News Report: Top US General Says China Will Displace Russia as ‘Greatest Threat’ By 2025

General Joseph Dunford (Image: Wiki Commons)

The highest ranking military officer in the United States armed forces told Congress that he expected China to become “the greatest threat to our nation” by the year 2025, and pushed for an expansion in military spending to “maintain a competitive advantage” over Beijing.

General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) on Tuesday to testify on a variety of subjects related to US national security and the military as part of the confirmation process for his second term.

Among comments on areas of interest the world over, such as Afghanistan and North Korea, Dunford told the SASC that he expected China to "probably" become the US' primary adversary by 2025.

Dunford, a decorated soldier who previously served as commandant of the Marine Corps and the leader of US forces in Afghanistan, said this in response to Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) asking him if he still believed the three biggest military threats to the US were Russia, China and North Korea in that order. "If I look out to 2025, and I look at the demographics and the economic situation, I think China probably poses the greatest threat to our nation by about 2025," he said.

News Story: No Safe Place In Next War - The Army’s Expanded Battlefield

Bradley M2A3 IFVs are unloaded at Busan port RoK (File Photo)

By SYDNEY J. FREEDBERG JR.

What if the next war starts, not with a gunshot, but with a tweet? As tensions rise, US troops discover their families’ names, faces, and home addresses have been posted on social media as they prepare to deploy, along with exhortations to kill the fascists/imperialists/infidels (pick one). Trolls call them late at night with death threats, a mentally ill lone wolf runs over a soldier’s children, fake news claims the military is covering up more deaths, and official social media accounts are hacked to post falsehoods. The whole force is distracted and demoralized.

Meanwhile, defense contractors discover the networks they use to deliver supplies to the military have been penetrated. Vital spare parts go missing without ever leaving the warehouse because the serial number saying which crate they’re in has been scrambled in the database. As railways and seaports prepare to transport heavy equipment, they discover key railroad switches, loading cranes, and other equipment – civilian-owned but vital to the military operation – now malfunction unpredictably, forcing prolonged safety inspections.

US forces finally cut through this cyber thicket and begin to deploy abroad by air and sea – but now the shooting starts. A thousand miles from enemy territory, submarines sink transport ships with torpedoes, cruise missiles and covertly laid mines. A few hundred miles out, long-range anti-aircraft missiles blunt the US air offensive. While stealth fighters can penetrate the defenses, the lumbering fuel tankers that let them cover long distances cannot. Transport planes must unload the troops at airfields well outside the danger zone, while transport ships must unload at distant ports.

US forces face a long road march just to reach the ally they’re supposed to be defending. The whole way, they must fight through attacks by everything from surface-to-surface missiles to local malcontents stirred up by social media. By the time the Americans arrive, their ally’s territory is not only occupied but thoroughly defended by dug-in enemies.

Read the full story at Breaking Defense

News Story: China poised to achieve air supremacy over 'first island chain'

Click Image to Enlarge

MANILA, Philippines — China has demonstrated its ability to gain air supremacy over areas of the "first island chain" as it continues its military buildup in the region, according to a report from Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND).

The "first island chain" covers major archipelagos on the East Asian continental coast including the northern Philippines, the Kuril Islands, the Japanese archipelago, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan and Borneo.

Focus Taiwan News Channel reported that Chinese bombers and fighter jets have been crossing the "first island chain" regularly, challenging US military presence in the Asia Pacific region.

Beijing has been conducting far-sea training and using its operational aircraft carrier to gradually increase its ability to take over the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwanese MND reported.

To strengthen its preparedness against Taiwan, the Chinese People's Liberation Army had been holding land drills to seize Taiwan's offshore islands, the report said.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: India looks for intelligence-gathering aircraft

A Gulfstream G550 ISTAR (Click Image to Enlarge)

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

Electronic intel capabilities would help Air Force ’get her act together’

NEW DELHI — Aimed at countering a perceived threat from China, India is seeking to acquire seven aircraft with signals intelligence and communication-jamming capabilities with a budget of about $570 million.

“The requirement is for aircraft to carry out a unique list of missions centered around a two-front threat from China and Pakistan,” said Daljit Sigh, a defense analyst and retired Indian Air Force air marshal.

India’s global hunt is for twin-engine jets, and preference will be given to overseas companies able to provide custom, Indian-built electronic warfare equipment, a senior Indian Air Force official said.

”We need more airborne electronic intelligence (ELINT) assets, particularly to meet the Chinese threat as they are likely to extensively use electronic warfare and spoofing during any hostilities, and the IAF needs to get her act together,” said Vijainder K. Thakur, a defense analyst and retired Air force squadron leader.

