News Report: Super Tigers - New Upgrades to Keep Aging Thai F-5s Flying Into the 2030s

Royal Thai Air Force F-5E Tiger (Image: Wiki Commons)

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is enhancing the readiness of its fleet via an upgrade package that will transform four F-5E Tigers into bonafide F-5T Super Tigers.

The warplanes will receive Python-4 and I Derby beyond-visual-range air-to-air weapons, new radar systems, electronic warfare capabilities and "network-centric capabilities for disaster preparedness," the Air Force said in an August 2 announcement. 

Converting F-5Es into F-5Ts began in 2014 when the government authorized funds to upgrade 10 of the fighter-bombers, the Diplomat reported on August 8.

Thai "F-5E fighter aircraft have been in service since 1978 and [are] considered a third-generation plane with limited capabilities," the service said. "With outdated technology, you cannot face current threats," the announcement noted.

Renovations will transform the jets into 4/4.5-generation aircraft, the service claimed, placing the jets on par with RTAF’s Lockheed F-16A/B Fighting Falcons and Saab JAS-39C/D Gripen warplanes. 

The aim of the $96 million project is to extend the planes’ useful life by 15 years, RTAF added.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Story: Thailand’s Air Force requests funds to cover F-5 Tiger II upgrades

RTAF Northrop F-5E Tiger II (Image: Wiki Commons)

By: Mike Yeo 

MELBOURNE, Australia — The Royal Thai Air Force has requested Cabinet approval for funds to upgrade four more Northrop Grumman F-5 Tiger II interceptors, adding to an earlier contract to upgrade 10 aircraft, the service said.

The Air Force also provided additional details of the upgrade, which includes new data links, multi-mode radars, new weapons and electronic warfare systems. The upgraded aircraft, known as the F-5T Super Tigris, will also incorporate structural improvements that the Air Force says will add approximately 15 years to its service life.

The upgrade to the four aircraft in this latest phase will cost $96.1 million, which will see the installation of the Link-T tactical data link, connecting the aircraft to the Air Force’s command-and-control network and improving the networking capability of the type.

A new multi-mode radar, which the service says will provide the Super Tigris with beyond-visual-range capability, will be fitted, which will also have a synthetic aperture mode for high-resolution ground mapping. The radar type was not disclosed, although it is believed to be Elta ELM-2032 from Israel. Leonardo had also previously offered its Grifo X-band multi-mode radar to Thailand.

Thailand’s F-5 interceptors were already using the Israeli Rafael Python-4 agile short-range air-to-air missile and Elbit DASH IV helmet-mounted sight, and will now also add the Rafael Litening 3 targeting pod and Skyshield electronic countermeasures pod to its inventory. The communications suite of the Super Tigris will also be replaced with the jam-resistant HAVE QUICK II frequency-hopping sets.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: What Possible Revival of 'Tiger' Fighter Jets Could Mean for Vietnam's Aviation

Vietnam  Air Force F-5E Tiger II (Image: Wiki Commons)

In an interview with Sputnik, expert on combat aviation Makar Aksenenko said that Vietnam may be considering bringing back the “Vietnamese Tigers” or the F-5E/F Tiger II fighter jets. What could be the possible reasons behind this decision and how might these jets come in handy?

It is known that in the mid-1970s, the VNA Air Force inherited a very large fleet of military aircraft and American-made helicopters from South Vietnam. These included the multipurpose F-5A / B Tiger and F-5E / F Tiger II fighters.

The second generation ‘Tigers’ were almost new and for some 10 years the F-5 was operated in the Air Force by a united Vietnam and even took part in local military operations.

Vietnam handed over several of these aircraft to the Soviet Union, Poland and then-Czechoslovakia for testing.

It should be noted that the Soviet test pilots who happened to test the F-5 in flight sung the US aircraft‘s praises.

In the mid-1980s, for technical reasons, the F-5 fighters of the Vietnam Air Force were decommissioned and placed in storage bases.

Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (21-Feb-2017)

Zoe Glasson, Sophie Qin, Madeleine Nyst and Patrick Kennedy

Sea State

There’s been an alarming update on 30 January’s Saudi frigate attack by Houthi rebels. Initially believed to be a suicide boat attack, the US Navy declared on 18 February that it was in fact carried out by ‘an unmanned, remote-controlled boat of some kind’—what DefenseNews is calling a ‘drone boat’. This raises serious concerns about the source of the Houthi’s foreign assistance—the US is pointing the finger at Iran—and is further indication that Yemen’s conflict is spreading offshore, something that hasn’t previously occurred in 15 years of fighting in the Middle East.

