US and the Philippines Conducted Exercise at Scarborough Shoal

Philippine and U.S. forces has conducted their annual joint naval exercise, including drills near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, which is claimed by Manila and Beijing.

The six-day exercises which began on June 27 until July 2 have been held every year since 1995, with more than 600 personnel from the US Navy and around 200 from the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard taking part this year.

Capt. Ruel Saonoy, the Philippine head of the exercise, said China should not feel alarmed, adding the drills “send the message to our neighbors that our (US and Philippines) navies share common interests in keeping our seas and littorals open for safe commerce.”

Philippine Navy spokesman Gregory Gerald Fabic said the plan to hold this year’s drills in the shoal area was made five years ago, long before fresh tensions between China and the Philippines erupted last year.

The Philippines says China has effectively occupied the Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing area, as well as areas of the South China Sea close to the shores of its smaller neighbors.

Chinese maritime vessels have been maintaining a presence in the shoal area following a confrontation with the Philippine Navy in April last year.

The situation escalated when the Philippine Navy was about to apprehend Chinese fishermen caught in possession of endangered marine species when Chinese maritime personnel intervened.

Reacting to the announcement of the drills, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Wednesday in Beijing, “We think relevant sides should take actions that are beneficial for maintaining peace and stability in the region, (and not create tension).”

The Philippine officials said some of the drills will be held in the coastal waters of Pangasinan, La Union and Zambales in the western part of main Luzon island, close to Scarborough Shoal.

The drills are aimed at enhancing the two countries’ naval operations “through subject matter lectures and practical exercises focusing on communication, naval gunnery, at-sea operations, maritime interdiction, humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations,” an official statement by the Philippine Navy said.

Scarborough Shoal, which is about 124 nautical miles from Zambales province, was a popular fishing ground for Filipino, Chinese, Taiwanese and Vietnamese fishermen until last year’s standoff, which triggered an influx of Chinese surveillance ships threatening non-Chinese fishermen.

In January, the Philippines brought the territorial disputes with China, which also include areas around the Spratly islands located south of Scarborough Shoal, before the United Nations.

Malaysia Flying Herald

Su-35 Capable of “Previously Unheard-of Manoeuvrability”- Test Pilot Bogdan

Sergey Bogdan, Hero of Russia and Sukhoi test pilot, who flew the Su-35 at the Paris Air Show, talks to Ogomyok about the aircraft and the state of aviation engineering in Russia.

The display sequence you flew in the Su-35 left the impression that the aircraft is weightless: it can stop in mid-air and descend in circles, sailing like a leaf on the wind. Is this fighter as easy to fly as it would appear from down below?

I love the Su-35, not least because I had the pleasure of being the first pilot to take it into the air. Its control system is awesome. In fighters of previous generations, as the aircraft loses airspeed its controllability often deteriorates, causing it to stall into a spin or inducing wing flow separation.

With the Su-35 you can forget about such problems. This aircraft can halt to a stop and slide down tail-first while fully responding to the pilot attitude inputs. The Su-35 is capable of previously unheard-of manoeuvrability.

Did you manage to fully demonstrate the fighter's potential at Le Bourget?
The Su-35's primary characteristics are impossible to demonstrate at an air show for obvious reasons. A fighter's primary advantage lies in its combat performance. Here are some figures for you: the Su-35 exceeds any other fourth-generation fighter in operational effectiveness by 40 percent. For a number of parameters it is 10 percent better than the [existing] fifth-generation fighters. The air forces of Malaysia and India regularly stage exercises involving Russian-made combat jets; our aircraft invariably come on top in all air-to-air combat scenarios.

Do you have gifted apprentices among test pilots?
There was a period when Russian military flying schools, including the most famed of them such as the Kacha and Borisoglebsk schools for pilots (I am a graduate of the latter), massively cut back on their cadet intake and dramatically reduced the flying hours. Making a truly high-class pilot requires some seven years of on-the-job training after graduation. It is also important to have a pool of flying officers to choose from because modern aircraft designs require talented pilots at the controls. 

As the commander of the Sukhoi's flight testing service I have been blessed with brilliant students. We have seven active pilots on the team; six of them are already current on the [T-50] fifth-generation fighter. The seventh has fallen behind somewhat owing to frequent field trips but he will catch up soon. Each of these men is capable of flying the sequence I demonstrated at Le Bourget.

Your flying career began in the 1990s, a very difficult period for Russia's economy. How did you manage to stay on in this trade?
I was plain lucky; I got enrolled with the test pilot school, which offered intensive flying despite the overall problems of the Russian Air Force. The workload was quite high: sometimes I would get to fly five different types in just one 6- to 7-hour shift. I still remember how difficult it was for me to do my first carrier landing, with the flight deck heaving and rolling under me.

In your opinion, which sectors of Russian aviation engineering require special attention?
Our fighter aviation is currently in top shape. It would be great if we could keep it at present level while stimulating the development of new aircraft designs. Our greatest concern is commercial aviation. When I see an Airbus A380 for example I wish this aircraft had been designed in Russia. We need to establish a presence in this critical niche because achievements in commercial aircraft construction are essential to a country's image in the international arena. 

Indrus

'Working On Interceptor Against 5,000-km Range Enemy Missile': DRDO Chief

With Defence Minister AK Antony in China, the first by a Defence Minister in seven years, new facts about the direction India's nuclear missile programme is taking could send out an unprecedented message. In details revealed for the first time in an exclusive interview to me for Headlines Today, the new chief of the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) Dr Avinash Chander has revealed that one of his key mandates as the head of the country's military research comple

x, is to drastically reduce the time India will take for a potential nuclear counter-strike.

Unlike China, India has been typically timid about its strategic programmes. The DRDO chief's revelations make for a rare, bold message about the goings on within the country's most advanced weapons laboratories.

