Indonesia reportedly orders 12 Anka unmanned combat aerial vehicles from Turkey

 

The TAI Anka-S UCAV. Photo c/o TAI.

The Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MOD) has reportedly signed a contract with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the acquisition of 12 Anka unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV).

The UCAVs are expected to be delivered to the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) which has a requirement for several UCAVs and has been looking at Turkey for solutions for the past few years.

Reports coming from Turkish defense sources have not provided much details have been provided on the value of the deal aside, the variant to be acquired or what were included in the deal aside  from the total quantity of UCAVs.

The announcement was made as TAI was said to have also received orders for their Anka UCAV from Algeria and Chad, which ordered 10 and 2 units, respectively, with the total orders including those for Indonesia exceeding US$500 million.

The TAI Anka has several variants although it is believed that the Anka-S variant would be the one being procured by Indonesia, being the serial production variant and being offered for export markets.

Aside from being used as an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle armed with air-to-ground munitions including the ROKETSAN Cirit guided rocket, L-UMTAS air-to-ground missile, and the MAM smart micro munition, the Anka UCAV can be used for surveillance and can be equipped with radars and cameras.

Aside from Indonesia, another potential buyer of the Anka UCAV in the region is Malaysia, with the Anka believed to be the front-liner in Malaysia’s tender.




[1] Savunma Sanayisyt

Malaysia signs contract for 18 new FA-50 light combat aircraft from South Korea

 

The KAI FA-50 Fighting Eagle, these examples in service with the ROKAF. Photo c/o KAI.

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with South Korean aviation company Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) on 24 February 2023 for the procurement of FA-50 light combat aircraft.

The contract was reported to be worth KRW1.2 trillion (US$920 million) which would see the delivery of 18 new FA-50 Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and fulfil a requirement for new aircraft for use as light fighters and lead-in fighter trainers.

The deal is KAI's biggest ever single contract in Southeast Asia, and would make Malaysia the 4th country in the region to operate the T-50 Golden Eagle family of aircraft.

The RMAF will be receiving the latest variant of the FA-50 which includes an aerial refuelling capability and capability to carry an improved array of munitions compared to previous variants.

This also makes Malaysia the first market for this new variant, which is dubbed as FA-50 Block 20, which allows the carrying of Lockheed Martin's AN/AAQ-33 sniper targeting pod and Raytheon's AIM-120 AMRAAM beyond visual range air-to-air missile.

KAI won the selection process for the RMAF's light combat aircraft requirements which pitted the FA-50 Fighting Eagle against other similar aircraft models including the JF-17 Thunder from Pakistan, the MiG-35 Fulcrum from Russia, and Tejas from India, and the Hurjet from Turkey.

Reports confirmed that the FA-50 and the Tejas were shortlisted for final selection, with KAI's export record becoming a major factor in the selection of the Korean aircraft.

Malaysia is planning to procure a total of 36 new light combat aircraft as part of its Figher Lead In Trainer - Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA) Project to replace its fleet of MiG-29N/NUB Fulcrum fighters procured from Russia in the 1990s, as well as the Aermacchi MB.339 advanced trainer aircraft procured from Italy in the 1980s. 

The MiG-29s are already retired from service although the MB.339s are still operated by the RMAF.

The T-50 Golden Eagle family of light combat-capable trainer aircraft are already in service with the Republic of Korea Air Force, Iraqi Air Force, Philippine Air Force, Indonesian Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force, and has been ordered recently by Poland.




[1] Chosun Biz
[2] Flight Global
[3] The Korea Times

Singapore gets US approval for sale of air-to-ground munition kits

 

A JDAM being loaded to a RSAF F-15SG Strike Eagle fighter. Photo c/o AIN Online.

The US State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of assorted air-to-ground munition kits for Singapore, according to a press release made by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA on 09 February 2023.

The estimate cost of the package is around $US55 million, and the DSCA has notified the potential sale to the US Congress.

Among those eyed for sale to Singapore include 100 KMU-556 tail kits for the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) GBU-31, 900 KMU-572 tail kits for JDAM GBU-38, and Laser JDAM GBU-54, 250 MAU-169 Computer Control Group for 500lb Paveway II GBU-12, and 250 MXU-650 Air Foil Group for 500lb Paveway II GBU-12.

Also included are DSU-38 laser guidance sets, Common Munitions Built-in Test (BIT) Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE), spare parts, consumables, accessories, and repair and return support, aircraft and munitions support and support equipment, personnel training, US Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support services, studies and surveys, and other related logistical and program support.

The principal contractor will be Raytheon Missile and Defense based in Tucson, Arizona, and the US Government determines that this sale will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The sale is expected to be for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) which is the only service branch in the Singapore Armed Forces that has capabilities to drop the JDAM and Paveway II precision guided bombs using its F-15SG Strike Eagle and F-16C/D Fighting Falcon fighter fleet.

Being a notice of potential sale only, it remains to be seen if the Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) will pursue this deal.




[1] Defense Security Cooperation Agency

Thailand receives 1st batch of LG1 Mk. III 105mm towed howitzers and towing vehicles

 

Some of the delivered LG1 Mk. III 105mm towed howitzers and towing vehicled to the RTA. Photo c/o AAG_Th Thai Defense Page.

The Thai representative of French defense company Nexter have released photos of LG1 105mm towed howitzers scheduled for delivery to the Royal Thai Army (RTA).

The delivery is the first batch consists of 6 of the latest LG1 Mk. III 105mm towed howitzers, and also includes 6 militarized Land Rover Defender 4x4 towing vehicle, digital fire control systems, and associated accessories.

An order for 12 units to equip two batteries was made by the Royal Thai Army as part of a THB834,400,000.00 (US$24,740,000) deal with Thai company United Defense Technology in 2021.

The artillery systems will be assigned with the RTA’s 11th Artillery Battalion, 1st Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade King’s Guard, and will be replacing older systems.

No delivery date has been posted on the next batch of artillery systems, which is expected to be the rest of the entire order, although Thai sources believe that deliveries will be made within 2023.

The Royal Thai Army is already an existing user of the LG1 towed howitzer system although it uses the older Mk. II variant. 

The LG1 is light enough to be towed by light 4x4 vehicles and can also be transported by air using medium helicopters or inside tactical transport aircraft like the C-130 Hercules.




[1] AAG_Th Thai Defense Page
[2] Defense Here