AIM-120C7 AMRAAM (photo : almrsal) Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $768,283,907 non-competitive fixed-price incentive (firm) contract for Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Production Lot 33. This contract provides for the production of the AMRAAM missiles, captive air training missiles, guidance sections, AMRAAM telemetry system, spares and other production engineering support hardware. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, with an expected completion date of Feb. 28, 2023. This contract involves unclassified foreign military sales to Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey and United Kingdom, which accounts for 47% of the contract value. Fiscal 2018 Air Force and Navy procurement funds in the amount of $21,606,031; fiscal 2019 Air Force and Navy procurement funds in the amount of $356,753,259; fiscal 2020 Navy procurement funds in the amount of $4,212,839; fiscal 2019 Air Force research and development funds in the amount of $7,343,150; fiscal 2020 Air Force and Navy research and development funds in the amount of $10,295,601; fiscal 2020 Air Force operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,404,956; and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $366,668,071 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Dominance Division Contracting Office, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8675-20-C-0033). (US DoD)
Terma C-Guard system uses the NATO standard in decoy rounds, SeaGnat or 130mm (photo : SeaWaves) The C-Guard Sea Acceptance Test is an important milestone in the collaboration between Terma, Thales NL as prime contractor and the Royal Thai Navy on the Krabi Class Offshore Patrol Vessel program and is a token of the strengthened relationship between the parties. Terma previously supplied C-Guard systems for the Naresuan Class (HTMS Naresuan and HTMS Taksin) and the DW 3000F Class (HTMS Bhumibol Adulyade). Further opportunities to increase the business relationship in the near future, between Terma and the Royal Thai Navy, exists if the Royal Thai Navy decides to install Decoy Launching Systems on board the remaining Krabi Class program vessels and on the next Frigate in the DW 3000F Class.
Krabi class OPV (photo : Collin Koh) More than 200 C-Guard systems are currently in operation worldwide, providing effective protection against any type of air and underwater threat (RF/IR/Dual Seeker missiles and torpedoes). The C-Guard system using SeaGnat or 130 mm decoy rounds will provide protection against any type of threat, including: -Radio Frequency (RF) threats – the C-Guard algorithm offers the flexibility of deploying chaff as sub-munitions or as a large chaff burst -InfraRed (IR) and Imaging IR threats – An increasing threat especially in the littoral zone. -The multi-azimuth tubes of the C-Guard will allow the algorithm to calculate precise firing of IR to provide 360-degree coverage -The C-Guard algorithm can effectively calculate the heat dissemination of flare decoys and in combination with chaff decoys obscure the IR image of a naval vessel -Dual Seeker threats – the algorithm supports dual mode rounds containing both flare and chaff payloads – an advanced coverage technique towards dual seeker threats -Torpedo threats – unparalleled, C-Guard supports the firing of the latest acoustic anti-torpedo decoys, including state-of-the-art Canto by DCNS. (Asian Military Review)
PLAAF J-11 meets Thai Gripen during Falcon Strike 2015 (photo : Aereo) A talk was given at China’s Northwestern Polytechnical University on Dec. 9. The speaker was reported to be Li Zhonghua who is said to have participated in Exercise Falcon Strike 2015 in Thailand. One of the slides showed the score during each day of the exercise and during the first day, the Thais flying the Gripen were beaten 16-0. Another slide shows that although the Thais did very badly on the first day. These were dogfights and the Gripen fared better in the beyond-visual-range (BVR) arena. With 24 percent of the kills at range beyond 50km.
Score during Falcon Strike 2015 (photo : Alert5) There were important lessons for the Chinese side. This slide explains that the Chinese pilots had poor situation awareness. Too much focus was on front of the aircraft rather than all round. There was a lack of coordination between the attacking aircraft and its sweeper escorts. The pilots were not experience in avoiding missile shots. Their response were too mechanical and could not judge correctly on the evasive techniques for missiles with different ranges. In large scale air battles, the Thais were able to score kills while playing the attacker by taking down the Chinese defenders. When the Chinese attack, they had difficulty making it pass the Thai defenders. The only success for the Chinese when attacking is when they were protected by the Gripen, that was a low-level attack.
Score during Falcon Strike 2015 (photo : Alert5)
In 2 vs 2 scenarios, the Chinese found that they are poor in judging the threat and the evasive actions were insufficient. The fire control and weapons integration for the J-11 is still behind the Saab Gripen. Despite dominating in the dogfight arena, the Chinese still picked up important lessons from the Thai. They found that when dealing with Thai attacks using the Sun as cover, the strategy of the Chinese are simplified. When in an advantageous position, the Chinese were in a rush to score victory and fell into traps put up by the Thais. (Alert5)
Myanmar acquies second-hand INS SIndhuvir Project 877EKM submarine from India (photo : Livefist) BANGKOK: The Royal Thai Navy is preparing to deal with what it calls a 'new situation' after learning that Myanmar is going to send its attack submarine to the Andaman Sea for security missions.
The diesel-electric Kilo Class submarine, which Myanmar acquired from India, is scheduled to start operations from Dec 24, spokesman and deputy chief-of-staff Prachachart Sirisawat said. The navy's Third Area Command, based in Phuket, which oversees territories in the Andaman Sea, has been told to keep a watch on the submarine, which can operate underwater for up to 45 days. Myanmar plans to use its submarine for "security and protection of its maritime interests,” said Vice Adm Prachachart, the Director-General of the Naval Acquisition Management Office. The Indian government has been purchasing the Russian-made Kilo Class submarines since 1980 and made further adjustments to improve capacity at its shipyards. The model, with a displacement of 3,000 tonnes, is well known for its quiet operation. The sub can be equipped with various types of weapons and can dive to a depth of 300 metres and accommodate 52 officers. "Myanmar is going to increase its military efficiency," Vice Adm Prachachrat said, referring to its plan to enter talks with Russia to buy more Kilo Class submarines.