"In the second strike capability, the most important thing is how fast we can react. We are working on cannisterised systems that can launch from anywhere at anytime," said Dr Chander. "We are making much more agile, fast-reacting, stable missiles so response can be within minutes." India has a no first use policy for nuclear weapons, and its current response time for a retaliatory strike is classified. The DRDO chief's task is to whittle it down by a substantial degree to provide the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) with a literally 'anywhere-anytime' ability.

Dr Chander, formerly director with the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) in Hyderabad and renowned as the spearhead of the Agni family of missiles, was made chief of the DRDO last month.

India's current land-based nuclear weapon delivery systems include the 1,250-km range Agni-I, 2,000-km range Agni-II and 3,500-km range Agni-III. The DRDO chief has expressed confidence that 2 of India's two most ambitious nuclear missiles under test, the 4,000-km range Agni-IV and 6,000+ km range Agni-V, will both be inducted into the strategic arsenal within two years.

"We'll induct the Agni IV and V inducted in the next two years. It's the first time we will be inducting strategic missiles with such long ranges together. Agni III, IV and V are going to be the thrust areas. They give us the reach which we need, and are our highest priority now. Within two years we have to make sure that it happens," said Dr Chander.

Currently, the ASL is steeped in researching futuristic missile technologies. "In the future, the country will require much more precise warheads which are able to counter anti-ballistic missile defences. A manoeuvring warhead is going to be a key challenge. That's the next strategic capability which will become essential. That in turn will be followed by multiple warheads, with decoys, warheads, and other combination," said Dr Chander.

Asked about whether India needed an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), with ranges in excess of 10,000-km like China's DF-31 and other in-development weapons, Dr Chander said his missile laboratories could develop and deploy an ICBM in as little as three-five years. "As we see today, we don't find the need for ranges more than 5,000-6,000 km. The technology building blocks required to build a longer range missile already exist. We are in a position to activate any such system at very short notice," said Dr Chander.

Asked about how India's missile programme squared off against China's, he said, "Comparisons are odious, always difficult, and many times taken out of context. If you see at the capability level, our missiles, radars are comparable with the Chinese and other friends around us."

On India's ballistic missile defence (BMD) system, Dr Chander said, "Ballistic missile defence capabilities of our adversaries will also grow in the years to come. As far as our BMD is concerned, we are now poised for take-off. We've done a lot of tests, need to do perhaps a few more tests. With that, we will be ready to intercept missiles upto a range of 2,000km. That system we will be able to start deploying. At the same time, our effort to develop a system to intercept missiles with a range of 5,000km is underway. Testing of those missiles is one of the limitations we have by virtue of the geometry of the country. We are working on the development of new ranges, so we can fire for a longer distance."

Livefirst

Jinan MAC in Live-Ammunition Firing Drill

A brigade of the air force under the Jinan Military Area Command (MAC) of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) organized its troops to conduct live-ammunition firing drill in an unfamiliar field, in a bid to further enhance troops' combat capability in harsh conditions and complex environment.

The Unreported Revolution In Air Combat

One of the major, and little mentioned, revolutions in air combat is the availability of more powerful and reliable helmet mounted displays and sights. This enables a pilot to “look and shoot” as well as keep their heads up more and more quickly make decisions in air-to-air combat. This dramatic change has not gotten much publicity because there has been such little air-to-air combat in the last few decades. But in realistic training exercises the difference has been noted. This has been documented in detail (and classified) in the United States because since the 1970s American combat pilots have done regular training in instrumented air space, where every move by aircraft and decision by pilots is recorded. This provides all sorts of data on how the aircraft and pilot performance has evolved over the decades. The new helmets have turned out to be a major innovation in air combat.

One of the best examples of this is the new (introduced last year) version of the American JHMCS (Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System). The JHMCS II allows the user to fire at weapons wherever their eyes are pointed, no matter what direction the helmet is pointed. This new version uses better hardware and software to track the movement of the pilot's eyes. The new JHMCS is better balanced and much more comfortable to wear and use. The new version is more reliable and cheaper as well. Still, a JHMCS II costs about a million dollars. It's an expensive way to cover your head. The cost of JHMCS includes additional equipment to be installed in the cockpit, training, and technical support.

The JHMCS also allows a pilot to see critical flight and navigation information displayed on his visor. Sort of like a see-through computer monitor or Head Up Display. This enables the pilot to look around more often without having to look down at cockpit displays or straight ahead at a HUD (Head Up Display). This kind of freedom gives an experienced pilot an extra edge in finding enemy aircraft or targets and maneuvering to get into a better position for attacks. JHMCS is also useful for air to ground attacks.

Systems like JHMCS have been very effective but JHMCS II is lighter and easier to wear (weight was a major problem in the past), easier to use, and more reliable (if you don't bump into the canopy). The Israelis firm Elbit took the lead in developing this technology and made many technical breakthroughs with their earlier DASH (Display and Sight Helmet) system. Elbit teamed up with American firms to develop and market JHMCS, which is largely an improved DASH system.

The first helmet mounted sights were developed in South Africa in the 1970s. The Russians noted this development when they lost several jet fighters in Angola to South African pilots using the helmets. The Russians went to work and five years later had one of their own. It proved very effective, and scared NATO air forces when the Russian helmet was demonstrated by German fighter pilots from the former East German (the Germanys united in 1991) against experienced American F-16 pilots. Israel was the first Western air force to develop one of these helmets and is still a leader in the field.