The seven sigint aircraft will be operated by the Indian Air Force.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: Beijing to Slash Size of Chinese Army, Largest in the World, in Half

The ranks of China’s People’s Liberation Army will shrink from 2.3 million soldiers to less than a million troops, the official newspaper of the Chinese military reported on Wednesday.

China wants to modernize its force structure by allocating more resources to other branches of its armed forces. “The old military structure, where the army accounts for the vast majority, will be replaced after the reform,” the PLA Daily explained.

The PLA will no longer be the largest army in the world. 

The report did not specify a timeline for completing the transition.

News Report: Australian Air Force Partners With US Navy for New Electronic Warfare Capability

RAAF E/A-18G Growler Electronic Warfare/Attack Aircraft

Australia is moving forward with US defense giant Raytheon for the next-generation jammer program, to ensure the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and its friends in the US Navy can engage all types of electronic warfare attacks in the South Pacific Theater and beyond.

The next-generation jammers will be attached to a fleet of a dozen Boeing EA-18G Growler aircraft the RAAF plans to operate from midway through 2018, according to IHS Jane’s. RAAF is partnering with the US Navy on interoperability, installation and likely training, according to the outlet.

Growlers are one of two types of planes operated by the Pentagon capable of operating in hostile or anti-access environments, a US Navy pilot who has flown EA-18Gs told Foxtrot Alpha in 2015.

Electronic warfare is crucial to how the US Navy operates, the airman said. 

AUS: Growler full fleet arrive in Australia

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, together with Air Vice Marshal Steven Roberton, Air Commander Australia; today welcomed the full fleet of EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft to RAAF Base Amberley.

Since the first two Growlers arrived in Australia in February 2017, the fleet has grown to the full twelve aircraft.

Minister Payne said the arrival of the Growler provides a potent and technologically advanced new capability for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). 

“We are the only country outside the United States operating the EA-18G Growler and the full fleet arrival represents a significant leap forward in joint electronic warfare capability,” Minister Payne said. 

“This is an amazing achievement for the ADF. These aircraft are able to support the full spectrum of Defence missions, including operations with coalition partners.

News Report: Australia Launches New Cyber Warfare Unit

Phil Mercer

SYDNEY — Australia has a new Information Warfare Unit that will start operations within days. It will defend Australian military targets from cyber attacks and will be able to launch its own assaults on foreign defense forces.

Australia’s newest frontline forces are ‘keyboard warriors’ - analysts, technicians and computer experts who will lead the fight against cyber attacks.

The unit will run both defensive and offensive operations. It will allow Australia to respond to modern digital forms of conflict, as the United States, China and Russia increase their investment in electronic warfare.

The Information Warfare Unit will have 100 staff members, but that figure is expected to grow to about 900 in a decade’s time.

News Story: Australian gov't announces new offensive cyber warfare division

CANBERRA, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has announced that a new cyber warfare division with offensive capabilities will go online from July 1 to ensure the country remains at the "cutting edge" of the cyber security landscape.

Making the announcement in Canberra on Friday, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security Dan Tehan said the new Information Warfare Division would conduct both offensive and defensive cyber attacks, in a move he said was necessary due to the changing nature of modern warfare.

"From tomorrow, Australia will have an Information Warfare Division within the Defence Department," Tehan told the press.

"This is a result of the changing character of contemporary conflict. The division will have the responsibility for military cyber operations, military intelligence, joint electronic warfare, information operations and our military's space operations.

"It will integrate existing operations across our forces to protect and support our Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and systems, and the division is authorized to conduct self-defence, passive defence, active defence and offensive operations."

The minister said Australia's defence personnel were among the best in the world, and that under the new cyber warfare division, they would be able to stay "ahead of the curve" to keep Australians, businesses and governments safe from cyber attacks.

Read the full story at Xinhua

USA: Possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia for Gulfstream G550 Aircraft with Airborne ISR and EW (AISREW) mission systems

A G550 with an AISREW system installed under the fuselage

WASHINGTON, Jun. 26, 2017 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia for Gulfstream G550 Aircraft with Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) mission systems. The estimated cost is $1.3 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on June 23, 2017.

The Government of Australia requested the possible sale of up to five (5) Gulfstream G-550 aircraft modified to integrate Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare (AISREW) mission systems, Global Positioning System (GPS) capability, secure communications, aircraft defensive systems; spares, including whole life costs of airborne and ground segments; aircraft modification and integration; ground systems for data processing and crew training; ground support equipment; publications and technical data; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; flight test and certification; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $1.3 billion.

News Story: India, Australia net big FMS offers

An Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster in flight (File Photo)

By: Aaron Mehta

WASHINGTON — As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Washington, he is walking away with a new offer for a C-17 aircraft. 

Australia, too, got good news today, as the State Department cleared the sale of up to five Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft worth an estimated $1.3 billion. 

The C-17 sale, worth an estimated $366.2 million, adds to India’s existing fleet of transport aircraft. This likely represents the final C-17 sale to India, as Boeing ended production on new aircraft in 2015.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: French, Indian Companies Form Joint Venture to Develop Military Sensors

France's Thales Group and India's Reliance Defence and Engineering announced their intent to form a joint venture company to integrate and maintain radar and electronic warfare sensors in India.

Reliance Defence will be a majority shareholder with 51% of the new company's shares while Thales will hold 49% of shares in the joint venture. "The joint venture will develop… activity in the Special Economic Zone of Mihan-Nagpur together with an Indian supply chain for the manufacturing of microwave technologies and high-performance airborne electronics," Reliance Defence said in a statement.

"We are delighted to seal this strategic collaboration with Reliance Defence Limited. This joint venture resonates with our strategy to strengthen our industrial footprint in the country by building collaborations with the Indian industry. It reaffirms our commitment to India, and our active contribution to "Make in India"," Patrice Caine, Chairman and CEO, Thales, said.

News Story: Bharat Electronics forecasts $1.5B in sales as India boosts domestic production

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India's state-owned defense electronics enterprise Bharat Electronics Ltd., BEL, has increased sales by 17 percent in fiscal year 2017, according to Venkateswara Gowtama Mannava, chairman and managing director. 

“The company has projected the sales to grow from the current level of $1.35 billion to $1.54 billion next year,” Gowtama said. 

He added, “BEL will create new business partnerships with both domestic and overseas defense companies and enforce quick decision making within the company in order to remain competitive in the Indian defense market.”  

The market will become much stronger, he said, because the government has made much quicker decisions and the (procurement) cycle time is shorter. Many of the pending cases have been resolved. 

The list of weapons projects executed for the Indian defense forces include the short-range surface-to-air missile system Akash, a handheld thermal imager with laser range finder systems, a 3-D tactical control radar, a weapon locating radar, upgraded L/70 air defense guns, fire control systems, hull mounted sonars, radio relays systems, major sub-systems of integrated air command and control systems and ship-borne electronic warfare systems. 

Gowtama announced that the company has an order of $6.15 billion. "There is no vertical where we do not have an order at this point of time," he said. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Industry: Raytheon Australia and Air Affairs Australia partner on advanced electronic warfare training

New teaming agreement supports Defence forces training in complex, high-threat electromagnetic environments

NOWRA – 18 May 2017: Raytheon Australia and Air Affairs Australia have signed a teaming agreement today that outlines a significant expansion of Australia’s Electronic Warfare Training Services capability. This new partnership will allow Defence forces to train in complex, high-threat electromagnetic environments. 

Raytheon Australia currently delivers real-world simulation, testing and training services for the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Defence Force utilising two Raytheon-owned Learjets. The teaming agreement expands the current fleet of special mission aircraft available for delivery of EWTS. 

EWTS missions are complex and involve sophisticated EW system training, test, experimentation and evaluation trials, radar jamming and deception, communications denial and deception and radar threat simulation. 

Industry: Northrop Grumman Announces $AUD 50 Million Investment in Electronic Sustainment for the Commonwealth of Australia

SYDNEY– May 15, 2017 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is making a $AUD 50 million investment to develop an advanced defence electronics maintenance and sustainment centre located in Western Sydney. The centre will ultimately be located at the Badgerys Creek precinct, where Northrop Grumman will be the anchor tenant for an advanced aerospace and defence industries precinct.

Over the coming decades, Australia will require defence solutions that are more sophisticated and increasingly reliant upon complex electronic systems. Northrop Grumman’s investment will establish an Electronic Sustainment Centre of Excellence (ESCE) to support this effort and sustain mission-readiness capabilities within the Commonwealth.

“Northrop Grumman is deeply committed to Australia. This investment in a new centre of excellence is the next step in our partnership with the Australian Defence Force [ADF], helping to ensure regional security and mission success,” said Ian Irving, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Australia. “We are excited to enable the Commonwealth to sustain these next-generation capabilities locally.”

AUS: Budget 2017–18 – Defence Budget Overview

The Turnbull Government’s first priority continues to be the safety and security of Australia and its people.

The 2017–18 Budget provides funding to deliver:

• on our ongoing commitments to Defence Operations around the globe, ensuring safety and security at home and secure maritime borders;
• the capability plans set out in the 2016 Defence White Paper through the Defence Integrated Investment Program; and
• the strategies outlined in the Defence Industry Policy Statement to reshape and refocus the Defence and industry partnership.

