Malaysia reduces order for new Maharaja Lela-class Littoral Combat Ships

 

The first ship of the class, Maharaja Lela (2501) during its launch in 2017. Photo c/o Military Blog.

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has confirmed that it will only be receiving five units of Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) instead of six ships as originally ordered.

The new Chief of the RMN, Vice Admiral Abdul Rahman Ayob has confirmed to Malaysian press that the reduction was made as part of efforts to proceed with the stalled project.

Vice Admiral Ayob said that the decision to reduce the quantity of ships was made by the Malaysian Government in 2022 when it decided to proceed with the project, which is troubled by corruption, cost overruns, and construction delays.

It is believed that the reduction would allow the delivery of the project on time, while meeting the revised budget.

The RMN’s LCS originally involves the construction and delivery of six frigates based on an enlarged version of the Gowind-class corvette design from French shipbuilder Naval Group, which are being built by Malaysian shipbuilder Boustead Heavy Industries as part of technology transfer agreement between Malaysia and France.

The ships are collectively called the Maharaja Lela-class, based on the name of the lead ship of the class.

None of the ships have been completed as of this writing, despite the lead ship being launched as early as August 2017. All other ships of the class are in different stages of construction. 

Based on the original program schedule, the RMN should have already received all six ships as of August 2022.

[1] Free Malaysia Today

[2] Utusan Malaysia

Indonesia commissions second Sudirohusado-class hospital ship

 

The KRI Dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat (992) during commissioning ceremony. Photo c/o Antara News.

The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) has formally accepted and commissioned its second Sudirohusado-class hospital ship, the KRI Dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat (992).

The ship joined the TNI-AL on 20 January 2023, and will provide medical services to the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and will also be used to provide medical assistance and support in remote or disaster-stricken areas on behalf of the Indonesian Government.

Among those present during the commissioning ceremonies was TNI-AL Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali, PT PAL CEO Mr. Kaharuddin Djeonod, and other high ranking officials of the TNI, TNI-AL, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health, Ministry of State Owned Enterprises, and PT PAL.

The ship held its first steel cutting ceremony on 10 September 2020, and its keel was laid on 21 January 2021. The ship was named and launched by its shipbuilder PT PAL on 15 August 2022.

The Sudirohusado-class hospital ships are based on improved variants of the Makassar-class and Tarlac-class landing platform dock, and has a length of 122 meters, a beam of 22 meters, a draft of 6.7 meters, and a displacement of around 11,394  tons full load.

It can accommodate a total of 66 medical staff, 158 patients, 181 crew members, and 280 volunteers.

It is equipped with a helicopter landing deck, a helicopter hangar for 2 helicopters, and its medical facility includes a surgical unit, x-ray equipment, intensive care unit, isolation unit, laboratory, a pharmacy, morgue, accommodation for medical staff.

[1] Antara News

[2] Navy Recognition

[3] PT PAL

India commissions 5th Kalvari-class (Scorpene) attack submarine

 

The INS Vagir. Photo c/o DefPro Mumbai.

The Indian Navy has commissioned its fifth Kalvari-class diesel-electric attack submarine on 23 January 2023.

The submarine, named INS Vagir, is the second to the last ship of the class for the Indian Navy under its P-75 submarine program, and is based on an Indian-specified version of the Scorpene-class submarine design from French shipbuilder Naval Group.

The new submarine was commissioned at the Naval Dockyard Mumbai, with Indian Navy Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar as the Guest of Honour.

“Vagir” in the Indian language means “Sand Shark”, which represents stealth and fearlessness, both the qualities that are synonymous to the ethos of submariners.

The INS Vagir was built by Indian shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Ltd’s shipyard in Mumbai, with assistance from Naval Group which designed and provided the technology for the submarines. 

It started sea trials on February 2022 and was completed in 11 months. 

According to Admiral R Hari Kumar, the INS Vagir is the third submarine to be inducted with the Indian Navy in the last 24 months, which underscores the maturity of the Indian shipbuilding and defense industry.

The Kalvari-class submarines are powered by two 1,250kW MAN diesel engines, 360 battery cells and a permanently magnetized propulsion motor allowing it to have an operational range of around 6,500 nautical miles. While not equipped with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, all ships of the class are designed to allow it to be installed in the future.

