Japan commissions lead-ship of new Mogami-class frigate

 

The Mogami (FFM-1) during sea trials in October 2021. Photo c/o Naval News.

Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) delivered the lead ship of the Mogami-class frigates to the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), which in turn commissioned the new ship as the JS Mogami (FFM-1).

The delivery and commissioning ceremonies were held on 28 April 2022 at MHI's shipyard in Nagasaki, with the ship proceeding to its assignment with the JMSDF's Mine Warfare Force homeported at Yokosuka Naval Base.

Despite the ship being the lead ship of the class, it is actually the second ship to be commissioned with the JMSDF, being overtaken by the second ship of the class JS Kumano (FFM-2) which was commissioned last March 2022.

This was due to delays encountered by MHI in construction the Mogami.

The new Mogami-class frigates were designed with efficiency and high level of automation in mind, together with a more compact design for reduced construction cost,and stealthy hull and superstructure design for reduced cross-section against radar detection.

It has a length of 132.5 meters, a width of 16.3 meters, and has a crew of 90 officers and sailors.

The ship has a maximum speed of more than 30 knots, and powered by a Combined Diesel and Gas (CODAG) propulsion configuration with two MAN 12V28/33D STC diesel engines and a Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine engine.

It is armed with a BAE Systems Mk.45 Mod 4 127mm naval gun, two Japan Steel Works RCWS for 12.7mm machine guns, a 16-cell Mk. 41 VLS, an 11-cell Raytheon SeaRAM CIWS, and two quadruple launchers for MHI Type 17 anti-ship missiles.

The Mogami-class are to replace the JMSDF's ageing fleet of Abukuma-class destroyer escorts that have been in service since the late 1980s.




[1] Naval News
[2] The Diplomat
[3] Asia Pacific Defense Journal

Philippines receives SPYDER Air Defense System simulator training center

 

Philippine and Israeli officials during inauguration of new SPADS Simulator Training Center. Photo c/o Philippines DND.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has inaugurated a new Simulator Training Center for its SPYDER Air Defense System, which was built with assistance from the Israeli Government and Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.

A formal ceremony was held at Base Air Base in Pampanga province, with Philippine Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana as guest-of-honor, PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Connon Anthony Canlas, Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd Exercuive Vice President Brig. Gen. Pinhas Yungman (ret), and PAF Air Defense Command chief Maj. Gen. Augustine Malinit.

The new SPYDER Air Defense System (SPADS) Simulator Training Center will allow the training of future operators of the SPYDER air defense system to increase their proficiency and allowing ease of conducting training.

The system is also expected to allow operators to hone their skills and keep proficiency on a high level without relying on real-world use of the missile system.

The Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) has acquired the SPYDER Air Defense System from Rafael as part of Ground Based Air Defense System (GBADS) Acquisition Project of the PAF, which aims to provide the PAF with a reliable medium-range air defense missile system to defend facilities and points of interest from aerial threats such as fast flying aircraft, helicopters, UAVs and cruise missiles.

The deal was worth PHP6.85 billion (US$137 million) and involves the delivery of SPYDER-MR missile launchers, radar systems, support vehicles, and Python-5 and I-Derby missiles.

Rafael is expected to complete delivery of the entire contract package to the PAF by 2023.

[1] Philippine News Agency

[2] MaxDefense Philippines

[3] Philippine Defense Resource

Indonesia prepares for local production of FNSS Zaha amphibious assault vehicle

 

The FNSS Zaha. Photo c/o FNSS.

Indonesian defense company PT Pindad has entered into an agreement with Turksih defense company FNSS for the potential production of the Zaha amphibious assault vehicle in Indonesia.

Both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 20 April 2022, with PT Pindad President Abraham Mose and FNSS Country Manager Tolgo Sipahi, and was witnessed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, as well as several high-ranking defense and military officials.

The signing of the MoU coincides with the launching of Indonesia’s Defense Industry Strategic Program that will strengthen the country’s defense industry in line with its goal to reduce reliance on importing foreign-made weapon systems, while improving its defense technology and manufacturing capabilities.

The Zaha Marine Assault Vehicle is a new amphibious armored vehicle developed by FNSS and was launched in 2019 to meet the requirements of the Turkish Naval Forces as well as for export market.

