Aug 2007 - Defence Review Asia

Transcription

SEPTEMBER
2007
VOLUME 1, NUMBER 6
MICA (P) 150/03/2007
FOR S
ALE
GERMAN DEFENCE INDUSTRY
NETWORK CENTRIC WARFARE
LIGHT ARMOURED VEHICLES REVIEW
FRIGATES & CORVETTES REGIONAL REPORT
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CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
03 Comments & Questions
ASIAN NEWS & FOCUS
HEADLINES
FEATURES
6
German Defence Industry
10 Network Centric Warfare
ASIAN OUTLOOK
34
News Update
14 Light Armoured Vehicles Review
30 Carat Exercise 2007
36
Indonesian Watch
20 Frigates and Corvettes Regional Report
32 Indonesian and USA Mil-to-Mil Progress
37
China Watch
SEPTEMBER 2007
VOLUME 1, NUMBER 6
MICA (P) 150/03/2007
Editor
Ross Butler
Advertising Offices & Representation
Australia & Asia
Contributors
Dzirhan Mahadzir
Keith Jacobs
Jean-Michel Guhl (jmguhl@club-internet.fr)
Miroslav Gyürösi
James C. O’Halloran
Nicholas Merrett
Robert Brooks
S.K. Park
Simon Watson
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Defence Review Asia
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MICA (P) 150/03/2007
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
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NAVIGATION SYSTEMS
WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY
EDITORIAL
Mystified intentions
reveal China’s true
foreign policy strategy
SEPTEMBER
2007
VOLUME 1, NUMBER 6
MICA (P) 150/03/2007
FOR S
ALE
One of the principles of Sun Tzu’s Art of War is that
The result is that it is difficult to determine whether
both friends and opponents should be mystified as to
China is an aggressive or benign power globally, which
the true nature of a general’s intention. Therefore, it is
is perhaps the intention of the Chinese government.
not surprising that the Chinese government has taken
For as long as China’s position is unpredictable
this principle to heart, given recent events.
and since no other country can fathom its goals or
On the one hand, China has announced its
intention to resume reporting to the United Nations its
intentions, Beijing will be able to gain its strategic
objectives more readily.
LIGHT ARMOURED VEHICLES REVIEW
FRIGATES & CORVETTES REGIONAL REPORT
region that the United States is neglecting the region
by not having the President or Secretary of State Rice
attending ASEAN’s major meetings this year.
Given the situation in Iraq, one can hardly blame
military expenditure and the sales of its conventional
President Bush has appeared to take the view
weapons to other countries – after withdrawing from
that China is a benign power, remarking that he was
doing such in 1996, in response to United States’
not concerned about China’s military unless China
sales of military equipment to Taiwan. Such a move is
becomes hostile.
clearly in line with the image of China being a benign
China is hardly likely to initiate any aggressive moves
and responsible world-power, and also keeping in line
regionally, particularly towards Taiwan.
Although one might note that
with calls for China’s military to be more transparent.
With the Beijing Olympic Games taking place in
However, it should be noted that such reporting is
2008, China is unlikely to do anything that would
very much dependant upon what China chooses to
detract from its hosting of the Games, thus President
disclose, and it appears doubtful that any arms sales
Bush can afford to be sanguine on the issue of
to countries under the current international spotlight
China’s military. Notwithstanding, should China later
(such as Iran and Sudan) will be disclosed.
become hostile, any concern is likely to fall upon
On the other hand are the recent disclosures of
his successor. This does not mean that the United
China hacking into the computers of the US and
States is being cavalier as to concerns about China’s
German governments, plus China’s continued support
military, but the Pentagon has been carrying out a
of the Sudanese government over the Darfur issue
two-pronged strategy, building ties and confidence
– all of which paints a picture of China behaving less
with the Chinese military.
than benign or globally responsible. Notwithstanding,
ties with its regional powers – particularly India – to
it should be noted that hacking into and monitoring
counterbalance China should it become a threat.
the President or Secretary of State for skipping
ASEAN’s functions this year when the South-East
Asian region does not face a situation as grave as
Iraq. However, President Bush will be in Australia for
the APEC summit, showing that the United States
is committed to the region, although much of the
agenda will largely focus on trade and climate change
rather than security – save for the issue of North Korea
and its nuclear program. How that particular issue
will be resolved depends to some extent as to how
much China (as the country with the most influence
with North Korea) will be willing to use its leverage
to persuade the North Koreans to cooperate, which
goes back to the start of this editorial – what China
chooses to do, remains an enigma. Q
Further, also building
another government’s IT infrastructure is probably
Whilst China’s growing soft-power in the Asia-
a practice carried out not only by China, but also
Pacific region is much talked about, United
by other major powers, although the Chinese have
States’ engagement with nations in the region is
had the misfortune of being discovered doing so.
often overlooked, particularly in regard to military
Likewise, given that China imports oil from Sudan,
cooperation and engagement, which have been
the Chinese government could excuse itself on not
stepped up in recent years. Thus, it is somewhat
doing much in regards to the Darfur issue, for fear of
difficult to understand the general perception in the
jeopardising its strategic energy interests there.
Association of South East Asian Nations [ASEAN]
Dzirhan Mahadzir
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
5
By Jean-Michel Guhl
LOOKING EAST AND EVERYWHERE
The German defence industry today
Long gone are the days when the German defence
industry (including that of West-Germany, 19491990) produced mainly hardware “under license”
from the USA for its own national use and those of
NATO partners – ammunition, missiles or aircraft,
with the famous (or infamous) Lockheed F-104G
Starfighter looming high above others. Germany’s
capacity to produce its own arms and military equipment grew simultaneously with the development of
the Bundeswehr (West-German Army). But things
have changed rapidly since the mid-1970s, and even
more since the end of the Cold War in Europe. The
ensuing German reunification brought back an intense sense of national identity and the necessity to
make the old Teutonic nation a model for the entire
continent, both in terms of democracy and economic efficiency for all. Alongside the plush Mercedes
vehicles and the trendy Porsche coupés (which are
seen to be as world-acclaimed examples of German
savoir faire), the largest European country has also
been boosting its trade balance to high peaks on account of its sizeable arms exports.
“Being almost a mirror image of what exists on
the other side of the Rhine, in France, the German
defence industry with its high-tech capacities in
the air, sea and land military systems, also sees
itself more than before as the mainstay of German
foreign and security policy,” notes Franck-Emmanuel
Caillaud, a Paris-based defence analyst working for
Risk & Co, a specialised industry consultant. At
least thanks to one world-known company –
European Aeronautic Defence & Space
[EADS], a consortium shared with
France and Spain – Germany is
today regarded by the average
European citizen as a strong
global player, capable at fending
off any competitor worldwide on a
very large gamut. But there is more
to it.
Small Arms Success
Besides the successful consolidated European jewel
represented by EADS in the aerospace business (with
its reputed Eurocopter subsidiary, today the number
one rotorcraft manufacturer in the world), Germany
also solidly exists by itself notably within the naval
and land defence industries – where leading the
way are names like ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems
[TKMS] for ships and submarines or Rheinmetall and
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
KMW for armoured fighting vehicles. This is not to
mention the modern gun producers like Heckler &
Koch, whose MP-5 submachine gun is as famous
and in as widespread use nowadays as the Russian
AK-47 assault rifle.
Just two years ago, during Chancellor Gerhard
Schröder’s tenure, the German government released
its annual report documenting the number of Germanmade arms exported abroad. The report confirmed
an upward trend, with foreign sales reaching an all
time high of €1.3 billion in 2003 (compared to €318
million in 2002 and €367 million in 2001), and firmly
establishing Germany as the world’s fourth largest
arms producer. In December 2005, the Gemeinsame
Konferenz Kirche und Entwicklung [GKKE] – an
ecumenical body of German churches and a keen
observer of Germany’s well- and wrong-doings in the
arms export business – presented its latest findings
on weapons exports, revealing that Germany is
second only to France when it comes to arms
exports from the European Union. It accounts
for some 5 percent of the international world
arms market today, and latest export
data show deliveries to all of Egypt,
Israel, South Korea, India and
Indonesia.
JEAN-M
ICHEL
GUHL
Eurofighter at Le Bourget, Paris Airshow 2007
In 2002, the German government approved
weapon exports worth some €3.2 billion – a bright
result somehow in contradiction with the industry’s
authorised vocal: “Combining core competencies
and state-of-the-art technology, which make intraEuropean and transatlantic cooperation’s significant to
full extent, the German defence industry is of strategic
importance. Its main role is to fulfil its responsibility
to the Bundeswehr and the Bundeswehr’s allies,
for whom the German defence industry produces
high-tech products, which are held in high regard
worldwide,” says Friedrich Lürssen, Chairman of the
German Defence Industry Committee (or Ausschuss
Verteidigungswirtschaft [AWV]).
The industry is responsible for equipping the
Bundeswehr (united German Army) with the best
possible devices currently available on the market,
and not least in providing the best levels of protection
and ensuring maximum security for German soldiers
– who are now more and more deployed overseas
for peace-making missions under the EU, NATO or
UN flags.
Undeniably, in Germany today, the need to maintain
adequate defence capacities reflecting the ‘new’
military importance of the country (and its obligations
towards its European partners and NATO allies) are
eminently related to security, as well as related to the
economy and technology, insofar as the export of
defence hardware significantly reduces the amount
which each of the 80 million Germans have to pay for
their national defence. “Acknowledging the country’s
leading economic role in Europe and in the world,
the preservation of adequate
national development and
production
capacities
is
regarded as an essential
prerequisite for providing the
German Armed Forces with
suitable equipment to fulfil
their missions, and to be able
to maintain the international
dialogue and cooperation”
adds one member of the
AVW – which remains heavily
dependent on governmental
decisions and orders.
Notwithstanding, it is also a sector
of strategic importance whereby the State
plays a dual role, having a monopoly on defence
procurement, at the same time as being the key
mechanism which controls all exports. Unlike the
UK, France or Italy, Germany maintains draconian
rules on arms exports, forbidding sales to areas of
tension. However, this has not stopped German
defence companies delivering handguns, tanks and
warships worldwide. Not to mention the fact that
whenever France succeeds in supporting the sale
of an EADS-tagged weapon anywhere on the export
market today, Germany remains an indirect but large
benefactor of such a deal.
Whilst the AWV was founded in 2000, it already
existed as a low-key working task group since
1987. For nearly a decade now, the AWV has been
representing the defence industry to politicians, the
public and industrial interest groups – both at national
and European levels. The AWV’s activities focus on
drawing together and defining what are the industry’s
policies and interests in defence and armaments. In
addition, the AWV functions as a contact partner for
politics and media, giving the defence industry a more
identifiable face and voice – something quite new in
a country where the souvenir of the steel barons’ ties
with the past are more than a vivid scar.
Slowly and nearly unnoticed, over the two past
decades the German defence industry has become
one of the country’s main exporters. In fact, in the
last ten years, German arms exports have tripled.
Amazingly enough, the German defence industry
has overcome numerous setbacks, including during
the first half of the 1990s, the future of the aerospace
and defence industry in Germany (and the rest of
Europe) was overshadowed by reduction in defence
budgets, an intensification of competition in export
markets and the creation of industrial giants across
the Atlantic. Observers were generally
pessimistic about the future of the European
defence industry, highly fragmented and doomed by
overcapacity. Its consolidation and rationalisation
appeared likely to be extremely difficult to implement
owing to its unique nature and sensitivity, although all
unanimously agreed same as being essential. But
backing the commercial sector to the defence sector
– and vice versa – has created a new “dual” capacity
for the larger groups which made export more likely.
Today, the industry appears in better condition than
the gloomy forecast observers might have been led
to believe. European defence companies (including
German companies) made genuine and strenuous
efforts to adapt between 1990 and 1995 – a key
period, especially in terms of workforce. And they
still do make efforts to adapt, although against strong
social reluctance, as shown with the Airbus Power 8
reduction plan launched in mid-2007 by EADS.
Future Prospects
With the new millennium, the industry entered into
a phase of progressive stabilisation due to a rise in
export levels, favourable conditions in the commercial
aircraft market and also due to a situation wherein
defence budgets were approaching stability. Under
these conditions, turnover recovered to its earlier
levels, and most of the major defence companies
reported good financial results. However, for the
future, no matter how satisfactory the state of the
export order books are, the situation will remain
relatively unfavourable in the short term if no rise
occurs in the defence budget.
Consolidation
Companies operating in the German defence sector
are organised on a private enterprise ownership
basis and are firmly rooted in the market economy
system. Accordingly, the decision to operate within
the defence sector is strictly a business one made by
the management of each company.
Like in all other European countries with a strong
defence industry, Germany has overcome the
bottleneck of the 20th century ending by consolidating
both at the national and European levels. Prestigious
German names like Dornier, Messerschmitt-BölkowBlohm (and others) do not exist
any longer. Along with France’s
nationalised aviation companies
of the 1980s (as well as with
CASA of Spain), they all
continue to live, but under
the high-flying banner of EADS,
today a tri-national firm which is the
number one defence company in Europe
and the number two company in the world.
Recently on the German scene, the merger of six
different shipbuilding companies, located in three
different European countries, under the “roof” of TKMS
has brought together shipyards – most in operation
for more than one hundred years. Together, these six
shipyards have delivered more than 3,000 merchant
and naval ships and for the past 45 years, more than
160 submarines. Essentially, the group comprises
Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft and HDW-Gaarden
in Kiel, Nobiskrug in Rendsburg, Blohm & Voss and
Blohm & Voss Repair in Hamburg, Nordseewerke in
Emden, as well as Kockums in Sweden and Hellenic
Shipyards in Greece. As the 75 percent stockholder,
ThyssenKrupp has assumed industrial management
of TKMS, with One Equity Partners [OEP] owning the
remaining 25 percent stake.
The German defence industry can be divided up
into the following relevant sectors:- Aerospace construction;
- Naval shipbuilding;
- Land systems;
- Weapons and ammunition;
- Electrical engineering and electronics;
- Precision engineering, optics and optronics;
- Commercial vehicles.
Very much like in neighbouring France, and much
less like in Italy and the UK, a considerable amount
of overlapping is to be found in the German defence
industry, with regard to its systems and business
activities. Thus, the products of the weapons and
ammunition industry, electrical engineering and
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
7
also being offered for sale to other Asian countries,
as well as Israel, India and Pakistan. In the wake
of Franz-Josef Jung, the German Minister of Foreign
Affairs, recent visit in Islamabad (Pakistan), provoked
much commotion in the ranks of the German SPD
and Green party opposition.
All in all, the shipyard alliance represents a sales
volume of around €2.2 billion and presently employs
a workforce of approximately 8,000 people. TKMS
perceives itself as a systems supplier commanding
a strong position in the market for naval vessels and
is boldly calling for the creation of a “naval Airbus
company,” with DCNS and Thales Naval, of which it
could be the exaltor and leading body.
Besides EADS (who controls the Eurocopter Group
and Eurofighter GmbH and a few other entities in
Germany) and the massive TKMS ship builders (who
leads the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft concern),
the main German defence actors today are: Atlas Elektronik GmbH
A naval/marine electronics and systems business,
previously a subsidiary of BAE Systems until
December 2005 when it was sold to ThyssenKrupp
and EADS.
The Eurocopter EC 135 (as well as the closely related EC
145) model is built in Germany by Eurocopter-Deutschland
with components supplied by Kawasaki in Japan.
electronics can also be found to a great degree in
the land systems industry, as well as in aerospace
and in naval shipbuilding. This phenomenon should
disappear over the next few years through more
intuitive consolidations, judged to be mandatory to
render the European firms more competitive on the
export market.
The broad range of defence products, their
marketing success at home and internationally
(despite considerable export restrictions) and the
prominent role played in international joint ventures
illustrate the operative capability of the German
defence industry.
In particular, three German
companies –Daimlerchrysler Aerospace AG [DASA]
(which is now part of EADS), Diehl Stiftung and
Rheinmetall Delec – were all instrumental in pressing
forward and shaping the restructuring, consolidation
and international orientation of the defence industry
in Germany in the last decade.
Malaysian success in shipping
Ranking first with EADS is certainly the shipbuilding
industry – frigates and submarines. The Meko A
combat ships (designed by Blohm and Voss) evolved
from the Meko family of ships, which have been in
operation with many navies around the world since
the 1980s. The Meko A family includes the 1,650t
Meko A-100 multi-purpose corvette and the 3,500t
Meko A-200 frigate. Improvements include increased
payload share of ship displacement, stealthy design,
advanced propulsion system and combat systems
with modular open architecture. After a successful
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DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
sale of four Meko A-200s to the South African Navy,
the Malaysian Navy has ordered six Kedah Class
(Meko A-100) corvettes, with the first two (KD Kedah
and KD Penang) having been built in Germany and
assembled in Malaysia. These were delivered to
the PSC Naval Dockyard, Malaysia for final outfitting
and Forming the KSS-2 Class, the submarines are
The new Milan ER (Extended Response)
now being manufactured by MBDA
has been very recently ordered in large
batches by India and Libya.
TDW (Gesellschaft fur verteidigungstechnische
Wirksysteme)
The European leader in the development and
manufacture of warheads for guided weapons.
Among the products developed by TDW are the
Mephisto tandem penetrator for the Taurus KEPD
350, the tandem shaped charge warheads which
equip the MILAN, HOT, and PARS 3 LR (formerly
TRIGAT LR) anti-tank weapon systems, the
fragmentation warheads for ESSM, ASRAAM,
Sidewinder, RAM, and Meteor, the blast/
fragmentation warheads for NSM, the warhead
for ALARM and the PAC-3 “lethality enhancer.”
TDW is now part of the European guided weapon
company, MBDA, following the integration of LFK
GmbH.
Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co KG
An arms manufacturer founded in 2004 as result of
the merger of Bodenseewerk Gerätetechnik GmbH
and Diehl Munitions Systeme GmbH & Co. KG and
produces mainly missiles and ammunition. Diehl
recently developed a progressive new seeker for a
new type of short-range air-to-air missile – the IRIS-T.
The Luftwaffe and other European air forces are
currently adopting this missile, which reportedly
has a far better combat performance than the latest
version of the Sidewinder (AIM-9X). Diehl plans to
deliver 4,000 IRIS-T missiles by 2011. The IRIS-T
short-range IR-guided air-to-air missile is the only
multinational missile development programme to
be currently underway with Germany as the lead
nation. Diehl BGT Defence also is the parent
company behind the PARS 3 LR missile due to
equip the German Tiger helicopters.
LFK-Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH
Now part of MBDA as MBDA-Deutschland and
produces the air-surface-cruise missile Taurus
KEPD 350, the Anti-Tank Guided Weapon Milan,
the new medium range air defence System MEADS,
the US air defence system MIM-104 Patriot PAC3, the Lenkflugkörper Neue Generation (LFK
NG), the Anti Tank Missile Trigat-LR (PARS 3 LR)
in cooperation with Diehl, and the US Close-inWeapon-System RIM-116 RAM for ships.
hunter and Kılıç class fast attack missile corvette
specially buily for the Turkish Navy.
Krauss-Maffei Wegemann [KMW]
One of the world’s main armoured fighting vehicle
designer and producer, including the Leopard 1 and
2 tanks; the PzH 2000 howitzer; the Gepard antiaircraft artillery; the Dingo 1 & 2 armoured trucks;
the Panzerschnellbrücke 2, the new Grizzly 6x6
based on an IVECO chassis), the GTK Boxer (made
with the Netherlands), the MARS (or M270 MLRS
built under license from Vought); the new Mungo
ESK armoured truck (made with Rheinmetall); the
new Puma IFV and the Fennek (also made with the
Netherlands).
Rheinmetall AG
A huge automotive and defence company with a
long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces,
providing special high-quality components for small
arms, in addition to its heavy weapon production.
In 1993, Rheinmetall acquired the Mauser AG, and
in 1996 and 1999 acquired the majority shareholdings of STN Atlas and Oerlikon Contraves, all of
which are major European defence companies with
significant interest and customers in Asia. Many of
the armoured fighting vehicles sold under the KMW
brand are actually produced with Rheinmetall as
main partner.
With the start of the new millennium, as one of the
world’s main designers of high-tech weapons, the
historic eastward enlargement of NATO and the
EU has meant that the amount of work for the
German defence industry has grown in volume
and importance. Today, many new members of
the Atlantic Alliance are acquiring German-made
equipment. In parallel, previous export successes
in the Asian area have made German military
hardware very attractive to many developing Third
World nations with booming GNP. India today and
China tomorrow constitute a major sales target
for the German defence industry, as well as South
Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. With
India’s current plan to replace some 200 veteran
Alouette III/Chetaks by acquiring EC 145 class
helicopters for its Army, it could become a first
for Eurocopter-Deutschland. As also with South
Korea, with South Korea’s KHP/KUH medium
helicopter joint-venture programme which is
destined to replace all of the Bell UH-1s in the
Korean Armed Forces during the next decade.
EADS is also teaming with BAE to promote the sale
of the Eurofighter to India, while New Delhi could
be soon be allowed to participate in the financing
and development of the Galileo European GPS
programme led by EADS Astrium. The German
defence industry’s eyes today are turned toward
the East, in the direction of the rising sun, eager
to catch the first rays of gold. Q
Air Defence Anti-Tank System (ADATS) turret. Rheinmetall Canada (previously Oerlikon Contraves) is the prime supplier of ground-based
air defence systems to Canada’s land force.
Heckler and Koch [H&K]
A weapons manufacturer famous for various series
of small firearms, notably the MP5 submachine
gun, the MP7 personal defence weapon, USP
series of handguns, high-precision PSG1 sniper
rifle, and the famous G3 and G36 assault rifles.
Many Special Forces and security organisations
in the region use H&K because of their extreme
precision, durability, reliability and accuracy of its
firearms.
Lürssen Werft
Shipbuilder, designer and yacht builder, naval
ships and special vessels, including six RMN ships
of the Jerong class built by Hong Leong-Lurssen,
in Butterworth in1976, Jaguar class fast attack
craft; Seeadler class fast attack craft; Zobel class
fast attack craft; Tiger class fast attack craft found
in many foreign navies; Frankenthal class mine
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
9
By Robert Brooks
TAKING ON THE NETWORK
or over a decade the buzzword for those involved in
analysing armed forces trends and transformation has
been network centric warfare (NCW). The phrase can trace
its roots to 1996 when the US Joint Chiefs of Staff released ‘Joint
Vision 2010’, which outlined how American forces would fight in
the 21st Century and called for ‘full spectrum dominance’. In
1998 NCW was used as a distinct term in understanding how
to achieve that dominance by Vice Admiral Arthur Cebrowski
and John Gartska in a paper given to the US Naval Institute and
quickly gained currency within military circles.
In essence NCW is about developing a ‘system of systems’
that allows the warfighter to dominate the battlespace and his
opponent. To achieve this, the commander and his subordinates
need to have access to more timely and accurate intelligence.
The belief is that by leveraging information technologies (IT)
developed in the commercial world and tailoring them to military
needs forces can pursue information dominance and get inside
the decision making cycle of the enemy. As a result, the network
is placed at the centre of the transformational change because
without it the soldier cannot access the information and build the
operational picture that allows the commander to dominate the
battlespace and react swiftly to the situation.
NCW is, therefore, not just about technology but also about
organisation and the dissemination of information. Readers
should not see it as only about technological superiority, but
about the application of technology to enable critical effects.
Despite this, technology is the key enabler of NCW and as such
is integral to its implementation, especially in one of the homes
of technology worship.
F
A developing doctrine
Since the late 1990s the US armed forces have unerringly
followed this doctrine and taken it into their various conflicts
allowing it to shape the structure of the armed forces, their
equipment and how they operate. All major US procurement
projects now hinge on how systems will develop and inform the
network. Indeed, without the network some projects, such as
the US Army’s Future Combat System, would be unfeasible.
In terms of conventional forces most analysts argue that the
US military’s mastery of NCW and its general technological
superiority has left it without a near peer. Despite the difficulties
faced in the US’ Global War on Terror there is a continued belief
within the US that NCW and high-tech solutions will also be able
to master asymmetric threats. The rapid invasion and overrun
of Iraq showed how the US is beginning to use its information
superiority to its advantage to take on and overcome an
opponent.
It is clear that any modern armed forces aspiring to success
in modern high-tempo conventional operations must take the
doctrine of NCW as developed by the US seriously. In fact, either
seen from the point of view of an ally or a potential opponent, an
understanding of the central tenets of NCW and their integration
10 DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
Future Combat Systems Class I UAV. All of the systems in FCS are expected to be
part of the US military network.
into existing force structures is must. For those
wanting to work alongside the US this will become
increasingly difficult if they cannot integrate into the
US network. For those that may potentially come
up against the US then an understanding of NCW
and potentially an emulation of the doctrine will be
necessary if contingency plans call for going head to
head with US forces.
Taking NCW beyond the US
“
As might be expected the US armed forces are
furthest ahead in procuring the technology to fully
develop the NCW doctrine. The US Department
of Defense (DoD) has mandated that the Global
Information Grid (GIG) will be the primary technical
framework for supporting NCW. The GIG is an
all-encompassing communications network. It is
defined as the globally interconnected, end-toend set of information capabilities, associated
processes, and personnel for collecting, processing,
storing, disseminating, and managing information on
For those that may
come up against the
US an understanding of
NCW and potentially an
emulation of the doctrine
will be necessary.
Making NCW a reality
Unlike other doctrinal shifts that are either
organisationally or training driven NCW is heavily reliant
on the IT to implement the vision. In effect, NCW is
the armed forces attempt to harness the technologies
of the computer and communications revolution that
is now moulding modern society and creating, at
least in the West, the ‘information society’. Just as
computers and the Internet have revolutionised how
businesses communicate and exchange information,
the armed forces, and in particular the US military,
is hoping to revolutionise how commanders and
individual soldiers communicate, cooperate, and go
about the business of war.
The premise of NCW is dependant on the armed
forces having the capability to develop a network
comparable to those used by business. Yet, at the same
time the military has a number of requirements that make
building that infrastructure more difficult. It needs to be
more mobile, more secure, more easily used, and more
robust than civilian infrastructure. At the same time the
slow pace of change in military systems means that it
must readily integrate with legacy systems and is likely
to be in place for far longer than comparable systems in
civilian, consumer society.
“
RAYTHEON
However, NCW is not in itself a universal solution and
the doctrine as practised by the US is not necessarily
the solution for other nations. The resources that the
US can bring to bear are formidable and a network
by itself is not a war winner without the right sensors
and effectors to make a commander’s plan a reality.
Despite this, the central tenets of NCW, such as
superior situational awareness and high operational
tempo, have been melded by other nations to more
comfortably fit national institutional cultures and
resources. In the UK NCW has become Network
Enabled Capability and in France officials have coined
the term, ‘La bulle opérationnelle aéroterrestre’
(BOA).
In the local region the US NCW doctrine is being
most strongly emulated by its closest allies. Australia
has a number of projects underway to develop its own
network. It is upgrading communications capabilities
and Joint Project 2030 is seeking to address the
need for a support environment including situational
awareness tools and operational planning systems.
The Republic of Korea is also keen to take advantage
of what NCW can offer as it progressively takes on
more of the burden of its defence from the US.
Seoul is in the process of a major restructuring of
its forces that will see numbers fall at the same time
as it takes on more of its defence. The aim is to build
more agile forces that with the help of networked
capabilities will be able to deliver precision effect.
Singapore is also looking at how to restructure its
forces and learn from the US. The city state is in the
process of developing a joint command structure and
installing new communications technologies.
India is also investigating how it can restructure
its forces and take advantage of NCW. New Delhi is
keen to implement a number of large communications
projects that would give the country the backbone
infrastructure to implement NCW systems. However,
the notoriously slow bureaucracy may make it difficult
for the country to really take advantage of NCW.
India’s one big advantage will be its skills base with
the largest density of computer programmers outside
of Silicon Valley being in the country.
The US Air Force’s Distributed Integration Backbone was developed as part of its Distributed Common Ground System 10.2
upgrade
Program, modernising
distributed ISR systems, creating a worldwide, real-time sharing information network for all
REVIEW their
ASIA
12 DEFENCE
of the US military’s services.
demand to warfighters, policymakers, and support
personnel. As a result, it will include all owned and
leased communications and computing systems and
services, software, system data, security services,
and other associated services that the DoD deems
necessary to achieve information superiority for the
US armed forces.
Below this high-level infrastructure all future
programmes are being developed with oneeye towards NCW. Command and control (C2)
systems will be integral to enabling the warfighter
to understand and process the information available
through the GIG. The US Navy has been, in effect,
running a small experiment of a full NCW armed force
through its Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC)
project. The aim of CEC is to revolutionise naval air
and missile defence, not by adding new layers of
sensors and weapon systems, but by distributing
sensor and weapons data from existing systems in a
new way. CEC fuses high quality tracking data from
participating sensors and distributes it to all other
participants in a filtered and combined state, using
identical algorithms to create a single, common air
defence tactical display.
Another important programme is the already
mentioned FCS, which is the centrepiece of the US
Army’s new medium-weight force. The important
point is that the army expects FCS to ‘punch above
its weight’ being able to take on numerically superior
adversaries and some heavy forces because all
the systems in FCS are expected to be part of the
network and, similarly to CEC all sensor information
will be shared giving FCS a common battle picture and
allow cooperative engagement of targets. As result,
proponents expect FCS to be able to cooperatively
engage targets and exchange information, which will
be completely dependent on the network.
Modest development
Beyond the US, progress has been more modest with
efforts targeted at improving communications and C2
systems. However, even here modest improvements
can have a major effect. The UK is finding this with
its new Bowman tactical communications system.
Bowman offers secure communications and data
transmission. Data transmission in particular is
important because it gives forces the capability
to share far more information than was previously
possible, which is combined to offer a shared
operational picture.
For countries in Asia seeking to gain advantage
from the NCW doctrine better communications
infrastructure will be one of the main starting points.
A number of countries in the region are in the process
of purchasing more advanced communications
systems that are available from domestic sources as
well as major manufacturing hubs such as the US,
Europe and Israel. The main ambition is to develop
secure voice and data communications that will be
the carrier for the C2 systems that will transform
armed forces into networked forces.
“
What China currently
lacks is some of the
data transfer systems to
really take advantage
of NCW.
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter
Pace, U.S. Marine Corps, meet with Lt. Gen. Zhang
Qinsheng, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the
PLA, China, in Singapore.
“
China implements US lessons
One military that has taken the lessons of NCW
and recent US victories to heart is China’s People’s
Liberation Army (PLA), which is in the process of
a major NCW transformation according to local
reports. Beijing is devoting enormous energy and
resources to pursuing the development of a modern
command, control, communication, computers,
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
(C4ISR) infrastructure. Chinese military theorists see
the US as the major challenge to the country and
therefore efforts are being made to understand NCW
as practiced by the US and to adapt it to the PLA’s
advantage.
In an effort at decentralising command functions
the PLA is rolling out a command infrastructure that
will share more information across command levels
via a digital network. Analysts believe that the PLA
is making major strides towards achieving its vision
with higher and regional commands all likely to have
modern digital command facilities in place. However,
pushing that infrastructure down to component and
unit commands will prove a major challenge for the
PLA. What China currently lacks is some of the data
transfer systems to really take advantage of NCW.
Last year, Beijing published a defence White Paper
that showed the level of interest it is taking in NCW.
The paper stated that ‘military competition based
on ‘informationalization’ is intensifying.’ Alongside
the push on decentralised networks the PLA is also
looking at the other end of the chain by developing
integrated precision strike weapons and better
sensors, such as its own airborne early warning
aircraft. At the same time, the PLA is also looking
at ways that it can disrupt any potential opponent’s
network. As well as its own efforts to digitise, the PLA
is also putting resources into developing advanced
electronic warfare capabilities.
Fragile networks
The disruption of the network, as highlighted by
the PLA, is the major weak spot of NCW. China’s
destruction of one of its own satellites using a missile
earlier this year was seen as a message to the US
to take the country seriously. Much of the US NCW
strategy hinges on the availability of communications,
especially satellite communications. If an opponent
can disrupt the network of an armed force it could
potentially cripple the organisation. Similarly, breaking
into an opponent’s network could do untold damage
– think Britain’s breaking of German codes during
World War Two, then multiplied.
As a result, as well as developing the networks
countries are also looking at ways to best protect
them. Research is being conducted into self-healing
and self-organising networks. Security is also seen
as a major issue and encryption technologies are
rapidly developing. These measures will need to
continue to get better if they are to overcome worries
about the viability of NCW in a communications poor
or denied environment.
Looking in to the future
There is no doubt that the NCW doctrine has led to a
revolution in how the military conducts its business.
The US armed forces lightning campaign against
Iraq in 2003 demonstrated what could be achieved
given the right resources and has resonated across
the globe. At no point during the short-lived
conventional period of the conflict were Iraqi
forces able to gain a significant victory given the
‘full-spectrum dominance’ of their opponents, a
lesson that has been learned by both the county’s
allies and its opponents.
What is of concern in current operations is
whether NCW is continuing to give the US an
advantage. There are doubts over whether NCW
can have as important impact in low intensity
conflicts as it does in full spectrum operations.
The US much vaunted intelligence has not allowed
it to easily quell the insurgencies in Afghanistan
and Iraq. As a result, Asian armed forces seeking
to gain from the NCW doctrine must also look
beyond its strengths and explore its weaknesses. Q
DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA 13
LIGHT ARMOURED VEHICLES
by Keith Jacobs
LIGHT ARMOURED
VEHICLES FOR ASIA
The market for light armoured vehicles [LAV] in Asia will number just over one thousand
over the coming decade to replace current vehicles, presuming that no major internal pre
existing security threats present themselves. Many of the Fifties and Sixties designed 4x4
vehicles are reaching the end of their engine and chassis lifespan and will need to be
replaced. While the more robust market is in heavier vehicles, light vehicles will continue to
play a major role in reconnaissance, convoy and internal security functions.
Renault IFV with Milan mounted
ceramic
composite
appliqué (for all-round
protection
against
7.62mm rounds). Its
top speed is 105km/
h, but restricted to a
more modest speed
when in convoy. Some
commands
have
successfully returned to
the US without loosing
a single vehicle on
convoys from Kuwait
to Baghdad (and other
cities). Fully capable
of off-road operations,
BTR-3U of the UAE Marines.
the M1117 is fulfilling the original role of the famous
V-100/150/200 series deployed during the Vietnam
War.
In late 2005, TMLS New Orleans plant increased
production to 36 vehicles per month and in mid 2005,
it received a US$500 million supplemental order for
a further 724 vehicles. The Iraqi Civil Intervention
Force was scheduled to receive 43 vehicles capable
of carrying ten personnel with an extended chassis,
APC variant (and some command variants) under a
US Project Contracting Organisation effort. TMLS
entered the Guardian ASV in the US Marine Corps
[USMC] portion of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected
[MRAP] programme, but has since been informed it
is no longer part of same.
JEAN-MICHEL GUHL
The War in Iraq is highlighting the need for more
modern, generally larger and better-protected
wheeled armoured vehicles. Most of the new
vehicles under development (or recently developed) fit the 21-29,000kg category of “medium”
armoured vehicles. Notwithstanding, several
hundred LAVs will need replacement in the Asian
and Middle East Armies, including many original
manufacturers’ names, such as the Panhard AML
and VBL-series, Renault VAB 4x4, Oto Melara
Type 6614 and 6616, Sandok-Austral Beperk
Eland-series, Russia’s BRDM-1 and -2 series
and BTR-60 and -70 series, Daimler Ferret and
Saladin (both in TNI service and rebuilt), Shorland
S-55/56 series, Cadillac Gage V-100/150 and
Commando Scout (in the Philippine, Indonesian
and other Armies), Chaimat V-200 (Philippines),
SIBMAS (Malaysia), Thyssen Condor and UR416, and Panhard M3 and VCR-series. This is an
overview and does not include the first-generation Chinese vehicles exported to Thailand,
Myanmar and the like.
In Iraq, the US Army Military Police [MP] has
begun using new Textron Marine and Land
Systems [TMLS] M1117 Guardian armoured
security vehicles [ASV] – some 475 currently inservice. The M1117’s general appearance is similar
to the early 1980s Arrowpointe Dragoon 300, has
a crew of four, weighs 13,498kg and is generally
armed with a 40mm Mk19 automatic grenade
launcher or a 12.7mm M2 MG armour modular
Alongside the M1117 is the newly ordered
M107 Armoured Knight configuration to fulfil the
Combat Observation and Lasing Teams [COLT]
requirement, fitted with M2 MG and spotting laserdesignation and thermal imager system atop its
unique observation turret (from DRS Technologies).
The Army Tank-Automotive Command [TACOM]
developed vehicle has been awarded a production
contract to TMLS, with 64 vehicles ordered under
a 345-vehicle requirement.
Developed for reconnaissance platoons as a
scout vehicle, the M1114 Up-Armoured Hummer
[UAH] vehicle became widely adopted by MP and
other infantry units. By late 2005, of 170,000
Hummer vehicles produced, only 3,500 were
M1114 vehicles. Ogara-Hess (of US) had offered
the UAH for several years, with production now
reaching over 500 per month. Most Iraq-bound
vehicles are standard production, refitted with
factory-produced armour kits or improvised at
depot-level, and some modified by local troops
Germany’s Offerings
Kraus-Maffei Wegmann [KMW] has developed
a new 4x4 to fulfil the Bundeswehr BWB
requirement for protective missions – a mix of
peace enforcement [PE] and peacekeeping [PK]
roles for German forces deployed overseas. The
Dingo 2 GFF 4x4 stretched variant of the original 6trooping Dingo 1 is based on the Mercedes-Benz
U-1550L Unimog chassis. Modifications led to
using the Unimog U-5000 series chassis, offering
a larger wheelbase and greater payload (3.86t
vs 3.25t), allowing for an increase of personnel
to eight. With a top speed of more than 90km/
hour, mine-resistant underside protection and a
range of 1,000km, the vehicle is well-designed for
extended operations in remote and rugged areas.
The vehicle can also be airlifted by C-130 Hercules
or comparable aircraft.
The German Army ATF Dingo 2 produced by KMW can sustain an IED
explosion and withstand land mines, rifle fire, and artillery schrapnel.
With its v-hull capsule, plus composite blast pan
design (a v-hulled capsule and a blast pan underneath
– more of a shallow bowl shape than a “v”), Dingo
2 is a case in point. However, at 12.5t/30,000lbs
gross vehicle weight [GVW], the Dingo is lighter than
most of the US MRAP competition’s Class II JERRV
squad vehicles. Whilst the Dingo has been exported,
TMLS chose to offer its own M1117 ICV vehicle for
the US MRAP program.The manufacturer is aiming
the vehicle at a German Army requirement of up to
1,500 vehicles to replace M113 command vehicles,
to serve in the forward observation role alongside
175 Mowag-built Eagle III vehicles.
Belgium ordered 220 vehicles under a 170
million contract in December 2004 (with options
on a further 132 vehicles), becoming the first Dingo
2 export customer. Early design studies by KMW
for alternative versions (including ambulance,
observation, command and radar-carrying versions)
paid off for Belgium’s order, which involves a number
of variants. An Austrian order for 20 vehicles ensued,
with follow-on orders anticipated. Under a Foreign
Military Sales programme, a notification to US
Congress has been filed to provide 103 vehicles to
Israel, under US$99 million Grant Aid provisions.
KMW’s Kassel plant has taken over the contract for
612 SP Aerospace &Vehicle Systems vehicle, under
the former Dutch-German cooperative plan for the
Fennek 4x4 reconnaissance LAV. Under the revised
MIROSLAV GYUROS
Patria AMV 8x8 APC with Kongsberg Protector RCWS.
contracts, 46 percent of the work would be allocated
within the Netherlands, with production extending
into late 2008. Germany’s 202 vehicles will be
augmented by 168 specialised artillery observation
vehicle variants. KMW has also offered licenseproduction to Turkey’s FNSS to meet an armoured
reconnaissance vehicle requirement.
Turkish FNSS Pars II (Leopard) 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicle on display at DSA 2006.
South Africa
BAE Systems OMC RG-32M
The South Africa Army has a long history of operating in isolated bush country, with many Casspir
mine-resistant vehicles [MHPV] in-service. The
Mamba is of similar heritage with capacity for a
driver plus eleven troopers, whilst the Mk3 version
is an upgraded and more widely produced version
– both predecessors to the newer RG-31 and RG32 series. The RG-12 4x4 is more of an armoured
truck cum APC, used mostly by police forces and
sold to Dubai, UAE and Kuwait.
In the past year, BAE Systems has won two major
export contracts for 267 vehicles, worth more
than R630 million. The US Army has ordered 169
South African RG31 Mk5 mine-protected vehicles,
worth US$63 million. These are additional to
an operational fleet of 242 vehicles which were
ordered through General Dynamics Land Systems
[GDLS], Canada. Sweden’s defence procurement
agency, Fö
rsvarets Materielverk [FMV] has placed
a further order for 98 RG32M mine-hardened
patrol vehicles, worth 21 million (R196 million).
BAE Systems Land Systems OMC (Benoni,
Gauteng) is anticipating a contract from Sweden
for 200 plus RG-32M 4x4 MHPV, with a combat
weight of 7,000kg and crew of five, and primarily
for use in PK/PE missions. They come with an allwelded steel hull, and have armour to resist light
weapons fire. The MHPV would be fulfilling much
the same roles as the M1117 and can be fitted
with a single-arm ATGM (TOW, MILAN) launcher
on the rooftop, and configurations for range of
missions. The RG-32M was developed from the
RG-32 Scout and has the general appearance of
the RG-31, but has a 7,500kg GVW and 110km/
hour road maximum speed, carrying the same
weapon options. At least 370 vehicles have been
built for numerous countries, mostly those fulfilling
UN PK/PE missions worldwide. The basic version
accommodates five crew – nine in the extended
chassis version, having protective armour against
7.62mm rounds, with 6kg mine blast protection.
Following a 2005 contract from the US Army for
148 RG31 Mk3 vehicles (under the US$78 million
oversight contract with vehicles provided by BAE
Systems OMC), TACOM Life Cycle Management
Command ordered another 60 upgraded Mk5
vehicles for delivery early 2007, and has now
exercised its option for a further 34 vehicles, all via
GDLS Canada. By mid 2007, the two year total of
RG31 vehicles delivered includes:- South Africa –
413; US – 242; Canada – 75; UAE – 76; and Africa
– 20. UAE also placed an US$11 million contract
for an undisclosed number of RG-31 Mk3A.
At 10,220kg, the RG-31 is twice the GVW of
the smaller RG-32M, with its all-steel, welded
armour monocoque hull protecting the crew of
ten against small arms fire and anti-tank mine
detonations. The air-conditioned RG-31 has a
maximum 105km/hr road speed, carries a single
7.62mm in both Mk3 and Mk5 versions, and is
mine resistance equivalent to 14kg (TM-57 antivehicle mines).
Modified VBL Offerings
MOWAG Eagle-Series
The quite successful Panhard Vehicle Blinde
Another entry in the lightweight 4x4 contenders
Leger [VBL] 4x4 (also known as ULTRAV-M11)
is the Mowag Eagle IV, developed from the Duro
was developed to fulfil a French Army require-
II 4x4 chassis – raising payload to 2,400kg.
ment for anti-tank (MILAN) and reconnaissance
Presented in late 2003 and designed to fulfil a
missions – 1,000 were ordered for the former
Swiss Army requirement for a reconnaissance LAV,
and 2,000 for the latter. Optional kits include an
Eagle IV’s weight is 7,600kg and it has all-around
NBC protective package and an amphibious kit.
protection against 7.62mm rounds and 6kg mine
Most exports went to African or Greek Armies,
blast protection.
with Greece ordering more than 240 – believed to
have increased this against a 400-vehicle requirement in recent years.
Plasan Sasa’s “SandCat”
The base vehicle has a combat weight of
Israeli company, Plasan Sasa develops compos-
3,550kg, a 100km/hr road speed and a 750km
ite armoured protection solutions for lightweight
road range. With extensive commercial off-the-
military vehicles, tactical trucks, wheeled and
shelf engine block and equipment, VBL has long
tracked Armoured Personnel Carriers, commer-
been considered highly economical. The vehicle
cial vehicles, fixed and rotary wing aircraft and
re-emerged at Eurosatory 2004, fitted with a
personal protection armour. It recently entered the
Russian KBP Instrument Design Bureau “Kvartet”
armoured patrol vehicle US MRAP (Mine Resis-
turret and four Komet ATGM launchers.
The French DGA’s Action en Zone URbaine
tant Ambush Protected) competition, having also
technology demonstration programme includes
developed its own light protected vehicle called
not only the Leclerc MBT, but also the Azur –
the SandCat, an advanced armoured technol-
based on the familiar VBL Scout. Also included
ogy demonstrator that has been examined by the
are new sensors with 360-degree surveillance, a
USMC for a different role.
non-lethal grenade launcher, smoke dischargers,
International Truck and Engine Corporation (the
enhanced bumper system, new air intakes, and
principal operating company of Navistar Inter-
manually operated searchlight.
national Corporation) chose Plasan Sasa as its
PLASAN SASA
partner with the aim of developing an armoured
MRAP-candidate vehicle based around IMG’s
(International Military and Government, a subsidiary of International) WorkStar 7000 truck chassis,
having the load capacity required to handle the
weight of additional armour without wearing out
early. Its final design positions the v-shaped crew
compartment on top of the chassis, using its
armour and shape to dissipate blasts around the
area and minimise damage.
Extensive use of components from International’s
trucks would ensure that it was both producible in large numbers and maintainable in the
field. Plasan Sasa’s SandCat which is based on
a COTS Ford shortened heavy duty F350 chassis
uses light belly armour as part of its survivability
package with tests at Aberdeen Proving Ground
now having silenced doubts concerning IMG/
Plasan Sasa’s design.
Plasan Sasa also maintains strategic partnerships
to produce specialised solutions for customers
SandCat is a COTS heavy duty F350 Ford commercial chassis
throughout the Asian region.
Australia’s Bushmaster IMV
Thales Australia’s Bushmaster infantry mobility
vehicle 4x4 is another chassis considered ideal
for remote operations, and was designed for the
Australian Army as a vehicle between the tracked
M113 and soft-skin vehicles. Bushmaster is the
outcome of Australia’s “Project Bushranger”,
developing a light mine-resistant APC and is being
procured under Army requirement Land 116.
The Bushmaster is available in a number of
variants, including as patrol/APV (1+
4 troops)
or troop carrier (1+
1- troops), and has a usable
payload of 1,600kg. The Caterpillar 3126B 330hp
turbo diesel (Detroit Diesel) engine provides 120km/
hr maximum road speed. Whilst the hull form is
that of South Africa’s Casspir (a v-shaped weldedsteel monocoque), the Bushmaster’s design was
begun by Ireland’s Timoney Technologies. Vehicle
variants include mine clearing engineer, logistics,
combat engineer and weapons carrier flatbed,
with weapon options normally including a 7.62mm
and 5.56mm MG.
Troop comforts in Bushmaster includes air conditioning.
Australia has ordered 443
Bushmasters, with a recent announcement of an
additional 250, worth more than A$300m.
on belly panel was fitted, giving greater protection.
Protection Concepts
Canadian Field Experience
On 26 September 2006, a suicide bomber
attacked a Canadian convoy in Afghanistan,
wherein an explosives-laden minivan was detonated whilst trying to ram a RG-31 Nyala APV.
Instead of charred wreckage, the blast-resistant
Nyala limped home with little damage and no one
inside injured. However, in this convoy (immediately behind the Nyala APV) was a G-wagon light
utility vehicle, which if it had been attacked, the
outcome might have been quite different.
Commentary on Canadian forces vehicles in
Afghanistan has tended to focus on the weight of
armour and size of vehicle. Whilst both have some
bearing – thicker armour offers greater protection
and larger vehicles can carry heavier plating
– missing from this equation is the form of the
armour. For its weight, a LAV III offers reasonable
protection from IEDs, but its thin armour has been
shaped primarily to deflect shells.
Like most
modern armoured vehicles, the belly armour of
the LAV is nearly flat. Belly armour was tested by
Defence Research and as a result, a second bolt18 DEFENCE REVIEW ASIA
Notwithstanding, a landmine or IED generates socalled ‘blast waves’or blast overpressure and like
a liquid wave, the blast will curve around a corner,
finding its way into seams and openings. Irregular
shapes found in conventional frames and firewalls
become ‘gas traps’, focusing blast energy and
precisely what the designers of MPHVs have tried
to avoid – gas traps with lightweight armour is a
recipe for disaster. Whilst the undersides of a LAV
might be flat, it is also relatively smooth and free
from projections, unlike a ‘soft-skinned’ vehicle
like a G-wagon with its add-on armour.
Vehicles like the Nyala APV have hulls carefully
shaped to deflect blasts from below, usually
meaning a v-shaped bottom with minimum angles
or excrescences, allowing the blast to ‘flow’
unimpeded. The parts of a vehicle likely to be in
the path of a blast – wheels and axles – are easily
blown off but just as readily re-attached.
It is such as the Nyala APV which can be defined
as ‘blast-resistant,’ specialising in deflecting blast
and fragments from below. This mine-resistant
hull is not a new idea, but it has taken considerable
time for same to be accepted by Western armies.
[Source: Canadian American Strategic Review,
2007]
Final Thought
Evident from this review, armies are placing new
demands on the LAV designs. Increasingly, this is
transforming traditional designs used for internal
security and light patrol duties into more sophisticated and heavier vehicles. This has led most 6x6
vehicles to be pushed upwards into the medium
category of vehicles. Against increasingly heavier
IEDs used as urban or roadside weapons, the unarmoured Hummer (and similar vehicles worldwide) were insufficiently protected, leading to the
M1117 as an interim measure, with a new generation of APV or MRAP (RG-31/-32, Dingo 2 and the
like) increasingly being demanded.
Conventional warfare LAVs are increasingly
being pushed into support operations for main
battle forces, including use as artillery observation
and fire direction vehicles. The high-speed and low
profiles work to its advantage in these roles, but
armies are finding they cannot survive in the new
world of urban warfare and IEDs. As such, there is
no such thing as an invulnerable armoured vehicle,
insofar as same are being increasingly pushed
into specialised roles and missions to meet the
demands being placed on them in today’s world
of various conflict environments. Q
TAIWAN
CALLS FOR A STRONG AND MODERATE TAIWAN
Thomas J.Christensen, Deputy Assistant Secretary
for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, addressing broad
security issues concerning Taiwan on 11 September
at the US-Taiwan Business Council’s Defense
Industry Conference in Annapolis, Maryland,
spoke on how Taiwan’s leaders should navigate
the often-difficult circumstances in relations with
China and praised Taiwan’s leaders for pursuing
“smarter priorities and defensive strategies”. This
included allocating more money to “hardening
and sustainment, embracing modern warfighting
doctrine and taking advantage of Taiwan’s greatest
practical asset, its geography.”
Christensen also expressed special concern
about the Chen administration’s support for a
proposed referendum on UN membership in the
name of Taiwan.
“Without moderation, Taiwan’s security will be
compromised, no matter how much money Taipei
spends on defence and no matter how wisely
those defence dollars have been allocated,” he said.
“The fact that Taiwan is an independent
country must not be ignored simply because
of China’s opposition,” President Chen Shuibian told a Washington think tank audience by
videoconference on 6 September, adding it was
the right of the people of Taiwan to ask for proper
representation in the United Nations.
“An abiding US concern is that Taiwan as yet
has still not had the sort of sustained, general
debate on security that we think it deserves,” said
Christensen. “We hope that, in the coming election
season, the people of Taiwan will demand of their
political candidates an intelligent and productive
discussion of this profoundly important subject.”
Taiwan’s cabinet has said it plans to increase the
country’s defence spending by 16.4 percent in 2008
to T$341.1 billion (US$10.4 billion), accounting for
20.1 percent of total government spending next
year. Taiwan’s military spending is still only a quarter
of China’s official military spending in 2007 (of $45
billion) a 17.8 percent increase from 2006.
The current number of ballistic missiles
deployed along China’s southeastern coast
targeting Taiwan stands at nearly 1,000, and is
increasing by 120 to 150 per year. Chan says that
China’s People’s Liberation Army has formulated
a three-stage military plan for possible war with
Taiwan: establishing combat capabilities for a
comprehensive contingency response by the end
of 2007, for large-scale military operations by
2010, and for complete victory by 2015.
Chen has called for the US to sell Taiwan
advanced F-16 C/D jet fighters as early as
possible to help upgrade its defence capability
against China’s growing military threat. Taiwan’s
legislature has now approved the budget for the F16 C/Ds procurement plan hoping the US will start
price negotiations for the deal in October. But the
Bush administration may wait until after Taiwan’s
new president assumes office May 20, 2008 to
approve the deal. Taiwan’s constitution does not
Chen cannot seek a third term. Q
FRIGATES & CORVETTES
By Keith Jacobs
REGIONAL FRIGATE AND
CORVETTE PROGRAMMES
The Asian region is arguably the world’s most robust region for ongoing and future frigate
and corvette programmes with acquisitions underway in South Korea, China, Vietnam,
Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, India, and Pakistan involving some two dozen ships now
being built or on-order.
The Indian Navy’s Brahmaputra
including Malaysia (with its delayed
MEKO 100 RMN programme),
Bangladesh (with a requirement
and plan in place to acquire new
frigate or corvettes), or Indonesia
(already anxious to expand its frigate
forces and with past experience
with the British Tribal class), or an
outside contender might be Vietnam
(less likely due to funding issues).
Several navies in South America
and the Middle East might also be
interested.
SOUTH KOREA
The current ROK Navy inventory
includes twelve frigates and twentyeight corvettes (24 Pohang and
four Daehae class). The Defence
Reform 2020 (White Paper) was
the result of several years of study
and planning under the Defense
Reform Commission. One of the
major objectives was the reduction
of military manpower and weapon
systems within the armed forces.
Manpower
reductions
would
decrease the current force of
690,000 to 500,000 by 2020. Major
beneficiaries of the future force
structure are the ROK Air Force and
Navy-Marine components. For the
ROK Navy and Marine Corps as a
whole, the reduction in manpower
will only be from roughly 67,000 to
64,000 – less than 4,000 personnel
lost.
The bridge on the KD Pahang, Kedah (MEKO 100RMN) class
GUY TOREMANS
Towards Regional Force
GUY TOREMANS
The international market will
shortly see three modern corvettes
built by BAE Systems Scotstoun
(Scotland) shipyard, and known
commonly as the “Yarrow 95-meter”
design, being made available. Built
for the Brunei navy, they have been
the subject of extensive contractual
dispute with eventual submission to
the International Court of Arbitration
last year. Brunei says the ships
do not meet contractual design
specifications; BAE Systems says
otherwise. As a result, it is expected
by the end of this year the ships will
be formally handed to Lurssen Werft
(Germany) who will act as sales
agent for them on behalf of Royal
Brunei Technical Services.
The ships displace 1,500-tons
standard, and 1,940-tons full loaded.
Technically up-to-date, they are
fitted with the GEC-Marconi Nautis
II combat management system,
single 76.2mm Oto Melara Super
Rapid main gun, two single 30mm
DS-30 AA mounts, with provision
for eight MM.40 Exocet SSM. Their
electronics include a BAE Systems
AWS-9 (3D) air surveillance and
Thales Scout navigation radars,
Cutlass 242 ESM, and Thales TMS
4130C1 hull-mounted MF sonar. The
ships were each contracted for at
US$323 million.
Several Asian navies maybe
interested in this rare opportunity to
scoop up three modern light frigates
The Malaysian KD Pahang
The naval budget has doubled in
the last five years, rising from about
US$3 billion in 2000 to US$6 billion
in 2005. This is a clear indicator of
the priority being assigned the naval
service by Seoul, and an sign of the
importance attached to the navy in
future force planning. Out of a total
of about US$7.4 billion in armed
services procurement, the navy
received roughly US$2 billion in 2006.
Though the current year funding is
not completed, the naval budget is
estimated at about US$6.5 billion,
with slightly over US$ 2 billion for
new construction and procurement
programs.
Defence Acquisition Program
Administration (DAPA) announced
in May 2006 that a new frigate
design (Frigate, Escort or FE-X)
would be built. Final design is likely
to be selected by October this year,
with the first contracts expected
in October 2008. All three major
shipyards (HHI, DSME, HHIC) are
likely to take part in the program, just
as the Ulsan (HDF 2000) frigates and
Pohang (KC-X) corvette programs
were shared by several shipyards.
The first nine ships of the program has
been allocated about US$2.25 billion
in funding, specifically to replace the
Ulsan class ships. Unit cost would
be about US$250 million.
Specifications are likely to include:
displacement:
2,950-3,100-tons;
dimensions: 101 x 12-metres;
machinery: CODOG, consisting of
single GE LM2500 and two Tognum
16V 538 TB82 diesels; speed:
29-30-knots. A CEROS CMS will
likely control 8 (4x2) Nex1Future
(formerly-LG Innotek) SSM-700K
Sea Star SSM, one 76-mm/62 WIA
gun, one or two Daewoo Nodong
twin 40-mm DP or single 30-mm
Goalkeeper CIWS and/or Mk.116
RAM (21-cell) SAM system. Final
choice of weapons may be based
in part of costs: the Goalkeeper /
RAM combination would be more
costly than the Nodong twin 40-mm
fitting, which may determine final
selection. Electronics would likely
include the Nex1Future-built MW08
air surveillance radar, or upgraded
radar promoted over this last year
by the firm. Either Atlas Elektronik
DSQS-21 or -23 sonar is likely, along
with 32.4cm TT for K745 Blue Shark
ASW torpedoes. A Nex1Future SLQ200(V) SONATA EW suite is likely,
along with EADS/Lacroix Dagaie
Mk2 expendables chaff system (the
combination seems to be preferred
on other designs). One helicopter
(Super Lynx) accommodation will
be provided with landing pad and
hangar aft.
CHINA
New-Generation Type 054A
By no means do China analysts agree on
the scope and threat presented by Chinese
naval modernisation. Whatever the analysis, in
peacetime and wartime operations, the PLAN will
place a major protection role for its frigates and
corvettes, whether operating in the littoral waters
along the Chinese coastline or more distant escort
and protection operations to protect oil and other
commodity imports vital to maintaining China’s
industries.
The PLAN currently includes 77 principle surface
combatants, including two Type 054 (JiangkaiI) and 30-plus Jianghu/Jiangwei-series frigates
remain in commission. It is the naval leaderships
objective to replace all 30 Jianghu frigates with
the new Type 054 (two) and current Type 054A
(Jiangkai-II) missile frigates. First two Type- 054A
were assigned construction at Hudong-Zhonghua
(Shanghai) and Huangpu Shipyard (Guangzhou).
Since, the second Type 054A launched in 2003,
four further hulls have been identified as under
construction in the two shipyards.
Type 054A is listed as 3,450-tons standard,
3,850-tons full load. Most important of the new
series innovations is adoption of a vertical launch
system (VLS) for the 9M317ME/SA-N-12 Shtil1 based on the Russian START Research-andProduction Enterprise (Yekaterinburg) 3S90E VLS
starter (TEL) for using a powder gas generator for
launching the 9M317ME (export-version) Shtil1 stand-off missiles. Shtil 9M317E SAM offers a
range of 3.5 to 32-km, in conjunction with Luoyang
Electro-Optics Development Center (EOTDC) VLS
based on the Russian START 3S90E1 system
(delivered with the Project 956EM design).
Main gun system is the newly adopted Russian
AK-176M 76-mm/69cal automatic gun system.
Close-in-air defence is provided by two 30mm
Type 825 (formerly Type 730) seven-barrel
Gatling mounts, with TR-47C radar with a new
ball-shaped EO director mounted on a podium
atop the turret roof.
Electronics onboard the Type 054A is believed
to have ZKJ-4B/6 – a Chinese fourth variant from
the original ZKJ-1 combat management system.
Air surveillance includes a Russian-built SALYUT
Design Bureau 2-channel E-band MAE-5 (FregatMA/Top Plate) planar array antenna is similar to the
Russian-used M2EM and includes IFF capability.
Russian Mineral (Band Stand + Light Bulb) are
fitted are part of the missile FCS. The mainmast
podiums contain two new variants of the Type
923-1/RW-23-1 (Jug Pair) ESM antenna variant
of the Nakat-M (Watch Dog) produced by CEIEC
and seen on Chinese warships since the Eighties.
Chinese shipyards are expected to build 28 to 30
of the Type 054A over the coming decade, though
later ships (next decade) may incorporate some
design changes.
In other frigate developments, Huainan (FF-540)
began conversion as likely test ship for LN-60 SAM
VLS. Forward twin 3.9-inch, with both twin 37mm
and HQ-61 SAM launchers removed and replaced
in bow area by five VLS circular canisters. This is
likely intended to test LN-60 VLS for Pakistans
F-22P frigates. LieYing-60 is a naval version of
the PL-11 AAM, developed from Italian Aspide
SAM acquired in 1980s. Early naval development
included fitting two six-cell box launchers on a
Jiangwei-I (Type 053H2G) frigate. System uses
semi-active radar guidance, with 1-18-km slant
range at Mach 4.0 speed. Three Pakistan Amazon
(Type 21) frigates have been fitted with LY-60 sixcell VLS-launch SAM forward of bridge.
Two other conversions are noteworthy of older
Jianghu class ships. Zhaotung (FF-555) (JianghuII) was converted to test gun/missile anti-air mount,
consisting of 37-mm Type 76 and two PL-9 SAM
rails, referred to as Type 715-II system. Newer ZTJ1 FCS was added and other ship improvements
made.
Jiujiang (FFS-516) was converted to an offshore
fire support ship (FFS or FSV), with new low visibility
twin 100mm main guns, installing five trainable 50tube 122mm MRL, and fitting new Type 603 Optronic
FCS system (while removing two YJ-1 SSM and after
AA mounts). Three ships are now believed in service
with this configuration: Nantong (FFS-511), Jiujiang,
and Shantou (FFS-520). Up to 300-troops can now
be accommodated for theater area operations. It is
not clear if the PLAN will undertake more of these
specialized conversions as the Jianghu-series reach
the end of designed life cycle.
VIETNAM
Slow Expansion
Vietnam’s navy includes five Petya II/III (Project
159A/159AE) frigates, one ex-USN Barnegat
class patrol ship and new Project 1241RE
(Tarantul I) and BPS 500 / Project 12418) missile
patrol combatants (PGG). The navy has significant
requirements to increase deep water capability, if
only to protect its growing investment in offshore
petroleum resources.
Russia’s Northern Project Design Bureau (SPKB
St. Petersburg also known as Severnoye) has
completed preliminary design work on its KBO
2000 (Project 2100) frigate for Vietnam. The 2,000tonne corvette will feature the SS-N-25 Switchblade
SSM, SA-N-9 Gauntlet, a 100mm gun, two 30mm
guns and torpedo launchers. A helicopter landing
platform has also been incorporated in the design.
The vessels are under construction at the Ho
Chih Minh shipyard. Vietnam late last year did
apparently sign a contract for two Project 11661
Yastreb (Gepard) class light frigates, designed by
Zelenodolsk Design Bureau.
Despite the report, none of the KBO-2000 ships
have emerged and it appears the project has been
abandoned or indefinitely delayed for unknown
reasons. It is probably the reason Vietnam pushed
to acquire the Project 1241RE ships and has
begun the smaller BPS 500 PGG ships as an
interim solution until new Gepard ships could be
delivered.
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design dragon rouge - photo: C. Chamourat
Now hear this. New force on all seas
PROJECT 20382
Length overall 93.9 m
Length at WL 84.6 m
Beam at deck 13.0 m
Depth at the fore 9.4 m
Depth amidships 7.8 m
Depth at transom 7.8 m
Full displacement ab.1900 t
Maximum speed 26-27 kn
Range at 14 kn cruise speed
with full fuel stores 4000 nm
Endurance with maximum
fresh water and provision
stores 15 days
Crew, including helo team 90
PROPULSION SYSTEM
Twin shaft CODOG system,
comprising:
2x10,000 kW gasturbines
2x3650 kW diesel engines
ELECTRIC SYSTEM
Basic power supply AC
380/220V, 50 Hz.
4 x 630 kw diesel gensets.
ARMAMENT
8x YAKHONT anti-ship
missiles in 2 vertical
launchers
6x MEDVEDKA-VE antisubmarine missiles in one
vertical launcher
A190 gun mount 100mm
caliber
2 x KASHTAN-M close-in AA
missile-artillery system
2 x MTPU pedestal mashine
gun 14.5 mm caliber
SENSORS
Observation and target
designation radar system
Attack missile target
designation radar system
Artillery fire control radar
system
Two optronic fire control
systems for AA close-in
weapons
ECM Radar system
Chaff and decoy launcher
system with four launchers
CO’s electronic commamd
console
Sonar system with hull
mounted and towed arrays
Anti-diver sonar system
Steregushchiy FF-530 Project 20280
INDONESIA - Adding Project 20382 to the Fleet
The Indonesian navy (Tentara Nasiona or TNI) is in
the early stages of a fleet expansion that is planned
over the coming decade. The fleet expansion is
to be supported by a US$1.95 billion expenditure
over the period from 2004-13. Some early frigate
and corvette acquisitions in this effort include the
order to Schelde Naval Shipbuilding for four new
“Sigma”class missile corvettes and the new order
for two Project 20382 (Tiger) export version of the
Steregushchiy class of the Russian navy.
Current fleet frigates include six aVn Speijk
(modernised Leander) FF, four Claud Jones light
frigates, and, one training frigate (Hajar Dewantara,
FFT-36
4). Corvettes include three Fatahilah (1,16
0tons), armed with MM.38 Exocet and a range of
4,250-nm at 29.5-km/hour.
Rosoboronexport State Corporation in June
2007 signaled a contractual agreement on the
design and construction of corvettes for the
Indonesian navy. The agreement envisions further
cooperation on the design and construction of
corvettes modeled on Project 20382. Both sides
agreed to sign an official contract on the corvette
construction in the near future. The contract
stipulates that the first vessel will be built in Spain
and later fitted with weaponry and electronic
equipment at a shipyard in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The 1,850-ton design in all cases is fitted with a
helicopter landing pad aft for a single medium
helicopter, and has a maximum speed of 26
knots. All designs have four K
olomenskiy 16
D49
diesels (33,188-bhp each) with drop-down electric
azimuthal bow-thruster, fuel of about 96
0-tons,
and endurance of 15-days. General range is on
the order of 3,6
00-nm at 15kts cruising. Anti-ship
missiles are eight (4x2) K
h-35 Uran). Inclusion of
K
h-35 adds another missile type to the inventory.
Anti-submarine weapons include four (2x2) 53.3cm TR-203 fixed launchers and provision for any
light or medium helicopter.
Russian ships of the class are estimated at
US$120 million per ship but recent export variants
offered come closer to US$150 million per ship.
Russia is hoping sale of the Project 20382 will
open the door to its selection under the longstalled “National Corvette Programme”, currently
under-funded, with final design remaining to be
selected.
The 24 ships – plus new helicopters – including
the two ‘T iger’ frigates and four ‘Sigma’ class
corvettes – will be difficult to fully attain under
current funding plans of about US$2 billion,
if the majority are new ships. Russia’s Project
20382 (Steregushchiy) frigate design cost alone
is about US$350 million (with suitable spares and
training package included), one can ascertain how
quickly available funds would disappear with
more than a two-ship order is envisioned, without
further funds being made available in the second
half of the ten-year modernisation and expansion
plan.
MALAYSIA
Stalled MEKO 100 RMN Programme
Malaysia operates two Yarrow Project 2000 (Jebat)
and two Type FS-1500 (K
asturi) frigates, along
with two Musytari patrol ships, and a number of
still-to-commission MEK
O 100 RMN patrol ships
(1,6
50-tons). The new MEK
O 100 ships are largely
comparable with light frigates in several other
navies, and are classed as such (not as patrol
ships). Armed with one 76
mm OTO Melara Super
Rapid main gun, single 30mm OTO Melara-Mauser
and two single 12.7mm MG, and provision for a
light or medium utility or ASW helicopter, the ships
can perform traditional corvette missions. The first
FRIGATE & CORVETTES
ship, RMN K
edah (PS-171) was to commission in
2006
, but remains uncompleted, as are the other
hulls laid down at PSC Naval Dockyard Sdn. Bhd.,
due to its financial collapse. Malaysian authorities
are trying to get operations going full speed again
but delays represent a significant setback for the
overall programme of building up to 26ships of the
class. Malaysia might, thus be a leading contender
to buy the Brunei “Yarrow-95” ships, soon to be
available on the international market.
INDIA
Modernisation & Expansion
Current fleet forces include three Project 11356
(Talwar), three Project 16
A (Bramaputra), three
Project 16(Godavari) and four Nilgiri (Udaygiri/
Leander) general-purpose frigates, and eight
Project 25/25A (K
hukri & K
ora) class missile
corvettes. Three additional, modified-Talwar class
have been ordered from Russia to fulfill urgent
needs to expand overall fleet numbers that cannot
be met by India’s domestic construction capacity.
Two major projects are underway: the Project
17 (Shivalik) frigate; and, unnamed Project 29
corvette not yet ordered. Details of each project
include: Project 17 (Shivalik) Frigate: First three
ships were ordered in 1999, under a US$56
2
million contract with MDL (Mumbai). Some of
the equipment for the first three ships is covered
under separate contracts with Russian and Indian
contractors, thus, the final acquisition cost is on
the order of US$300 million per ship.
A series of 12 ships is planned with construction
likely to continue to about 2030. Overall appearance
appears as a modified version of Project 11356
(Talwar) and adopting the stern and helicopter
arrangement adopted with Project 15 (Delhi)
class. Engineering plans is a CODOG arrangement
featuring HAL/General Electric LM2500 gas
turbines and two K
irloskar-SEMT-Pielstick 16PA
6STC diesels to be license-built. The 4,6
00-ton
design has much of the same equipment of the
Talwar class, with some exceptions, including: a]
V
LS launch system with eight cell Novator K
lub-N
(SS-N-27) SSM; b]Oto Melara 76
mm/6
2cal Super
Rapid automatic gun; c] two twin DTA 53-956
53.3cm torpedo tubes for SET 6
5E or Shyena ASW
torpedoes; d] BEL TAV
ITAC combat management
system, with DCN as prime contract integrator; e]
BEL / Thales Naval Netherland RAWL/LW-08 air
surveillance radar; f]Thales Sintra derivative ATAS;
with the HUMSA sonar and two HAL Dhruv multirole helicopter accommodated.
Project 28 (unnamed) Corvette:With conclusion
of the last four K
ora class (Project 25A) corvette
design, a lapse of construction of the type has
The PLAN’s Xiangfan
occurred. A new design is in final approval stages,
under overseeing by Garden Reach Shipbuilders
&Engineers (GRSE). Final contracts may release
before end-of-this year or early-2008. Design
objectives are likely focused on an anti-submarine
warfare frigate costing no more than US$120
million per ship.
The new design is likely about 1,750-1,800
tons, with an emphasis on anti-submarine warfare,
offering the navy what the smaller four PaukII patrol craft cannot in open water ASW. With
hangar aft, possibly based on the Talwar design,
the ship can also accommodate two Dhruv or
Helix ASW helicopters.
PAKISTAN
Meeting Requirements
Pakistan maintains a standing requirement for
nine major surface combatants, which it has had
great difficulty maintaining, since the lease on the
ex-USN ships was withdrawn and the navy the
continual difficulties in obtaining more frigates
to supplement (and eventually replace) the eight
ageing ex-RN Amazon (Type 21) light frigates.
Pakistani authorities believe they are “first in line”to
obtain the older four K
ortenaer (Elli) class frigates
due to retire from Greek naval service, 2008-09.
One ex-RN Broad-beam Leander (PNS Shamsher)
has been retained for mostly training purposes.
First three F22P class frigates ordered from
China in 2006
, are under construction, with the
first reported laid down at Shanghai Hudong
Shipyard last October, and the second laid-down
in February this year. A third may have been laid
down in June. Current contracts valued at US$750
million cover the first four ships. Pakistan’s K
arachi
Shipyard and Engineering Works (K
SEW) is to
begin indigenous construction of the class in
2009. Extensive Chinese technical support and
equipment is likely to be delivered to K
SEW for
assembly. A decision is expected in 2009 whether
to extend the construction in Pakistan, which can
be made after Islamabad can be sure of acquiring
the K
ortenaer class.
Recent models of the design would appear the
class is more based on a Type 054 hull than earlier
Jiangwei-II – or an enlarged variant of the latter.
The class is to be armed with eight C-802 (4x2)
Strike Eagle (CSS-N-8 Saccade) SSM, air defence
provided by a rotatable 8-cell Hong Q
ian-7 (HQ
7) (Crotale Modulaire), with likely storage for 16
missiles. Main gun will be a Chinese-license built
AK
-176
M 76
-mm automatic mount (as on Type
054A frigates). Two modified Type 730 CIWS will
be fitted port and starboard on the aft helicopter
hangar. Anti-submarine warfare provisions include
a Atlas Elektronic MF hull mounted sonar and a
Z
.9C (Dauphin 2) helicopter with K
LC-1/Agrion
15 radar and provision for Yun-7 or Mk.46ASW
torpedoes (already onboard P-3 and Atlantic I
aircraft).
Several navies are expanding rapidly – India,
South K
orea and China – and others are struggling
to meet requirements and financial demands
(Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Pakistan).
Demands for ASW warfare capability in the littoral
arena will continue to place growing demands on
capable surface platforms in the coming decade
– the forte of the frigate and corvette type. Q
CARAT EXERCISE
By Kevin Shreves
USN sailors on the guided missile frigate USS Rodney M. Davis’ Visit, Board, Search and Seizure team, demonstrate
personnel restraint techniques for members of the Royal Malaysian Navy.
T
events, as well as medical, dental and engineering
civil action projects.
With resumption of military ties with the United
States in 2005, Indonesia rejoined the CARAT series
and participated in CARAT 06
. First exercises were
with the Philippines, when a crew of 11 US Navy
divers attached to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit
One (MDSU-1) Detachment 11, embarked aboard
USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), departed for the
Philippines on 28 May to conduct underwater diving
training with the Philippine Navy and followed by small
scale amphibious raid exercises with the Philippine’s
6
th and 8th Marine Battalion Landing Teams on Pilas
Island.
Second phase exercises began 19 June with
ceremonies at Sattahip Naval Base, Thailand, with the
presence of RTN V
ice Adm. Sombat Augsomsri, CoS,
Thai Fleet and Rear-Adm. Witoon K
umpeerapana,
director general, Thai forces. Events included a small
scale amphibious operation by USMC III Marine
Expeditionary Force’s Special Operations Training
Group (III MEF SOTG) and Royal Thai Marine Corp
on Had Yao Beach. RTN (HTMS) ships participating
included Narusuan (FFG-421), Rattanakosin (FSG441), Tapi (FS-431), Sichang (LST-421) and Lat
Ya (MHS-6
33). Joint operations with Thai forces
concluded 27 June at RTN Lam Tien Naval Base.
The third phase began 3 July, during which Adm.
Burke noted regional threats. “Many of these threats
cross international borders, requiring like-minded
maritime forces to co-operate and share real-time
information to keep the region’s waterways safe. The
maritime security skills exercised through CARAT
directly benefits current initiatives to counter threes
threats.” Singapore’s participation began 17 July
with exercises staged out of Changi Naval Base,
and included the newly-commissioned Republic of
Singapore Navy (RSN) frigate RSS Formidable, with
a total of 1,500 personnel and 13 ships participating
in fleet exercises. RSN’s Fleet Commander, Rear
Adm. K
.H. Tan, reaffirmed the partnership of the two
nations. “Our professional cooperation and mutual
understanding has deepened over the years, and our
two navies are engaged in many other bilateral and
multinational exercises and interactions together,”
C in C of the Royal Thai Fleet, Admiral Vichai Yuwanangoon, left, with the US Navy’s Commander Logistics Group Western
Pacific and Task Force 712, Rear Admiral Kevin Quinn, centre and COMDESRON One’s Operations Officer Lt. Miguel Inigue.
USN
he 13th Annual Cooperation Afloat and Training
2007 (CARAT-07) exercise series began on 22
May this year with arrival of the command staff
of US Navy Destroyer Squadron One (DESRON 1) at
Okinawa. Task Group (TG) 73.5 consists of three US
Navy ships, headquartered onboard USS Harpers
Ferry (LSD-49) and under the command of Captain Al
Collins (USN), who serves as commander, DESRON
1, based in San Diego. TG 73.5 consists of the dock
landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), the guided
missile frigates USS Ford (FFG 54) and USS Jarrett
(FFG 33), and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron
Light (HSL) 43. Command, TG 73 is under the
command of Rear Admiral William R. Burke (USN),
CARAT-07 executive agent for these events.
CARAT-07 took place over a three-month period
and consisted of a series of bilateral military exercises
involving the US Navy and the armed forces of Brunei,
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and
Thailand. In addition to military operations (visit,
board, search and seizure (V
BSS) exercises have
gained new importance with navies practicing antiterrorism and anti-piracy operations, along with small
scale amphibious events, diving and salvage bilateral
events, and small craft force protection tactics
designed to enhance the cohesiveness between
participating forces in areas of mutual benefit. CARAT
also focuses on building relationships between its
participants through community service and social
USN
13TH ANNUAL CARAT EXERCISES 2007
CARAT EXERCISE
US and Philippine Marines guide their assault boat to sea after departing from the stern
ramp of dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry LSD during an amphibious assault exercise
near Pilas Island, Philippines.
A 76mm round leaves the barrel of the 76mm gun mount aboard the guided missile frigate
USS Curts (FFG 38).
