Asian Military Review - June 2011 issue

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VOLUME 19/ISSUE 4 JUNE 2011 US$15

AERIALREFUELING

SOLDIER SURVIVABILITY

TACTICALCOMMUNICATION

SYSTEMS

ASIA-PACIFICAIR POWER

MARITIMEPATROL AIRCRAFT

UGVs

ASIA-PACIFIC SUBS


JUNE 2011VOLUME 19 / ISSUE 4

Contents

Front Cover Photo:The F-22 Raptor remains theworld’s premier air dominancefighter. It is nonethelessexperiencing problems as itenters service with a fleet widestand down in May due tooxygen-system malfunctions, afatal crash in November which isstill under investigation and lowmission-capable rates associatedwith its low-observable‘stealth technology’ © DoD

Contents

01

TacticalC4I Systems Airborne Refueling:

Increasing EnduranceJohn MulberryThe might of an air force is greatlydependent on the capabilitiesof its Air-to-Air Refuelling aircraft.The requirement for aerialrefuelling tankers capable ofproviding true force multiplicationand mission range enhancementis ever-increasing

Ted HootonIn the past 50 years the role ofthe submarine has expanded asits capabilities have increased,to such a degree that for some30 years the Bible of the navalcommunity, Jane’s FightingShips, has rated them as themodern capital ship superioreven to the aircraft carrier

Asian MaritimePatrol AircraftMartin StreetlyWith the vastnesses of the Pacificand the Indian Ocean, it would besurprising if the air forces andnavies of the Asia-Pacific regionhad not invested heavily in air-borne maritime patrol. Australia,India, Indonesia, Japan, SouthKorea, Pakistan, the RussianFederation, Singapore, Taiwan andNew Zealand all operate or areacquiring maritime patrol aircraft

Substitute foranother GuyAdam BaddeleyUnmanned GroundVehicles continue toadd to the spectrum ofroles they are calledupon to undertake,some far removed fromtheir original explosiveordnance disposalduties, dating fromthe 1970s

SoldierSurvivabilityAdam BaddeleyThe goals for soldiersurvivability remainintact; the search formodular, scalablesolutions using lighter,flexible materials andnew design approachesto provide greaterprotection

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Richard GardnerToday, the Asia Pacific “Tiger” economies, led by India and China, arenow emerging as the main drivers of future growth in the increasingly

global economy. What will this mean in terms of planning theair assets needed by air forces throughout the region?

12 Asia Pacific looks to the future

l JUNE 2011 l

Adam BaddeleyMilitaries in the Asia-Pacificwant the same things any othermilitary wants from its TacticalCommunications Systems,namely to share data andintegrate command structuresand enable high-speed, large-capacity, long-distance wirelessrelay transmission systems

Asian SubmarineOperations

EditorialUSSIA IS rarely if ever seen as an Asia-Pacific power, unusual since most of itsterritory is actually in Asia. Despite theRussian Far East neighbouring China,Japan and in close proximity to South

Korea, there has been a difficult relationship withthis global economic powerhouse.

Insulated from their neighbours during the Soviet era, the potential for politicaland economic integration with their Far Eastern neighbours remains largelyunrealised.

Russia’s economic and political focus remains in Europe but could this change?

With the country’s political, administrative and political centre and the bulk ofits population being in Europe a focus there is perhaps inevitable but at thevery least, recent changes in policy under both Putin and Medvedev indicate abalance is being sought between East and West although the policy andstrategy to pursue this has been inconsistent and patchy.

Trade is rising with the Far East and a preoccupation with European trade isbeing seen in Russia as a potential vulnerability and is seeking more diversemarkets. China is Russia’s main economic partner in the region, but trade withother such as South Korea and Japan is rising. Russia also has a desire not tosimply become a natural resource tap for the region and is seeking a marketfor its goods.

This change will see Russia begin to rebuild its status as a regional power but inrecent years it was aligned itself closely with China against Japan and SouthKorea (and the US) in opposition to Ballistic Missile Defence, even while Russiadeployed S-400 batteries in the Primorsky Krai against the same North Koreanthreat. It is also the primary supplier of foreign and advanced defence technologyto China, both willingly and in some cases unknowingly, to some consternation inSeoul and Tokyo. But China is both a security challenge as well as opportunityand partner for Russia; long standing territorial claims by China combined withChina’s growing military power and the economic wellbeing to sustain it. Russiaalso has to move away from the lingering perception that its policy toward NorthKorea has more to do with inconveniencing and embarrassing the US.

If Russia is to prosper in the Far East, it has to find a balance in its securityrelationship with all the key members of the region. Rather than China beingthe favoured partner despite the potential threats it poses, Russia should moveto a policy of making China primus inter pares with Japan and Korea.

Adam Baddeley, Editor

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02 l ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW l

PPEERRSSOONNAALLPROTECTION EQUIPMENT


SurvivabilitySurvivability

BODY ARMOUR has previouslynot been designed for integra-tion, instead it has beendesigned to hang equipmentonto. Body armour clothing

and webbing are now being sought within anintegrated package into and onto whichPower, Weapons Optics, C2 Devices, andLoad Bearing Equipment can be integratedinto a system.Technology Advancements for plate

armour are limited. It remains a largelyimmutable fact and typically when weightsavings can be found, the materials technolo-gy used is often prohibitively expensive.Modular armour is not a panacea either as italso carries a generic weight penalty versus adedicated single purpose vest.

Body ArmourIn the US, both the Army and Marine Corpshave common goals in body armour. For theArmy, work led by RDECOM in SoldierProtection materials and design are seeking areduction in body armour weight by 30-40percent in general by FY 2014 with specificreduction in the weight of ESAPI/XSAPI

plates by 15 to 20 percent. For helmets thosecapable of providing 7.62mm protection willdrop 30-40 percent and those tasked withprotection from fragmentation by half.The Marine Corps are less publicly pre-

scriptive but also emphasise integration andload reductions as key issues in their scienceand technology goals with their work on aHeadborne System – pursuing solutions thatintegrate modular protection with sensors,

heads up display, and power while theLightweight Individual Modular BodyArmor (LIMBR) – pursuing lighter ballisticplates, light weight modular and tailorablesoft armor for the torso and extremities, andnew combat helmet designs with equal orgreater protection.In terms of fielded solutions, the US

Army’s stock is now fairly static. The SoldierPlate (SPCE) Carrier System, produced byKDH Industries which in conjunction withthe ESAPI plate provides Level 4+ protectionbegan fielding with the new OEF camouflagepattern in late 2010 and is used with thatother staple of US protection; the ImprovedOuter Tactical Vest, produced by a basket ofcontractors. The plates for the SPCE continueto be made on an ongoing basis. In lateMarch, Ceradyne announced a $36 millionorder for XSAPI due to be delivered in the

05

PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

l JUNE 2011 l

(Facing page) The FELIN programme hasseen protection levels on French infantrymenrise © Armée de Terre

Soldier

The goals for soldier survivability remain intact;the search for Modular, Scalable Solutionsusing lighter, flexible materials and new designapproaches to provide greater protection toinclude extremities rather than simply the torsoand head and to do so at less weight and bulk.

bbyy Adam Baddeley

PPEERRSSOONNAALL

SurvivabilitySurvivability

The Marine Corps are lesspublicly prescriptive than theUS Army in terms of protectionlevels but also emphasiseintegration and load reductionsin their R&D plans © DoD

next few months, part of an ongoing deliveryprocess as part of the $2.37 billion made in2008 and due to continue until 2013.Other countries are reviewing their

option; for example the UK is now in theassessment phase of its Virtus programmeto develop a family of scalable systems withthe new Osprey Mk.4 Armour deployedonly last year.Soldier Modernisation Programmes have

seen additional armour being integrated. TheFELIN programme has seen protection levelson French infantrymen rise. Prior to the sys-tems being introduced they were equippedwith NATO STANAG Level 2 on the side and3 on the Torso with limited protection on the

neck area. With FELIN, this has risen to 2 onthe side, 3 on the back and 4 at the front andmuch greater protection around the neck.TenCate Protective Fabrics are supplying

Italy’s Soldato Futuro programme with itsfire-resistant TenCate Defender for the sys-tem’s new Battle Dress Uniform throughclothing and protection levels on the projectAero Sekur. Initial contracts let this year willsee the delivery of the first 600 systems. Akey feature is the use of Lenzing FR fibrewhich while fire resistant can also absorbmoisture, making the fabric breathable and

comfortable. TenCate’s Defender fabrics arealso used as standard on battle dress uni-forms US Army and the US Marine Corpsand Norway.Australia is now beginning to field its new

Tiered Body Armour System (TBAS), pro-duced by Australian Defence Apparel replac-ing either the Modular Combat BodyArmour System (MCBAS) which is deemedtoo heavy or the lighter Eagle Marine bodyarmour obtained in 2010 as a stop gap meas-ure until TBAS could be fielded. TBAS hasbeen fielded since late 2009 with a number ofunits over the past 18 months includingSpecial Forces, 1st Brigade in Darwin, 3RARin Sydney and 2 RAR in Townsville. TBASwill deploy to Afghanistan with MentoringTask Force 3 later this year.Every part of the body must be protected,

but soldiers value some parts far more than

When weight savingscan be found, the materialstechnology used is oftenprohibitively expensive

Much greater emphasis is being placedon integration of body armour with load carriage© BAE Systems

l ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW l06


others. BCB International have developed theBlast Boxers are a pair of protective shortsworn instead of underwear made fromKevlar and a special comfortable fabric. Theyhave been extensively trialed and tested.Ballistic trials have shown that the BlastBoxers provide significant protection of thesoft groin area against some of the fragmentsand upward blast from an IED. These tests

demonstrated that the Blast Boxers’ double-layered Kevlar will offer ballistic protectionof 230 metres per second in the standard NIJV50, 5.8 grain ballistic test.

A breakthrough technology in bodyarmour has been developed by Rafael’sManor Division using Boron Carbide. A verylight and strong material, the barrier to itswidespread use have been related to issueswith the hitherto only available manufactur-ing process, known as the ‘Hot Press’process, which requires very high tempera-tures and pressures and only lends itself to

small batches at a time and with high rejec-tion rates in quality control.

To overcome these issues Rafael devel-oped its proprietary ‘Pressureless Sintering’process which is low cost and makes BoronCarbide products straightforward to massproduce with consistent quality and withstrong edge performance. Protective prod-ucts are created using a series of boron car-bide tiles which may be shaped as flat, singlecurved or multi-curved tiles with custom-made shapes and dimensions.

Against standard 7.62mm and 5.56mmrounds a ceramic thickness of only 4.5mm isneeded with a weigh of 24 kg/m_, to provideNIJ Level III protection while to provide aNIJ Level IV protection against the challengeof 7.62x63 mm APM2 rounds, a ceramicthickness of only 9.2 mm with a density of34 kg/m2 is needed.

Boron carbide products for dismountedusers have been produced in Haifa for spe-cialised domestic users over the past twoyears. The company has now licensed its pro-duction in the US through local companyLightflex and is now in the process of certify-ing the material for use by several protectivegear manufacturers.

New material, Dyneema SB51 UD waspublicly launched in late 2010, designed toreplace soft ballistic armours in vest designfor largely paramilitary users seeking tominimise weight while retaining protectionlevel against handgun ammunition, frag-ments and knives. It is the first material tobe designed specifically to provide protec-tion against the prevalent threats in Centraland Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific, in par-

ticular the 7.62x25mm Tokarev bullet, wide-ly used in former Soviet states and neigh-bouring countries as well as the Chinese P54pistol ammunition. Other lightweight mate-rial technology include Dyneema SB21 andSB31 UD grades. The new SB51 has beenshown to outperform aramid based solu-tions by a significant degree and improveover SB21 designs by up to 20 percent intesting. The first manufacturer to use SB51 isZhong Tian Feng in Beijing.

Other new materials recently launched

The UK is now in the assess-ment phase of its Virtusprogramme to develop afamily of scalable systems


Recent operations have made the issue ofcomprehensive personal protective equipment astandard feature of military operations © DoD


include Spectra Shield II SA 4144, part ofHoneywell’s Spectra Shield II line, whichoffer a offers a 25 percent improvement inballistic performance compared with the firstgeneration of Spectra Shield as well as reduc-ing the weight of personal armor systems byas much as 30 percent while retaining NIJ .06ballistic vest certification standard.

SightWhile individuals can and do continue tofunction on the battlefield with considerableinjuries, the ability to overcome blindness orvisual impairment poses insuperable barri-ers. In response to this militaries are takingparticular interest in protective eyewear asthe best means of minimising eye injuries tothe eyes both permanent and/or long lastingand temporary affects which have an imme-diate tactical impact upon situational aware-ness and if not prevented could lead to deathor injuries from other battlefield effects. Inaddition to the initial blast or fragmentationitself designs also have to deal with the

debris and dirt thrown up from the blastwhich can be equally harmful.Under the US Army’s Military Combat

Eye Protection Program, the strategy hasbeen to maximize soldier acceptance of theglasses by providing a wide range of quali-fied eyewear and allowing them to chooseaccording to personal taste and missionrequirements. Spectacle products include theESS Crossbow, Oakley SI Ballistic M Frame

2.0, Revision Sawfly, Smith Optics Aeglis,Uvex Genesis and XC and Wiley X PT-1, SG-1 and X Talon. The Army have also under thesame programme sourced a range of gogglesfrom Arena, ESS, Revision and Smith Optics.To date, ESS is the only approved ballisticeyewear for the US Marine Corps.Revision won the UK’s Protective Combat

Eyewear contract in February which will seethe company supply their Sawfly Military

09l JUNE 2011 l

The UK is now in the assessment phase ofits Virtus programme to develop a family ofscalable systems with the new Osprey Mk.4Armour deployed only last year © AJB

In addition to the initial blast or fragmentationitself eye protection designs also have to dealwith the debris and dirt thrown up from theblast which can be equally harmful © Revision

PROTECTION EQUIPMENTPPEERRSSOONNAALL

Eyewear System and Bullet Ant Goggleswhich will become standard issue to alltroops in Afghanistan. At the same time, itwas announced that the CanadianDepartment of National Defence had selectedthe Sawfly for Air Force’s Ballistic Eyewearrequirements while supplying 33,000 kitsand 40,000 additional lenses in 2011 alone.Recent improvements to the product lineinclude Sawfly Military Eyewear System insmall size and the Asian Locust Fan Goggle alow power, near silent fan designs to signifi-cantly improve anti-fogging performance inhumid environments found in Asia.Eye Safety Systems (ESS) recently won an

order to supply 30,000 ICE eyeshield units,which are compliant to a range of standardsincluding MIL SPEC MILPRF-31013, to theFrench National Police. The US DoD contract-ed ESS in March to provide their U-Rx pre-scription lens carrier in existing and futureDoD eyeshields and goggle products. ESSintroduced the Asian Fit Goggle Series in 2007.

