News Story: Philippines, Australia conduct maritime patrol in Sulu Sea

ANZAC class Frigate like HMAS Parramatta

By Roel Pareño

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Philippine Navy and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) conducted joint maritime patrol exercises in the Sulu Sea, the site of frequent cross-border kidnapping and hijacking attacks by militants linked to the Abu Sayyaf group.

Rear Admiral Rene Medina of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) said the three-day exercise started Friday between Del Pilar Class Frigate BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF16), under Cmdr. Glen Dizon, and its counterpart Her Majesty Australian Ship (HMAS) Parramatta of the RAN.

He said Australian Embassy in the Philippines' defense attaché Capt. Bradley Ian White headed the delegation of HMAS Parramatta.

BRP Alcaraz is currently under the operational control of Naval Task Group-Tawi-Tawi of the NFWM that is guarding the border under orders from President Rodrigo Duterte.

Medina said the exercises were designed to strengthen the defense relationship of both navies through an established communication while conducting joint maritime patrols in the region.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Chinese naval fleet returns home after drill with Russia & China, Russia conclude joint naval drills

Chinese Navy Warships (File Photo)

Chinese naval fleet returns home after drill with Russia

SANYA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese naval flotilla Monday returned to a military port in the city of Sanya in southern China's Hainan Province after a military exercise with the Russian navy in the Baltic Sea.

The formation, comprising missile destroyer "Hefei," missile frigate "Yuncheng" and supply vessel "Luomahu," was the first Chinese fleet to ever sail in the region for a military exercise.

The joint drill, held in July, was the first phase of "Joint Sea 2017," which had similar exercises in the Sea of Japan and Okhotsk this year.

Read the full story at Xinhua

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China, Russia conclude joint naval drills

MOSCOW, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The last batch of scheduled exercises in the second phase of the 2017 China-Russia Joint Sea Drills was completed in the Okhotsk Sea near Russia's Far East Federal District on Monday.

Starting in the morning, Chinese and Russian commanders simulated joint rescues of ships hijacked by pirates and ships in distress, and later in the afternoon, fleets of the two sides held a farewell ceremony after the completion of both exercises.

During the entire week-long drills, major Chinese and Russian fleets conducted a string of highly challenging joint operations, including air defense, anti-submarine and anti-fleet actions as well as maritime search and rescue.

Read the full story at Xinhua

USA: US, Malaysian navies begin bilateral maritime exercise

By Lt. Clyde Shavers, Destroyer Squadron 7 Public Affairs

In this file photo, USS Coronado (LCS 4) arrives in Langkawi, Malaysia, earlier this year for the International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition. (U.S. Navy/MC2 Amy M. Ressler) >>

LUMUT, Malaysia - The U.S. and Royal Malaysian Navy kicked off Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Malaysia at Lumut Naval Base, Sept. 18.

Nearly 300 U.S. and Malaysian Sailors aboard the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4), Kasturi-class corvette KD Lekir (F26) and Lekiu-class frigate KD Lekiu (F30) are participating in the exercise.

“The U.S. and Royal Malaysian Navy maintains a close and unique partnership that continues to grow and evolve with each bilateral and multilateral exercise,” said Capt. Matthew Jerbi, deputy commodore of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. “MTA Malaysia is just one of many opportunities for both navies to work closely together towards cooperatively ensuring regional maritime security and stability.”

News Story: China, Russia start joint naval drills

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia started the second stage of their "Joint Sea-2017" military exercises on Monday with the arrival of a Chinese naval fleet in the Russian port city of Vladivostok.

The exercises are scheduled to take place in the Sea of Japan and the Okhotsk Sea, after the first stage was held on July 22-27 in the Baltic Sea.

It is the first time that the venue of the drills has extended to the Okhotsk Sea. Naval forces from both sides will, also for the first time, conduct joint submarine rescue exercises and joint anti-submarine exercises.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Chinese naval fleet departs for joint drill in Russia

Chinese Navy Warships (File Photo)

QINGDAO, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese naval fleet sailed from a port in Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province Wednesday for Russia's Vladivostok to take part in a scheduled joint military exercise with the Russian navy.