Phuket naval base and Andaman sea (image : GoogleMaps) RTN's submarine Thailand is in the process of buying three submarines from China after the previous coup-appointed government approved the 36-billion-baht purchase, which was the first in over 60 years. The navy signed an agreement to buy a Yuan Class S26T submarine worth B13.5 billion from China in 2017. Its construction began on Sept 7 last year in China, and it is expected to be delivered to the navy in 2023. The navy reportedly has asked the government to allocate 12 billion baht to buy the second submarine, but a final decision will depend on the House of Representatives, which is considering the state's B3.2 trillion budget request for the 2020 fiscal year. "We're scheduled to clarify the purchase plan today," Vice Adm Prachachart said, referring to their meeting with the House special committee, which has been set up to scrutinise budget details. Vice Adm Prachachart also rejected rumours about a "budget suspension," which surfaced last month that the navy would suspend the submarine plan and instead buy less expensive frigates. "That is confusion in communication," he said. (ThePhuketNews)
Milrem Robotics’ THeMIS robotics combat vehicle (RCV) (photos : DTI) BANGKOK --- The Defence Technology Institute of Thailand (DTI) will be evaluating Milrem Robotics’ THeMIS robotics combat vehicle (RCV) next year to determine its suitability for the country’s armed forces. The THeMIS RCV exhibited last week during the Asian Defense & Security Exhibition in Bangkok will undergo tests in cooperation with the Royal Thai Army. The tests are designed to evaluate the vehicles’ capabilities in the harsh terrain and climate conditions where local armed forces operate. DTI will be looking at how the THeMIS RCV is able to assist Armed Forces as a supply transport, but also as an unmanned remotely operated weapon platform. The latter will be done in cooperation with Electro Optic Systems (EOS) with whom a development project is underway. The final product, named D-Iron, features the THeMIS RCV with the R400S-MK2 remote weapon station (RWS) by EOS. The system was presented to the Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Minister of Defence of Thailand as well as other VIPs from ASEAN during the exhibition in Bangkok.
“We are very pleased to collaborate with Milrem Robotics and Electro Optic Systems (EOS) with the THeMIS RCV and the R400-MK2 30mm M230LF Remote Weapon Station, to enhance the capabilities of the Royal Thai Armed Forces with effective unmanned systems. We will be conducting tests with various users in 2020 for other applications besides the weaponized Robotic Combat Vehicle,” said ACM Preecha Pradabmook, Director General of DTI. “It’s a great honor for us to collaborate with DTI and Royal Thai Army during this evaluation. The THeMIS has proven itself as a most capable RCV for very harsh conditions and environments. Milrem Robotics is determined to provide the Royal Thai Army the new capabilities that robotic warfare systems will bring to the battlefield,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics. The THeMIS is the first fully modular hybrid robotics combat vehicle in the world that can be equipped with various payloads like large and small caliber weapons and utilized as an ISR platform, supply transport and an EOD system. The vehicle can carry a maximum payload of 1200 kg and move at a speed of 25km/h. It can be equipped with an autonomy kit that allows independent point-to-point navigation and following a motorized convoy or a dismounted unit.
VN-1 armored personnel carrier (photos : Sompong Nondhasa) Thailand received more battle tanks from China this week, an army official said Thursday, three months after Bangkok took delivery of armored infantry vehicles from the United States. Ten VT-4 main battle tanks – the final lot of the total of about 50 vehicles – and 38 VN-1 armored personnel carriers, among other military equipment, arrived on Tuesday from China at a port in Chonburi province, southeast of Bangkok, a high-ranking military officer said. “The tanks and armored cars were brought to the Adisorn Cavalry Center in Saraburi province for inspection,” the officer told BenarNews on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. He declined to elaborate.
Thailand has not officially confirmed the arrival of its military acquisitions from Beijing, amid domestic criticism over its defense budget despite an economic slowdown. Bangkok has allocated 233 billion baht (U.S. $7.7 billion) for its security spending for fiscal year 2020, even though the growth rate for Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy was forecasted by the International Monetary Fund to slow down to 3 percent next year. The United States froze $4.7 million of security-related aid and cancelled security agreements with Thailand in 2014, when Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, then the army chief, led a bloodless putsch that deposed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Washington’s move was a consequence of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act, a law that bars American security forces from cooperating with nations where an elected government has been toppled through a coup.
Thai army VT-4 main battle tanks fire off smoke grenades during a media demonstration (photo : BenarNews) But military ties improved after civilian rule was officially restored this year through the Thai general election, which critics said was engineered to keep Prayuth in power. The latest delivery of battle tanks from Beijing was part of the 50 tanks and auxiliary vehicles ordered in 2016 by the Thai junta from NORINCO, China’s defense corporation, in a deal aimed at replacing M-41 tanks, which were built in the U.S. in the 1950s, Army officials said. The deal was worth about 7 billion baht (U.S. $231 million). See full article BenarNews
AIM-120C7 AMRAAM (photo : almrsal)