HearingHearing protection has become vital to con-siderations of what protection for the soldierencompasses. Hearing damage is accumula-tive and irreversible. Soldiers’ needs are forprotection against both temporary and per-manent damage, caused by the full range ofbattlefield noise in both the mounted and dis-mounted roles.There are two types of noise; high steady

continuous noise generated by vehicles oraircraft against which Active NoiseReduction (ANR) can be used to effectivelycombating its effects across the range ofmobility platforms.In contrast, impulse noise is generated by

weapons or explosion is present during bothtraining and operations. Its effects are isolat-ed from the user through the use ofadvanced digital signal processing and pas-sive protection.Both types are equally damaging in differ-

ent ways. Soldiers who are exposed to thesetypes of noise without adequate protectionwill suffer either temporary or permanentdamage. A deaf soldier or hearing impairedcan’t deploy on operations and years ofexpensive training can be lost for want of rel-atively inexpensive protection.Esterline Racal Acoustic’s Frontier1000

communications headset deployment is con-tinuing apace with the British Army. ThePersonal Integrated Hearing Protection(PIHP) programme has delivered in-ear hear-

ing protection to troops in Afghanistan. Thecompany recently launched their RA6000which allows the soldier to continuouslymonitor four communication channels simul-taneously, typically two Soldier Radios, plusan intercom and a vehicle mounted radio.The RA6000 itself has been in trials in the USwith PEO Soldier and Natick Soldier Centerand has been in trials in Denmark and is

competing in programmes in Poland, UKand Canada.Silynx made their name in providing

advanced headsets for Special Forces notablyin the US but has since seen their products beemployed for more conventional programmesuch as in Australia.Nacre’s Quietpro family have pioneered

in ear headsets designed to protect againstexposure to the negative effects continuousand impulse noise while retaining normalhearing levels and through additional fea-tures can switch to whisper mode in a covertenvironment as well as offer enhanced hear-ing in other cases. In 2008, the Quietpro wasthe only in-ear communications deviceapproved for use by the US Army.

10 ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW

A breakthrough technologyin body armour hasbeen developed by Rafael’sManor Division usingBoron Carbide

Selex’s WACH 900headset providesover-ear hearingprotection © SelexCommunications


RREEGGIIOONNAALL A I R P O W E R


Asia Pacific

The JF-17 is a joint Chinese-Pakistanprogramme for a light supersonicmulti-role fighter in the same class asthe F-16 © R Gardner

looks to the

Future

In many ways the growing economic dominance of Asia is returningto the situation last seen five hundred years ago. Before Europeemerged as a colonizing continent, Asia was responsible historicallyfor up to 60 percent of world trade.

bbyy Richard Gardner

Asia Pacific

A I R P O W E RRREEGGIIOONNAALL

13l JUNE 2011 l

TODAY, the Asia Pacific “Tiger”economies, led by India and China,are now emerging as the main driv-ers of future growth in the increas-ingly global economy. In the rest of

the 21st Century, a gradual readjustment ofthe global balance of power (economic andpolitical) will see both India and China assum-ing an even more dominant role, and this willundoubtedly have major implicationsthroughout the world, but especially for oth-ers in the Asia Pacific region. What will thismean in terms of planning the air assets need-ed by air forces throughout the region? Will itjust be a question of “more of the same” butsubstituting the latest aircraft and missiles fortoday’s equipment, or will a differentapproach be needed, perhaps with widerregional collaboration so that more expensiveand complex defence assets can be acquiredand shared?

Mutual fearsBoth India and China perceive each other asmore than competitors in the rush to expandeconomic power and influence. There is amutual fear of encirclement and this

explains why so much of their growingfinancial and intellectual wealth is beinginvested in aerospace and defence capabili-ties right across the board. Ten years ago,neither was considered a serious threat tothe established technological giants of theaerospace/defence sector, and even todayboth still rely on key technology supplied byWestern and Russian companies. But this is

fast changing as both seek to increase theirindigenous technological and industrialcapacity. This is happening through wellfunded research and development pro-grammes, a huge expansion in educationaleffort to qualify the right engineers and sys-tems specialists, and a rapid build up in

expertise provided by a combination oflicence-building advanced aircraft designsand equipment, and reverse-engineering.Home-grown military aircraft production inIndia and China has a mixed history, and onthe whole has not been successful, despiteenormous sums of money being consumedin the process, but things are now changing.In the case of India, this is being achieved bymassive efforts in Research andDevelopment activities and driving hardbargains with suppliers on technology trans-fer. By insisting wherever possible on locallicence manufacturing and final assembly,vital systems integration expertise is alsogrowing with every new programme.

New fighters, upgrades introducingadvanced SAR radars, new cockpit avionicsand weapons systems, and larger multi-engine aircraft, such as AEW&C and ISR sur-veillance platforms, are enabling new pro-grammes to move ahead, taking the homecapability forward each time, rather thanjust acquiring an off-the-shelf product. Withthe Sukhoi T50/PAKFA combat air-craft becoming a jointRussian/HAL programme,

Home-grown military aircraftproduction in India and Chinahas a mixed history, andon the whole has not beensuccessful, despite enormoussums of money beingconsumed in the process

India, which is investing around $25 billion,will secure regional air dominance. Togetherwith up to 150 MMRCAmedium combat air-craft (yet to be selected), continuing produc-tion of the Sukhoi-MK30I , and several hun-dred other upgraded and ground attackcombat types, India is moving towards itsenlarged goal of 60 fast jet operationalsquadrons. It is also planning a globally-capable new aircraft carrier fleet, more sur-face warships and submarines, and a mix ofUnmanned Air Systems and long-rangeMaritime Patrol Aircraft. Historically themajority of Indian front line aircraft havefaced Eastwards, to counter Pakistan, butbases to the North and East are to bestrengthened as a result of China’s owndefence expansion.

China’s defence ambitionsChina is watchful of what is happening inIndia, especially regarding its growingcapability to project air and sea power overthe Indian Ocean and across Central Asia.China’s J-10 and J-20 indigenous combataircraft indicate a strong desire to developair platforms that can challenge the bestcurrent US designs, represented by late

model F15s, F-16s, F-18s, and the F-22 andF-35. While in technology terms China isstill a long way behind the West and Russiain advanced combat aircraft, and thisincludes the J-10 and J-20, it has previouslyhad the advantage of threatening the use oflarge numbers to swamp possible Westerndefences – for example in the defence ofTaiwan or South Korea. It also has the veryreal ability, using aircraft-launched, subma-rine, land and ship-launched missiles, tothreaten the US Navy’s super-carriers, thusensuring that they remain at a distancefrom the Chinese mainland. As Chinaexpands its own blue-water navy, withmore submarines, surface warships andcarriers, it will present even more of a chal-lenge to the US Navy, as well as thinly-spread NATO warships in the Indian Oceanand other navies in the region. WithChinese trade currently dominating sealanes to the Americas and Europe, theChinese are currently in no mind to do any-thing likely to disrupt the status quo, but inyears to come as resources in Africa andelsewhere become more scarce and China’sdomestic needs continue to grow, there isample scope for future clashes if Chinesedefence and foreign policy projects a moreoutward and aggressive focus, as many pre-dict it will. Perhaps the greatest threat fromChina, and this extends well beyond the

Asia Pacific region, is from cyber and space-based capabilities. The cyber warfare isaimed at obtaining as much classified andsensitive material as possible and alsoopening up options for attacking and crip-pling targeted computer systems. AsiaPacific defence forces will have to workindividually and collectively to protect thefunctionality of key defence equipment.This a far less visible defence issue than, forexample, the selection of a new aircraft, butit must be factored in as it is becoming tooimportant to ignore.

South Asia and OceanaWestern arms suppliers gave Indonesia awide berth during the last decade followingunrest in East Timor, and as a result follow-up orders for aircraft such as the BAESystems Hawk and Lockheed Martin F-16were not forthcoming. The governmentturned again to the Russians and the verycapable Sukhoi Su-27/30. This was consid-ered a potential challenge to the regional airsuperiority of the Republic of Singapore AirForce, Malaysia and the Royal AustralianAir Force, but the Indonesian fast jet fleethas remained small and its remainingHawks, F-16s and F-5Es continue in servicewith the Sukhoi fighters. Indonesia is nowlooking at expansion and modernisation ofits ageing air force, but although a British

The Boeing 737 forms the basis for theWedgetail AEW&C and the new P-8A MRplatform © R Gardner

RREEGGIIOONNAALLA I R P O W E R


government minister has talked of sellingthe country Eurofighter Typhoons, thiswould not comply with the UK’s own cur-rent defence export sales policy, and istherefore unlikely. While other suppliernations remain concerned that Indonesia’shuman rights history is not repeated,Australia’s relations with Jakarta are nowmore relaxed, and so future military sales tothat country may include aircraft that wouldnot upset the current regional balance. Thiswould allow the sale of training and utilityaircraft, or small maritime air patrol plat-forms, but front-line fast-jet fighter strengthenhancements may be limited to upgradesto existing types. This would seem to indi-cate that aircraft such as the Su-30MK couldsee an increase in numbers over the comingyears, with small counter-insurgency air-craft, such as the Super Tucano, making anappearance, perhaps through the expedientof being supplied as advanced trainers.Indonesia has long enjoyed a cooperativeproduction agreement with the formerCASA (now part of Airbus Military) and as

a result has a fleet of locally-built C212 andCN235 transport and maritime patrol air-craft. It also uses the Australian-builtNomad STOL light transport.

Australian air power renewedThe Royal Australian Air Force in its 90thanniversary year is mid-way through a com-prehensive A$26 billion modernisation pro-gramme. This will provide for a rollingrenewal programme that will take the serv-ice through to 2030. It allows for a three per-cent year-on-year increase in the defencebudget, recognises fully the shifting regionalpower balance resulting from Indian andChinese defence expansion, and has been

constructed to provide a flexible force struc-ture that will retain a high level of defenceself-reliance. It will contribute to, and becapable of leading, coalition forces, and willretain a wider strategic defence capability tohelp secure threatened neighbours as well asdefending the land mass of Australia. Closerdefence links with New Zealand, in the formof shared air transport and amphibious war-fare capability will be developed, but per-haps the most significant regional defencecontribution will be delivered by the acquisi-tion and deployment of a range of advancedcombat I-STAR air assets. With one of theworld’s largest areas of maritime responsi-bility to monitor and defend, from the trop-ics out into the Indian Ocean and Pacific,down as far as Antarctica, Australia isinvesting in fleets of new generation long-range aircraft that will provide airborneearly warning, command and control, sur-

China’s J-10 and J-20indigenous combat aircraftindicate a strong desire todevelop air platformsthat can challenge the bestcurrent US designs

The Lockheed P-3C is the most widely usedmaritime patrol and surveillance aircraft in theAsia pacific region © R Gardner


15l JUNE 2011 l

veillance, intelligence gathering, surface andsub-surface attack capability and search andrescue. At present 18 AP-3C Orions providethe MR cover, but these are to be replaced bya mix of Boeing P-8A Poseidon MR aircraftand Global Hawk UAS platforms, offering amassive increase in persistent surveillancecover over vast areas. Added to these assetsare three Boeing Wedgetail AEW&C patrolaircraft. A new fleet of five EADS/AirbusKC-30A tanker aircraft will provide globalreach for all suitably equipped receiver air-craft, including the fast jet combat fleet com-prising F/A-18A Hornets and the new F/A-18F Super Hornets. From 2018 Australia willintroduce up to 100 F-35A Joint StrikeFighters. This and agile fighter/attack airfleet will give a very strong regional boostproviding high quality air defence and

attack capability, strategic and tactical airliftusing C-17s and C-130Js, and support forground forces using Chinooks, NH90s andS-70s. Australia will continue to exerciseclosely with New Zealand, Singapore andUS regional forces.The city state of Singapore has one of the

most modern, if small, air forces in theregion, reflecting its key strategic location. Itis equipped with advanced multi-role F-15SG Strike Eagles and F-16C/D FightingFalcons as well as F-5s. Most importantly,providing airborne early warning and com-mand and control are AEW GulfstreamG550s and E-2C Hawkeyes and maritimepatrol is carried out by Fokker F50 aircraft.Protecting shipping from piracy is an ongo-

ing task for all air forces and navies in theregion. Neighbouring Malaysia shares astrategic location, but with less stableMyanmar (Burma) and Thailand to theNorth it has a front line air defence strengthof around 50 fighters comprising Russian-supplied Su-30MKMs, MiG-29s and F/A-18Ds, with Hawk 208 light attack jets. It hasbeen topping up its MiG-29 fleet, but relia-bility and availability rates have reduced thenumber of aircraft that are actually combat-ready. It currently lacks any ISTAR assets.Other nearby air forces, including those ofLaos and Myanmar have Russian andChinese supplied aircraft, the latter operat-ing Mig-29s, F-7s and A-5s, with heavyChinese influence at all levels within its gov-ernment. Vietnam operates Russian-builtMiG and Sukhoi fighters and tries to retaingood relations with China, Russia and theWest. The Philippines Air Force retains a fewF-5A/B jets and a handful of OV-10 BroncoCOIN aircraft, but now has a very depletedair capability, which is concentrated arounda mix of utility helicopter types.

