News Story: Navy’s warship to patrol Benham, says AFP chief

BRP Tarlac (File Photo)

By Jaime Laude

MANILA, Philippines - Vessel (SSV) BRP Davao del Sur will be deployed to patrol Benham Rise once the vessel is delivered by the Indonesian defense contractor next month, Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año said.

The BRP Davao del Sur will be the second SSV of the Navy. The military is also expecting the delivery of two missile-firing Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPAC) by November.

“BRB Lanao del Sur will also be deployed in Benham Rise. With our naval assets we could now conduct regular maritime security patrols,” Año said.

Aside from the two ships, additional fast crafts and other assets are being planned for the Navy, part of the ongoing AFP Modernization Program.

The BRP Davao Del Sur is now undergoing sea trial.

The vessel is the sister ship of the BRP Tarlac that is currently the Navy’s largest operational warship.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: India's finance minister to also serve as MoD chief

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will double up as India's defense minister, replacing the former Ministry of Defence chief Manohar Parrikar, who has been appointed chief minister of his home state of Goa after the March 11 state election. 

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday upon advice from Prime Minister Narendra Modi assigned Jaitley to run the MoD in addition to his existing portfolio, according to a news release issued by the President's Secretariat. 

Shri Arun Jaitley shall be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Defence, in addition to his existing portfolios

— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) March 13, 2017

Jaitley's latest appointment comes against the backdrop of a report by a select parliamentary panel that criticizes the government for spending little to benefit the defense sector. 

"The Committee are distressed to note that no positive response has been received from the Ministry of Finance regarding augmentation of budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Defence," the panel said in its report, which was tabled in lower house of Parliament last week. 

Read the full story at BreakingDefense

News Story: India To Buy Six More C295s for Coast Guard

An Airbus C-295 Cargo Aircraft

by Neelam Mathews

India is likely to sign a contract with Airbus Defence and Space for 56 C295 military transports within six months, according to the country's retiring chief of the air staff, Arup Raha. Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of Defence has cleared the separate acquisition of six C295s for an Indian Coast Guard requirement. Both orders will be delivered by the Tata-Airbus partnership that is India’s first-ever private sector aircraft development enterprise.

At his end-of-tenure press conference on December 23, Raha told AIN that the evaluation of the C295 bid for the IAF is complete and contract negotiations would start soon. “Since benchmarking and other issues [of the aircraft] are known to us, the process will not take very long, especially with a proactive defense minister where things get sorted out faster than they did in the past,” he said. He added that, given the large number of aircraft to be ordered—16 to be delivered in flyaway condition and 40 to be manufactured in India—the Coast Guard contract would be “processed subsequently to completion of this series.” He continued, “The landmark decision for manufacture of this 8- to 10-ton-capacity aircraft will empower the private sector and help us with capabilities, with assistance from OEMs.”

Read the full story at AINonline

News Report: Airbus, Antonov in Race for $826 million Indian Deal for Surveillance Planes

A model of the An-148-300MP (Image: Wiki Commons)

After terrorists arrived from the sea to carry out the Mumbai attack in 2008, the Indian government has been intent on strengthening its coastal surveillance with top end radars and maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The Indian government has decided to add six multi mission maritime aircraft to its coastal security guard. In a marathon meeting on Friday afternoon, sources say that Indian Defense Ministry gave its nod for the purchase of six aircraft at a cost of approximately $826 million. European major Airbus is the frontrunner for supplying aircraft to coastguard with its C-295 while Antonov of Ukrainian firm has also presented its An-148-300MP based on the An-32 platform for the deal.

Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (13-Dec-2016)

Christopher Cowan, Thulasi Wigneswaran, Elisabeth Buchan and Alexander Vipond

Sea State

One of the Su-33 Flanker-D aircraft onboard the Admiral Kuznetsov—Russia’s aircraft carrier in the Eastern Mediterranean—crashed last week. The accident was the second one in a month and occurred after one of the ship’s arrestor cables snapped during landing operations. While those types of accidents aren’t uncommon in naval aviation, Russia’s lack of experience with carrier operations, as well as equipment that’s reportedly poorly maintained, might be to blame.

