Asia-Pacific Air Power: Aerial Refueling Maritime Patrol Aircraft

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A S I A P A C I F I C S L A R G E S T C I R C U L A T E D D E F E N C E M A G A Z I N E
VOLUME 19/ISSUE 4 JUNE 2011 US$15
AERIAL
REFUELING
SOLDIER SURVIVABILITY
TACTICAL
COMMUNICATION
SYSTEMS
ASIA-PACIFIC
AIR POWER
MARITIME
PATROL AIRCRAFT
UGVs
ASIA-PACIFIC SUBS
JUNE 2011
VOLUME 19 / ISSUE 4
Contents
Front Cover Photo:
The F-22 Raptor remains the
worlds premier air dominance
fighter. It is nonetheless
experiencing problems as it
enters service with a fleet wide
stand down in May due to
oxygen-system malfunctions, a
fatal crash in November which is
still under investigation and low
mission-capable rates associated
with its low-observable
stealth technology DoD
Contents
01
Tactical
C4I Systems
Airborne Refueling:
Increasing Endurance
John Mulberry
The might of an air force is greatly
dependent on the capabilities
of its Air-to-Air Refuelling aircraft.
The requirement for aerial
refuelling tankers capable of
providing true force multiplication
and mission range enhancement
is ever-increasing
Ted Hooton
In the past 50 years the role of
the submarine has expanded as
its capabilities have increased,
to such a degree that for some
30 years the Bible of the naval
community, Janes Fighting
Ships, has rated them as the
modern capital ship superior
even to the aircraft carrier
Asian Maritime
Patrol Aircraft
Martin Streetly
With the vastnesses of the Pacific
and the Indian Ocean, it would be
surprising if the air forces and
navies of the Asia-Pacific region
had not invested heavily in air-
borne maritime patrol. Australia,
India, Indonesia, Japan, South
Korea, Pakistan, the Russian
Federation, Singapore, Taiwan and
New Zealand all operate or are
acquiring maritime patrol aircraft
Substitute for
another Guy
Adam Baddeley
Unmanned Ground
Vehicles continue to
add to the spectrum of
roles they are called
upon to undertake,
some far removed from
their original explosive
ordnance disposal
duties, dating from
the 1970s
Soldier
Survivability
Adam Baddeley
The goals for soldier
survivability remain
intact; the search for
modular, scalable
solutions using lighter,
flexible materials and
new design approaches
to provide greater
protection
04
32
18
26
44
38
Richard Gardner
Today, the Asia Pacific Tiger economies, led by India and China, are
now emerging as the main drivers of future growth in the increasingly
global economy. What will this mean in terms of planning the
air assets needed by air forces throughout the region?
12
Asia Pacific looks to the future
l JUNE 2011 l
Adam Baddeley
Militaries in the Asia-Pacific
want the same things any other
military wants from its Tactical
Communications Systems,
namely to share data and
integrate command structures
and enable high-speed, large-
capacity, long-distance wireless
relay transmission systems
Asian Submarine
Operations
Editorial
USSIA IS ra re ly if e ve r s e e n a s a n As ia -
Pa cific powe r, unus ua l s ince mos t of it s
t e rrit ory is a ct ua lly in As ia . De s pit e t he
Rus s ia n Fa r Ea s t ne ighbour ing China ,
Ja pa n a nd in clos e proximit y t o Sout h
Kore a , t he re ha s be e n a difficult re la t ions hip wit h
t his globa l e conomic powe rhous e .
Ins ula t e d from t he ir ne ighbours during t he Sovie t e ra , t he pot e nt ia l for polit ica l
a nd e conomic int e gra t ion wit h t he ir Fa r Ea s t e rn ne ighbours re ma ins la rge ly
unre a lis e d.
Rus s ia s e conomic a nd polit ica l focus re ma ins in Europe but could t his cha nge ?
Wit h t he count rys polit ica l, a dminis t ra t ive a nd polit ica l ce nt re a nd t he bulk of
it s popula t ion be ing in Europe a focus t he re is pe rha ps ine vit a ble but a t t he
ve ry le a s t , re ce nt cha nge s in policy unde r bot h Put in a nd Me dve de v indica t e a
ba la nce is be ing s ought be t we e n Ea s t a nd We s t a lt hough t he policy a nd
s t ra t e gy t o purs ue t his ha s be e n incons is t e nt a nd pa t chy.
Tra de is ris ing wit h t he Fa r Ea s t a nd a pre occupa t ion wit h Europe a n t ra de is
be ing s e e n in Rus s ia a s a pot e nt ia l vulne ra bilit y a nd is s e e king more dive rs e
ma rke t s . China is Rus s ia s ma in e conomic pa rt ne r in t he re gion, but t ra de wit h
ot he r s uch a s Sout h Kore a a nd Ja pa n is ris ing. Rus s ia a ls o ha s a de s ire not t o
s imply be come a na t ura l re s ource t a p for t he re gion a nd is s e e king a ma rke t
for it s goods .
This cha nge will s e e Rus s ia be gin t o re build it s s t a t us a s a re giona l powe r but in
re ce nt ye a rs it wa s a ligne d it s e lf clos e ly wit h China a ga ins t Ja pa n a nd Sout h
Kore a ( a nd t he US) in oppos it ion t o Ba llis t ic Mis s ile De fe nce , e ve n while Rus s ia
de ploye d S- 400 ba t t e rie s in t he Primors ky Kra i a ga ins t t he s a me Nort h Kore a n
t hre a t . It is a ls o t he prima ry s upplie r of fore ign a nd a dva nce d de fe nce t e chnology
t o China , bot h willingly a nd in s ome ca s e s unknowingly, t o s ome cons t e rna t ion in
Se oul a nd Tokyo. But China is bot h a s e curit y cha lle nge a s we ll a s opport unit y
a nd pa rt ne r for Rus s ia ; long s t a nding t e rrit oria l cla ims by China combine d wit h
China s growing milit a ry powe r a nd t he e conomic we llbe ing t o s us t a in it . Rus s ia
a ls o ha s t o move a wa y from t he linge ring pe rce pt ion t ha t it s policy t owa rd Nort h
Kore a ha s more t o do wit h inconve nie ncing a nd e mba rra s s ing t he US.
If Rus s ia is t o pros pe r in t he Fa r Ea s t , it ha s t o find a ba la nce in it s s e curit y
re la t ions hip wit h a ll t he ke y me mbe rs of t he re gion. Ra t he r t ha n China be ing
t he fa voure d pa rt ne r de s pit e t he pot e nt ia l t hre a t s it pos e s , Rus s ia s hould move
t o a policy of ma king China primus int e r pa re s wit h Ja pa n a nd Kore a .
Ada m Ba dde le y, Edit o r
Editor: Adam Baddeley
E-mail: adam@baddeley.net
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Index of Advertisers
BOMBARDIER 4th Cover
DCNS 21
EUROCOPTER 11
HDW 25
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L3 WESCAM 2nd Cover
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REVISION 07
SEOUL AIR SHOW 3rd Cover
SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 55
TADTE 49
02 l ASI AN MI LI TARY REVI EW l
PERSONAL
PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
Survivability Survivability
B
ODY ARMOUR has previously
not been designed for integra-
tion, instead it has been
designed to hang equipment
onto. Body armour clothing
and webbing are now being sought within an
integrated package into and onto which
Power, Weapons Optics, C2 Devices, and
Load Bearing Equipment can be integrated
into a system.
Technology Advancements for plate
armour are limited. It remains a largely
immutable fact and typically when weight
savings can be found, the materials technolo-
gy used is often prohibitively expensive.
Modular armour is not a panacea either as it
also carries a generic weight penalty versus a
dedicated single purpose vest.
Body Armour
In the US, both the Army and Marine Corps
have common goals in body armour. For the
Army, work led by RDECOM in Soldier
Protection materials and design are seeking a
reduction in body armour weight by 30-40
percent in general by FY 2014 with specific
reduction in the weight of ESAPI/XSAPI
plates by 15 to 20 percent. For helmets those
capable of providing 7.62mm protection will
drop 30-40 percent and those tasked with
protection from fragmentation by half.
The Marine Corps are less publicly pre-
scriptive but also emphasise integration and
load reductions as key issues in their science
and technology goals with their work on a
Headborne System pursuing solutions that
integrate modular protection with sensors,
heads up display, and power while the
Lightweight Individual Modular Body
Armor (LIMBR) pursuing lighter ballistic
plates, light weight modular and tailorable
soft armor for the torso and extremities, and
new combat helmet designs with equal or
greater protection.
In terms of fielded solutions, the US
Armys stock is now fairly static. The Soldier
Plate (SPCE) Carrier System, produced by
KDH Industries which in conjunction with
the ESAPI plate provides Level 4+ protection
began fielding with the new OEF camouflage
pattern in late 2010 and is used with that
other staple of US protection; the Improved
Outer Tactical Vest, produced by a basket of
contractors. The plates for the SPCE continue
to be made on an ongoing basis. In late
March, Ceradyne announced a $36 million
order for XSAPI due to be delivered in the
05
l JUNE 2011 l
(Facing page) The FELIN programme has
seen protection levels on French infantrymen
rise Arme de Terre
Soldier
The goals for soldier survivability remain intact;
the search for Modular, Scalable Solutions
using lighter, flexible materials and new design
approaches to provide greater protection to
include extremities rather than simply the torso
and head and to do so at less weight and bulk.
by Adam Baddeley
PERSONAL
Survivability Survivability
The Marine Corps are less
publicly prescriptive than the
US Army in terms of protection
levels but also emphasise
integration and load reductions
in their R&D plans DoD
next few months, part of an ongoing delivery
process as part of the $2.37 billion made in
2008 and due to continue until 2013.
Other countries are reviewing their
option; for example the UK is now in the
assessment phase of its Virtus programme
to develop a family of scalable systems with
the new Osprey Mk.4 Armour deployed
only last year.
Soldier Modernisation Programmes have
seen additional armour being integrated. The
FELIN programme has seen protection levels
on French infantrymen rise. Prior to the sys-
tems being introduced they were equipped
with NATO STANAG Level 2 on the side and
3 on the Torso with limited protection on the
neck area. With FELIN, this has risen to 2 on
the side, 3 on the back and 4 at the front and
much greater protection around the neck.
TenCate Protective Fabrics are supplying
Italys Soldato Futuro programme with its
fire-resistant TenCate Defender for the sys-
tems new Battle Dress Uniform through
clothing and protection levels on the project
Aero Sekur. Initial contracts let this year will
see the delivery of the first 600 systems. A
key feature is the use of Lenzing FR fibre
which while fire resistant can also absorb
moisture, making the fabric breathable and
comfortable. TenCates Defender fabrics are
also used as standard on battle dress uni-
forms US Army and the US Marine Corps
and Norway.
Australia is now beginning to field its new
Tiered Body Armour System (TBAS), pro-
duced by Australian Defence Apparel replac-
ing either the Modular Combat Body
Armour System (MCBAS) which is deemed
too heavy or the lighter Eagle Marine body
armour obtained in 2010 as a stop gap meas-
ure until TBAS could be fielded. TBAS has
been fielded since late 2009 with a number of
units over the past 18 months including
Special Forces, 1st Brigade in Darwin, 3RAR
in Sydney and 2 RAR in Townsville. TBAS
will deploy to Afghanistan with Mentoring
Task Force 3 later this year.
Every part of the body must be protected,
but soldiers value some parts far more than
When weight savings
can be found, the materials
technology used is often
prohibitively expensive
Much greater emphasis is being placed
on integration of body armour with load carriage
BAE Systems
l ASI AN MI LI TARY REVI EW l 06
PERSONAL
others. BCB International have developed the
Blast Boxers are a pair of protective shorts
worn instead of underwear made from
Kevlar and a special comfortable fabric. They
have been extensively trialed and tested.
Ballistic trials have shown that the Blast
Boxers provide significant protection of the
soft groin area against some of the fragments
and upward blast from an IED. These tests
demonstrated that the Blast Boxers double-
layered Kevlar will offer ballistic protection
of 230 metres per second in the standard NIJ
V50, 5.8 grain ballistic test.
A breakthrough technology in body
armour has been developed by Rafaels
Manor Division using Boron Carbide. A very
light and strong material, the barrier to its
widespread use have been related to issues
with the hitherto only available manufactur-
ing process, known as the Hot Press
process, which requires very high tempera-
tures and pressures and only lends itself to
small batches at a time and with high rejec-
tion rates in quality control.
To overcome these issues Rafael devel-
oped its proprietary Pressureless Sintering
process which is low cost and makes Boron
Carbide products straightforward to mass
produce with consistent quality and with
strong edge performance. Protective prod-
ucts are created using a series of boron car-
bide tiles which may be shaped as flat, single
curved or multi-curved tiles with custom-
made shapes and dimensions.
Against standard 7.62mm and 5.56mm
rounds a ceramic thickness of only 4.5mm is
needed with a weigh of 24 kg/m_, to provide
NIJ Level III protection while to provide a
NIJ Level IV protection against the challenge
of 7.62x63 mm APM2 rounds, a ceramic
thickness of only 9.2 mm with a density of
34 kg/m2 is needed.
Boron carbide products for dismounted
users have been produced in Haifa for spe-
cialised domestic users over the past two
years. The company has now licensed its pro-
duction in the US through local company
Lightflex and is now in the process of certify-
ing the material for use by several protective
gear manufacturers.
New material, Dyneema SB51 UD was
publicly launched in late 2010, designed to
replace soft ballistic armours in vest design
for largely paramilitary users seeking to
minimise weight while retaining protection
level against handgun ammunition, frag-
ments and knives. It is the first material to
be designed specifically to provide protec-
tion against the prevalent threats in Central
and Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific, in par-
ticular the 7.62x25mm Tokarev bullet, wide-
ly used in former Soviet states and neigh-
bouring countries as well as the Chinese P54
pistol ammunition. Other lightweight mate-
rial technology include Dyneema SB21 and
SB31 UD grades. The new SB51 has been
shown to outperform aramid based solu-
tions by a significant degree and improve
over SB21 designs by up to 20 percent in
testing. The first manufacturer to use SB51 is
Zhong Tian Feng in Beijing.
Other new materials recently launched
The UK is now in the assess-
ment phase of its Virtus
programme to develop a
family of scalable systems
Recent operations have made the issue of
comprehensive personal protective equipment a
standard feature of military operations DoD
PERSONAL
include Spectra Shield II SA 4144, part of
Honeywells Spectra Shield II line, which
offer a offers a 25 percent improvement in
ballistic performance compared with the first
generation of Spectra Shield as well as reduc-
ing the weight of personal armor systems by
as much as 30 percent while retaining NIJ .06
ballistic vest certification standard.
Sight
While individuals can and do continue to
function on the battlefield with considerable
injuries, the ability to overcome blindness or
visual impairment poses insuperable barri-
ers. In response to this militaries are taking
particular interest in protective eyewear as
the best means of minimising eye injuries to
the eyes both permanent and/or long lasting
and temporary affects which have an imme-
diate tactical impact upon situational aware-
ness and if not prevented could lead to death
or injuries from other battlefield effects. In
addition to the initial blast or fragmentation
itself designs also have to deal with the
debris and dirt thrown up from the blast
which can be equally harmful.
Under the US Armys Military Combat
Eye Protection Program, the strategy has
been to maximize soldier acceptance of the
glasses by providing a wide range of quali-
fied eyewear and allowing them to choose
according to personal taste and mission
requirements. Spectacle products include the
ESS Crossbow, Oakley SI Ballistic M Frame
2.0, Revision Sawfly, Smith Optics Aeglis,
Uvex Genesis and XC and Wiley X PT-1, SG-
1 and X Talon. The Army have also under the
same programme sourced a range of goggles
from Arena, ESS, Revision and Smith Optics.
To date, ESS is the only approved ballistic
eyewear for the US Marine Corps.
Revision won the UKs Protective Combat
Eyewear contract in February which will see
the company supply their Sawfly Military
09
l JUNE 2011 l
The UK is now in the assessment phase of
its Virtus programme to develop a family of
scalable systems with the newOsprey Mk.4
Armour deployed only last year AJB
In addition to the initial blast or fragmentation
itself eye protection designs also have to deal
with the debris and dirt thrown up from the
blast which can be equally harmful Revision
PERSONAL
Eyewear System and Bullet Ant Goggles
which will become standard issue to all
troops in Afghanistan. At the same time, it
was announced that the Canadian
Department of National Defence had selected
the Sawfly for Air Forces Ballistic Eyewear
requirements while supplying 33,000 kits
and 40,000 additional lenses in 2011 alone.
Recent improvements to the product line
include Sawfly Military Eyewear System in
small size and the Asian Locust Fan Goggle a
low power, near silent fan designs to signifi-
cantly improve anti-fogging performance in
humid environments found in Asia.
Eye Safety Systems (ESS) recently won an
order to supply 30,000 ICE eyeshield units,
which are compliant to a range of standards
including MIL SPEC MILPRF-31013, to the
French National Police. The US DoD contract-
ed ESS in March to provide their U-Rx pre-
scription lens carrier in existing and future
DoD eyeshields and goggle products. ESS
introduced the Asian Fit Goggle Series in 2007.
Hearing
Hearing protection has become vital to con-
siderations of what protection for the soldier
encompasses. Hearing damage is accumula-
tive and irreversible. Soldiers needs are for
protection against both temporary and per-
manent damage, caused by the full range of
battlefield noise in both the mounted and dis-
mounted roles.
There are two types of noise; high steady
continuous noise generated by vehicles or
aircraft against which Active Noise
Reduction (ANR) can be used to effectively
combating its effects across the range of
mobility platforms.
In contrast, impulse noise is generated by
weapons or explosion is present during both
training and operations. Its effects are isolat-
ed from the user through the use of
advanced digital signal processing and pas-
sive protection.
Both types are equally damaging in differ-
ent ways. Soldiers who are exposed to these
types of noise without adequate protection
will suffer either temporary or permanent
damage. A deaf soldier or hearing impaired
cant deploy on operations and years of
expensive training can be lost for want of rel-
atively inexpensive protection.
Esterline Racal Acoustics Frontier1000
communications headset deployment is con-
tinuing apace with the British Army. The
Personal Integrated Hearing Protection
(PIHP) programme has delivered in-ear hear-
ing protection to troops in Afghanistan. The
company recently launched their RA6000
which allows the soldier to continuously
monitor four communication channels simul-
taneously, typically two Soldier Radios, plus
an intercom and a vehicle mounted radio.
The RA6000 itself has been in trials in the US
with PEO Soldier and Natick Soldier Center
and has been in trials in Denmark and is
competing in programmes in Poland, UK
and Canada.
Silynx made their name in providing
advanced headsets for Special Forces notably
in the US but has since seen their products be
employed for more conventional programme
such as in Australia.
Nacres Quietpro family have pioneered
in ear headsets designed to protect against
exposure to the negative effects continuous
and impulse noise while retaining normal
hearing levels and through additional fea-
tures can switch to whisper mode in a covert
environment as well as offer enhanced hear-
ing in other cases. In 2008, the Quietpro was
the only in-ear communications device
approved for use by the US Army.
10 ASI AN MI LI TARY REVI EW
A breakthrough technology
in body armour has
been developed by Rafaels
Manor Division using
Boron Carbide
Selexs WACH 900
headset provides
over-ear hearing
protection Selex
Communications
PERSONAL
REGIONAL
A I R P O W E R
Asia Pacific
The JF-17 is a joint Chinese-Pakistan
programme for a light supersonic
multi-role fighter in the same class as
the F-16 R Gardner
looks to the
Future
In many ways the growing economic dominance of Asia is returning
to the situation last seen five hundred years ago. Before Europe
emerged as a colonizing continent, Asia was responsible historically
for up to 60 percent of world trade.
by Richard Gardner
Asia Pacific
A I R P O W E R
REGIONAL
13 l JUNE 2011 l
T
ODAY, the Asia Pacific Tiger
economies, led by India and China,
are now emerging as the main driv-
ers of future growth in the increas-
ingly global economy. In the rest of
the 21st Century, a gradual readjustment of
the global balance of power (economic and
political) will see both India and China assum-
ing an even more dominant role, and this will
undoubtedly have major implications
throughout the world, but especially for oth-
ers in the Asia Pacific region. What will this
mean in terms of planning the air assets need-
ed by air forces throughout the region? Will it
just be a question of more of the same but
substituting the latest aircraft and missiles for
todays equipment, or will a different
approach be needed, perhaps with wider
regional collaboration so that more expensive
and complex defence assets can be acquired
and shared?
Mutual fears
Both India and China perceive each other as
more than competitors in the rush to expand
economic power and influence. There is a
mutual fear of encirclement and this
explains why so much of their growing
financial and intellectual wealth is being
invested in aerospace and defence capabili-
ties right across the board. Ten years ago,
neither was considered a serious threat to
the established technological giants of the
aerospace/defence sector, and even today
both still rely on key technology supplied by
Western and Russian companies. But this is
fast changing as both seek to increase their
indigenous technological and industrial
capacity. This is happening through well
funded research and development pro-
grammes, a huge expansion in educational
effort to qualify the right engineers and sys-
tems specialists, and a rapid build up in
expertise provided by a combination of
licence-building advanced aircraft designs
and equipment, and reverse-engineering.
Home-grown military aircraft production in
India and China has a mixed history, and on
the whole has not been successful, despite
enormous sums of money being consumed
in the process, but things are now changing.
In the case of India, this is being achieved by
massive efforts in Research and
Development activities and driving hard
bargains with suppliers on technology trans-
fer. By insisting wherever possible on local
licence manufacturing and final assembly,
vital systems integration expertise is also
growing with every new programme.
New fighters, upgrades introducing
advanced SAR radars, new cockpit avionics
and weapons systems, and larger multi-
engine aircraft, such as AEW&C and ISR sur-
veillance platforms, are enabling new pro-
grammes to move ahead, taking the home
capability forward each time, rather than
just acquiring an off-the-shelf product. With
the Sukhoi T50/PAKFA combat air-
craft becoming a joint
Russian/HAL programme,
Home-grown military aircraft
production in India and China
has a mixed history, and
on the whole has not been
successful, despite enormous
sums of money being
consumed in the process
India, which is investing around $25 billion,
will secure regional air dominance. Together
with up to 150 MMRCA medium combat air-
craft (yet to be selected), continuing produc-
tion of the Sukhoi-MK30I , and several hun-
dred other upgraded and ground attack
combat types, India is moving towards its
enlarged goal of 60 fast jet operational
squadrons. It is also planning a globally-
capable new aircraft carrier fleet, more sur-
face warships and submarines, and a mix of
Unmanned Air Systems and long-range
Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Historically the
majority of Indian front line aircraft have
faced Eastwards, to counter Pakistan, but
bases to the North and East are to be
strengthened as a result of Chinas own
defence expansion.
Chinas defence ambitions
China is watchful of what is happening in
India, especially regarding its growing
capability to project air and sea power over
the Indian Ocean and across Central Asia.
Chinas J-10 and J-20 indigenous combat
aircraft indicate a strong desire to develop
air platforms that can challenge the best
current US designs, represented by late
model F15s, F-16s, F-18s, and the F-22 and
F-35. While in technology terms China is
still a long way behind the West and Russia
in advanced combat aircraft, and this
includes the J-10 and J-20, it has previously
had the advantage of threatening the use of
large numbers to swamp possible Western
defences for example in the defence of
Taiwan or South Korea. It also has the very
real ability, using aircraft-launched, subma-
rine, land and ship-launched missiles, to
threaten the US Navys super-carriers, thus
ensuring that they remain at a distance
from the Chinese mainland. As China
expands its own blue-water navy, with
more submarines, surface warships and
carriers, it will present even more of a chal-
lenge to the US Navy, as well as thinly-
spread NATO warships in the Indian Ocean
and other navies in the region. With
Chinese trade currently dominating sea
lanes to the Americas and Europe, the
Chinese are currently in no mind to do any-
thing likely to disrupt the status quo, but in
years to come as resources in Africa and
elsewhere become more scarce and Chinas
domestic needs continue to grow, there is
ample scope for future clashes if Chinese
defence and foreign policy projects a more
outward and aggressive focus, as many pre-
dict it will. Perhaps the greatest threat from
China, and this extends well beyond the
Asia Pacific region, is from cyber and space-
based capabilities. The cyber warfare is
aimed at obtaining as much classified and
sensitive material as possible and also
opening up options for attacking and crip-
pling targeted computer systems. Asia
Pacific defence forces will have to work
individually and collectively to protect the
functionality of key defence equipment.
This a far less visible defence issue than, for
example, the selection of a new aircraft, but
it must be factored in as it is becoming too
important to ignore.
South Asia and Oceana
Western arms suppliers gave Indonesia a
wide berth during the last decade following
unrest in East Timor, and as a result follow-
up orders for aircraft such as the BAE
Systems Hawk and Lockheed Martin F-16
were not forthcoming. The government
turned again to the Russians and the very
capable Sukhoi Su-27/30. This was consid-
ered a potential challenge to the regional air
superiority of the Republic of Singapore Air
Force, Malaysia and the Royal Australian
Air Force, but the Indonesian fast jet fleet
has remained small and its remaining
Hawks, F-16s and F-5Es continue in service
with the Sukhoi fighters. Indonesia is now
looking at expansion and modernisation of
its ageing air force, but although a British
The Boeing 737 forms the basis for the
Wedgetail AEW&C and the new P-8A MR
platform R Gardner
REGIONAL
A I R P O W E R
government minister has talked of selling
the country Eurofighter Typhoons, this
would not comply with the UKs own cur-
rent defence export sales policy, and is
therefore unlikely. While other supplier
nations remain concerned that Indonesias
human rights history is not repeated,
Australias relations with Jakarta are now
more relaxed, and so future military sales to
that country may include aircraft that would
not upset the current regional balance. This
would allow the sale of training and utility
aircraft, or small maritime air patrol plat-
forms, but front-line fast-jet fighter strength
enhancements may be limited to upgrades
to existing types. This would seem to indi-
cate that aircraft such as the Su-30MK could
see an increase in numbers over the coming
years, with small counter-insurgency air-
craft, such as the Super Tucano, making an
appearance, perhaps through the expedient
of being supplied as advanced trainers.
Indonesia has long enjoyed a cooperative
production agreement with the former
CASA (now part of Airbus Military) and as
a result has a fleet of locally-built C212 and
CN235 transport and maritime patrol air-
craft. It also uses the Australian-built
Nomad STOL light transport.
Australian air power renewed
The Royal Australian Air Force in its 90th
anniversary year is mid-way through a com-
prehensive A$26 billion modernisation pro-
gramme. This will provide for a rolling
renewal programme that will take the serv-
ice through to 2030. It allows for a three per-
cent year-on-year increase in the defence
budget, recognises fully the shifting regional
power balance resulting from Indian and
Chinese defence expansion, and has been
constructed to provide a flexible force struc-
ture that will retain a high level of defence
self-reliance. It will contribute to, and be
capable of leading, coalition forces, and will
retain a wider strategic defence capability to
help secure threatened neighbours as well as
defending the land mass of Australia. Closer
defence links with New Zealand, in the form
of shared air transport and amphibious war-
fare capability will be developed, but per-
haps the most significant regional defence
contribution will be delivered by the acquisi-
tion and deployment of a range of advanced
combat I-STAR air assets. With one of the
worlds largest areas of maritime responsi-
bility to monitor and defend, from the trop-
ics out into the Indian Ocean and Pacific,
down as far as Antarctica, Australia is
investing in fleets of new generation long-
range aircraft that will provide airborne
early warning, command and control, sur-
Chinas J-10 and J-20
indigenous combat aircraft
indicate a strong desire to
develop air platforms
that can challenge the best
current US designs
The Lockheed P-3C is the most widely used
maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft in the
Asia pacific region R Gardner
A I R P O W E R
REGIONAL
15 l JUNE 2011 l
veillance, intelligence gathering, surface and
sub-surface attack capability and search and
rescue. At present 18 AP-3C Orions provide
the MR cover, but these are to be replaced by
a mix of Boeing P-8A Poseidon MR aircraft
and Global Hawk UAS platforms, offering a
massive increase in persistent surveillance
cover over vast areas. Added to these assets
are three Boeing Wedgetail AEW&C patrol
aircraft. A new fleet of five EADS/Airbus
KC-30A tanker aircraft will provide global
reach for all suitably equipped receiver air-
craft, including the fast jet combat fleet com-
prising F/A-18A Hornets and the new F/A-
18F Super Hornets. From 2018 Australia will
introduce up to 100 F-35A Joint Strike
Fighters. This and agile fighter/attack air
fleet will give a very strong regional boost
providing high quality air defence and
attack capability, strategic and tactical airlift
using C-17s and C-130Js, and support for
ground forces using Chinooks, NH90s and
S-70s. Australia will continue to exercise
closely with New Zealand, Singapore and
US regional forces.
The city state of Singapore has one of the
most modern, if small, air forces in the
region, reflecting its key strategic location. It
is equipped with advanced multi-role F-
15SG Strike Eagles and F-16C/D Fighting
Falcons as well as F-5s. Most importantly,
providing airborne early warning and com-
mand and control are AEW Gulfstream
G550s and E-2C Hawkeyes and maritime
patrol is carried out by Fokker F50 aircraft.
Protecting shipping from piracy is an ongo-
ing task for all air forces and navies in the
region. Neighbouring Malaysia shares a
strategic location, but with less stable
Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand to the
North it has a front line air defence strength
of around 50 fighters comprising Russian-
supplied Su-30MKMs, MiG-29s and F/A-
18Ds, with Hawk 208 light attack jets. It has
been topping up its MiG-29 fleet, but relia-
bility and availability rates have reduced the
number of aircraft that are actually combat-
ready. It currently lacks any ISTAR assets.
Other nearby air forces, including those of
Laos and Myanmar have Russian and
Chinese supplied aircraft, the latter operat-
ing Mig-29s, F-7s and A-5s, with heavy
Chinese influence at all levels within its gov-
ernment. Vietnam operates Russian-built
MiG and Sukhoi fighters and tries to retain
good relations with China, Russia and the
West. The Philippines Air Force retains a few
F-5A/B jets and a handful of OV-10 Bronco
COIN aircraft, but now has a very depleted
air capability, which is concentrated around
a mix of utility helicopter types.
The city state of Singapore
has one of the most
modern, if small, air forces
in the region, reflecting its
key strategic location
The IAI Heron UAV is a typical MALE Unmanned
Air System that is in everyday use over
Afghanistan. The role of the UAV at all levels
of operational activity will become more
widespread over the coming years R Gardner
REGIONAL
A I R P O W E R
Keeping a balance
The most significant air powers in the
region beyond India and China are
Pakistan, South and North Korea, Taiwan,
Japan and United States Air Force and
Navy. Pakistan is focused on balancing its
close relations with both China and the
West, while at the same time countering
internal unrest and terrorist activity in its
wild frontier regions. Providing it remains
robust supporting Western anti-terrorist
measures, it will be supported in moves to
modernise its forces, but this will remain a
sensitive situation in view of Pakistans
ongoing border dispute with India and its
need to live alongside China to its north.
Defence-watchers see one of the biggest
potential future flash-points remaining
along the Korean North-South border, and
in the seas surrounding Taiwan. The strate-
gic implications spill out across a vast area
of the Pacific region, encompassing Japan.
The latter remains inward looking in
defence terms, but maintains significant
self-defence forces. Having been refused
permission to acquire F-22 Raptors, Japans
Self Defence Air Force is likely to acquire F-
35s in due course. Japan operates extensive
airborne ISTAR and early warning air
assets, though its proximity to China will
always attract strong US air power support.
South Korea also has grave fears concerning
aggression from the North, but is extremely
well defended with full US support. Taiwan
presents a greater problem as the territory
remains under continuous threat from
China and growing Chinese confidence in
defence terms will only increase the poten-
tial danger. The role of regionally-based US
air power is still pivotal, offering a credible
counter to Chinese ambitions and giving
smaller regional nations an effective defence
umbrella for cover. As China stretches the
reach of its air forces with aircraft carriers
and longer-range aircraft, the balance of
power will tilt in its favour. As regional air
forces, and even the US, cannot match
Chinas expansion in terms of numbers, the
quality of the air power available to chal-
lenge the growing threat will become even
more vital. Superior technology, intelligence
and networked interoperability can go some
way to maintaining the overall balance,
though as already mentioned, the impact of
cyber warfare may yet become of growing
importance in deciding how Asia Pacific
defends itself long term.
Singapore operates F-16s alongside F-15s and
is a likely candidate for the F-35 Joint Strike
Fighter, where the latter's ISR capabilities will
be exploitable as a result of the RSAF's heavy
investment in air and ground-based networked
command and control DoD
A I R P O W E R
REGIONAL
17 l JUNE 2011 l
SUBMARINE
O P E R A T O N S
AsianSubmarine
T
HE SUBMARINE has helped
shaped the course of Asias his-
tory for, as a submersible torpe-
do boat in the Second World
War it largely annihilated
Japans merchant fleet paving the way for
that nations defeat and the independence
of the continent from colonial rule. Yet it
is those former colonial powers who have
made possible a quantum leap in subma-
rine capabilities making them even more
capable of interdicting the merchant fleets
upon which Asias commerce depends.
In terms of platforms improved
teardrop shaping of the hull and the sail
(formerly conning tower), as well as
reducing the inertial cavitation effects (the
bubbles of water flowing over a surface to
increase the acoustic signature), have pro-
duced much quieter boats. This has not
only made them more difficult to detect
but it enhances their own sensors and in
some cases using towed sonar arrays they
can detect and locate targets up to 1000
nautical miles (1,850 kilometres) away.
The Russian Kilo class, the Project 877
and 636 boats sold to China, the Project
877 boats sold to India and the Project 636
boats sold to Vietnam, are especially
feared because they are so quiet, their
single propeller reportedly computer
designed with foreign technology to
reduce the boats acoustic signature. The
influence of these vessels is seen in the lat-
est Chinese conventional submarines, the
Song (Type 039) and Yuan (Type 041),
especially the latter which seem to reflect
a combination of Chinese and Russian
influences.
The other factor of the teardrop
design is that it turns the submersible tor-
pedo boat into a true submarine, one
which has a higher speed underwater
than on the surface. After the Second
World War submarines were streamlined
and given increased battery power, the
US Navys Greater Underwater
Propulsion Power Program (GUPP) being
typical, but these boats such as the two
which Taiwan still operates for training
and the Russian-built Foxtrots (Project
641), which India has just paid off, had
underwater speeds slightly inferior to
those of their speeds on the surface.
But the generation of submarines
which appeared from the late 1950s were
designed for high underwater speeds
with teardrop hulls and slimmer sails.
Typical is the Howaldtswerke Deutsche
Werft (HDW) Type 209 which has been
purchased in various incarnations by
India, Indonesia and South Korea (and
built by the latter) whose underwater
speed is twice that of the 11 knots it can
make upon the surface. The same charac-
teristics are to be found in the Franco-
Spanish Scorpne sold to Malaysia and
India, the Swedish-built Challenger (for-
merly Sjormen) class supplied to
Singapore and Australias Collins class
based upon a Swedish design and Japans
domestically-designed and produced
Harushios and Oyashios as well as
Taiwans Dutch-built Hai Lungs.
Submarines no longer need to come to the
surface to recharge their batteries thanks
Operations & Requirements
O P E R A T O N S
SUBMARINE
19 l JUNE 2011 l
AsianSubmarine
The Republic of Korea
Navy submarine Lee Eokgi
(071) participating in a
RIMPAC exercise DoD
In the past 50 years the role of the submarine has
expanded as its capabilities have increased, to
such a degree that for some 30 years the Bible of the
naval community, Janes Fighting Ships, has rated
them as the modern capital ship, superior
even to the aircraft carrier.
by Ted Hooton
Operations & Requirements
to the schnorkel which is universally used
which further enhances their survivability.
Underwater endurance is further
enhanced by the development of Air
Independent Propulsion (AIP) which either
recirculates combustion products augmented
into the combustion chamber or uses electro-
chemical devices to transform chemical ener-
gy into electrical power using hydrogen and
oxygen to extend underwater endurance.
Both processes are being used in Asian
waters; Pakistan is adopting the DCNS
MESMA (Module dEnergie Sous Marin
Autonome Autonomous Sub-Marine Energy
Module) recirculating system to upgrade its
Khalid (Agosta 90B) class boats and India
may adopt it in its Scorpnes. The alternative
recirculating system is the Stirling Mk 3
which will be in Singapores new
Vstergtland (A17) class boats as well as
Japans latest Souryu class. The chemical
energy system is Siemens/HDW PEM (poly-
mer-electrolyte-membrane) fuel cell which
has been adopted in the HDW Type 214 by
South Korea which is building the boats
under licence to meet the KSS-2 programme
as the Sohn Won-Il class.
Both China and India are reported to be
The Russian Kilo class are
especially feared because
they are so quiet, their
single propeller reportedly
computer designed with
foreign technology to reduce
the boats acoustic signature
The Indian Navy submarine Sindhurakshak
from the Sindhughosh class a Project 877EKM
Kilo design. The vessel went to Russia for a
refurbishment in 2010 DoD
Sixth in the Collins class
is HMAS Rankin shown
here participating in
RIMPAC 2006 DoD
SUBMARINE
O P E R A T O N S
DCNS is a world leader in naval deIence and an innovaIive olayer in energy. 1he Grouo's success as
an advanced Iechnology comoany wiIh global reach is builI on exceoIional know-how and unique
indusIrial resources. DCNS designs, builds and suooorIs submarines and surIace combaIanIs as
well as associaIed sysIems and inIrasIrucIures. 1he Grouo oroooses services Ior naval shioyards
and bases. lI also develoos soluIions in civil nuclear engineering and marine renewable energy. ln
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under Ihe oaIronage oI Ihe lrench SenaIe. CommiIIed Io susIainable develoomenI, DCNS was one
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developing AIP systems whose advantage is
that they further enhance underwater
endurance, although in all diesel-electric this
is dwarfed by the nuclear-powered subma-
rine, the ultimate underwater fighting
machine. The ability of these vessels to
remain under the waves depends not on
mechanical but human endurance for they
need refuelling only a few times in their lives
so can remain underwater almost indefinite-
ly and can develop speeds of more than 30
knots allowing them to out-manoeuvre most
surface combatants.
Apart from the United States and Russia
the only nuclear-powered submarine opera-
tor in the Pacific Rim has been China with the
Han (Type 091) and Shang (Type 093) class
attack submarines, the Xia (Type 092) and the
Jin (Type 094) ballistic missile submarines.
However, India has launched the first of a
domestically-designed Arihant missile-car-
rying submarines (it is unclear whether or
not these are ballistic or cruise missiles) and
has leased the RFS Nerva, a Russian Akula
(Project 971) class attack submarine, as the
INS Chakra which is scheduled to join the
fleet by the end of this year. India has plans
for two more missile and three domestically-
designed attack submarines. Interestingly,
early in 2011 Australia commentators
began to suggest that Canberra purchase
nuclear submarines rather than spend up to
Aus$36 billion (US$33 billion) on a dozen
conventional boats.
The improved performance of submarine
platforms means that they are more than
capable of operating covertly in foreign
waters with little prospect of detection in
part due to the extremely confused and diffi-
cult hydrographic conditions off Asias
coasts. Curiously, while many Asian nations
have bought port protection systems none
has been ready to create long range subma-
rine detection systems such as the US static
Sosus (Sound Surveillance System), now part
of the Integrated Undersea Surveillance
System (ISUS) together with the Surveillance
Towed Array Sensor System (Surtass).
This means that there is no early warning
of the presence of hostile submarines, mak-
ing every Asian nation vulnerable to subma-
rine incursion.
This is especially important for Asian secu-
rity because it means that submarines can
conduct Intelligence, Surveillance and
Reconnaissance (ISR) operations. This sort of
mission became a traditional one, especially
in Asian waters, during the Second World
War and has inevitably grown more sophisti-
cated. Images of key sites and facilities on
land can be recorded at surprisingly long
ranges through optical and electro-optical
sensors, indeed TV cameras in mast-mounted
systems can be raised, rotated, images record-
ed and the mast lowered within 10 seconds.
Submarines can not only provide intelli-
gence with images but can also provide elec-
tronic information for they are routinely
equipped with signals intelligence (Sigint)
sensors and can also carry communications
intelligence (Comint) ones. This permits the
creation of a detailed Sigint picture of other
countries radar order-of-battle while Comint
data can provide information on a wide vari-
ety of activities. Such information is useful
for general intelligence but similar data can
also be provided on the naval forces of poten-
tial adversaries. The last can be augmented
by passive sonar which can build up a pic-
ture of the warships of other navies including
their acoustic signature.
Submarines can also be used for the
covert insertion of special forces for a vari-
ety of activities. Several Asian navies are to
be interested in swimmer delivery vehicles,
miniature submarines which can transport a
party of troops many nautical miles.
Whether or not they have them, there is no
sign that any Asian Navy has installed the
hangers these vehicles need both for trans-
port to the operational area and for loading
and unloading the troops.
Major navies are also examining the pos-
sibility of submarines using unmanned
HMAS Waller arrives at Naval
Station Pearl Harbor for RIMPAC in
2008 DoD
Both China and India are
reported to be developing AIP
systems whose advantage is
that they further enhance
underwater endurance
SUBMARINE
O P E R A T O N S
underwater vehicles, both remotely operat-
ed and autonomous. Roles being consid-
ered include reconnaissance and mine
detection but there remain major problems
with controlling these craft as well as both
deploying and recovering them and it
seems unlikely that they will be used Asian
navies for at least ten and possibly as many
as 30 years from now.
It is likely that the more active role of
Asian submarines fleets runs the full gamut
from the interdiction of mercantile traffic
through the attrition of enemy naval surface
vessels to anti-submarine operations. The
prime weapon remains the torpedo but the
Second World War straight runner (its
course could actually be modified to turn at
an angle to the torpedo tube once dis-
charged) has been replaced by far more
sophisticated weapons. It is worth noting
that in the past 40 years two Asian warships
have been sunk by heavyweight (533mm
diameter) torpedoes; the Indian frigate INS
Khukri in 1971 and the South Korean
corvette ROKS Chong An last year.
The loss of the latter demonstrates the
effect of modern torpedoes which, contrary
to the image in war movies, is not designed
to strike the targets hull. Instead they use
influence fuzes tuned to magnetic and
acoustic signatures to detonate under the
keel breaking the ships back and using its
own mass to take it to the bottom. Torpedoes
are usually wire guided so that the subma-
rine can guide them, through copper or fibre
optic wires for two-way signals to the subma-
rines combat management system, to the tar-
gets vicinity using the submarines sensors.
The weapon can then conduct the terminal
phase using its own sensors and if the target
is momentarily lost the weapon can conduct
a search pattern until it is reacquired. Against
surface ships torpedoes can make a direct
approach, can circle or can follow the ships
wake to track it down, such weapons being
described as wake homers.
The other traditional weapon of the sub-
marine is the ground mine. These are cylin-
drical weapons discharged from the torpe-
do tube (although there have been propos-
als for external housings or mine belts)
with influence fuzes. The beauty of these
weapons is that they can be covertly laid in
straits or the approaches to key ports and
can be timed to begin and to cease opera-
tion. Their increasingly sophisticated fuz-
ing systems can also be adjusted to initiate
when a specific target signature is detected,
to detonate only when the target is within
range or to await another. Even more wor-
ryingly, just as aerial bombs frequently
have delayed action fuzing, so the mine can
be programmed to go active only after a
certain number of potential targets have
sailed by forcing the enemy to stop traffic
into, and out of, the threatened waters. It is
worth remembering that in 1986 an interna-
tional task force of some 30 mine counter-
measures ships was deployed when mines
were detected in Omans waters and while
they claimed success, four years later a mer-
chantman was sunk by a mine which they
had missed.
The new threat from submarines is the
surface-to-surface missile. Submarine-
launched missiles, such as MNDAs Exocet
SM 39 and Boeings UGM-84 Sub-Harpoon,
have been available since the 1970s for anti-
ship operations. Launching these weapons
neutralised the traditional surface ship shield
against them, radar and surface-to-air mis-
siles, because their sudden appearance gave
the target little chance to respond. Until the
late 1990s these weapons have been confined
South Korean diesel submarine Lee Sunsin (SSK 068) departs Naval Station Pearl Harbor. One of
nine in the Chang Bogo class a HDW Type 209/1200 DoD
23 l JUNE 2011 l
O P E R A T O N S
SUBMARINE
to China, with the YJ-1 (CSS-N-4 Sardine)
which is commercially marketed as the C-801
while the United States provided its
strongest friends Australia, Japan, South
Korea, Pakistan and Taiwan with the 67 nau-
tical mile (124 kilometre) Sub-Harpoon.
Since then both the Russians and the
French have sold missiles to the regions
navies and, in doing so, introduced a new
dimension to submarine operations. Since
1997 Indias Kilos have been converted to
accept missiles of the Novator Klub (Club)
family. Initially these were 3M54 (SS-N-27
Sizzler) anti-ship missiles with ranges of
120-160 nautical miles (220-300 kilometres)
but since the start of this century these
boats are also receiving the 3M14 (SS-N-30)
which is a dedicated 148 nautical mile (275
kilometre) land attack weapon similar in
concept to the famous Tomahawk. India is
also developing a submarine-launched ver-
sion of its supersonic Brahmos anti-ship
weapon as well as the 400 nautical mile (740
kilometre) Sagarika land attack cruise mis-
sile, the latter possibly with Russian and
Israeli technical assistance.
The 3M54 and later versions of Sub-
Harpoon have been adapted for littoral war-
fare with improved guidance systems to
engage ships in harbours or bays and now
they are also capable of striking land targets
relatively close to the coast. There is no indi-
cation that Asian Sub-Harpoon weapons
have this capability but it has been intro-
duced into the latest Exocet whose latest
Block 2 version replaces a rocket motor with
a turbo-jet which more than doubles the mis-
siles range to 97 nautical miles (180 kilome-
tres). Exocet has been bought by India and
Malaysia as part of the Scorpne package.
MBDA are developing a submarine-
launched version of their Scalp and this is
likely to be marketed into the Asian region in
the latter part of the decade while Australia is
likely to seek Tomahawks for its Collins
replacement class. Domestically-produced
weapons are also likely to proliferate. South
Korea is set to deploy its 270 nautical mile
(500 kilometre) range Cheonryong (Sea
Dragon) missile in destroyers this year and
has revealed it is developing a version to be
used by the KSS-3 class submarines which it
is also developing.
The submarine, therefore, is a key piece in
Asias balance of power both for defensive
and offensive purposes in both peace and
war. Little wonder that Indonesia talks of a
fleet of 39 submarines and that both
Bangladesh and Thailand now wish to join
the growing list of submarine operators on
the Asian continent.
There is one other factor to consider and
that is raised by the sinking of the Chon An.
The culprit is alleged to be a North Korean
miniature submarine, a class of vessel
known to have been involved in landing spe-
cial forces on the Korean peninsula.
Pyongyang is the biggest operator of this
kind of vessel, with some 40 craft, while
Pakistan has three also used to support spe-
cial forces. Although these craft have limited
performance they are, as North Korea
allegedly demonstrates, a new threat and
might prove attractive to smaller nations fur-
ther driving Asian navies to strengthen their
anti-submarine defences.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense
Force submarine JS Uzushio (SS 592)
prepares to get under way after a
port visit to US Naval Base Apra
Harbor in Guam DoD
In the past 40 years two
Asian warships have been
sunk by heavyweight
torpedoes; the Indian frigate
INS Khukri in 1971 and the
South Korean corvette
ROKS Chong An last year
Japan Maritime Self-Defense
Force Oyashio-class submarine
JS Mocishio (SS 600) one of 11
vessels in the class DoD
SUBMARINE
O P E R A T O N S
MARITIME
PATROL AI RCRAFT
Asian
Maritime Patrol
A
CCORDING TO AMRs
research, Australia, India,
Indonesia, Japan, South Korea,
Pakistan, the Russian
Federation, Singapore, Taiwan
and New Zealand all operate or are acquiring
maritime patrol aircraft, with Lockheed
Martins P-3C Orion being the predominant
platform in the region. Taking the cited coun-
tries in order, Australia, Japan South Korea,
Pakistan, Taiwan and New Zealand are all
Orion users, with the Royal Australian Air
Force (RAAF) fielding a fleet of AP-3C plat-
forms which are scheduled to
remain in service until at least
2015. Based on the P-3C variant,
the AP-3C is an upgrade of the
original aircraft that has been
undertaken by Raytheon and intro-
duced a range of new equipments including
the Elta EL/M-2022(V)3 search radar, a
General Dynamics Canada AN/UYS-503
acoustic processing chain, a FLIR Systems
StarSAFIRE III Electro-Optical (EO) targeting
and surveillance system, a CAE Electronics
AN/ASQ-504 Magnetic Anomaly Detector
(MAD), a Unisys DDC-060 data management
system, enhanced communications, an elec-
tronic flight management system, an
improved navigation suite and BAE Systems
Australias ALR-2001 Odyssey Electronic
Support (ES) system. Assigned to the ser-
vices Numbers 10 and 11 Squadrons (which
are home-based at RAAF Edinburgh in
South Australia), Australias AP-3Cs
have seen service in Southwest Asia
and are currently the subject of an
ES system upgrade, delays to
which have caused the capability to have
been added to Australias projects of con-
cern list. At the time of writing, the Odyssey
update appears to be getting back on track
and it is probable that the RAAF will eventu-
ally replace the AP-3C with a mixture of
Boeing P-8 aircraft and Global Hawk
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).
Over time, the Japanese Maritime Self-
Defence Force (JMSDF) has acquired at least
98 P-3C Update II.5 and Update III aircraft,
approximately 80 of which were understood
to remain in service with the services 1, 2, 3,
5 and 51 Squadrons (based at Kanoya,
Hachinohe and Atsugi (3 and 51 Squadrons)
respectively) prior to the 11 March 2011
earthquake and tsunami. Entering service
during 1981, AMR understands that the
Japanese Orion fleet has been progressively
Patrol Aircraft
The Indian Navy is acquiring
the country-specific P-8I variant
of the US Navys P-8A platform
as its next generation maritime
patrol aircraft USN
PATROL AI RCRAFT
MARITIME
27 l JUNE 2011 l
Asian
Maritime Patrol
updated with new introductions including a
satellite communications system, an
improved ES capability, a Global
Positioning System (GPS) navigation capa-
bility and a new computer group.
Operationally, the JMSDF has deployed P-
3Cs to support anti-piracy operations off the
Somali coast and in the Gulf of Aden and
prior to the March 2011 disaster, was intend-
ing to progressively replace the P-3C with
the indigenous, jet-powered Kawasaki P-1.
Launched in late 2001, the prototype P-1
made its maiden flight on 28 September
2008 and to-date, at least five such aircraft
have been ordered. Powered by four 59.8
kN IHI XF7-10 turbofans, the P-1 is flown
and operated by a crew of up to 10 and is
equipped with an X-band (8 to 12.5 GHz)
Toshiba Active Electronically Scanned
Array (AESA) search radar, a Fujitsu HAQ-
2 Forward-Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) sensor,
a Mitsubishi HSQ-102 MAD, a sonics chain
and sonobuoy provision. While Japan Fiscal
Year 2011 defence budget requests a single
P-1, it must be uncertain whether or not the
P-1 will now go ahead in view of the devas-
tating effect the March 2011 earthquake has
had (and will continue to have) on the
Japanese economy. Similar considerations
must also affect Japans earlier interest in
the acquisition of a maritime surveillance
UAV based on the RQ-4 Global Hawk.
Returning to Orion usage, South Korea
has procured eight P-3C Update III+ aircraft
together with a further eight P-3CKs. Of
these, the P-3C Update III+s are fitted with a
Raytheon AN/APS-134(V) search radar and
an AN/ASQ-212 central computer, while the
P-3CKs are re-worked P-3B airframes that
have been produced by United States con-
tractor L-3 Communications and Korea
Aerospace Industries (six aircraft) and fea-
ture a mission suite similar to that of the
countrys Update III+s. In South Korean serv-
ice, the Orion is understood to be assigned to
the Taiwanese 613 and 615 Heavy Squadrons
based at Pohang and Jeju respectively.
Moving down the list, Pakistan has acquired
a total of nine P-3C aircraft with which to
Patrol Aircraft
Bearing in mind the vastnesses of the Pacific and the
Indian Ocean, it would be surprising if the air
forces and navies of the Asia-Pacific region had not
invested heavily in airborne maritime patrol.
by Martin Streetly
Australias AP-3Cs have
seen service in Southwest
Asia and are currently
the subject of an
ES system upgrade
supplement its existing Atlantic and Fokker
F27 maritime patrollers. Of the three, the
Atlantics and the Fokker F27 are known to
have been equipped with Thales Frances DR
3000 ES system and a variant of the
Thales/Cassidian Ocean Master surveillance
radar. Pakistan received its first P-3C during
October 2009 and expects to complete its fleet
by 2012/13. In Pakistan service, all three of
the cited maritime patrol aircraft are operat-
ed by the countrys Numbers 27 and 29
Squadrons based at Sharea Faisal.
For its part (and following a particularly
protracted acquisition process), Taiwan is
acquiring 12 refurbished P-3Cs which
Lockheed Martin will upgrade with a struc-
tural life extension and new avionics prior to
delivery which is currently scheduled to
begin in 2012. Staying with the Chinese con-
text, AMR notes with interest that mainland
Chinas dedicated airborne maritime patrol
capability appears to reside in no more than
five Y-8X and a handful of Y-8J aircraft. Here,
the Y-8X is equipped with a Canadian APS-
504(V) radar while the J model carries the
Thales UK X-band Skymaster combined sur-
face search and airborne early warning sen-
sor. Of the two, the Japanese Air Self-Defence
Force (JASDF) is on record as having inter-
cepted the Y-8J reconnoitring Japanese air
space during 2010.
Mention of the JASDF leads neatly to
those Tupolev Tu-142 maritime patrol and
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft
operated by the naval air arm of Russias Far
Eastern Fleet that the service has intercepted
on a regular basis throughout 2010-2011.
Credible estimates put the number of Tu-
142M/MZs in service with the Russian Navy
at around 20. Allocated the NATO Reporting
Name Bear-F Mod 3 (and also known as the
Tu-142MK), the Tu-142M is understood to be
an updated version of the basic design that
features the Korshun-K search radar, the
Ladoga MAD, the NPK-142M navigation
suite, the Strela 142M communications pack-
With as many as 80 in-service, the JMSDF is
the largest P-3 Orion user in the Asia-Pacific
region JMSDF
MARITIME
PATROL AI RCRAFT
Pakistan has acquired nine
P-3Cs to supplement its
existing fleet of Atlantic and
Fokker F27 maritime patrol
aircraft Lockheed Martin
age and the ability to handle passive and
active directional sonobuoys. For its part, the
Tu-142MZ (Bear-F Mod 4) replaces the Ms
NK-12MV engines with NK-12MP turbo-
props and features the Korshun-KN-N-STS
anti-submarine warfare complex (mission
system) and the Nashaty-Nefrit sonics chain.
Elsewhere in the region, the Indian Navy
has acquired eight Tu-142MK-E platforms
that are flown from Indian Naval Stations
Rajali and Hansa. Taking the form (as its
designation suggests) of an export version
of the Tu-142MK (Bear-F Mod 3), the MK-
Es mission suite is said to be a downgraded
version of that fitted to Russian Tu-142Ms
and has been the subject of an upgrade pro-
gramme that was launched in 2003. Here,
the update is believed to have centred
around the introduction of the Novella/Sea
Dragon complex which is also a feature of
Indias Ilyushin Il-38SD maritime patrol air-
craft (see following).
Returning to Asia-Pacific use of the Orion,
the Royal New Zealand Air Force operates
six P-3K aircraft that have been (and are
being) progressively updated under Projects
Rigel, Kestrel and Guardian. In order,
Rigel introduced (amongst other things) the
AN/APS-134(V) search radar, the AN/AAS-
36 infra-red detection set, a new data han-
dling system and improved navigation
equipment. Project Kestrel took the form of
a life extension effort and involved re-wing-
ing, replacing the aircrafts horizontal sta-
bilisers and refurbishment of their engine
nacelles. So configured, the fleet was expect-
ed to remain structurally viable for an addi-
tional 20 years. Most recently, the L-3
Communications-primed Project Guardian
replaces the AN/AAS-36 with the L-3
Wescam MX-20 EO sensor, the AN/APS-
134(V) radar with the Elta EL/M-2022(V)3
sensor, new navigation equipment, an L-3
developed data handling system and a glass
cockpit. Now known as the P-3K2, the first
Guardian aircraft made its maiden flight on
11 August 2009, with the remaining exam-
ples being modified in country by national
contractor Safe Air. As a final point concern-
ing Asian-Pacific P-3s, readers should note
that at one time, Thailand operated a small
number of P-3T aircraft whose current status
is uncertain.
Turning back to India, AMR understands
that the Indian Navy has acquired approxi-
The Indian Navys Il-38s
have been subject to
an upgrade that introduces a
variant of the Novella / Sea
Dragon complex
PATROL AI RCRAFT
MARITIME
29 l JUNE 2011 l
mately 10 Do 228 and five Il-38 maritime
patrol aircraft with which to support its long-
range Tu-142s. In order, the services Do 228s
are equipped with a mixture of Thales Super
Marec and Elta EL/M-2022A(V)3 search
radars. One of the fleet was deployed on anti-
piracy duties in the Seychelles during
February 2011 and in the longer term, India
wants to acquire a new medium-range plat-
form with which to replace its Dornier
patrollers. Most recently, the Indian Navys
Il-38s have been subject to an upgrade that
introduces a variant of the Novella/Sea
Dragon complex (comprising a new radar,
an IR sensor, a new central computer system,
a MAD and new ES and ASW capabilities)
and the ability to carry Kh-35 anti-shipping
and Brahmos cruise missiles. Designated as
the Il-38SD, the Indian Navy acquired its first
pair of updated aircraft in January 2006 and
had received a third before it suspended con-
tract payments on the programme (due to
dissatisfaction with the Novella/sea Dragon
system) during the following year. Such
problems are likely to have influenced
Indias decision to acquire the Boeing P-8I as
its next generation full-capability ASW and
maritime patrol aircraft. It should also be
noted that the Indian Navy has stood up two
squadrons of UAVs that are equipped with
surveillance configured Searcher and Heron
air vehicles. Looking to the future, the service
is also known to have made enquires con-
cerning available High-Altitude Long-
Endurance (HALE) UAVS such as the RQ-4.
Mention of the Do 228 leads neatly to the
Royal Thai Navys fleet of seven such mar-
itime patrol aircraft that are assigned to the
services 101 Squadron at U-Tapao.
Equipped with a belly-mounted search
radar, at least four of these aircraft have been
equipped with an Optimare track-while-scan
system, with at least one having also been fit-
ted with an EO sensor. Again, at least one
Thai aircraft has most recently had its sur-
veillance radar removed. Moving south, the
Republic of Singapore Air Forces No 121
Squadron is equipped with five Fokker 50
Maritime Enforcer Mk 2 maritime patrol air-
craft. Flown by a crew of eight, such aircraft
Royal New Zealand
Air Force operates six P-3K
aircraft that have been
progressively updated under
Projects Rigel, Kestrel
and Guardian
MARITIME
PATROL AI RCRAFT
have (over time) been equipped with a mis-
sion suite that has included a Raytheon
AN/APS-134(V)7 search radar, a Fokker-
sourced TMS-250V tactical computer, a
General Dynamics Canada AN/UYS-503
sonobuoy processor, an Alliant M101E
acoustic signals recorder, an Ultra Electronics
AN/ARR-502 sonobuoy receiver, a tailored
Elta EL/L-8382MPA ES system, provision for
60 sonobuoys, an EO sensor, a CAE
Electronics AN/ASQ-504(V) MAD and pro-
vision for four torpedoes, depth charges or
AGM-84D Harpoon air-to-surface missiles.
As of April 2011, one of Singapores Fokker
50 maritime patrollers had been deployed
to Djibouti for anti-piracy duties over the
Gulf of Aden.
The remaining cited country - Indonesia
operates up to three Boeing 737-2X9
Surveiller, three CN-235MPA and up to six
NC-212-200 aircraft in the maritime patrol
role. In order, the Boeing 737s are combi
transport and surveillance aircraft that are
equipped with a variant of Motorolas Side-
Looking Airborne Modular Multi-mission
Radar (SLAMMR) and are assigned to the
Indonesian Air Forces Air Squadron 5 at
Ujung Pandang/Hasanuddin. Air Squadron
5 is also home to three Indonesian Aerospace
Airtech CN-235MPA platforms that are
equipped with a Thales AMASCOS mission
suite that includes a Thales/Cassidian
Ocean Master radar, an Elettronica ALR-733
series ES system and a Thales Chlio EO sen-
sor. Air Squadron 5 is understood to have
received its first CN-235MPA aircraft during
June 2008 and both Brunei and the
Indonesian Navy are understood to be inter-
esting in or actually acquiring up to three
and up to six examples of the type respec-
tively. In the Brunei context, the specified
mission suite is reported to include a
Raytheon search radar, a Selex Galileo ES
system and an AN/AAQ-21 FLIR sensor.
Staying with the Indonesian Navy, the
services Air Squadron 800 squadron (based
at Surabaya/Juanda) is reported to number
the NC-212-200PATMAR maritime patrol
aircraft amongst a mixed inventory of patrol
and transport aircraft. Again a product of
Indonesian Aerospace, the PATMAR plat-
form is understood to be fitted with an Ocean
Master radar variant, with the first example
being delivered to SU 800 during May 2005.
For the sake of completeness, readers should
also note that the US Navy has three line P-3
maritime patrol squadrons (VP-4, -9 and -47)
based at Marine Corps Air Facility Kaneohe
Bay on Hawaii and can be expected to deploy
the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and the MQ-
4C Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (UAV)
in the region in the medium term.
31
PATROL AI RCRAFT
MARITIME
Over time, Australia, India and Japan
have all expressed interest in the
acquisition of an MQ-4C BAMS-type
UAV capability Northrop Grumman
During April 2011, the Republic of
Singapore Air Force deployed one of
its Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraft
to Djibouti for anti-piracy patrols over
the Gulf of Aden Singapore MoD
The next generation Kawasaki
P-1 maritime patrol aircraft
made its maiden flight during
June 2008 Kawasaki
l JUNE 2011 l
M
ILITARIES IN the Asia-
Pacific wants the same
things any other military
wants from its Tactical
Communications Systems,
namely to be able to share data and integrate
command structures and enables high-speed,
large-capacity, long-distance wireless relay
transmission coupled with equally capable
but shorter range more mobile systems with
automatic routing and relay capabilities for
simultaneous video, voice and data.
India
A major part of Indias military modernisation
revolves around tactical C4I with the country
establishing demanding requirements but
with an overall approach that is fragmented
with three different organisations, taking
responsibility for the three key programmes:
Tactical Communications Systems, Battle
Management Systems (BMS) and F-INSAS.
There are many, many lessons from the digiti-
zation paths of other countries which probably
number more than the lines of the
Mahabharat. Number one however is the need
for integration across multiple programme
with a single strong authority to do that.
Perhaps the centerpiece of current efforts
is Project Aren or the Tactical
Communications Systems programme which
will provide the links that will connect Indias
Corps and Army level headquarters down to
regiment and battalion level initially equip-
TACTICAL
C 4 I S Y S T E M S
Regional Situational Awareness
Tactical C4I Systems:
The dismounted element to Indias BMS
programme will need to be deconflicted with
the C4I requirements in Phase 3 of the countrys
later F-INSAS work AJB
by Adam Baddeley
33
C 4 I S Y S T E M S
l JUNE 2011 l
TACTICAL
ping seven Army Crops three Strike Corps
and four Mountain Corps although this is
seen as just the start.
After multiple false starts, Expression of
Interest (EoI) were sent out to eight companies:
BEL, ITI, ICIL, Tata, L&T, WIPRO, Rolta and
HCL with whom overseas firms will team. The
requirement has not been released in detail to
non-Indian firms but it is expected to be more
capability led than the original 2006 require-
ment which was seen as prescriptive and rigid.
Although the teaming for the bids is meant to
be fixed, it is expected that teaming will remain
fluid even after down select.
There is no official schedule to date but
responses to the Spring RFP is expected to lead
to a downselect in early 2012 to two. The two
will then go through an 18 month process,
funded at a 80:20 government:industry basis
which would total $200m. There will be trial
and evaluation in order to judge that the
system is compliant and then an RFP will
be issued.
A contract could be let as early as mid
2013 but more likely this will be 2014 and is
valued at $2-2.4billion.
In a further complication for TCS, there is
still an HCLOS requirement that was award-
ed to PEL but the solution does not meet the
requirement and it is being rebid. The
requirement was due to operate in advance
of TCS.
India also has a Battle Management
System (BMS) project, a little behind the
timelines of TCS and is valued at $2.5billion.
The system is both vehicles mounted and has
a dismounted requirement with the require-
ment for simultaneous voice data and video.
An EoI was not yet released at the time of the
Bangalore Airshow but were expected by
April. It is considered that Indias DUCH
intercom programme may be folded into
BMS. A key omission in BMS plans to date is
the absence of details of which legacy radios
will be required to be integrated.
Indias BMS programme once had a com-
munications element but this has been trans-
ferred to an independent programme. The
EoI for the resulting Army SDR pro-
gramme which is for a JTRS Ground
Mobile Radio type solution, is
expected to be issued in 1Q2011 with
an RFP in 2013 with a requirement
for an estimated 1700 radios.
BEL and the Indian Government
have been working on a tactical SDR
manpack design for the past 18 months
with a throughput of 1Mbps with
1MHz of bandwidth which will com-
plete evaluation in 2011. BELs
Chairman said all evaluations
would be complete by June. BEL
said that this would replace the
current STARS-V VHF CNR,
LUP329 UHF CNR and VPS
Mk3 VHF handheld. Plans for a
handheld SDR are expected to be
completed in 2012.
The RFP for the Indian Air
Forces (IAF) SDR programme
was planned for Oct 2010
but wasnt issued at the
time of Aero India. The
plan is for a no cost, no
commitment evaluation
trials. It will only be at
that point that the IAF will
release which aircraft will
receive it.
A further complication
lies in the F-INSAS pro-
gramme, lead by the
infantry. The third phase
of this programme
involves a C4I element
whose timelines and
requirement overlap but
precedes those of the BMS
programme.
Irrespective of tradition-
al concerns in Indian pro-
curement about delays in
timelines, perhaps the
biggest challenges in the
Regional Situational Awareness
Tactical C4I Systems:
Selex Communications SWave
family of SDRs is one of several
advanced products being offered
in the region AJB
procurement plan is to reconcile the integra-
tion challenge between the three critical pro-
grammes.
Australia
Elbit is the prime contractor on Australias
LAND 125 Phase 3A Dismounted Battle
Group and Below Command, Control
Communication System which will 1,501
BMS-dismounted and 164 dismounted com-
mand posts to the ADF. The company is also
the lead on LAND 75 Phase 3.4, which will
deliver a vehicle mounted BMS. Together,
the two programmes are commonly referred
to as Land 200.
The contract was signed on 15 March 2010
with Elbit Systems Limited. The IOC for
Land 75 and 125 is planned for the second
half of this year with the equipping and train-
ing of a combat team with a complete forma-
tion with 7 Brigade being equipped in 2013.
The first project is delivering a dismount-
ed BMS into a Brigade Group in support of
the Network Centric Warfare Milestone 2
Networked Battle Group 2011.
Australia has chosen to integrate the BMS
with communications elements. For Land 125
Phase 3A, the transport layer for Elbit D-BMS
are being provided by Harris AN/PRC-152
and Raytheon EPLRS MicroLight radios.
The BMS and the communications capa-
bility for Land 75 were separated in a project
in 2006 with the Mounted BMS element being
taken from JP2072 Battlespace
Communications System-Land (BCS-L) with
which Land 125 now works closely, although
the former is focused on CNRs under Phase 1
Falcon III AN/PRC-152(C) multiband hand-
held radios and their in-vehicle adaptors, but
also includes AN/PRC-117G wideband,
AN/PRC-117F multi-band and AN/PRC-
150(C) HF manpack radios. Australia
has`moved area communications to later
phases such as Phase 2B which will see
BCS(L) Area and Tactical Range Extension
Nodes being fielded via transit cases, trailers
based, vehicle OTM based and even small
ISO container based communications solu-
tions and expected to include conventional
Harris RF-7800W is a
major player in TCS
programmes AJB
TACTICAL
C 4 I S Y S T E M S
GCLOS radio relays. Troposcatter solutions
to replace the capability currently provided
under Project Parakeet. For Phase 2B a First
Pass procurement is expected in 2011 with
the Operational Concept and RFT developed
with industry feedback. Phase 2A of JP2072
will provide Mobile Systems Segment of
BCS-L, whose capabilities include new com-
bat radio systems, tactical data radio systems
and tactical HF and satellite radios.
In March, Harris were awarded a $11m
order for the AN/PRC-152(C) handheld
and vehicular radio system and RF-300M-
TV Trimline Vehicular Adapters
Battlespace Communications System to
meet ADF's objectives, including network-
ing the Adaptive Army.
Republic of Korea
Work began in earnest on South Koreas
Tactical Information Communication
Network (TICN) in 2009 after several years of
study contracts which have been lead by
Samsung Thales and LIG Nex1 was in charge
of TMMR, while Huneed was a main contrac-
tor for HCTR and has looked in detail about
the application of WiBRO mobile multi-hop
technology provide extended coverage that
goes beyond 20km provide high data rate
that exceeds 400Mbps, and enhanced cell
edge performance, with elements including
the High Capacity Trunk Radio (HCTR),
Tactical Multi-band and Multi-role Radio
(TMMR) and Network Management System
(NMS). TICN will replace the legacy Spider
system which is effectively limited to still
images and voice data with the systems via
the KAN/GRC-512(V) Electronic Count
Counter Measures (ECCM) radio with its
data transmission speed improved from
2Mbps to 4Mbps.
Po Sheng
Taiwan continues to aspire to extend its
headquarters level Po Sheng or Broad
Victory programme, down to tactical levels.
The Po Sheng programme was originally a
$2.3 billion modernization effort, launched in
2003 and designed to enhance the C4ISR
capabilities of the Taiwanese military, con-
trolled by the central military command, the
Joint Operations Control Center (JOCC).
Since then there has been a desire to increase
the scope of the command links down to the
battalion and even company level although
little has come of this to date.
Brunei
Bruneis C4I network is very much a TCS
waiting to happen. The order for a Joint
Operations Centre (JOC) command and con-
trol capability from Northrop Grumman
announced was announced in January 2010
and based on Command and Control for PC
(C2PC) and Interoperable C4I Services (ICS)
but is currently limited to a high level head-
quarters. The aspiration is to extend its
reach down to the tactical level and a range
of Harris CNRs were acquired at around the
same time, which could cover the voice and
data requirements at the lowest tactical
level, there remains a need for high capabil-
ity links if the competition for effective net-
worked C2 is to be realised.
Tactical Communications
Systems programme which
will provide the links that
will connect Indias Corps
and Army level headquarters
35 l JUNE 2011 l
The Tactical Information Communication
Network programme will transform how
command and control are exercised on the
Korean Peninsula DoD
C 4 I S Y S T E M S
TACTICAL
Pakistan
Local firms Global Industrial and Defence
Solutions IDS showed their Integrated BMS
IBMS) at IDEX which began trial on PAF Al
Khalid tanks in early 2011. The transport
layer for IBMS is provided by the companys
Spread Spectrum Radio which provides data
rates of 96-112Kbps at a frequency band of
416-440MHz with both point to point and
Point to Multi-Point Capabilities and a line of
sight range of 10km.
Rohde and Schwarz launched their new
Modular Multi-role Radio System at IDEX,
originally developed for the Pakistan mili-
tary for Air Traffic and was fielded in 2010. It
consists of two cubes equipped with M3XR
technology. The system is ready to go with
four clicks. MMRS is equally suitable for use
as field headquarters, a mobile ATC system,
a radio station and a relay station.
International offerings
As the market for communication systems
grows, so international firms are gravitat-
ing to the region with their latest
communications solutions.
In the ground tactical sector,
SELEX Communications exhibited at the
SWave radio and the WRS504 vehicular tacti-
cal radio with WiMax technology at Avalaon
2011. Thales is also active in the region, one
of the first customers for its FlexNet radio,
developed with Rockwell Collins is a leading
military in the region. Thales F@stnet radio
is made under license in Malaysia. A recent
development in term of the F@stnet wave-
forms has been the introduction of the super-
max waveform which offers a 21.6Kbps fre-
quency hopping data only mode that drops
to 9.6Kbps when simultaneously enabling
voice communications.
Elbits radios sell widely in the Asia
Pacific with its latest radio beginning to be
trialled and fielded. Elbit Systems 50W SDR-
7200opertes in VHF at 30 to 88 MHz an UHF
in 200 to 528/700 MHz and is part of the
IDFs Digital Army Programme. The
Waveforms used include the 115kbps HDR
waveform used in the CNR-9000 HDR VHF
radio. In part, it builds on the contractor's
earlier High Data Rate (HDR) waveform
which is supplemented by a MANET wave-
form supporting data rates of up to 8Mbps.
Elbit launched the SDR-7200AR at Aero India
which feature embedded avionics related
features and supports multiple
frequency bands, including
VHF, UHF, L-Band, S-Band
and SATCOM. The companys
Military IP Radio launched in
2010 had data rates of up to
13.3 Mbps and is designed to
cope with the Doppler effects
of communications to and from
rotary wing aviation and has PTP
and PTMP. Primarily a data solution it
can also supports VoIP as well as
MANET and ECCM waveforms.
An EoI for the Armys SDR
programme is expected in
2011 with an RFP due in 2013
with a requirement for an
estimated 1700 radios AJB
The IDFs digitization programme has fed
into a number of Elbits international offerings
Elbit Systems
Indias BMS programme
once had a communications
element but this has
been transferred to an
independent programme
TACTICAL
C 4 I S Y S T E M S
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IN-FLIGHT
R E F U E L I N G
A
NEW GENERATION of mod-
ern tankers are beginning to
gain a footing in a market that
is hungry for versatile and flex-
ible aerial refuelling aircraft
that are able to perform a mixture of AAR,
cargo and personnel transport, as well as
aeromedical evacuation missions. With
defence budgets feeling the pressure of the
wider global economic troubles, a next-gen-
eration multi-mission aerial refuelling tanker
that can both support the front line and com-
bat aircraft is a highly valuable asset.