In the last three decades these helmets have come to handle more data and chores while also being easier to wear. But these helmets are still heavy. That's why the better balance of JHMCS II is important. Even so, six years ago the U.S. Air Force introduced a new neck muscle exercise machine in air force gyms frequented by fighter pilots. This was because the new helmets weighed 2 kg (4.3 pounds), which was about fifty percent more than a plain old helmet. That extra weight may not seem like much but when making a tight turn, the gravitational pull (or "Gs") makes the helmet feel like it weighs 17.3 kg (38 pounds). You need strong neck muscles to deal with that. For decades now fighter pilots have had to spend a lot of time building upper body strength in the gym, in order to be able to handle the G forces. Otherwise, pilots can get groggy or even pass out in flight, as well as land with strained muscles.

Before the helmet mounted displays and aiming systems were available pilots had to keep checking instruments in the cockpit and use fixed targeting systems in the cockpit. Not having to keep looking at the cockpit displays saved valuable seconds in jet fighter combat that was often over in less than ten seconds. Repeated combat exercises (and actual combat) between pilots with the helmets and those without has made this unequivocal. It’s been a revolutionary development in air combat.

In the air combat community the innovation is recognized as real, and for those not using it, a deadly disadvantage. To make the most of tech like this you must allow your pilots to spend hundreds of hours in the air practicing with the helmets. This is one reason why China and Russia adopted the more expensive Western style of training pilots over the last few decades.

Strategy Page

SKorea extends $7.3 billion fighter jet bidding

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korea has extended its window for accepting bids from aircraft makers to supply 60 fighter jets at an estimated cost of $7.3 billion (8.3 trillion won).

Arms procurement official Baek Youn-hyeong says bidding will resume Tuesday after an 11-day round ended Friday with no winner.

Republic of Korean Air Force F-5E Tiger II

The 60 new fighters would replace South Korea's aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s. Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle, EADS' Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter are competing.

Yonhap news agency says no bidders proposed prices lower than the estimated cost. It didn't cite sources. Baek declined to confirm the report.

South Korea faces rival North Korea over a heavily armed border after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce.

© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Myanmar Air Force Uses Chinese made UAV

Myanmar Air Force is reported to have acquired 11 Sky-02A from Beijing Micropilot company of China as part of the Air Force effort to venture into unmanned aerial system (UAS) technology. It has also been reported that ever since the procurement, local copies have been made on the UAV in which 24 are currently in service.

The Myanmar Air Force connection with China is not limited with UAV. It also operates more than 20 Chengdu F-7M/FT-7S Airguard fighters and similar numbers of Nanchang A-5C Fantan attack aircraft. It also procured Shenyang J-6 fighters and Hongdu K-8 Karakoram.

A-5C Fantan

K-8 Karakoram

12 of these advanced jet trainers were procured with planned local production for 50 of such is in the pipeline.

The Chinese connection with Air Force is also visible in its transport fleet which include Shaanxi Y-8, Xian MA-60 and Harbin Y-12 Panda transport aircraft.

Y-8

Y-12

Malaysia Flying Herald

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market (2013 - 2018)

In today’s context UAV’s play an important role in varied missions such as military attacks, border surveillance, mapping, surveying, weather determination and regional law enforcements. This technology has grown at a rapid pace and production companies present across the globe, as the country want to showcase their military strength in order to wade off potential attacks. Civilian usage of UAV operations have still not started at a pace can be expected as the local regulations apprehended the usage. Also, misunderstanding over the lack of safety and privacy of citizens has hindered their operational capabilities.

UAV’s have developed from radio controlled model airplanes to urbane aircraft that today play a unique role in many public missions and also have the potential to do so for many civil missions as well. Special airworthiness certificates will be obtaining to civilian operators for experimental purposes, which unfortunately exclude operations for compensation or hire.

According to industry estimates, UAS operations will increase manifold in a variety of key military and civil areas. About 50 U.S. companies, universities, and government organizations in the U.S. are developing over 150 different unmanned aircraft designs. From an operational, infrastructure and safety perspective, this presents a number of challenges due to the diversity of aircraft, control stations, levels of autonomy, and communications methods. UAV’s width is of a wide spectrum of size, endurance, and performance characteristics, often different from manned aircraft.

Sophisticated navigation and communications technologies were not available few years back, and increases in armed forces telecommunications satellite bandwidth have made remote operation of UAV’s more realistic. The wars fought in Iraq and Afghanistan has also increased the demand for UAV’s, as identification of and strikes against targets hiding among civilian populations required persistent surveillance. Manned systems could accomplish many if not all of the same goals. 

But unmanned systems reduce the risk to our war fighters by providing a sophisticated stand-off capability that supports intelligence, command and control, targeting, and weapons delivery. These systems also improve situational alertness and reduce many of the poignant hazards inherent in air and ground combat, thus decreasing the likelihood of causing civilian noncombatant casualties. UAVs have gained favor as ways to reduce risk to combat troops have been established, the cost of hardware and the reaction time in a surgical strike and to conduct missions in areas that can be difficult to access or otherwise considered too high-risk for manned aircraft or personnel on the ground.

Key Take-Aways

• The global UAV market size can be expected to grow to $8,351.11 million by 2018.
• (HALE/MALE/SUAV) Market has the highest business potential throughout the study period.
• USA and Israel will be the maximum revenue generator, among the countries manufacturing UAV’s.
• SPUAV (Solar Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) will be one of the major technological advances in the near future.
• ”We believe the UAV market in EU will take off and grow rapidly in the coming years from now. Major obstacle may be, if national regulations become too complicated.”  Ola Fristrom, Managing Director, SmartPlanes AB.
• General Atomics Aeronautical Sytems is the leader in UAV market with 18.78% of the market share.

ASD Reports

A Buyers Market For Anti-Ship Missiles

June 26, 2013: There was recently a SINKEX (sinking exercise) in which Norway fired one of their locally made Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) at a decommissioned 2,100 ton Oslo class frigate. The NSM, fired from a smaller missile boat, hit the frigate, did a lot of damage but did not sink it. If the frigate had been loaded with fuel and ammo, the NSM would have started fires and probably put the ship out of service and possibly caused it to go down.