The city state of Singaporehas one of the mostmodern, if small, air forcesin the region, reflecting itskey strategic location

The IAI Heron UAV is a typical MALE UnmannedAir System that is in everyday use overAfghanistan. The role of the UAV at all levelsof operational activity will become morewidespread over the coming years © R Gardner

RREEGGIIOONNAALLA I R P O W E R


Keeping a balanceThe most significant air powers in theregion beyond India and China arePakistan, South and North Korea, Taiwan,Japan and United States Air Force andNavy. Pakistan is focused on balancing itsclose relations with both China and theWest, while at the same time counteringinternal unrest and terrorist activity in itswild frontier regions. Providing it remainsrobust supporting Western anti-terroristmeasures, it will be supported in moves tomodernise its forces, but this will remain asensitive situation in view of Pakistan’songoing border dispute with India and itsneed to live alongside China to its north.Defence-watchers see one of the biggestpotential future flash-points remainingalong the Korean North-South border, andin the seas surrounding Taiwan. The strate-gic implications spill out across a vast areaof the Pacific region, encompassing Japan.The latter remains inward looking indefence terms, but maintains significantself-defence forces. Having been refusedpermission to acquire F-22 Raptors, JapansSelf Defence Air Force is likely to acquire F-35s in due course. Japan operates extensiveairborne ISTAR and early warning airassets, though its proximity to China willalways attract strong US air power support.South Korea also has grave fears concerning

aggression from the North, but is extremelywell defended with full US support. Taiwanpresents a greater problem as the territoryremains under continuous threat fromChina and growing Chinese confidence indefence terms will only increase the poten-tial danger. The role of regionally-based USair power is still pivotal, offering a crediblecounter to Chinese ambitions and givingsmaller regional nations an effective defenceumbrella for cover. As China stretches thereach of its air forces with aircraft carriersand longer-range aircraft, the balance ofpower will tilt in its favour. As regional airforces, and even the US, cannot matchChina’s expansion in terms of numbers, thequality of the air power available to chal-lenge the growing threat will become evenmore vital. Superior technology, intelligenceand networked interoperability can go someway to maintaining the overall balance,though as already mentioned, the impact ofcyber warfare may yet become of growingimportance in deciding how Asia Pacificdefends itself long term.

Singapore operates F-16s alongside F-15s andis a likely candidate for the F-35 Joint StrikeFighter, where the latter's ISR capabilities willbe exploitable as a result of the RSAF's heavyinvestment in air and ground-based networkedcommand and control © DoD


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SSUUBBMMAARRIINNEE O P E R A T O N S


AsianSubmarineT

HE SUBMARINE has helpedshaped the course of Asia’s his-tory for, as a submersible torpe-do boat in the Second WorldWar it largely annihilated

Japan’s merchant fleet paving the way forthat nation’s defeat and the independenceof the continent from colonial rule. Yet itis those former colonial powers who havemade possible a quantum leap in subma-rine capabilities making them even morecapable of interdicting the merchant fleetsupon which Asia’s commerce depends.

In terms of platforms’ improved‘teardrop’ shaping of the hull and the sail(formerly conning tower), as well asreducing the inertial cavitation effects (thebubbles of water flowing over a surface toincrease the acoustic signature), have pro-duced much quieter boats. This has notonly made them more difficult to detectbut it enhances their own sensors and insome cases using towed sonar arrays theycan detect and locate targets up to 1000nautical miles (1,850 kilometres) away.

The Russian Kilo class, the Project 877and 636 boats sold to China, the Project877 boats sold to India and the Project 636boats sold to Vietnam, are especiallyfeared because they are so ‘quiet’, theirsingle propeller reportedly computerdesigned with foreign technology toreduce the boat’s acoustic signature. Theinfluence of these vessels is seen in the lat-est Chinese conventional submarines, theSong (Type 039) and Yuan (Type 041),especially the latter which seem to reflecta combination of Chinese and Russian

influences.The other factor of the ‘teardrop’

design is that it turns the submersible tor-pedo boat into a true submarine, onewhich has a higher speed underwaterthan on the surface. After the SecondWorld War submarines were streamlinedand given increased battery power, theUS Navy’s Greater UnderwaterPropulsion Power Program (GUPP) beingtypical, but these boats such as the twowhich Taiwan still operates for trainingand the Russian-built ‘Foxtrots’ (Project641), which India has just paid off, hadunderwater speeds slightly inferior tothose of their speeds on the surface.

But the generation of submarineswhich appeared from the late 1950s weredesigned for high underwater speedswith ‘teardrop’ hulls and slimmer sails.Typical is the Howaldtswerke DeutscheWerft (HDW) Type 209 which has beenpurchased in various incarnations byIndia, Indonesia and South Korea (andbuilt by the latter) whose underwaterspeed is twice that of the 11 knots it canmake upon the surface. The same charac-teristics are to be found in the Franco-Spanish Scorpène sold to Malaysia andIndia, the Swedish-built Challenger (for-merly Sjöormen) class supplied toSingapore and Australia’s Collins classbased upon a Swedish design and Japan’sdomestically-designed and producedHarushios and Oyashios as well asTaiwan’s Dutch-built Hai Lungs.Submarines no longer need to come to thesurface to recharge their batteries thanks

Operations & Requirements

O P E R A T O N SSSUUBBMMAARRIINNEE

19l JUNE 2011 l

AsianSubmarine

The Republic of KoreaNavy submarine Lee Eokgi(071) participating in aRIMPAC exercise © DoD

In the past 50 years the role of the submarine hasexpanded as its capabilities have increased, to

such a degree that for some 30 years the Bible of thenaval community, Jane’s Fighting Ships, has rated

them as the modern capital ship, superioreven to the aircraft carrier.

bbyy Ted Hooton

Operations & Requirements

to the schnorkel which is universally usedwhich further enhances their survivability.

Underwater endurance is furtherenhanced by the development of AirIndependent Propulsion (AIP) which eitherrecirculates combustion products augmentedinto the combustion chamber or uses electro-chemical devices to transform chemical ener-gy into electrical power using hydrogen andoxygen to extend underwater endurance.Both processes are being used in Asianwaters; Pakistan is adopting the DCNSMESMA (Module d’Energie Sous Marin

Autonome Autonomous Sub-Marine EnergyModule) recirculating system to upgrade itsKhalid (Agosta 90B) class boats and Indiamay adopt it in its Scorpènes. The alternativerecirculating system is the Stirling Mk 3which will be in Singapore’s newVästergötland (A17) class boats as well asJapan’s latest Souryu class. The chemicalenergy system is Siemens/HDW PEM (poly-mer-electrolyte-membrane) fuel cell whichhas been adopted in the HDW Type 214 bySouth Korea which is building the boatsunder licence to meet the KSS-2 programmeas the Sohn Won-Il class.

Both China and India are reported to be


The Russian Kilo class… areespecially feared becausethey are so ‘quiet’, theirsingle propeller reportedlycomputer designed withforeign technology to reducethe boat’s acoustic signature

The Indian Navy submarine Sindhurakshakfrom the Sindhughosh class a Project 877EKMKilo design. The vessel went to Russia for arefurbishment in 2010 © DoD

Sixth in the Collins classis HMAS Rankin shownhere participating inRIMPAC 2006 © DoD

SSUUBBMMAARRIINNEEO P E R A T O N S

Your naval partner

developing AIP systems whose advantage isthat they further enhance underwaterendurance, although in all diesel-electric thisis dwarfed by the nuclear-powered subma-rine, the ultimate underwater fightingmachine. The ability of these vessels toremain under the waves depends not onmechanical but human endurance for theyneed refuelling only a few times in their livesso can remain underwater almost indefinite-ly and can develop speeds of more than 30knots allowing them to out-manoeuvre mostsurface combatants.

Apart from the United States and Russiathe only nuclear-powered submarine opera-tor in the Pacific Rim has been China with theHan (Type 091) and Shang (Type 093) classattack submarines, the Xia (Type 092) and theJin (Type 094) ballistic missile submarines.However, India has launched the first of adomestically-designed Arihant missile-car-rying submarines (it is unclear whether ornot these are ballistic or cruise missiles) andhas leased the RFS Nerva, a Russian Akula(Project 971) class attack submarine, as theINS Chakra which is scheduled to join thefleet by the end of this year. India has plansfor two more missile and three domestically-designed attack submarines. Interestingly,early in 2011 Australia commentatorsbegan to suggest that Canberra purchasenuclear submarines rather than spend up toAus$36 billion (US$33 billion) on a dozenconventional boats.

The improved performance of submarineplatforms means that they are more thancapable of operating covertly in foreignwaters with little prospect of detection inpart due to the extremely confused and diffi-cult hydrographic conditions off Asia’scoasts. Curiously, while many Asian nationshave bought port protection systems nonehas been ready to create long range subma-rine detection systems such as the US staticSosus (Sound Surveillance System), now partof the Integrated Undersea SurveillanceSystem (ISUS) together with the SurveillanceTowed Array Sensor System (Surtass).

This means that there is no early warningof the presence of hostile submarines, mak-ing every Asian nation vulnerable to subma-rine incursion.

This is especially important for Asian secu-rity because it means that submarines canconduct Intelligence, Surveillance andReconnaissance (ISR) operations. This sort ofmission became a traditional one, especiallyin Asian waters, during the Second WorldWar and has inevitably grown more sophisti-cated. Images of key sites and facilities on

land can be recorded at surprisingly longranges through optical and electro-opticalsensors, indeed TV cameras in mast-mountedsystems can be raised, rotated, images record-ed and the mast lowered within 10 seconds.

Submarines can not only provide intelli-gence with images but can also provide elec-tronic information for they are routinelyequipped with signals intelligence (Sigint)sensors and can also carry communicationsintelligence (Comint) ones. This permits thecreation of a detailed Sigint picture of othercountries’ radar order-of-battle while Comintdata can provide information on a wide vari-ety of activities. Such information is usefulfor general intelligence but similar data canalso be provided on the naval forces of poten-tial adversaries. The last can be augmentedby passive sonar which can build up a pic-ture of the warships of other navies includingtheir acoustic signature.

Submarines can also be used for thecovert insertion of special forces for a vari-ety of activities. Several Asian navies are tobe interested in swimmer delivery vehicles,miniature submarines which can transport aparty of troops many nautical miles.Whether or not they have them, there is nosign that any Asian Navy has installed thehangers these vehicles need both for trans-port to the operational area and for loadingand unloading the troops.

Major navies are also examining the pos-sibility of submarines using unmanned


HMAS Waller arrives at NavalStation Pearl Harbor for RIMPAC in2008 © DoD

Both China and India arereported to be developing AIPsystems whose advantage isthat they further enhanceunderwater endurance


underwater vehicles, both remotely operat-ed and autonomous. Roles being consid-ered include reconnaissance and minedetection but there remain major problemswith controlling these craft as well as bothdeploying and recovering them and itseems unlikely that they will be used Asiannavies for at least ten and possibly as manyas 30 years from now.

It is likely that the more active role ofAsian submarines fleets runs the full gamutfrom the interdiction of mercantile trafficthrough the attrition of enemy naval surfacevessels to anti-submarine operations. The

prime weapon remains the torpedo but theSecond World War ‘straight runner’ (itscourse could actually be modified to turn atan angle to the torpedo tube once dis-charged) has been replaced by far moresophisticated weapons. It is worth notingthat in the past 40 years two Asian warshipshave been sunk by heavyweight (533mmdiameter) torpedoes; the Indian frigate INSKhukri in 1971 and the South Koreancorvette ROKS Chong An last year.

The loss of the latter demonstrates theeffect of modern torpedoes which, contraryto the image in war movies, is not designedto strike the target’s hull. Instead they use‘influence’ fuzes tuned to magnetic andacoustic signatures to detonate under thekeel breaking the ship’s back and using itsown mass to take it to the bottom. Torpedoesare usually wire guided so that the subma-rine can guide them, through copper or fibreoptic wires for two-way signals to the subma-rine’s combat management system, to the tar-get’s vicinity using the submarine’s sensors.The weapon can then conduct the terminalphase using its own sensors and if the targetis momentarily lost the weapon can conducta search pattern until it is reacquired. Againstsurface ships torpedoes can make a directapproach, can circle or can follow the ship’swake to track it down, such weapons beingdescribed as ‘wake homers.’

The other traditional weapon of the sub-marine is the ground mine. These are cylin-drical weapons discharged from the torpe-

do tube (although there have been propos-als for external housings or ‘mine belts’)with influence fuzes. The beauty of theseweapons is that they can be covertly laid instraits or the approaches to key ports andcan be timed to begin and to cease opera-tion. Their increasingly sophisticated fuz-ing systems can also be adjusted to initiatewhen a specific target signature is detected,to detonate only when the target is withinrange or to await another. Even more wor-ryingly, just as aerial bombs frequentlyhave delayed action fuzing, so the mine canbe programmed to go active only after acertain number of potential targets havesailed by forcing the enemy to stop trafficinto, and out of, the threatened waters. It isworth remembering that in 1986 an interna-tional task force of some 30 mine counter-measures ships was deployed when mineswere detected in Oman’s waters and whilethey claimed success, four years later a mer-chantman was sunk by a mine which theyhad missed.

The new threat from submarines is thesurface-to-surface missile. Submarine-launched missiles, such as MNDA’s ExocetSM 39 and Boeing’s UGM-84 Sub-Harpoon,have been available since the 1970s for anti-ship operations. Launching these weaponsneutralised the traditional surface ship shieldagainst them, radar and surface-to-air mis-siles, because their sudden appearance gavethe target little chance to respond. Until thelate 1990s these weapons have been confined

South Korean diesel submarine Lee Sunsin (SSK 068) departs Naval Station Pearl Harbor. One ofnine in the Chang Bogo class a HDW Type 209/1200 © DoD

23l JUNE 2011 l

O P E R A T O N SSSUUBBMMAARRIINNEE


to China, with the YJ-1 (CSS-N-4 ‘Sardine’)which is commercially marketed as the C-801while the United States provided itsstrongest friends Australia, Japan, SouthKorea, Pakistan and Taiwan with the 67 nau-tical mile (124 kilometre) Sub-Harpoon.

Since then both the Russians and theFrench have sold missiles to the region’snavies and, in doing so, introduced a newdimension to submarine operations. Since1997 India’s Kilos have been converted toaccept missiles of the Novator Klub (Club)family. Initially these were 3M54 (SS-N-27‘Sizzler’) anti-ship missiles with ranges of120-160 nautical miles (220-300 kilometres)but since the start of this century theseboats are also receiving the 3M14 (SS-N-30)which is a dedicated 148 nautical mile (275kilometre) land attack weapon similar inconcept to the famous Tomahawk. India isalso developing a submarine-launched ver-sion of its supersonic Brahmos anti-ship

weapon as well as the 400 nautical mile (740kilometre) Sagarika land attack cruise mis-sile, the latter possibly with Russian andIsraeli technical assistance.

The 3M54 and later versions of Sub-Harpoon have been adapted for littoral war-fare with improved guidance systems toengage ships in harbours or bays and nowthey are also capable of striking land targetsrelatively close to the coast. There is no indi-cation that Asian Sub-Harpoon weaponshave this capability but it has been intro-duced into the latest Exocet whose latestBlock 2 version replaces a rocket motor witha turbo-jet which more than doubles the mis-sile’s range to 97 nautical miles (180 kilome-tres). Exocet has been bought by India andMalaysia as part of the Scorpène package.