New skies
Boeings KC-46A was awarded the much-
anticipated contract for the US Air Force
(USAF) next-generation aerial refuelling
tanker. Boeing beat out competitor EADS
who was originally awarded the contract
before re-launch in response to a Boeing
protest in 2008. The decision in Boeings
favour has been called into question, with
EADS quick to point out that until this contract
the Airbus Military A330 MRTT has won every
head-to-head competition with the Boeing KC-
767 tanker, and is a far more mature pro-
gramme than the Boeing programme. As the
successful bidder Boeing will design, develop
and manufacture 18 combat-ready KC-46A
tankers by 2017 for the initial phase of the con-
tract, which will eventually replace 179 of the
USAFs 400 KC-135 tankers.
The KC-46A tanker is based on the Boeing
767 commercial aircraft. It is a wide body,
multi-mission aircraft with the latest technol-
ogy upgrades, capable of meeting the USAFs
requirements for transport of fuel, cargo, pas-
sengers and patients; as well as state-of-the-
art digital flight deck, featuring Boeing 787
Dreamliner electronic displays, and a flight
control systems that places aircrews in com-
mand rather than allowing computer soft-
ware to limit combat manoeuvrability. For
refuelling the tanker features an advanced
KC-10 boom with an expanded refuelling
envelope, increased fuel offload rate and fly-
by-wire control system.
The Boeing contract means a number of
things for the international aerial refuelling
tanker market. The current USAF refuelling
tanker fleet, the KC-135, will be phased out as
the KC-46A aircraft come into service. The
focus of the US military on the KC-46A will
result in surplus KC-135 aircraft becoming
available for purchase by customers looking
to invest in proven platforms. For armed
forces with the requirement but not the funds
to invest in next-generation aerial refuelling
tankers for their front-line aircraft this is likely
to be a well-received addition to the market.
The KC-135 Stratotanker has been in oper-
ation with the US military since the 1950s. Its
multi-mission capabilities, including aerial
refuelling, airborne command posts, cargo
and personnel transport, electronic recon-
Increasing
Endurance
An Italian Air Force KC-767A
tanker in flight Boeing
R E F U E L I N G
IN-FLIGHT
39 l JUNE 2011 l
naissance and photo mapping have seen it
become widely known as the workhorse of
the USAF.
The KC-135 is equipped with a flying
boom to provide fuel transfer in flight, a
drogue to refuel probe-equipped aircraft
attached to the boom, and passenger and
cargo deck located above the fuselage
mounted tanks. Boeing has carried out a
number of improvement programmes to the
aircraft, including the replacement of the
lower wing surfaces with an improved alu-
minium-alloy skin on 746 aircraft; and the
replacement of the engine strut fittings. The
USAF has also carried out a number of
improvements to its fleet under Boeing con-
tracts, including the addition of wingtip,
hose and drogue refuelling pods; the mod-
ernisation of the cockpit; and the provision of
new compasses and radar systems and the
installation of GPS.
Two major engine replacement pro-
Increasing
Endurance
The might of an air force is greatly
dependent on the capabilities of its
Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) aircraft. The
requirement for aerial refuelling tankers
capable of providing true force multiplication
and mission range enhancement is
ever-increasing as governments look to
strengthen their aerial strike, defence and
humanitarian response abilities.
by John Mulberry
Airborne
Refueling:
grammes have also been carried out by
Boeing. A number of USAF aircraft had their
original KC-135A engines replaced with
CFM56 engines in order to increase takeoff
and carrying capacity. The aircraft were re-
designated KC-135R, and the programme
improved fuel efficiency, reducing consump-
tion by 27 per cent, lowered engine noise and
pollution levels, reducing decibel levels 98
per cent and reducing the noise-impact area
near airports from 240 to 3 square miles. The
USAF and Air National Guard also carried
out the replacement of KC-135A engines on
some of its fleet with refurbished JT3D
engines in order to increase engine power by
30 percent, reduce noise levels by 85 percent,
and also refurbished struts and cowling,
brakes, cockpit controls and instruments. The
aircraft were re-designated KC-135E.
Currently few nations other than the US
operate the KC-135. Singapore received the
first of four re-engined KC-135R
Stratotankers in 1999. The aircraft had been
modified with the Boeing-developed Multi-
Point Refuelling System, and was the first
aircraft to receive the modification concur-
rently with the CFM56 engine upgrade. The
Multi-Point Refuelling System provides
operability between USAF, US Navy (USN)
and US Marine Corps (USMC) aircraft, as
well as NATO. The system consists of wing-
mounted pods that enable the aircraft to refu-
el probe-equipped and standard KC-135
boom receptacle equipped receivers simulta-
neously. Overall the system provides a 400
gallon-per-minute offloads capability.
France and Turkey also operate the KC-
135. The latest country to receive the air-
craft from US stockpiles is Chile, who took
delivery of the aircraft in January 2010 as
part of a package Foreign Military Sale
(FMS) from the US government.
Next generation
When looking to replace the KC-135 as part of
the USAF KC-X tanker competition, there was
a major focus on the multi-mission capabilities
and fuel-efficiency of the replacement aircraft.
In the KC-46A, Boeings proposal offered the
USAF multi-mission aircraft that delivers
advanced capabilities to US warfighters and
according to Boeing - 24 per cent lower fuel
consumption than the competing aircraft from
EADS. Boeing was already seeing success
with its other 767-based tanker, the KC-767
that had been ordered by the armed forces of
Italy and Japan.
The KC-767 is designed with a focus on
operational flexibility, with the option of
multiple interior configurations so that that
the aircrafts cabin floor interior can be con-
figured for convertible freighter, convertible
combination or dedicated freighter or pas-
senger while maintaining its tanker capabili-
ty. The aircraft has a maximum fuel load of
73,028 kg without auxiliary fuel, and a maxi-
mum takeoff weight of 179,169 kg. It has 19
cargo pallet positions on the main deck and
three on the forward lower lobe, and can seat
200 passengers on airline-type seats mounted
on military cargo pallets.
Boeing calls the KC-767 tanker a right
size solution, as it is sized for optimal fuel
offload and range, and can take off and land
at more locations than other current and
prospective tanker platforms. The refuelling
technology includes a high-tech boom opera-
tor station and advanced-design boom
enabled by camera systems, new wing air
refuelling pods and centerline hose drum
unit, and integrated avionics and communi-
cation systems; offering maximum opera-
tional flexibility along with full European
Union and NATO interoperability.
Proven capability
The EADS contender for the USAF contract
was the KC-45, based on the mission-
equipped Airbus Military A330 Multi-Role
Tanker Transport (MRTT), which was in
many ways deemed a more capable aircraft.
The KC-46A tanker
is based on the Boeing 767
commercial aircraft. It
is a wide body, multi-mission
aircraft with the latest
technology upgrades
IN-FLIGHT
R E F U E L I N G
An artists impression of a Boeing
KC-46A preparing to refuel an
F-35 in flight Boeing
The RAAF A330 MRTT
refuels an F-16 through
ARBS Airbus Military
At the time of the competition Airbus Military
was already flying, fully certified and deliver-
ing the A330 MRTT. The aircraft had carried
out refuelling flights and was in the process of
being handed over to its first operator, the
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The MRTT is derived from the A330 wide-
body twin-engine commercial airliner, and is
designed for the full range of tanker opera-
tional missions, including a transportation of a
cargo payload of up to 45 tonnes or 34 stan-
dard pallets, 380 passengers, or aeromedical
evacuation for up to 130 stretchers. The aircraft
is able to support combat aircraft squadrons in
both aerial refuelling, and in its ability to trans-
port the squadrons personnel and equipment
while simultaneously performing refuelling
escort during the combat squads deployment
to overseas base, allowing the squadron to
deploy as a unit with short turnaround time
for combat-level sorties.
The A330 MRRTs 245,000 lbs fuel capacity
and high offload rate ensures that more air-
craft can be accurately refuelled in shorter
timescales. The aircraft features a state-of-the-
art under-fuselage centreline Aerial Refuelling
Boom System (ARBS) from Airbus Military
that is combined with a Cobham hose and
drogue refuelling system; together this gives
the aircraft the ability to service probe-
equipped and slipway-equipped aircraft dur-
ing the same mission, providing greater flexi-
bility. With the ARBS the aircraft is able to
transfer fuel at a rate of 4,600 litres per minute;
and the MRTT also features multi-point refu-
elling that enables the aircraft to refuel several
receiver aircraft at the same time.
The aircraft carries two Cobham 905E hose
and drogue underwing pods able to simulta-
neously refuel two probe-equipped receiver
aircraft, and the Cobham 805E hose and
drogue under-fuselage refuelling unit can be
installed according to customer requirements
for additional fuel transfer capability. Both
systems are controlled by a Fuel Operator
Console in the cockpit, and they render the
aircraft interoperable with NATO and allied
aircraft on the same mission, significantly
expanding flexibility and capabilities. The
MRRT is also fitted with a Universal Air
Refuelling Receptacle Slipway Installation
(UARRSI) on the forward fuselage above the
cockpit, which enables the aircraft to receive
fuel from other tankers while in-flight,
increasing endurance and mission envelope.
Growing success
In December 2010 the first in-flight refuelling
contacts were carried out with the fuselage-
mounted hose and drogue refuelling system
for the KC-45, part of the aircrafts four-point
refuelling system. The contacts were made
with an F/A-18 fighter aircraft, and con-
firmed the stability of the Fuselage Refuelling
Unit (FRU) hose and drogue in level flight as
well as turns throughout the aircrafts flight
envelope. The FRU is used for refuelling air-
craft such as the C-130H Hercules and V-22
Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, and is operated via
the Remote Aerial Refuelling Operator
(RARO) console in the cockpit. In January the
refuelling systemcarried out a successful fuel
transfer with two F/A-18 fighters, bringing
the number of aerial refuelling contacts made
with equipment for the KC-45 to over 1,500;
the aircrafts systems have successfully also
transferred fuel to aircraft including the F-15
and E-3 AWACS and other tankers.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
was the first customer to order the A330
IN-FLIGHT
R E F U E L I N G
A330 MRTT with ARBS
down Airbus Military
MRTT, to be known as the KC-30A in RAAF
service. Australia has ordered aircraft five in
total under Defence Military Organisation
(DMO) programme Air 5402. The programme
will significantly enhance the Australian
Defence Forces (ADFs) aerial range, and also
establish the infrastructure necessary to deliv-
ery services including engineering, mainte-
nance, spares management, technical data,
software and training support for the new
fleet with the establishment of a production
and outfitting centre in Brisbane by Qantas
Engineering. Between them the first two
RAAF A330 MRTTs have performed more
than 1,300 aerial refuelling contacts with the
ARBS and digital under-wing refuelling
pods. The third platform was converted to its
tanker/transport configuration by Qantas
Engineering in-country, and the fleet will also
be configured with a Link 16 real-time data
link for airborne connectivity, and directional
infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system,
among other defensive systems.
The other major US ally to have ordered
the A330 MRTT is the UK, with the Royal
Air Force (RAF) having ordered the plat-
form for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
(FSTA) programme to replace the RAFs
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar and VC10 tankers,
both of which are nearing the end of their
service lives. According to the UK MOD, in
looking to upgrade its AAR capabilities, the
RAF required the ability to rapidly deploy,
sustain and recover its forces and upgrade
its ability to respond quickly to future crises.
Designated the A330 MRTT FSTA, the plat-
form was selected for its ability to meet the
service requirement, programme timescales
and costs and for the aircrafts ability to ful-
fil a passenger Air Transport capability
when required.
The UK MOD has ordered 14 aircraft
under a lease agreement with the AirTanker
consortium (consisting of Cobham, EADS,
Rolls-Royce, Thales UK and VT Group plc),
which will see the provision of air transport
and AAR capabilities for 27 years under a
Private Finance Initiative (PFI). AirTanker
will own and support the aircraft, two of
which are being converted in Spain and the
remainder of which will be converted in-
country by Cobham. The configuration for
the aircraft in transport role is for 291 seats
for passenger transport; 40 NATO stretchers,
20 medical staff seats and 100 passenger
seats; and a permanent lower-deck capacity
of 8 standard 463-L NATO military pallets.
The refuelling equipment will be standard
Cobham 905E under-wing pods and one
Cobham 805E FRU on selected aircraft.
The ongoing development of the A330
MRTT and its healthy competition with its
Boeing rival can only be a positive thing for
the aerial refuelling tanker market. Providing
armed forces with next-generation capabili-
ties and multi-mission operational abilities
will continue to drive forward the most
advanced technologies, delivering force mul-
tiplying aircraft that can form the backbone
of any aerial military fleet.
43 l JUNE 2011 l
When looking to replace the
KC-135 as part of the USAF
KC-X tanker competition,
there was a major focus on
the multi-mission capabilities
and fuel-efficiency of the
replacement aircraft
R E F U E L I N G
IN-FLIGHT
A RAAF A330 MRTT refuels an
AWACS Airbus Military
The first A330 to be converted into
Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
(FSTA) for the RAF Airbus Military
R
ATHER THAN a dedicated,
role specific UGV, the trend is
to produce a generic platform
that the user and industrial
integrators can add and
replace modules. This has required the plat-
form to adopt an open architecture across
multiple platforms, equipped to integrate for
modularised payloads with common mount-
ing points. The greater preponderance of
missions are within an urban areas including
physically entering the buildings to obtain
reconnaissance information.
Militaries have to select between three
types of role; remote control or tele-opera-
tions, semi-automatic and fully autonomous.
Opting for fully autonomous, requires three
key systems; The Brain for decision making,
reactive movement control The Legs and
the perception system The Eye.
Mini- and Small UGVs
Despite their size, Small UGVs (SUGV) are
still tasked with demanding performance
specifications, including climbing steps, curbs
and other obstacles, traversing steep slopes
and cross significant gaps and self righting
when the inevitable happens and being able
to maneuver in confined spaces including
turns in place such as tunnels and drains. All
this despite being able to be carried in a back-
pack or in the case of mini-UAVs, a pocket
sized solution providing a ready means of
RSTA at the squad and platoon level.
iRobot has recently added a throwable
UGV to its product line, the 2.2Kg FirstLook
110 expected to last for up to six hours on
operations, a sub-2.5Kg UGV robot which
uses IR illumination to enhance low light and
no light operations for its four built-in cam-
eras. According to the developers, the robot
can run more than six hours of runtime on a
typical mission and up to ten hours, perform-
ing stationary video monitoring.
ReconOpticals Recon Scout has a number
of customers, including US Special Forces.
Simply put it consists of a titanium tube with
urethane wheels at either end and flexible
antennas with a spar to right itself. It is able
to be thrown down a flight of stairs or out of
second or third story window and thrown
UNMANNED
G R O U ND V E H I C L E S
ReconOpticals Recon Scout has a number of
customers, including US Special Forces and can
be used as a stick camera too ReconOptical
over 40m, and weighs 450g. It is designed to
move with just two thirds the noise of an
average human whisper. The sensor consists
of a black and white image in day and night
and can transmit its imagery 30m indoors
and 75m in the open. Operation is simple and
intuitive, with the user switching it on by tak-
ing it from his jacket, pulling a pin and then
controlling it with a simple joystick.
