New Zealand receives first batch of Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles

 

Some of the 18 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles delivered to the New Zealand Army on 25 May 2023. Photo c/o New Zealand Government.

The New Zealand Army has received its first batch of 18 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles )MPV) on 25 May 2023, which were procured under a NZ$102.9 million program to improve the protected mobility capability of its troops.

New Zealand Defense Minister Andrew Little was present as the arrival of the vehicles was marked alongside New Zealand Army personnel at Trentham Military Camp near Wellington.

During the event, Minister Little mentioned that “the arrival of the Bushmaster fleet represents a significant uplift in capability and protection for defence force personnel, and a milestone in the Government’s historic investment in our defence kit”.

The New Zealand Army is scheduled to receive a total of 43 Thales Australia Bushmaster vehicles to replace its ageing fleet of Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer armored vehicles, which are now considered obsolete and unable to protect troops from modern battlefield threats like improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and heavier-calibre small arms fire.

Compared to the armored Pinzgauers, the Australian designed and built Bushmaster MPV are larger and can accommodate more fully-equipped troops, offer greater blast and ballistic protection to personnel, and offers interoperability with its overseas partners particularly Australia.

New Zealand Army will be getting five different variants,  including the mobile communications and command hub variant, troop transport variant, and protected ambulance variant.

[1] New Zealand Government

Malaysia finalizes order for 18 FA-50 Block 20 Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft

 

The KAI FA-50 Fighting Eagle LCA. Photo c/o ROKAF.

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence has signed a final contract for the acquisition of 18 FA-50 Block 20 light combat aircraft for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) from South Korean aviation company Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).

The contract worth US$920 million was signed at the backdrop of the recently concluded Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition 2023 (LIMA 2023) in Langkawi, Malaysia on 23 May 2023.

The defense ministers of both Malaysia and South Korea, together with KAI’s president were present during the contract signing, which is Malaysia’s biggest defense contract signed during the exhibition.

The FA-50 Block 20 is described as the most advanced variant of the FA-50 Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft, with Poland being the only other confirmed buyer of the type.

Compared to earlier variants of the FA-50, the Block 20 features a more advanced Raytheon PhantomStrike AESA radar, an aerial refuelling capability from Chobham, and is capable of carrying and operating the Sniper advanced targeting pod(ATP),  and ability to fire more munition types including beyond visual range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM) and stand-off missiles.

Part of the deal also includes the final assembly of 14 aircraft in Malaysia under the Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP) between Malaysia and South Korea. KAI will provide the necessary raw materials and key components to be used on the locally assembled aircraft.

The FA-50 Block 20 will replace the Hawk 100 and 200 series lead-in fighter trainers and light combat aircraft, as well as the Aermacchi MB.339 advanced jet trainers.

The RMAF is expected to receive the first aircraft by October 2026, which will make Malaysia the fourth Southeast Asian country to operate the type after Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

KAI has also made a pitch of their KF-21 Boramae 4.5-generation fighter aircraft to the RMAF, which is now in advanced stages of development and is expected to enter serial production by 2026. 

[1] The Star

[2] Aviacionline

[3] Flight Global

Malaysia signs up for 2 ATR72 MPA, 3 Anka UAS, lease for 4 UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopters

 

The TAI Anka UAS. 

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence has signed contracts with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the acquisition of an Anka multirole unmanned combat systems (UAS) for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

Separate contracts were also signed with Leonardo for the acquisition of two ATR-72MPA maritime patrol aircraft, also for the RMAF, as well as for the lease of four UH-60A+ Black Hawk multirole helicopters for the Malaysian Army. 

All three contracts were signed at the backdrop of the recently concluded Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition 2023 (LIMA 2023) in Malaysia. 

The deal for the Anka UAS involves 3 aircraft and a control station valued at MYR 423.8 million (US$91.6 million) and is said to be only the first of three UAS acquisition phases for the RMAF, with a target of having 3 UAS with 3 aircraft each.

These UAS will be primarily used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, and can also be used for strike missions using a variety of Turkish air-to-ground munitions.

The Anka would be the first of its kind in the Malaysian Armed Forces, which only have previous experience in operating smaller unmanned aerial systems.

Meanwhile the contract for the ATR-72MPA maritime patrol aircraft also includes integrated logistics support (ILS and training services according to Leonardo’s official statement.

Leonardo added that the maritime patrol aircraft will be based on the baseline ATR-72-600 turboprop regional passenger aircraft and will be equipped with a flexible mission system, advanced sensors and communications suite for C4ISR missions over land and sea. Its role will include maritime patrol, electronic intelligence (ELINT) gathering, sea surface and submerged target detection and tracking, search and rescue, countering illegal activities, and protecting territorial waters. 

The ATR-72MPA will be complementing the RMAF’s existing fleet of maritime patrol aircraft consisting of CN-235-220MPAs.

The contract for the lease of four Sikorsky UH-60A+ Black Hawk multirole helicopters was signed with local company Aerotree Defence & Services. 

The helicopters, which are upgraded UH-60A Black Hawk utility helicopters, will act as stop gap replacements for the Malaysian Army’s fleet of Sikorsky S-61A Nuri medium helicopters in the transport role, and will be used for training as well while the Malaysian government looks for a long term solution.  

[1] Flight Global

[2] Janes

[3] Leonardo

Indonesia names, commissions two new Sampari-class 60-meter fast attack missile boats

 

The KRI Kapak and KRI Panah during tests. Photo c/o Antara News.

The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) held a ship naming and commissioning ceremony for its two new Sampari-class 60-meter fast attack missile boats

The two boats, which were named KRI Kapak (625) and KRI Panah (626) were named during ceremonies held at Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL’s facility in Surabaya, East Java on 17 May 2023.