Reports suggest that Japan is intending to speed up its warship construction, from one 5,000-ton class destroyer to two 3,000-ton class ships per year. Commentators are attributing this upscale to Japan’s need to patrol the East China Sea around the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in order to curb China’s aggression in what Japan perceives to be its sovereign territory—and put an end, for instance, to incidents like this. An 8-strong fleet of the new ships at a lower cost will allow Japan to increase its naval reach; it’s also expected to boost the JMSDF’s mine-sweeping and anti-submarine capabilities.

Finally, read about the incredible science behind launching an underwater missile and why submarines sometimes use the stars to navigate (bonus: sweet video of a pin-wheeling missile).

News Story: Indonesian air force considering F-5 replacement plans

JAS39 Gripen (One of the  potential replacement fighters)

by Ryan Maass

Indonesia's competition to replace its aging fleet of F-5E Tiger II fighter jets is still open, the country's air force chief said.

The announcement was made by Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, who was sworn in as Indonesia's air force chief last week. According to The Diplomat, the country's government is considering the Russian Sukhoi Su-35, the U.S. F-16 Block 60 Viper, and the Swedish JAS39 Gripen to replace the F-5s.

"We are looking to replace the F5 Tiger after the jets have been grounded for at least a year," Tjahjanto told Quwa. "The Air Force is still looking for a potential replacement."

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

Editorial: Confirmed - Indonesia Will Buy 10 Russian Su-35 Fighter Jets

By Franz-Stefan Gady

A deal will be signed by Indonesia’s defense minister during his visit to Moscow in March.

Indonesia has agreed to purchase 10 Russian Sukhoi Su-35S multirole fighter jets, according to Indonesian media reports. Indonesia’s Minister of Defense, General Ryamizard Ryacudu, will visit Moscow in March to sign the final agreement.

Already in September 2015, Gen. Ryamizard announced that a decision to purchase Russian jets had been made. “A decision was made to decommission U.S. F-5 Tiger fighter jets and purchase Russian aircraft instead of them,” Indonesia news agency ANTARA quoted the defense minister as saying. “The purchase will be made gradually, depending on the financial possibilities of the country’s government,” he added.

In January 2016, Indonesia’s ambassador to Russia, Djauhari Oratmangun, still only told Russian media that “negotiations are ongoing. The Minister of Defense wants to visit Russia in April to continue the discussions.” Yet, the date appears now to have been pushed forward and negotiations concluded.

Originally, Indonesia was looking to purchase 16 Su-35S. The Ministry of Defense has “agreed to buy a squadron of Su-35s,” Ryamizard said in September 2015. However, he clarified this week: “We will buy only ten.” The defense minister also said that the deal will include pilot training and knowledge transfers through a military exchange program.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

News Story: Malaysia Denies Interest in JF-17, But Export Hopes Remain

By Usman Ansari

Editor's note: The original version of this article, published at 2:47 p.m. ET Monday, stated that Malaysia was considering the JF-17 as an option for its Air Force modernization program, as signaled by its High Commissioner to Pakistan Dr. Hasrul Sani, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), but this article has been updated to reflect the defence minister denying interest in the fighter.

ISLAMABAD — Malaysia's Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has denied media reports that the country is considering the Sino-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder as part of its Air Force modernization plans. Analysts nevertheless think the JF-17 is on the cusp of export success.

Hussein was responding to a question put to him by Malaysian news media after an interview Malaysia's High Commissioner to Pakistan Dr Hasrul Sani gave the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). He was reported to have discussed the JF-17 in the context of boosting the wider bilateral relationship.

However, even before the official denial of interest, analysts were unsure Malaysia would buy the JF-17 despite believing the aircraft is well-suited to its requirements.

Though it would complement the heavier Su-30MKM Flanker fighters in service, Malaysian sources privately indicated that Western fighters already under consideration stand a more realistic chance of being selected.

Malaysia has long indicated a desire to replace its remaining US-supplied F-5E/F fighter aircraft, and the MiG-29s it acquired from Russia in the '90s. This may result in an order for 36 to 40 aircraft, according to information available on the program.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Could Malaysian Interest in JF-17 Signal Export Sales for Pakistan?

