South Korea unveils plans to design and build new Arsenal Ships

 

CGI showing concept Joint Firepower Ship design. Photo c/o SBS.

The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) has announced that it is planning to build a new fleet of "Joint Firepower Ships", and selecting a shipbuilder to design the ships.

The Joint Firepower Ship is the South Korean name for an "Arsenal Ship" concept, which is a ship bristling with missiles to support other ships in the fleet, as well as in coordination with land based and aerial surveillance and targeting systems.

The ROKN selected South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) as the preferred partner to formulate the conceptual design of the Joint Firepower Ship, which was announced on 13 April 2023.

Among those to be finalized as part of the conceptual design would include the ship's dimensions and size, shape and external design, the type and quantity of weapon systems and sensors, and the Required Operational Capability (ROC).

These are expected to be reached by the end of 2023, and would be submit for feasibility and review prior to making a decision if the project would proceed to building as part of the country's mid-term defense plan.

The ROKN aims to have three ships by the late 2020s, and would be primarily a platform capable of conducting pre-emptive strikes against North Korean targets inland including command centers, land attack missile launchers, and other military infrastructure should an imminent threat from missile attack is confirmed.

It is believed that the Joint Firepower Ship would be armed with up to 80 missiles using a  new line of ship-launched cruise and ballistic missiles capable of striking land and sea targets, and would also be armed with ship-launched anti-aircraft missile systems for defense against anti-ship missiles and aircraft.




[1] Naval News
[2] Asia Times

Thailand receives new landing platform dock from Chinese shipbuilder

 

The new LPD Chang during its departure for Thailand. Photo c/o AAG Thai Defence Page.

Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group has turned-over the new Type 071 landing platform dock (LPD) it built for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) on 17 April 2023.

The turn-over ceremony was held on the Chinese shipbuilder’s facility in Shanghai, China and attended by high ranking officials from the Royal Thai Navy led by its Chief of Staff Admiral Thaloengsak Sirisawat and Thai Ministry of Defence, and Chinese government and shipyard officials.

The new ship, which would be named HTMS Chang (LPD-792) once in service with the Royal Thai Navy, would be the third RTN ship to receive the name which was derived from an island in Trat province.

The construction of the new LPD is considered  a new milestone for China, as the ship would be the first Type 071 LPD built for export by China.

It is also a milestone for Thailand, which aims to have four landing platform docks as part of the RTN’s 20-year Strategy from 2017 to 2036 for use in operations including amphibious warfare, maritime rescue and disaster response. So far, the HTMS Chang would be the second LPD in service with the RTN after the Singapore-made Endurance-class LPD HTMS Angthong (LPD-791).

The ship is the result of a $200 million deal between Thailand and China signed on September 2019, as part of improving bilateral and defense relations between the two countries.

The future HTMS Chang was launched on 04 January 2023, and immediately conducted sea trials off the Chinese coast prior to handing over to the RTN. 

The ship was scheduled to sail for Thailand on 18 April 2023, and arrive on 25 April 2023 at Sattahip Naval Base in Chonburi province, and will be fitted with additional equipment including defensive weapons.

The ship is based on the Type 071ET, which is an export for Thailand version of the Type 071 Yuzhao-class LPD designed and built for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), with Thai-specified modifications and subsystems to suit the RTN’s needs.

Aside from being used as an amphibious warfare ship, it is also being eyed for use as a submarine tender for the RTN’s future fleet of S26T Yuan-class diesel-electric attacks submarines also being built by Chinese shipbuilders.

The HTMS Chang is around 213 meters long and 28 meters wide, has a full load displacement of around 20,000 tonnes, a maximum speed of 25 knots, and was designed to carry around 600 troops including their corresponding equipment.

The ship also has a well-deck capable of handling two Type 726 / Type 726A landing craft air cushioned (LCAC), and two hangars and a flight deck to accommodate medium-sized naval and transport helicopters such as the SH-60B Seahawk, as well as UAVs like the Camcopter S-100.

Once in service, the HTMS Chang will be the largest ship in the Royal Thai Navy’s fleet, even larger than its small aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet (CVH-911) which is 183 meters long, and is also the largest ship with any navy in Southeast Asia.




[1] The Nation Thailand
[2] Bangkok Post
[3] AAG Thai Defense Page

Malaysia reviewing procurement of Yavuz 155mm self-propelled howitzers from Turkey

 

The Yavuz 155mm SPH. Photo c/o MKEK.