Norway's super naval strike missile (NSM). Photo: Topwar.ru

Despite the many lightweight (under a ton) anti-ship missiles on the market, NSM still gets sales because it is effective, reliable and affordable. It is also offered for use on ships, aircraft and on trucks (as part of a mobile coastal defense system). The 409 kg (900 pound) NSM anti-ship missile has a 125 kg (275 pound) warhead and a range of 185 kilometers. NSM uses GPS and inertial guidance systems, as well as a heat imaging system (and a database of likely targets) for picking out and hitting the intended ship. Norwegian manufacturer Kongsberg allows buyers to easily install their own radar and control systems.

There is lots of competition, the main ones being the U.S. Harpoon and similar missiles from Russia and China. The Russian Kh-35 anti-ship missile is similar to the American Harpoon but lighter (610 kg/1,340 pounds, compared to 728 kg/1,600) and has less range (130 kilometers compared to 224 for the latest version of Harpoon). The Kh-35 (also known as the SS-N-25 or Switchblade) can be fired from helicopters, aircraft, ships, or shore batteries.

China sells a lot of C-801 and C-802 anti-ship missiles. The C-801 is 5.81 meters (18 feet) long, 360mm in diameter, has a max range of 42 kilometers and weighs 636 kg (1,400 pounds) each. The C-801 is similar to the French Exocet, and is believed to have been based on that missile.

The C802A is a 6.8m (21 foot) long, 360mm diameter, 682kg (1,500 pound) missile, with a 165kg (360 pound) warhead. The C802 has a max range of 120 kilometers, and moves along at about 250 meters a second. The French Exocet missile is the same size and performance, but costs twice as much (over a million dollars each, but the manufacturer is known to be flexible on pricing.)

The new Exocet MM Block 3 has twice the range (180 kilometers) because of their turbojet engine. This is a 670 kg (1,500 pound) missile that has been around for over three decades, has been proven in combat and is known to be reliable. The C802 is known to be less capable than the Exocet, but it looks similar.

Russia pioneered the use of larger (up to three ton) supersonic “carrier killer” anti-ship missiles. The most common example is the Yakhont which is an 8.9 meter (27.6 foot) long, three ton missile with a 300 kg (660 pound) warhead. Russia has been building missiles like this since the 1970s but they are only popular with the few nations that have a need to destroy American aircraft carriers.

Strategy Page

Vietnam’s UAV Over The South China Sea

AV.UAV.S1 and AV.UAV.S2 UAVs developed by Vietnam’s Institute of Space Technology have conducted test flights over the South China Sea to tests their respective autonomous flight control system as well as their camera payload on May 25 and May 26 at the Van Ninh beach, some 100 km from the city of Nha Trang.

Two UAVs flew on May 25 to conduct the respective tests on their on-board systems and payload during day and night-time while six more flew on May 26 to conduct aerial based oceanographic studies.

 

Vietnam are among several ASEAN region countries which had conducted research and development of indigenous UAV for both civilian and military use. Other countries in the region that has similar programs include Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

http://malaysiaflyingherald.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/vietnams-uav-over-the-south-china-sea/

Aircraft You’ve Never Thought Could Fly From An Aircraft Carrier

The flight deck is certainly the most dangerous runway an aircraft could land or take off from. It is cramped with other aircraft, deck crew and equipment. The limited space and the constant movement of the vessel would definitely makes thing more difficult.

While the art of the aircraft carrier has been perfected during World War 2 and made better during the ensuing Korean War, Vietnam War as well as wars in the Middle East, never in a man’s sound mind that bombers, covert spyplane and transport aircraft could be operated from the carrier.

The Imperial Japanese forces had never expected US bombing attack over Japan could be made by US Army Air Corp’s bombers disembarking from a US Navy aircraft carrier. Such thing were never heard of before neither it was repeated later. The raid, better known as the Doolittle Raid, was conducted by 16 North American B-25B Mitchell medium bomber led by none other than Lt Col James Harold “Jimmy” Doolittle (later General).

On April 18, 1942, the Mitchell bombers defy any rules the naval aviation had that day by successfully taking off from USS Hornet off the Sea of Japan. All sixteen were lost after they crash landed everywhere around Japan. Out of 80 airmen that took part of the raid, 7 died due to various reasons.

In 1949, the US Navy had officially inducted into service one of its largest aircraft ever operationally operated from an aircraft carrier. The North American AJ Savage (later A-2 Savage) operation with Navy was unfortunately very brief with just 143 examples being built.

In 1961, the Navy had introduced yet another bomber known as the North American A-5 Vigilante. It’s a big, large supersonic bomber operated by the US Navy from its aircraft carrier. With the introduction of a more capable and compact aircraft that can assume its role, the last of the Vigilante were withdrew from service in early 1980.

1963 marks more milestones in US Naval Aviation history when two significant events occurred in August and October. On August 1963, USAF U-2A spyplane made a historic landing and take off from USS Kitty Hawk. The success of the U-2A led to the development of U-2G. The U-2G was operated from USS Ranger to monitor the French nuclear test in Mururoa Atoll in 1964.

A more capable U-2R was developed and tested on-board USS America in 1969. Three of these never entered service though.

On October 1963, a USMC KC-130F landed and take off from USS Forrestal to evaluate its suitability for carrier operation in replacement of the C-1 Trader. Despite the subsequent success of other tests, the carrier borne C-130 idea never progresses and C-2 Greyhound was introduced into service.

Malaysia Flying Herald

MBDA’S BRIMSTONE Simultaneously Destroys Multiple Attack Craft In Salvo Firing

MBDA’s combat proven, UK developed, Brimstone missile carried out the world’s first surface to surface salvo engagement of multiple Fast In-shore Attack Craft (FIAC) threats with a single button push. The success of the trial has shown Brimstone’s unrivalled ability to swiftly strike numerous individual vessels without the need to laboriously designate each target, thereby demonstrating its prowess as a fire and forget maritime surface attack weapon.