Larger platforms can carry multiple and
more complex payloads. iRobots SUGV
selected for the US Army, fits in a standard
MOLLE pack, and is used by troops as point
man and forward observer and is able to
move at speeds of 10kmh. Imagery from the
on-board thermal camera and 312X day cam-
era and additional sensors linked via a 4.9GHz
or UHF military link at ranges of up to 1km. In
April, iRobot announced that the Army
planned to increase its holding of SUGVs a
smaller and lighter version of the combat-
proven PackBot fromthe current 45 equipping
a first brigade set of BCTM Increment 1 capa-
bilities; with a further 76 SUGV for two addi-
tional infantry brigade sets.
To boost the level of autonomy, the User
Assist Payload has even developed for UGV
in the 510 PackBot Type size. Each of the pay-
loads consists of a GPS and a brain into
which, preprogrammed behaviour can be
programmed. This might include retracing
steps in case communication is lost as a safe-
ty feature until links can be restored. Even if
the UGV has to go over bumps the systems
maintains steady hold.
Elbit Systems VIPeR (Versatile Intelligent
Portable Robot) equips IDF units at the platoon
level as part of the Portable UGV programme
weighs just over 11kg and is able to operate for
hours at a time. Operational in IDF service
since 2008, there has been lot of overseas inter-
est. The throwable Mini-Viper is a throwable,
self righting solution weighing just 3.5Kg.
Surveillance
UGVs have found ready customers for those
users requiring the platform to patrol fixed
perimeters, unerringly and without fatigue,
while linked to a command structure. The
growth in the requirement for border securi-
ty requirements is also a catalyst for this cat-
egory of UGVs.
The IDF began test and qualification of the
Guardium UGV in 2008 and operational
deployment in 2009 in the roles of border
reconnaissance in which 100,000s of km of
experience have been acquired. The next step
is the Nachshon, a larger more robust UGV
45
l JUNE 2011 l
Substitute
UNMANNED
Unmanned Ground
Vehicles (UGV)
continue to add to
the spectrum of
roles they are called
upon to undertake,
some far removed from
their original explosive
ordnance disposal
(EOD) duties, dating
from the 1970s.
by Adam Baddeley
Guy
for another
Elbit Systems VIPeR (Versatile Intelligent Portable Robot) equips IDF units at the platoon level Elbit
based on a Ford platform with a prototype
expected to be ready by the end of
2011/early 2012 in a pilot programme.
Obstacle detection of the Guardium compris-
es two cameras for stereoscopic depth per-
ception, laser and millimeter wave radar.
The General Dynamics Robotics Systems
developed Mobile Detection Assessment and
Response System (MDARS) began its work
detecting intruders and Radio-Frequency
Identification (RFID) based checking of
inventory protecting the nuclear Nevada
National Security Site where it operates in
excess of 12 hours at a time and is equipped
with a number of sensors including Forward
Looking Infrared and Radar and Light
Detection And Ranging.
Rheinmetall developed the Foxbot UGV
for this role with optronics sensors that can be
raised on a 1.2m tower with data sent to and
from the platform for ranges of up to 1km.
Support
With the increase in the number of sensors
and systems carried by dismounted soldier
UGVs are now being tasked with removing
this weight from soldiers' shoulders by fol-
lowing them around, carrying their packs,
water, ammunition as well as modular pay-
loads such as communications relays and
battery recharging.
Lockheed Martin's Squad Mission Support
SystemUGVfunctioned as a recharging point
in addition to carrying the soldier weight bur-
den, working with soldiers from the 1st BDE,
1 Infantry Division in major exercise for the
Nett Warrior programme in November. A
Military Utility Assessment Afghanistan is
anticipated later this year.
Another option that has been developed
for Guardium is the Guardium Logistics sup-
port which can carry 1.2 tonnes of supplies
and automtically follows troops.
Singapores DSO has undertaken work
on developing a prototype UGV based
on a John Deere Gator type platform and
has demonstrated speed of 25Kmph
over terrain that could be used for the
transport of logistics and casualties.
The USAF is trialing its tele-operated
Battlefield Extraction Assist Robot (BEAR)
unmanned ground vehicle, developed by
Vecna Technologies with the goal of develop-
ing a fieldable casualty evacuation UGV by
the middle of the decade. BEAR is designed
to carry casualties to the rear or moving into
ground under fire to drag a down soldier into
cover, rather than risk another soldier to res-
cue a friend. A secondary role for the vehicle
would be to carry supplies.
Northrop Grummans 6x6 JP8-burning
hybrid UGV Carry-all Mechanized
Equipment Landrover (CaMEL) can carry
over 500k of cargo is another US solution
pursuing the Army's Maneuver Center of
Excellence at Fort Benning is trialing the plat-
form. Israel selected the vehicle for use as a
base platform with 60 CaMELs being
acquired. It switches between road tyres and
a field deployable rubber band tracks.
Bomb disposal
The original role for UGVs was in the tele-
operated EOD role and they continue to
improve their capabilities in this area.
An innovative solution in EOD is
iRobots AwareHead, a supervisory control
systems designed to reduce mission time on
target. The AwareHead equipped UGV will
semi-autonomously drive to the location of
the threat using a click-to drive interface
allowing the personnel to use the onboard
cameras to look for secondary threats
and similar rather than spend
time driving the UGC
in tele-operation.
Personnel from Singapores Chemical
Biological Radiological Nuclear and
Explosive Defense Group participated in
training on the new US Chemical Biological
Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Unmanned
Ground Reconnaissance Vehicle (CUGV)
based on the iRobot PackBot EOD. The SAF
already use the platform in the EOD role. A
DSO/DSTA Defence Science and Technology
Agency launched a family of three robots in
the CBR tasked with detection, solid sam-
pling of biological and chemical hazards and
mitigation performs liquid decontamination
when chemical threats are present, respec-
tively.
The latest EOD
UGV from Northrop
Grumman Remotec
is its Mk.9 UGV
which is based on its
successful design for
the UKs new Cutlass
EOD UGV programme can
climb a 45-degree stairway; has
UNMANNED
In the EOD role, UGVs must carry out delicate
operations DoD
The original role for UGVs was in the tele-
operteded EOD role and they continue to improve
their capabilities in this area Allen Vanguard
Despite their size, Small
UGV (SUGV) are still tasked
with demanding performance
specifications, including
climbing steps, curbs and
other obstacles, traversing
steep slopes and
cross significant gaps
a modular telescopic arm with 7-degress of
freedom and a maximum reach of more than
5m, a maximum speed of 5km/hour and a lift
capability of 150kg and a 26x zoom camera.
Users have the option of range of wired and
wireless links reaching out to 1000m with a
COFDM link. In addition is its larger product
line, Remotec is adding a smaller, backpack-
able platform similar to the Talon to its prod-
uct line but with two sets of actuators.
Telerob, recently acquired by Cobham
produces the TEODor heavy duty Explosive
Ordnance Disposal (EOD) robot is in service
in over 39 countries around the world. These
are complemented by the companys highly
mobile telemax for operation in constrained
environments.
Qinetiqs Dragon Runner is a lightweight,
backpackable, UGV was acquired by the
UKs Royal Engineers and deployed to
Afghanistan in support of EOD activity as an
Urgent Operational Requirement.
Rafael has developed the Pincher Robot-
Mounted, Micro-Weapon System to defeat
IEDs. Pincher carries between 4-20, 20cm
long micro rockets which can be fired
from its launcher from a safe
distance up to 500m in line
of sight mode and weighing just 3Kg with
each rocket weighing 40g, can be integrated
on the widest possible range of different
UGV platforms.
Combat UGVs
Weaponised UGV and dedicated combat
platforms are being seen in increasing
number of battlefield Unmanned Combat
Ground Vehicle (UCGV).
G-NIUS a jointly-owned company of Elbit
Systems Ltd. and Israel Aerospace Industries
Ltd announced the delivery of the
AvantGuard UGCV to the IDF in June last
year and capable of supporting a range of mis-
sions including Counter IED, Advance Guard,
Armed Sentry, Combat Logistic Support,
CASEVAC and others. Based on the tactical
amphibious ground support (TAGS) platform
built by Dumur Industries it is equipped with
UNMANNED
47 l JUNE 2011 l
Lockheed Martins Squad Mission Support
System (SMSS) supports low level logistic
functions Lockheed Martin
the Ground Penetrating Radar, Counter IED
Jammer, Mini-Pop cooled thermal surveil-
lance camera, Counter Human & Vehicle
Detection Radar and other payloads.
The high water mark to date for UGCVs in
the US has been the Future Combat Systems
programme. The US has progressively cut
back its UGV requirement as the FCS pro-
gramme has been folded into its Early
Infantry Brigade Combat Team(E-IBCT) mod-
ernization effort. Of a number of UGV initia-
tives, all that is left it the MULE Armed
Robotic Vehicle Assault (Light) although it
cancelled work on an unmanned logistics
variant or Multifunction Utility/Logistics and
Equipment (MULE) in 2010 equipped with
light anti-tank and anti personnel weapons.
Rather than a dedicated UCGV the trend
to modularity is seeing basic platforms being
weaponised. At AUSA in October, Northrop
Grumman installed a CROWS (Common
Remotely Operated Weapon Station) mount
equipped with a .50 calibre heavy machine
on their Camel UGV.
The US Marine Corps entry into UGCV
came with Gladiator, a tracked solution, tele-
operated/semi-autonomous ground vehicle
sourced from key combat requirements were
the ability to shrug off 7.62mm rounds and
traverse rubble and similar in a MOUT envi-
ronment. And carry out scouting and direct
fire missions with a variety of weapons
including non-lethal solutions.
QinetiQs Modular Advanced Armed
Rafael has developed the Pincher Robot-Mounted,
Micro-Weapon System to defeat IEDs Rafael
UNMANNED
Qinetiqs Dragon Runner is a lightweight, backpackable, UGV was acquired by the UKs Royal Engineers
and deployed to Afghanistan in support of EOD activity as an Urgent Operational Requirement AJB
An innovative solution in
EOD is iRobots AwareHead,
a supervisory control
systems designed to reduce
mission time on target
Robotic System (MAARS) carries a mix of
lethal and less lethal weapons including four
40mm grenade launched and a M240B
7.62mm machine gun.
Manned Unmanned
Conversions
Switching vehicles between ad manned and
unmanned status also has its appeal as it
allows platform to be easily deployed with-
out the need for undue expense in providing
universal autonomy before switching to
UGV status for specific tactical reason.
The UKs Terrier is one example of sever-
al engineering vehicles that have a remotely
operated function they are joined by others
such as Frances EBG in dangerous roles such
as mine clearance. Israel Aerospace
Industries' Ramta Division have developed
remotely operated two engineering vehicles
based on civilian platforms; Caterpillars
Mini-Cat and D9T heavy bulldozer.
Logistics are an area that is getting
increasing UGV focus not least in the are of
convoy automation, providing a retrofit
capability to covert existing trucks to robotic
status and able to following a route with
semi-autonomous navigation systems.
The TerraMax self-driving, self-navigating
developed by Oshkosh and Rockwell Collins
equipped the first military tactical vehicle ever,
using Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement
(MTVR), to complete the 132mile course for
DARPAs Grand Challenge and has also been
demonstrated on the Armys Family of
Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) Load
Handling System (LHS) in October.
UNMANNED
The UKs Terrier is one example of several
engineering vehicles that have a remotely
operated function AJB
AUSTRALIA
Boeing Vigilare system
nears service entry
The new network centric command and con-
trol system (NC3S) for the Royal Australian
Air Force (RAAF) has taken a step nearer to
entering service with the completion of opera-
tional testing at the RAAF Base Williamtown's
Eastern Region Operations Centre (EROC).
This is the last formal operational test for
the Boeing Vigilare system, with the full range
of functionality demonstrated and the system
nowdue for conditional acceptance. The latest
milestone follows on from successful site
acceptance testing conducted March 7-18 at
Williamtown, in which Boeing demonstrated
the EROC system is successful interfacing
with all external systems and that Vigilare has
the full range of system functionality required
to provide enhanced battlespace management
and surveillance operations for the RAAF.
The latest tests, conducted March 28 to
April 8, included complex air battle scenarios
and the full testing of all operational capabil-
ities. The second half of the tests included
participating in pilot and air defence opera-
tional Exercise Aces South, in which the
Vigilare system demonstrated its network
centric capability with F/A-18 Classic
Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornets, Wedgetail
Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft,
Hawks, a 707 Tanker and a P-3 Orion.
The Vigilare system combines near real-
time information from a wide range of plat-
forms, sensors, tactical data links and intelli-
gence networks to deliver tactical and strate-
gic surveillance operations and battlespace
management in the air and joint domains. The
live inputs from these sources present a uni-
fied operational picture to the user at single or
multiple operational centres. The system con-
sists of two regional operations centres,
EROC and the Northern Regional Operations
Centre, which has been operational since
September 2010 and is located at RAAF Base
Tindal in the Northern Territory. Both centres
are equipped with operator consoles and
equipment to form a recognized wide area
surveillance picture that is distributed to
national command and control centres.
Royal Navy Largs Bay for the
Royal Australian Navy
The Australian government has announced
that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has
been successful in its bid to acquire the British
Royal Navys (RNs) amphibious Ship Largs
Bay, a Bay Class ship, fromthe UKgovernment
at a cost of approximately AU $100 million.
Australias Canberra Class amphibious
Landing helicopter Dock ships will become
operational in 2014, and the purchase of Largs
Bay is expectedto ease the transition over to the
new fleet, ensuring that the Royal Australian
Navy (RAN) has sufficient amphibious capa-
bility for operational and humanitarian sup-
port in the lead up to the entry into service of
the Landing Helicopter Dock Ships.
Largs Bay has been in service with the RN
since 2006 and has since become surplus to the
UK governments 2010 Strategic Defence and
Security Review. The ship has a proven
humanitarian relief capability, having been
central to the UKs relief efforts in Haiti fol-
lowing the earthquake in 2010.
Largs Bay is a Landing Ship Dock (LSD)
capable of carrying two large helicopters, 150
light trucks, and 350 troops. At 16,000 tonnes,
176 metres long and 26 metres wide it also has
a cargo capacity that is equivalent to the entire
RANs existing amphibious fleet.
The ship is due in Australia by the end of
2011 ahead of entry into service with the
RAN in 2012. The Australian government
announced that comprehensive sea trials will
be carried out before finalisation of the acqui-
sition to assess the material state of the ship.
Australian Defence Force flying
training contract for BAE Systems
BAE Systems Australia has won a contract to
provide Interim Basic Flying Training to the
Australian Defence Force (ADF) following a
comprehensive bidding process that also
included bids from Boeing Australia and
Thales in partnership with Flight Training
Adelaide and Hawker Pacific.
The contract will see BAE Systems pro-
vide basic flying training at Tamworth,
where it is already running training pro-
grammes as part of the current basic training
contract due for conclusion in December this
year. The interim contract will cover the gap
between the end of the current agreement
and the delivery of a new pilot training sys-
tem for the ADF under Project Air 5428
between 2015 and 2017. The six-year contract,
worth a total of AU $86.6 million to BAE
Systems, includes annual extension options
for Defence for up to a further six years.
