air Force
The RMAF has recently taken delivery of six of
the 18 SU-30MKM aircraft ordered from Russia
and currently its’ pilots are ongoing training on the
aircraft under the supervision of Russian instructors,
deliveries of the remaining 12 aircraft are to be
completed by 2008 with the squadron targeted to
be operationally ready by the end of that year. Of
current concern to the RMAF is wear to the Sukhoi’s
engine due to FOD (foreign object debris) caused by
the Sukhoi’s large jet intakes which attracts a higher
proportion of FOD than the other combat aircraft the
RMAF operates.
A recent crash of an S-61 helicopter on 13 July
in which all six RMAF personnel onboard were
killed has prompted the Malaysian government to
announce that the S-61 fleet of more than twenty
helicopters which have been in service since the
1970s are to be replaced within three years. A
tender was issued in November calling for 12 utility
Search and Rescue helicopters. Five companies are
involved in the tender, namely AgustaWestland with
their EH101, Boeing’s CH-47F, Eurocopter EC725,
Sikorsky’s S-92 and Kazan’s Mi-17. RMAF sources
have stated that while the air force would have
preferred a dedicated combat search and rescue
(CSAR) platform, the Malaysian government has
directed them to purchase a helicopter in utility form
due to financial constraints; thus the RMAF hopes
they will be able to modify some of the helicopters
purchased into CSAR versions. There is also some
thought the RMAF would purchase and operate the
helicopter chosen until the Army Air Corp is ready
to undertake a tactical transport role whereby the
RMAF would handover the helicopters to the Army
and then purchase a dedicated CSAR helicopter
for its use. Both the EC725 and EH-101 are seen
as the front runners with the Chinook viewed to be
above the RMAF’s requirements, although Boeing
has been promoting the Chinook’s heavy troop lift
capacity and it being the only one among the five
competing designs able to lift virtually any of the
Malaysian army’s artillery systems. The RMAF has
very little interest in such capabilities, seeing it as
the responsibility of the Army Air Corps for their lift
requirements, not for RMAF missions. The RMAF
also does not see the Russian Mi-171 as viable given
the potential difficulties of upgrading the helicopter
with western avionics in the future to carry out CSAR
roles. In addition, an earlier attempt to introduce 10
Mi-17 into RMAF service in 2003 was rejected by the
air force and Russian industrial representatives have
acknowledged it is unlikely the RMAF would select
the Mi-171 for its requirements. Though the low
price (as low as US$10 million per platform) of the
Mi-17 may attract the government and Malaysia has
also expressed interest in sending another astronaut
into space if the purchase of Mi-17s included such a
deal, as the sale of the Su-30s did.
Malaysia’s eight F/A-18D Hornets will undergo a
software upgrade to allow them to fully utilise the
latest weapon systems. The upgrade is expected to
cost up to US$17 million and is to be completed by
2011 and includes any new software that becomes
available to that date. The work is to be carried out
by a United States Navy appointed contractor as the
upgrade programme is part of the US Department
of Defense’s foreign military sales programme. The
upgrades are necessary since Malaysia’s F/A-18s
have not undergone any software upgrade since
their delivery in 1997 and thus are not fully able to
utilise weapon systems introduced for the Hornets
since that time as the AMRAAM missiles and the
JDAM system. Malaysia currently has less than twodozen AMRAAMs in storage on Guam though it
will bring them into the country later this year, when
the missiles’ release is approved. Malaysia has also
sent a request for an undisclosed number of JDAMs
which is currently pending with the United States. The
upgrade possibly also means the potential purchase
of up to 12 Super Hornets for the RMAF is still a
while away since the offer includes the possibility of
Malaysia trading in its existing in service F/A-18s. Q
FUTURE ASIAN CARRIERS
Laguk Archive
Varyag being towed through the Bosphorus on its way to Dalian in 2002.
Vladimir Karnozov
Prospects for Russiantype carriers in Asia
The future of Indian, Chinese
and Russian carriers
he third International Maritime Defence Show
held in St Petersburg in June this year, provided
new information on the future development
of the Russian Navy. On the eve of the Show, the
Russian Navy Commander, Admiral Vladimir Masorin
said the service is seeking three new nuclear-powered
carriers. During the Show, the head of the Russian
Federal Agency for Industry, Boris Alyeshin and newly
nominated head of the national United Shipbuilding
Company (its Russian acronym, “OSK”), Aleksandr
Burutin, discussed the carrier programmes currently
being shaped in the Kremlin’s corridors.
In the global context, there are six nations which
have clearly expressed their commitment to creating
next-generation aircraft carriers: United States, Great
Britain, France, China, India and Russia. Three of
these nations follow the Russian path, beginning with
the construction of the Kiev class heavyweight aircraft
carrying cruisers. During their evolution, the Soviet
carriers developed the aircraft carrier, now known as
“STOBAR” [short takeoff but arrested recovery].
Russia’s largest shipbuilding enterprise, Sevmash
T
(in Severodvinsk) is converting the former Russian
navy heavy cruiser, Admiral Gorshkov, into a STOBAR
carrier, Vikramadityafor the Indian Navy. India is also
working on its indigenous design of an Air Defence
Ship [ADS] under Project 71, with the first metal being
cut on the first ADS ship in 2005.
China is converting the Varyag, a Soviet navy Project
1143.5 ship sold to Beijing in 2002. The Varyag and
all-new Chinese carriers derive their designs from the
STOBAR design.
The Russian Navy plans to complete design work
on its new generation carrier by 2010 and take delivery
of the head vessel in 2016-17. Aleksandr Burutin,
advisor to President Putin and recently nominated as
OSK head, said that, “…such a project carries national
significance – due to its long-term nature – and would
therefore be made into a special national programme
run in parallel to GPV-2015 [Russian acronym for
‘State Weapons Program 2015’] launched last year.”
INDIA
Even with a huge amount of petrodollars coming
into the Russian state treasury in the past few years
(Russia surpassed Saudi Arabia in oil production
in 2006) and well-developed national shipbuilding
technologies, Russia is still unable to manage a
next-generation carrier project by itself.
There is a growing understanding in decisionmaking circles that Russia must seek ways of joining
forces with friendly nations on such expensive
and risky undertakings. The Kremlin sees India
as a potential partner on this and other longterm ambitious projects, including amongst other
projects, Glonass (the fifth generation fighter) and a
multi-role transport aircraft.
Co-operation with India is already a fact of life,
as seen with the continuing Vikramaditya project.
A few years ago, the Russian Navy handed over
to the Indian Navy the last built ship of the Project
1143.4 series. India has now decided to convert it
into a STOBAR ship of Project 1143.0, with a full
displacement of 45,000t. According to the contract
with Russian arms export vendor, Rosoboronexport,
Sevmash shall get the ship ready for delivery at the
end of 2008. But the project has run into numerous
problems. Today, 2010 is considered a more realistic
target for completion of the Vikramaditya.
The Russian industry has applied to India asking
it to revise the initial contract terms. But the Indian
Navy is said to have flatly refused any proposed
amendments to the initial contract. Indian Navy’s
planners fear that the only operational carrier,
the Viraat (the ex-Royal Navy HMS Hermes, first
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
Carrier Admiral Kuznetzov
LAGUK Archive
28
Carrier Admiral Kuznetzov
LAGUK Archive
commissioned in 1959), will have to retire no later
that 2010. If there is a gap, the Indian Navy will
temporarily loose its status as a power with fixedwing deck-based aircraft.
Speaking to the media in February, on the
occasion of the first public flight of the MiG-29KUB
deck fighter, an Indian Navy attache in Moscow said
that the “…Vikramaditya will be a muti-role ship. The
core of its aviation group shall be formed by multirole supersonic aircraft capable of air superiority,
ground strikes and anti-shipping missions.”
India has placed an order for 16 MiG-29K/KUB
multi-role fighters, with an option for an additional
30 units. The contract terms call for delivery of
these aircraft by 2015. The MiGs are intended for
air groups for the Vikramaditya, as well as the ADS
vessels.
Moscow and Delhi have long been negotiating
Vikramaditya’s specifications. Russian Navy admirals
insist that the ship shall not have any third-party
weapon systems onboard, as it might potentially
harm the operations of the Russian weapons and
cause “…a loss of the ship’s fighting capability in a
critical situation.” The Russian industry supported
this stance. Following lengthy negotiations, India has
dropped its intent to fit the ship with an Israeli Barak1 air-defence system. As a result, the Vikramaditya
will have only Russian weapons. This provides a
sharp contrast to the MiG-29K/KUB which carries
French navigation (Sagem Sigma), helmet-mounted
sight (Thales TopSight) and many other “western
technology insertions.”
However, Vikramaditya will have many Indian
communications subsystems, sensors and lifesupport equipment. The ship will also come with
western equipment such as conditioners, coolers
and other life support systems.
The resulting ship will have a somewhat bigger
displacement than the original Admiral Gorshkov. In
its time, Admiral Gorshkov was heavier than the Kievclass sister ships of Project 1143.3, whilst having the
same hull. Nevskoye PKB, (the developer of these
ships) says that although the hull is stressed higher
than on the Kiev ships, it is still acceptable for the
heavier Vikramaditya. Even though the waterline will
be higher, the ship shall be able to reach 27 knots at
full power, says Nevskoye PKB.
Project 71 (the Indian indigenous carrier design)
has full displacement of about 40,000t. With the
first metal having been cut on the head vessel
(the Vikrant) in 2005, the launching is expected in
2009 and delivery in 2012. The ADS vessels will
be combined with the Vikramaditya. They will
carry an aviation group of the same size and have
similar dimensions for the hangar (2,730m2 for
Vikramaditya) and flight deck (193m vs 21m).
Notwithstanding, Project 71 will not be a copy
of Vikramaditya. A major difference is that the
Indian design will have gas turbines, whilst the
Soviet carriers were designed and built to operate
on steam power. Project 71 will have four General
Electric LM2500 series gas turbines. Nevskoye PKB
says the decision for gas turbines requires the use of
bigger funnels on the Project 71 to supply sufficient
amount of air to the turbines, thus leading to a larger
superstructure. Russian specialists do not see this
as an ideal solution for an aircraft carrier, as a larger
superstructure creates unwanted air-flows which
might affect landing operations.
India used the consultancy services of Nevskoye
PKB. Although this work is formally confined to the
Vikramaditya project, the Indians also used it as an
access to the vast experience Nevskoye PKB had
amassed on Soviet navy aircraft carrying cruisers.
Therefore, many design solutions tried on the Soviet
ships are finding their way onto the Project 71
designs.
CHINA
LAGUK Archive
Varyag at Dalian shipyard.
China is developing a navalised version of the J-10 or Super-10, with the more powerful AL-31FN engine
LAGUK Archive
China is believed to have launched its own carrier
project. Some sources say China has plans for
a total of five carriers by 2020, to be built in three
batches. The first phase is the completion of the
Varyag (probably as a training ship) and then using
its drawings, the construction of two new ships.
The final and third step is the construction of two
more ships of advanced design, based on initial
operational of the first two ships. According to
recent media reports, the Chinese navy might get its
first aircraft carrier as early as 2010.
The Varyag was laid down in Nikolayev (in the
Ukraine) as a Project 1143.6 heavy aircraft carrier
cruiser, effectively a STOBAR ship. It was originally
meant to be a sister-ship to the Russian Navy’s only
carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov. After the Soviet Union
collapsed, Ukraine sold the ship to China, at 75 percent
readiness. In December 2002, the incomplete vessel
was towed to Dalian, where it is being completed.
A special deck version of the indigenously
developed J-10 single-engine lightweight fighter is
the primary candidate to equip the Chinese carriers.
The marine version is said to be somewhat heavier,
which necessitates use of a higher- powered engine.
Moscow-based MMPP Salyut (which supplies
engines to Chinese Su-27/30 and J-10 series
fighters) is working on 14500 and 15300kgf versions
of the baseline 12500kgf AL-31FN that powers the
J-10. The Chinese navy [PLAN] is understood to
have requested a thrust of at least 14500kgf for its
version of the J-10.
There have been reports in the Russian media that
China has procured from Ukraine a tiny number of
Su-27 series fighters fitted with arrestor hooks. Such
aircraft were inherited by Ukraine after the demise
of the Soviet Union, as same were based in Saki –
where Soviet navy pilots were being trained for deck
landing and takeoff operations on a specially erected
“Nitka” platforms.
Separately, China applied to Russia for a quantity
of newly built Su-27 series aircraft capable of deck
operations. However, China is yet to select a
particular version of the Flanker. It is widely believed
that the Su-27K (Su-33) in service with the Russian
Navy is unlikely to be ordered by China, as same was
designed more than twelve years ago and requires
improvement.
Should China opt to purchase
Russian deck fighters, it will order development of an
improved Su-27K with modern avionics meeting the
latest standards.
China might opt for a special “deck” version of
the Su-30MK2 twin-seat multi-role fighter already in
service with PLAN air arm units based onshore. There
is some evidence that indicates this. In February
2007, Ramenskoye PKB (developer of avionics
systems for Sukhoi and MiG fighters) demonstrated
a flight simulator of the Su-30MK2 series. During that
demonstration, it used a programme emulating landing
on the deck of a “Russian type” carrier (STOBAR). It
is thought that the semi-experimental Su-35UB side
801 was built for participation in the then-expected
competition for a PLAN air arm fighter requirement.
At this time, there is no confirmation that Beijing and
Moscow are cooperating on a carrier project. This is
despite the fact that Sino-Russian military technical
co-operation has been further developing in the past
few years. The Chinese have applied many times to
Russian arms vendor, Rosoboronexport, Nevskoye
PKB and other industry organisations asking for help
with its naval air arm projects. But the Russians have
made it clear it cannot provide the required help until
a respective framework agreement is signed. Until
one is in place, Russian industrial companies are
prohibited from sharing any information on naval
aviation with the Chinese.
However, China does not seem to be in a hurry.
It is believed that the consultancy services being
provided by the Ukraine is sufficient at this stage
of the Chinese carrier project. Meanwhile, Russian
contacts on naval aviation programmes at SinoRussian intergovernmental commission sessions are
often secured by the Chinese. Q
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
29
PACIFIC 2008
Nicholas Merrett
Pacific 2008 preview
he biennial Pacific 2008 International Maritime
Exposition, being held 29 January - 1 February
at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition
Centre, Darling Harbour, will again host at least
six major conferences, including the Autonomous
Unmanned Systems Symposium, a defence maritime
Careers and Skills Showcase, over 350 exhibitor
companies (of which about 60 percent are defence
industry and 40 percent non-defence industry),
approximately 10,000 visitors and 40 top-level trade,
diplomatic and military delegations.
According to Don Fraser, Executive Manager
Exhibition Services, Maritime Australia Limited (the
principal organizers of Pacific 2008), “the invitation
list is extensive”, with Chiefs of Navy from around
the world, including countries from the Middle East,
having been invited by the Royal Australian Navy’s
(RAN) own Chief of Navy, VADM Russ Shalders.
The Guest of Honor is expected to be the Australian
Prime Minister.
Among the major players attending the four-day
trade exhibition will be key defence and government
decision makers, defence systems manufacturers,
ship builders, component designers and suppliers,
electronics and navigation hardware suppliers,
power plant manufacturers, training and simulation
providers, cargo handling owners and operators, port
management providers, communications providers,
and a wide range of maritime, naval and defence
related service and technology companies. There is
also expected to be some Collins class replacement
concepts on display.
The Royal Australian Navy Sea Power Conference
2008, hosted by the RAN and Chief of Navy and
organised by The Sea Power Centre Australia, will
explore the broad theme of ‘Australia and its maritime
interests at home and in the region’ and ‘examine
maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region and
their impact on the roles and activities of maritime
forces.’
The Global Maritime Business Forum, being
held on 30, 31 January and 1 February, is aimed at
assisting Australian companies get greater access
to the international marketplace, with the new Air
Warfare Destroyers and Amphibious Ships being
built for the RAN the focus of the discussions.
The Pacific 2008 International Maritime
T
30
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
A snap shot from Pacific 2006
Conference, organised by the Royal Institution of
Naval Architects, The Institute of Engineers Australia
and The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science
and Technology, will run from 29 -31 January and
will be held in facilities within the Sydney Convention
and Exhibition Centre. Proceedings will discuss
future marine research capability by DSTO (Defence
Science and Technology Organisation) and CSIRO
(Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organisation), navigation, recent developments in
construction techniques, prediction of structural
life of RAN platforms using Finite Element Analysis
models and sensors and application of design build
principles to the Australian Air Warfare Destroyer.
Other topics to be addressed will include
asymmetric warfare in the naval ship context,
flammability and fire resistance issues of composite
structures for ships; the role of vulnerability analysis
in assessing blast and ballistic requirements; vessel
motion influences on human
performance; submarine power and propulsion trends
and opportunities; the development of the military
trimaran; human systems integration and how it
fits into the warship design; alternative shock trial
techniques for the Air Warfare Destroyer, modeling
for survivability and recent developments with coastal
protection vessels.
The governments of Australia and New Zealand
continue to invest in the operational evaluation,
trialling and acquisition of the latest autonomous
unmanned systems (UAV, UUV, USV) for roles in
defence, mine countermeasures, maritime and
coastal surveillance, infrastructure security, as well
as law enforcement, disaster recovery, fisheries,
meteorological and geophysical surveys and remote
sensing.
Maritime Australia Limited, the principal
organizers of Pacific 2008, have established an
Autonomous Unmanned Systems (AUS) Pavilion
and associated Symposium that will provide SMEs
and larger companies involved in or supporting the
unmanned systems sector with a unique opportunity
to showcase and present their autonomous and
unmanned technologies and products to potential
customers through a dedicated exhibition and
conference venue.
The Autonomous Unmanned Systems Symposium
will focus on the latest developments, capabilities
and maritime applications of UAV, USV and UUV
systems launched from land, ships and aircraft and
operating in marine, estuarine and littoral environs.
The RAN will be presenting HMAS Gascoigne,
HMAS Armidale and HMAS Benalla at Cockle Bay,
outside the exposition hall. The RAN will also have
various ships, including HMAS Melbourne, moored at
Garden Island. No defence ships from other Navies
are expected at this stage. Plans are being made
to run a ferry service between the two locations for
delegates, but cannot yet be confirmed. Q
IRAQ
Nicholas Merrett
Fijian contractors largest Asian casualty group in Iraq
ince February 2004, insurgents have killed
approximately 1,100 private contractors security employees and other workers - in
Iraq (1,095) and Afghanistan (95), with 12,000 more
wounded on the job or in battle as of June 2007.
Most of the estimated 180,000 contractors working
in Iraq are Iraqis; around one-third are Americans.
From the total number of contractors killed in Iraq,
around 80 have been from Asia, with Fiji (20), Nepal
(19) and the Philippines (14) having suffered the
highest casualties to date, according to the website
icasualties.org. 158 American contract workers have
been killed since the start of the war.
While 46 Fijian soldiers have been killed during
UN operations over the past 29 years, already
20 Fijians have been killed in Iraq (Almost all were
security guards) since February 2004, mainly by IED
roadside bombs, shootings, convoy attacks and two
helicopter crashes caused by missile attacks. Since
1978, Fiji has outsourced more than 25,000 troops
to the UN (earning US$300 million over almost 30
years), the British army and independent mercenary
contractors. Today it markets for hire its 3,500 active
soldiers (specifically training its forces for the security
S
firms), 15,000 reservists and 20,000 unemployed
former troops. The Fijian government allows soldiers,
particularly officers, to end their military service to join
private security firms, which in turn pay it a fee. More
than 1,000 Fijians currently work throughout the
Middle East for American private security companies
including ArmorGroup International, Triple Canopy,
Global Strategies Group, DynCorp International,
Global Risk Strategies and Control Solutions. Fiji
has six mercenary employment agencies. In 2003,
Fijian mercenaries brought home some US$9 million
in wages, in a global industry worth an estimated
annual US$100 billion.
12 of the 19 Nepalese contract workers ‘executed’
on 30 August 2004 in Iraq were cooks and cleaners
working for Morning Star Co, a Jordanian services
firm, another two died after their vehicles hit
landmines, while four were ‘attacked’ in Baghdad’s
Green Zone on 25 November 2004.
The 14 Filipinos killed mostly in Baghdad were
mainly truck drivers, warehousemen, a power
industry engineer and security guard. They died by
mortar fire, rocket attack, IED roadside bomb blasts,
car bombings and a convoy attack. In addition to
the countries identified as suffering the highest
number of casualties, seven Pakistanis have been
killed in Iraq since January 2004. Almost all were
truck drivers killed by either IED, small arms fire, in a
convoy attack or (in two cases) by beheading. Two
Indians – a truck driver and electrical engineer - were
killed in August 2004 and May 2006 in Baghdad by
IED explosions. An Indonesian telecommunications
engineer was killed in a convoy attack in Mosul in
August 2004 while one Japanese security contractor
was killed in May 2005 in a convoy ambush near
Al Asad base, in western Iraq. Five Australians have
been killed, almost all by roadside IEDs. Most were
security contractors working for BLP International
or ArmourGroup. Four New Zealanders have died
since May 2004, either by roadside IED or small
arms fire attack. They were also security contractors,
specialists or engineers working for ArmourGroup.
Four South Koreans - two of them electricians - have
been killed since November 2003 in convoy attacks,
by beheading and from an exploding paint can. A
native of Guam working as a security contractor for
DynCorp International was killed in October 2004 by
a suicide bomber in Baghdad. Q
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
31
RUSSIAN EXPORTS
By Keith Jacobs
Russian trade outlook in Asia
ith record breaking arms sales in 2005
and 2006, Russia is again set to export
over US$7 billion in weapons and military
hardware this year throughout the world. Over 75
percent of this is under the federal government’s
Rosoboronexport organisation contracts. While
military sales to Venezuela and Algeria have opened
new and renewed markets for Russia, the majority
of all contracts are destined for Asian military forces.
Indications are that the number of sales will decline
in the near-term but that the total value of future
contracts will remain steady.
Russia’s Federal Agency for Military Technical
Cooperation estimated exports in 2007 would
exceed US$7 billion worldwide, though this may be
a conservative estimate with actual deliveries likely
to exceed US$7.5 billion. New contracts negotiated
over the last two years are seeing fruition with
deliveries this year including Venezuela’s (first of 24)
and Malaysia’s first Su-30 Flanker multi-role fighters
and eight battalions of Almax Antey Concern S300PMU-2 (Favorite; SA-20) surface-to-air missile
(SAM) systems and several Chemyshev Machine
Plant-Klimov RD-93 turbofan engines to China.
W
THE “NEW” ROSOBORONEXPORT
Almost unnoticed has been a major shift in the
manner in which Russia negotiates and controls
foreign sales. The formation of the new Russian
Technologies Corporation will create the largest
military-industrial corporate giant in the country, while
the more familiar Rosoboronexport firm under new
director Sergei Chemezov has come under new
Russian constitutional laws, and by implication has
come under the authority of the Russian president,
accountable only to him and the State Council. Some
may view this as an alarming development, given
President Vladimir Putin’s former association with
the KGB. But it may not be viewed as a negative
development by those anxious to order weapons
from Russia who previously had to procure arms from
a fractured network of private enterprises.
Without going into the history of Rosoboronexport,
32
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
it is worthwhile to note its obscure beginnings were
often in direct competition with private Russian
business efforts to sell overseas, and it was not
until Chemezov and Putin linked efforts that
Rosoboronexport recently became such a powerful
state enterprise. The personal relationship goes
back to Cold War days when both officers were
assigned in Dresden (DDR), as part of the First Main
Department, KGB. Then when Putin was director of
the presidential affairs department of the government
the two were nearby neighbours. That association
grew to close friendship, accounting for the rapid
raise of Chemezov.
By at least some accounts, Rosoboronexport
investments and business interests in other firms
amounts to over US$13 billion. Part of this is the
result of Rosoboronexport’s interest in the quality of
product and materials used in Russian military exports,
leading it into metallurgy ventures and strategic raw
materials – which resulted in the formation of the
Russian AK-725 automatic gun.
newly formed Russpetstal firm, a joint venture with ATSpetstekhnologiya (itself a joint venture of the research
and production association Aviatekhnologiya). This
got a former mundane export company in the early
post-Cold War days involved in all aspects of military
manufacturing, including titanium, special steels, and
other materials, stretching across the military field
from radars and air defence systems.
On the horizon has now emerged the largest
military-industrial conglomerate in the country:
Russian Technologies. It is directly responsible and
linked by decree to the president and accountable
only to the president and government. It has
absorbed all the machine-building enterprises of
the country. United Aircraft Corporation (under
Alexei Fedorov, former general director of MIG and
Sukhoi OKB) and United Ship-Building Corporation
(under Sergei Naryshkin) are the only major
military enterprises not controlled by the Russian
Technologies conglomerate. It may be only a matter
RUSSIAN EXPORTS
Beriev A-50 with Mig-31 Foxhounds.
of time before this changes as well. In mid-October,
Russian sources noted Rosoboronexport – the near
sole export agency – may be successful in forcing
privately-held MIG Russian Aircraft Corporation and
KBP in handing over US$624 million in export sales
to the government.
From a competitive standpoint the emergence of
the vast Russian Technologies conglomerate can be
good or bad, depending on the situation. Internally,
competition (as between shipyards or MIG or Sukhoi
OKB firms) will be lost because of the procurement
process in Russia. From the export perspective,
Moscow can now negotiate a variety of new foreign
deals and control the flow process from metal
mining, manufacturing right through to the assembly
of military hardware or equipment, and delivery of
the final product to either the domestic or foreign
buyer. This also lessened the number of persons a
foreigner had to deal with in the early post-Cold War
days when “buying Russian”. [This may come back
the haunt the Russians, for without this competition
between shipbuilders, missile makers, etc., it will
in time place them in the same procurement mess
that the US Navy is in right now, including its inability
to manage non-competitive costs.] For now, it also
allows Moscow more flexibility in negotiating foreign
deals, where financing is difficult.
CHINESE MARKET
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Aledander Alexeyev
stated in mid-October, “Now China has its own
advanced weapons manufacturing technology
there’s no need to buy outdated military equipment”
[and] the arms deals between Russia and China “will
not become a threat to any third country, and will
not endanger the stability and security of the AsiaPacific region and the world as a whole,” and noted
that Russia would continue selling up-to-date arms to
China. While the Russian put on a good front, what
are the prospects for long-term Russia weapons and
military technology sales to China?
It’s not an easily answered question, but one key
will be how much Russia invests in new technologies,
as today’s sales are still close to the technologies
developed at the close of the Cold War. Future
sales will depend on this and Russia’s continued
need for robust foreign military sales to keep it its
plagued defence industry moving forward for Soviet
Era technologies. An indication of the changes that
may arise in the years ahead is the reduction of the
‘big two’ (China and India) recipients compared to
worldwide sales. The percentage of deliveries to these
two countries fell during the last couple years from 74
percent to just above 60 percent. The Algerian and
Venezuelan packages were major factors in this shift
during 2005-07.
Some of the best hardware Russia has provided
was developed at the end of the Cold War, or shortly
thereafter. This included Sukhoi Su-27MKK fighter
assembly kits and AL-31F turbofan engines, Project
636 Kilo subs and Project 956E Sovremmenny class
missile destroyers – and their associated 3M80E
(SS-N-22 Sunburn) anti-ship missiles – and S300PMU and Tor-M1 surface-to-air missile (SAM)
systems among the most important arms deals.
Moscow writer Nikita Petrov noted in late-September,
“Although the countries maintain close military ties
– including the August international counter-terrorism
exercise Peace Mission 2007, which involved the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as 2,000
Russian and 1,700 Chinese servicemen – bilateral
military-technical cooperation has slowed down
in the last few years. The Russian-Chinese intergovernment commission, which had previously
discussed this issue once or twice a year in Beijing
or Moscow, has not met even once in the last two
years. Chinese orders, which recently accounted for
up to 40 percent of Russian arms export volumes,
worth US$6.5 billion, are now dwindling. Moreover,
the Russian defence industry is not fulfilling any major
Chinese contracts at present.”
The latter statement is not accurate, however. On 8
August last year, the two countries signed a contract
for delivery of 100 MMPP Salyut-built Klimov RD-93
turbofan engines for the PLAAF FC-1 fighter-bomber
(later, resolving the issue with delivery of the engines
for the Pakistan air forces as well); plus 150 MMPP
Salyut AL-31FN-M1 turbofan engines for the J-10
fighter ordered (US$550 million) in 2006, following
an earlier order for 100 AL-31FN (US$350 million)
in July 2005; there have been four major AL-31FN
contracts since 2001 - 54 engines). A US$100 million
contract for AL-31FN spares was also signed in 2005
and extends through this year. On 12 October (2006),
China signed a contract for eight SAM Battalions of
advanced Almaz-Antey S-300PMU2 Favorite (SA20) SAM missiles and associated equipment valued
at US$1 billion.
Russia recently completed delivery of 24 Mi-171
Hip-H helicopters contracted (US$ 200 million) with
Ulan Ude Aviation Plant; and earlier this year, delivered
the last of eight Project 636 Improved-Kilo subs
under a US$2 billion contract with Admiralteyskie
Verft shipyard. According to Petrov, “The Chalkov
(Ilyushin’s plant) Aircraft Production Plant in Tashkent,
Uzbekistan, failed to manufacture several dozen
Ilyushin IL-76D (Candid) strategic transport planes for
the Chinese armed forces. Moscow was also unable
to relocate production to its Ulyanovsk Aircraft Plant
in the Volga region” – though the original order for 34
IL-76D and 4 IL-78 (Midas) aerial refuelling aircraft,
valued at US$1.2 billion, continues and final deliveries
of aircraft are not scheduled until 2011. Several IL-76
airframes are being converted to KJ-2000 AWACS
configuration once in Chinese hands.
But, evaluating the Chinese position, Dennis
Blasko noted a decade ago: “Even though Beijing
has accumulated vast foreign exchange reserves, the
senior leadership has yet to divert sufficient resources
from economic development to large-scale military
purchases. It would take huge sums to buy the
modern systems necessary to transform the Chinese
military, which is primarily equipped with material
based on the technologies of the 1950s and 1960s,
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
33
RUSSIAN EXPORTS
Sukhoi S-37 Berkut.
to a force based on that of the 1980s.” (JIG, Autumn/
Winter 1997-98; p.92) While much has changed in
the last decade, Chinese foreign acquisitions remain
in the last position of the Four Modernizations.
INDIAN MARKET
India, more than China, remains dependent on the
long-term arms relationship with Russia (due to
internal failures of the Indian manufacturing base).
The Indian military’s expansive demands are simply
beyond indigenous production capacity, in part.
The July 2006 contract for three Project 11356
(Talwar) frigates, valued at US$1.6 billion with Yantar
Shipyard, demonstrates this. Another 2006 contract
involved license production of the Chemyshev
Marchine Building Klimov RD-33 turbofan – with
120 to be built in India. India is now taking delivery of
four upgraded IL-38SD (Sea Dragon) maritime patrol
aircraft contracted under a US$205 million contract
with Leninets Holding Company and Ilyushin Aviation
Complex. India continues cycling Project 877EKM
(Kilo) submarines through Russia, with four overhauls
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
and upgrades contracted to Zvedochka Engineering
through 2009. Other major ongoing contracts
include: 180 AL-55i turbofan engines (US$250 million)
with NPO Saturn; 24 Almaz Antey Tungushka-M1
SPAAG systems (US$400 million); 36 Motorvilihinskie
Zadov (Factory) Smerch MLRS systems (US$500
million), and a contract with NPO Mashinostroye for
one Army battery of PJ-10A BrahMos land-attack
missiles. (BrahMos Aerospace chief, Dr. A. Sivathanu
Pillai, announced it would begin selling the system
to foreign buyers, which recently targeted Malaysia
for naval and air-launched applications of the 290-km
range PJ-10 systems).
In January this year, a US$25 million Russo-Indian
deal was signed whereby Chernyshev Machine
Building will provide 20 RD-33 (18,000lbs/8,300-kg)
thrust turbofans. Rosoboronexport has sponsored
the deal whereby Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)
will manufacture 120 Klimov RD-33 Series 3 turbofans
engines at Koraput facilities under a US$250 million
deal. The engines are destined for the IAF Mig-29s.
Indian sources are also saying this will allow India to
manufacture the related RD-33MK Sea Wasp engines
for its Mig-29K naval fighters, and pave the path for
manufacture of the Klimov RD-133 full-aspect thrust
vectoring turbofan engines if the Mig-35 is selected
for the MRCA US$6.5 billion programme.
“There is no proposal for advancement of the engine
of the MiG-29 aircraft, the RD-33 Series – I and Series
– II engines which are no longer in production. To meet
the future requirement of replacement engines for the
MiG-29 fleet, an Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA)
has been signed between the Government of India
and the Government of the Russian Federation for
license manufacture of RD-33 Series – III engines
at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The RD-33
Series – III engine is the latest version of the RD-33
engine and has higher Total Technical Life (TTL) and
Time Between Overhauls (TBO). HAL has signed a
general contract with the Russian side for Transfer
of Technology (TOT) for license manufacture of these
engines at HAL.” (DoD, Delhi, March 8, 2007)
The recently announced Indo-Russian 5th
Generation fighter MoU signed by Defence Minister
AK Antony and counterpart Andatoly Serdyukov in
October envisages far more cooperation with the
RUSSIAN EXPORTS
Vladimir Karnozov
IL76D Strategic Transporter
RSK-MIG organisation, as well as with the FazatronNIIR Corporation, to offer the IAF a multi-role light 5th
Gen fighter design in cooperation with the indigenous
DRDO.
Another MoU is on the Multi-Role Transport Aircraft
(MRTA), involving a US$700 million joint venture
agreement with Irkut Corporation and Hindustan
(HAL; Kanpur) to develop and manufacture a 60ton MTOW twin-engine transport with a maximum
cargo capacity of about 18,500-kg/20-tons, with
Ilyushin OKB designing the aircraft and production to
be at Kanpur. The aircraft appears to be based on
the 47.3-ton Ilyushin IL-214 project, which the Irkut
describes as a 55-ton MTOW aircraft with a 18.5ton payload. First flight is planned for December
2011, with two production lines planned by mid2013. The Russian domestic market is estimated at
100, with India acquiring 45 of the aircraft. If India
fulfils its financial and political obligations under
the agreements, significant inroads by Russian
firms into future Indian aviation sectors will be
assured - and to some extent outside direct
Rosoboronexport control.
VENEZUELAN SUCCESS
CREATIVE FINANCING
In passing, it should be noted the Venezuelan
July 2006 contract includes the following major
contracts: 24 Sukhoi / KNAAPO Su-30MK2
Flankers (US$1.5 billion), license production
and factory for 7.62mm AK-103 assault rifles
(US$474.6 million) plus a US$52 million contract for
100,000 AK-103s built by Izhmash; 34 Mi-171V5,
two Mi-35M Hind attack and two Mi-26TZ heavylift helicopters worth US$484 million) with Kazan
Helicopter Plan and Rostvertol firms. An earlier
2005 contract involved the sale of six Mi-17B-5,
three Mi-35 and one Mi-26TZ helicopter. It is not
clear what weapons package was bought with the
Su-30 contract, but it may include the Mk2s ability
to use Kh-59ME / Kh-59MK (AS-18 Kazoo) and
Kh-35E and TV-guided Kh-29TE weapon options;
known missiles under the contract include the R73E Archer and R-27R1DE AAMs. If successfully
put into Venezuelan operational service, the
Russian sales could lead to renewed markets
elsewhere in South America, including Peru and
Bolivia.
A slowdown of Russian exports to China is now
inevitable as China begins producing indigenous
copies of Russian equipment, principally the
PLAs BMP-3 variant; the J-11B (Flanker variant)
powered by the Chinese WS-10A turbofan (Russia
has lost the engine market in China except for
the AL-31FN), and the Ying-ji 91 (YJ-91) variant
of the Kh-31 (AS-17 Krypton) ASM. To Russia’s
credit worldwide though, one author notes:
“Russian leaders have made important efforts, in
recent years, to provide more flexible and creative
financing and payment options for prospective
arms clients. It has also agreed to engage in
counter-trade, offsets, debt swapping, and, in key
cases, to make significant licensed production
agreements in order to sell its weapons. The
willingness to license production has been a
central element in several cases involving Russia’s
principle arms clients.” Russia, through its new
conglomerates and private firms, will remain
a significant factor in many Asian markets in
coming decades. Q
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
35
KOREA WATCH
Korea to sell T-50s to Singapore, UAE, Greece
South Korea is set to sell about 130 units of its indigenous supersonic trainer
jet, the T-50, to Singapore (the most likely potential buyer), the United Arab
Emirates and Greece this year in deals estimated to be worth more than US$1
billion. Sales contracts should be concluded in November. The T-50 is Korea’s
first supersonic military jet built by the country’s sole aircraft maker, Korea
Aerospace Industries, in a technology partnership with American Lockheed
Martin. Singapore is reportedly planning to purchase 30 units, while the UAE
and Greece are expected to buy 60 and 40 units, respectively.
Northrop Grumman
US Navy
Crew of North Korean pirated
vessel regains control
ROK still wants RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV
The South Korean government is still pushing to meet its future
‘persistent aerial surveillance’ requirements under the Mid-Term Defence
Plan 2008-12 to acquire RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) systems. According to the ROK Ministry of Defence, “The plan to
buy four Global Hawks is still alive. We have already earmarked some
initial budget funds for the project.” Under the next MTDP, the ROK is
estimated to have allocated some US$178 billion to its armed forces,
including procurements and modernisations. The high-altitude, longrange Northrop Grumman RQ-4A for the US Air Force is considered offlimits to foreign sales, according to the Pentagon. The reason is justified
under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) provisions, of which
the US (plus 33 others) is a signatory, on the basis of its ability to carry a
payload (including nuclear) that places it in Category 1 status under the
MTCR provisions. The ROKAF requirement is more likely to be fulfilled by
a medium-range platform like General Atomics’ MQ-1 Predator extended
range multi-purpose (ERMP) or Mariner system, despite the best efforts
of the South Koreans to get the world’s most capable strategic UAV
system. The RQ-4 made its first operational deployment with the USAF
9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB (CA) in mid-July this year, with
deployment to Andersen AFB, in Guam. Considered less likely is a
range of smaller UAV systems including the Elbit Hermes 450 UAV that
recently went operational with UK No. 32 Regiment (Royal Artillery) in
Afghanistan - outfitted along UK ‘Watchkeeper’ specifications.
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
The crew of a North Korean cargo vessel, Dai Hong Dan, regained control of
their vessel on 30 October after fighting with the pirates who had taken over
their ship sometime the day before. The crew was able to control the steering
and engineering spaces of the ship, while the pirates had seized the bridge.
The ship was approximately 60 nautical miles northeast of Mogadishu. Three
corpsmen from USS James E. Williams (DDG 95), an Arleigh-Burke-class
destroyer operating as part of the maritime coalition, along with a boarding
team, provided medical assistance and other support as needed to the crew
of the Korean vessel. Three seriously injured crewmembers were transferred
to the James E. Williams for treatment. Initial reports from the crew were that
five pirates were captured and two are dead. The pirates remain aboard the
MV Dai Hong Dan. The Combined Maritime Forces Headquarters, based in
Bahrain, received a call from the International Maritime Bureau, located in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the morning of 30 October, providing the current
status of the Dai Hong Dan. At that time, the James E. Williams was about 50
nautical miles from the vessel and sent a helicopter to investigate the situation.
James E. Williams arrived in the vicinity of the Korean ship midday local time
and contacted the pirates via bridge-to-bridge radio, ordering them to give
up their weapons. At that point, the Korean crew confronted the pirates and
regained control of the ship, and then began communicating with the James.
E. Williams, requesting medical assistance. The crew said the pirates had been
in control of the bridge, but the crew had retained control of the steering and
engineering spaces. Piracy remains an ongoing maritime security and safety
issue off the coast of Somalia. The Japanese vessel MV Golden Nori was also
pirated in the Gulf of Aden shortly afterwards. Q
Vladimir Harnozov
INDIA OUTLOOK
Tejas LCA on display at the India Air Show
The Indian Navy will recieve their first Akula SSN next year
BrahMos set for subs
Tejas fires R-73
AAM in tests
India’s indigenously developed Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) achieved its “most
significant milestone yet” on 24 October with a ‘text book’ test firing of a close combat
missile marking the beginning of the jet’s weaponisation programme that is also the focus
of the current initial operational clearance (IOC) phase of the programme. The test firing
of the R-73 missile was conducted at an altitude of 7 km at an air-to-air range off the
Goa coast, with the aircraft flying at a speed of Mach 0.6. The test was conducted from
a mobile telemetry vehicle where all the aircraft, systems and weapon data were closely
monitored.
The test firing was conducted from a Tejas prototype vehicle PV-1, flown by Group
Captain N. Harish, chief test pilot of the National Flight Test Centre of the Aeronautical
Development Agency (ADA) that designed the aircraft.
The test firing was meant to validate five parameters: safe separation of the missile
from the parent aircraft; the effect of the missile plume on the aircraft’s engine air-intake;
functionality of the aircraft’s store management system, including its safety interlocks; the
effect of the missile plume on the aircraft’s composites structures; and assessment of the
aircraft’s handling qualities during the missile launch.
AGNI-I tests continue
India’s strategic armed forces on 31 October test-fired a nuclear-capable Agni-1 ballistic
missile for a second time in less than a month, saying the latest experiment was a ‘major
success.’ The Agni-1 has a range of 700 km, making it capable of striking most targets
in Pakistan. It was launched from a missile test range in the eastern state of Orissa. “The
system we tested today has more manoeuvrability and better re-entry technology than
the missile that was launched on October 5,” said a Defense Research and Development
Organization (DRDO) official. The Agni - Sanskrit for ‘fire’ - is a 12-metre (39-foot) long,
mobile-launched medium-range ballistic missile that can carry a one-ton warhead.
India’s DRDO, in joint development with Bechtel Larsen
and Toubro (India) has achieved a submerged launch of
the PJ-10 BrahMos anti-ship missile canister. The canister
has been designed for use with the DRDO-developed
Dhanush surface-to-surface missiles (SLBM) system and
is intended for vertical launch. However, the priority will
be on fielding the Dhanush SLBM, which is likely to be
field tested again when India takes delivery of the first
Shchuka-B (Project 971/Akula-I) SSN next year, where
the canister will be tested from the four 650-mm (25-inch)
torpedo tube launchers. Indian industry officials at recent
exhibitions have confirmed that both missile systems
would eventually utilise the new canister launch system.
It is too early to determine when or what submarine
class will first receive the VLS configuration for either the
Dhanush or PJ-10. India’s future Advanced Technology
Vessel (ATV) is only really now making headway, under new
rules that require Indian officials to multi-source bidding
and ensure 30 percent offsets are part of any deal. The
programme as outlined would involve MDL (Mumbai) and
Bechtel Larsen and Tubro (Hazira) as prime contractors
with final assembly undertaken at Vishakapatnam Naval
Dockyard (VND). A RfI is likely next year with a RfP by
2010. Final contract design is likely by 2011 with first of
class commissioning in 2013. This would place the first
sub commissioning right at the time the Akula-I lease ends,
the first ATV is fitted out, and when the final Scorpene
SS Batch I is in its final stages of completion. The first
submarine will now likely be commissioned in 2011-12;
hull two will likely be laid down in 2009 and commissioned
in 2014 with the remaining four to be commissioned
between 2018 and 2024. Anticipated weapons include
the 6,500-ton SSGN designed Sagarika TLAM (Tactical
Land Attack Missile), Novator anti-3M 14TE and 3M 14E
(SS-N-30B), PJ-10 BrahMos SSM and a mix of Shyena
and TEST 53.3-cm torpedoes, with a maximum weapon
load of 20-22 weapons in various combinations of the
above. The Sagarika TLAM may be housed in separate
exterior VLS silos. The Dhanush missile is clearly intended
for the ATV.
India might also acquire a next-generation diesel
submarine, whose candidates include a number of Rubin
Design Bureau Amur class proposals. The boats would
be fitted with six to ten VLS launchers allowing a mix of
Dhanush or BrahMos missiles to be fitted from a common
launcher. Testing should be completed in 2010 with fullrate production likely on both systems by 2012, which
would coincide well with the commissioning requirements
of the Advanced Technology Vessels. Q
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
37
AUSTRALIA
By Nicholas Merrett
Army growth on track,
but NCW plans delayed
W
Australian Defence
ith Australia’s federal election only days
away (24 November), senior Army and
DSTO (Defence Science Technology
Organisation) officials hosting this year’s Land
Warfare Conference in Adelaide on 22-26 October
were in full “caretaker” mode, providing press with
only the most limited statements on new and current
defence projects. Opening the conference, which was
themed, ‘Pervasive, Persistent and Proportionate:
Landforce and Urban Warfare,’ LTGEN Peter Leahy,
Chief of Army, told delegates the Hardened and
Networked Army (HNA) and Enhanced Land Force
(ELF) programmes were progressing well but there
were still “some trade and technical recruiting issues”
to resolve. Under the ELF initiative that was approved
in December 2005, the Army is set to grow to eleven
conventional battlegroups with another three in the
Special Operations Command (SOCOMD-A). ADF
recruitment figures released in late October show that
8,924 Australians joined the ADF as either full-time or
reserve members over 2006-07, an improvement of
1,125 over the figures from the previous year.
LTGEN Peter Leahy, Chief of Army said the HNA and ELF
programmes are proceeding well.
RESTORING THE BALANCE
AGAINST ASYMMETRY
Taking former British general and former deputy
commander of NATO, Sir Rupert Smith’s term of
“War among the people,” Leahy said humans were
now living in the greatest period of urbanisation.
“Who do you think enjoys information superiority in
this context? Of course, the insurgents do. With a
concept of God’s time, they win by avoiding defeat.
We need to tap anthropology to read ambiguous
situations. We must not over react; we must act
morally…discrimination and proportionality are
all important”. Leahy said the Army had made
progress with force protection – with 21,000 IED
attacks having already been made by insurgents
in Iraq this year - and was well served by targeting
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
systems. “With well-trained troops we can restore
the balance against asymmetry. The best sensor
– better than a UAV or SIGINT receiver - is a soldier
on the ground who knows the local language and
provides compassion”. LTGEN Leahy encouraged
the audience to ask themselves each day how they
could best assist combat soldiers on operations.
Dr Nanda Nandagopal, DSTO’s Deputy Chief
Defence Scientist, Policy and Programs, speaking on
the future strategic challenges posed by China and
India, asked simply, “Doesn’t a change in economic
power equate to a change in political power?” DSTO’s
greatest challenge, he said, was that while acquisition
was a linear process technological evolution was
non-linear. “We need to build systems that can
rapidly capitalise on technology advances and this is
where systems integration will play a key role,” citing
the Fibre and Storage Laws where communications
AUSTRALIA
NCW PROGRESS - TERRESTRIAL
COMMUNICATIONS
On 28 September the Defence Materiel Organisation
(DMO) terminated its A$29 million contract with
General Dynamics Canada (GDC) under JP 2072
Phase One - Battlespace Communications System
– Land for the initial component (of four phases)
of the development of the overall Battlespace
Communication System design. The total value of
all phases is approximately A$1 billion with Phase
1 approved at A$104 million with the remaining
phases yet to be approved by Government. Defence
is now reviewing the acquisition strategy to deliver
the high priority requirements as soon as possible.
Its intention is still to deliver incremental capability
consistent with an evolving architecture and design,
and JP2072 as a project continues.
The updated NCW Roadmap, released in
March at the Avalon Air Show, set the milestone of
achieving a fully networked Army brigade by mid2012, with a Battle Group and Below, Command
Control and Communications (BGC3) system
General Dynamics
capacity doubles every nine months and memory
capacity doubles every 12 months.
Dr Nandagopal said DSTO was also supporting
battlefield robotics through improved C2 links, more
automated weapons stations, better data fusion
engines, processing algorithms and increased
processing capabilities and had now developed a test
bed for technology insertion called the GROWLER
(Ground-based Weaponised Light Experimental
Robot, that is based on the commercially developed
Polaris Ranger all-terrain vehicle), that uses
Kongsberg’s remote weapon station fitted with a
0.50-calibre machine gun.
Keynote speaker, LTGEN David Hurley, Chief of
Joint Operations (CJOPS), spoke of a new command
paradigm with the division of responsibility from 28
September between the Vice Chief of the Defence
Force (VCDF) and CJOPS. “The VCDF is now free to
develop larger conceptual thinking and joint training,”
Hurley said, while CJOPS - which commands
HQJOC - will focus on joint operations command
and exercises. The JCTC (Joint Combined Training
Capability) will be brought under HQJOC. On 14
November 2008, CJOPS will move into HQJOC,
which will also include Border Protection Command.
“The way we pass quick feedback and information
from the battlefield to HQJOC and to DSTO is
essential,” Hurley said, proposing a three-pronged
line of operation to defeat the CIED (Counter IED)
threat: “train the soldier, defeat the device and attack
the network”. He also commended the initiative
of personnel involved in Operation Anode in the
Solomon Islands, which is commandeered solely by
Reservists.
JP 2072 systems integration lab. Defence has terminated its contract with General Dynamics Canada and is now reviewing the project’s acquisition strategy.
(being developed under Land 75/125. The tender
closed 6 August) providing a four man team up to
the battlegroup headquarters level with a map and
data based Common Operating Picture. This COP
is to interconnect with other ADF NCW elements of
the future brigade, including the Land 17 acquired
Raytheon Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data
System (AFATDS) Battle Management Systems
- Fires and JP 2072 Phase 2 and Phase 3
communications architecture.
Each battlegroup will require around 200 nodes
in the BGC3 that will also include vehicle-mounted
radios, with the winner to deliver some 3,000 radios
and 3,000 C2 computers. The encrypted radios
being offered by industry must be JTRS (Joint
Tactical Radio System) software interoperable,
but as JTRS radios have been accredited with
Type 1 (being able to safely transfer Top Secret
information) digital encryption security by the
US National Security Agency, they are subject to
ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations)
restrictions. This means JTRS-compliant radios
offered by the Land 75/125 bidders cannot legally
be used for their own demonstrations, even if the
product belongs to them, for the Land 75/125
trial. Under the newly signed APEC Treaty on
Defence Trade Cooperation, signed 5 September
- which is supposed to permit the licence-free
export of defence goods that meet certain security
requirements - DMO is seeking authorisation for
firms to be able to trial their solutions. If approval
cannot be granted, DMO will have to administer
the demonstration. The Land 75/125 trial, which
begins in October 2007, must demonstrate the
basic Variable Message Format capability to digitally
transfer information with two solutions then chosen
for Parallel Offer Definition Study in February 2008,
where they will be integrated into vehicle platforms
and soldier equipment for further evaluation. Land
75/125 bidders include Tenix Defence & Aerospace
and Northrop Grumman, Elbit Systems and Boeing
Australia Limited, Saab Systems and Thales Australia,
and Raytheon Australia and Cobham.
MILSATCOMS
While Defence’s decision to buy into closer ties with
US DoD satellite communications systems (spending
A$927 million for a sixth satellite), as announced on
3 October by Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson,
was fiscally and operationally sound, the decision to
join the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) System
programme is questionable as it is a component
of the US DoD’s plans for the establishment of a
Global Information Grid (GIG), that also includes a far
more capable system, the Transformational Satellite
Capability System (TSAT). It might be far more logical
for Australia to contribute to either the GIG or TSAT.
TSAT will be a hugely capable, but expensive system
while the GIG is an area where Defence first needs
to know about its overall specifications, design,
performance and limitations, which could materially
affect the design and implementation of its own
NCW architecture.
Joining the US government’s plans for a new
satellite system does not reduce the need for terrestrial
networks, like those being provided through JP2072
(Battlespace Communications System - Land) or
evolved satellite ground stations such as Parakeet,
and in joining such a venture Defence will have to
conform to new operational disciplines. However,
there are clear opportunities for Australian Industry
to be involved in the design and supply of the
terrestrial components of whatever satellite system
the ADF acquires, and if it moves quickly enough it
could even be well positioned to offer them to other
allied users. Q
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
39
KOREAN NAVAL EXPO
Keith Jacobs
ROK Navy rifle drill team wowed the crowds each afternoon outside the BEXCO exhibition hall entrance.
By Keith Jacobs
Naval & Defence 2007 - Busan
aval & Defence 2007 brought the large and
small exhibitors to Busan in southern Korea
during the last week of October (24-27th).
At the show, many Korean exhibitors brought their
designs directly into the hallways – most prominent
were several firms specialising in high-speed rigid
inflatable boat (RIB) designs. For example, A1 Marine
brought their RayStar 850 RHIB, whose prototype is
currently being tested by the Chinese coast guard
(in China).
LIG Nex1 Co.’s (formerly Nex1Future) spacious
stand displayed models of Blue Shark, White Shark
and Sea Star (K-ASROC) torpedoes, but must have
disappointed many by not including their naval
SSM-700K cruise missile or Army’s Hynmoo (named
N
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
after an ancient kingdom’s general) ballistic missile
systems – both credited with 1,000-km ranges.
Admiral Bai (ROKN-Ret) recently joined the company
but LIG Nex1 reps were unwilling to discuss either
system, due to sensitivity over their development
with neighbours in NE Asia and MTCR (Missile
Technology Control Regime) implications.
Hanilnews, known for both its aluminium and
RIB craft, displayed a 7.7-metre NH 770 design,
common to a series of 6.0-8.5-metre rescue and
pleasure RIB craft designs. Woonam Marine’s RIB
designs range from single-engine 4.9-metre to twinengine 8.5-metre Poseidon designs for both civil
and military applications. A1 Marine’s Ms. Yu-Jin
Kim, the current RIB on display, is the second of the
design built, with the prototype in China being tested
for procurement by Chinese coast guard authorities.
Several Korean companies, supported by
recent laws requiring indigenous participation
in manufacturing, are heavily involved in ROKN
developments. Prominent among these is HAEAN
Machinery Ind. Co., known for its manufacture of
marine cranes, ramps (LCAC, LST use), an underway
replenishment system, and the helicopter traversing
(winching) system adopted on KDX-III Batch 1 ships.
Based on DCN’s helicopter winching system, the
design dimensions are not compatible with the new
KDX-III Batch 2 hangar dimensions, being no longer
suitable for future needs.
Amongst the most intriguing and revealing of
KOREAN NAVAL EXPO
Keith Jacobs
Lockheed Martin model of “King
Sejong the Great” (KDX-III) Batch
I DDG model, which features AEGIS
SPY-1D(V) combat management.
Keith Jacobs
Korean aerospace developments recently has
been the UAS CENTER-Schielbel Camcopter S100 autonomous UAV system for both land and
shipboard applications. This small UAV (with a 3.4
x 3.2-metre rotor) was on display at the UAS Center
booth and is being offered to Korean military and
civil authorities to perform a variety of electronically
controlled missions, including ISR (IR, EO and
LIDAR) and SAR missions. According to William J.
Park, president and CEO of UAS Center Co., using
available IR packages for the UAV, a 5-km range can
be obtained with an EO mission surveillance range
of up to 10-km.
From distant Scotland came Alistair J. Plowman
(Engineering Director) and Mark Tonin (Project
Engineer) of MacTaggart Scott with a range of
engineering programmes, with KROSYS Inc
(Shihung, Kyongki) that does extensive licensing
and indigenous manufacturing for MacTaggart.