It would be armed with heavyweight torpedoes and the MBDA SM39 Exocet submarine-launched anti-ship cruise missile. 

With this commissioning, the INS Vagir will join its sisterships INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, and INS Vela, while Mazagon Dock Ltd is undergoing fitting-out works and is scheduled to conduct its sea trials later this year, and delivery to the Indian Navy by 2024.

[1] Naval News

[2[ NDTV

[3] The Hindu

Australia to procure 40 Black Hawk helicopters, to retire MRH-90 Taipan early

 

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Photo c/o EPA.

The Australian Government confirmed on 18 January 2023 that it will be procuring 40 new Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk multi-role helicopters from the United States, with an estimated cost amounting to A$2.8 billion (US$1.95 billion).

The acquisition will be made as part of the Project LAND 4507-1 of the Australian Army, and would be done through US Foreign Military Sales (US FMS) program

The deliveries of the Black Hawk helicopters are expected to start later this year, and would be deployed from Oakey in Queensland, and from Holsworthy in New South Wales.

The new helicopters will replace the troubled MRH-90 Taipan helicopter fleet operated by the Australian Army, which have been struggling with maintenance and spare parts supply issues for several years.

Australian Army Head of Land Capability Major General Jeremy King said that the UH-60M Black Hawk will meet Australia’s strategic needs, and is considered a more reliable and proven system supported by a robust supply chain.

Australian companies will be participating in providing support and services for the new helicopter fleet, as part of a wider global supply chain.

The helicopters will be used for different combat and peacetime operations including protection of Australia’s sovereignty, deployment and support of troops and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).

The Australian Army currently has 41 MRH-90 Taipan helicopters operating from 2 bases, but the maintenance issues forced the service to hire civilian helicopters in 2021, costing A$37 million, to meet operational requirements due to the Taipan’s low availability rate.

As early as 2021, the Australian Department of Defence confirmed that they intend to retire the MHR90 Taipan helicopters a decade earlier than scheduled. It has now confirmed that the Australian Army will cease operating the Taipans by December 2024, or 13 years earlier than planned.

The French Government has been lobbying for Australia to continue operating the MRH-90 Taipan helicopters, with Airbus announcing its full commitment to fully support the helicopters. The announcement to ditch the Taipan is expected to disappoint France, but not as much as the cancellation of the Attack-class submarine program.

[1] ABC News

[2] Australian Defence Magazine

[3] The Guardian

Myanmar commissions five new naval assets, transfer ships to new coast guard

 

Two Super Dvora Mk III fast patrol boats during commissioning with the Myanmar Navy. Photo c/o Myawady Portal.

The Myanmar Navy has commissioned five new naval ships, which was done as part of the 75th founding anniversary of the service.

Among those commissioned by the Myanmar Navy are two Super Dvora Mk. III fast patrol crafts, two landing crafts and a water tanker.

The commissioning ceremony was held at the No. 3 Naval Wharf in Yangon, and attended by the Chairman of the State Administration Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, and other high ranking military officials.

The Myanmar Navy already operates the Israeli-designed Super Dvora Mk III fast patrol boats since 2017, and the two recently-commissioned boats are the 5th and 6th ship of the class. Both were built under license by the Thanlyin Naval Dockyard in Myanmar, and are armed with twin 14.5mm QJC-02G anti-aircraft heavy machine guns mounted on a locally-developed Defence Industry Remote Controlled Weapon Station (DI-RCWS), and a manually operated 14.5mm QJC-02G machine gun.

The two landing crafts are also locally-made, and are reported to be 23 meters long and will be used for riverine and amphibious operations. They are also designed to be operable from the Myanmar Navy’s landing platform dock, the UMS Moattama.

While there is not much information released by the Myanmar Navy, photos show that these are for transport of personnel, and have enclosed armored troop cabin, and armed with two manually-operated machine guns and two twin recoilless rifles.

Photos also suggest that the water tanker is for riverine operations and have a shallow draft design, and is approximately 30-40 meters long. Myanmar officials also mentioned that the ship was locally made.

