Iranian Qader and Nasr Air-to-Surface Missiles Unveiled

Iran has unveiled the latest air-to-surface variants of its locally produced Qader and Nasr missiles on local television. Previous variants had been of the surface-to-surface variant. The missiles have a range of around 200 and 35 km respectively.

Both the Qader and Nasr missiles are believed to be derivatives of the C-802 and C-704 missiles from China which were acquired starting in the early nineties and which Iran has subsequently modified.

Iran is also known to have supplied locally produced Nasr missiles to Hamas in Lebanon, some of which have been intercepted and confiscated by Israel against whom they were supposed to be used.

China Deploys BZK-005 / HY-01 MALE UAV For Reconnaisance of Diaoyu / Senkaku Islands

The Chinese BZK-005 / HY-01 Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have been observing the area around the disputed Diaoyu / Senkaku Islands with Japan.

The BZK-005 UAV is able to patrol the area for a very long time thanks to its extended endurance afforded by the use of a turbo-prop driven design which is much longer than most other types of aircraft.

The BZK-005 UAV payload is modular and can be fitted with a electro-optical sensor package mounted below the chin. Information can be fed back using the satellite datalink allowing China to keep track of developments in real-time.

The use of UAVs in territorial disputes such as in the South China Sea is one of the advantages China has over other countries which do not possess such abilities or only to a much lower extent. China is also rapidly expanding its fleet and capabilities of its UAVs.

Turkey Selects Chinese HQ-9 / FD-2000 Surface-to-Air Missile Air Defense System For T-LORAMIDS

Turkey has decided to select as winner the HQ-9 / FD-2000 Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Air Defense System from China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corp (CPMIEC) for the T-LORAMIDS project that is to provide Turkey with long-range air defense against aircraft and missiles that it currently lacks.

CPMIEC is to collaborate with Turkey to produce a variant of the HQ-9 / FD-2000 locally after delivery of the initial systems. The other losing contenders in the tender were Russia's S-300, the Patriot system from the United States and the Eurosam SAMP/T Aster 30 from France and Italy.

Turkey's NATO partners had tried to dissuade it from selecting the Chinese system after Turkey had said that it was leaning towards the Chinese option by warning that they might not cooperate in integrating the FD-2000 with existing systems that are mostly western in origin.

Despite western objections, Turkey's Defense Industry Executive Committee, which is in charge of major procurement decisions and headed by the Prime Minister, still decided that the FD-2000 was the best fit for its needs.

Six Project 11356M Admiral Grigorovich Class Frigates Fitted With Shtil VLS SAM

The six Project 11356M Admiral Grigorovich class frigates are to be equipped with the vertically launched Shtil Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) air defense system. This makes them the first ships to be equipped with this system.

The Shtil VLS SAM was first displayed several years ago but until now had never been fitted on any ship, whether within the Russian Navy or any other export country such as India.

Unlike the previous version which was fired from a single-arm launcher, the new version uses a Vertical Launch System (VLS) in a 2x6 cell configuration that is different from most other VLS systems used in other countries .

The Admiral Grigorovich class frigates are an improved derivative of the Project 11356 Talwar class, which was in turn based on the Krivak class. Two batches of three ships of the Talwar class have been exported to India between 2003 and 2013.

All six of those ships to India were equipped with the older Shtil missiles launched from a single-arm launcher. This same system is also used on all three Shivalik class frigates that India will eventually induct.

South Korea Declines to Accept F-15SE Silent Eagle and Will Restart FX Phase 3 Project

Contrary to some expectations, South Korea has not declared a winner in the FX Phase 3 tender to supply the Air Force with 60 new fighter aircraft to replace existing F-4 and F-5 fighter jets. A previous round had also not been won by anyone.

Since Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle (SE) was revealed to be the only one to have submitted a bid that came below the maximum of 8.3 trillion South Korean won or $7.2 billion limit set by South Korea, the F-15SE had been expected by some to be declared the winner of the competition.