Tan said. “We have our predecessors in previous CARATs to thank for the
high level of interoperability our two forces currently enjoy, and I believe
that CARAT will continue to be a highlight in our annual exercise calendar
for its depth and breadth of professional richness.”
The final segment of events US-Brunei events involved only the USS
Jarrett (FFG-33) and involved a number of shore sports activities to foster
closer links between the Americans and local residents of Brunei. Two
more ships: USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and USS Ford (FFG 54) were
simultaneously taking part in other US Navy operations in the region. ■
MALAYSIA’S FIRST SUKHOIS ARRIVE
By Dzirhan Mahadzir
alaysia has received its first batch of
Sukhoi Su-30MKM and PT-91M main
battle tanks and now is in the process
conducting operational conversion and training for
units designated to operate the aircraft and tanks.
Six PT-91M tanks arrived in Malaysia on 18 August
and were displayed to the public at Malaysia’s
National Day parade on 31 August. The remaining
42 tanks ordered, will be delivered in batches
with deliveries to be completed by 2008 to the
11th Royal Armoured Corps Regiment, which will
operate the tanks, becoming operationally ready
shortly after.
Six Su-30MKMs have been delivered with the
first two aircraft arriving on 18 June, [see DRA June
issue Su-30MKM delivery report]. A ceremony to
mark the fighter aircraft delivery to Malaysia was
held on 10 August where the flight logbooks for the
aircraft were presented to Deputy Prime Minister
Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak by Rosoboronexport
Deputy Director-General Victor Komardin. The
six Su-30MKMs are currently stationed at the
Gong Kedak Royal Malaysian Air Force Base,
on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and
under the supervision of Russian instructors, pilot
and weapon system operator training is being
conducted at No.5 Squadron, which will operate
USN
M
Rosoboronexport’s Deputy Director-General Victor Komardin presents the flight logbook for the Su-30MKM to Deputy
Prime Minister and Defence Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak.
the aircraft. Deliveries of the remaining 12 aircraft
are to be completed by 2008 with the squadron
targeted to be operationally ready by the end of
that year. While training is going smoothly, both
Russian and RMAF sources have acknowledged
problems exist with the avionics and weapon
systems integration, while they expect these
problems to be resolved shortly.
Meanwhile helicopter manufacturers are
gearing up for an expected requirement of up to
20 medium lift helicopters to replace the RMAF’s
aging S-61 Nuri helicopters. A recent crash on 13
July in which all six RMAF personnel onboard were
killed, has prompted the Malaysian government to
announce that the S-61 fleet of more than twenty
helicopters which have been in service since
the 1970s are to be replaced within three years.
No formal tender for the replacement has been
issued yet though one is expected to be issued
shortly before the upcoming Langkawi Aerospace
and Maritime Exhibition to be held in December
this year. Several helicopter manufacturers have
already been actively marketing their designs to
the RMAF as potential S-61 replacements. These
include the AgustaWestland EH101, Boeing CH47, Eurocopter Cougar and NH90. ■
INDONESIA
By John B. Haseman
US MILITARY RELATIONS
RETURNING TO NORMAL
he military relationship between Indonesia
and the United States is slowly expanding
but is far from the robust ties that flourished
in the early 1990s. However, compared to the past
15 years, when education and training funds were
drastically reduced in 1992 and virtually all military
ties frozen in 1999, the situation today is much
improved. Both sides are committed to improving
the military-to-military relationship, but are
expanding those ties slowly and carefully because
of political constraints in both countries.
In 1992 the US Congress halted the long-running
International Military Education and Training (IMET)
Program for Indonesia after out-of-control soldiers
killed and wounded dozens of civilians in Dili, East
Timor. Some limited training exchanges continued
under programmes not subject to Congressional
review. However in 1999 the US froze all military
sales and training and education programmes
with Indonesia because of outrage over militarysupported militia violence in East Timor.
After the terrorist attacks in the US on 11
September 2001, the American policy on military
ties with Indonesia was reconsidered. Conscious
of Indonesia’s important role in the worldwide
war against terrorism, the US resumed a cautious
programme of military-to-military contacts. When
President Megawati visited Washington shortly
after those attacks, President Bush ended the
ban on commercial sales of non-lethal military
equipment. The US also extended education
and training assistance to Indonesia through
the Department of Defense Counterterrorism
Fellowship program, which brought Indonesian
officers to the US to attend management and
policy-level courses dealing with the general
subject of counterterrorism.
The US policy on security relations with
Indonesia was further tested in August 2002,
when two American teachers were killed in an
ambush near Timika in Papua Province. While
the Indonesian authorities sought to blame local
separatists for the attack, there were suspicions
in the US that elements within the TNI were also
involved. In June 2004 the US Justice Department
indicted an alleged Papuan separatist leader for
those murders. This signaled a slow resumption
of military-to-military relations. In March 2005 US
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced
that Indonesia could once again qualify for IMET
T
US military personnel from all services work with their Indonesian
counterparts in seminars and mobile training teams in the Mil-toMil conferences.
funds. In May 2005 the US removed the ban on
non-lethal foreign military sales. In November the
US announced that it would resume all military
sales to Indonesia, and also restored Indonesia’s
eligibility for the Foreign Military Financing (FMF)
programme (which provides low cost or no cost
defence equipment).
The US emphasises that its military assistance
programmes are designed to meet its own
security interests and policy objectives as well as
those of partner countries. With Indonesia those
US objectives include promotion of democracy
and civil-military reforms, maritime security,
counterterrorism, professionalism of the armed
forces of Indonesia, international peacekeeping,
disaster assistance, and interoperability, particularly
through increased professional and personal
familiarity with each other’s military services.
Since May 2005 US military assistance
to Indonesia has expanded steadily. The
Counterterrorism Fellowship (CTF) programme,
the longest standing of programmes started after
2001, is the only one to show a slight decline –
reflecting the impact of funding provided by other
programmes. CTF funding in fiscal year (FY) 2005
was over US$885,000; approximately $700,000
has been allocated for FY07.
Anti-terrorism funding from the State Department
(the programme’s abbreviation is NADR-ATA),
which many feel has had the most impact on
security in Indonesia, included funding for the
national police counterterrorism unit, Detachment
88. Graduates of this programme have been
involved in the arrest and prosecution of over 100
terrorists, including those responsible for terrorist
bombings in Bali, the Marriott Hotel and Australian
Embassy attacks in Jakarta, and tracking down
and killing terrorist leader Azahari Husein.
The first relaxation of the 1999 arms embargo
took place in the aftermath of the 2004 Boxing
Day tsunami, when the US lifted the ban on sale of
spare parts for transport aircraft and helicopters.
Since then the Indonesian government has spent
more than US$17 million on spare parts and
maintenance support for their C-130 transport
aircraft fleet under the US Foreign Military Sales
(direct government-to-government) program.
Since the US ended the embargo on sale
of lethal defence items in 2005, Indonesia
has allocated more than US$5 million in FMS
INDONESIA
contracts to repair and upgrade its F-16, F-5, OV10 and C-130 fleets.
Besides the FMS sales contracts, which
Indonesia pays for, the US has allocated over
US$7 million in Foreign Military Funding (FMF)
grants to Indonesia, a considerable part of which
is also allocated to support of the C-130 fleet.
The FY07 FMF (formerly called grant assistance)
allocation for Indonesia was over US$6 million,
and the FY08 request to Congress is more than
double that amount. If approved, a large portion
of the FY08 request would cover communications
and surveillance equipment designed for maritime
security as well as a professional survey to assess
Indonesia’s integrated maritime security needs.
A parallel programme run jointly by the US State
and Defense Departments (called the “1206”
programme after the number given to it in the text of
the law) provided more than US$18 million in FY06
to bolster the high priority for maritime security.
Most of the funds went to coastal radar stations
and equipment along the Strait of Malacca.
Besides efforts to upgrade Indonesia’s military
hardware, considerable joint programmes are
focused on the “software” – the professionalism
of its military personnel through education and
training. Since 2005 the US has provided almost
US$3 million in IMET Program funds to cover the
cost of Indonesian attendance in the US military
schoolhouse. IMET students attend courses
focused on defence reform, professional military
education, civilian control of the military, human
rights in military operations, and core management
processes. Prior to the 1992 cut in IMET funding,
Indonesia had been one of the world’s largest
participants in the programme. More than 6,000
Indonesians have attended US courses and
conferences under the IMET programme.
The US Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI),
started during the Bush administration, provides
funding to assist other countries to participate in
worldwide peacekeeping operations, mostly under
the United Nations auspices. Indonesia received
US$1 million in GPOI funds in FY06. Those funds
include training for peacekeeping operations,
refurbishment of Indonesia’s training centres, and
for training aids and equipment. In addition the US
underwrote much of the cost to deploy Indonesia’s
battalion-size task force and equipment to the UN
peacekeeping operation in Lebanon, at a cost of
US$2 million.
Both the US Department of Defense and
the US Pacific Command in Hawaii, and its
component service commands, have resumed
a wide-ranging programme of conferences and
joint training exercises with Indonesia; Indonesia
again participating in several region-wide military
conferences with US sponsorship. These soldierto-soldier, airman-to-airman and sailor-to-sailor
training events are particularly welcome in Indonesia
because they allow military personnel to compare
their expertise with their American counterparts
and to improve their professional capabilities by
learning from their peers in the US military. The US
military benefits also, by experience in training in
a tropical environment, by learning about regional
military expertise and operations, and in gaining
new skills from their Indonesian counterparts.
Despite the many advances in restoring a robust
military-to-military relationship between Indonesia
and the US, the effort is not without problems.
There remains a small but powerful group in the US
Congress that strongly opposes ties between the
US and Indonesia. Much of this opposition is based
on the influence of human rights organisations
on members of congress and their staff. A major
impediment to smooth military relations is the
demand by Indonesia’s critics in congress for
prosecution and punishment of military officers
involved in human rights violations during the
violence in East Timor in 1999. This, despite the
decision by the governments of Indonesia and
East Timor to focus on reconciliation and friendly
relations in the future rather than dwelling on the
violence of the past.
In part to address congressional human rights
concerns, the State Department vets all nominees
for
IMET
Program
courses to assure than
nobody implicated in
human rights violations
is admitted to the
programme. While a
laudable
compromise
between the human rights
concerns of congressional
watchdogs
and
the
administration’s policy to
expandmilitary-to-military
relations, there are
problems that cause
resentment in Indonesia
and frustration among US
advocates of expanded
military relations. Overzealous
vetting
has
been applied against
Indonesians who served
in conflict areas in regions where human rights
violations took place in the past (such as Aceh,
East Timor, or Papua) even though the officers
concerned were not themselves involved in
violations. It is certainly fair to exclude known
human rights abusers from US programmes
– Australia has a similar programme in its bilateral
training and education programs with Indonesia –
but applying blanket punishment against personnel
merely because they were assigned in an area
of conflict is not right. Rejections of otherwise
qualified officers from participation in classes
and conferences have angered senior Indonesian
officials, many of whom are among the strongest
supporters of US-Indonesian military cooperation.
The national interests of both countries intersect
in this part of the world, where bilateral and
multilateral cooperation is needed to manage
the threats of terrorism, piracy and other forms
of transnational crime. Both Indonesian and
American defence officials feel that it is important
for policy-makers in both countries to understand
the stakes involved, and to muster the creativity
and the political will to forge a mutually beneficial
military relationship. Q
ASIAN
NEWS
XXX
Swedish air force Saab Gripen
Thailand to buy JAS-39 Gripen
Rumours persist that Thailand is close to concluding a deal to acquire an initial six Saab-BAE Systems
JAS-39 Gripen multi-role fighter aircraft. While no
deal has been struck as of early August, sources
in Bangkok are sure a deal is forthcoming, and will
eventually involve a total of 20 aircraft. Thai officials
have been negotiating with Saab since 2004 over this
deal, only being slightly interrupted by the ousting
of the Thaksin Shinawatra government in September 2006. The Thaksin government was very close
to closing a deal, but may have been swayed by
the Thai air forces preference for the Sukhoi Su-30
Flanker. Non-government officials in Thailand say the
aircraft would be used to replace ageing F-5E Tiger II
and early-variant F-16s, though Tiger II aircraft have
recently been overhauled and modernised, as have
the F-16A/B Block 15 Falcon jets.