The fleet consists of missile destroyer "Shijiazhuang," missile frigate "Daqing," comprehensive supply ship "Dongpinghu," and submarine rescue ship "Changdao." The fleet is carrying ship-borne helicopters and deep submersible rescue vehicles.

The upcoming drill, which will be held in the Sea of Japan and Okhotsk, is the second phase of an annual joint naval drill between the two countries.

The first stage was held from July 22 to 27 in the Baltic Sea.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: India Gearing Up for Two Major Joint Military Exercises With US, Russia

India’s joint military exercises with the world’s superpowers are not reminiscent of muscle-flexing in the region but preparedness for unforeseen contingency globally, says expert.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – India and the United States are currently preparing for a joint military training named Yudh Abhyas — 2017 to be held at the Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington from 14 to 27 September. This will be the 13th edition of the joint exercise hosted alternately between the two countries since 2004. Indian Army has termed the exercise a part of a joint preparation to meet any unforeseen contingency across the globe. 

“Exercise Yudh Abhyas is one of the largest joint running military training and defense corporation endeavors between India and USA. Multiple scenarios will be rehearsed during the joint exercise with a view to understand each other's organizational structure and battle procedures which would result in a higher degree of joint manship that would further facilitate interoperability between the armed forces of both countries to meet any unforeseen contingency across the globe,” Indian Army said in a statement.

News Story: Aussie warship project to be delayed for two years by local companies - minister

BAE Systems Type 26 Global Combat Ship for SEA 5000

CANBERRA, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- A 28-billion-U.S.-dollar Australian warship project could be delayed for two years if local companies are handed the contract, a government minister has warned.

The Future Frigates project will see nine new anti-submarine warfare frigates designed and built to replace Australia's existing Anzac frigate fleet.

The Australian bid to build the ships is being led by South Australia's ASC and Western Australia's Austal but Spain's Navantina, Britain's BAE Systems and Italy's Fincantieri have also been shortlisted for the project.

Despite an initial promise that the ships would be built in Australia, the Defence Department has convinced the government that the Australian-built clause should be "optional" rather than "mandated."

Christopher Pyne, Australia's defence industry minister, said: "Advice from the Department of Defence is that changing the request for tender to mandate a particular shipbuilder would result in a delay of at least two years in the Future Frigates program."

Read the full story at Xinhua

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PacificSentinel: I think people need to remember three things, first of all the project was moved forward by two or three years in the first place, so a two year delay would put it back on the original time table, the second thing is the reason it was moved forward in the first place, which was to build a local shipbuilding industry, so sending the construction overseas defeats the original purpose anyway, the third thing is that the ANZAC class Frigates have just finished an upgrade that should see them more than capable of lasting for an additional 2 years.

News Story: Task Group deployment to strengthen regional military cooperation

An Australian Defence Force (ADF) Joint Task Group, Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2017, departed Sydney today to participate in a series of key military exercises throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Running from 4 September to 26 November, Indo-Pacific Endeavour will focus on enhancing military cooperation with some of Australia’s key regional partners including Brunei, Cambodia, the Federated States of Micronesia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

More than 1200 ADF personnel will participate in the deployment, which is being led by Canberra-class amphibious assault ship HMAS Adelaide.

HMAS Adelaide will be accompanied at various stages of the deployment by HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Darwin, HMAS Toowoomba, HMAS Parramatta, and HMAS Sirius, making this the biggest coordinated task group deployment since the early 1980s.

Minister Payne said the Indo-Pacific Endeavour deployment, which has been in planning for over 12 months, was part of ongoing efforts to enhance and develop strong positive relations with regional militaries through both dialogue and practical activities.

USA: US, Singapore navies enhance maritime partnership with training in Guam

From Lt. Clyde Shavers, CTF 73-DESRON 7 Public Affairs

USS Benfold (DDG 65) and RSS Endurance (LST 207) steam in formation during exercise Pacific Griffin 2017, Aug. 28. (U.S. Navy/MC1 Benjamin A. Lewis) >>

GUAM - The U.S. Navy and Republic of Singapore navies concluded Exercise Pacific Griffin 2017 at U.S. Naval Base Guam, Sept 2.