The other two candidates, the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, exceeded the limit and were therefore by law not eligible to be selected. This made the F-15SE the only candidate that could have been selected by South Korea.

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) opted to restart the FX Phase 3 Project from the beginning. This will postpone the acquisition of the aircraft and may include some changes such as raising the budget or reducing the number of aircraft to be bought.

Swiss Parliament Approves Purchase of JAS Gripen E / NG From Sweden

The Parliament of Switzerland has approved the purchase of JAS Gripen E / NG fighter aircraft From Sweden by a majority decision. The lower house had previously given its approval and Swiss pilots are taking part in test flights of the Gripen NG.

While the decision is good news for the Gripen program, the purchase may need to be submitted to a popular vote by the public. There are some signs that a significant proportion of the Swiss public does not approve of the acquisition.

The plan is to buy 22 new Gripen E aircraft from SAAB, the latest version of the Gripen and also known as the Gripen NG, with a budget of 3.13 billion Swiss francs or about $3.4 billion.

SAAB has already begun work on 60 Gripen E/F fighter aircraft for the Swedish Air Force. The first fighter aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in 2018 and are to be completed by 2026.

Netherlands Decides It Will Buy 37 F-35A Fighter Aircraft

The Netherlands has said that it will buy 37 F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to replace existing F-16 aircraft in its Air Force. It has budgeted €4.5 billion or $6 billion for the aircraft and €270 million for annual operational costs.

The Netherlands has already paid €1 billion to help develop the F-35 as one of the eight partner countries of the United States and purchased two F-35A development aircraft for use in the operational test and evaluation phase.

The F-35A from Lockheed Martin is expected the become operational in 2019 and by 2023 all F-16 aircraft should be retired. All will be the F-35A Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) variant.

While the selection of the F-35 is a win for the US because of the possibility that the Netherlands would have selected a different fighter from somewhere else, the number of aircraft committed to is far less than originally expected.

Belarus to Receive Third Battery of Almaz-Antei Tor-M2 / SA-15 From Russia

According to the Belarusian Defense Minister Yuri Zhadobin, Russia will deliver the third battery of short-range Almaz-Antei Tor-M2 / SA-15 Surface-to-Air Missiles Air Defense Systems before the end of 2013.

The Tor family of SAMs can be used to defend against aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, precision-guided munitions and even some ballistic targets.

Belarus already has two batteries of Tor M2 which were delivered in 2011 and 2012. A Tor-M2 battery is supposed to consist of:

• Four Transporter Erector Launcher And Radar (TELARs)
• One mobile command post
• Various support vehicles

 

Singapore to Buy Eurosam Aster 30 / SAMP-T Surface-to-Air Missile Air Defense System

According to Singapore's Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will acquire the Eurosam Aster 30 / SAMP-T Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Air Defense System to establish a multi-layered defense against aerial threats.

If Singapore goes ahead and signs a contract, Singapore will become the first export customer of the Aster 30 / SAMP-T system, which is currently only in service with France and Italy. Both countries and the United Kingdom also use the naval version of the Aster 30 SAM.

The Defense Minister did not say when or how many systems Singapore intends to acquire, but Singapore already uses the shorter ranged Aster 15 with its six Formidable class frigates it bought from France and which are compatible with the Aster 30 SAM.

The Aster 30 / SAMP-T system will replace the American HAWK system and will be complemented by the short-range SPYDER system which Singapore acquired earlier from Israel.

Russia Will Receive Almaz-Antei S-350E Vityaz (50R6) in 2016

Almaz-Antei plans to start delivering the first of its S-350 Vityaz (50R6) surface-to-air missile (SAM) air defense system now in development in 2016. The S-350 Vityaz will replace the earliest versions of the S-300 such as the S-300PS.

While technically a new system, the S-350 Vityaz makes heavy use of components that had been developed earlier. It is a lighter and scaled down version of the S-400 which it will complement.