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On the 29th May 2013, three millimetric wave operational Brimstone missiles were launched in a rapid salvo of less than a second against a simulated attack formation of five representative FIACs. The three missiles independently acquired and engaged their respective targets at a distance between 4km and 5km (constrained by range safety); direct hits resulted in extensive structural damage to the three leading vessels, including one travelling at around 20 knots. The missiles were launched from a surface trials platform using a Brimstone triple rail launcher in conditions of sea state 3.

This exceptional achievement follows on from a previously undisclosed, successful surface launch trial against a single static FIAC on the 6th April 2013. Instead of a warhead the missile carried a telemetry unit to transmit trials data. The missile acquired and identified the target with a subsequent direct hit on the vessel’s control cabin, with the missile passing through the hull at the rear of the craft causing the target to sink.

The Brimstone programme is run by MBDA UK’s team in Stevenage, Hertfordshire while both of these trials were carried out off the west coast of Scotland with range support provided by QinetiQ.

Brimstone is being proposed by MBDA UK as a surface attack missile for deployment within the Sea Spear system against FIACs and other small surface threats in all weather environments. As an effective maritime Force Protection capability, it rapidly provides significant utility beyond the range of medium calibre naval gun systems. With a range of deck-mounted launcher options, from single to six-pack configurations, the system’s very small footprint gives it a high level of deck positioning flexibility making it suitable for small vessels such Fast Attack Craft as well as much larger vessels such as auxiliary ships.

Navy Recognition

Vietnam’s Russian Restocking ( Updated 21 May 2013 )

Latest update [?]

May 21/13: SU-30s. A Tuoi Tre News article offers some revealing information, alongside the classic Stakhanovite paens.

“Living in rented houses, many of the [SU-30 maintenance] staff have to work as part time teachers in local schools to earn extra income for their families. They even use their own money to buy devices to test tools of their own invention before submitting ideas to leaders.”

... {click to expand +}

May 21/13: SU-30s. A Tuoi Tre News article offers some revealing information, alongside the classic Stakhanovite paens.

“Living in rented houses, many of the [SU-30 maintenance] staff have to work as part time teachers in local schools to earn extra income for their families. They even use their own money to buy devices to test tools of their own invention before submitting ideas to leaders.”

Needless to say, economic conflicts of interest among the maintenance staff for your nation’s premiere air asset offers all kinds of potential vulnerabilities.

May 17/13: SU-30s. A Tuoi Tre News article discussed the propensity of Vietnamese pilots to stay in the aircraft and try to land, even if the failure is very serious. Materiel worth more than people? That does seem to be part of the attitude, but if so, it’s a long-standing predisposition:

“For example, three-star colonel and pilot Dao Quoc Khang managed to save his Su-27 when its engines broke down just seconds after taking off…. in April last year, captain and chief of Air Strike Regiment 935 Nguyen Xuan Tuyen and flight head Nguyen Gia Nhan saved a Su-30MK2 while they were on a regular patrol over East Sea and its engines suddenly stopped working when it was 600km from the coast. “….We told ourselves in our minds that we are responsible for keeping the US$50 million asset of the State in one piece. It is made from the labor of citizens. And we must protect it at any price, even if that means our lives,” pilot Tuyen said.”

In fairness, ejecting 600 km from the coast is near-certain death, given Vietnam’s limited search and rescue resources. So the brave and selfless-sounding justification doesn’t actually change their decision, and is the sort of thing you’d expect in an article that quotes political commissars with a straight face. Or is the mentality in the pilot’s justification real? That’s the interesting question.

{^}

Keep reading for the whole story with recent events put in context

Kilo Class cutaway
(click to view full)

In April 2009, reports surfaced that Vietnam had agreed in principle to a deal with Russia for 6 of its diesel-electric Kilo/ Project 636 Class fast attack submarines. There have been rumors that Vietnam owns 2 ex-Yugoslav mini-submarines for use in commando operations, but the Vietnamese People’s Navy doesn’t own any full size submarines that can take on enemy subs and ships. That’s about to change, thanks to a December 2009 contract.

Nor is that the only change in Vietnam’s military capabilities these days. China’s April 2009 display of naval might is only part of the mosaic influencing Vietnam’s decisions in these matters, as contracts for submarines – and far more – are being signed with its long-time Russian ally.

Vietnam’s New Military Buys: Considerations

Kilo Class for China
(click to view full)

China’s 2009 display of naval might certainly marks an increased shift toward “forward defense” farther from its borders, a policy that must eventually include China’s trade lifeline to Vietnam’s south, through the Straits of Malacca. It also underlined a growing gap between China’s increasingly advanced ships and high capacity hovercraft, and Vietnam’s fleet of older Soviet and even American ships.

Ownership of the Spratly Islands remains very much in dispute, and Vietnam and China share a centuries-long history of mutual distrust and occupation. Recent punctuations of that animosity include the 1979 3rd Indochina War; this was followed by a significant skirmish in 1981, and a naval skirmish over the Spratly Islands in 1988. Today, Vietnamese protests over a Chinese bauxite mine in Vietnam, and media disobedience over the Spratly Islands issue, serve as a reminder that the 1989 treaty has not changed the relationship’s underlying fundamentals.

China itself has adopted a strategy of building up a submarine force to counter a superior surface opponent (the US Navy). It is entirely logical for Vietnam to adopt a similar approach vis-a-vis China, especially given that China’s lifeline of raw materials and exported goods leading from and to Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and parts of Asia passes right by Vietnam’s doorstep.

Aside from Thyssen Krupp Marine’s U209 family of submarines, the Russian Kilo Class are the world’s most widely exported subs. They’re known for a level of quietness that’s significantly better than other Russian designs, and have been produced in the Project 877EKM , and the Project 636M “Improved Kilo” variant that Vietnam is receiving. Countries operating or ordering these submarines include Russia, Algeria, China, India, Iran, Poland, and Romania.

There had been some speculation that Vietnam’s emphasis on shallow water operations, and proximity to the Straits of Malacca, might have made DCNS’ novel 885t, $200 million Andrasta Class of “pocket submarines” attractive. Instead, Vietnam appears to have opted for a more widely-deployable, higher capacity 3,000t submarine from its tried and true Russia partner. They can be armed with 533mm heavy torpedoes, mines, and/or the 3M54 Klub-S family of missiles.

The new submarines are the most important new Russian addition to Vietnam’s capabilities, but they are not alone. Stealthy Gepard Class light frigates will add surface warfare and patrol punch, alongside new Molniya/ Project 12418 missile-armed Fast Attack Craft to help modernize a fleet that’s mostly made up of aging Soviet FACs and captured American ships from the Vietnam War. In the air, Vietnam’s SU-27 air superiority fighters will be joined by new multi-role SU-30 planes from the same fighter family, strengthening air defenses and adding a long-range strike capability.

Contracts and Key Events

This section covers only Vietnamese contracts with Russia. As the “Additional Readings” section notes, Russia is not Vietnam’s exclusive arms provider – but it is the country’s most important defense relationship.

2012 – 2013

Kh-35 anti-ship missile partnership; Vietnam will need help with training and maintenance.

Kh-35E/ SS-N-25
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May 21/13: SU-30s. A Tuoi Tre News article offers some revealing information, alongside the classic Stakhanovite paens.

“Living in rented houses, many of the [SU-30 maintenance] staff have to work as part time teachers in local schools to earn extra income for their families. They even use their own money to buy devices to test tools of their own invention before submitting ideas to leaders.”

Needless to say, economic conflicts of interest among the maintenance staff for your nation’s premiere air asset offers all kinds of potential vulnerabilities.

May 17/13: SU-30s. A Tuoi Tre News article discussed the propensity of Vietnamese pilots to stay in the aircraft and try to land, even if the failure is very serious. Materiel worth more than people? That does seem to be part of the attitude, but if so, it’s a long-standing predisposition:

“For example, three-star colonel and pilot Dao Quoc Khang managed to save his Su-27 when its engines broke down just seconds after taking off…. in April last year, captain and chief of Air Strike Regiment 935 Nguyen Xuan Tuyen and flight head Nguyen Gia Nhan saved a Su-30MK2 while they were on a regular patrol over East Sea and its engines suddenly stopped working when it was 600km from the coast. “….We told ourselves in our minds that we are responsible for keeping the US$50 million asset of the State in one piece. It is made from the labor of citizens. And we must protect it at any price, even if that means our lives,” pilot Tuyen said.”

In fairness, ejecting 600 km from the coast is near-certain death, given Vietnam’s limited search and rescue resources. So the brave and selfless-sounding justification doesn’t actually change their decision, and is the sort of thing you’d expect in an article that quotes political commissars with a straight face. Or is the mentality in the pilot’s justification real? That’s the interesting question.

March 29/13: Submarines. Rubin design bureau general director Igor Vilnit pledges to deliver the 1st Project 636M Improved Kilo Class submarine to Vietnam “in 2013 as scheduled.” Odd. Earlier reports from RIA Novosti (vid. Aug 28/12) had the handover taking place at the end of 2012.

The first boat has been built by Admiralteiskie Verfi shipyard in St. Petersburg, Russia, and is undergoing sea trials. All 6 boats are due for delivery by 2016. What isn’t addressed in these reports is Vietnam’s recruiting, training, infrastructure, and maintenance preparations. As Vietnam’s Australian neighbors have discovered the hard way, neglect of any of these 4 “invisible” elements leads to an undeployable submarine force. Vietnam has the advantage of beginning with a proven, tested submarine design, but in all other areas, they’re building from a very low foundation. RIA Novosti .

Oct 26/12: SU-34s? Phun.vn cites a report from the mysterious site “Periscope 2,” wherein it’s suggested that Vietnam plans to replace its fleet of 50 or so aged SU-22 strike aircraft with SU-34s, and that export approval will be given immediately, once it’s requested. The report also suggests that Saab JAS-39 Gripens will replace the VPAF’s even older fleet of 150 or so MiG-21s, that L-159s may replace existing L-39 trainers alongside Vietnam’s reported Yak-130 options, and that Vietnam may be interested in C295-AEW planes.

All of the above are possible, and militarily reasonable choices. Even the L-159 could be reasonable, if bought second-hand as a dual role trainer and MiG-21 fill in, to give the VPAF a dual Russian & western fleet with appropriate weapon options. The thing is, “reasonable” doesn’t mean “likely”, and DID could find no other reports along these lines. Any of the non-trainer deals would be quite expensive, and Vietnam’s economy is a bit shaky these days . In addition, all of the non-Russian equipment would require export approval for American military items. We throw this item in for reader interest, with a strong caution concerning its reliability. Phun.vn [in Vietnamese].

Aug 28/12: Submarines. Russia’s RIA Novosti reports that the Admiralteiskie Verfi shipyard in St. Petersburg has launched Vietnam’s 1st Project 636 diesel-electric submarine. The boat is due for handover to Vietnam by the end of 2012.

March 29/12: Sub training from India? Singapore’s Asia Times :

“For full-scale underwater warfare training, it appears Vietnam will turn to India. The two countries have been engaged in high-level military talks with special emphasis on maritime cooperation. Since the Indian navy also employs Kilo-class submarines, New Delhi would be well suited to train Vietnamese crews. China responded warily to this bilateral warming trend in both words and deeds when a Chinese warship reportedly confronted an Indian navy vessel leaving a Vietnamese port in August… Moscow will reportedly build a submarine base for Vietnam at strategic Cam Ranh Bay, a one-time American and later Soviet naval base…”

Feb 15/12: Kh-35. RIA Novosti reports that Vietnam will begin joint production of a modified SS-N-25 Switchblade/ Kh-35 Uran subsonic anti-ship missile, whose base characteristics are similar to the American

• GM-84 Harpoon. The project is described as similar to joint Russian-Indian production of the PJ-10 BrahMos missile, which was derived from the supersonic SS-N-26 Yakhont.

The Kh-35 can be launched from Ka-27 naval helicopters, ships, or shore batteries, but hasn’t been integrated with Vietnam’s new SU-30MK model fighters, or its forthcoming Kilo Class submarines. Even so , this joint venture will give Vietnam assured low-cost production and support for an important element of naval deterrence in the South China Sea. The Kh-35 looks set to become Vietnam’s mainstay anti-ship missile for its navy, and a joint project also gives them a base to make changes. India undertook to integrate Brahmos with its Su-30MKI fighters, for example, and Vietnam may have similar plans for their modified Kh-35 project. Then, too, the urge to use locally-built weapons in new ships is deep-seated, even though Kilo Class submarines are already configured for 3M54 Klub family (SS-N-27) missiles. Time will tell what the Vietnamese plan to do with this shared technology.

KH-35 missile partnership

2009 – 2011

Vietnam orders 6 Improved Kilo Class subs, 12 SU-30MK2 fighters, 2 Gepard Class ASW frigates; 2 Gepard/ Dinh Tien Hoang Class surface warfare frigates delivered; Vietnam begins building Molniya FACs locally; China’s underwater neighborhood getting crowded.

Gepard 3.9, 2-view
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Dec 7/11: ASW Frigates. Rosoboronexport and the Zelenodolsk Gorky Plant have finished shipping Vietnam’s 1st 2 Gepard Class frigates, and have just signed a contract for 2 more. Unlike the first set, however, the next 2 will concentrate on anti-submarine warfare, rather than surface attack missions.

Vietnam’s example may also be creating ripples in the region. Gorky Plant Deputy Director Sergei Rudenko adds that Vietnam’s neighbor Cambodia has expressed interest of its own in the Gepard Class. Interfax-AVN .

2 more Gepard Class frigates

Oct 25/11: FACs. Vietnam is beginning to get assembly kits and components for its Molniya/ Project 12418 missile-armed fast attack craft. They’re working under the technical supervision of the “Almaz” Central Maritime Design Bureau in St. Petersburg, and the OJSC Vympel shipbuilding plant. Russia has built 2 for Vietnam, and Vietnam is building its first 4 boats of class, with an option for 4 more. The ships are small, at just 550t full load, but they pack a very dangerous set of 4 Moskit/ SS-N-22 Sunburn supersonic anti-ship missiles, or 8 of the sub-sonic Kh-35E anti-ship missiles.

Deliveries of parts to Vietnam, which began in 2010 under a $30 million contract, will continue through 2016. ITAR-TASS (Google Translate).

Vietnam begins assembling FAC boats

Oct 20/11: Patrol boats. Vietnam signs acceptance certificates for the last 2 of 4 Project 10412 / Svetlyak Export Class patrol boats at Almaz Shipbuilding Firm. The 390t class was originally developed for the KGB’s border guards, mounting an AK-176M 76.2mm cannon, an AK-630 30mm gatling gun, and a mount for very short range SA-16/SA-18 anti-aircraft missiles.

The first 2 ships were delivered to Vietnam in 2002, and the 2 follow-on order ships were laid down in June 2009. Unfortunately, repeated issues with key components, including the Arsenal AK-176M gun mounts, delayed construction. The ships will be moved to St. Petersburg, and embarked on a transport ship for shipping to Vietnam. RusNavy .

March 5/11: Frigates. The Vietnamese Navy officially accepts the 1st Gepard class frigate from Russia, naming it the Dinh Tien Hoang, after the first Vietnamese emperor. Vietnam became the class’ 1st export order with a contract for 2 ships in December 2006, and the Dinh Tien Hoang was launched in August 2009. The 2nd frigate in the order was launched in March 2010, and has been in sea trials since August 2010.

The Gepard 3.9 ships are a combined diesel-turbine export version of Russia’s Project 11611 (Tartarstan) frigates, which serve in the Caspian fleet. The 102m/ 2,100t design sits in the grey area between small frigates and large corvettes, and despite their 5,000nm endurance, they’re best suited to local maritime patrol and interdiction. Their stealth-enhanced ship design and sub-sonic Kh-35E anti-ship missiles make them potentially dangerous adversaries in littoral regions, and other armament includes 76mm and 30mm guns, 533mm torpedoes, depth charges, and a 9K33M “OSA-M”/SS-N-4 missile system for air defense. This size and weapons array may not be much to get excited about, relative to other international frigate designs, but it will make them Vietnam’s most capable combat ships. March 2010 reports indicate that orders for 2 more could follow. DatViet report [Google translate] | AvWeek Ares .

Gepard Class frigate accepted

March 27/10: RIA Novosti reports that Chinese admirals are beginning to grasp the implications of advanced diesel-electric attack submarines in the hands of several regional neighbors, located right near China’s shipping lifelines.

Vietnam’s Kilo Class, Malaysia’s Scorpene Class, and Singapore’s Vastergotland Class submarines are all on China’s Southeast Asian radar, while in the background, Indonesia continues to express its intent to buy Kilo Class submarines of its own. They eventually ended up buying a modern variant of the German U209.

March 25/10: Submarines. It’s good to be a good customer. Russian defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov says that Russia will help Vietnam build the submarine base it needs to house its new Kilos, provide a loan to help buy rescue and auxiliary vessels and planes for Vietnam’s navy, and build a ship repair yard. That yard would benefit the Russians, too, as it could service visiting Russian navy ships.