The vehicle has 3 crew members and capacity for 21 dismounted troops, and was designed with enhanced ballistic and mine protection features, and is capable of launched from amphibious assault ships.

It is armed with a remote-controlled weapon station that can be equipped with a 12.7mm heavy machinegun and a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, and has day and night operations capability with assistance from thermal sighting system.

The Zaha amphibious assault vehicle is aimed to meet the Indonesian Navy’s requirement for new Amphibious Landing and Amphibious Recovery armored vehicles for the Indonesian Marine Corps.

PT Pindad also signed an agreement with the Indonesian Ministry of Defence on the development and production of Small Calibre Munitions for the production of 5.56mm, 7.62mm and 12.7mm munitions for the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI).

[1] PT Pindad

[2] TurDef Turkish Defense News

Solomon Islands sign milestone security pact with China

 

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Beijing during a previous state visit. Photo c/o ABC News.

The Solomon Islands finalized a security agreement with China, which has sparked concern from traditional South Pacific nation allies like Australia, the United States and New Zealand.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed that the agreement was signed “in recent days” between him and his Solomon Islands counterpart Minister Jeremiah Manele.

According to official statements from the two countries, the security agreement would allow Beijing to assist Honiara in “maintaining social order, protecting people’s safety, aid, combating natural disasters, and helping safeguard national security”.

An official announcement by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has yet to be made.

The deal has raised concern from Australia, with its political opposition calling the agreement “the worst failure of Australian foreign policy in the Pacific since the end of World War 2”, as it failed to send senior ministers to Honiara to stop the agreement from being signed. 

The agreement is believed to be a precursor for China to deploy its military forces deeper into the Pacific region and compromising the security of Australia and New Zealand, and US Pacific territories like Guam and Hawaii, with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern seeing it as a “potential militarization of the (Pacific) region”

The draft of the agreement was leaked on March 2022, which is said to allow legal framework for Chinese naval vessels to dock and replenish in the Solomon Islands, and a possibility for Chinese military and police personnel to be deployed in the Solomon Islands to assist local security forces and guard infrastructure projects built or being constructed by China.

But it still remains to be seen what the final version of the agreement has included that would benefit China, as both parties are said to have been secretive with the final contents of the security agreement.

Prime Minister Sogavare described criticisms from Australia and other countries on agreeing to sign a security deal with China as “very insulting”, saying that the country is free to diversify its relations with other partners, and that other countries’ concern that China would build military bases in the Solomon Islands are baseless. 

China has 2 other defense agreements with Ethiopia and Cambodia, with the former resulting to a Chinese foreign military base in the Horn of Africa.

[1] ABC News

[2] Financial Times

[3] The Guardian

Philippines receives first 2 ArmTrac 100-350 Mk.2 mine detecting vehicles

 

One of the ArmTrac 100-350 Mk.2 mine detecting vehicles of the Philippine Army. Photo c/o Philippine Army.

The Philippine Army has confirmed that it received delivery of two ArmTrac 100-350 Mk.2 mine search and detection vehicles from UK-based company ArmTrac Ltd.

According to Philippine defense page MaxDefense Philippines. the vehicles arrived in late March 2022 and were delivered to the Philippine Army for inspection and testing before inducting to service.

Both vehicles are up-armored and equipped with ground probing radar to survey ground surface for suspected mines, IEDs or bombs.

The Philippine Army confirmed that the 525th Engineer Combat Battalion of the 51st Engineer Brigade will be operating these new assets.

The Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) ordered a total of 4 vehicles under the Philippine Army’s Combat Engineering Equipment Vehicle Mounted Mine Detector (VMMD) Acquisition Project, which aims to improve the service’s ability to detect mines and IEDs.

The deal, worth PHP110.4 million (US$2.2 million) was signed in mid-2021, and was negotiated under a Philippines-United Kingdom Government-to-Government (G2G) transaction.

Aside from the VMMDs, the Philippine Army is also procuring more hand-held mini mine detectors and other combat engineering equipment as part of its ongoing modernization program.

[1] Philippine Army

[2] MaxDefense Philippines

[3] Philippine Defense Resource

Australia scraps procurement of MQ-9B SkyGuardian UCAVs

 

CGI of proposed MQ-9B SkyGuardian UCAV for RAAF. Photo c/o ADBR.