Russian state media is reporting that the Russian Navy is expanding development on two different types of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). One, the Surrogat, is designed as both a survey vessel and a decoy—it can supposedly imitate both conventional and nuclear powered submarines. The other, called the Kanyon by US intelligence, was first revealed by accident last year during a segment on Russian television.

Australia and France signed an intelligence sharing agreement last week to support the development of Australia’s Future Submarine program. The agreement sets out ‘mechanisms and safeguards’ for the handling of classified materials related to the program.

Industry: Bangladesh To Join The Family Of C295W Operators

A C-295W of the Uzbekistan Air Force (Image: Wiki Commons)

Bangladesh has become the latest nation to acquire the Airbus C295W medium airlifter with an order for a single aircraft for Bangladesh Army Aviation.

The aircraft, in transport configuration, will be delivered in the second half of 2017 under a contract that also includes customer support and training.

The C295W is qualified for the transport of troops and bulky/palletized cargo, paratrooping and medical evacuation. It is the first multi-engine fixed-wing aircraft to be operated by Bangladesh Army Aviation

Airbus Defence and Space’s Head of Marketing and Sales, Jean-Pierre Talamoni said: "The C295W will markedly increase the transport capability of Bangladesh Army Aviation. We look forward to working with this new customer to secure a smooth entry into service and to supporting the aircraft for many years to come. "

With this new order the number of operators for the C295 rises to 26, reinforcing its position as the market-leading medium transport and patrol aircraft in all kinds of environments.

Airbus Defence and Space

News Story: Renewing RNZAF’s fixed-wing fleet

by Gordon Arthur

Responses to two New Zealand RfIs for both transport and maritime patrol aircraft are due on 30 September.

The Future Air Mobility Capability (FAMC) requirement is seeking a ‘no less than…equivalent’ replacement capability for five Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules and two Boeing 757-200 transport aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).

At the same time, the Future Air Surveillance Capability (FASC) will replace six in-service P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft.

The separate RfIs are interested in any ‘potential synergies between these two projects that would optimise platform operation, training and through-life logistics support’.

The RNZAF wants strategic and tactical airlift that may combine a mix of up to two different aircraft types. First delivery of the Hercules replacement is required by February 2020, with full operational capability to be achieved no later than 2024.

Read the full story at Shephard

News Story: Arrival of fifth C-130 moved to early next month

Image: Flickr User - Diego Roxas

Arrival of the Philippine Air Force (PAF)’s fifth Lockheed C-130 “Hercules” cargo aircraft was moved to October, not the last week of September, as earlier reported.

PAF spokesperson Col. Araus Robert Musico attributed the change of schedule to many factors, which include sudden change in the departure of the flight crew.

He added that the departure of the PAF pilots tasked to man this C-130 was supposedly this week but it was moved to Sept. 25.

With this development, technical inspection and acceptance of the aircraft will be adjusted, moving the C-130’s departure further in October, Musico pointed out.

The fourth C-130 arrived in Benito Ebuen Airbase, Mactan, Cebu last April 5.

Read the full story at Tankler

News Story: Source - India Needs $233B in Next 11 Years To Buy Weapons

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India needs $233 billion to meet its weapons and equipment requirements in the next 11 years, according to the Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) for 2012-2027, an Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) source has revealed. However, there's division over whether India will be able to meet the funding need. 

The list of the weapons and equipment needed for India's armed forces translates to a cost of $233 billion. According to the MoD source, the money will come from the country's procurement budget, Capital Head. 

To meet the funding target, India will need to increase defense spending at an annual rate of more than 10 percent. 

The funding allocation in the Capital Head for 2016-2017 is $37.94 billion, which works out to an increase of 2.3 percent in rupee terms against last year's funding allocation. However, in US dollar terms, it was a 10 percent drop compared to last year's allocation of $42.1 billion because of the depreciating Indian rupee against the dollar.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Airbus pushes A400M and Eurofighters in Indonesia

Airbus A400M Atlas

A team from Airbus Defence and Space, a unit of the Airbus Group, is in town this week to push for the sales of its products, including its signature A400M airlifter and the Eurofighter Typhoon heavy fighter, as Indonesia is looking to boost its weapons systems and diversify its sources.

Fernando Alonso, the head of the military aircraft division at Airbus Defence and Space, is meeting with top ministers, including Coordinating Political, Legal and Human Affairs Minister Wiranto, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan and State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno. He will also make a visit to PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) in Bandung, West Java, the Indonesian state-owned aircraft maker that has a long history of collaboration with Spain’s CASA, which was absorbed by the Airbus Group in 2000.

Alonso said the Airbus unit he heads is already in the process of delivering the twin-turboprop tactical military transport C295 aircraft to Indonesia, which are partly built in Bandung.

Read the full story at The Jakarta Post

News Story: Airbus to pitch military aircraft C295 to Malaysian air force

KUALA LUMPUR: Airbus Defence and Space is set to pitch its surveillance aircraft C295 for maritime patrol to the Royal Malaysian Air Force, Airbus Head of Military Aircraft, Fernando Alonso, said today.

The C295, a new generation, reliable and highly versatile tactical plane, is already in use by the air forces of Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, he said.

"We will be approaching the Malaysian Air Force to offer what we call a unique product and well-suited to what you need in the region," he told a media briefing on its operation in the region.

Alonso said this was in line with the European defence and space company's plan to be part of the South-East Asia's maritime patrolling activities as some of the countries were already using the C295s.

The C295 is able to carry up to nine tonnes of payload or up to 71 personnel, at a maximum cruise speed of 260 kt /480 km/h.

Read the full story at The Sun Daily

News Story: Newly installed DND - Duterte administration to focus on territorial defense

Territorial defense is one of the priorities of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s administration.

This was stressed by newly-appointed Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday.

“Territorial defense is one of the priorities of the Duterte administration. It is very important as we need to protect our territories against encroachment by other parties,” he said in Filipino.

In line with this, Lorenzana said the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program will continue as planned.

“The 15-year modernization program of the AFP will continue as scheduled,” he stressed.

Read the full story at Tankler

News Story: Fund Shortage and Depreciating Rupee Hit Key IAF Programs

Pilatus PC-7

Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — The Indian Air Force (IAF) faces a severe resource crunch as 11 key defense projects await signing despite their finalization, according to IAF officials speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The rising US dollar against the Indian rupee and lower budget allocations by the ruling Narendra Modi government are the main causes of the squeeze, the IAF officials say.

There is a shortage of $1.13 billion in the Capital Head account, which is reserved for buying new weapons, and $420 million in the Revenue Head account, which is used to pay for military salaries and day-to-day expenses, including ammunition and stores.

The IAF projects that await signing before they can be funded include  procurement of 56 new aircraft to replace the aging Avro transporters, 48 medium-lift helicopters, six midair refueling tankers, 20 Hawk advance jet trainers and 38 Pilatus basic trainers.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Indian Budget Shows 10% Drop in Dollar Terms

BAE Systems, M777 155mm Howitzer

By Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India has failed to spend all the defense money allotted last year in the Capital Head, under which new weapons are bought, while the new budget represents a 10 percent decline in dollar terms.

The budget proposals presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Monday to the Indian Parliament reveals that nearly  US $1.47 billion has not been spent on the Capital Head and the money was diverted to the Revenue Head of the Ministry of Defence for salaries and purchase of stores.

In a rare occasion in India's budget-making, Jaitley did not even reference defense spending in his speech.

With a total allocation of 2.58 trillion rupees this year compared with 2.52 trillion rupees last year, that represents a hike of 2.3 percent. However, the current exchange rate is about 68 Indian rupees to one US dollar, while last year the exchange rate was about 60 per dollar, thus resulting in less purchasing power.