TNI-AL Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali led the ceremonies which was also attended by senior officials from the TNI-AL, Indonesian Ministry of Defence, and PT PAL.

The ships were named after traditional weapons from Indonesia’s Papua region, with “Kapak” meaning “hatchet”, and “Panah” which means “Arrow”, which both symbolises Papua’s unity, integrity, love, and pride that is inseparable from the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia.

The Sampari-class, also known as the KCR-60M fast attack missile boats, were designed and built by PT PAL, with KRI Kapak and KRI Panah already part of a third batch which incorporates several improvements in its hull design, learning from earlier experiences with the first two batches delivered to the TNI-AL.

The two ships are armed with a BAE Systems Bofors Mk.3 57mm naval gun, two 20mm secondary guns, and two twin launchers for MBDA Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles. They are also equipped with combat management system and decoy launching systems from Terma.

The KCR-60M are around 60 meters long, displaces at around 500 tons, has a maximum speed of 30 knots, and a range of 2,400 nautical miles at cruising speed.

Both ships would be assigned with the TNI-AL’s Fleet Command III (Koarmada III) based in Western Papua.

[1] Antara News

[2] Naval News

[3] TV One News

Pakistan receives, commissions its last two new Type 054A/P frigates

 

One of the two Type 054A/P frigates during commissioning. Photo c/o Director General Public Relations, Pakistan Navy.

The Pakistan Navy has received the last two of four new Type 054A/P frigates from Chinese shipbuilder Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard on 10 May 2023.

The ships were also commissioned at the same time, with the ships being PNS Tippu Sultan (F263) and PNS Shahjahan (F264), with the ceremonies held in Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard’s Shanghai facility in China and graced by Pakistan Navy Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi as Chief Guest.

The ceremony was also attended by the Pakistan Ambassador to China, Pakistan Navy and defense officials, and officials from Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard.

The delivery and commissioning of the two frigates has highlighted by the Pakistan Navy as a new chapter of maturing Pakistan-China relations and defense cooperation, as China has become the primary source of naval systems to Pakistan.

Pakistan signed a contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC) in 2018 for four new Type 054A/P frigates for the Pakistan Navy, which are expected to become the most advanced surface combatants of the naval service.

The first two ships, the PNS Tughril (F261) and PNS Taimur (F262) have been delivered and commissioned with the Pakistan Navy in 2022.

The ships are expected to provide the Pakistan Navy with more capable platforms able to conduct surveillance,  surface-to-surface, land attack, surface-to-air, and underwater combat capabilities to provide deterrence and meet threats to Pakistan’s territory and interests, and protection of Sea Lines of Communications.

[1] Director General Public Relations – Pakistan Navy

[2] Naval News

Singapore to upgrade Formidable-class frigates with new Blue Spear anti-ship missiles

 

The Blue Spear missile, displayed in 2022. Photo c/o Shephard Media.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has announced plans to upgrade its fleet of Formidable-class guided missile frigates including the replacement of its current RGM-84C Harpoon anti-ship missiles with the new Blue Spear missile.

This was confirmed by the RSN’s First Fleet Commander Col. Daniel Ng Kok Yeng during an interview by British defense media outlet Janes, as well as the Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) which released a written statement about this development.

The upgrade will be part of the Formidable-class frigates’ upcoming Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) program which would provide the ships with improved firepower with the introduction of the Blue Spear missile, as well as other upgrades to improve its combat management and communication systems.

The Blue Spear is a product of Proteus Advanced Systems, which is a joint venture between ST Engineering and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and is considered a 5th generation anti-ship cruise missiles that can be deployed from ships of land-based missile launchers.

It is said to be developed from the technology used by IAI on its successful Gabriel anti-ship missile family, which incidentally was the RSN’s first anti-ship missile mounted on its retired Sea Wolf-class missile boats.

The missile has a maximum range of around 290 kilometres (157 nautical miles) and features a beyond line of sight (BLOS)  which helps in reducing the exposure of the ship from threats and improving accuracy.

It also have a hardened casing for the radar seeker, guidance system and warhead which would allow increased survivability against ship-based close-in weapon systems (CIWS) gun rounds.

[1] Janes

[2] Singapore Ministry of Defence

Philippines scheduled to receive additional transport aircraft, patrol boats from US EDA

 

The Philippines will be receiving three C-130H Hercules from the US. Photo c/o Tang Oscar / netAirspace.

The United States Government through the White House has announced on 01 May 2023 that it intends to transfer three transport aircraft and four patrol boats to the Armed Forces of the Philippines as part of their efforts to assist in enhancing the defense capabilities of its Asian ally.

This announcement comes as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is scheduled to meet US President Joe Biden in Washington DC on 02 May 2023, which discussed a wide range of topics including defense and security, and strengthening the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty.

Among those specifically mentioned were three C-130H Hercules transport aircraft, two Island-class patrol boats and 2 Protector-class patrol boats, which will still require US Congressional notification procedures.

All these assets would be transferred from US Excess Defense Articles (EDA). The US Coast Guard is already in the process of replacing the Island-class and Protector-class patrol boats and has already transferred or allocated some of the decommissioned boats to other countries like Ukraine, Greece, Pakistan, Georgia, Costa Rica, and Uruguay.

The US also have a vast inventory of retired C-130H Hercules, with the Philippines in the process of receiving one aircraft procured a few years ago, separate from this new commitment by the US.

The statement from the US Government also confirmed that two Cyclone-class patrol vessels transferred to the Philippine Navy on 28 March 2023 are already enroute to the Philippines and are expected to arrive on May 2023. These patrol vessels were also transferred by the US Government as part of efforts to improve the Philippines’ security capability.

[1] The White House

[2] CNN

[3] Sydney Morning Herald