| Regional Affairs
Why China Isn't Interested in a South China Sea Code of Conduct The Diplomat 27th Feb 2014
According to Reuters, ASEAN officials say that they will meet with Chinese representatives in Singapore beginning March 18 to try and make some progress on talks to establish a “code of conduct” in the South China Sea. China agreed to discuss a South China Sea code of conduct at the ASEAN forum last July, a move that was widely applauded in the region. The first round of meetings was held in Beijing in September, and concluded with an agreement to seek “gradual progress and consensus through consultations.” Unfortunately, when it comes to ASEAN, China, and the South China Sea, progress has been slow and consensus almost nonexistent. Negotiations over a code of conduct are complicated by the simple fact that not every ASEAN member state is involved in the territorial disputes. Of the 10 ASEAN members, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei claim territory that also falls within China’s “nine-dash line.” Even these four states are not on the same page, with Vietnam and the Philippines vocally protesting China’s ‘aggression’ and Malaysia and Brunei keeping a much lower profile. Of the remaining ASEAN states, Indonesia often positions itself as a mediator, sometimes joined by Singapore. The others (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand) have little interest in becoming embroiled in disputes between China and their neighbors — especially as China accounts for over 12 percent of all ASEAN trade. China is an especially lucrative partner for Cambodia, which received a promise of nearly $550 million in aid last year, and for Myanmar, where China accounts for one-third of all foreign direct investment. Actually, China and ASEAN already have one agreement on the South China Sea — the 2002 “Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.” That document expressed a desire to “enhance favorable conditions for a peaceful and durable solution of differences and disputes among countries concerned.” In the 2002 declaration, ASEAN and China reaffirmed a commitment to international law (including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) and to the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. All parties also agreed to “resolve their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of force.” Further, the parties agreed to “exercise self-restraint” in taking actions that could “complicate or escalate disputes.”
India submarine INS Sindhuratna: Navy says missing sailors are dead BBC 27th Feb 2014
Two sailors who went missing after an accident on board a submarine off the coast of Mumbai on Wednesday are dead, India's navy confirms. The INS Sindhuratna was being tested at sea when smoke triggered the automatic closure of hatches. Seven sailors injured in the incident are recovering in hospital. The vessel returned to port on Thursday morning. Last year 18 sailors died in one of the navy's worst disasters when a submarine sank after a fire at a Mumbai dockyard. Initial investigations showed arms on board the Russian-built INS Sindhurakshak may have played a role in its sinking. On Wednesday night Indian navy chief Admiral DK Joshi resigned, accepting "moral responsibility" for this latest incident as well as other operational accidents involving navy ships in recent months.
Getting Tough in the South China Sea TNI 25th Feb 2014
The Obama administration may have finally lost its patience with China’s salami-slicing in the East and South China Seas. Remarks over the past few weeks from administration officials show a tougher line and may foreshadow “red lines” to ward off further Chinese encroachments. These developments may show a White House increasingly ready to abandon a previous policy of forbearance toward China. It could also mean an impending tilt away from explicit U.S. neutrality toward the many territorial disputes in both seas. Given China’s stepped-up assertiveness, the drawing of red lines seems inevitable. The next question though is whether the U.S. will be able to back up these red lines with convincing military power. China’s military modernization program has long anticipated this move, leaving the answer anything but clear. Heretofore, the U.S. has pursued a policy of forbearance with China, with the hope that by going out its way to show respect for China’s emerging great power status, Washington would avoid a ruinous security competition. In remarks at a Washington, D.C. think-tank in January 2014, Kurt Campbell, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs during President Obama’s first term, explained the administration’s theory. According to Campbell, previous historical examples of rising powers clashing with established powers were typically the result of insufficient respect being paid to the rising power (see 55:00 in). In the case of China, Campbell explained that the Obama administration would not repeat that mistake. In her first speech on Asia as President Obama’s new National Security Advisor, Susan Rice mimicked China’s call for “a new model of major power relations” between the U.S. and China and then recited a long list of issues on which she hoped the two countries would cooperate. Rice made no mention of China’s 2012 takeover of Scarborough Reef from the Philippines or China’s establishment that same year of a government headquarters and military garrison on Woody Island in the Paracel island group, which China seized from Vietnam in 1974. Three days after Rice’s speech, China declared an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea.
China's Naval Chief Says Smog is Best Defence Against US Laser Weapons IBT 24th Feb 2014
Thick smog is the best defence against US laser weapons, a Chinese military chief has declared on national television. Zhang Zhaozhong, the Navy Major General for the People's Liberation Army drew massive criticism when he made the statement on CCTV's Haixia Liang'an (Cross-Straits) current affairs programme, adding that lasers were "most afraid of smog". He said: "Under conditions where there is no smog, a laser weapon can fire [at a range of] 10 kilometres. When there's smog, it's only one kilometre. What's the point of making this kind of weapon? "It only works when the weather is good. The enemy will target you when the weather is bad. "Once your enemy knows your disadvantages you are dead. This is a laser weapons' fatal disadvantage." Zhang explained that smog was made up of tiny metallic particulate, known as PM2.5, and the higher its concentration the harder it is for lasers to get through. He was speaking after the US navy announced it was preparing to deploy its first laser weapon aboard transport ship, USS Ponce, which is aimed at protecting US forces in the Persian Gulf.
Charting a course for Asian integration and security EAF 24th Feb 2014
This week another round of TPP negotiations is taking place in Singapore. USTR Michael Froman is talking up protections for US vested interests at home in order to obtain Congressional authority to complete the negotiations, rather than free trade across the region. The package on the table in TPP still has very little in it for countries like Australia, especially if the Australia-Japan trade deal is pulled off separately. An outcome that does not go much further on agriculture and secure commercially meaningful access in key markets for Australian services providers and investors would be a difficult economic and political sell. Australia’s Trade and Investment Minister, Andrew Robb, says the talks are well advanced but that the race will be won or lost right at the end.
The U.S. Stake in the Cross-Strait Dialogue The Diplomat 22nd Feb 2014
The visit of the head of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) to China earlier this month to meet with his counterpart brought the two sides closer than they have been since 1949. This trip is the latest example of how the United States’ failure to actively manage to its Taiwan policy may not be best serving its security interests in the region. The meeting was more about symbolism than substance. During the meeting between MAC head Wang Yu-chi and Zhang Zhijun of the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), the only known topic discussed was the possibility of establishing offices on the other’s side at an undefined point in the future. The political disagreements between the breakaway island, which believes it is self-governed, and the mainland, which considers it a rebellious province, did not allow for a more meaningful first-round discussion, and Wang did not have the authority to sign any agreements during his trip. The move is the latest by the ruling KMT party to appease or move closer to China. President Ma Ying-jeou has worked to negotiate the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with China, the latest series of add-ons to which sparked intensified opposition last summer. Ma stated last year that relations between Taiwan and China are not relations between two sovereign nations. His administration has also revised textbooks to emphasize the island’s mainland heritage. Based on its treaty commitments, the U.S. has promised to oversee Taiwan’s peaceful reunification with mainland China on mutually acceptable terms. Washington does not support Taiwan independence. However, the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act expresses “the expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means.” As such, the U.S. maintains its right to sell weapons “of a defensive character” to Taiwan, despite China’s angry response to each sale.
