Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore to receive new batch of JDAM smart bombs

 

The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). Photo c/o Boeing.

The US Department of Defense has issued a contract award to American company Boeing Co. for the supply and delivery of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), as well as testing and integration works for Laser JDAMs.

The contract is worth US$600 million and is covered by US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program for several countries, including three from Southeast Asia namely Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore.

The other countries included are Israel and Turkey.

No quantities or delivery timeframes were provided as the contract is for an indefinite quantity and delivery. 

The JDAM is a low-cost guidance kit that allows the conversion of free-fall bombs to become accurately guided smart munitions.

All three Southeast Asian countries are JDAM users, and this new contract is expected to have no effect in the balance of power in the region.

[1] US Department of Defense

New Zealand naval hydrographic ship sinks off Samoa

 

The HMNZS Manawanui (A09) as it starts to tilt before sinking. Photo c/o Radio New Zealand.

A ship of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) was reported to have ran aground, caught fire and sank off Samoa on earlier today 06 October 2024.

The specialist diving and hydrographic ship HMNZS Manawanui (A09), was conducting reef survey off the southern coast of Upolu when it ran aground after hitting a reef.

The ship then caught fire, with heavy black smoke seen as the ship started to tilt and sink under heavy waves.

Its crew of 78 officers, sailors, passengers and other personnel evacuated the ship by life crafts and reached the shore for safety, some after being assisted by responding ships.

The New Zealand Defence Force sent a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to monitor the situation and assist in relieving the ship's crew.

The HMNZS Manawanui was originally built in 2003 Myklebust Verft and operated by Østensjø Rederi as a survey vessel supporting the Norwegian oil and gas industry.

The ship was then acquired by the New Zealand Government in 2018 to replace two older ships, with the conversion and acquisition costing NZ$147 million and the ship commissioned with the Royal New Zealand Navy by 2019.

It was 84.7 meters long, displacing around 5,700 tonnes full load, and propelled by four diesel engines allowing a maximum speed of 13 knots and a maximum range of 7,000 nautical miles.




[1] New Zealand Defence Force
[2] Radio New Zealand
[3] The Canberra Times