Aside from the commissioning of new ships, the ceremony also included a formal transfer of several ships of the Myanmar Navy to the fledging Myanmar Coast Guard.

[1] Myawady Portal

[2] Shephard Media

[3] Myanmar Information Sheet

Myanmar unveils new indigenous long range rocket artillery system, light tank

The MAM-03 long range rocket launchers during the 75th Independence Anniversary Parade. Photo c/o Myanmar MRTV.

The Myanmar Army has showcased its assets as part of the country’s 75th Independence Anniversary celebrations on 04 January 2023, including the unveiling of new assets to the public.

Local press and military observers were present during the Independence Day parade by the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) held at the country’s capital Naypyidaw, which provided an insight on its current military inventory and capability.

Among those displayed is the new MAM-03 multiple rocket launcher system, which makes its public debut, which features 4-tube 300mm rocket launchers on a wheeled truck platform.

Observers believe that Chinese assistance was brought in for the MAM-03’s development, which is said to be similar to the Chinese WS-1B MLRS, and could be using the Chinese A300 surface-to-surface rockets.

The A300 rocket has a range of up to 290 kilometers, and is armed with a 150 kilogram warhead of different types.

It is guided to its target by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS), with a reported Circular Error Probable (CEP) of between 30 to 45 meters.

Also on display was the MMT-40 light tank, which was only unveiled by the Myanmar Army on March 2022. 

It uses a tracked armored vehicle platform based on the Soviet MT-LBMSh armored personnel carrier previously supplied by Ukraine, and is equipped with a 105mm tank gun on a manned turret.

The gun and turret are believed to be the same to those installed on the Norinco WMA-301 wheeled tank destroyers from China, which means these could have been sourced from China.

The tank also has a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12.7 heavy machine gun mounted on the tank’s commander station on the turret.

 

[1] Army Recognition

Indonesia starts construction of first of two Arrowhead 140 frigates

 

Indonesian defense and military officials with PT PAL executives during the First Steel Cutting Ceremony of the first "Merah Putih" frigate. Photo c/o BUMN.

Indonesian state-owned ship builder PT PAL (Persero) has started the construction of the first of two planned frigates designed by British defense firm Babcock International.

The frigate, which is now called by Indonesian officials as the “Merah Putih” (Red White) Frigate based on the colors of the Indonesian national flag, had its ceremonial First Steel Cutting on 09 December 2022 at PT PAL’s facility in Surabaya.

Originally the ceremony was suppose to be held on November 2022, but PT PAL admitted that there were delays in the programme, specifically on finalizing the design, which may have pushed back the First Steel Cutting date.

The frigate uses the Arrowhead 140 base design, which Babcock International agreed to transfer to PT PAL under a deal signed on September 2021. The design was modified to suit Indonesian specifications and desired subsystems.

The Indonesian frigate will be around 138.7 meters long, 19.8 meters wide, has a displacement of  5,700 tons, and have a crew of 100. 

The first ship is expected to be delivered to the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) by 2026.

The Arrowhead 140 design was based on the hull form of the Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates which were built for the Danish Navy in 2011.

Aside from Indonesia, the Royal Navy is building the Type 31 frigates also based on the Arrowhead 140 design.

[1] Indonesia Shipbuilding & Offshore Association

[2] Janes

[3] Lembaga Kajian Pertahanan Strategis

Indonesia urged to protect new national capital with strong air and cyber defense system

 

Indonesia is looking HISAR air defense systems from Turkey. Photo c/o ROKETSAN.

The Indonesian Government was urged to invest and build an effective air and cyber defense systems to protect its new capital city Nusantara, which is proposed to be established in the province of East Kalimantan.

Indonesia’s National Resilience Insititute (LEMHANNAS) believes that the country should learn from experiences by Ukraine in its war with Russia, and predicts that any attack on the new capital city would begin with cyber and  airborne threats, and involves new technologies.

LEMHANNAS Governor Andi Widjajanto said that future conflicts would be hybrid and would tend to be a high-tech fight at the beginning of the battle, as shown by how Russia uses various ways to attack Ukraine and its cities.

This may include cyber attacks to disable utility services like power, and the use of air assets including hypersonic and supersonic missiles, surveillance and suicide drones.