Of continuing interest to the ROKN is the TRIGON
helicopter winching system for frigate-destroyer
category ships, already installed onboard KDX-1/II
ships. They are hopeful that with design changes
that reduce the size of the KDX-III Batch 2 hangar,
the TRIGON system (which fits the revised hangar
design) will be adopted for Batch 2 DDGs to get
helicopters off-the-flight deck and into the hangar
shelter. KROSYS is already well known in Korea
for industrial noise reduction (shipboard and civil)
equipment and water treatment systems, reverse
osmosis water purification units for the ROKA, and
active fin stabilisation systems (under license from
the relocated PACMAR Inc. (from Seattle, WA to
Korea). KROSYS is not making a radar cross section
masking system for the KDX-series under new
(2007) technical cooperation agreements with Jered
LLC (USA).
Samyang Chemical Co. (Seocho-ku, Seoul)
manufactures the Lacroix Dagaie Mk.2 disposable
decoy system under license, of which 20 are deployed
BAE Systems area displays including models of all current major gun systems including the 5”54/62cal Mk.45Mod4 used onboard the
KDX-III DDG series.
Very Important
People are
coming to a Very
Important Place.
See you in Singapore from 19 - 24 Feb 2008.
For details, call +(65) 6542 8660 or
email [email protected]
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
41
Keith Jacobs
Keith Jacobs
KOREAN NAVAL EXPO
UAS CENTER-Schiebel Camcopter S-100 UAV with design engineer of the company.
Woonam Marine Craft Co. Ltd (Kimhae) 5.5 metre Poseidon rescue RHIB on display.
on the KDX-I/II/III series. The firm also makes multispectral screening smoke rounds and various naval
pyrotechnic cartridges (KJAU-22/B, KMK25) and
LiOH cartridges for submarine applications. WIA
World Industries ACE, part of Hyundai Motors Group,
licenses BAE Systems naval guns, ROKA artillery
and tank guns and aerospace products.
DSME UTech (Dong-gu, Daejeon) had displays of
their underwater video camera system (C-220M),
digital side scan sonar system (S-150), and SC1500 series underwater inspection system, and has
built a ROV surface platform for the side-scan sonar
SB-100S system. Sunjin Industrial Co. (Dangjin-kun)
brought an extensive line of its waterproof protective
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
gear. Bando Marine Corp. (Busan) displayed its
licensed outboard Mercury engines and models of
high-thrust waterjet systems that it manufactures.
Hanwoong Co. (Kunpo-City) displayed a great range
of camouflage army-marine clothing and related gear
that the ROKA buys it gear from.
MacTaggart Scott has also developed a softwarebased system called ‘Safety Index Meter’ designed
to aid decision-making from the bridge as to whether
safe helicopter flight conditions exist during allweather conditions or if termination of operations is
advisable. The algorithms involve deck motion and
other sensor inputs to determine safe operation
of helicopters from the aft flight decks of frigate-
destroyer category ships, and are best put to use
during rough sea operations. While no one can
predict ahead waves and swells, the system would
have obvious advantages in predicting safety factor
levels from prior conditions for bridge command
personnel. The display information in bar-graph
format can be inserted on any number of bridge
console display screens. The system is awaiting a
Royal Navy ship schedule testing date.
From Greece came Internat (Smyrni) displaying the
company’s signature reduction technologies,
which comply with NATO Stanag 4319 standards.
Widely used for camouflage and infra-red and radar
signature reduction on everything from personnel
and nettings to tanks and other armoured vehicles,
the technologies have growing applications in Asia
as more and more local armies adopt IR and EO
sensors for targeting. Zorya – Mashproekt (Ukraine)
had models on display of their famous amphibious
hovercraft (but their rep could speak neither English
or Korean!).
Thales had come to focus on radars and sonars
and as Paul Hamlet, Deputy Business Director,
Mine Warfare Naval Division noted, three VDS 2093
sonar’s are on the first three Yang Yang class MHCs.
CEDIP Infrared Systems of France brought working
models of its PHAROS LRN marine surveillance and
PHAROS LR (long-range) multisensory surveillance
platforms for naval applications, including coastal
surveillance and direct shipboard installations.
Kongsberg brought a display of its Ship SelfProtection System (SSPS), designed to protect
ships against the kind of attacks that tore a hole in
USS Cole, as well as air and underwater threats.
A complete system comprises two shipboard
consoles (+2 computer banks), two RWS stations to
control the ‘Sea Protector’ gun, SR-SAM (RBS-70
shown) systems and an acoustic warning system,
two LASAR and SM2000 diver detection sonars for
over-the-side deployment, a C’Inspector AUV for
surveillance, mine inspection and classification, plus
an overboard Minesniper AUV. The ‘Sea Protector’
gun system is based on the M151 RWS in widearmy use. In Korea, Kongsberg is responsible for
design and delivery of the ASW control software for
the ROKN KDX-III ships.
BAE’s spacious area included models of its naval
guns (formerly United Defense LP and Saab). Mark S.
Wilson, Director International Programs, Armament
Systems noted the new “Yoon Young-Ha” (PK-A) are
using spare WIA-built 76mm Mk.75 guns on the first
nine ships planned. BAE hope to provide the already
adopted 5”/62cal Mk.45 Mod4 on the FF-X design
(nine Batch I). An enlarged (4,000-ton) Bach II ship
is planned.
EDO’s (future ITT) Matt Miller, director of Panama
City (FL) operations and Dan Hartwell, international
KOREAN NAVAL EXPO
Keith Jacobs
business development for Naval Command and
Sonar Systems, discussed their perspectives on
the ROKN purchase of eight SH-60 helicopters
and the need for the navy to outfit them with the
OASIS (AN/ALQ-220) airborne and surface influence
sweep airborne (AMCM) system. The advantages
of operating a standard USN AMCM system are
obvious when conducting joint (cross-decking) or
independent operations, when system parts need
procurement or repairs are needed on short-notice.
Japan bought the AW.101 to meet at-sea MCM
needs but wants to use its four EDO Mk.105 Mod.4
sleds in its inventory with the helicopters. For surface
ship applications, the USN has adopted the EDO
Unmanned Surface Sweep System (US3) for the
future Littoral Combat Ships (LCS).
GE Marine’s Jeff Moll (Director, Sales and
Marketing) pointed out that the LM2500-series is the
‘world standard’ in marine gas turbines, in service
with 30 navies with 66 naval ship programmes
worldwide. Selected in 2005 for the new ROKN
‘Yoon Young-Ha’ (PK-A) class PGM programme,
other recent successes for LM2500+ include the
French FREMM frigate and USN USS Freedom
(LCS-1) class programmes. GE Marine is hopeful the
ROKN will adopt the same gas turbine design for its
CODOG-powered FE-X (future frigate) design, which
is currently undergoing water tank model testing.
Samsung (Korea) does “packaging” of the LM2500series to meet local demands in both civil and military
areas, and does co-production on some parts to
meet Korean needs.
Lockheed Martin’s spacious stands reflected its
already heavy involvement in ROKN programmes,
most notable with the AEGIS SPY-1D(V) system
that is installed on the new “King Sejong the Great”
class (KDX-III) destroyers. It is also anxious to
introduce the COMBATSS-21 next-generation CMS
scalable system for such future ROKN programmes
as FE-X. Gilbert Kinney of LM MS2 (Syracuse, NY)
came from Malaysia to discuss coastal security
and local surveillance needs. L3 Communications
Power and Control Systems were on display, which
are licensed by EHWA Technologies Information
in Seoul. Raytheon International Korea Inc.’s Eric
Crabtree, president and country manager for
Korea refused to discuss Raytheon’s perspectives
on the region, products or company outlook on
the region.
Korea is planning for bigger events in 2008, with
a combined International Fleet Review and Maritime
& Defence Exhibition (6-10 Oct. 2008), again in
Busan (Pusan) when it will commemorate the 60th
anniversary of the formation of the ROK government
and armed forces, and will include ROK and
foreign navy ships, with the exhibition venue at
BEXCO again. Q
LIG Nex1 “White Shark” torpedo and “K-ASROC” ASW system scheduled for installation onboard KDX-III Batch II destroyers as part of a
separate 10-cell VLS installation mounted forward of the bridge.
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
43
MALAYSIAN SSK
J-M Guhl
The first Scorpene attack submarine for the
Royal Malaysian Navy afloat in
the DCNS Cherbourg
main sea bassin.
By Jean-Michel Guhl
KD Tunku Abdul Rahman
Scorpene launched
fter a 44-month long construction period
totalling over three million work hours, the first
of the ‘Perdana Menteri’ Class SSK Scorpene
submarines for the Royal Malaysian Navy, KD-1,
was launched at the DCNS shipyards in Cherbourg,
France on 23 October. Large crowds attended the
event including the Malaysian vice premier and
minister of defence, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak,
who had just arrived from Russia along with French
defence minister Hervé Morin.
By naming the very first submarine of the Royal
Malaysian Navy after the first prime minister of the
Federation of Malaysia - Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra
Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah
(1903-1990), also known as “Bapa Kemerdekaan” or
Malaysia’s father of independence - Dato’ Sri Mohd
Najib Tun Razak’s foremost intention was to stress
the importance the Southeast Asian nation is giving
A
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
to this first step in the inception of Malaysia’s nascent
submarine force - a drive toward excellence in Tun Dr
Mahathir bin Mohamad’s Vision 2020 spirit.
A SIGNIFICANT SERIES OF EVENTS
The naming ceremony occured just one day after the
first Malaysian in space - Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor
- returned safely to Earth, an event witnessed in
person by the Malaysian vice premier and minister of
defence at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Ignoring the cold sea breeze and speaking
without notes at the DCNS shipyard ceremony, the
Malaysian Vice Premier betrayed a real sense of
emotion and pride. “The Scorpene class submarine
to be delivered in 2009,” he said, “will significantly
expand Malaysia’s naval capabilities and usher
the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) into a new era of
development and progress. It is crucial for Malaysia
to have a small but credible and effective naval force
not only to safeguard its sovereignty and maritime
interests against any eventuality but more importantly
to contribute to the maritime security and safety in
the region.” He said the submarine acquisition would
also significantly contribute towards creating more
balanced capability in the Malaysian Armed Forces.
In front of the RMN crew lined-up for the Muslim
prayer, Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, in
keeping with naval traditions broke a carafe of holy
water, brought all the way from the revered Zamzam
well in Mecca, against the submarine’s conning
tower.
“Tunku’s courage, wisdom and foresight managed
to steer our nation to what it is today.” In direct praise
for the DCNS submarines, Najib added, In selecting
the Scorpene subs for the RMN, we really think we
made the best choice for our country”.
MALAYSIAN SSK
Slightly longer than the lighter weight Scorpenes
built for the Chilean Navy, on account of an added
cofferdam with double airlock separating the fore
and aft sections of the vessel, the two 1,650ton Scorpenes ordered for the Royal Malaysian
Navy have a length of 67.5 metres. Each vessel is
equipped with all the necessary systems to provide
vital supplies, water, provisions, and regeneration of
the air, to ensure the survival of the crew for seven
days. Both are also equipped with full rescue and
safety systems. A connection point for a diving
bell or Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV)
allows collective rescue operations.