MBDA are developing a submarine-launched version of their Scalp and this islikely to be marketed into the Asian region inthe latter part of the decade while Australia is

likely to seek Tomahawks for its Collinsreplacement class. Domestically-producedweapons are also likely to proliferate. SouthKorea is set to deploy its 270 nautical mile(500 kilometre) range Cheonryong (SeaDragon) missile in destroyers this year andhas revealed it is developing a version to beused by the KSS-3 class submarines which itis also developing.

The submarine, therefore, is a key piece inAsia’s balance of power both for defensiveand offensive purposes in both peace and

war. Little wonder that Indonesia talks of afleet of 39 submarines and that bothBangladesh and Thailand now wish to jointhe growing list of submarine operators onthe Asian continent.

There is one other factor to consider andthat is raised by the sinking of the Chon An.The culprit is alleged to be a North Koreanminiature submarine, a class of vesselknown to have been involved in landing spe-cial forces on the Korean peninsula.Pyongyang is the biggest operator of thiskind of vessel, with some 40 craft, whilePakistan has three also used to support spe-cial forces. Although these craft have limitedperformance they are, as North Koreaallegedly demonstrates, a new threat andmight prove attractive to smaller nations fur-ther driving Asian navies to strengthen theiranti-submarine defences.

The Japan Maritime Self-DefenseForce submarine JS Uzushio (SS 592)prepares to get under way after aport visit to US Naval Base ApraHarbor in Guam © DoD

In the past 40 years twoAsian warships have beensunk by heavyweighttorpedoes; the Indian frigateINS Khukri in 1971 and theSouth Korean corvetteROKS Chong An last year

Japan Maritime Self-DefenseForce Oyashio-class submarineJS Mocishio (SS 600) one of 11vessels in the class © DoD


MMAARRIITTIIMMEEPATROL A IRCRAFT


AsianMaritime Patrol

ACCORDING TO AMR’sresearch, Australia, India,Indonesia, Japan, South Korea,Pakistan, the RussianFederation, Singapore, Taiwan

and New Zealand all operate or are acquiringmaritime patrol aircraft, with LockheedMartin’s P-3C Orion being the predominantplatform in the region. Taking the cited coun-tries in order, Australia, Japan South Korea,Pakistan, Taiwan and New Zealand are allOrion users, with the Royal Australian AirForce (RAAF) fielding a fleet of AP-3C plat-forms which are scheduled toremain in service until at least2015. Based on the P-3C variant,the AP-3C is an upgrade of theoriginal aircraft that has beenundertaken by Raytheon and intro-

duced a range of new equipments includingthe Elta EL/M-2022(V)3 search radar, aGeneral Dynamics Canada AN/UYS-503acoustic processing chain, a FLIR SystemsStarSAFIRE III Electro-Optical (EO) targetingand surveillance system, a CAE ElectronicsAN/ASQ-504 Magnetic Anomaly Detector(MAD), a Unisys DDC-060 data managementsystem, enhanced communications, an elec-tronic flight management system, animproved navigation suite and BAE SystemsAustralia’s ALR-2001 Odyssey ElectronicSupport (ES) system. Assigned to the ser-vice’s Numbers 10 and 11 Squadrons (which

are home-based at RAAF Edinburgh inSouth Australia), Australia’s AP-3Cs

have seen service in Southwest Asiaand are currently the subject of an

ES system upgrade, delays to

which have caused the capability to havebeen added to Australia’s “projects of con-cern” list. At the time of writing, the Odysseyupdate appears to be getting back on trackand it is probable that the RAAF will eventu-ally replace the AP-3C with a mixture ofBoeing P-8 aircraft and Global HawkUnmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).

Over time, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) has acquired at least98 P-3C Update II.5 and Update III aircraft,approximately 80 of which were understoodto remain in service with the service’s 1, 2, 3,5 and 51 Squadrons (based at Kanoya,Hachinohe and Atsugi (3 and 51 Squadrons)respectively) prior to the 11 March 2011earthquake and tsunami. Entering serviceduring 1981, AMR understands that theJapanese Orion fleet has been progressively

Patrol Aircraft

The Indian Navy is acquiringthe country-specific P-8I variantof the US Navy’s P-8A platformas its next generation maritimepatrol aircraft © USN

PATROL AIRCRAFTMMAARRIITTIIMMEE

27l JUNE 2011 l

AsianMaritime Patrol

updated with new introductions including asatellite communications system, animproved ES capability, a GlobalPositioning System (GPS) navigation capa-bility and a new computer group.Operationally, the JMSDF has deployed P-3Cs to support anti-piracy operations off theSomali coast and in the Gulf of Aden andprior to the March 2011 disaster, was intend-ing to progressively replace the P-3C withthe indigenous, jet-powered Kawasaki P-1.Launched in late 2001, the prototype P-1made its maiden flight on 28 September2008 and to-date, at least five such aircrafthave been ordered. Powered by four 59.8kN IHI XF7-10 turbofans, the P-1 is flownand operated by a crew of up to 10 and isequipped with an X-band (8 to 12.5 GHz)Toshiba Active Electronically Scanned

Array (AESA) search radar, a Fujitsu HAQ-2 Forward-Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) sensor,a Mitsubishi HSQ-102 MAD, a sonics chainand sonobuoy provision. While Japan FiscalYear 2011 defence budget requests a singleP-1, it must be uncertain whether or not theP-1 will now go ahead in view of the devas-tating effect the March 2011 earthquake hashad (and will continue to have) on theJapanese economy. Similar considerationsmust also affect Japan’s earlier interest in

the acquisition of a maritime surveillanceUAV based on the RQ-4 Global Hawk.Returning to Orion usage, South Korea

has procured eight P-3C Update III+ aircrafttogether with a further eight P-3CKs. Ofthese, the P-3C Update III+s are fitted with aRaytheon AN/APS-134(V) search radar andan AN/ASQ-212 central computer, while theP-3CKs are re-worked P-3B airframes thathave been produced by United States con-tractor L-3 Communications and KoreaAerospace Industries (six aircraft) and fea-ture a mission suite similar to that of thecountry’s Update III+s. In South Korean serv-ice, the Orion is understood to be assigned tothe Taiwanese 613 and 615 Heavy Squadronsbased at Pohang and Jeju respectively.Moving down the list, Pakistan has acquireda total of nine P-3C aircraft with which to

Patrol AircraftBearing in mind the vastnesses of the Pacific and the

Indian Ocean, it would be surprising if the airforces and navies of the Asia-Pacific region had not

invested heavily in airborne maritime patrol.

bbyy Martin Streetly

Australia’s AP-3Cs haveseen service in SouthwestAsia and are currentlythe subject of anES system upgrade

supplement its existing Atlantic and FokkerF27 maritime patrollers. Of the three, theAtlantics and the Fokker F27 are known tohave been equipped with Thales France’s DR3000 ES system and a variant of theThales/Cassidian Ocean Master surveillanceradar. Pakistan received its first P-3C duringOctober 2009 and expects to complete its fleetby 2012/13. In Pakistan service, all three ofthe cited maritime patrol aircraft are operat-ed by the country’s Numbers 27 and 29Squadrons based at Sharea Faisal.For its part (and following a particularly

protracted acquisition process), Taiwan isacquiring 12 refurbished P-3Cs whichLockheed Martin will upgrade with a struc-tural life extension and new avionics prior todelivery which is currently scheduled tobegin in 2012. Staying with the Chinese con-text, AMR notes with interest that mainlandChina’s dedicated airborne maritime patrol

capability appears to reside in no more thanfive Y-8X and a handful of Y-8J aircraft. Here,the Y-8X is equipped with a Canadian APS-504(V) radar while the J model carries theThales UK X-band Skymaster combined sur-face search and airborne early warning sen-sor. Of the two, the Japanese Air Self-DefenceForce (JASDF) is on record as having inter-cepted the Y-8J reconnoitring Japanese airspace during 2010.Mention of the JASDF leads neatly to

those Tupolev Tu-142 maritime patrol andAnti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraftoperated by the naval air arm of Russia’s FarEastern Fleet that the service has interceptedon a regular basis throughout 2010-2011.Credible estimates put the number of Tu-142M/MZs in service with the Russian Navyat around 20. Allocated the NATO ReportingName ‘Bear-F Mod 3’ (and also known as theTu-142MK), the Tu-142M is understood to bean updated version of the basic design thatfeatures the Korshun-K search radar, theLadoga MAD, the NPK-142M navigationsuite, the Strela 142M communications pack-


With as many as 80 in-service, the JMSDF isthe largest P-3 Orion user in the Asia-Pacificregion © JMSDF


Pakistan has acquired nineP-3Cs to supplement itsexisting fleet of Atlantic andFokker F27 maritime patrolaircraft © Lockheed Martin

age and the ability to handle passive andactive directional sonobuoys. For its part, theTu-142MZ (‘Bear-F Mod 4’) replaces the M’sNK-12MV engines with NK-12MP turbo-props and features the Korshun-KN-N-STSanti-submarine warfare ‘complex’ (missionsystem) and the Nashaty-Nefrit sonics chain.Elsewhere in the region, the Indian Navyhas acquired eight Tu-142MK-E platformsthat are flown from Indian Naval StationsRajali and Hansa. Taking the form (as its

designation suggests) of an export versionof the Tu-142MK (‘Bear-F Mod 3’), the MK-E’s mission suite is said to be a downgradedversion of that fitted to Russian Tu-142Msand has been the subject of an upgrade pro-gramme that was launched in 2003. Here,the update is believed to have centredaround the introduction of the Novella/SeaDragon ‘complex’ which is also a feature ofIndia’s Ilyushin Il-38SD maritime patrol air-craft (see following).

Returning to Asia-Pacific use of the Orion,

the Royal New Zealand Air Force operatessix P-3K aircraft that have been (and arebeing) progressively updated under Projects‘Rigel’, ‘Kestrel’ and ‘Guardian’. In order,‘Rigel’ introduced (amongst other things) theAN/APS-134(V) search radar, the AN/AAS-36 infra-red detection set, a new data han-dling system and improved navigationequipment. Project ‘Kestrel’ took the form ofa life extension effort and involved re-wing-ing, replacing the aircraft’s horizontal sta-bilisers and refurbishment of their enginenacelles. So configured, the fleet was expect-ed to remain structurally viable for an addi-tional 20 years. Most recently, the L-3Communications-primed Project ‘Guardian’replaces the AN/AAS-36 with the L-3Wescam MX-20 EO sensor, the AN/APS-134(V) radar with the Elta EL/M-2022(V)3sensor, new navigation equipment, an L-3developed data handling system and a glasscockpit. Now known as the P-3K2, the first‘Guardian’ aircraft made its maiden flight on11 August 2009, with the remaining exam-ples being modified in country by nationalcontractor Safe Air. As a final point concern-ing Asian-Pacific P-3s, readers should notethat at one time, Thailand operated a smallnumber of P-3T aircraft whose current statusis uncertain.

Turning back to India, AMR understandsthat the Indian Navy has acquired approxi-

The Indian Navy’s Il-38shave been subject toan upgrade that introduces avariant of the Novella / SeaDragon ‘complex


29l JUNE 2011 l

mately 10 Do 228 and five Il-38 maritimepatrol aircraft with which to support its long-range Tu-142s. In order, the service’s Do 228sare equipped with a mixture of Thales SuperMarec and Elta EL/M-2022A(V)3 searchradars. One of the fleet was deployed on anti-piracy duties in the Seychelles duringFebruary 2011 and in the longer term, Indiawants to acquire a new medium-range plat-form with which to replace its Dornierpatrollers. Most recently, the Indian Navy’sIl-38s have been subject to an upgrade thatintroduces a variant of the Novella/SeaDragon ‘complex’ (comprising a new radar,an IR sensor, a new central computer system,a MAD and new ES and ASW capabilities)and the ability to carry Kh-35 anti-shippingand Brahmos cruise missiles. Designated asthe Il-38SD, the Indian Navy acquired its firstpair of updated aircraft in January 2006 and

had received a third before it suspended con-tract payments on the programme (due todissatisfaction with the Novella/sea Dragonsystem) during the following year. Suchproblems are likely to have influenced

India’s decision to acquire the Boeing P-8I asits next generation full-capability ASW andmaritime patrol aircraft. It should also benoted that the Indian Navy has stood up twosquadrons of UAVs that are equipped with

surveillance configured Searcher and Heronair vehicles. Looking to the future, the serviceis also known to have made enquires con-cerning available High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) UAVS such as the RQ-4.

Mention of the Do 228 leads neatly to theRoyal Thai Navy’s fleet of seven such mar-itime patrol aircraft that are assigned to theservice’s 101 Squadron at U-Tapao.Equipped with a belly-mounted searchradar, at least four of these aircraft have beenequipped with an Optimare track-while-scansystem, with at least one having also been fit-ted with an EO sensor. Again, at least oneThai aircraft has most recently had its sur-veillance radar removed. Moving south, theRepublic of Singapore Air Force’s No 121Squadron is equipped with five Fokker 50Maritime Enforcer Mk 2 maritime patrol air-craft. Flown by a crew of eight, such aircraft

Royal New ZealandAir Force operates six P-3Kaircraft that have beenprogressively updated underProjects ‘Rigel’, ‘Kestrel’and ‘Guardian’



have (over time) been equipped with a mis-sion suite that has included a RaytheonAN/APS-134(V)7 search radar, a Fokker-sourced TMS-250V tactical computer, aGeneral Dynamics Canada AN/UYS-503sonobuoy processor, an Alliant M101Eacoustic signals recorder, an Ultra ElectronicsAN/ARR-502 sonobuoy receiver, a tailoredElta EL/L-8382MPA ES system, provision for60 sonobuoys, an EO sensor, a CAEElectronics AN/ASQ-504(V) MAD and pro-vision for four torpedoes, depth charges orAGM-84D Harpoon air-to-surface missiles.As of April 2011, one of Singapore’s Fokker50 maritime patrollers had been deployedto Djibouti for anti-piracy duties over theGulf of Aden.The remaining cited country - Indonesia –

operates up to three Boeing 737-2X9Surveiller, three CN-235MPA and up to six

NC-212-200 aircraft in the maritime patrolrole. In order, the Boeing 737s are ‘combi’transport and surveillance aircraft that areequipped with a variant of Motorola’s Side-Looking Airborne Modular Multi-missionRadar (SLAMMR) and are assigned to theIndonesian Air Force’s Air Squadron 5 atUjung Pandang/Hasanuddin. Air Squadron5 is also home to three Indonesian AerospaceAirtech CN-235MPA platforms that areequipped with a Thales AMASCOS missionsuite that includes a Thales/CassidianOcean Master radar, an Elettronica ALR-733series ES system and a Thales Chlio EO sen-sor. Air Squadron 5 is understood to havereceived its first CN-235MPA aircraft duringJune 2008 and both Brunei and theIndonesian Navy are understood to be inter-esting in or actually acquiring up to threeand up to six examples of the type respec-tively. In the Brunei context, the specified

mission suite is reported to include aRaytheon search radar, a Selex Galileo ESsystem and an AN/AAQ-21 FLIR sensor.Staying with the Indonesian Navy, the

service’s Air Squadron 800 squadron (basedat Surabaya/Juanda) is reported to numberthe NC-212-200PATMAR maritime patrolaircraft amongst a mixed inventory of patroland transport aircraft. Again a product ofIndonesian Aerospace, the PATMAR plat-form is understood to be fitted with an OceanMaster radar variant, with the first examplebeing delivered to SU 800 during May 2005.For the sake of completeness, readers shouldalso note that the US Navy has three line P-3maritime patrol squadrons (VP-4, -9 and -47)based at Marine Corps Air Facility KaneoheBay on Hawaii and can be expected to deploythe P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and the MQ-4C Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (UAV)in the region in the medium term.