P
rogramme unit costs are in the order of US$76
million per aircraft. In June 1997, the Swedish
government awarded contracts for 64 Batch 3
aircraft. The P
olish contract for 48 aircraft was 3.15
million Euros (US$3.78 BN), with about 30 percent
of contract cost for spares and support equipment,
plus 25 percent for Europe’s aVlue-Added Tax A
(VT)
–resulting in a procurement cost of US$68.9 million
per aircraft. Q
Admiral Keating on PLAN
US Navy Admiral Timothy Keating, commander,
P
acific Command A
(PCOM)during a session of the
Center for Strategic and International Studies on
24 July, observed that the US could rapidly move
forces in defence of Taiwan and could defeat any
challengers to its sea supremacy. “I don’t loose
sleep at night over our ability to respond to any
crisis anywhere, including the Strait of Taiwan. We
have ways of watching developments and doing
better analyses –much better than before. So, in
the Strait of Taiwan (formerly-Strait of Formosa), in
particular, we could get a large number of forces
there in relatively short order.”During the days of
the former-Taiwan Defence Command (TDC), the
USAF jointly-operated the Shulinkou electronic
intelligence site, located in the hills southwest of
Taipei, from which was derived important COMINT/
SIGINT intelligence. Long since turned over to the
Taiwan military forces, other sources have replaced
the one-time important facility. Taiwan’s president
Chen Shui-bian continues pushing the controversy over a referendum for independence from
the mainland. The admiral said [Chen’s] “rhetoric
isn’t entirely helpful,”when asked if tensions in the
strait were getting better or worse in view of the
modernising of China’s military forces. Q
Chinese Missile Mystery
at Delingha
Analysts are debating whether the new transporter-erector launchers (TEL) vehicles seen
at Delingha in central-north China are DF-21,
improved DF-25 or even DF-31 surface-tosurface missile systems. Recent satellite
imagery indicates the launch pads for older
Dong Feng 4 (DF-4) ICBM are undergoing
renovation and maybe upgrading to allow
the new 10-meter diameter DF-21 MRBM to
be launched. Some analysts have suggested
the new deployment may be intended to
enhance targeting at either Russia or northern India.
Speculation is rampant in the academic
community with regard to what purpose
the DF-21, or improved DF-25 (some
thought it was discontinued in mid-90s),
might have in being deployed at Delingha
missile field. China’s ballistic missile forces
follow a ‘counterforce’ doctrine, not being
accurate enough for any other strategic
strike doctrine.
John Lewis, Stanford University Center
for International Security and Cooperation
noted, “I don’t think that the deployment of
DF-21 missiles will produce considerable
policy implications for Russia or India. India
has developed land- and air-based missiles
more powerful than DF-21. Q
SAAB SYSTEMS
ASIAN
NEWS
Pakistan
renegotiating Saab
AEW Contract
Pkistan and Saab have been
a
in renegotiations for several
months over the Saab 200 Erieye
airborne early-warning aircraft
(AEW) contract, confirmed by
Saab in May. a
Pkistan needs to
reduce the number of aircraft in
the order because of financial
constraints. The new contract
reduced the order by US$191.85
million and this likely means
akistan will now get five, not
P
six aircraft as planned under the
original contract. The u
J ne 2006
contract was valued at US$1.16
billion. Q
Saab 2000 ERIEYE AEW&C
USS Buffalo joins SSN 713 & 705
Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS
Buffalo (SSN 715) and her crew departed Naval
Station P
earl Harbor permanently 8 July for her
new homeport at Naval Base Guam. Buffalo
will join USS Houston (SSN 713) and USS City
of Corpus Christi (SSN 705) as the forward
deployed submarine force in the P
acific. Buffalo
was commissioned 5 November, 1983 in Norfolk,
and was transferred to the P
acific Fleet Submarine
Force in 1984. The submarine has been home
ported in Naval Station P
earl Harbor.
“We want to have three submarines forward
deployed in Guam. We’re a lot closer to areas
of concern in the Western P
acific and it gives
the commanders in the P
acific another forward
deployed asset that’s readily deployable,” said
Cmdr. Brian N. Humm, Buffalo’s commanding
officer. “There’s a lot of action going on in the P
acific
right now and it’s important that we have forward
deployed forces that can respond to anything that
may come up,”said Lt. Cmdr. Caleb Kerr, Buffalo’s
executive officer. The Q
uadrennial Defence Review
2006 resulted in a shift of six attack submarines
from the Atlantic to P
acific fleets, by 2010. This
shift will put 60 percent of the USN sub force in the
P
acific –about 30 submarines, up from one-half of
the fleet prior to Q
DR 2006.
lans of the Indian Air Force to contract for six
P
Lockheed Martin C-130 JSuper Hercules aircraft
moved forward on 25 May with US Congress
notification of the pending sale, to be handled by
Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705)
Congress has 30-days to object and as of late-J
uly,
the deal appears to have cleared congressional
review. If all options are taken, the deal would be
valued at US$1.059 billion.
Included in the deal would be four spare RollsRoyce AE2100D3 turbofan engines, eight AAR47 missile warning systems, eight AN/ALR-56M
advanced threat warning receivers, eight AN/
ALE-47 Counter-Measures Dispensing Systems,
eight ALQ
-211 suite of integrated radio frequency
countermeasures and eight AAQ
-22 Star SAFIRE
III special operations suites. aVrious other spares
and equipment for training include two ARC-210
SINCGARS radio systems, secure voice V
HF/
UHF radios, and one KIV
-119 communications/
COMSEC system, aircraft spares, support,
integration and training.
Off-set agreements are anticipated in association
with the sale but are not included in normal DSCA
notifications. Q
INDONESIAN ANALYSIS
By Peter La Franchi
NEW INDONESIAN SUKHOI DEAL
HIGHLIGHTS STRATEGY CHALLENGES
A poster of a Su-30MKK in Indonesian colours at Defence Expo in Jakarta.
Indonesia is acquiring three Sukhoi
Su-27SKM and three Su-30MK2
fighters in a $US300 order with the
Russian Rosboronexport corporation
announced at Moscow’s MAKS-2007
airshow 21 August.
The deal increases Indonesia’s
Sukhoi fleet to ten aircraft, underwriting
continued air force interest in
modernisation despite ongoing national
budget pressures.
Ongoing discussions between the
two countries have included a Russian
financed follow on armaments package
that would include additional fighters
and new naval vessels.
The latest Sukhoi deal follows a 2003
order by Indonesia for two SU-27SK
and two SU-30MKK aircraft, this coming
almost a decade after initial acquisition
plans were first made public.
Indonesia’s air force has suffered
considerable difficult in sustaining its
existing squadron of Lockheed Martin
F-16 fighters as a result of rolling US
arms embargos on the country linked
directly to congressional assessments
of its long term human rights record.
Initial Indonesian plans flagged in
1997 were based on a major fleet
“
buy, sparking moves by Australia and
Singapore to explore new generation
fighter programmes to offset any potential
shift in regional air power balances. The
proposed Australian programme saw
restricted tenders for a 24 aircraft buy
released to Boeing and BAE Systems
for their respective F/A-18F Super
Hornet and EF2000 Typhoon types,
however that requirement was allowed
to lapse in early 1998 when it became
clear the Indonesian programme would
not be proceeding as announced.
Singapore however, also facing
pressures from Malaysia’s introduction
of the MiG-29 into service, pressed
ahead with requirements that have now
seen firm orders placed for the Boeing
F-15S configuration fighter. Australia in
turn re-instated its requirement late in
2006 resulting in orders for 24 Super
Hornets with these to enter service in
2010 amid a government assessment
that the regional air power environment
faced key changes in the medium term.
Indonesia’s latest acquisition is unlikely
to have any immediate regional fall-out
given the limited size of the deal., but will
generate stepped up monitoring of how
the air force now prepares to accept the
aircraft into service and integrate them
into its operational concepts, particularly
if a follow on deal does emerge.
Does a ten
aircraft fleet in
four different
configurations
constitute
capability?
configurations of aircraft given the time
lags between their manufacture and
entry into service. In a ten aircraft fleet
this may well necessitate upgrades to
the initial aircraft, however this again
remains subject to the availability of
funding. It may well be that Indonesia
chooses to allow the initial aircraft
to attrit in favour of achieving a
common fleet build standard with a
larger fleet buy, rather than embark
on any piecemeal efforts to achieve
commonality in the near term.
If this is the case the latest six aircraft
purchase needs to be assessed from
the same perspective. It would suggest
that unless it is followed up by a near
term fleet purchase the Indonesian
air force will face an ever expanding
supportability challenge that would
significantly impede the service
regardless of its eventual size.
There is room for an alternate
analysis here however, one that would
appeal to the aspirations of western
fighter manufacturers but also present
a bigger challenge to the air power
status quo. If the Indonesian air force
was resigned to accepting a long term
view in fulfilling its air power aspirations,
there is merit in an deliberately phased
approach that allowed it to use the
extraordinarily low cost of the Russian
aircraft as a means of exploring the
operational parameters of 4th and 4.5
generation fighters. That does not in
itself mean an end state based around
Russian solutions, but instead a highly
informed buyer who can approach
the world market in its own terms if
and when the finances for a fleet buy
become available.
The benefits from such a strategy are
immediately obvious in the offsetting of
the risks of generational change for
the air force, but with the ongoing risk
that if the money never does become
available, it will be left with a mixed
heritage fleet of aircraft with limited
operational value. Russian interests are
also a factor here, with the question
continuing to linger of whether its
aerospace industry is better served by
piecemeal opportunities, Q
“
The four existing Sukhoi’s have
experienced problems with serviceability
and maintenance support. Expansion
of the fleet may provide a basis to
develop more significant in country
capabilities, with Indonesia having also
previously explored the potential for
leveraging Indian air force infrastructure
as an alternative to reliance on Russian
industry.
If improved in country arrangements
are progressed, the first challenge they
will face is how to maintain four different
CHINA WATCH
SINO-RUSSIAN
PEACE MISSION 2007
China and Russia have continued again this year the “Peace
Mission” series of exercises, as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) anti-terrorism agreements between
the two countries. Exercises were conducted between 8 -17
August, and included units of Russia’s 34th Motorized Rifle
Division, stationed near Chebarkul. The Chebarkul Base is
about 70-km from Chelyabinsk in the Volga-Ural MD. In total,
about 2,000 Russians were involved.
Chinese participation includes about 1,700 People’s
Liberation Army (PLA) members, a significant number being
from the PLAAF. Deployments during exercises included six
IL-76D transports, eight JH-7A fighter-bombers, a squadron
(16) of JG-9W and a second helicopter squadron composed
of Mi-17 Hips. The PLA ground contingent arrived by rail to
Chelyabinsk and deployed for the exercises from there.
CSO members include China, Russia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgistan, all of whose leaders
were in observance of the exercises. Senior officer Guo
Wenhui, PLA General Staff, stated, “It is a practical way to
improve the Chinese army’s capability to tackle terrorist
threats.” Major-General Wang Haiyun (Ret.) of the Center for
Shanghai Cooperation Organization Studies has noted the
exercises should be perceived from two aspects: 1] it displays
the firm resolve and new thinking of the SCO member states in
clamping down on the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism
and extremism, and 2] it goes beyond any doubt that the
exercise will deter effectively the three evil forces of terrorism,
separatism, and extremism, generate positive influence on
regional peace and stability, and make great contributions to
anti-terrorism in the world. Q
Scenes from Peace Mission 2007.
BOOKSHELF
Reviewed by Nicholas Merrett
Clausewitz’s On War
A Biography by Hew Strachan
niversity of Oxford military
history
professor
Hew
Strachan’s biography of Karl
von Clausewitz successfully explains
the origins of Clausewitz’s thoughts,
providing information on his personal
background to shed light on how he
came to think about war in his own
time rather than through incorrect
interpretations of Clausewitz’s ideas
and his famous treatise, On War, from
others living during his era.
Once this approach is taken, as
Strachan has done, he says it becomes
possible to see what specific elements
of Clausewitz’s thoughts appealed to
those who were later influenced by
him. Strachan also maintains that those
who reject Clausewitz’s ideas today
- like those who did so in the past have done so on the basis of selective
U
reading, only reading a small part of
his total work, which is vast and which
was never finished. Strachan argues
that On War’s state of incompleteness
is what has made it subject to
interpretation and continually drawn
upon, generation after generation
through mankind’s evolution of military
thought, always just when Clausewitz’s
ideas seemed dead and buried.
Strachan says Colin Powell, who
described On War as a ‘beam of
light from the past’ used Clausewitz’s
writings to explain what had gone
wrong in Vietnam, believing that the
soldier, ‘for all his patriotism, valour
and skill, forms just one leg in a triad.
Without all three legs engaged, the
military, the government, and the
people, the enterprise cannot stand’.
Another rule of Clausewitz’s expounded
by Powell was that ‘political leaders
must set a war’s objectives, while
armies achieve them’. Tommy Franks,
Commander-in-Chief of the United
States Central Command, believed he
was refining not rejecting Clausewitz
when subscribing to his maxim of
massing ones forces at the enemy’s
“centre of gravity” during Desert
Storm as the key to victory. Caspar
Weinberger, the Secretary of Defense
in Ronald Reagan’s administration
also found inspiration from On War
when in 1984, speaking on the use
of American troops abroad, said, “As
Clausewitz wrote: No one starts a war
without first being clear in his mind
what he intends to achieve by that
war, and how he intends to conduct
it.” Strachan provides fascinating
examples of mostly European political
and intellectual leaders back to
Clausewitz’s time that were influenced
by the Prussian soldier (who attained
the rank of Major General) and military
theorist. Clausewitz’s description of
‘total war’ being ‘a form of human
intercourse, part of man’s social
existence’ and the inevitability of
combat and death, have been blamed
for the level of destruction involved
in both the first and second world
wars, assertions Strachan dissects
with clarity. The limit of Clausewitz’s
theories, Strachan also shows, do
not account for human passion and
present day asymmetrical wars waged
by insurgents and non-state actors
using terrorism and ambush tactics. Q
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Aug 2007 - Defence Review Asia

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