By Usman Ansari

ISLAMABAD — Malaysia is considering the JF-17 Thunder aircraft as an option for its air force modernization program. However, despite analysts saying the aircraft is well suited to Malaysia's requirements, it's unclear whether the country will actually buy the Sino-Pakistan jet.

The uncertainty is especially so when considering entrenched opposition from other suppliers already well established in this area of defense sales and machinations by Pakistan's arch-rival India.

Malaysian interest in the JF-17 was signaled by its High Commissioner to Pakistan Dr. Hasrul Sani, who according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), discussed the fighter against the backdrop of boosting the bilateral relationship in general.

Malay-Pakistani relations are wide-ranging, but Pakistani defense equipment sales to Malaysia have halted at anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile systems.

However, Kaiser Tufail, analyst, and former air force pilot, said he thinks consideration for the JF-17 may move to a higher level.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Indonesia officially chooses the Su-35 multirole fighter to replace ageing F-5 Tiger IIs

Indonesia has decided to acquire Russian-made fighter jet Sukhoi Su-35 to replace its F-5 Tiger II which set to be decommissioned in the near future. The decision was announced by Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu on Wednesday when he inspected the readiness of the armed forces arsenals.

"The Indonesian Military (TNI) commander and the Air Forces commander had agreed to acquire one squadron of Su-35 from Russia to replace the F-5 Tiger," Ryamizard said. Ryamizard added that the purchase on Su-35 would be conducted gradually.

"We want to buy one squadron (16 planes), but it would be adjusted with the state's financial capability," he said.

According to Ryamizard, the option of Su-35 is due to the fact that Indonesian pilots are customized to operate Sukhoi planes. Indonesian Air Forces currently operates five Su-27 and 11 Su-30 planes. They arrived from Russia in several batches of deliveries in the last few years.

Read the full story at Air Recognition

Editorial: Regaining the Initiative in the South China Sea

By Col Michael W. “Starbaby” Pietrucha

How the U.S. and its partners could provide a robust counter to the growing PRC presence in the South China Sea.

To endeavor to seize the strategic initiative in military struggle, proactively plan for military struggle in all directions and domains, and grasp the opportunities to accelerate military building, reform and development.

- Chinese Military Strategy, Chinese Ministry of National Defense, May 26, 2015.

On May 26, the State Council Information Office released an English-language version of the Chinese Military Strategy. Short, sweet, and immensely more readable than its American counterpart, the PRC’s military strategy is notable for its transition to an overt, “active defense” posture for Chinese military forces. Among the many salient points is the emphasis on gaining the strategic initiative, which is one of eight specified strategic tasks for the Chinese military.

This is not a new development, but recent activities in the South China Sea (SCS)illustrate the reality that China has already seized the strategic initiative in those waters. Force dispositions in the SCS make it clear that the PRC has no intention of surrendering the initiative. A passive U.S. response will only continue to demonstrate to China the usefulness of its approach, while traditional flexible deterrent options are both unnecessarily provocative and likely to be ineffective. A comprehensive, long-term engagement and modernization strategy focused on Partner Nation (PN) and U.S. airpower may provide an opportunity for the U.S. to reverse PRC gains in the SCS and prevent further gains.

Airpower, particularly airpower employed by partner nations, is the necessary backbone of a strategy to effectively neutralize the political effectiveness of the PRC’s island forts in the South China Sea. A robust engagement strategy, combined with a modernized American bomber force, will allow the United States to credibly project power or assist local defense efforts, even in cases where local basing for U.S. forces is unavailable. This proposed U.S. strategy has three elements; new defense relationships, a revised toolkit for building up partner nation air and seapower capabilities, and a modernized long-range bomber force.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

Editorial: Will Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Malfunction Affect Its Defense Policy?

By Prashanth Parameswaran

A recent incident has caused some to question past decisions.

On April 28, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said the Indonesian government would review its policy on receiving primary weaponry defense system grants from other countries.

The ‘review’ comes after an April 16 incident where an F-16 fighter jet malfunctioned and caught fire during a ceremony to honor President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. The mishap involving the F-16, which was one of several that the United States has recently provided to the Indonesian military (TNI), has prompted some leading politicians and lawmakers to question the government’s policy of procuring refurbished jets to augment the country’s air defense system. They argue that Indonesia’s money may have been better spent on new aircraft to help the country avoid such technical difficulties and better compete with other countries in the region.