The CT-4B Airtrainer aircraft currently
used for training, upgraded to meet contem-
The C-17 Globemaster III is known for its
operational utility, performance, versatility
and reliability. Australia is buying a fifth DoD
Asia Pacific
Procurement Update
REGI ONAL NEWS
A N D D E V E L O P M E N T S
REGI ONAL NEWS
porary crashworthiness requirements, will
continue to provide initial flying training for
ADF personnel. Following graduation from
the Tamworth training, Army personnel con-
tinue on to helicopter training at Oakey
Army Aviation Airfield in Queensland,
while Navy and Air Force personnel contin-
ue to Advanced Flying Training at RAAF
Base Pearce outside Perth.
Project Air 5428 intends to provide the
Royal Australian Air Force, Army and Navy
with a new fixed wing Pilot Training System
(PTS). The system will provide platforms for
flight screening and cover all facets of under-
graduate pilot training from basic flying up
to entry into Air Force Lead-In Fighter and
Operational Conversion Units; as well as
being used for the initial training of Qualified
Flying Instructors (QFIs) to support the PTS
and fixed-wing operational training.
Fifth C-17 Globemaster for
Australia
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is to
receive an additional C-17 Globemaster III
airlifter following the signing of an agreement
between the Australian and US governments.
This will be the fifth C-17 for the RAAF and
will enhance the Australian Defence Forces
(ADFs) ability to respond to humanitarian
and disaster relief missions.
The airlifter has been ordered to fill an
immediate requirement and is scheduled for
delivery to the RAAF in August. Australias
requirement for an expanded strategic air-
lifter has increased over recent months, with
Operation Pacific Assist seeing relief efforts
carried out in Japan for two weeks in March
following the earthquake and tsunami; as
well as recent support to flood effected
Queensland and earthquake devastation in
Christchurch, New Zealand.
The new C-17 will be assigned to RAAF
Base Amberleys 36 Squadron near Brisbane.
From there it will perform tactical and strate-
gic airlift missions, including troop, equip-
ment and supplies transport, search and res-
cue and humanitarian relief missions. Boeing
will continue to support the RAAFs C-17
fleet through the C-17 Globemaster III
Sustainment Partnership, a Performance-
Based Logistics program that includes an
extensive support network.
The C-17 Globemaster III is known for its
operational utility, performance, versatility
and reliability, being able to transport large
payloads across vast ranges, land on short,
austere runways, and operate in extreme cli-
mates. A total of 230 C-17 aircraft have been
delivered to the worlds defence forces.
Australia presses on with
MRH-90 Programme for now
Following a full diagnostic review of
Australias MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter
Programme it has been decided that the
programme will continue and the project
will not be added to the Project of Concern
list at this time.
Ordered by the Minister for Defence
Stephen Smith and the Minister for Defence
Materiel Jason Clare in February, the diag-
nostic review was carried out in order to
address the severe delays the programme has
experienced to date. As it currently stands
the project has suffered 18 months delay for
the Armys aircraft and 12 months for the
Royal Australian Navys (RANs) aircraft.
Only 13 MRH-90 aircraft have been
accepted for testing and initial crew training
by the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Issues with engine failure, transmission oil
cooler fan failure, and the availability of
spares have been named as key to the lengthy
delays experienced to date. The programme
suffered a severe setback in 2010 when one of
the aircraft experienced an in-flight failure of
one of its two Rolls-Royce Turbomeca
RTM322 engines. After a three month inves-
tigation it was determined that the failure
was the result of the compressor blades com-
ing into contact with the engine casing.
The diagnostic review, chaired by Deputy
Chief Executive Officer of the Defence
Materiel Organisation Mr Warren King and
supported by a number of independent spe-
cialists, has recommended that the remedia-
tion plan is implemented in order to
improve the availability of the MRH-90 heli-
copters. This will address both engineering
and reliability issues and will be reassessed
later in the year when another diagnostic
review will be carried out in order to deter-
mine whether any further action needs to be
taken at that time.
A total of 46 MRH-90 aircraft have been
ordered by the Australian government, 40 for
the Army to replace the Sikorsky UK-60
Black Hawks; and six for the RAN to replace
the Westland Sea King helicopter as part of
Project Air 9000.
INDIA
MTU Series 4000 engines for
Indian Coast Guard vessels
The new inshore fast patrol vessels being
built for the Indian Coast Guard are to be
fitted with the MTU Series 4000 engine and
the MTU Callosum automation system for
control and ship monitoring under a
contract issued to propulsion and power
solutions company Tognum.
The order, the value of which is in the
range of the medium two-digit Euro
range, is a follow-on order for Tognum. A
total of 60 engines will be delivered to
India between 2011 and 2014, with the
contract forming part of a larger
programme to expand and upgrade the
Indian Coast Guard.
Almost two hundred of the type 16V
4000 M90 engines have been supplied to
India by Tognum in recent years, with the
engines reliability and high power-to-
weight ratio, as well as the well-established
MTU service network in India making them
a valuable addition to the 48-meter fast
inshore patrol vessels for the Coast Guard.
The engines also have low fuel
consumption enabling the vessels to remain
at sea for longer periods of time without
having to return to base for refuelling.
The type 16V 4000 M90 engine has an
output of 2,720 kW (3,648 bhp), and in
combination with waterjet drives, they can
propel the vessel at speeds of up to 35
knots (65 km/h). The MTU Callosum ship
automation system is also to be supplied,
which features an integrated solution for
monitoring all ships services and also
incorporates fire detection and
extinguishing systems.
The Indian Coast Guard is in charge of
fishery protection, anti-smuggling and
terrorism, the prevention of illegal
immigration, and search and rescue
operations as well as marine environment
protection. Upgrade and enhancement
to the organisations capabilities, fleet
and equipment was highlighted by the
2008 Mumbai terror attacks that saw
terrorists enter the country via hijacked
fishing vessels.
INDONESIA
Indonesia may be first export
customer for T-50 Training Jets
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has
announced that they are the preferred bidder
for Indonesias training jet replacement
programme, bringing the first ever export sale
of the T-50 Golden Eagle trainer a step closer.
South Korea has been trying to export the
T-50 jets for some time, with failed attempts to
both the United Arab Emirates and Singapore.
Developed between the state-run aerospace
company and Lockheed Martin in a 2 trillion
won 13 year project, the T-50 is currently being
used in training advanced combat fighter
pilots at South Korean Air Force bases.
South Korea and Indonesia still have to
finalise the deal, which would see 16
aircraft purchased initially. Price and
terms of the contract remain to be finalised,
and if successful, the expected delivery
date will be 2013.
Indonesia has been seeking a
replacement for its fleet of training jets for
some time, with its current fleet nearing the
end of their service life. The T-50 Golden
Eagle was shortlisted in the replacement
programme last year along with Russian
YAK-13 and L-159 fromthe Czech Republic.
KAI says that the use of the T-50 reduces
both cost of training by 30 percent and flying
time by 20 per cent; while pilots flying
capabilities are enhanced by 40 percent
compared to previous training jets.
If successful, South Korea will become one
of only a handful of nations worldwide to
have exported supersonic training jets. South
Korea also has their eye on Israel, Poland and
the US as potential future customers.
REGI ONAL NEWS
PAKISTAN
Pakistan to receive Tactical
Communications multi-link
Ground Support System
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is to receive a
Tactical Communications Ground Support
System (GSS) from the US Air Force
Electronic Systems Centre (ESC) to support
Link 16 simulation training and operational
situational awareness on its F-16 aircraft.
The GSS will enable to the PAF to connect
to airborne networks in order to conduct
efficient and effective training of network
operators and aviation personnel. The
Commercial off the shelf (COTS) solution
also offers growth options for additional
data link networking for operational and
maintenance training of the system and its
components. The system is intended to sup-
port training and the operational needs of
end-users who work with Link 16 TDL net-
works. It can be used either as the first line
platform training tool for new data link
users or it is used as an exerciser for interop-
erability testing and training.
The award to Tactical Communications
followed a request for proposal (RFP) issued
by the US government in October 2010, for a
tactical ground support system which was
able to provide the capability of transmitting,
receiving, and recording Link 16 network
transmissions, a stable navigation source,
and emulated Command and Control (C2)
and non-C2 platform transmissions.
Tactical Communications will deliver the
GSS to the US government, and then install
and test the system in Pakistan. The system
has already been introduced into service in
twelve nations worldwide, including the US.
NEW ZEALAND
First P-3K2 delivered to
New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force
(RNZAF) has moved a step closer
to an enhanced airborne surveil-
lance capability with the delivery
of the first upgraded P-3K2 Orion
from the Ministry of Defence at a
ceremony at Air Force Base
Whenuapai.
The aircraft recently complet-
ed the Acceptance Testing and
Evaluation (AT&E) at the prime
contractor L3 Communications
Systems facility in the US.
This followed the completion
of a comprehensive upgrade to
replace data management, sen-
sor, communications and naviga-
tion systems as well as the
provision of associated ground
systems.
Six RNZAF P-3K aircraft are
being upgraded to the P-3K2
standard in total. When com-
plete, the aircraft will return to 5
Squadron at RNZAF Base
Auckland where they will be
transitioned from their tradition-
al role as a Maritime Patrol Force
to an Airborne Surveillance and
Response Force.
One other aircraft is sched-
uled for delivery in the first half
of 2011. According to the RNZAF
these two aircraft will be rotated
through a period of Operational
Testing and Evaluation (OT&E)
ahead of their official entry into
operation. In-country upgrades
to the development of communi-
cation and mission support infra-
structure is currently underway,
and aircrew development, con-
version courses and ground crew
maintenance training are in
process.
When in full operation the fleet
will provide advanced long-range
intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance (ISR) missions in
the protection of New Zealands
maritime areas, exclusive eco-
nomic zone (EEZ), search and res-
cue; as well as supporting govern-
ment agencies including Fisheries
and Customs, and government
directed military operations.
The T-50 Golden Eagle
advanced trainer symbol-
ises how far the South
Korean defence industry
has progressed Gordon
Arthur / Andrei Chang
REGI ONAL NEWS
SOUTH KOREA
ROK receives 47th,
48th F-15K Slam Eagles
Boeing has delivered the 47th and 48th F-
15K Slam Eagle multi-role aircraft to the
Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF)
Daegu Air Base. The delivery is part of a
contract between Boeing and the Republic
of Korea (ROK) for the delivery of 61 F-15K
aircraft, with a further thirteen units still to
be delivered by April 2012.
This latest delivery is under the second
phase of the agreement known as the Next
Fighter II contract, under which six aircraft
were delivered in 2010. Under the initial
Next Fighter I agreement, Boeing completed
delivered 40 aircraft in October 2008.
The F-15K is one of the worlds most
capable combat ready multi-role fighters. It
will bring the ROKAF a highly capable,
survivable and maintainable platform that
will form the centre of the militarys aerial
strike capabilities. It is equipped with the
latest technological upgrades, including
Honeywell advanced display core
processor (ADCP) avionics suite; BAE
Systems ALR-56C(v)1 early warning
receiver and Northrop Grumman ALQ-
135M jammer on-board protection
systems; Raytheon AN/APG-63(v)1 radar;
Air-to-air and air-to-ground modes of
APG-70 radar with additional sea-surface
searching/tracking, ground-moving target
tracking, and enhanced high-resolution
ground mapping for long-distance target
identification. It features cockpit-display
technologies including seven-colour
liquid-crystal displays, two upfront control
panels (flat-panel), joint helmet-mounted
cueing system (JHMCS), and wide-field-of-
view head-up display; and third-
generation targeting and navigation
systems: forward-looking infrared (FLIR)
and infrared search and track (IRST).
The F-15K is the newest variant of the F-
15E, and is the only US-produced fighter
capable of long-range precision strikes
without escort in all light and weather
conditions. With improved reliability and
increased maintainability than its
predecessor the aircraft and will have a
planned service life through to 2040.
Lockheed Martin has also recently
delivered its Sniper pods for the ROKAF F-
15K aircraft, which are to be immediately
deployed into full flight operations. The
Sniper pods, originally demonstrated by
Lockheed Martin to the ROKAF in 2009,
will provide the F-15K fleet with updated
targeting and non-traditional intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance (NTISR)
capabilities. The pods are operated via a
common Sniper pod software load that
allows operators to readily deploy the
pods on different aircraft types in order to
keep life cycle costs as low as possible.
Raytheon delivers Phalanx
Close-In Weapon System to
Republic of Korea Navy
The first Phalanx Close-In Weapon System
for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN)
has been delivered by Raytheon. The
weapon will be fitted to the lead ship of the
new 2,300 ton Ulsan-1 class FFX ship,
bringing one of the most widely deployed
ship self-defence systems to the new
ROKN fleet. Over 890 systems have been
deployed worldwide to date.
The delivery was part of a direct
commercial sale between the ROK and
Raytheon, and Raytheon has stated that
they expect a follow-on order to be placed
by the ROKN in the near future for five
additional units.
The Phalanx Block 1B system Phalanx is
a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar
and 20 mm gun system that automatically
acquires, tracks and destroys enemy
threats that have penetrated all other ship
defence systems. A self-contained package,
Phalanx automatically carries out
functions usually performed by multiple
systems -- including search, detection,
threat evaluation, tracking, engagement,
and kill assessment.
The Phalanx Block 1B is the latest
upgrade to the system, with a surface
mode configuration. It enhances the
warfare capability of Block 1A by adding a
forward looking infrared sensor and
optimized gun barrels. It also provides
defence against littoral warfare threats
including helicopters and high-speed
surface threats. Block 1B also adds new
control stations with situational awareness,
allowing operators to visually track and
identify targets before engagement.
The Phalanx system was already fitted
to INS Jalashava when it was transferred to
the INS from the US Government in 2007.
Raytheon is currently supporting those
systems under agreement with Elcome
Marine Services PVT in Mumbai.
The ROKs first Phalanx
CIWS will be fitted to
the Ulsan-1 class FFX
ship Raytheon
A CENTURY OF
SPECIALIZATION
For more information: www.specialmission.bombardier.com
Bombardier and Bombardier aircraft model names are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
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With a century of special mission experience, Bombardier knows and understands your needs.
We recognize the situations and the challenges you face and we understand the solutions you require.
Because chances are, weve been there before. We are the third largest civil aircraft manufacturer
in the world. Thats why you should choose Bombardier, because we have a lifetime of knowledge
that helps us understand every need and ensures every mission is a success.
Bombardier Specialized Aircraft. Experience you can count on.
l r o w e h t n i
c e s u a c e B
z i n g o c re e W
e c a h t i W
z i l a i c e p S r e i d r a b m o B
v e d n a t s r e d n u s u s p l e h t a h t
h c d l u o h s u o y y h w s t a h T . d l
e h t n e e b e v e w , re a s e c n a h c
a h c e h t d n a s n o i t a u t i s e h t e
x e n o i s s i m l a i c e p s f o y r u t n e
o y e c n e i r e p x E t f a r c r i A d e z
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e s u a c e b , r e i rd a b m o B e s o o h
rd i h t e h t re a e W . re o f e b re e
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Bombardier and Bombardier aircr
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ts reserved.
raft model names are trademarks of Bombardier
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