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Malaysian Defense: Budget Hinders Military Asset Procurement

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Malaysian Defense: Budget Hinders Military Asset Procurement 17 Maret 2017 RMAF Hawk 208, F/A-18D Hornet, MiG-29N, and Su-30MKM (photo : RA AZ) MELBOURNE, Australia — Malaysia’s military continues to struggle to implement plans to recapitalize its assets, as the government’s budget is battered by slow economic growth mainly due to falling oil revenues.  As a result, major procurement programs for the Malaysian Armed Forces have mostly been put on hold even as existing platforms rapidly approach obsolescence. For the Royal Malaysian Air Force, this means that badly needed fighters, trainers, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft will unlikely be acquired in the short to medium term. Situated alongside the vital maritime trade routes and the hotly disputed islands of the South China Sea of which it partly claims, Malaysia faces a unique geographical challenge, as its territory is split by the South China Sea into two separate landmasses 365 miles apart at its nar...

Air Force Acquiring Fire-Control Radar for FA-50PH

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Air Force Acquiring Fire-Control Radar for FA-50PH 17 Maret 2017 Israeli Elta EL/M-2032 fire control radar (photo : Defense Update) The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is allocating some PHP82,543,000 for the acquisition of one transmitter needed for unscheduled maintenance of the fire-control radar (FCR) of one of its South Korean-made FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” jet fighters. FA-50PHs are equipped with Israeli Elta EL/M-2032 fire control radar further developed by LIG Nex1. The money will be sourced from PAF General Appropriations Act CY 2017, said Department of National Defense Bids and Awards Committee (DND BAC) chair Assistant Secretary Josue S. Gaverza in bid bulletin posted at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System. Winning bidder is required to deliver the parts within 540 calendar days from the receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within the last five years, a similar contract. A pre-bid conference is scheduled on March 23, 10 a....

RSAF"s New Drone Heron 1 Now Combat-Ready

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RSAF"s New Drone Heron 1 Now Combat-Ready 17 Maret 2017 Singapore"s new Heron 1 UAV was declared combat ready by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on March (photo : StraitsTimes) SINGAPORE - It can fly as high as 6km in the sky, cruise at speeds as fast as 130kmh, and can be deployed up to 200km away from a remote location. This drone - or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) - can also fly for more than 24 hours continuously, and take off and land automatically. It is no ordinary drone though, but the Singapore airforce"s latest "eye-in-the-sky" - the Heron 1, which was declared combat-ready on Wednesday (March 15) by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen. It is a milestone which places the Singapore Armed Forces" (SAF) on a par with other advanced militaries in intelligence and surveillance capabilities. In a ceremony held at Murai Camp, Dr Ng marked the Heron 1"s achievement of the Full Operational Capability (FOC) status by the Republic of Singapore Air Force"s (RS...

Upgrade of ASLAV Turret Simulators Completed

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Upgrade of ASLAV Turret Simulators Completed 17 Maret 2017 ASLAV turret simulator (photo : Thomas Global) Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, has congratulated Thales and its subcontractor Thomas Global, following their successful delivery of nine upgraded Crew Procedural Trainer (CPT) turrets for the Australian Army’s Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV). The ASLAV CPT is a simulator which enables the crew commander and gunner to practice gunnery skills without the need to use live ammunition. “Contributing to the Australian economy, the upgrade contract valued at $5 million has seen the creation of nine new jobs in Rydalmere and Regents Park, in NSW, as a result of industry and Defence working together,” Minister Pyne said. “The upgrade will lead to lower life cycle costs and higher availability, ensuring this platform remains reliable, affordable and effective. “This project is yet another example of how industry is helping d...

Lockheed Martin Canada Delivers High Fidelity Combat System Trainer to Royal New Zealand Navy

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Lockheed Martin Canada Delivers High Fidelity Combat System Trainer to Royal New Zealand Navy 16 Maret 2017 Lockheed Martin Canada"s Combat System Trainer delivered to the Maritime Warfare Training Centre at the Royal New Zealand Navy base in Devonport, New Zealand. (photo : Lockheed Martin) OTTAWA, Ontario/PRNewswire/ -- Completing the first major delivery under the New Zealand ANZAC Frigate System Upgrade Project, prime systems integrator Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Canada and Chief of Navy Rear Admiral John Martin have officially opened the New Zealand ANZAC combat system trainer. The combat system trainer was delivered ahead of schedule to the Maritime Warfare Training Centre at the Royal New Zealand Navy base in Devonport on February 16, 2017. Rear Admiral Martin stated, "It is wonderful to receive the trainer early which will allow our sailors to be properly prepared when the upgraded ships arrive. Lockheed Martin Canada"s combat system trainer is a world class tra...

Philippine Navy Expecting 4 New Mk. 38 Mod. 3 Gun Systems from 2 Contracts

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Philippine Navy Expecting 4 New Mk. 38 Mod. 3 Gun Systems from 2 Contracts 16 Maret 2017 The Mk. 38 Mod. 3 MGS with a 30mm ATK cannon. The Philippine Navy opted to use the 25mm M242 Bushmaster cannon instead, based on the DoD"s information. (photo : DefenseMediaNetwork) Based on information made public by the US Department of Defense through its website as of September 29, 2016, the US Navy"s Naval Surface Warfare Center awarded a US$25.4 million contract to BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP for the production of Mk. 38 Mod. 3 Machine Gun System (MGS), which will be installed on US Navy ships as well as Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to friendly countries. Among those scheduled to receive from FMS is the Philippine Navy, whose share on the contract is around 8%, or roughly US$2.03 million. This is in addition to an earlier contract, which the US Navy"s Naval Surface Warfare Center also awarded to BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP in October 2015 for US$30.556 million, ...

Australia Test New Minehunter Capabilities

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Australia Test New Minehunter Capabilities 16 Maret 2017 Crew members from HMAS Huon and 723 Squadron practice personnel transfers during Exercise OCEAN EXPLORER. (photo : RAN, images : Thales) Mine hunters conduct advance force operations HMAS Huon has tested a critical piece of mine countermeasures equipment and practiced helicopter operations as part of Exercise OCEAN EXPLORER. Over a two week period, the mine hunter tested her Type 2093 variable depth sonar for accuracy and carried out vertical replenishments and personnel transfers with aircraft from 723 Squadron. Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Jason Mullen said the role of the mine hunters - to find, identify and dispose of mines – often placed them in harm’s way. For that reason all systems onboard needed to be validated on a regular basis to ensure mines and obstacles were dealt with at a safe distance. “We need to be fully cognisant of our system’s capabilities as this affects how we train and d...