The bullet-shaped vessel has a hull-mounted
medium-frequency active / passive sonar and is
powered by two MAN-Pielstick diesel generators
providing 2,500 kW. Both use synchronous motors
with permanent magnets. The submarine has an
elastically supported 2,900 kW electric engine for
quiet underwater operations. With an endurance of
45 days and an underwater displacement of some
2,000 tons each of the Scorpenes will be manned by
a Malaysian crew of just 31 (with a standard watch
team of nine). Crew training is underway in France
using the recommissioned French Navy “Ouessant”
Agosta Class submarine and is on schedule to enable
the RMN to provide complete crews to both new
Scorpenes from the very first day they are delivered.
The RMN Scorpenes are armed with deep diving
Black Shark heavyweight 21-inch wire-guided
torpedoes fitted with an Astra active / passive
acoustic head and a multi-target guidance and
control unit incorporating an advanced countercountermeasures system. The ship’s six bow-located
torpedo tubes provide a fully automated salvo launch
capability, which will also be capable of firing SM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles that have a range of 50
km. The vessels are to be equipped with a Sagem
electronic support measures/direction-finding (ESM/
DF) system in a large extendable mast. Eighteen
torpedoes and missiles or thirty mines can be carried
by the Scorpene attack submarine.
The ship’s SUBTICS combat management system,
with up to six multifunction common consoles and
a centrally situated tactical table, is collocated with
the platform-control facilities. This very compact
Thales-designed CMS is composed of a command
and tactical data handling system, a weapon control
system and an integrated suite of acoustic sensors
with an interface to a set of air surface detection
sensors and to the integrated navigation system.
The system can also download data from external
sources. The integrated navigation system combines
data from global positioning systems, the log, depth
measurement and the ship’s trim / list monitoring
system providing precise guidance in shallow
waters. The Scorpene is even capable of sensing
J-M Guhl
ADVANCED SSK
Malaysian Vice Premier and Minister of Defence Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib pose along with French Minister of Defence Hervé Morin.
its direct environment including seawater density
and temperature as well as the submarine’s own
noise signature. The vessel’s hight-tech sonar suite
includes a long-range passive cylindrical array, an
intercept sonar, active sonar, distributed array, flank
array, a high-resolution sonar for mine and obstacle
avoidance as well as a towed array.
Quite typical of the Scorpene’s compactness, all
handling operations are carried out from the control
room as the vessel features a high level of automation
and surveillance, with automatic control mode of
rudders and propulsion, continuous monitoring of
the propulsion systems and platform installations,
centralised and continuous surveillance of all potential
hazards (leaks, fires, presence of gases) and status
displays of the installations that affect the safety of
the boat while it is submerged.
The control room and the living quarters are
mounted on an elastically supported and acoustically
isolated floating platform. All living and operational
areas are air-conditioned. The submarine also has
space for six additional fold-down bunks for special
operations crew in the torpedo room.
Due to complete her first diving tests on 25
January 2008, off the French coast, the “Tunku
Abdul Rahman” will then sail south for Lorient where
DCNS technicians will complete high sea testing in
the Atlantic ocean for a period of four months. After
more extensive tests, the vessel will head for Toulon
on the Mediterranean coast of France in October
2008 to complete her official testings and complete
the RMN ultimate formation phase. Once fully
operational, ship and crew will rally Malaysia during
the summer of 2009, after a two months endurance
sea transit.
There are two existing variants of the Scorpene
SSK, the CM-2000 with the conventional propulsion
system and the AM-2000 equipped with an air
independent propulsion (AIP) system fitted in an
added central ring section. The AM-2000 is capable
of remaining submerged on underwater patrol for
three times longer than the CM-2000.
Just as it is the case with all latest generation
French Améthyste-class nuclear attack submarines,
the planning and design of the Scorpene was
directed towards achieving an extremely quiet
vessel with a great detection capability and offensive
power. Scorpenes draw a lot from France’s long
experience in making nuclear powered submarines
for the Marine Nationale. The albacore shaped hull,
the sail and the appendices have been specifically
designed to produce minimum hydrodynamic noise.
In SSN fashion, the various items of equipment
are mounted on elastic supports, which are in turn
mounted on uncoupled blocks and suspended
platforms. For many international naval experts,
the Scorpene design with its full dual coastal and
oceanic capacities represents the only conventional
submarines likely to equal a nuclear-powered attack
submarine today. Q
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
45
MARKETING PROMOTION
Mi-28NE.
Mi-1
Mi-2
Mi-4
Mi-6
Mi-8
Mi-10
Mi-10K
Mi-12
Mi-14
Mi-17
Mi-24
Mi-26
Mi-28
Mi-34
MMHP Mil designs are in use around the world.
Russian Helicopter
Industry Anniversary
his year is the anniversary for the helicopter
industry in Russia. On 12 December, Mil
Moscow Helicopter Plant [MMHP], JSC, the
leading Russian designer of rotary-wing aircraft, will
celebrate its 60th anniversary. The main activities
of MMHP are: research and development [R&D] of
new rotorcraft prototypes; testing and perfecting
systems for serial production and certification;
modernisation and modification of the existing ‘Mi’
brand helicopters; and operations support. The ‘Mi’
brand helicopters form more than 95 percent of all
Russian helicopter production.
MMHP specialists have the experience in designing
T
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
helicopters of all types and classes – light, medium
and unique heavy lift helicopters, multi-purpose and
dedicated helicopters, land and sea helicopters.
For 60 years of successful production, MMHP has
designed and developed fifteen basic helicopter
models, of which numerous modifications have been
conducted. Almost all the helicopter designs entered
into serial production are highly competitive with
similar machines produced by other companies in
flight performance and economic characteristics.
MMHP is the record-holder with about 150
records over its lifetime. The activity of the enterprise
has been marked by numerous national and foreign
awards, including the international I.I. Sikorsky Prize
on two occasions.
The ‘Mi’ brand helicopters are manufactured at
aircraft plants in Arsenyev, Kazan, Rostov-on-Don,
Ulan-Ude and the Polish enterprise PZL Swidnik. In
Poland and China the helicopter industry started from
the licensed production of ‘Mi’ helicopters. The total
number of ‘Mi’ helicopters exceeds 30,000 – of which
more than 7,000 have been exported and operated
in more than 100 states, including the states of the
Asia-Pacific Region.
At present, MMHP JSC is incorporated in the
holding company, ‘Helicopters of Russia,’ established
MARKETING PROMOTION
Mi-38.
by JSC “UIC OBORONPROM.” It is satisfying
complex activities aimed at increasing combat
efficiency, improving engineer data and economical
characteristics of its products. Also, it is completing
a new concept of after-sale maintenance of ‘Mi’
helicopters whereby it is maintaining its international
image and further strengthening the export potential of
the enterprise in the Asia-Pacific and other regions.
MMHP is also engaged in designing, manufacturing
and flight-testing advanced helicopters of all weight
classes for various applications.
Mi-28N Attack Helicopter
The plant has gained wide experience in designing
the dedicated combat helicopters. This year the flight
tests of the Mi-28N round-the-clock operation attack
helicopter will be finalised. The Mi-28N has been
adopted in the helicopter regiments of the Russian Air
Force and is in serial production at Rostvertol PLC.
Some variants of modernised helicopter configuration
intended for export delivery are being developed on
the basis of the Mi-28N model, including the variant
equipped with foreign-made units and systems. In
collaboration with Rostvertol PLC, the program of
the modernisation of the Mi-24/35 transport-combat
helicopter is being implemented. The modernised Mi35M helicopter model meets the latest requirements
for transport-combat helicopters.
MMHP JSC takes an active part in the light
helicopter fleet renewal. The Mi-34 sports aerobatic
helicopter has restarted production and is the baseline helicopter for developing the whole family of
light multi-purpose helicopters, including the Mi-34A
1.5ton turboshaft helicopter and Mi-34 unmanned
aerial vehicle [UAV].
Mi-26TC.
The Mi-34 UAV is designed to accomplish
overall missions as follows:- 24-hour terrain
surveillance and observation of long-range
objectives (including national borders, shelf areas,
oil and gas pipe lines); information transmission;
engineer and other types of reconnaissance;
aerial photography; agricultural operations; rescue
missions; ecological monitoring and highway
traffic policing. The project is expected to be
completed in 2009-10 with extensive international
cooperation.
The Russian production renewal program of
the Mi-2 light multi-purpose helicopter (and its
upgraded Mi-2A/M variant) is also under way.
The programme for the development of the
Mi-54 light multi-purpose helicopter is the area
of research and development activity still to be
conducted by MMHP. Mi-54 currently has a takeoff weight of 4.5 tons and a cargo capacity of 1213 passengers – or cargo amounting to 1,500kg
inside the cabin and 1,800kg on an external sling
Medium Class Helicopters
At present MMHP JSC is engaged in designing
the advanced Mi-58 medium lift multi-purpose
helicopter. With take-off mass amounting 10 tons,
the Mi-58 will be capable of transporting three
tons of commercial payload.
MMHP together with the Kazan and Ulan-Ude
production plants accomplish a comprehensive
programme upgrading the Mi-8/17 helicopter. The
newly developed upgraded base-line model will
increase the export capacity of this machine and
will keep the helicopter in production and operation
for many decades into the future.
The Mi-26T helicopter has the largest cargo
capacity and was developed on the basis of MMHP’s
experience in the development and operation of
‘Mi’ heavy-lift helicopters and has no equal on flight
performance and economic characteristics. A range
of upgrading programmes has been developed on
the basis of the Mi-26 helicopter, in particular the
new base-line helicopter for 24-hours operations
with reduced crews and equipped with the latest
integrated avionics.
The company’s extensive experience in the
development and operation of ‘Mi’ helicopters of
medium and heavy class is actively used by the
MMHP specialists in future designing of new models,
especially in the heavy cargo types with the ability to
share the market between the Mi-8/17 and Mi-26
helicopters.
MMHP JSC is currently successfully testing
the Mi-38 medium class multi-purpose helicopter
developed together with Kazan Helicopters JSC.
The cargo capacity of the helicopter is more than
7 tons and already has orders by operating aviation
companies.
The Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, JSC has
commenced the development of the new Mi-46
heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport cargo of
more than 10-12 tons.
MMHP JSC’s cooperation with other specialised
domestic and foreign companies contribute in
the development of the VIP-version “Mi” brand
helicopters, as well as the programs of aftersale support, establishment of service centres for
maintenance and repair and also training centres,
development and manufacture of technical
training aids. Q
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
47
APEC
Ehsan Ahrari
East Asia after APEC:
Strategic Agendas
I
48
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
Australian Prime Minister John Howard with the US President George W. Bush, Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal
Angus Houston and Australian Army personnel during APEC.
emblematic victory in extracting “the Sydney Leaders
Declaration Climate Change.” However, neither the
United States nor China - the world’s largest polluters,
with China being the largest producer of greenhouse
gas emissions - were willing to go beyond issuing
statements conceding the seriousness of the issue.
The necessity of keeping their respective economies
in a highly productive mode has become the largest
obstacle in their willingness to translate such an
admission into policies aimed at controlling pollution.
Still, the participating states succeeded in establishing
an “aspirational goal” of reducing energy intensity to
at least 25 percent by 2030.
The summit was also marked by the participants’
pledge to ensure that the Doha round of international
trade negotiations enters their final phase this year.
But the resolution of the Doha round involves the
World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 148 members;
and the consensus-based decision rule of that
organisation continues to swing the pendulum of
advantage in favor of the increasingly diverse group
of developing countries.