Pacific Griffin 17 served as this year’s U.S.-Singapore annual maritime exercise and ran from Aug. 19 through Sept. 2 in waters near Guam. The exercise was coordinated months in advance by planners from both navies.

Pacific Griffin highlights the longstanding maritime partnership between the U.S. and the Republic of Singapore navies through 23 years of annual bilateral exercises.

“The U.S. Navy deeply values our close partnership with the Republic of Singapore Navy,” said Capt. Lex Walker, commander of Destroyer Squadron 7. “Pacific Griffin 2017 provided a unique opportunity for both navies to interact and engage in a broader and more complex range of maritime scenarios and operations.”

News Report: South Korean Navy Holds Naval Training After N. Korea's Latest Nuclear Test

Incheon-class frigate (Image: Wiki Commons)

South Korea's Navy has conducted a massive live-fire exercises after the latest North Korea's nuclear test.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — South Korea's Navy has conducted a massive live-fire exercises in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) after the latest North Korea's nuclear test, local media reported on Tuesday, citing the navy.

A 1,000-ton patrol ship, 400-ton guided-missile vessels, 2,500-ton Gangwon frigate and 130-ton high-speed boats were among the assets mobilized in the drills, the Yonhap news agency reported.

"If the enemy provokes anywhere, whether on or under water, we will immediately hit back and bury them at sea," Capt. Choi Young-chan, commander of the 13th Maritime Battle Group, said as quoted by the agency.

Pyongyang's presumed sixth nuclear test since 2006 was held Sunday, just days after North Korea launched a ballistic missile over the territory of Japan. North Korea has been carrying out its missile and nuclear tests in violation of the UNSC resolutions.

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

News Story: Chinese naval fleet stages live-fire drill in Indian Ocean

Chinese Navy Warships (File Photo)

ABOARD CHANGCHUN, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese naval formation consisting of the destroyer Changchun, guided-missile frigate Jingzhou and supply vessel Chaohu conducted a live-fire drill in the waters of the western Indian Ocean, military sources said Friday.

The fleet carried out strikes against "enemy" surface ships and completed transverse replenishment of fuel and drinking water during an exercise that lasted for several days.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Esperon denies Chinese occupation of Sandy Cay

By Alexis Romero

MANILA, Philippines — National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. yesterday denied that China has occupied the Sandy Cay off Pagasa Island in the West Philippine Sea and stressed that the government would not give up an inch of the areas claimed by the Philippines.

Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Saturday bared that China has virtually occupied Sandy Cay, an area situated around 2.5 nautical miles off Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

Two frigates, a Chinese coast guard vessel and two military fishing boats were reportedly seen in the area. 

Carpio urged the Duterte administration to “vigorously protest” what he described as an “invasion” of Philippine territory by China. 

Esperon admitted that foreign fishing boats were seen in the Sandy Cay, but denied that China has seized the Sandy Cay.

“China has not seized sand bars in Pagasa Atoll,” Esperon said in a text message.

“There should be no alarm on that as long as they don’t occupy any of the sandbars. There are many Chinese as well as Vietnamese fishing boats in and near Pagasa Island and its nearby sandbars, collectively called Pagasa Atoll,” he added. 

Esperon said the Chinese ships came “too near” the Sandy Cay but did not seize it. He also maintained that the government would continue to assert the country’s maritime claims.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Carpio - China virtually occupying Sandy Cay

By Evelyn Macairan

MANILA, Philippines - Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio yesterday expressed belief that China is breaking its vow not to occupy any more islands in the Spratlys area because it is allegedly virtually occupying a new geological feature called Sandy Cay in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement, Carpio said China is guarding Sandy Cay located some 2.5 nautical miles off Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea and well within Pag-asa’s 12 nautical miles territorial waters.

It reportedly has two frigates, a coast guard vessel and two military fishing boats around Sandy Cay.

“Sandy Cay is a Philippine land territory that is being seized – to put it mildly – or being invaded – to put it frankly – by China,” said Carpio.