31


Over time, Australia, India and Japanhave all expressed interest in theacquisition of an MQ-4C BAMS-typeUAV capability © Northrop Grumman

During April 2011, the Republic ofSingapore Air Force deployed one ofits Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraftto Djibouti for anti-piracy patrols overthe Gulf of Aden © Singapore MoD

The next generation KawasakiP-1 maritime patrol aircraftmade its maiden flight duringJune 2008 © Kawasaki

l JUNE 2011 l

MILITARIES IN the Asia-Pacific wants the samethings any other militarywants from its TacticalCommunications Systems,

namely to be able to share data and integratecommand structures and enables high-speed,large-capacity, long-distance wireless relaytransmission coupled with equally capablebut shorter range more mobile systems withautomatic routing and relay capabilities forsimultaneous video, voice and data.

IndiaAmajor part of India’s military modernisationrevolves around tactical C4I with the countryestablishing demanding requirements butwith an overall approach that is fragmentedwith three different organisations, takingresponsibility for the three key programmes:Tactical Communications Systems, BattleManagement Systems (BMS) and F-INSAS.There are many, many lessons from the digiti-zation paths of other countries which probablynumber more than the lines of theMahabharat. Number one however is the needfor integration across multiple programmewith a single strong authority to do that.

Perhaps the centerpiece of current effortsis Project Aren or the TacticalCommunications Systems programme whichwill provide the links that will connect India’sCorps and Army level headquarters down toregiment and battalion level initially equip-

TTAACCTTIICCAALLC 4 I S Y S T E M S


Regional Situational AwarenessTactical C4I Systems:

The dismounted element to India’s BMSprogramme will need to be deconflicted withthe C4I requirements in Phase 3 of the country’slater F-INSAS work © AJB

bbyy Adam Baddeley

33

C 4 I S Y S T E M S

l JUNE 2011 l

TTAACCTTIICCAALL

ping seven Army Crops – three Strike Corpsand four Mountain Corps although this isseen as just the start.After multiple false starts, Expression of

Interest (EoI) were sent out to eight companies:BEL, ITI, ICIL, Tata, L&T, WIPRO, Rolta andHCL with whom overseas firms will team. Therequirement has not been released in detail tonon-Indian firms but it is expected to be morecapability led than the original 2006 require-ment which was seen as prescriptive and rigid.Although the teaming for the bids is meant tobe fixed, it is expected that teaming will remainfluid even after down select.There is no official schedule to date but

responses to the Spring RFP is expected to leadto a downselect in early 2012 to two. The twowill then go through an 18 month process,funded at a 80:20 government:industry basiswhich would total $200m. There will be trialand evaluation in order to judge that thesystem is compliant and then an RFP willbe issued.A contract could be let as early as mid

2013 but more likely this will be 2014 and isvalued at $2-2.4billion.In a further complication for TCS, there is

still an HCLOS requirement that was award-ed to PEL but the solution does not meet therequirement and it is being rebid. Therequirement was due to operate in advanceof TCS.India also has a Battle Management

System (BMS) project, a little behind thetimelines of TCS and is valued at $2.5billion.The system is both vehicles mounted and hasa dismounted requirement with the require-ment for simultaneous voice data and video.An EoI was not yet released at the time of theBangalore Airshow but were expected byApril. It is considered that India’s DUCH

intercom programme may be folded intoBMS. A key omission in BMS plans to date isthe absence of details of which legacy radioswill be required to be integrated.India’s BMS programme once had a com-

munications element but this has been trans-ferred to an independent programme. TheEoI for the resulting Army SDR pro-gramme which is for a JTRS GroundMobile Radio type solution, isexpected to be issued in 1Q2011 withan RFP in 2013 with a requirement

for an estimated 1700 radios. BEL and the Indian Government

have been working on a tactical SDRmanpack design for the past 18 monthswith a throughput of 1Mbps with1MHz of bandwidth which will com-plete evaluation in 2011. BEL’s

Chairman said all evaluationswould be complete by June. BELsaid that this would replace thecurrent STARS-V VHF CNR,LUP329 UHF CNR and VPSMk3 VHF handheld. Plans for ahandheld SDR are expected to becompleted in 2012. The RFP for the Indian Air

Force’s (IAF) SDR programmewas planned for Oct 2010but wasn’t issued at thetime of Aero India. Theplan is for a no cost, nocommitment evaluationtrials. It will only be atthat point that the IAF willrelease which aircraft willreceive it. A further complication

lies in the F-INSAS pro-gramme, lead by theinfantry. The third phaseof this programmeinvolves a C4I elementwhose timelines andrequirement overlap butprecedes those of the BMSprogramme.Irrespective of tradition-

al concerns in Indian pro-curement about delays intimelines, perhaps thebiggest challenges in the

Regional Situational AwarenessTactical C4I Systems:

Selex Communications SWavefamily of SDRs is one of severaladvanced products being offeredin the region © AJB

procurement plan is to reconcile the integra-tion challenge between the three critical pro-grammes.

AustraliaElbit is the prime contractor on Australia’sLAND 125 Phase 3A Dismounted BattleGroup and Below Command, ControlCommunication System which will 1,501BMS-dismounted and 164 dismounted com-mand posts to the ADF. The company is alsothe lead on LAND 75 Phase 3.4, which willdeliver a vehicle mounted BMS. Together,the two programmes are commonly referredto as ‘Land 200’.

The contract was signed on 15 March 2010with Elbit Systems Limited. The IOC for

Land 75 and 125 is planned for the secondhalf of this year with the equipping and train-ing of a combat team with a complete forma-tion with 7 Brigade being equipped in 2013.

The first project is delivering a dismount-ed BMS into a Brigade Group in support ofthe Network Centric Warfare Milestone 2 –Networked Battle Group 2011.

Australia has chosen to integrate the BMSwith communications elements. For Land 125Phase 3A, the transport layer for Elbit D-BMSare being provided by Harris AN/PRC-152and Raytheon EPLRS MicroLight radios.

The BMS and the communications capa-bility for Land 75 were separated in a projectin 2006 with theMounted BMS element beingtaken from JP2072 Battlespace

Communications System-Land (BCS-L) withwhich Land 125 now works closely, althoughthe former is focused on CNRs under Phase 1Falcon III AN/PRC-152(C) multiband hand-held radios and their in-vehicle adaptors, butalso includes AN/PRC-117G wideband,AN/PRC-117F multi-band and AN/PRC-150(C) HF manpack radios. Australiahas`moved area communications to laterphases such as Phase 2B which will seeBCS(L) Area and Tactical Range ExtensionNodes being fielded via transit cases, trailersbased, vehicle OTM based and even smallISO container based communications solu-tions and expected to include conventional


Harris’ RF-7800W is amajor player in TCSprogrammes © AJB


GCLOS radio relays. Troposcatter solutionsto replace the capability currently providedunder Project Parakeet. For Phase 2B a ‘FirstPass’ procurement is expected in 2011 withthe Operational Concept and RFT developedwith industry feedback. Phase 2A of JP2072will provide Mobile Systems Segment of

BCS-L, whose capabilities include new com-bat radio systems, tactical data radio systemsand tactical HF and satellite radios.In March, Harris were awarded a $11m

order for the AN/PRC-152(C) handheldand vehicular radio system and RF-300M-TV Trimline Vehicular AdaptersBattlespace Communications System tomeet ADF's objectives, including network-ing the Adaptive Army.

Republic of KoreaWork began in earnest on South Korea’sTactical Information CommunicationNetwork (TICN) in 2009 after several years of

study contracts which have been lead bySamsung Thales and LIG Nex1 was in chargeof TMMR, while Huneed was a main contrac-tor for HCTR and has looked in detail aboutthe application of WiBRO mobile multi-hoptechnology provide extended coverage thatgoes beyond 20km provide high data ratethat exceeds 400Mbps, and enhanced celledge performance, with elements includingthe High Capacity Trunk Radio (HCTR),Tactical Multi-band and Multi-role Radio(TMMR) and Network Management System(NMS). TICN will replace the legacy Spidersystem which is effectively limited to stillimages and voice data with the systems viathe KAN/GRC-512(V) Electronic CountCounter Measures (ECCM) radio with itsdata transmission speed improved from2Mbps to 4Mbps.

Po ShengTaiwan continues to aspire to extend itsheadquarters level Po Sheng or BroadVictory programme, down to tactical levels.The Po Sheng programme was originally a$2.3 billion modernization effort, launched in2003 and designed to enhance the C4ISRcapabilities of the Taiwanese military, con-trolled by the central military command, theJoint Operations Control Center (JOCC).Since then there has been a desire to increasethe scope of the command links down to thebattalion and even company level althoughlittle has come of this to date.

BruneiBrunei’s C4I network is very much a TCSwaiting to happen. The order for a JointOperations Centre (JOC) command and con-trol capability from Northrop Grummanannounced was announced in January 2010and based on Command and Control for PC(C2PC) and Interoperable C4I Services (ICS)but is currently limited to a high level head-quarters. The aspiration is to extend itsreach down to the tactical level and a rangeof Harris CNRs were acquired at around thesame time, which could cover the voice anddata requirements at the lowest tacticallevel, there remains a need for high capabil-ity links if the competition for effective net-worked C2 is to be realised.

Tactical CommunicationsSystems programme whichwill provide the links thatwill connect India’s Corpsand Army level headquarters

35l JUNE 2011 l

The Tactical Information CommunicationNetwork programme will transform howcommand and control are exercised on theKorean Peninsula © DoD

C 4 I S Y S T E M STTAACCTTIICCAALL

PakistanLocal firms Global Industrial and DefenceSolutions IDS showed their Integrated BMSIBMS) at IDEX which began trial on PAF AlKhalid tanks in early 2011. The transportlayer for IBMS is provided by the company’sSpread Spectrum Radio which provides datarates of 96-112Kbps at a frequency band of416-440MHz with both point to point andPoint to Multi-Point Capabilities and a line ofsight range of 10km.Rohde and Schwarz launched their new

Modular Multi-role Radio System at IDEX,originally developed for the Pakistan mili-tary for Air Traffic and was fielded in 2010. Itconsists of two ‘cubes’ equipped with M3XRtechnology. The system is ready to go withfour clicks. MMRS is equally suitable for useas field headquarters, a mobile ATC system,a radio station and a relay station.

International offeringsAs the market for communication systemsgrows, so international firms are gravitat-ing to the region with their latestcommunications solutions.In the ground tactical sector,

SELEX Communications exhibited at theSWave radio and the WRS504 vehicular tacti-cal radio with WiMax technology at Avalaon2011. Thales is also active in the region, oneof the first customers for its FlexNet radio,developed with Rockwell Collins is a leadingmilitary in the region. Thales’ F@stnet radiois made under license in Malaysia. A recentdevelopment in term of the F@stnet wave-forms has been the introduction of the super-max waveform which offers a 21.6Kbps fre-quency hopping data only mode that drops

to 9.6Kbps when simultaneously enablingvoice communications.Elbit’s radios sell widely in the Asia

Pacific with its latest radio beginning to betrialled and fielded. Elbit Systems 50W SDR-7200opertes in VHF at 30 to 88 MHz an UHFin 200 to 528/700 MHz and is part of theIDF’s Digital Army Programme. TheWaveform’s used include the 115kbps HDRwaveform used in the CNR-9000 HDR VHFradio. In part, it builds on the contractor'searlier High Data Rate (HDR) waveformwhich is supplemented by a MANET wave-form supporting data rates of up to 8Mbps.Elbit launched the SDR-7200AR at Aero India

which feature embedded avionics relatedfeatures and supports multiplefrequency bands, includingVHF, UHF, L-Band, S-Bandand SATCOM. The company’sMilitary IP Radio launched in2010 had data rates of up to13.3 Mbps and is designed tocope with the Doppler effectsof communications to and from

rotary wing aviation and has PTPand PTMP. Primarily a data solution itcan also supports VoIP as well as

MANET and ECCM waveforms.


An EoI for the Army’s SDRprogramme is expected in2011 with an RFP due in 2013with a requirement for anestimated 1700 radios © AJB

The IDF’s digitization programme has fedinto a number of Elbit’s international offerings© Elbit Systems

India’s BMS programmeonce had a communicationselement but this hasbeen transferred to anindependent programme


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ANEW GENERATION of mod-ern tankers are beginning togain a footing in a market thatis hungry for versatile and flex-ible aerial refuelling aircraft

that are able to perform a mixture of AAR,cargo and personnel transport, as well asaeromedical evacuation missions. Withdefence budgets feeling the pressure of thewider global economic troubles, a next-gen-eration multi-mission aerial refuelling tankerthat can both support the front line and com-bat aircraft is a highly valuable asset.

New skiesBoeing’s KC-46A was awarded the much-anticipated contract for the US Air Force(USAF) next-generation aerial refuellingtanker. Boeing beat out competitor EADSwho was originally awarded the contractbefore re-launch in response to a Boeingprotest in 2008. The decision in Boeing’s

favour has been called into question, withEADS quick to point out that until this contractthe Airbus Military A330 MRTT has won everyhead-to-head competition with the Boeing KC-767 tanker, and is a far more mature pro-gramme than the Boeing programme. As thesuccessful bidder Boeing will design, developand manufacture 18 combat-ready KC-46Atankers by 2017 for the initial phase of the con-tract, which will eventually replace 179 of theUSAF’s 400 KC-135 tankers.