The heady part of the APEC summit included a
meeting between President Bush and President
Vladimir Putin of Russia. Bush also met with all
members of the ASEAN (save Burma, Cambodia,
and Laos) and President Hu Jintao of China. The
meeting with the ASEAN leaders was more of a
symbolic gesture, and might have been aimed at
dampening the speculations of Washington’s neglect
of the region. Bush made another symbolic nudge
against such speculations by stating he would invite
the ASEAN leaders to Crawford, Texas.
From the point of view of great power politics,
the ASEAN summit marked a headway for Putin,
who announced a US$1 billion loan to Indonesia
to purchase Russian weapons. Considering the
significance attached to Indonesia by Washington,
Putin’s successful arms sale to the largest populated
Muslim country in the world was more of an outcome
of America’s political schizophrenia in the post-9/11
era than the shining success of Russian diplomacy.
The United States very much wishes Indonesia to
stay in its corner; however, the US Congress has
been notorious about telling America’s friends how
to set their foreign policy priorities. Indonesia under
President Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono is in no
mood to tolerate that kind of probing, scrutiny, and
outright interference in its domestic affairs. Putin also
announced a deal to export uranium from Australia
to his country.
Bush and Putin could not agree on pressuring Iran
Australian Defence
t seems that East Asia has a great desire to become
an area of utmost primary strategic concern to
America and when that desire is not fulfilled, it feels
neglected, even possibly suffering from an inferiority
complex. That “honour” instead (if that is indeed
an apposite phrase) belongs to the Middle East, a
region characterised by a number of conflicts and
related turbulences. East Asia’s inferiority complex
was reinforced when the former Deputy Secretary
of State, Richard Armitage, in a report published last
April, took the position that the US is ignoring it, and
thereby leaving it open for the strategic maneuverings
of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It was a
contentious observation, made prior to the Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in
Sydney, Australia (September 8-9, 2007), which itself
became a mini-litmus test of that proposition.
President George W. Bush raised the significance
of the APEC summit by attending it. Everyone knew
that he was distracted because General David
Petraeus, Commander of the US forces in Iraq, was
about to release his report on the security situation in
Iraq. But President Bush also wanted to personally
boost the domestic standing of his friend John
Howard, Prime Minister of Australia, who is facing an
uphill struggle in the upcoming November elections.
Under Howard’s premiership, the status of USAustralian alliance has been raised to the level of the
US-UK strategic ties. The summit was to become
the capping of that relationship, and the American
President was determined to oblige.
But the summit was also an occasion for Bush to
have face-time with a number of America’s friends
in East Asia, as well as China, a country which the
US cannot seem to make up its mind whether to
categorise it as a competitor, a potential adversary
or as a partner. To be sure, China shares this feeling
with the US, as it continues its inexorable momentum
toward becoming a global power.
As host of the summit, Prime Minister John Howard
succeeded in placing the issue of climate change
at the top of the conference agenda, scoring an
APEC
to suspend its uranium enrichment programme. On
this issue, both Russia and China reject America’s
hardline and sanctions as the wrong approach. The
yawning chasm among these great powers holds
little promise of narrowing anytime soon.
Then there is the ubiquitous US-North Korea
conflict, which has already undergone several rounds
of “six-party talks,” and is currently undergoing
a crucial phase. At the present time, this conflict
appears close to being resolved. However, there
remains a high level of misgivings in Washington
about North Korea’s future intentions and behavior.
The Yongbyon nuclear facilities have been shut
down, but Kim Jong Il is not likely to trust America’s
security guarantees, and might want to keep alive
some aspect of his nuclear weapons programme as
a hedge.
By the same token, as much as North Korea wishes
to be removed from America’s list of sponsors of
terrorism and to establish trading ties, Washington is
not about to show any eagerness to oblige Pyongyang
in these matters in the immediate future. The air raid
conducted by the Israeli air force (and
some say by its Special Forces) in Syria
on September 6, 2007, was reported to
be on a plant where North Korea was
involved in building nuclear facilities.
However, neither Washington nor
Jerusalem has officially confirmed such
reports in the Western media. The Financial Times of
October 24, 2007, reported that a high ranking North
Korean official concluded a visit to Damascus weeks
after the rumors of nuclear cooperation between
the two countries emerged, following the Israeli
air strike on Syrian territory. The Syria-North Korea
missile connection is a well-known fact. However,
both Damascus and Pyongyang reject accusations
that they are pursuing a nuclear relationship. Japan,
on its part, is insistent on a “full accounting” of its
citizens who were abducted by North Korea in the
1970s and 1980s before going along with any major
economic assistance to Pyongyang stemming from
the US-North Korea deal.
The biggest issue of the entire Asia Pacific involves
the US, China, and India. The United States never
faced a potential adversary or a competitor that
is also a rising power in the realms of military and
economics. The Former Soviet Union (FSU) was
regarded as a competitor of the Untied States
during the Cold War years, largely because of its
huge arsenal of nuclear weapons. In the realm of
economics, it never progressed beyond a third-rate
power with a stagnant economy. The chief reason
why China remains a source of concern for the US is
its economic vibrancy, which seems to be boundless
and a major source of China’s military modernisation.
America knows full well that it is only a matter of time
before China will start closing the economic and
military gaps that currently prevail between the two
countries.
INDIA CARD
In this endless contest between the lone superpower
and Asia’s primary rising power, the strategy that
appears promising to Washington to slow down
China’s rising power is through the use of the “India
card.” It should be recalled that this strategy is quite
similar to the old Nixonian strategy of the early 1970s
of using the “China card” against the FSU.
The Bush administration signed the US-India
nuclear deal of July 2005 with the latent purpose
of using the India card against China. However, the
Chinese are much too smart not to have derived
the same conclusion. In their increasingly intricate
strategic ties with the United States, as a quid pro
quo, they have their own way of making things
difficult for the lone superpower. Thus, while they
policy in the Asia Pacific. In other words, the Chinese
leaders know that the US efforts to use the India card
against them have limitations of their own. Still, a
safe bet for Beijing is to keep India’s military under
pressure on the Sino-Indian borders as well as on
the borders with Pakistan. In the pursuit of the latter
objective, China has remained the largest supplier
of nuclear and missile know-how to its long-time
South Asian ally. A militarily competitive Pakistan will
be more than willing to stir up things on its borders
with India, thereby tying down a large chunk of Indian
troops. Beijing and Islamabad are long-term pursuers
of a strategy that keeps India’s force buildup on its
eastern and Western borders at an escalated level.
Such a posture also ensures that India’s precious
resources are never fully focused in the competition
against either China or Pakistan.
The preceding issues are not likely to be resolved
anytime soon. However, they underscore the fact
that the entire Asia Pacific and its East Asian subregion are likely to remain central to the United States
for the foreseeable future. The US-Australia accord
for defence cooperation, agreed to
during the APEC summit, was one such
evidence of this reality. This agreement will
not only make it easier for the Australian
companies to purchase American
defence technology, but it also enhances
the joint training and information-sharing
capabilities of their militaries. As a loyal ally that is
expected to fight alongside the American forces in
future conflicts, this accord is aimed at minimising
the “interoperability” problems between the armed
forces of the two countries. More to the point, this
accord is further evidence of how important Australia
is becoming as a proxy of the United States in East
Asia. Even as Canberra pursues its independent
foreign policy toward China and Russia, the two
English-speaking countries continue to strengthen
their alliance without encountering any major
constraints or challenges.
In the final analysis, the Asia Pacific, and especially
East Asia, remain regions of high strategic interest to
the United States. Indeed, one can argue that, just
because East Asia is free of any cataclysmic events,
a la the Middle East, it only behooves Washington to
make sure that it remains free of turbulence for a long
time. There is no palpable reason to believe that the
Bush administration has lowered its level of interest
or engagement in East Asia because of Iraq or
Afghanistan, as its tenure is winding down. The next
US president also will ensure a high degree of interest
and visibility in East Asia, with a view to ensuring its
sustenance as an area of economic vibrancy and
political stability. Q
‘This accord is further evidence of how
important Australia is becoming as a proxy of
the United States in East Asia’
are cooperating with the US in resolving the ongoing
nuclear conflict with North Korea, they also know
just how much pressure to apply on Kim Jong Il, and
when to look the other way and frustrate Washington.
They also have demonstrated a similar adeptness in
the case of Burma, by coming up with convenient
rationales about not pressuring the Burmese Generals
to liberalise their brutal regime. China remembers all
too well how the democratisation and liberalisation
of the former members of the Warsaw Pact nations
resulted in their joining NATO, which from Moscow’s
vantage point, is still aimed at containing Russia.
The PRC has no intention of paving the way for the
enhanced American maneuverability in its immediate
neighborhood by putting pressure on the Burmese
junta - that is so complementary to its strategic
aspirations in Southeast and South Asia (vis-à-vis
India) - to open up their polity.
China does not seem to be too bothered by
America’s use of the India card. It is fully cognizant
of the fierce tradition of independent foreign policy
in India. That tradition is not likely to transform India
into a supplicant state of the United States. Besides,
China also knows that India’s current coalition
government is too touchy about being depicted by
its governing partners as a “tool” of American foreign
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
49
BOOKSHELF
China’s Future Nuclear Submarine Force
ne of the key concerns for naval strategists
today is the nature of China’s geo-strategic
master plan. In China’s Future Nuclear
Submarine Force, its four editors - all professors of
the US Naval War College and co-founders of the
new China Maritime Studies Institute - believe the
trajectory of Chinese nuclear propulsion for their
submarines is arguably the best single indicator
of whether or not China seeks to become a
global military power; nuclear submarines provide
unparalleled survivability and are ideal platforms
for persistent operations in distant sea areas to
strengthen deterrence and project power.
The book comprises a collection of essays
presenting the latest thinking of 15 leading experts
on the emergence of a modern second-generation
nuclear-powered submarine fleet in China. The 17
essay subjects cover China’s maturing navy, its
maritime strategy and the role for nuclear submarines
within China’s emerging overall military doctrine, an
overview of the PLAN (the Chinese People’s Liberation
O
Army Navy) submarine force, the
naval implications of China’s
nuclear power development and
the impact of foreign technology
on China’s submarine force and
operations.
The book also explores Cold
War SSN operations and lessons
for understanding Chinese naval
development, drawing on the
experiences of the US and Soviet
navies to speculate about the
roles of both nuclear attack and
ballistic missile submarines in the
rapidly modernising PLAN, sea
denial with Chinese characteristics, C3 (Command,
Control and Communications) in the Chinese
submarine fleet, China’s aircraft carrier dilemma and
whether the United States will be ready, through
its ballistic-missile defence, to counter China’s
emerging undersea nuclear deterrent. It also gauges
the strategic and international law
implications of the ‘Han Incident’ when
a Han-class nuclear-powered submarine
entered and remained in Japanese
territorial water s for two hours on 10
November 2004 as well as providing
insights from Chinese writings on the
PLAN’s capabilities.
China’s Future Nuclear Submarine
Force is a fascinating, tightly constructed
and penetrating investigation into
China’s opaque undersea warfare
development, produced mostly from
open source information, with every fact
and statement footnoted, making it vital
reading for anyone interested in China’s defence
policies, the future of the US Navy and the defence
of the United States.
A joint publication of the China Maritime Studies
Institute and the Navel Institute Press.
Reviewed by Nicholas Merrett
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Nov 2007 - Defence Review Asia

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