He urged President Duterte and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano to defend and protect the country’s territory since they have both “vowed to the Filipino people that they will not concede a single inch of Philippine territory to China.”

“The very least that they could do now is to vigorously protest this invasion of Philippine territory by China.”

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: India approves deals for Apache helicopters, maritime engines

AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI ― The Indian government this week cleared long-pending deals for six Boeing Apache attack helicopters and two Zorya marine engines from Ukraine.

The two projects were cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council, which is headed by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley. Formal contracts will be awarded in the next four to six months, a Ministry of Defence official said.

Under the deal, the Indian Army will acquire six Apache attack helicopters for about $650 million. They will be equipped with Hellfire and Stinger missiles.

The Army, which currently has no attack helicopters as part of its inventory, requires 39 Apache helicopters, but the Defence Acquisition Council only cleared six, the MoD official noted.

In 2012, Boeing was awarded a $1.3 billion order for 22 Apache AH-64D helicopters for the Indian Air Force. The deliveries will begin mid-2017 and will include 812 AGM-114L-3 Hellfire Longbow missiles, 542 AGM-114R-3 Hellfire II missiles, 245 Stinger Block I-92H missiles and 12 AN/APG-78 fire-control radars.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (16-Aug-2017)

Jack Viola, Eliza Chapman, Harley Comrie and Jacqueline Westermann

Sea state

It looks like the Russian government might have spoofed naval GPS in the Baltic Sea. A report from an American ship says that the GPS placed the ship at an airport 25 nautical miles from its actual position at the Russian port of Novorossiysk. GPS spoofing has been worrying experts for some time, but this is thought to be the first time the technique has been used ‘in the wild’. These technologies are of such concern that some countries, such as South Korea, have been developing alternative navigation systems in case of an attack on GPS.

Navantia of Spain has submitted its response to the request for tender for Australia’s future frigate project. The proposed F-5000 anti-submarine warfare vessel is an evolution of Navantia’s Hobart-class guided missile destroyer, currently used by the Australian navy, and will draw on lessons from Navantia’s F-310 for Norway.

The Chinese navy has conducted a live-fire drill in the Yellow Sea, which separates China from the Korean peninsula. During the exercise, ‘various missiles, dozens of torpedoes and hundreds of shells’ were fired. China’s defence ministry claimed that the drill was a regularly scheduled military exercise, but some pundits believe it was a response to North Korea’s recent missile tests.

News Story: Navantia pitches F-5000 design for Future (Aus) Frigates bid

Navantia Australia has submitted its response to the Commonwealth’s Request for Tender for the Sea 5000 Future Frigate program with what it regards as “a comprehensive plan for a leading edge anti-submarine warfare (ASW) vessel and Australia’s continuous shipbuilding industry”.

The F-5000, an evolution of the soon to be commissioned Navantia-designed Hobart Class DDG, will be designed locally to meet specific requirements of the Royal Australian Navy, and built in Adelaide using expertise, experience and equipment from Australia, according to the company.

With capabilities based on the Hobart Class, the F-5000 also incorporates lessons learnt from the operational requirements of the Navantia designed and built Norwegian F-310 ASW frigate. The F-5000 will also provide operational flexibility and force multiplication by incorporating 48 strike length missile cells, a Mk45 5” gun, an advanced above water sensor suite, and integration of the MH-60R combat helicopter and UAV featured in the F-5000’s design.

Navantia says that incorporating the Navantia-SAGE Automation Group’s (NSAG) Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), which will already be operated by 1,500 men and women of the Navy across seven existing naval platforms, additional training requirements will be reduced and the Adelaide based NSAG will continue to grow as a key input to capability.

“By using an in service Australian ship as our reference to build the F-5000, we will be ensuring that Australia’s future ASW frigate is able to seamlessly integrate into the RAN’s fleet and provide the savings through economies of scale for shipbuilding, training, maintenance and supply support.” Navantia Australia’s Donato Martínez said.

Read the full story at Australian Defence

News Story: China resolutely opposes U.S. provocation in South China Sea: spokesperson

USS John S. McCain conducted a freedom of navigation operation
around China's Artificial Island built on Mischief Reef

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Defense Ministry strongly objects to the illegal entry of a U.S. warship into China's waters off the Nansha Islands, said a ministry spokesperson Friday.