The KC-46A tanker is based on the Boeing767 commercial aircraft. It is a wide body,multi-mission aircraft with the latest technol-ogy upgrades, capable of meeting the USAF’srequirements for transport of fuel, cargo, pas-sengers and patients; as well as state-of-the-art digital flight deck, featuring Boeing 787Dreamliner electronic displays, and a flightcontrol systems that places aircrews in com-mand rather than allowing computer soft-ware to limit combat manoeuvrability. For

refuelling the tanker features an advancedKC-10 boom with an expanded refuellingenvelope, increased fuel offload rate and fly-by-wire control system.

The Boeing contract means a number ofthings for the international aerial refuellingtanker market. The current USAF refuellingtanker fleet, the KC-135, will be phased out asthe KC-46A aircraft come into service. Thefocus of the US military on the KC-46A willresult in surplus KC-135 aircraft becomingavailable for purchase by customers lookingto invest in proven platforms. For armedforces with the requirement but not the fundsto invest in next-generation aerial refuellingtankers for their front-line aircraft this is likelyto be a well-received addition to the market.

The KC-135 Stratotanker has been in oper-ation with the US military since the 1950s. Itsmulti-mission capabilities, including aerialrefuelling, airborne command posts, cargoand personnel transport, electronic recon-

IncreasingEndurance

An Italian Air Force KC-767Atanker in flight © Boeing

R E F U E L I N GIINN--FFLLIIGGHHTT

39l JUNE 2011 l

naissance and photo mapping have seen itbecome widely known as the workhorse ofthe USAF.

The KC-135 is equipped with a flyingboom to provide fuel transfer in flight, adrogue to refuel probe-equipped aircraftattached to the boom, and passenger andcargo deck located above the fuselagemounted tanks. Boeing has carried out anumber of improvement programmes to theaircraft, including the replacement of thelower wing surfaces with an improved alu-minium-alloy skin on 746 aircraft; and thereplacement of the engine strut fittings. TheUSAF has also carried out a number ofimprovements to its fleet under Boeing con-tracts, including the addition of wingtip,hose and drogue refuelling pods; the mod-ernisation of the cockpit; and the provision ofnew compasses and radar systems and theinstallation of GPS.

Two major engine replacement pro-

IncreasingEndurance

The might of an air force is greatlydependent on the capabilities of its

Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) aircraft. Therequirement for aerial refuelling tankers

capable of providing true force multiplicationand mission range enhancement is

ever-increasing as governments look tostrengthen their aerial strike, defence and

humanitarian response abilities.

bbyy John Mulberry

AirborneRefueling:

grammes have also been carried out byBoeing. A number of USAF aircraft had theiroriginal KC-135A engines replaced withCFM56 engines in order to increase takeoffand carrying capacity. The aircraft were re-designated KC-135R, and the programmeimproved fuel efficiency, reducing consump-tion by 27 per cent, lowered engine noise andpollution levels, reducing decibel levels 98per cent and reducing the noise-impact areanear airports from 240 to 3 square miles. TheUSAF and Air National Guard also carriedout the replacement of KC-135A engines onsome of its fleet with refurbished JT3Dengines in order to increase engine power by30 percent, reduce noise levels by 85 percent,and also refurbished struts and cowling,brakes, cockpit controls and instruments. Theaircraft were re-designated KC-135E.Currently few nations other than the US

operate the KC-135. Singapore received the

first of four re-engined KC-135RStratotankers in 1999. The aircraft had beenmodified with the Boeing-developed Multi-Point Refuelling System, and was the firstaircraft to receive the modification concur-rently with the CFM56 engine upgrade. TheMulti-Point Refuelling System providesoperability between USAF, US Navy (USN)and US Marine Corps (USMC) aircraft, aswell as NATO. The system consists of wing-mounted pods that enable the aircraft to refu-el probe-equipped and standard KC-135

boom receptacle equipped receivers simulta-neously. Overall the system provides a 400gallon-per-minute offloads capability.France and Turkey also operate the KC-

135. The latest country to receive the air-craft from US stockpiles is Chile, who tookdelivery of the aircraft in January 2010 aspart of a package Foreign Military Sale(FMS) from the US government.

Next generationWhen looking to replace the KC-135 as part ofthe USAF KC-X tanker competition, there wasamajor focus on themulti-mission capabilitiesand fuel-efficiency of the replacement aircraft.In the KC-46A, Boeing’s proposal offered theUSAF multi-mission aircraft that deliversadvanced capabilities to US warfighters and –according to Boeing - 24 per cent lower fuelconsumption than the competing aircraft fromEADS. Boeing was already seeing successwith its other 767-based tanker, the KC-767that had been ordered by the armed forces ofItaly and Japan.The KC-767 is designed with a focus on

operational flexibility, with the option ofmultiple interior configurations so that thatthe aircraft’s cabin floor interior can be con-figured for convertible freighter, convertiblecombination or dedicated freighter or pas-senger while maintaining its tanker capabili-ty. The aircraft has a maximum fuel load of73,028 kg without auxiliary fuel, and a maxi-mum takeoff weight of 179,169 kg. It has 19cargo pallet positions on the main deck andthree on the forward lower lobe, and can seat200 passengers on airline-type seats mountedon military cargo pallets.Boeing calls the KC-767 tanker a ‘right

size’ solution, as it is sized for optimal fueloffload and range, and can take off and landat more locations than other current andprospective tanker platforms. The refuellingtechnology includes a high-tech boom opera-tor station and advanced-design boomenabled by camera systems, new wing airrefuelling pods and centerline hose drumunit, and integrated avionics and communi-cation systems; offering maximum opera-tional flexibility along with full EuropeanUnion and NATO interoperability.

Proven capabilityThe EADS contender for the USAF contractwas the KC-45, based on the mission-equipped Airbus Military A330 Multi-RoleTanker Transport (MRTT), which was inmany ways deemed a more capable aircraft.


The KC-46A tankeris based on the Boeing 767commercial aircraft. Itis a wide body, multi-missionaircraft with the latesttechnology upgrades


An artist’s impression of a BoeingKC-46A preparing to refuel anF-35 in flight © Boeing

The RAAF A330 MRTTrefuels an F-16 throughARBS © Airbus Military

At the time of the competition Airbus Militarywas already flying, fully certified and deliver-ing the A330 MRTT. The aircraft had carriedout refuelling flights and was in the process ofbeing handed over to its first operator, theRoyal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The MRTT is derived from the A330 wide-body twin-engine commercial airliner, and isdesigned for the full range of tanker opera-tional missions, including a transportation of acargo payload of up to 45 tonnes or 34 stan-dard pallets, 380 passengers, or aeromedicalevacuation for up to 130 stretchers. The aircraftis able to support combat aircraft squadrons inboth aerial refuelling, and in its ability to trans-port the squadron’s personnel and equipmentwhile simultaneously performing refuellingescort during the combat squad’s deploymentto overseas base, allowing the squadron todeploy as a unit with short turnaround timefor combat-level sorties.

The A330 MRRT’s 245,000 lbs fuel capacityand high offload rate ensures that more air-craft can be accurately refuelled in shortertimescales. The aircraft features a state-of-the-art under-fuselage centreline Aerial RefuellingBoom System (ARBS) from Airbus Militarythat is combined with a Cobham hose anddrogue refuelling system; together this givesthe aircraft the ability to service probe-equipped and slipway-equipped aircraft dur-ing the same mission, providing greater flexi-bility. With the ARBS the aircraft is able totransfer fuel at a rate of 4,600 litres per minute;and the MRTT also features multi-point refu-elling that enables the aircraft to refuel severalreceiver aircraft at the same time.

The aircraft carries two Cobham 905E hose

and drogue underwing pods able to simulta-neously refuel two probe-equipped receiveraircraft, and the Cobham 805E hose anddrogue under-fuselage refuelling unit can beinstalled according to customer requirementsfor additional fuel transfer capability. Bothsystems are controlled by a Fuel OperatorConsole in the cockpit, and they render theaircraft interoperable with NATO and alliedaircraft on the same mission, significantlyexpanding flexibility and capabilities. TheMRRT is also fitted with a Universal AirRefuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation(UARRSI) on the forward fuselage above thecockpit, which enables the aircraft to receivefuel from other tankers while in-flight,increasing endurance and mission envelope.

Growing successIn December 2010 the first in-flight refuellingcontacts were carried out with the fuselage-

mounted hose and drogue refuelling systemfor the KC-45, part of the aircraft’s four-pointrefuelling system. The contacts were madewith an F/A-18 fighter aircraft, and con-firmed the stability of the Fuselage RefuellingUnit (FRU) hose and drogue in level flight aswell as turns throughout the aircraft’s flightenvelope. The FRU is used for refuelling air-craft such as the C-130H Hercules and V-22Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, and is operated viathe Remote Aerial Refuelling Operator(RARO) console in the cockpit. In January therefuelling system carried out a successful fueltransfer with two F/A-18 fighters, bringingthe number of aerial refuelling contacts madewith equipment for the KC-45 to over 1,500;the aircraft’s systems have successfully alsotransferred fuel to aircraft including the F-15and E-3 AWACS and other tankers.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)was the first customer to order the A330



A330 MRTT with ARBSdown © Airbus Military

MRTT, to be known as the KC-30A in RAAFservice. Australia has ordered aircraft five intotal under Defence Military Organisation(DMO) programmeAir 5402. The programmewill significantly enhance the AustralianDefence Force’s (ADF’s) aerial range, and alsoestablish the infrastructure necessary to deliv-ery services including engineering, mainte-nance, spares management, technical data,software and training support for the newfleet with the establishment of a productionand outfitting centre in Brisbane by QantasEngineering. Between them the first twoRAAF A330 MRTTs have performed morethan 1,300 aerial refuelling contacts with theARBS and digital under-wing refuellingpods. The third platform was converted to itstanker/transport configuration by QantasEngineering in-country, and the fleet will alsobe configured with a Link 16 real-time datalink for airborne connectivity, and directional

infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system,among other defensive systems.

The other major US ally to have orderedthe A330 MRTT is the UK, with the RoyalAir Force (RAF) having ordered the plat-form for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft(FSTA) programme to replace the RAF’sLockheed L-1011 TriStar and VC10 tankers,both of which are nearing the end of theirservice lives. According to the UK MOD, inlooking to upgrade its AAR capabilities, the

RAF required the ability to rapidly deploy,sustain and recover its forces and upgradeits ability to respond quickly to future crises.Designated the A330 MRTT FSTA, the plat-form was selected for its ability to meet theservice requirement, programme timescalesand costs and for the aircraft’s ability to ful-fil a passenger Air Transport capabilitywhen required.

The UK MOD has ordered 14 aircraftunder a lease agreement with the AirTankerconsortium (consisting of Cobham, EADS,Rolls-Royce, Thales UK and VT Group plc),which will see the provision of air transportand AAR capabilities for 27 years under aPrivate Finance Initiative (PFI). AirTankerwill own and support the aircraft, two ofwhich are being converted in Spain and theremainder of which will be converted in-country by Cobham. The configuration forthe aircraft in transport role is for 291 seatsfor passenger transport; 40 NATO stretchers,20 medical staff seats and 100 passengerseats; and a permanent lower-deck capacityof 8 standard 463-L NATO military pallets.The refuelling equipment will be standardCobham 905E under-wing pods and oneCobham 805E FRU on selected aircraft.

The ongoing development of the A330MRTT and its healthy competition with itsBoeing rival can only be a positive thing forthe aerial refuelling tanker market. Providingarmed forces with next-generation capabili-ties and multi-mission operational abilitieswill continue to drive forward the mostadvanced technologies, delivering force mul-tiplying aircraft that can form the backboneof any aerial military fleet.

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When looking to replace theKC-135 as part of the USAFKC-X tanker competition,there was a major focus onthe multi-mission capabilitiesand fuel-efficiency of thereplacement aircraft

R E F U E L I N GIINN--FFLLIIGGHHTT

A RAAF A330 MRTT refuels anAWACS © Airbus Military

The first A330 to be converted intoFuture Strategic Tanker Aircraft(FSTA) for the RAF © Airbus Military

RATHER THAN a dedicated,role specific UGV, the trend isto produce a generic platformthat the user and industrialintegrators can add and

replace modules. This has required the plat-form to adopt an open architecture acrossmultiple platforms, equipped to integrate formodularised payloads with common mount-ing points. The greater preponderance ofmissions are within an urban areas includingphysically entering the buildings to obtainreconnaissance information.

Militaries have to select between threetypes of role; remote control or tele-opera-tions, semi-automatic and fully autonomous.Opting for fully autonomous, requires threekey systems; ‘The Brain’ for decision making,reactive movement control ‘The Legs’ andthe perception system ‘The Eye’.

Mini- and Small UGVsDespite their size, Small UGVs (SUGV) arestill tasked with demanding performancespecifications, including climbing steps, curbsand other obstacles, traversing steep slopesand cross significant gaps and self rightingwhen the inevitable happens and being ableto maneuver in confined spaces includingturns in place such as tunnels and drains. Allthis despite being able to be carried in a back-pack or in the case of mini-UAVs, a pocketsized solution providing a ready means ofRSTA at the squad and platoon level.

iRobot has recently added a throwableUGV to its product line, the 2.2Kg FirstLook110 expected to last for up to six hours onoperations, a sub-2.5Kg UGV robot whichuses IR illumination to enhance low light andno light operations for its four built-in cam-eras. According to the developers, the robotcan run more than six hours of runtime on atypical mission and up to ten hours, perform-ing stationary video monitoring.

ReconOptical’s Recon Scout has a numberof customers, including US Special Forces.Simply put it consists of a titanium tube withurethane wheels at either end and flexibleantennas with a spar to right itself. It is ableto be thrown down a flight of stairs or out ofsecond or third story window and thrown

UUNNMMAANNNNEEDDG R O U N D V E H I C L E S


ReconOptical’s Recon Scout has a number ofcustomers, including US Special Forces and canbe used as a stick camera too © ReconOptical

over 40m, and weighs 450g. It is designed tomove with just two thirds the noise of anaverage human whisper. The sensor consistsof a black and white image in day and nightand can transmit its imagery 30m indoorsand 75m in the open. Operation is simple andintuitive, with the user switching it on by tak-ing it from his jacket, pulling a pin and thencontrolling it with a simple joystick.