U.S. Army chief meets Chinese generals Japan News 22nd Feb 2014
The U.S. Army chief met with top Chinese generals in Beijing Friday amid regional tensions and efforts to build trust between the two nation’s militaries. U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno was greeted with full military honors Friday morning at China’s Defense Ministry and had a full day of meetings scheduled in addition to an event at prestigious Peking University. His visit comes amid bitter disputes between China and two U.S. allies — Japan and the Philippines — over territorial claims in the East and South China seas. China also sparked U.S. concerns late last year when it unexpectedly announced an air defense zone encompassing a large swath of the East China Sea, including islands controlled by Japan but claimed by Beijing.
ROKAF Backs Twin-Engine Design for Indigenous Fighter Defense Studies 21st Feb 2014
The Air Force has officially expressed its support for a twin-engine concept for the country's indigenous fighter jet development program, saying the design would allow for improved combat capabilities and long-term economic feasibility, officials said Friday. The move comes amid disagreement over the engine choice for the long-delayed 20 trillion won (US$18.6 billion) project to develop and build some 120 units of F-16 class aircraft to replace the aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration is set to open the bidding process for the fighter project so-called KFX in April, with the goal of reaching an agreement with the preferred bidder by November. While the specific concept and design have not been confirmed yet, pilots and the potential developer have revealed disagreements over the engine. During the first meeting of the task force on Tuesday, the Air Force officials delivered an official position in support of a two-engine C-103 concept to improve the aircraft's combat capabilities and long-term economic feasibility, according to a senior Air Force official.
Tensions Set To Rise In The South China Sea The Diplomat 19th Feb 2014
Over the last month and a half, seven significant developments indicate that tensions in the South China Sea are set to rise in both the short and long term. The five short-term trends include: Philippine defiance of China’s fishing ban; continued inaction by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); the Chinese navy’s repeated assertions of sovereignty over James Shoal; the possibility of an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the South China Sea; and stronger United States opposition to China’s ADIZ and maritime territorial claims. First, in January, the Philippines stepped up its public defiance of China and its territorial claims in the South China Sea. On January 15, Emmanuel Bautista, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, stated in a television interview with respect to new fishing regulations issued by Hainan province that Filipino fisherman should not give in to threats or intimidation. A day later, Secretary of Defense Voltaire Gazmin stated that the Philippines would disregard Hainan province’s new fishing regulations and would provide escorts to Filipino fishermen in the West Philippines Sea “if necessary.” On January 17, the local media published aerial reconnaissance photographs taken at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Reef) on August 28, 2013. The photographs showed the presence of two People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships, including a frigate, and a Coast Guard vessel. The press quoted from a confidential government report that stated the Chinese naval presence “could be part [of] a renewed and possibly more determined effort to remove Philippine military presence on Ayungin Shoal and from the whole Spratly island group.”
National Affairs
Unions Plan 2nd Round of Mass Strikes Cambodia Daily 13th Feb 2014
After the Court of Appeal denied bail to 21 jailed protesters on Tuesday, 16 labor unions and associations announced Wednesday that they will retaliate by calling a nationwide labor strike in the middle of March. The unions, which mainly represent workers in the garment industry, said they will also call on their members to cease working overtime between February 24 and 28 to demonstrate to factory owners and the government the importance of taking their demands seriously. “From [February] 18 to 23, our unions will gather in front of factories to disseminate information about our seven demands,” said Yaing Sophorn, president of the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions. The demands include the release of the 21 protest prisoners, a $160 minimum wage for garment workers, the prosecution of state forces who killed five protesting strikers on January 3, an end to the government’s ban on demonstrations, an end to legal action against union leaders who organized the first round of nationwide strike in December, and the payment of worker’s salaries during the strike. Ms. Sophorn said the unions have given the government ample time to consider their demands, which have not changed fundamentally since December mass strikes.
China and Japan's Deteriorating Relationship The Diplomat 13th Feb 2014
China-Japan relations have deteriorated rapidly in the wake of China’s newly announced Air Defense Identification Zone and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. The Diplomat‘s Shannon Tiezzi talks with Michael Green, Senior Vice President for Asia at CSIS and a professor at Georgetown University, about the root cause of the tensions, the possibility for conflict, and strategies for repairing relations.
Brunei
USS Spruance Visits Brunei US Navy 18th Feb 2014
The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance (DDG 111) arrived in Muara, Brunei, Feb. 14 for a port visit as part of her maiden deployment to the Western Pacific. This port visit allows Sailors aboard Spruance to experience a new and different culture while representing the continued U.S. commitment to Southeast Asia, providing an opportunity to help strengthen the ties between two great nations. "Spruance is honored to be in Brunei during the 30th anniversary of our countries' diplomatic relations" said Cmdr. Dan Cobian, Spruance's commanding officer. "My crew and I are very excited to explore Brunei while also showcasing the capabilities of our fine warship." While in Brunei, Cobian and U.S. Ambassador Daniel Shields met with First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abd Halim bin Mohd Hanifah, commander Royal Brunei Navy, to discuss the continued cooperation and strong partnership of the host and visiting nations. Brunei remains a strong partner in promoting security throughout the region.
Cambodia
PM lauds military for handling of protests PPP 21st Feb 2014
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday praised the country’s armed forces for their handling of last year’s election and its deadly aftermath, saying problems they met in 2013 were solved “successfully”. Speaking at the Ministry of Interior’s annual meeting, Hun Sen avoided mentioning the fatal shooting of a man by security forces at Phnom Penh’s Kbal Thnal overpass in September, choosing to discuss violence only in terms of “planned” and “damaging” opposition protests. “We met some problems caused by demonstrations and protests about the result of the election,” he said. “This activity damaged lives, public and private property, and threatened political and social stability and public order.” The armed forces, Hun Sen added, must continue defending human rights and respecting democracy. “In this spirit, [we] must join together to defend the constitution, our independence and our full sovereignty and guarantee our national institutions,” he said. Hun Sen also hinted at more confrontation, saying that in the event of further attempts at “violence and unrest in society”, the armed forces must take “action according to the law”.