Wu Qian said in a statement that missile frigates Huaibei and Fushun of the Chinese Navy were immediately sent to identify the U.S. warship, warn and expel it.

The USS John S. McCain illegally entered the waters near the reef in South China Sea earlier on Thursday. China has sovereignty of the Nansha Islands and its adjacent waters.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Canadian warships return home after exercises in Asia-Pacific region

HMCS Winnipeg (Image: Wiki Commons)

OTTAWA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Canadian warships Her Majesty's Canadian Ships (HMCS) Winnipeg and Ottawa returned to port in Esquimalt Tuesday after a five-month deployment in the Asia-Pacific for operation POSEIDON CUTLASS 17, the Canadian Ministry of National Defense said.

"With the successful completion of POSEIDON CUTLASS 17, our sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy have once again demonstrated proficiency and professionalism operating in the Asia-Pacific region, while fostering defense relationships and diplomacy with partner nations," said Canadian Defense Minister Harjit S. Sajjan.

POSEIDON CUTLASS 17 included numerous exercises with navies of the region at sea as well as participation in key events and engagements in port visits across the Asia-Pacific region to foster friendship and trust and to demonstrate Canada's commitment to the Asia-Pacific as outlined in Canada's new defense policy "Strong, Secure, Engaged."

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Reducing Arms Imports Still a Far Cry From Reality for India

India’s defense contracts with foreign vendors witnessed an eight-fold jump in the last three years despite the government’s bold initiatives aimed at reducing import dependency in the sector.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The Indian defense ministry signed 23 contracts with foreign vendors worth $12.1 billion during the last financial year that ended on March 2017. The figure was $4.3 billion in 2015-16 and $1.69 billion in 2014-15. A total of 61 contracts have been signed with foreign vendors in last three years.

"The foreign vendors are mainly from USA, Russia, Israel, UK, Germany, France and Sweden. Capital procurement of defense equipment is based on threat perceptions, operational challenges and technological changes and to keep the armed forces in a state of readiness to meet the entire spectrum of security challenges," Subhash Bhamre, India’s Minister of State for Defense said in Parliament.

Equipments purchased from foreign venders during the last three years included aircraft, helicopters, rockets, missiles, artillery gun, frigates, simulators and ammunition.

News Story: LCS Lives - They Still Count In Age Of Frigates

Freedom class LCS

By SYDNEY J. FREEDBERG JR.

Yes, the Navy has cut short its Littoral Combat Ship program and started work on a bigger, tougher, better-armed frigate. But the small ships will still be big part of the future fleet, experts we spoke to agreed, and the frigate will carry on much of the LCS legacy.

It’s true the Navy’s needs have changed, because the world has changed, with rising threats from major powers eclipsing Third World pirates – but the Littoral Combat Ship has changed as well. In particular, an LCS design conceived during the days of the “peace dividend” is being upgunned with both short- and long-range missiles that increase its relevance for major war.

The shift to frigates is not just a rejection of LCS, either. While the frigate concept turns away from some aspects of LCS – its high speed, its small crew, its limited combat power – it embraces others, such as extending the ship’s reach with unmanned craft and fleetwide networks. In other crucial respects, especially the frigate’s offensive and defensive firepower, the Navy’s still making up its mind.

Independence class LCS

After studying the Navy’s Request For Information (RFI) on industry’s frigate designs, “I wouldn’t say the RFI repudiates the LCS approach, because the idea of having a smaller, less-expensive, shallow-draft, fast ship makes sense,” said retired commander Bryan Clark, now with the Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments. The new frigate isn’t really replacing the 3,400-ton LCS, he argued, but filling a gap between smaller coastal patrol craft like the 380-ton Cyclone class and larger multi-role warships like 9,700-ton Aegis destroyers.

To that end, Clark wants the future frigate to have both the weapons and radar to conduct wide-area air defense of nearby ships in a task force or convoy –a mini-Aegis like Spain’s Navantia frigates – rather than only defend itself – like the current LCS.

Read the full story at Breaking Defense