Larger platforms can carry multiple andmore complex payloads. iRobot’s SUGVselected for the US Army, fits in a standard

MOLLE pack, and is used by troops as pointman and forward observer and is able tomove at speeds of 10kmh. Imagery from theon-board thermal camera and 312X day cam-era and additional sensors linked via a 4.9GHzor UHFmilitary link at ranges of up to 1km. InApril, iRobot announced that the Armyplanned to increase its holding of SUGVs asmaller and lighter version of the combat-proven PackBot from the current 45 equippinga first brigade set of BCTM Increment 1 capa-bilities; with a further 76 SUGV for two addi-

tional infantry brigade sets.To boost the level of autonomy, the User

Assist Payload has even developed for UGVin the 510 PackBot Type size. Each of the pay-loads consists of a GPS and a brain intowhich, preprogrammed behaviour can beprogrammed. This might include retracingsteps in case communication is lost as a safe-ty feature until links can be restored. Even ifthe UGV has to go over bumps the systemsmaintains steady hold.

Elbit Systems VIPeR (Versatile IntelligentPortable Robot) equips IDF units at the platoonlevel as part of the Portable UGV programmeweighs just over 11kg and is able to operate forhours at a time. Operational in IDF servicesince 2008, there has been lot of overseas inter-est. The throwable Mini-Viper is a throwable,self righting solution weighing just 3.5Kg.

SurveillanceUGVs have found ready customers for thoseusers requiring the platform to patrol fixedperimeters, unerringly and without fatigue,while linked to a command structure. Thegrowth in the requirement for border securi-ty requirements is also a catalyst for this cat-egory of UGVs.

The IDF began test and qualification of theGuardium UGV in 2008 and operationaldeployment in 2009 in the roles of borderreconnaissance in which 100,000s of km ofexperience have been acquired. The next stepis the Nachshon, a larger more robust UGV

45

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l JUNE 2011 l

Substitute

UUNNMMAANNNNEEDD

Unmanned GroundVehicles (UGV)

continue to add tothe spectrum of

roles they are calledupon to undertake,

some far removed fromtheir original explosive

ordnance disposal(EOD) duties, dating

from the 1970s.

bbyy Adam Baddeley

Guyfor another

Elbit Systems VIPeR (Versatile Intelligent Portable Robot) equips IDF units at the platoon level © Elbit

based on a Ford platform with a prototypeexpected to be ready by the end of2011/early 2012 in a pilot programme.Obstacle detection of the Guardium compris-es two cameras for stereoscopic depth per-ception, laser and millimeter wave radar.The General Dynamics Robotics Systems

developed Mobile Detection Assessment andResponse System (MDARS) began its workdetecting intruders and Radio-FrequencyIdentification (RFID) based checking ofinventory protecting the nuclear NevadaNational Security Site where it operates inexcess of 12 hours at a time and is equippedwith a number of sensors including ForwardLooking Infrared and Radar and LightDetection And Ranging.Rheinmetall developed the Foxbot UGV

for this role with optronics sensors that can beraised on a 1.2m tower with data sent to andfrom the platform for ranges of up to 1km.

SupportWith the increase in the number of sensorsand systems carried by dismounted soldierUGVs are now being tasked with removingthis weight from soldiers' shoulders by fol-lowing them around, carrying their packs,water, ammunition as well as modular pay-loads such as communications relays andbattery recharging.LockheedMartin's SquadMission Support

System UGV functioned as a recharging pointin addition to carrying the soldier weight bur-den, working with soldiers from the 1st BDE,1 Infantry Division in major exercise for the

Nett Warrior programme in November. AMilitary Utility Assessment Afghanistan isanticipated later this year.Another option that has been developed

for Guardium is the Guardium Logistics sup-port which can carry 1.2 tonnes of suppliesand automtically follows troops.Singapore’s DSO has undertaken work

on developing a prototype UGV basedon a John Deere Gator type platform andhas demonstrated speed of 25Kmphover terrain that could be used for thetransport of logistics and casualties.The USAF is trialing its tele-operated

Battlefield Extraction Assist Robot (BEAR)unmanned ground vehicle, developed byVecna Technologies with the goal of develop-ing a fieldable casualty evacuation UGV bythe middle of the decade. BEAR is designedto carry casualties to the rear or moving intoground under fire to drag a down soldier intocover, rather than risk another soldier to res-cue a friend. A secondary role for the vehiclewould be to carry supplies.Northrop Grumman’s 6x6 JP8-burning

hybrid UGV Carry-all MechanizedEquipment Landrover (CaMEL) can carry

over 500k of cargo is another US solutionpursuing the Army's Maneuver Center ofExcellence at Fort Benning is trialing the plat-form. Israel selected the vehicle for use as abase platform with 60 CaMELs beingacquired. It switches between road tyres anda field deployable rubber band tracks.

Bomb disposalThe original role for UGVs was in the tele-operated EOD role and they continue toimprove their capabilities in this area.An innovative solution in EOD is

iRobot’s AwareHead, a supervisory controlsystems designed to reduce mission time ontarget. The AwareHead equipped UGV willsemi-autonomously drive to the location ofthe threat using a click-to drive interfaceallowing the personnel to use the onboard

cameras to look for secondary threatsand similar rather than spend

time driving the UGC

in tele-operation.Personnel from Singapore’s Chemical

Biological Radiological Nuclear andExplosive Defense Group participated intraining on the new US Chemical BiologicalRadiological and Nuclear (CBRN) UnmannedGround Reconnaissance Vehicle (CUGV)based on the iRobot PackBot EOD. The SAFalready use the platform in the EOD role. ADSO/DSTA Defence Science and TechnologyAgency launched a family of three robots inthe CBR tasked with detection, solid sam-pling of biological and chemical hazards andmitigation performs liquid decontaminationwhen chemical threats are present, respec-tively.The latest EOD

UGV from NorthropGrumman Remotecis its Mk.9 UGVwhich is based on itssuccessful design forthe UK’s new CutlassEOD UGV programme canclimb a 45-degree stairway; has



In the EOD role, UGVs must carry out delicateoperations © DoD

The original role for UGVs was in the tele-operteded EOD role and they continue to improvetheir capabilities in this area © Allen Vanguard

Despite their size, SmallUGV (SUGV) are still taskedwith demanding performancespecifications, includingclimbing steps, curbs andother obstacles, traversingsteep slopes andcross significant gaps

a modular telescopic arm with 7-degress offreedom and a maximum reach of more than5m, a maximum speed of 5km/hour and a liftcapability of 150kg and a 26x zoom camera.Users have the option of range of wired andwireless links reaching out to 1000m with aCOFDM link. In addition is its larger productline, Remotec is adding a smaller, backpack-able platform similar to the Talon to its prod-uct line but with two sets of actuators.Telerob, recently acquired by Cobham

produces the TEODor heavy duty ExplosiveOrdnance Disposal (EOD) robot is in servicein over 39 countries around the world. Theseare complemented by the company’s highlymobile telemax for operation in constrainedenvironments.Qinetiq’s Dragon Runner is a lightweight,

backpackable, UGV was acquired by theUK’s Royal Engineers and deployed toAfghanistan in support of EOD activity as anUrgent Operational Requirement.Rafael has developed the Pincher Robot-

Mounted, Micro-Weapon System to defeatIEDs. Pincher carries between 4-20, 20cm

long micro rockets which can be firedfrom its launcher from a safe

distance up to 500m in line

of sight mode and weighing just 3Kg witheach rocket weighing 40g, can be integratedon the widest possible range of differentUGV platforms.

Combat UGVsWeaponised UGV and dedicated combatplatforms are being seen in increasingnumber of battlefield Unmanned CombatGround Vehicle (UCGV).

G-NIUS a jointly-owned company of ElbitSystems Ltd. and Israel Aerospace IndustriesLtd announced the delivery of theAvantGuard UGCV to the IDF in June lastyear and capable of supporting a range of mis-sions including Counter IED, Advance Guard,Armed Sentry, Combat Logistic Support,CASEVAC and others. Based on the tacticalamphibious ground support (TAGS) platformbuilt by Dumur Industries it is equipped with

G R O U N D V E H I C L E SUUNNMMAANNNNEEDD

47l JUNE 2011 l

Lockheed Martin’s Squad Mission SupportSystem (SMSS) supports low level logisticfunctions © Lockheed Martin

the Ground Penetrating Radar, Counter IEDJammer, Mini-Pop cooled thermal surveil-lance camera, Counter Human & VehicleDetection Radar and other payloads.

The high water mark to date for UGCVs inthe US has been the Future Combat Systemsprogramme. The US has progressively cutback its UGV requirement as the FCS pro-gramme has been folded into its EarlyInfantry Brigade Combat Team (E-IBCT)mod-ernization effort. Of a number of UGV initia-tives, all that is left it the MULE ArmedRobotic Vehicle Assault (Light) although itcancelled work on an unmanned logisticsvariant or Multifunction Utility/Logistics andEquipment (MULE) in 2010 equipped withlight anti-tank and anti personnel weapons.

Rather than a dedicated UCGV the trendto modularity is seeing basic platforms being

weaponised. At AUSA in October, NorthropGrumman installed a CROWS (CommonRemotely Operated Weapon Station) mountequipped with a .50 calibre heavy machineon their Camel UGV.

The US Marine Corps entry into UGCVcame with Gladiator, a tracked solution, tele-operated/semi-autonomous ground vehiclesourced from key combat requirements werethe ability to shrug off 7.62mm rounds andtraverse rubble and similar in a MOUT envi-ronment. And carry out scouting and directfire missions with a variety of weaponsincluding non-lethal solutions.

QinetiQ’s Modular Advanced Armed


Rafael has developed the Pincher Robot-Mounted,Micro-Weapon System to defeat IEDs © Rafael


Qinetiq’s Dragon Runner is a lightweight, backpackable, UGV was acquired by the UK’s Royal Engineersand deployed to Afghanistan in support of EOD activity as an Urgent Operational Requirement © AJB

An innovative solution inEOD is iRobot’s AwareHead,a supervisory controlsystems designed to reducemission time on target

Robotic System (MAARS) carries a mix oflethal and less lethal weapons including four40mm grenade launched and a M240B7.62mm machine gun.

Manned UnmannedConversionsSwitching vehicles between ad manned andunmanned status also has its appeal as itallows platform to be easily deployed with-out the need for undue expense in providinguniversal autonomy before switching toUGV status for specific tactical reason.

The UK’s Terrier is one example of sever-al engineering vehicles that have a remotelyoperated function they are joined by otherssuch as France’s EBG in dangerous roles suchas mine clearance. Israel AerospaceIndustries' Ramta Division have developedremotely operated two engineering vehiclesbased on civilian platforms; Caterpillar’s

Mini-Cat and D9T heavy bulldozer.Logistics are an area that is getting

increasing UGV focus not least in the are ofconvoy automation, providing a retrofitcapability to covert existing trucks to roboticstatus and able to following a route withsemi-autonomous navigation systems.

The TerraMax self-driving, self-navigating

developed by Oshkosh and Rockwell Collinsequipped the first military tactical vehicle ever,using Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement(MTVR), to complete the 132mile course forDARPA’s Grand Challenge and has also beendemonstrated on the Army’s Family ofMedium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) LoadHandling System (LHS) in October.

G R O U N D V E H I C L E SUUNNMMAANNNNEEDD

The UK’s Terrier is one example of severalengineering vehicles that have a remotelyoperated function © AJB

AUSTRALIABoeing Vigilare systemnears service entryThe new network centric command and con-trol system (NC3S) for the Royal AustralianAir Force (RAAF) has taken a step nearer toentering service with the completion of opera-tional testing at the RAAF BaseWilliamtown'sEastern Region Operations Centre (EROC).

This is the last formal operational test forthe Boeing Vigilare system, with the full rangeof functionality demonstrated and the systemnow due for conditional acceptance. The latestmilestone follows on from successful siteacceptance testing conducted March 7-18 atWilliamtown, in which Boeing demonstratedthe EROC system is successful interfacingwith all external systems and that Vigilare hasthe full range of system functionality requiredto provide enhanced battlespace managementand surveillance operations for the RAAF.

The latest tests, conducted March 28 toApril 8, included complex air battle scenariosand the full testing of all operational capabil-ities. The second half of the tests includedparticipating in pilot and air defence opera-tional Exercise Aces South, in which theVigilare system demonstrated its networkcentric capability with F/A-18 ClassicHornets, F/A-18F Super Hornets, WedgetailAirborne Early Warning and Control aircraft,Hawks, a 707 Tanker and a P-3 Orion.

The Vigilare system combines near real-time information from a wide range of plat-forms, sensors, tactical data links and intelli-gence networks to deliver tactical and strate-gic surveillance operations and battlespacemanagement in the air and joint domains. The

live inputs from these sources present a uni-fied operational picture to the user at single ormultiple operational centres. The system con-sists of two regional operations centres,EROC and the Northern Regional OperationsCentre, which has been operational sinceSeptember 2010 and is located at RAAF BaseTindal in the Northern Territory. Both centresare equipped with operator consoles andequipment to form a recognized wide areasurveillance picture that is distributed tonational command and control centres.

Royal Navy Largs Bay for theRoyal Australian NavyThe Australian government has announcedthat the Australian Defence Force (ADF) hasbeen successful in its bid to acquire the BritishRoyal Navy’s (RN’s) amphibious Ship LargsBay, a BayClass ship, from theUK governmentat a cost of approximately AU $100 million.

Australia’s Canberra Class amphibiousLanding helicopter Dock ships will becomeoperational in 2014, and the purchase of LargsBay is expected to ease the transition over to thenew fleet, ensuring that the Royal AustralianNavy (RAN) has sufficient amphibious capa-bility for operational and humanitarian sup-port in the lead up to the entry into service ofthe Landing Helicopter Dock Ships.

Largs Bay has been in service with the RNsince 2006 and has since become surplus to theUK government’s 2010 Strategic Defence andSecurity Review. The ship has a provenhumanitarian relief capability, having beencentral to the UK’s relief efforts in Haiti fol-lowing the earthquake in 2010.

Largs Bay is a Landing Ship Dock (LSD)capable of carrying two large helicopters, 150

light trucks, and 350 troops. At 16,000 tonnes,176 metres long and 26 metres wide it also hasa cargo capacity that is equivalent to the entireRAN’s existing amphibious fleet.

The ship is due in Australia by the end of2011 ahead of entry into service with theRAN in 2012. The Australian governmentannounced that comprehensive sea trials willbe carried out before finalisation of the acqui-sition to assess the material state of the ship.

Australian Defence Force flyingtraining contract for BAE SystemsBAE Systems Australia has won a contract toprovide Interim Basic Flying Training to theAustralian Defence Force (ADF) following acomprehensive bidding process that alsoincluded bids from Boeing Australia andThales in partnership with Flight TrainingAdelaide and Hawker Pacific.