The 2017 Budget maintains the Government‘s commitment to provide Defence with a stable and sustainable funding growth path. The Defence budget will grow to two per cent of GDP by 2020–21, three years earlier than the Coalition’s 2013 election commitment. The Government will provide Defence with $34.6 billion in 2017–18 and $150.6 billion over the Forward Estimates.

News Report: Not So Black as Painted - China-S Korea Spat Over THAAD 'Largely Exaggerated'

What's being called "China's retaliation" against the deployment of elements of the US THAAD missile defense system in South Korea is largely exaggerated and has been instigated by the South Korean media, Kim Haeseon, a South Korean expert on China, told Sputnik.

In an interview with Sputnik Korea, Kim Haeseon, a South Korean expert on China specifically drew attention to China's so-called ‘retaliation’ against the deployment of elements of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea.

According to him, Beijing’s response has been wildly exaggerated due to South Korean media outlets, which misinterpret the Chinese media reports about the Chinese politicians' security concerns over THAAD.

Earlier this month, Chinese media quoted retired Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Gen. Wang Hongguang as saying that China is preparing countermeasures against the THAAD system in South Korea, which involve anti-missile equipment, intended to neutralize signals from THAAD radars.

Industry: Raytheon Australia’s Electronic Warfare Training Service team completes 2,500th mission

NOWRA – 17 March 2017: Raytheon Australia today announced a major milestone – the 2,500th mission completed by its airborne Electronic Warfare Training Service team. EWTS delivers real-world simulations, testing and training services for the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Defence Force on two Raytheon-owned Lear 35A jets.

“Electronic Warfare will play an increasingly critical role in the battlespace of the future,” said Michael Ward, managing director of Raytheon Australia. “For the past sixteen years we have refined electronic warfare training and simulation services for one reason: to keep members of the military and our nation safe”.

EWTS missions are complex and involve sophisticated EW system training, test, experimentation and evaluation trials, radar jamming and deception, communications denial and deception and radar threat simulation. 

News Story: Breaking down China’s electronic warfare tactics

Y-9JB/GX-8 ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) aircraft

By: Mark Pomerleau

In the wake of Russia's demonstrations of advanced electromagnetic spectrum and communications jamming capabilities, most recently displayed in their incursion into Ukraine, China also is upping its game in this space, demonstrating similar capabilities in the Pacific. 

The U.S. Department of Defense, in an annual report to Congress on China’s military and security developments, assessed that the country is placing greater importance upon EW, on par with traditional domains of warfare such as air, ground and maritime.

“The [People’s Liberation Army] sees EW as an important force multiplier, and would likely employ it in support of all combat arms and services during a conflict,” the 2016 report asserts. “The PLA’s EW units have conducted jamming and anti-jamming operations, testing the military’s understanding of EW weapons, equipment, and performance. This helped improve the military’s confidence in conducting force-on-force, real-equipment confrontation operations in simulated EW environments.” 

According to the report, China’s EW weapons include “jamming equipment against multiple communication and radar systems and GPS satellite systems. EW systems are also being deployed with other sea- and air-based platforms intended for both offensive and defensive operations.” 

According to some outside experts, the Chinese merge cyber and electronic warfare into a singular discipline.

“Electronic warfare, which in our system, has tended to be hived off into thinking about jamming and various other aspects,” Dean Cheng, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, said during a March 20 event at the think tank. “But for the Chinese has long been characterized as integrated network and electronic warfare. That the two are two sides of the same coin; one focusing on the data, the other on the electronic equipment.” 

Read the full story at C4ISRnet

News Report: Could South Korea's Next President Nix the THAAD Deployment Deal?

THAAD Missile Launcher

South Korea’s opposition parties warn against any hurried deployment of the US THAAD missile defense system in the country without prior consent from Russia and China, RT wrote, citing Woo Sang-ho, the leader of the Democratic Party Toburo faction.

South Korea has been losing billions of dollars as a result of economic sanctions imposed on it by China, which does not want to see US missiles deployed in the region.

With the ruling Conservative party widely seen as a loser in the May 9 presidential elections, political analysts wonder whether the new South Korean government could walk back on its decision to station THAAD missiles in the country.

On March 7, the US started to deploy the THAAD missile systems to South Korea, which, although not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a major non-NATO ally of the United States.

The first systems have been delivered to the Osan air base located near the city of Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers from the country’s capital Seoul.

The move comes after North Korea fired four ballistic missiles toward Japan as part of an exercise targeting US bases there.