News Story: Additional PH supersonic jet fighters to arrive tomorrow (Wednesday)

No. 002 PAF - FA-50PH Fighting Eagle (File Photo)

Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson