Turquía exporta su pala mecánica blindada anfibia a Filipinas

Turkish Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover to be Exported to Philippines

FNSS Kunduz amphibious armored combat earthmover (photo : CeeGee)

Turkish defense firm FNSS has signed an agreement to export its amphibious armored combat earthmover (AACE) to the Philippines, the company's general director said.

Turkey's FNSS defense systems general director, Nail Kurt, told Anadolu Agency (AA) in an interview on Monday that the KUNDUZ Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover has been sold to the Philippines, making it the first South Asian country to import the vehicle.

Kurt said the details of the agreement will be finalized in the next two months, and the delivery of the vehicles will start in 2021. He added that new contracts could be signed with the Philippines to import the firm's other defense products.

Locally developed and manufactured, KUNDUZ has been used by the Turkish Land Forces in various missions and is capable of conducting bulldozing, rough grading, excavating, hauling and scraping operations.

Kurt also announced that the company will soon start the mass production of KAPLAN MT, a medium-weight military tank jointly developed by FNSS and its Indonesian partner PT Pindad.

The tank's design architecture consists of advanced ballistic and mine protection with a broad range of firepower, ranging from support of infantry to anti-armor.

With a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour, the vehicle's range is 450 kilometers.

Kurt said the company is also in talks with Hyundai Rotem in South Korea for technology transfer for FNSS's other product, the Samur Rapid Deployable Amphibious Wet Gap Crossing System.

Samur, which enables Turkish Armed Forces' (TSK) elements to cross rivers and streams and resembles a "transformer," is the first original design and development project of the Turkish defense industry.

Kurt said FNSS is now facing serious competition from Germany, which has a similar system, for the South Korean tender that is expected to be finalized in mid-2020.

If the Turkish side wins the tender, the mass production of Samur will start in South Korea after FNSS engineers travel to the country to transfer the know-how, Kurt said.

Daily Sabah

Singapur confirma compra de RBS 70 NG

RSAF Confirms RBS 70 NG Buy

RBS 70 NG manpads (photo : Shephard)

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has procured the Saab RBS 70 NG MANPADS as part of its air defence renewal efforts. The announcement was made by the RSAF chief, Maj Gen Kelvin Khong, in a Singapore Airshow interview.

The RSAF’s Divisional Air Defence Group (DAG) has been operating the RBS 70 since 1980, but it was upgraded with the Bolide missile in 2011. However, weighing 35kg, it required another person to carry the 15kg clip-on thermal sights.

The NG’s integrated digital sights with thermal function bring a reduced weight of 25kg, which will be welcomed by RSAF personnel as they usually deploy these MANPADS on buildings in various air defence scenarios. The mount, incompatible with older sights, is also the interface for the IFF and tracking radar.

The digital system means that commanders can share the operator’s view of the target, enabling better decision-making, especially in peacetime scenarios.

Per Uggla, Saab’s director of technical sales, missiles, told Shephard that the NG’s external tracking function enables the missile to utilise its full range of 9km (instead of 8km) as minute thumb movements during manual tracking means the missile readjusts itself and loses energy faster.

Uggla added that it only requires a ‘couple of days’ to transit current operators to the NG.

Of interest is how the RSAF will motorise the RBS 70 NG, with the incumbent V-200 already slated for retirement. A new possibility is URO VAMTAC 4x4 vehicles, but the back-blast safety radius of 60° and 2m mean the driver’s cab would be in the way unless the firing mount is raised.

Another option is the Renault Higuard 6x6 protected vehicle, mounted on the armoured roof. The NG’s power source can also be drawn from vehicles.

Khong added the RSAF is currently evaluating other systems for the DAG, these likely to replace the M113 Mechanised Igla system.

Shephard

Primer satélite militar tailandés listo para lanzamiento

Thai's First Military Satellite Napa 1 Set for Launch

Napa-1 the first truly military satellite in Thailand and ASEAN (photo : Asean Development Report)

'Eye-in-sky' set for launch

What has been dubbed as Thailand's first military satellite is set to be launched next month, according to the the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF).

The European Space Agency has scheduled the launch of the Napa 1 satellite on an Ariane Vega rocket at the Guiana Space Centre, in French Guiana, South America, on March 24, an RTAF source said yesterday.

The launch has been postponed twice, first in September last year and then in December.

Napa-1 will have cameras that will play a crucial part in the Royal Thai Air Force Defence System, strengthening national security and preventing threats, the source said.

The RTAF set up a space operations centre on Aug 16 last year in a bid to enhance its operational capacity and upgrade the country's capacity in space missions.

The centre is also expected to play a role in supporting disaster mitigation operations.

The new centre aligns with the air force's strategy, which includes "space" as a key domain for operations ranging from surveillance and patrol to the creation and maintenance of satellites and tracking of space objects.

The RTAF reportedly plans to propose a draft law to regulate and supervise space operations conducted by the air force and other government agencies.

Meanwhile, the national committee on space policy has set up a sub-committee to map out a policy and operations plan on tracking and keeping tabs on other satellites and orbiting objects, to keep pace with growing space traffic.

Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, the panel has assigned the Defence Ministry to draft the policy and the operation plan with support from related agencies, said Maj Gen Patchasak Patirupanont, spokesman for Gen Prawit.

Maj Gen Patchasak said the formation of the panel is in line with the country's 20-year draft blueprint on national space policy (2017-2036).

He said Thai communications satellites, survey satellites, and tiny satellites for educational purposes were already in orbit.

The growing number of space objects and debris orbiting Earth meant Thailand had to enhance its tracking and surveillance capabilities to avoid collisions and service disruptions, he said.

He added that Gen Prawit had also urged the Digital Economy and Society Ministry to speed up drafting plans on developing Thai space missions.

Bangkok Post

Turquía se prepara para tomar Idlib en Siria

Recep Tayyip Erdogan amenazó con una operación “inminente” de Turquía en Siria: “Estamos en la cuenta regresiva”

El mandatario habló tras el fracaso de la última ronda de conversaciones con Rusia, que apoya al régimen de Bashar al Assad, con el que Ankara está enfrentado en la región de Idlib. En las últimas semanas hubo un éxodo de 900.000 personas
Infobae




Un tanque turco preparado para las operaciones en Siria

El presidente de Turquía, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, anunció este miércoles una ofensiva militar de forma “imminente” en Idlib, noroeste de Siria, donde los enfrentamientos oponen en las últimas semanas a las fuerzas de Ankara y Damasco, pero Rusia lanzó una advertencia contra estas pretensiones.

“La operación en Idlib es inminente”, dijo Erdogan en un discurso en el Parlamento. “Estamos en la cuenta atrás, son las últimas advertencias”, dijo.

Sin embargo, desde Moscú, el portavoz del Kremlin, Dmitri Peskov advirtió a Erdogan que “se trata de una operación contra el poder legítimo de la República siria y de las fuerzas armadas de la República siria, lo que sería, sin duda, el peor escenario”.

Estas amenazas se producen en momentos en que las conversaciones entre Ankara y Moscú, que apoya al régimen de Bashar Al Assad, no han logrado reducir las tensiones en la región de Idlib.

“Lamentablemente, ni las conversaciones celebradas en nuestro país y en Rusia, ni las negociaciones sobre el terreno nos han permitido lograr el resultado que deseamos”, deploró Erdogan.


El presidente de Turquía, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (REUTERS/Stringer)

“Estamos muy lejos del punto que queremos alcanzar, es un hecho. Pero las conversaciones [con los rusos] continuarán”, añadió.

Las fuerzas de Damasco, apoyadas por la aviación rusa, llevan a cabo en las últimas semanas un doble ataque para recuperar este último bastión rebelde y yihadista, una ofensiva que provocó el éxodo de más de 900.000 civiles que huían de los combates.

El país, que ha estado en guerra desde 2011, nunca había experimentado un éxodo así en un período de tiempo tan corto.

En total, el conflicto sirio llevó a millones de personas al exilio y se cobró más de 380.000 vidas.

A principios de febrero, las tensiones aumentaron de varias maneras cuando varios soldados turcos desplegados en Idlib en el marco de un acuerdo entre Ankara y Moscú murieron en bombardeos sirios.

Desde entonces, Ankara ha pedido la retirada de las fuerzas del régimen sirio al este de una carretera clave. Además, el avance de las fuerzas de Damasco ha cercado varias posiciones turcas en Idlib.


Habitantes de Idlib evacuan la zona ante el aumento en la intensidad de los combates (REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi)

Paralelamente a las advertencias, Turquía viene desplegando desde hace varios días importantes refuerzos militares en la región de Idlib. “Hemos hecho todos nuestros preparativos para poder aplicar nuestros propios planes”, declaró Erdogan el miércoles.

“Estamos decididos a hacer de Idlib una región segura para Turquía y para la población local, a cualquier precio”, añadió.

De concretarse, esta sería la cuarta operación militar turca en Siria en el marco de la guerra civil, luego de Escudo del Éufrates (2016), Rama de Olivo (2018) y Primavera de la Paz (2019). Aunque todas estas tuvieron lugar en la frontera y fueron dirigidas principalmente contra fuerzas kurdas, a las que Ankara vincula con organizaciones terroristas dentro de su propio territorio.

Así, esta nueva ofensiva sería la primera vez que Ankara se lanza en lo profundo del territorio sirio y tendría como objetivo a las tropas del régimen sirio y sus milicias aliadas, que a su vez cuentan con el apoyo militar de Rusia.

ATMOS israelíes para Filipinas

Philippine Army Finally Orders ATMOS 155mm SPH

ATMOS 155mm Self Propelled Howitzer (photo : Elbit Systems)

Self-propelled artillery from Israel for Philippine Army ordered

An order has been placed for 155mm Howitzer, Self-Propelled System Acquisition Project for the Philippine Army under Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Horizon 2. This was revealed by MaxDefense Philippines.

MaxDefense said it “got confirmation that the Philippine Army has finally ordered the ATMOS 155mm/52cal. wheeled self-propelled howitzer from Elbit Systems Land and C4I, as part of the Philippine Army’s 155mm Howitzer, Self-Propelled System Acquisition Project under the Horizon 2 phase of the RAFPMP.”

“Deliveries are expected to be completed in 2 years time, or less,” it noted.

Philippine Army Assistant Chief-of-Staff for Plans Colonel Romulo Manuel earlier mentioned about the acquisition of self-propelled artillery.

“Actually, the Revised Armed Forces Modernization is for all, not only for the Air Force and Navy, including the Army. We have different Horizons so right now we are in the Second Horizon to procure equipment so it’s ready, the President has allotted funds for the procurement of like modern equipment, like self-propelled artillery, this will be used in the territorial defense, right now the Army is contemplating to buy one land-based system, we have already upgraded our air aviation, from [Army] Aviation Battalion, it will be upgraded to Aviation Regiment wherein our Army will have its own helicopters to support its ground forces,” Colonel Manuel said as quoted by PNA in August 2019.

Mintfo

US Army duplica pedido por nuevos Barret del 12.70

Army doubles original purchase of new Barrett sniper rifle

WIB land 

The US Army is excited for its new anti-personnel precision rifle, nearly doubling their orders.

Budget documents show a new desire by the Army to obtain 536 additional Precision Sniper Rifles (PSR), nearly twice the original order of 357 previously placed.

The Tennessee-made PSR, which is built by Barrett Firearms, has been touted as the “primary anti-personnel sniper weapons system” for all the Army’s sniper units, and a replacement for the M107 in favor of a lighter and more accurate system.

According to Task & Purpose, the PSR “provides increased probability of hit over the current M2010 [Enhanced Sniper Rifle] configuration at distances up to twelve-hundred (1200) meters and increases range out to fifteen-hundred (1500), which enhances the sniper role in supporting combat operations and improves sniper survivability.”

Upgrades for the rifle include suppressors, optics and image intensifiers, such as thermal sensors.

Barrett’s PSR is also a multi-caliber weapons system, which allows the rifle to be used in a variety of ways.

The Army has no plans of slowing down- in fact, they are looking to obtain 1,516 PSR systems between fiscal years 2022 and 2025, raising the number to 2,545 at an estimated cost of $45.476 million through fiscal year 2025.

LM gana contrato para mantenimiento de MH-60R australianos

Lockheed Wins $186M to Support Australian MH-60R Helicopters

Royal Australian Navy MH-60R (photo : Calum Linnen)

Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, New York, is awarded a $185,874,486 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-reimbursable indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. This contract provides program management, various levels of maintenance, training and logistics support to sustain the operational capability of 24 Royal Australian Navy MH-60 Romeo aircraft.

Work will be performed at Yerriyong, Australia (79%); Owego, New York (18%); Edinburgh, Australia (1%); Stratford, Connecticut (1%) and Orlando, Florida (1%), and is expected to be completed in January 2024. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation 206.302-4. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-20-D-0001).

Departamento de Defensa de los Estados Unidos

T-7A posiblemente provisto a Australia

Boeing Held Talks with the RAAF to Supply the T-7A

Boeing T-7A trainer aircraft (photo : Boeing)

Boeing sets sights on T-7A exports to Asia-Pacific region

Boeing is positioning the T-7A Red Hawk it is developing and building with Saab for military trainer and light attack requirements across the Asia-Pacific region, the US corporation announced at the Singapore Airshow on 12 February.

Thomas Breckenridge, vice-president of international sales in Boeing’s strike, surveillance and mobility business unit, told journalists that the company sees opportunities for global sales of up to 2,600 T-7As.

The US Air Force is contracted to procure 351 of these aircraft under a USD9.2 billion contract announced in September 2018. Breckenridge also indicated that Asia-Pacific countries could also emerge as principal operators of the type.


Cockpit of the Boeing T-7A trainer aircraft (photo : Defense Update)

Breckenridge said factors that could prove attractive to Asia-Pacific customers include: the aircraft’s re-configurable cockpit that allows it to complement a range of advanced fighter aircraft; the ease with which training can be supported through an open mission system shared by simulator and aircraft; and the aircraft’s design, which is intended to meet future mission requirements.

He also confirmed that Boeing would pursue regional sales of the T-7A to meet procurement requirements for both trainer and light attack aircraft. Boeing has plans to build up to 48 T-7As per year for the USAF, with entry into USAF service planned for 2023. Breckenridge said the company also has capacity to integrate new export orders into its production schedules.

Breckenridge did not provide a breakdown of expected future customers in the Asia-Pacific, although he has previously confirmed that Boeing has held talks with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and other regional operators about potential programmes to supply the T-7A. Speaking in 2019 he said Boeing’s discussions with the RAAF were aimed at supporting the company’s understanding of the service’s future pilot trainer requirements.

Jane's

Ajustan cronograma de entrega de las ANZAC neozelandesas

NZ Confirms Redelivery Schedule for Updated ANZAC Frigates

Scoupe of ANZAC class upgrade (image : LockheedMartin)

The first Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) ANZAC frigate to be modernised in Canada under the Frigate System Upgrade (FSU) programme is now planned to complete its upgrade at the end of 2020, the New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD) has told Jane’s .

HMNZS Te Kaha is currently completing setting-to-work and commissioning activities at Seaspan Shipyards’ facility in Victoria, British Columbia. Sister ship HMNZS Te Mana is also at the Seaspan yard, having arrived in Victoria in March last year to begin its FSU refit.

Lockheed Martin Canada is taking the role of prime contractor and combat system integrator for the FSU programme, which is designed to restore the ANZAC frigates’ ability to fulfil credible combat roles and provide high-quality surveillance products.

Jane's