Indonesia
Indonesia to boost military in South China Sea PressTV 4 Mar 2014
The Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) says Jakarta will increase its presence around the Natuna waters in the South China Sea as a preemptive measure to avert instability in the area. TNI Chief Gen. Moeldoko stated on Thursday that Jakarta will deploy additional forces and increase the presence of its army and air force around the Natuna Islands, which shares its borders with Vietnam in the north, and Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam in the east, Antara news agency reported. The official said that Indonesia aims to uphold the principles of neutrality and maintain close ties with other countries, including China. “Since Natuna is strategically located, the increase of its forces at sea, on the ground, and in the air is necessary to anticipate any instability in the South China Sea and serve as an early warning system for Indonesia and the TNI,” Moeldoko said.
Indonesia’s South China Sea Options The Diplomat 3rd Mar 2014
Over the past few years, China has steadily increased its assertiveness in the South China Sea. Its most recent claim to fishing rights over most of this territory has given other countries in the region cause to worry that China may soon try to implement an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) across the South China Sea as it tries to assert its claim out to the controversial nine-dash line. This would put Chinese jurisdiction literally just off the shores of most Southeast Asian countries. While all the countries neighboring China’s claims are worried about this threat to their sovereignty, few have the means to challenge it, especially on their own. Indonesia is perhaps one country that could do so with the help of a substantial ally. It also has the resources to fund a navy capable of defending its territorial waters. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen if Indonesia can harness its economic potential and transform itself into a substantial regional power. There are already serious indications that China may try to establish an ADIZ over the South China Sea in the near future. A senior officer of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Military Academy, Li Jie, tested the waters on February 21, in response to a statement from an American military source saying that China plans to implement an ADIZ over the South China Sea by 2015. Li replied that the implementation was necessary for China’s long-term interests.
Terrorism in Indonesia: Syrian Conflict Fighters Returning Home Pose New Threat Establishment Post 27th Feb 2014
Home grown terrorism in Indonesia may get an extra boost, despite Indonesian anti terrorism agencies making a major effort in the past decade. A recent report from Institute For Policy Analysis of Conflict (Ipac) says that some Indonesian extremists took part in the Syrian conflict, and according to Indonesian officials, have returned to Indonesia. According to the report, for the first time, Indonesians are going overseas to fight, not just to train, as in Afghanistan in the late 1980s and 1990s, or to give moral and financial support, as in the case of Palestine. The numbers are still limited – the Indonesian foreign ministry estimated about 50 in December 2013 but they could rise. The Indonesian organisation that has been most active in Syria since the conflict erupted has been Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), the organisation responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings that since 2007 has disengaged from violence in Indonesia. Its leaders, who have been vilified in recent years by more militant groups for abandoning jihad, are now regaining their prestige. How are these jihadists threatening Indonesia’s security or the region in general? “The threat will come later, when the Syrian conflict eases and more of these men come back. Even then, they’re unlikely to pose a threat to the stability of the country as a whole, only that acts of terrorism are likely to be more professionally planned and implemented if they’re in charge,” Ms Sidney Jones, Ipac director told The Establishment Post. Read more: Terrorism in Indonesia: Syrian Conflict Fighters Returning Home Pose New Threat - The Establishment Post http://www.establishmentpost.com/new-terrorist-threat-indonesia-syrian-c... Thank you for reading The Establishment Post. Permission to reproduce material under the "fair use" principle is granted PROVIDED a link to the original source material is included with the cited material. The Establishment Post maintains © ownership on Follow us: @EstabPost on Twitter | TheEstablishmentPost on Facebook
US Arms TNI as China Sea Simmers Jakarta Globe 21st Feb 2014
The United States plans to help modernize Indonesia’s military, including provisions for training and equipment, amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea, where China is laying claims to disputed waters. US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert O. Blake Jr., at a press conference hosted by the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club on Thursday, said that the US government would continue to assist the Indonesian Military (TNI) with bilateral exercises and supply it with modern equipment. “We’ve had a growing scope of bilateral exercise with the Indonesian military, and we’re very pleased with that,” Blake said, in response to a question about what the US is doing to help Indonesia’s security. “We have excellent security cooperation now between our two countries. We’re working to help Indonesia modernize its military, helping Indonesia with all kinds of training and other equipment needs, and we’re excited about the prospects.” Indonesia has been making plans to increase its purchases of military hardware from abroad, including submarines from Russia and South Korea. It will also buy equipment from France and Britain, and eight Apache attack helicopters valued at $600 million from the United States. Those will arrive in separate shipments through 2017, according to Antara.
Troubled Waters: Indonesia’s Growing Maritime Disputes Diplomat 20th Feb 2014
Indonesia has had a rocky couple of weeks in its relations with its neighbors. While Ted Piccone and Bimo Yusman wrote last week about Indonesia’s decade of qualified diplomatic successes, in a series of separate and mostly unrelated naval developments the archipelagic nation has in turn aggrieved, or been aggrieved by, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Singapore In the first incident, the Indonesian Navy sparked a row with Singapore after it announced it was renaming the final of three refitted frigates it purchased from Britain the KRI Usman Harun, in honor of Usman Ali and Harun Said. The pair of Indonesian marines conducted the 1965 bombing of MacDonald House in Singapore, killing three and wounding another 33, part of then-President Sukarno’s Konfrontasi—a violent effort to destabilize the formation of Malaysia, of which Singapore was then a part.
RI to focus on 7 weapon systems this year Jakarta Post 19th Feb 2014
Indonesia will focus on developing and producing seven weapon systems this year to modernize its arsenal and strengthen local defense industries to reduce the dependence on foreign suppliers. The systems are submarines, jet fighters, medium tanks, missiles, radars, propellants and communications devices, said Defense Industry Policy Committee (KKIP) special staff for cooperation and institutional relations Silmy Karim on Wednesday. Both the submarines and jet fighters are being developed as national programs with South Korea while the medium tank is being developed in cooperation with Turkish company FNSS Defense System. While there is already missile cooperation with China, Silmy said the KKIP was still looking at partners for the local production of radar and communication devices. “We will soon have a propellant factory that is important if we want to develop our own ammunition, missiles and rockets,” he said, without revealing which country the cooperation was being held with.
President: Don't worry about modernization of Indonesia's armaments Antara News 19th Feb 2014
President Susilo Yudhoyono has asked other countries not to worry about Indonesia's step to modernize its main armament systems, arguing that the move is merely aimed at upholding sovereignty and keeping the territory intact. "Some quarters abroad are worried about the modernization and intensification of Indonesia's military strength. There is no need to worry. Indonesia is a peace-loving nation but the sovereignty and integrity of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia is of utmost importance. War is the last resort in the event of no other alternative," the Yudhoyono tweeted on his twitter account @SBYudhoyono on Friday. In line with the country's robust economic growth in the past nine years, the modernization of the Indonesian military's main armament systems is inevitable to allow it to conduct joint military operations, he stated.