Vietnam’s geographic position could make its service yard attractive to other navies as well, giving other countries even more reason to focus on relations with the Southeast Asian nation. A good service yard could wind up being as important to Vietnam’s geo-political position as the submarines themselves. Associated Press | China’s Xinhua .

March 23/10: Russia’s Voice covers growing ties between Russia and Vietnam, which is becoming one of Russia’s biggest arms customers:

“Vietnam backs multilateral cooperation with Russia especially in military defense, stated Vietnam’s president Nguyen Minh Triet during talks with Russia’s Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov in Hanoi. “Each of Russia’s victories is like our own, the president said, and we support Russia in the Georgian conflict.” The president said that the US decision not to deploy its ABMs in Eastern Europe is also a victory for Russia… Anatoly Serdyukov noted that Vietnam is Russia’s strategic partner and Russia is ready to train Vietnamese personnel at the Russian Defense Ministry’s academies.”

March 16/10: Frigates. Russia’s Zelenodolsk PKB shipyard launches Vietnam’s 2nd Project Gepard 3.9 light frigate into the River Volga. In May 2010, the warship will sail to St. Peterburg and then travel by sea to Vietnam for sea trials. The 1st ship in the order was launched in August 2009.

A separate report indicates that Vietnam could be preparing to order 2 more light frigates of this type. ITAR-TASS [in Russian] | ITAR-TASS Arms [in Russian].

Feb 10/10: SU-30s. Interfax reports the signing of a formal contract between Russia and Vietnam for 12 SU-30MKK fighters, for delivery in 2011-2012, plus associated weapons, service, and support. The deal is reportedly worth $1 billion, and is signed the day after a Russian contract to build Vietnam’s first nuclear plant. Agence France Presse | AP | RT | Straits Times .

SU-30MK & SU-27SK
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Dec 15/09: Shortly after Vietnam makes its defense white paper public , reports indicate that it has ordered 6 Improved Kilo Class submarines and 12 SU-30MKK fighter jets from Russia, during a visit to Moscow by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed Defense Ministry official on Dec 15/09, who said the submarines were improved “Project 636″ types, and gave the deal’s value at of $2 billion, with delivery taking place at a rate of 1 submarine per year. The Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighter jet deal was valued at $600 million, and would raise Vietnam’s SU-27/SU-30 family fleet to 20 fighters.

Vietnam also invited Russia to help build its 1st nuclear power plant, and hopes to begin construction in 2014 and put it on line by 2020. The country has been growing its manufacturing capacity in recent years, partly at China’s expense, and needs to improve its electric grid in tandem. Vietnam’s Thanh Nien News | RIA Novosti | Agence France Presse | Associated Press | BBC News | China’s Xinhua | Agence France Presse analysis .

12 SU-30s & 6 Improved Kilo submarines

Dec 4/09: Russia’s RIA Novosti reports:

“According to the Vedomosti business daily, Moscow and Hanoi are close to sign deals on the purchase of six Kilo class diesel-electric submarines and 12 Su-30MK2 Flanker-C multirole fighters. The submarine contract, worth an estimated $1.8 billion, includes the construction of on-shore infrastructure and training of submarine crews and will be the second largest submarine contract concluded by Russia since the Soviet era after the 2002 deal on the delivery of eight subs to China.”

April 27/09: Initial media reports. The submarine deal’s value is reported to be around $1.8 billion, and the SSKs would be built at Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg. In addition to submarines, the Vietnamese Navy order is said to include new heavyweight torpedoes and missiles (most likely Klub family ) to arm them.

Some of the Russian reports note that these 6 submarines were once planned for Venezuela, adding that Russia’s Rosoboronexport canceled the deal following Hugo Chavez’ meeting with US President Barrack Obama. That must be judged an extraordinarily thin public rationale for canceling a $1.5+ billion purchase. A sinking global oil market, and Venezuela’s growing economic dependence on its declining oil production for revenue, are far more likely reasons for any delay and/or shift. See: RIA Novosti | MosNews | St. Petersburg Times | Singapore Straits Times | Defpro .

Additional Readings

• Haze Grey – World Navies Today: Vietnam

• Naval Technology – SSK Kilo Class (Type 636) Attack Submarine, Russia

• Zelenodolsk Shipyard – Frigate of 11661 project “Gepard – 3.9″

• Air Force Technology – Su-30MK Multi-Role Two-Seater Fighter Aircraft, Russia

• Tuoi Tre News (May 21/13) – Caretakers of Sukhoi jet fighters in Vietnam

• Tuoi Tre News (May 17/13) – The ‘Air cobra’ of Vietnam’s air force

• The Diplomat (Nov 1/12) – Vietnam’s Underwater Anti-Access Fleet

• Aviation Week (March 30/12) – South China Sea Drives Regional Choices

• Reuters (Feb 10/12) – Vietnam seen courting Western arms deals . Israel is also in this mix, and can leverage experience with nearby clients in India, Thailand, and Singapore.

• DID (Oct 30/11) – More than the Sum of Its Parts: Dutch SIGMA Ships for Vietnam?

• DID (May 5/10) – Vietnamese Navy Orders DHC-6 Twin-Otter 400s. The durable float planes are a clever choice for short-range maritime surveillance.

• Reuters (Dec 14/09) – U.S. eyes Vietnam, Libya arms sales . The focus at this point is on “non-lethal” equipment, in Vietnam’s case, the focus is on maritime patrol aircraft, coastal radar systems, and English language training.

Categories: Asia - Other, Contracts - Intent, Force Structure, Issues - International, Missiles - Anti-Ship, Missiles - Precision Attack, Other Corporation, Russia, Submarines, Underwater Weapons

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