Military officials said they were waiting for the second full budget of the ruling Narendra Modi government but are disappointed with the lack to attention to the defense sector.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Airbus delivers third and final C295 to Philippine Air Force

C-295 of the Polish Air Force (Image: Wiki Commons)

by Ryan Maass

Airbus Defence and Space has made its third and final delivery of a C295 airlifter to the Philippines Air Force.

The airlifter, capable of carrying a payload of up to nine tons, was delivered to the Philippines following its final assembly in Seville, Spain. The Philippines Air Force will use the aircraft to bolster its transport fleet, and support both military and humanitarian missions.

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

News Story: Airbus Delivers Final C-295 to Philippines

Spanish Air Force C-295 (Image: Wiki Commons)

By Andrew Chuter

SINGAPORE — Airbus Defence and Space has delivered the third and final C-295 medium transport destined for the Philippines Air Force, the company announced at the Singapore Airshow Tuesday.

The aircraft was ferried recently from the Airbus Seville, Spain, assembly line to Clark Air Base to take up airlift duties.

The Philippines joins Vietnam and Indonesia as a C-295 customer in the region.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Airbus Defence & Space and Tata to supply India with 56 C295 military airlifters

India’s defence acquisition council tonight, May 13, cleared a proposal by Airbus Defence & Space and its Indian partner, the Tata Group, to procure C295 military transport as a replacement for the Indian Air Force’s Avro fleet, for a total amount of 119.3 billion rupees ($1.87 billion). The Airbus-Tata team was the sole bidder to replace Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fleet of 56 Avro aircraft fleet with C295 military transport carrier.

In May 2013, the Ministry had issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) to original equipment manufacturers including US firms Boeing and Lockheed Martin, European multinational Airbus Defense and Space, and Antonov of Ukraine among others.

They were required to tie-up with an Indian private company under which 40 aircraft will be produced here while 16 will be bought off-the-shelf.

Read the full story at Air Recognition

News Story: (Philippines) First of 3 brand-new C-295 medium lift aircraft to arrive this March

A C-295 Cargo Aircraft (File Photo)

The cargo and transportation capability of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) will be getting a much needed boost with the arrival of the first C-295 medium lift aircraft from Spanish manufacturer EADS/CASA-Airbus Military this March.

This was confirmed by Department of National Defense (DND) undersecretary for finance, modernization and materiel Fernando Manalo in an interview with the PNA.

“Our first C-295 will be arriving this March,” he said.

The March delivery date of the first C-295 is five months earlier than its scheduled August arrival, Manalo said.

He did not give the specific date for security reasons.

Read the full story at The Manila Times

Industry: Airbus Defence and Space at Australian International Air Show

Airbus Defence and Space will have a high profile at the Australian International Air Show (February 24 – March 01) with an impressive display of products and programs.

The participation of one of the six French air force A400Ms and one of the five operating RAAF A330 MRTT (KC-30A) on  static display  will allow easy access by the public for close-up inspection. It will be the first time that an A400M and an A330 MRTT have appeared together at an air show in the region and the first visit by an A400M to the South Pacific.

As well as the presence of the A400M and KC-30A, Airbus Defence and Space will exhibit a comprehensive range of programmes and capabilities on the Airbus Group Stand located at L-16 in Hall 1.

News Story: Indian AF Transport Program Hits Hurdle

Indian Avro transport aircraft

By Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — A reassessment of Air Force priorities has jeopardized India's first effort to produce military aircraft in the domestic private sector.

The US $3.5 billion program would have replaced aging Avro transport aircraft, a tender for which was issued in 2013, but new Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar has urged that weapon purchases be prioritized because major hikes in defense spending are not expected in the near future, said a Defence Ministry source.

The government decided in July 2014 that the tender should be reserved for domestic private sector companies as production partners and state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) was excluded from the program. Only Airbus Defence and Space, proposing the C-295 in a tie up with domestic private sector major Tata Advanced Systems, has filed a bid for the program.

Read the full story at DefenseNews