PT PAL gets $250 million to build submarines Jakarta Post 18th Feb 2014
State-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia will get up to US$250 million in state capital injection (PMN) under a multi-year project for the development of submarines to support the nation’s defense system. Of that amount, $180 million will be channeled this year, according to Deputy Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro at a hearing with lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Monday. Bambang added that out of the $250 million given to PAL, $150 would be used for the construction of the shipyard, $30 million for “consultation” and that $70 million would be spent on personnel, such as experts and technicians. The PMN will be included in the revised state budget (APBN-P) for 2014 and the State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Ministry will oversee the matter. To develop the submarines, PAL will work with South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME).
PTDI and Airbus Helicopters to Jointly Develop Local Support and Services Capabilities for Indonesia Defense Studies 13th Feb 2014
The long-established cooperation of PT Dirgantara Indonesia and Airbus Helicopters will be expanded to include support and services for the users of Airbus Helicopters rotorcraft based on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed today at the Singapore Airshow. This MoU covers maintenance, repair and overhaul for the various Airbus Helicopters products operated within Indonesia – in particular, the AS365 Dauphin, EC725 Cougar and AS350/AS555 Fennec rotorcraft acquired by the country’s government. The agreement was signed by Budi Santoso, President Director of PT Dirgantara Indonesia, and Airbus Helicopters President Guillaume Faury. "PT Dirgantara Indonesia’s cooperation with Airbus Helicopters results from a long term relationship built on trust, and each company will support the other with this new strategic collaboration for the mutual benefit of both parties," Budi Santoso said.
Malaysia
China's assertiveness hardens Malaysian stance in sea dispute Yahoo! 26th Feb 2014
The submerged reef would be easy to miss, under turquoise seas about 80 km (50 miles) off Malaysia's Borneo island state of Sarawak. But two Chinese naval exercises in less than a year around the James Shoal have shocked Malaysia and led to a significant shift in its approach to China's claims to the disputed South China Sea, senior diplomats told Reuters. The reef lies outside Malaysia's territorial waters but inside its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone. The latest incident in January, in particular, prompted Malaysia to quietly step up cooperation with the Philippines and Vietnam, the two Southeast Asian nations most outspoken over China's moves in the region, in trying to tie Beijing to binding rules of conduct in the South China Sea, the diplomats said. Beijing's growing naval assertiveness could also push Malaysia closer to the United States, its top security ally, thus deepening divisions between Southeast Asia and China over the potentially mineral-rich waters.
BAE Systems Says Malaysia Seeking Fighter Jet Leasing Bids Defense Studies 21st Feb 2014
BAE Systems expects to submit a leasing proposal for the Eurofighter Typhoon jet to Malaysia next month, as its cash-strapped government mulls over renting, rather than buying fighter aircraft. "The Malaysian government is openly saying they have some issues on finance, and while they're ending subsidies and bringing in new value added tax, it's unlikely there's an appetite to buy Typhoon at this point," BAE's Group Business Development Director Alan Garwood told analysts on Thursday. "What they have done is solicit leasing proposals from every major aerospace company. We will be submitting a leasing proposal next month for Typhoon together with a purchase option and expect to have further discussions later in the year or maybe even early next year around that," he said. Last year Malaysia, which had wanted to buy 18 combat aircraft by 2015, said it was choosing between Boeing's F/A-18, Dassault's Rafale, Saab's Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon which is built by BAE, Airbus and Italy's Finmeccanica.
Thales on Board the Littoral Combat Ships of the Royal Malaysian Navy Defense Studies 18th Feb 2014
Thales announces that it has signed a Letter of Award with Contraves Advanced Devices Sdn. Bhd. to supply six SMART-S Mk2 naval surveillance radar systems, as well as six CAPTAS-2 towed sonar systems for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Second Generation Patrol Vessel (SGPV) Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). The six SMART-S Mk2 radars will be installed on the Malaysian Littoral Combat Ships that are currently being built by Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd in Malaysia. The first SMART-S Mk2 is expected to be delivered within the next few years. Thales in Hengelo (The Netherlands) will build and test the first two radars; the other four systems will be assembled and tested by Contraves in Malaysia, using Thales components and know-how. The Royal Malaysian Navy has also selected the CAPTAS-2 which is part of the CAPTAS[1] family of active Variable Depth Sonar (VDS). CAPTAS-2 is designed to perform against quiet submarines, enabling surface platforms to carry out all Anti-Submarine Warfare missions such as escort, prosecution, area sanitisation and own force protection. The CAPTAS-2 Variable Depth Sonar comprises state-of-the-art innovative technologies that provides a high source level in a compact array. Furthermore, Thales’s unique towed triplet receive array provides instant left/right ambiguity resolution, and is ideally suited for torpedo defence.
Putrajaya Going Ahead with Nuri and C-130 Upgrade Defense Studies 18th Feb 2014
The government is going ahead with the upgrade of its fleet of Sikorsy S-61 Nuri and C130 Hercules military transport planes, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today. He brushed aside claims that Putrajaya has decided to defer plans to upgrade its air fleet but would not say whether the country’s ageing fleet of 18 MiG 29 fighter jets will be replaced with multi-role combat aircrafts. “We are looking at upgrading the Nuris and the C130s... things are already in the works,” he said at a press conference for the 14th Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition and conference here. Last week, Aviation International News Online (AINOnline) reported that the government has deferred plans to update existing military assets that are already behind schedule amid pressure from the country’s chronic budget deficit and increasingly vocal opposition on military procurements. Malaysia has 18 Russian-made MiG-29s but only eight are still operating. The planes are due to be decommissioned in 2015 but must now remain in service until replacement multi-role combat aircraft are approved.
Malaysian Defense Procurement To Hit A Lull This Year Defense World 17th Feb 2014
Unlike other Asian countries such as Singapore, India and Indonesia, Malaysia is moving slow on defense procurement if the country’s military leadership is to be believed. Malaysia’s navy chief Admiral Aziz Jaafar, in January, said that his country will not undertake any significant procurement programs in 2014. He cited budgetary restraints and said that the current financial situation precluded any major programmes, including the procurement of additional ships. Speaking to reporters following his annual New Year address to the RMN at the Ministry of Defence in Kuala Lumpur, he added that should any opportunities to purchase secondhand ships that met the RMN's operational criteria come up, the RMN would ask the government to fund such a purchase.
Cash-Strapped Malaysia Looks To Lease Fighters Defense Daily 15th Feb 2014
Malaysia’s proposed purchase of fighter jets has switched from a procurement competition to a leasing competition due to affordability issues, according to industry executives. The Malaysian government put its multirole combat aircraft program in the freezer last year for fiscal and political reasons. Now Boeing, BAE Systems and Saab have, or are about to, submit leasing proposals in the hope of making a deal palatable. It’s possible Dassault Aviation and Sukhoi, which were also on the original procurement shortlist, are in a similar position, according to executives on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow last week. “The Malaysian government are mindful of the need for an affordable solution, so we understand that all the competitors are putting offers on the table for leasing. The program has become very much about affordability,” said Alan Garwood, BAE’s group business development director.