The contract will see BAE Systems pro-vide basic flying training at Tamworth,where it is already running training pro-grammes as part of the current basic trainingcontract due for conclusion in December thisyear. The interim contract will cover the gapbetween the end of the current agreementand the delivery of a new pilot training sys-tem for the ADF under Project Air 5428between 2015 and 2017. The six-year contract,worth a total of AU $86.6 million to BAESystems, includes annual extension optionsfor Defence for up to a further six years.

The CT-4B Airtrainer aircraft currentlyused for training, upgraded to meet contem-


The C-17 Globemaster III is known for itsoperational utility, performance, versatilityand reliability. Australia is buying a fifth © DoD

Asia PacificProcurement Update

RREEGGIIOONNAALL NNEEWWSSA N D D E V E L O P M E N T S



porary crashworthiness requirements, willcontinue to provide initial flying training forADF personnel. Following graduation fromthe Tamworth training, Army personnel con-tinue on to helicopter training at OakeyArmy Aviation Airfield in Queensland,while Navy and Air Force personnel contin-ue to Advanced Flying Training at RAAFBase Pearce outside Perth.Project Air 5428 intends to provide the

Royal Australian Air Force, Army and Navywith a new fixed wing Pilot Training System(PTS). The system will provide platforms forflight screening and cover all facets of under-graduate pilot training from basic flying upto entry into Air Force Lead-In Fighter andOperational Conversion Units; as well asbeing used for the initial training of QualifiedFlying Instructors (QFIs) to support the PTSand fixed-wing operational training.

Fifth C-17 Globemaster forAustraliaThe Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is toreceive an additional C-17 Globemaster IIIairlifter following the signing of an agreementbetween the Australian and US governments.This will be the fifth C-17 for the RAAF andwill enhance the Australian Defence Force’s(ADF’s) ability to respond to humanitarianand disaster relief missions.The airlifter has been ordered to fill an

immediate requirement and is scheduled fordelivery to the RAAF in August. Australia’srequirement for an expanded strategic air-lifter has increased over recent months, withOperation Pacific Assist seeing relief efforts

carried out in Japan for two weeks in Marchfollowing the earthquake and tsunami; aswell as recent support to flood effectedQueensland and earthquake devastation inChristchurch, New Zealand.The new C-17 will be assigned to RAAF

Base Amberley’s 36 Squadron near Brisbane.From there it will perform tactical and strate-gic airlift missions, including troop, equip-ment and supplies transport, search and res-cue and humanitarian relief missions. Boeingwill continue to support the RAAF’s C-17fleet through the C-17 Globemaster IIISustainment Partnership, a Performance-Based Logistics program that includes anextensive support network.The C-17 Globemaster III is known for its

operational utility, performance, versatilityand reliability, being able to transport largepayloads across vast ranges, land on short,austere runways, and operate in extreme cli-mates. A total of 230 C-17 aircraft have beendelivered to the world’s defence forces.

Australia presses on withMRH-90 Programme for nowFollowing a full diagnostic review ofAustralia’s MRH-90 Multi-Role HelicopterProgramme it has been decided that theprogramme will continue and the projectwill not be added to the Project of Concernlist at this time.Ordered by the Minister for Defence

Stephen Smith and the Minister for DefenceMateriel Jason Clare in February, the diag-nostic review was carried out in order toaddress the severe delays the programme has

experienced to date. As it currently standsthe project has suffered 18 months delay forthe Army’s aircraft and 12 months for theRoyal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) aircraft.Only 13 MRH-90 aircraft have been

accepted for testing and initial crew trainingby the Australian Defence Force (ADF).Issues with engine failure, transmission oilcooler fan failure, and the availability ofspares have been named as key to the lengthydelays experienced to date. The programmesuffered a severe setback in 2010 when one ofthe aircraft experienced an in-flight failure ofone of its two Rolls-Royce TurbomecaRTM322 engines. After a three month inves-tigation it was determined that the failurewas the result of the compressor blades com-ing into contact with the engine casing.The diagnostic review, chaired by Deputy

Chief Executive Officer of the DefenceMateriel Organisation Mr Warren King andsupported by a number of independent spe-cialists, has recommended that the remedia-tion plan is implemented in order toimprove the availability of the MRH-90 heli-copters. This will address both engineeringand reliability issues and will be reassessedlater in the year when another diagnosticreview will be carried out in order to deter-mine whether any further action needs to betaken at that time.A total of 46 MRH-90 aircraft have been

ordered by the Australian government, 40 forthe Army to replace the Sikorsky UK-60Black Hawks; and six for the RAN to replacethe Westland Sea King helicopter as part ofProject Air 9000.

INDIAMTU Series 4000 engines forIndian Coast Guard vesselsThe new inshore fast patrol vessels beingbuilt for the Indian Coast Guard are to befitted with the MTU Series 4000 engine andthe MTU ‘Callosum’ automation system forcontrol and ship monitoring under acontract issued to propulsion and powersolutions company Tognum. The order, the value of which is in the

range of the medium two-digit Eurorange, is a follow-on order for Tognum. Atotal of 60 engines will be delivered toIndia between 2011 and 2014, with thecontract forming part of a largerprogramme to expand and upgrade the

Indian Coast Guard.Almost two hundred of the type 16V

4000 M90 engines have been supplied toIndia by Tognum in recent years, with theengine’s reliability and high power-to-weight ratio, as well as the well-establishedMTU service network in India making thema valuable addition to the 48-meter fastinshore patrol vessels for the Coast Guard.The engines also have low fuelconsumption enabling the vessels to remainat sea for longer periods of time withouthaving to return to base for refuelling. The type 16V 4000 M90 engine has an

output of 2,720 kW (3,648 bhp), and incombination with waterjet drives, they canpropel the vessel at speeds of up to 35

knots (65 km/h). The MTU ‘Callosum’ shipautomation system is also to be supplied,which features an integrated solution formonitoring all ship’s services and alsoincorporates fire detection andextinguishing systems. The Indian Coast Guard is in charge of

fishery protection, anti-smuggling andterrorism, the prevention of illegalimmigration, and search and rescueoperations as well as marine environmentprotection. Upgrade and enhancementto the organisation’s capabilities, fleetand equipment was highlighted by the2008 Mumbai terror attacks that sawterrorists enter the country via hijackedfishing vessels.


INDONESIAIndonesia may be first exportcustomer for T-50 Training JetsKorea Aerospace Industries (KAI) hasannounced that they are the preferred bidderfor Indonesia’s training jet replacementprogramme, bringing the first ever export saleof the T-50 Golden Eagle trainer a step closer.

South Korea has been trying to export theT-50 jets for some time, with failed attempts toboth the United Arab Emirates and Singapore.Developed between the state-run aerospacecompany and Lockheed Martin in a 2 trillionwon 13 year project, the T-50 is currently beingused in training advanced combat fighterpilots at South Korean Air Force bases.

South Korea and Indonesia still have tofinalise the deal, which would see 16aircraft purchased initially. Price and

terms of the contract remain to be finalised,and if successful, the expected deliverydate will be 2013.

Indonesia has been seeking areplacement for its fleet of training jets forsome time, with its current fleet nearing theend of their service life. The T-50 GoldenEagle was shortlisted in the replacementprogramme last year along with RussianYAK-13 and L-159 from the Czech Republic.

KAI says that the use of the T-50 reducesboth cost of training by 30 percent and flyingtime by 20 per cent; while pilots’ flyingcapabilities are enhanced by 40 percentcompared to previous training jets.

If successful, South Korea will become oneof only a handful of nations worldwide tohave exported supersonic training jets. SouthKorea also has their eye on Israel, Poland andthe US as potential future customers.


PAKISTAN Pakistan to receive TacticalCommunications’ multi-linkGround Support SystemThe Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is to receive aTactical Communications’ Ground SupportSystem (GSS) from the US Air ForceElectronic Systems Centre (ESC) to supportLink 16 simulation training and operationalsituational awareness on its F-16 aircraft.

The GSS will enable to the PAF to connectto airborne networks in order to conductefficient and effective training of networkoperators and aviation personnel. TheCommercial off the shelf (COTS) solutionalso offers growth options for additionaldata link networking for operational andmaintenance training of the system and itscomponents. The system is intended to sup-

port training and the operational needs ofend-users who work with Link 16 TDL net-works. It can be used either as the first lineplatform training tool for new data linkusers or it is used as an exerciser for interop-erability testing and training.

The award to Tactical Communicationsfollowed a request for proposal (RFP) issuedby the US government in October 2010, for atactical ground support system which wasable to provide the capability of transmitting,receiving, and recording Link 16 networktransmissions, a stable navigation source,and emulated Command and Control (C2)and non-C2 platform transmissions.

Tactical Communications will deliver theGSS to the US government, and then installand test the system in Pakistan. The systemhas already been introduced into service intwelve nations worldwide, including the US.

NEW ZEALAND First P-3K2 delivered toNew Zealand Air ForceThe Royal New Zealand Air Force(RNZAF) has moved a step closerto an enhanced airborne surveil-lance capability with the deliveryof the first upgraded P-3K2 Orionfrom the Ministry of Defence at aceremony at Air Force BaseWhenuapai.

The aircraft recently complet-ed the Acceptance Testing andEvaluation (AT&E) at the primecontractor L3 CommunicationsSystems facility in the US.This followed the completionof a comprehensive upgrade toreplace data management, sen-sor, communications and naviga-tion systems as well as theprovision of associated groundsystems.

Six RNZAF P-3K aircraft arebeing upgraded to the P-3K2standard in total. When com-plete, the aircraft will return to 5Squadron at RNZAF BaseAuckland where they will betransitioned from their tradition-al role as a Maritime Patrol Forceto an Airborne Surveillance andResponse Force.

One other aircraft is sched-uled for delivery in the first halfof 2011. According to the RNZAFthese two aircraft will be rotatedthrough a period of OperationalTesting and Evaluation (OT&E)ahead of their official entry intooperation. In-country upgradesto the development of communi-cation and mission support infra-structure is currently underway,and aircrew development, con-version courses and ground crewmaintenance training are inprocess.

When in full operation the fleetwill provide advanced long-rangeintelligence, surveillance andreconnaissance (ISR) missions inthe protection of New Zealand’smaritime areas, exclusive eco-nomic zone (EEZ), search and res-cue; as well as supporting govern-ment agencies including Fisheriesand Customs, and governmentdirected military operations.

The T-50 Golden Eagleadvanced trainer symbol-ises how far the SouthKorean defence industryhas progressed © GordonArthur / Andrei Chang



SOUTH KOREA ROK receives 47th,48th F-15K Slam Eagles

Boeing has delivered the 47th and 48th F-15K Slam Eagle multi-role aircraft to theRepublic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF)Daegu Air Base. The delivery is part of acontract between Boeing and the Republicof Korea (ROK) for the delivery of 61 F-15Kaircraft, with a further thirteen units still tobe delivered by April 2012.This latest delivery is under the second

phase of the agreement known as the NextFighter II contract, under which six aircraftwere delivered in 2010. Under the initialNext Fighter I agreement, Boeing completeddelivered 40 aircraft in October 2008. The F-15K is one of the world’s most

capable combat ready multi-role fighters. Itwill bring the ROKAF a highly capable,survivable and maintainable platform thatwill form the centre of the military’s aerialstrike capabilities. It is equipped with thelatest technological upgrades, includingHoneywell advanced display coreprocessor (ADCP) avionics suite; BAESystems ALR-56C(v)1 early warningreceiver and Northrop Grumman ALQ-135M jammer on-board protection

systems; Raytheon AN/APG-63(v)1 radar;Air-to-air and air-to-ground modes ofAPG-70 radar with additional sea-surfacesearching/tracking, ground-moving targettracking, and enhanced high-resolutionground mapping for long-distance targetidentification. It features cockpit-displaytechnologies including seven-colourliquid-crystal displays, two upfront controlpanels (flat-panel), joint helmet-mountedcueing system (JHMCS), and wide-field-of-view head-up display; and third-generation targeting and navigationsystems: forward-looking infrared (FLIR)and infrared search and track (IRST). The F-15K is the newest variant of the F-

15E, and is the only US-produced fightercapable of long-range precision strikeswithout escort in all light and weatherconditions. With improved reliability andincreased maintainability than itspredecessor the aircraft and will have aplanned service life through to 2040.Lockheed Martin has also recently

delivered its Sniper pods for the ROKAF F-15K aircraft, which are to be immediatelydeployed into full flight operations. TheSniper pods, originally demonstrated byLockheed Martin to the ROKAF in 2009,will provide the F-15K fleet with updated

targeting and non-traditional intelligence,surveillance and reconnaissance (NTISR)capabilities. The pods are operated via acommon Sniper pod software load thatallows operators to readily deploy thepods on different aircraft types in order tokeep life cycle costs as low as possible.

Raytheon delivers PhalanxClose-In Weapon System toRepublic of Korea NavyThe first Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systemfor the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN)has been delivered by Raytheon. Theweapon will be fitted to the lead ship of thenew 2,300 ton Ulsan-1 class FFX ship,bringing one of the most widely deployedship self-defence systems to the newROKN fleet. Over 890 systems have beendeployed worldwide to date.The delivery was part of a direct

commercial sale between the ROK andRaytheon, and Raytheon has stated thatthey expect a follow-on order to be placedby the ROKN in the near future for fiveadditional units.The Phalanx Block 1B system Phalanx is

a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radarand 20 mm gun system that automaticallyacquires, tracks and destroys enemythreats that have penetrated all other shipdefence systems. A self-contained package,Phalanx automatically carries outfunctions usually performed by multiplesystems -- including search, detection,threat evaluation, tracking, engagement,and kill assessment.The Phalanx Block 1B is the latest

upgrade to the system, with a surfacemode configuration. It enhances thewarfare capability of Block 1A by adding aforward looking infrared sensor andoptimized gun barrels. It also providesdefence against littoral warfare threatsincluding helicopters and high-speedsurface threats. Block 1B also adds newcontrol stations with situational awareness,allowing operators to visually track andidentify targets before engagement.The Phalanx system was already fitted

to INS Jalashava when it was transferred tothe INS from the US Government in 2007.Raytheon is currently supporting thosesystems under agreement with ElcomeMarine Services PVT in Mumbai.

The ROK’s first PhalanxCIWS will be fitted tothe Ulsan-1 class FFXship © Raytheon

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Documents

Asian Military Review - June 2011 issue