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) on 01 April 2022 has confirmed that it has scrapped plans to procure more than a dozen MQ-9B SkyGuardian Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV) for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The project, which is undertaken as part of the DOD’s Project AIR 7003, was suppose to provide the RAAF with combat-capable UAVs that would improve Australia’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare (EW), and precision strike capabilities across land and maritime environments.

The cancellation comes as a surprise for General Atomics, the main contractor of the project, as well as Team SkyGuardian Australia consortium which is made up of Australian companies involved in the project.

It was believed that the funds for the project will be re-prioritized to meet the growing costs of the DOD’s Cybersecurity projects through its REDSPICE program.

While funding issues was said to be the main reason for the cancellation of the A$1.3 billion project, no confirmation has been made by both the DOD and General Atomics, the main contractor of the project.

The MQ-9B was selected in 2018, winning a competition against several other offers by other companies, with the MQ-9B SkyGuardian closely similar to the UK Royal Air Force’s version, which in turn was a development from the MQ-9A Reaper used by the US Armed Forces.

[1] Janes

[2] Australia Defence Magazine

[3] ADBR

Philippines inducts 2 T129 ATAK attack helicopters, 1 C-295W transport aircraft

 

One of the new T129B ATAK attack helicopter of the PAF. Photo c/o Philippines DND.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has boosted its fleet with the formal handover, blessing and induction of two new T129B ATAK attack helicopters from Turkish Aeropsace Industries (TAI) and a new C-295W transport aircraft from Airbus Defense and Space.

The ceremony was held on 06 April 2022 at Villamor Airbase in Manila, and was led by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and PAF Commading General Lt. Gen. Connor Anthony Canlas, and was also attended by officials from TAI and Airbus.

The two T129B ATAK attack helicopters are the first batch out of 6 ordered by the Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) under the PAF’s Attack Helicopter Acquisition Program. All 6 helicopters are expected to be completely delivered by 2024, with the PAF’s 15th Strike Wing operating the aircraft.

The Philippines is the first export market for the T129 ATAK helicopter, as an earlier order from Pakistan encountered export license problems for subsystems supplied by United States-based companies, which forced Pakistan to cancel its order.

The PAF has expressed interest to procure up to 18 more aircraft, although no further negotiations have taken place to pursue this plan.

Meanwhile, the C-295W transport aircraft the first of 3 units ordered by the DND from Airbus Defense and Space under the PAF’s Medium Lift Aircraft Acquisition Project, with the contract signed in early 2021.

The aircraft is the 5th C-295 to serve the PAF, although it is the first W variant which has improvements over the older M variant, including the winglets found on the aircraft’s wingtips, which improve fuel efficiency and flight performance.

The C-295s are currently operated by the PAF’s 220th Airlift Wing, with the PAF expecting the delivery of all 3 aircraft by late 2023.

[1] MaxDefense Philippines

[2] Philippine Defense Resource

[3] Philippine Defense Resource

Australia to send Bushmaster armored vehicles, other military supplies to Ukraine

The Bushmaster armored vehicle. Photo c/o Shephard Media.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that the Australian Government will be sending Bushmaster armored vehicles and other military equipment and supplies to Ukraine as soon as possible.

This was made after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed directly the Australian Parliament on 31 March 2022, requesting for military and humanitarian aid to support its defense against the invasion of Russia, as war continues between the 2 countries.

The Thales Australia Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle is a 4x4 mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) armored vehicles, and was specifically requested by Pres. Zelenskyy in his speech.

Prime Minister Morrison also confirmed that aside from the armored vehicles, the Australian Government is sending more small arms, ammunition, personal protective equipment, and other military supplies to assist the Ukrainian military.

No specific numbers have been confirmed, and no specific date was mentioned on when the deliveries would take place. 

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has been using their Boeing C-17A Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft in sending supplies to Ukraine through its NATO neighbors, and it is believe up to 4 Bushmaster vehicles can fit the aircraft.

Australia is among the countries that supported the call to aid Ukraine, as well as impose sanctions to Russia for its invasion of its smaller neighbour.

[1] Sky News

[2] 9 News Australia

[3] The Canberra Times