Insight: China's assertiveness hardens Malaysian stance in sea dispute Reuters 26th Feb 2014
The submerged reef would be easy to miss, under turquoise seas about 80 km (50 miles) off Malaysia's Borneo island state of Sarawak. But two Chinese naval exercises in less than a year around the James Shoal have shocked Malaysia and led to a significant shift in its approach to China's claims to the disputed South China Sea, senior diplomats told Reuters. The reef lies outside Malaysia's territorial waters but inside its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone. The latest incident in January, in particular, prompted Malaysia to quietly step up cooperation with the Philippines and Vietnam, the two Southeast Asian nations most outspoken over China's moves in the region, in trying to tie Beijing to binding rules of conduct in the South China Sea, the diplomats said. Beijing's growing naval assertiveness could also push Malaysia closer to the United States, its top security ally, thus deepening divisions between Southeast Asia and China over the potentially mineral-rich waters.
Membership
Lockheed sees huge potential for military-, commercial-use drones Reuters 21st Feb 2014
The Pentagon's No. 1 arms supplier Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) sees significant growth potential for its range of unmanned aircraft, given continued military demand for surveillance aircraft and a huge untapped market in the commercial sector. Lockheed, known for its F-16 and F-35 fighter jets and Aegis missile defense system, lacks a drone with a widely recognizable name - like General Atomics's Predator - but its portfolio includes a number of planes designed for everything from reconnaissance to bringing supplies to troops in combat. The company is still tight-lipped about the RQ-170 intelligence drone, developed by the company's Skunkworks research division, that grabbed the limelight when one went down in Iran in 2011. But it is more open about the prospects of a number of other unmanned aircraft and ground control stations given the Pentagon's continued need for surveillance and intelligence-gathering systems, as well as the expected opening up next year of U.S. airspace for civilian-use drones. "There's still significant growth potential in the UAS (unmanned aerial systems) space," Steve Adlich, business development manager for Lockheed Martin Unmanned Integrated Systems, told Reuters this week in an interview.
Northrop Aims to Pitch Drone Sales to Singapore WSJ 13th Feb 2014
U.S. defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. NOC +0.05% hopes to pitch its high-altitude military drones to Singapore to help the city-state better monitor air and sea traffic at the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest trade corridors. The 500-mile Strait of Malacca, a channel that separates Indonesia's Sumatra Island and the Malay Peninsula, is the shortest sea route between the Persian Gulf and Asian markets. More than 70,000 vessels a year ply the channel, carrying a third of global trade and almost half of the world's oil shipments. "The need to be able to have very long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability to monitor all that traffic…suggests that [Singapore] needs a…system that could stay up in the air for a very long period of time and cover a very large ocean area," said David Perry, Northrop's chief global business-development officer, at the Singapore Airshow. Mr. Perry said Northrop is eager to talk to Singapore about providing that monitoring capability through the company's advanced drones.
Turkey Likely to Order Lockheed F-35 Fighters in 2015 New York Times 27th Feb 2014
Turkey is likely to start ordering F-35 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp from 2015 onwards and it will start with two orders initially, Turkey's undersecretary for state-run defense industries Murad Bayar said on Thursday. "We will start F-35 orders either this year or the next. Right now, it is likely to be next year," Bayar told reporters. "We will initially order two. The delivery time will be, depending on the orders, probably in 2017-2018." Turkey had already announced it plans to buy 100 F-35 jets for $16 billion. Bayar said he expected the deliveries of 100 aircraft to be completed within 10 years. The F-35, considered to be the world's most expensive weapons program at $396 billion so far, was designed to be the next-generation fighter jet for the U.S. forces. It is being built by the United States, Britain and seven other co-development partners - Italy, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.
Lockheed F-35 for Marines Delayed as Test Exposes Cracks Bloomberg 21st Feb 2014
On-the-ground stress testing for the U.S. Marine Corps version of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 jet may be halted for as long as a year after cracks were found in the aircraft’s bulkheads, Pentagon officials said. Testing of the fighter’s durability was stopped in late September after inspections turned up cracks in three of six bulkheads on a plane used for ground testing, said Joe DellaVedova, spokesman for the F-35 program office. The previously undisclosed suspension of the stress testing may increase scrutiny of the Marine Corps’ F-35B, the most complex of the three versions of the plane, during congressional hearings on the Defense Department’s fiscal 2015 budget. The department plans to request funds for 34 F-35s, eight fewer than the 42 originally planned, according to officials. Six of those planes would be for the Marines. “We consider this significant but by no means catastrophic,” Frank Kendall, the Pentagon’s undersecretary for acquisition, said in an e-mailed statement. While the program office is still performing an assessment, “based on preliminary analysis, a redesign” of some F-35B structures will be required, said Kendall, who has a master’s degree in aerospace engineering. The F-35 program office and Lockheed are making repairs with a goal of restarting testing by Sept. 30, DellaVedova said.
Deals Drop as Pentagon Contractors Bear Cruelest Month Bloomberg 18th Feb 2014
The Pentagon’s contract awards dropped 66 percent from December to $8.44 billion, the lowest level in at least 22 months, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The previous low during that period was $12.1 billion in January 2013. None of the biggest contracts announced last month -- including those to General Electric Co. (GE) and United Technologies Corp. (UTX) -- cracked $1 billion. January’s awards often lag because the Pentagon often pushes out more agreements in December, the end of its first quarter. The seasonal slump was exacerbated by defense budget reductions and a temporary spending bill that limited contracting last month. The Defense Department announced 180 contracts with a maximum value of $8.44 billion in January, compared with 295 agreements valued at as much as $24.9 billion in December. Awards dropped 30 percent last month from a year earlier. The defense spending cuts helped make 2013 the fourth consecutive year in which contract awards declined, the longest stretch since Ronald Reagan was president.
General Dynamics Secures $10 Billion Deal With Saudi Arabia WSJ 14th Feb 2014
General Dynamics Inc. said Friday it had secured a $10 billion deal to supply military and commercial vehicles from its Canadian unit to Saudi Arabia. The 14-year deal includes training and support services and comes at a time when spending on military vehicles by the U.S. and European governments has softened, placing a premium on a limited number of big overseas deals, notably in Asia and the Middle East. General Dynamics competes with BAE Systems PLC and others in the market for troop carriers and other military vehicles, and both companies have been pushing for more funds to keep factories in North America running during the downturn in regional military spending. The company said in a regulatory filing that the value of the deal could rise to $13 billion if fully exercised.