However, as Ryamizard emphasized in his remarks, an investigation is still ongoing and it is still unclear what exactly happened and where the blame lies.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

Editorial: Don’t Write Taiwan’s Air Force Off Just Yet

By Michal Thim and Liao Yen-Fan

Taiwan needs anti-access strategy, but it also needs an air force to complement it.

Taiwan’s defence planners are in a precarious position. Modernization of the PLA has irreversibly tilted the qualitative edge towards Beijing, and Taiwan lacks the wherewithal to engage in an arms race with its powerful neighbour, who happens to claim Taiwan as part of its territory. Perhaps the only way out is to redirect efforts towards asymmetrical platforms: Taiwan needs to mount anti-access/area-denial (A2AD) capability on its own. Yet compromising the combat effectiveness of the Air Force (ROCAF) is not the answer. A suggestion to scrap the much needed upgrades to Taiwan’s standing fleet of F-16s without augmenting its existing force structure, as proposed in The Diplomat in an otherwise thoughtful piece by Van Jackson, means just that.

Granted, Jackson is absolutely correct in identifying A2AD as the desirable direction, and Taiwan has already taken notice. Other experts, such as James R. Holmes or Ian Easton have argued for incorporating A2AD platforms into Taiwan’s defence posture. Jackson’s proposition would fit well into the “porcupine strategy” proposed by US Naval War College Professor William S. Murray in 2008 (PDF), who also recommended scrapping high-level expensive acquisitions and proceeding with affordable investments to enhance survivability. One of the authors of this piece has similarly advocated for Taiwan’s A2AD approach elsewhere.

However, “going asymmetrical” must accommodate and use existing assets. An active fighter complement has its unique role in both peace and war, and while the ROCAF would not be able to maintain Defensive Air Superiority (DAS) even under ideal conditions, it does contribute to the goal of building-up “resolute defense and credible deterrence” as stressed in Taiwan’s defensive-oriented (PDF) military policy. Obviously, Taiwan’s defense  cannot voluntarily vacate the sky before shots are fired. As long as the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) must deal with the ROCAF, it cannot direct resources elsewhere (i.e. against land and sea based A2AD assets, for example). Thus, discontinuing upgrades and never proceeding with the sale of new fighter jets would effectively degrade the ROCAF into a mere peace time air policing force. That in turn would undermine Taiwan’s emerging A2AD infrastructure.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

News Story: (Thailand) PM puts hurry up on defence budgets

South Korean KAI T-50 Trainer (File Photo)

Air force delays plan for new jet fighters

Writer: Wassana Nanuam

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is pushing the military to more quickly draft its spending plans for the 2016 fiscal year and submit them within the month. 

Air Force commander ACM Treetod Sonjance said the Defence Ministry, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy and the Royal Thai Air Force are expected to prepare their budgets by mid-January.

He said Gen Prayut, who is also head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), wants to see how the armed forces and other military units prioritise their spending.

The Royal Thai Air Force has no plan to procure new fighter jets in the next budget year, ACM Treetod said. It will focus on upgrades and maintenance instead.

Preliminary plans call for upgrades to the air force's fleet of F-5 jets at the Nakhon Sawan-based Wing 4 division. The aircraft have been in service for over 30 years.

A Defence Ministry source said the proposed defence spending is likely to be a little higher than the amount approved in 2015. It is estimated to be around 193 billion to 200 billion baht.

According to the source, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) approved a defence budget of 192 billion baht, about 550 million baht lower than the proposed 193.49 billion baht.

Read the full story at BangkokPost

Editorial: FA-50 Enters Service

In October the South Korean Air Force accepted into service the first squadron of 20 locally made FA-50 fighter-bombers. These were ordered in 2012, cost $30 million each and are equipped with South Korean, American, and Israeli electronics. The first FA-50 was delivered in 2013 and the rest arrived by mid-2014. The single engine, single seat aircraft is intended to eventually replace South Korea's aging fleet of F-5 fighters. But the first FA-50 squadron will have to show what they can do in active service.

The FA-50 is the combat version of the South Korean designed and manufactured T-50 jet trainer. This aircraft began development after 2000 and all this cost of over two billion dollars. The first test flight of the T-50 took place in 2002. The 13 ton aircraft is actually a light fighter and can fly at supersonic speeds. With some added equipment (radars and fire control) the T-50 becomes the FA-50, a combat aircraft. This version carries a 20mm auto-cannon and up to 4.5 tons of smart bombs and missiles. The T-50 can stay in the air about four hours per sortie and has a service life of 8,000 hours in the air.

Read the full story at Strategy Page