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence has reportedly reviewing its planned acquisition of Yavuz 155mm self-propelled howitzers from Turkey’s Makina ve Kimya Endustrisi (MKE).

It was earlier reported to have been cancelled, although Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Utama Mohamad Hasan denied that the project was outrightly cancelled, but is only being reviewed at it was negotiated by the previous government administration.

According to the written reply, the country’s Ministry of Finance has decided to cancel the proposed procurement of the self-propelled howitzer systems, although the Ministry of Defence continues to discuss the implementation of this project through a Government-to-Government basis.

The Malaysian Army has been requesting for 155mm self-propelled howitzers for several years now, but has failed to secure them due mostly to cancellations of planned procurements.

The United States previously offered to sell 30 M109A5 tracked 155mm self-propelled howitzers through its Excess Defense Articles (EDA), but this did not push through and was cancelled in 2019.

Aside from the MKE Yavuz, there has been previous discussions with France’s Nexter and its local representative Advanced Defense Systems (ADS) on the CAESAR wheeled 155mm self-propelled howitzer system. 

Nexter now benefits from the cancellation of the planned acquisition of Yavuz SPH, as it re-opens the competition and giving Nexter another chance to re-offer its CAESAR SPH system.

It was also reported in 2022 that there are also discussions with Slovakian company Konstruckta Defence for their EVA truck-mounted self-propelled howitzer.




[1] Air Times
[2] Malay Mail

Australia receives three new Mobile Air Traffic Management and Radar Systems

 

The Lansar 3D deployable medium range surveillance radar, part of Indra's DDATMCS. Photo c/o Defence Connect.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has received three new Defence Deployable Air Traffic Management and Control Systems (DDATMCS) from Spain’s Indra.

The new DDATMCS will allow the RAAF to rapidly deploy an airspace management system globally to assist in in rapid deployment operations in support of military air operations.

The system allows for a capability to safely support incoming flights when air traffic management infrastructure is absent or damaged in conflict areas, or during emergencies and disasters.

While Indra is the main contractor, it has also partnered with Australia’s Daronmont Technologies, which specialises in deployable infrastructure and manufactured the mobile control centres.

Two of the delivered DDATMCS includes a deployable Indra Lanza 3D medium range surveillance radar, and is integrated to a mobile Area Control Centre equipped with Indra’s Air Automation System.

This also includes Indra’s Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar equipped with a Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) signal reception and treatment system. 

The third one is designed to support larger and more permanent RAAF deployments and includes an integrated Area Control Centre.

Aside from the physical DDATMCS equipment, Indra is also providing maintenance work for the system for five years.

The new DDATMCS was procured as part of the RAAF’s AIR 5341 Phase 1 project and will replace the RAAF’s existing Transportable Air Surveillance Radar (TASR), 




[1] Indra
[2] Defence Connect
[3] Australian Department of Defence

Philippines to receive third Cessna C208B Grand Caravan ISR aircraft from US

 

One of the PAF's Cessna C208B ISR aircraft.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) confirmed that it is scheduled to receive a Cessna C208B Grand Caravan surveillance aircraft, as part of US Military Assistance to the Philippines.

The announcement was made during a presentation of the PAF’s C-130 Hercules transport aircraft fleet to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last 31 March 2023, as the PAF also displayed the surveillance capabilities of its aerial assets.

The upcoming Cessna C208B Grand Caravan intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft is the third to be received by the Philippine Air Force as part of an earlier commitment by the United States government to assist in strengthening the surveillance capabilities of its ally.

The aircraft is said to arrive in the Philippines by July 2023.

An earlier delivery of two aircraft was made back in 2017 and are flown by the PAF’s 300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing, and has been used in maritime patrol, battlefield surveillance, and peacetime operations including search and rescue.

The Philippines have been trying to improve its surveillance capabilities especially in its maritime borders and exclusive economic zone (EEZ), with the Cessna C208B ISR being used extensively in the absence of proper maritime patrol aircraft.

The presentation of the C-130 Hercules fleet also included the re-introduction of the Special Airborne Mission Installation and Response (SABIR) system that was installed on one of the C-130T Hercules aircraft, which will allow it to conduct surveillance and long range maritime patrol missions while also used as a transport aircraft.

The Philippines Department of National Defense is also said to be in the process of awarding a contract for the procurement of two Long Range Patrol Aircraft, purposely built for such missions.




[1] MaxDefense Philippines
[2] RTVM