Myanmar
Military engagement with Myanmar crucial for democratic reforms, says US nominee Montreal Gazette 25th Feb 2014
The appointee to become the top U.S. defence official for Asia said Tuesday engagement with the Myanmar military is crucial for democratic reform in the Southeast Asian nation. David Shear said in congressional testimony that without support from Myanmar's military, the transition to democracy "will likely falter." But State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki also said Tuesday the U.S. is not considering resumption of arms sales that were stopped after a bloody military crackdown on democracy protesters in 1988. "The U.S is not considering lifting the arms embargo on Myanmar," she told reporters. The United States and other Western nations have rapidly eased economic and political sanctions against the nation known as Burma as its government has initiated reforms after five decades of military rule. The U.S. has retained stiff restrictions on military engagement, however, although it's begun dialogue on human rights and military law, hoping to encourage reforms within the military itself. "I would characterize engagement with the Burmese military as crucial to the overall success of the ongoing reform movement in Burma," Shear said, adding that the Pentagon should move ahead wit
Burmese Army Acquires Chinese Military Equipment Amid Peace Talks kachinland 24th Feb 2014
Local sources in Muse, a gateway town border with China’s Ruili, today reported that they saw 22 wheeler trucks which are common carriers in China transporting mobile artillery transport vehicles from China side of the border to Muse. At least 12 trucks have been seen traveling from Muse to Lashio, northern Shan State’s capital where Burmese army’s Northeast Regional Command is headquartered, at around 11 am, the sources said.On February 19, a convoy of over 100 military trucks transported infantry soldiers, food, ammunition and other military equipment from Kachin State capital Myitkyina to Gang Dau Yang and Nam San Yang village. About 20 Burmese military trucks fully loaded with combat prepared troops travelled from Bhamo to Nam San Yang on the same day.Local eyewitnesses said another 160 military trucks loaded with troops, food, artillery, ammunition and 50 small boats head out towards Sumpra Bum from Myitkyina in this week.Burmese army has steadily increased its military presence in the whole Kachin and northern Shan State despite ongoing peace negotiations with ethnic armed groups. There has been an increase in the number of troops deployed in KIA’s 6th Battalion area in jade-rich Hpakant. Sources say more infantry units from a new Light Infantry Division (LID) are expected to deploy in Hpakant to reinforce current infantry units
US May Consider Future Arms Sales to Burma: Report Irrawaddy 24th Feb 2014
The United States plans to expand its defense ties with Burma and would consider resuming arms sales if the country’s human rights record greatly improves, a senior US State Department official has told IHS Jane’s, a UK publication that specializes in military and defense industry issues.Kenneth Handelman, deputy assistant secretary of state for defense trade controls in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, said the United States was not currently selling weapons to Burma or Vietnam because of concerns over poor human rights conditions in both countries.In the future, however, this could change as US policy toward both countries evolves and Washington continues its strategy of developing closer bilateral military ties with Asian Pacific nations, Handelman told Jane’s Defense Weekly on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow earlier this month.“We are starting down a long road with both these countries. If Myanmar or Vietnam ask us for a purchase through the Foreign Military Sale system or if they approach a US company and request a purchase through the direct commercial sale system, we are going to consider it. Every export license is like a small independent foreign policy decision,” he was quoted as saying.
Burma preparing to ratify chemical weapons ban: Ye Htut dvb 14th Feb 2014
Burma is making preparations to ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international arms control treaty employed by 98 percent of the world, according to President’s spokesperson Ye Htut.Burma became signatory to the convention upon its establishment in 1993, but over the course of two decades has not become an implementing member.“From what I know,” the spokesperson told DVB by phone, “we have signed the convention but have yet to ratify it… a country is obligated to comply with convention principles once they have signed [even if] their legislative body is yet to ratify, which requires amending domestic laws to conform to the convention.“We have advisors and trainers currently in discussion to provide technical assistance for follow up procedures to comply with ratification; adopting laws and forming necessary bodies such as inquiry groups,” he said.
NGOs say Burma’s military continues to abuse DVB 14th Feb 2014
A new report by the Network for Human Rights Documentation-Burma (ND-Burma) has revealed more than 100 cases of human rights violation committed by the Burmese military in the second half of 2013.The report, released on 11 February, highlighted human rights violations, including torture, rape, extra-judicial killing, land grabs, unlawful arrests and detentions, arbitrary taxation and forced labour that took place from July to December last year based on case studies conducted in 11 administrative regions across Burma.Among the 106 cases cited in the report, land grabbing has been the most common with 35 reported cases, followed by 20 cases of torture, 14 cases of arbitrary taxation, and eight cases of extra-judicial killing.
Philippines
Commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet Arrives in Manila US Embassy 24th Feb 2014
Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., arrived in Manila today on his first official visit to the Philippines as the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. During his visit Adm. Harris is scheduled to meet with Ambassador Philip Goldberg, make an office call on Vice Admiral Jose Luis M. Alano, Flag-Officer-In-Command, at the headquarters of the Philippine Navy, and visit Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Adm. Harris plans to use this opportunity to discuss the strong and enduring relationships between the U.S. and Philippine navies, the implications of the U.S. military’s rebalance to the Pacific, and the importance of naval engagement and cooperation for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Adm. Harris is the 34th officer to command the U.S. Pacific Fleet since it was established in February 1941 with headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He is the highest ranking Asian-American in the history of the U.S. Navy.
China Accused of Firing Water Cannons at Filipino Fishermen NYT 24th Feb 2014
A top Philippines military official accused China on Monday of firing water cannons at Filipino fishermen near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. “The Chinese Coast Guard tried to drive away Filipino fishing vessels to the extent of using water cannon” near Scarborough Shoal on Jan. 27, Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, chief of staff of the Philippine Armed Forces, told foreign reporters at a forum in Manila, according to Agence France-Presse. He did not say if any injuries resulted from the incident. Chinese maritime law enforcement vessels have maintained a presence at the shoal, which is claimed by both the Philippines and China, since a tense, monthslong standoff between the two countries in 2012. The latest incident is likely to raise tensions in a region that is becoming increasingly wary of China’s rising economic and military power. China’s claim to most of the South China Sea collides with claims from the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam. Taiwan also claims vast swaths of the sea. During a regular news briefing on Monday in Beijing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, said that she did not know the details of the January incident and that Chinese ships “carry out normal official patrols in that area,” according to Reuters. The United States has said that it would not take sides in the South China Sea territorial dispute. However, it has a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines under which it is obliged to help the the country if it is attacked, a commitment most recently affirmed by Adm. Jonathan Greenert, the chief of naval operations of the United States Navy. The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Since the 2012 standoff, the Scarborough Shoal has been off-limits to Chinese fishermen, according to fishermen interviewed last year in the Chinese port of Tanmen, on the island province of Hainan. Fishermen in Tanmen, a key processing station for Chinese catches in the South China Sea, said they had seen increased numbers of Chinese maritime law enforcement vessels in the Spratly Islands, also the object of competing territorial claims.