LEMHANNAS urged the Indonesian Government to adapt the latest technologies in cyber and air defense systems, with the new capital Nusantara becoming the “heart” of Indonesia’s defense system in which the risks of such attacks should be mitigated.

The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) is planning to invest in multi-layer air defense systems as part of its Minimum Essential Force (MEF) program, and has been negotiating with several countries and defense companies on the supply of advanced air defense systems.

Indonesia has also started to improve its cyber security systems, including data protection and defense against cyber-attacks, after the country suffered a hike in cyber attacks that exposed the fragility of its cyber security framework.

[1] Jakarta Globe

[2] Tempo

[3] University of Queensland Centre for Policy Futures

Myanmar Air Force receives several new air assets as part of 75th founding anniversary

 

One of the new Su-30SME of the MAF. Photo c/o Myanmar Witness.

The Myanmar Air Force (MAF) has formally received and inducted several new air assets as it celebrated its 75th founding anniversary on 15 December 2022.

The anniversary and acceptance ceremony, which was held at the MAF’s air base in Mithila, was attended by senior officials of the Myanmar Government including State Administration Council Chairman and Commander in Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces General Min Aung Hliang, Chief of Air Staff General Tun Aung, and several others.

Among those inducted into service by the MAF were two Sukhoi Su-30SME heavy fighter aircraft from Russia, six Guizhou FTC-2000G Mountain Eagle light combat aircraft and four additional K-8 Karakorum jet trainers from China.

Also commissioned was a Shaanxi Y-8F-200 transport aircraft from China, and two Kamov Ka-27 Helix helicopters from Russia.

Dutch aviation publication Scramble Magazine believes the Ka-27 Helix helicopters were formerly with the Indian Navy, and might have been upgraded and transferred to Myanmar recently.

Myanmar press sources also confirmed that a Chengdu J-7 fighter with tail number 1665 was commissioned, although it remains to be seen if this is a new addition, or a newly-rehabilitated unit since the MAF has been operating the J-7 since the early 1990s.

[1] Myanmar News Eleven

[2] Myanmar Witness

[3] Scramble Magazine

Philippines to receive Fuji-Bell UH-1J Huey helicopters from Japan

 

A UH-1J Huey of the JGSDF. Photo c/o Nizuki Chousadan. 

The Philippine Army’s Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr confirmed to the press on 19 December 2022 that the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD) is willing to hand-over some of their Fuji-Bell UH-1J Huey combat utility helicopters, once they start replacing them in the next few years.

Lt. Gen. Brawner made this statement to Philippine news outlet Inquirer.net when asked about the improving defense relations of the Philippines and Japan.

The helicopters are expected to be operated by the Philippine Army’s Army Aviation “Hiraya” Regiment, which currently operates smaller MBB Bo-105 and Robinson R-44 Raven II light helicopters that are being used to train and expand its helicopter pilot pool.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) currently operates the Fuji-Bell UH-1J Huey, which are scheduled to be replaced by the new Subaru-Bell UH-2 helicopter starting 2024. 

The Fuji-Bell UH-1J Huey were built from 1993 to 1998 under license in Japan by Fuji Heavy Industries (now Subaru Corporation) by combining the original Bell 205 used as basis for the UH-1H Huey, and features from the more powerful Bell 212 helicopter.

It uses the Kawasaki-Lycoming T53-L-703 turboshaft engine, which is more powerful than the original Lycoming T53-L-13 used in the UH-1H, while also equipped a vibration-reduction system, infrared countermeasures launchers and night vision goggle-compatible cockpit as standard.

The UH-1J also uses a different transmission, main rotor and nose taken from the Bell 212, and a tail rotor from the Bell AH-1S Cobra attack helicopter.

Filipino defense page MaxDefense Philippines believes that this commitment by Japan would boost their chances of selling the Subaru-Bell UH-2 to the Philippine Army, which is expected to be in the market for new combat utility helicopters by 2024 or 2025.

The Subaru-Bell UH-2, which is a military version of the Bell 412EPX, is expected to compete in the Philippine Army competition against the Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk built in Poland by Sikorsky’s Polish subsidiary PZL Mielec.

[1] Inquirer.net

[2] MaxDefense Philippines

[3] Key Aero