The S-350 also incorporates lessons from South Korea's KM-SAM Cheongung which Almaz-Antei helped co-develop. The S-350 Vityaz system consists of:

• 50K6E command post
• 50H6E phased-array radar system
• 50P6E transporter-erector launcher (TEL)

A single command post can control two radar systems and eight TELs. The system can be set up in 5 minutes and can engage up to 16 aircraft or 12 missiles.

Sea Ceptor / CAMM(M) Missile Launched From MK41 VLS and Awarded Contract by UK

The United Kingdom has awarded a 250 million pound or roughly $393 million contract for the manufacture of Sea Ceptor missiles, which are the maritime component of the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) consisting of:

• CAMM(A): Air component
• CAMM(L): Land component
• CAMM(M): Maritime component

The CAMM missiles will serve all three branches of the British armed forces.

The Sea Ceptor manufactured by MBDA will first enter service with the Type 23 frigate replacing the Sea Wolf missile and later on the Type 26 Global Combat Ship when they replace the Type 23 ships currently in service after 2020.

In the Army, it could be used as a vertically launched surface-to-air missile system, where it will replace the short-range Rapier system. In the Air Force, it could replace the current ASRAAM air-to-air missile.

China Testing BK1060 8X8 35MM SPAAG

China has recently revealed on state television another addition to its family of 8x8 wheeled vehicles, which includes the ZBL09 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and other assorted types.

The BK1060, which has yet to enter operational service and does not carry a PLA designation, is to perform the role of very short-range air defense as a Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with sufficient mobility to keep up with mobile formations.

Unlike the tracked PGZ07 with its dual 35 mm guns, the wheeled BK1060 carries a single 35 mm gun. The guns are derived from the towed PG99, which itself is based on the 35 mm guns originally developed by Oerlikon Contraves.

The Chinese army is standardizing around the 35 mm caliber for new development in place of the older 37 mm and to a certain extent the 25 mm. However, both the 37 mm and 25 mm will continue to be used with existing units for many years still.

China Launches Yaogan 17 ELINT / SIGINT Satellites

China added Yaogan 17, a group of three Electronic / Signals Intelligence satellites, to its network of military satellites on September 1 (September 2 local time). It is the third in a series, which was preceded by Yaogan 9 on March 2010 and Yaogan 16 on November 2012.

The cluster of satellites can be used in conjunction to analyse and locate the position of various objects based on their electronic emissions and the time difference of arrival technique in a manner reminiscent of the United States Naval Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS).

Another significant development is China's demonstrated ability to orbit satellites with much enhanced ability to maneuver in space and in a very precise manner.

Unlike most satellites which tend to follow a fixed orbit for most of their life span and have very rudimentary maneuverability, these satellites are closer to unmanned aircraft which can change their orbit in space periodically and on demand.

Japan Wants to Increase the Defense Budget to Handle Territorial Disputes

Japan is looking to increase its defense budget by three percent, the biggest increase since 1992. Budget appropriations will amount to 4.82 trillion yen or about $48.97 billion.

Japan, which recently launched the first of its 22DDH class helicopter destroyer, is looking to beef up its armed forces in order to be able to respond effectively in case of a conflict, such as:

• Setting up special amphibious Marine task force, including the purchase of related amphibious assault vehicles.
• Strengthen the Navy with additional destroyers and submarines.
• Strengthen the Air Force with additional AEW&C aircraft.
• Purchasing additional PAC-3 systems to enhance ballistic missile defense.
• Increase in pay for defense personnel.

While Japan's dispute with China concerning the Senkaku / Diaoyu Islands has grabbed most of the attention, Japan also has territorial disputes with Taiwan, South Korea and Russia.

Although some give Japan the edge over China, there are others who suggest that if war were to break out now between the two, China would not only defeat Japan, but do so far more convincingly than most people think would be possible.