Philippine DND eyes attack craft with missile launch capabilities IHS 23rd Feb 2014
The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) is to bolster the country's maritime defences by acquiring three multipurpose attack craft (MPACs) with missile launch capabilities. A DND official told IHS Jane's on 24 February that the department's Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) will be accepting submissions from qualified suppliers for the PHP270 million (USD6 million) programme through a tender running from 28 February to 14 March. The winning bidder must deliver all three MPACs within 540 calendar days of the opening of the letter of credit. The Philippine Navy (PN) currently operates a fleet of six MPACs, three of them built by local company Propmech Corporation.
PAF Going Back to Supersonic Age with South Korean Jets Defense Studies 22nd Feb 2014
The Department of National Defense on Friday completed negotiations with a Korean aerospace company for a squadron of FA-50 lead-in fighter trainer jets, bringing the Philippine military a step closer to returning to the supersonic age after nearly a decade of relying on helicopters and fixed-wing, propeller-type aircraft. “I will say that, yes, we can now boast a little about our capability. I will not be ashamed to accept… that we are back to the supersonic age,” Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo, a retired Philippine Air Force (PAF) general, told reporters after the negotiations. Manalo said the FA-50s were “not ordinary lead-in fighter jets because it can deliver short-range missiles.” “There is a potential for these to be classified as beyond the short-range fighter aircraft,” Manalo said. He said the defense department and the state-owned Korea Aerospace Industries Inc. (KAI) would sign the $415.7-million contract later this month or early March. The first two of the 12 aircraft will be delivered to the Philippines 18 months after the contract is signed, Manalo said. The next two will be delivered 12 months after the initial delivery.
China Urges U.S. to Stay Out of Its Dispute With the Philippines Wall Street Journal 14th Feb 2014
China urged the U.S. to stay out of Beijing's territorial spat with the Philippines, hitting back at an American admiral's pledge of U.S. assistance to Manila in the event of Chinese military aggression. The festering dispute between China and the Philippines over parts of the South China Sea is increasingly becoming an issue between Beijing and Washington, which has a treaty alliance with Manila. "I would like to point out that the U.S. is not a party concerned in the dispute in the South China Sea," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing on Friday. "It should honor its commitment of taking no sides on the territorial-sovereignty issue in the South China Sea, be discreet in words and action and do more for the peace and stability in the region rather than the opposite."
Philippine Navy Signs Contract for Two Additional AW109 Power Helicopters Defense Studies 13th Feb 2014
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce the signing of a contract with the Philippine Navy for two additional AW109 Power maritime helicopters. The helicopters will be used for a wide range of naval missions including economic zone protection, surface surveillance, SAR and maritime security. This latest contract brings to five the total number of AW109 Powers ordered by the Philippine Navy which is already operating the first batch of three aircraft. The order further expands the success achieved by this model in the Philippines for military applications following the contract for eight units signed by the Philippine Air Force in 2013. The two additional helicopters will be delivered in the second half of this year and will operate from both shore and ship bases. The contract includes initial logistics support and training for aircrew and maintenance personnel. Vincenzo Alaimo, AgustaWestland’s Head of Regional Sales for SE Asia, said “It gives us great pleasure to announce this new order for the AW109 Power by the Philippines’ military following the initial success achieved in 2013 with contracts signed by both the Navy and the Air Force. This very capable and cost effective helicopter can provide tremendous support to the nation’s security and safety thanks to its outstanding performance and mission capabilities.” The AW109 Power is a three-tonne class eight seat helicopter powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW206C engines with FADEC. The spacious cabin is designed to be fitted with a number of modular equipment packages for quick and easy conversion between roles. The aircraft’s safety features include a fully separated fuel system, dual hydraulic boost system, dual electrical systems and redundant lubrication and cooling systems for the main transmission and engines.
US firm bags 1.3-B airport, rescue, firefighting supply deal Philippine Star 24th Feb 2014
MANILA, Philippines - The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has awarded a P1.3-billion contract to Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corp. for the supply of 41 brand new aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles. CAAP director general William Hotchkiss III said the agency’s board of directors unanimously approved the procurement of 41 units of brand new industrial type airport rescue firefighting vehicles to boost the firefighting capability of major commercial airports in the country. Hotchkiss said the government is upgrading fire trucks and other communication equipment and facilities on government-run airports to conform to global aviation standards. CAAP operates 81 airports with 41 handling commercial flights. These commercial airports had an inventory of 97 fire trucks with acquisition date as far back as 1968 with 17 units out of commission due to lack of spare parts.
PH says China fired water cannon at fishermen in Scarborough Philippine Star 24th Feb 2014
MANILA (UPDATED) - The Philippines' military chief on Monday accused China's coast guard of firing water cannon at Filipino fishermen for the first time to drive them away from a disputed sea shoal. General Emmanuel Bautista said Chinese vessels fired cannon on January 27 near Scarborough Shoal -- the subject of a bitter territorial row in the strategically important South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). "The Chinese coast guard tried to drive away Filipino fishing vessels to the extent of using water cannon," Bautista told a forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.
Obama to meet Aquino in Asian swing Manila Bulletin 13th Feb 2014
. Manila, Philippines – Malacañang yesterday confirmed US President Barack Obama will push through with his visit to the Philippines in late April this year, during a swing of Asian countries which include Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, and the Philippines. Washington officials said Obama’s visits to Manila and Kuala Lumpur are intended to make up for his no-show when he cancelled a previous Asia tour in October amid domestic political strife in Washington. A subtext to his visit will be rising territorial tensions between several US allies and China, which deepened over Beijing’s recent declaration of an “air defense identification zone” in the East China Sea.
Singapore
Is a Light Carrier in Singapore's Future? Defense Studies 3rd Mar 2014
For years, Singapore’s ST Engineering Marine has been parading a ship model of a landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessel that could handle the jump-jet variant of the F-35 joint strike fighter. The model was most recently on display at last month’s Singapore Airshow. And while Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) won’t confirm that it has plans to build such a vessel, it’s also not denying it. The model shows a variant of the Endurance-160 multirole support ship configured as an LHD. MINDEF confirmed that Singapore has expressed an interest in the F-35B, as illustrated by the recent inspection of the aircraft by Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen during his visit to Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., in December.
Singapore Announces SGD12.56 Billion Defence Budget Defense Studies 26th Feb 2014
Singapore has announced a 2014 defence budget of SGD12.56 billion (USD9.93 billion), a 3.2% increase over spending in 2013, the government said on 21 February. The allocation amounts to 22% of total annual government expenditure and about 3.3% of GDP. Both figures are in line with the country's long-term approach to defence spending, which is geared towards maintaining the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) relative high degree of military capability. While expenditure as a percentage of GDP is higher than the global average of around 2%, it remains significantly below the Singapore government's sanctioned cap of 6%. The reduction from 3.4% of GDP in 2013 to 3.3% in 2014 follows a general trend of decline with regards to this particular metric since 2009.
Singapore could ultimately decide SABR/RACR showdown in SE Asia IHS 22nd Feb 2014
The story of which industry team will capture the lion's share of the business to upgrade the Lockheed Martin F-16 has taken a new turn, with a decision by Singapore potentially now a 'game winner', while rumours continue to circulate about the US Air Force's (USAF's) future plans for modernising its own F-16 fleet. The USAF's Combat Avionics Programmed Extension Suite (CAPES) programme was originally intended to involve 300 US F-16 aircraft, all of which would be upgraded with Northrop Grumman's Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) and a set of other onboard systems integrated by Lockheed Martin, the aircraft's original manufacturer. Both the SABR and its competitor, the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR), are active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars designed to replace the F-16's existing Northrop Grumman AN/APG-68 mechanically steered array (MSA) radar set. For its proposed upgrade Raytheon is paired with BAE Systems, which performs the role of integrator and supplier for a new set of cockpit displays, an electronic warfare suite, and a main mission computer. Taiwan (the Republic of China - ROC) had elected to join the USAF in a joint effort focused on the SABR radar, with Lockheed Martin as the programme integrator, and would have 146 of its aircraft upgraded with this package. The island nation is one of the three near-term export customers for an F-16 modernisation, along with South Korea, with 130 F-16s to be modernised, and Singapore, which i
Thailand
Bangkok Dock Company launches new oiler for Thailand IHS 2nd Mar 2014
A new light oiler under construction for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) was launched during a ceremony at Bangkok Dock Company's shipyard in Samut Prakan Province on 27 February. Laid down on 24 May 2012, Matra is being built under a contract worth an estimated USD10 million to replace a number of ageing tankers in the RTN's inventory. The 1,200 DWT vessel has an overall length of 63.5 m, with a 12 m beam and a maximum draught of 5.2 m. Powered by twin Wärtsilä diesel engines, Matra will have a maximum speed of 12 kt, with a range of 4,000 n miles at 10 kt and an endurance of 12 days.
Bangkok Turmoil and Thailand’s Deep South The Diplomat 1st Mar 2014
Exactly one year ago, hopes were high as the Thai government under the leadership of Yingluck Shinawatra made a historic move to end a conflict that had already claimed more than 5300 lives since its brutal resurgence in 2004. With the blessings of her deposed and now exiled brother Thaksin, who had previously approached Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak for cooperation, Shinawatra initiated a formal peace dialogue with the Barisan Rovolusi Nasional (BRN), one of the main insurgent groups that operate in the three violence-ridden provinces of Thailand’s Deep South. Despite being lauded and supported by many local religious leaders, civil society groups, and scholars working towards a peaceful bottom-up resolution to the conflict, the dialogue soon ran into challenges, lasting only three rounds. A lack of command and commitment by the representatives of both sides, the uncertain and contested role of Malaysia, and the Army’s entrenched interests and stronger role have all contributed to undermine the dialogue. One possible way out would be to upgrade the dialogue to a negotiation process focusing on the practical aspects of some form of political autonomy for the Southern provinces, which would increase the prospects of ending one of Asia’s oldest conflicts. But this is unlikely given the current political instability in Bangkok and the uncertain future of Prime Minister Yingluck and her government, now bereft of popular support and legitimacy.
"KRAZ" Trained Officers of the Royal Thai Army Defense Studies 24th Feb 2014
To provide technical support and training operating characteristics of KrAZ vehicles in Thailand were sent to specialists PAO "AvtoKrAZ". Training was conducted in accordance with the terms of tender won Kremenchug Automobile Plant in the hardest fight in the beginning of last year. Tender anticipated delivery of a large batch of cars KrAZ-terrain vehicles for the needs of the Royal Thai Army. The training was attended by a total of about 100 people from the mechanics, drivers and inspectors of various units of the Royal Thai Army. Theoretical knowledge and conduct MOT specialists "KrAZ" taught in one of the service centers of the Thai army. The practical part of training, which consisted of driving skills training, maintenance and repairs, carried out in real-world conditions - on one of the military ranges. After learning all the cadets were issued certificates of course completion.
Amid political turmoil, Thailand's election body takes center stage Chicago Tribune 13th Feb 2014
As Thailand tries to resolve a debilitating political stalemate, five unelected officials have been armed with the power to over-rule its government in key areas and chart a route out of the mess left by this month's disrupted election. For three-and-a-half months, protesters, mostly from Bangkok and the south, have been seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and rid the country of the influence of her brother, ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Vietnam
The First Image of Vietnam Battleship SIGMA 9814 Defense Studies 27th Feb 2014
Based on the model has been revealed, it can be judged SIGMA 9814 class ships will be capable of, the comprehensive. Defense News Television (QPVN) Vietnam's Ministry of Defense, broadcast at 20.00 the day 26/2 has officially revealed the first images of the "shape" of the modern class SIGMA 9814 ships will strengthen Vietnam Navy in the future. Based on a images reveal on Defense Channel Television shows the SIGMA 9814 of Vietnam will be equipped with advanced weapons systems, combining the foundation of Russia and the West. Based on the picture above, can be concluded that the first design occupies SIGMA 9814 ships of Vietnam is very similar to the design SIGMA 10514 which Holland played for the Indonesian Navy, the only thing is it (SIGMA 9814) shorter than 7m. Specifically, the front side of the ship is a 76mm Oto Melara gun turret ship, immediately after the superstructure is radar tube placement 8 Exocet anti-ship missile Block III (2 pans, each 4-tube missile launch pad placed cross each other). The stern has a landing strip large enough for a helicopter of the Russian Kamov anti-submarine could takeoff and landing. However, according to observers, the brothel next to the heliport is too small, there may not be capable of accommodating a helicopter as Ka-27/28 style.
Submarines: Vietnam Gets Game Against China Strategy Page 20th Feb 2014
On the last day of 2013 Vietnam received its first submarine, a Russian made Kilo class boat. This is the first of six Kilos, which were ordered in 2009 and cost $2.1 billion. The Kilos are based at Cam Ranh Bay, a deep water port developed by the United States during the 1960s and has since then been a major shipping and ship maintenance facility. The Russian fleet has used the facilities there for three decades. The Kilos weigh 2,300 tons (surface displacement), have six torpedo tubes, and a crew of 57. They are quiet and can travel about 700 kilometers under water at a quiet speed of about five kilometers an hour. Kilos carry 18 torpedoes or SS-N-27 anti-ship missiles (with a range of 300 kilometers and launched underwater from the torpedo tubes). The combination of quietness and cruise missiles makes Kilo very dangerous to surface ships.
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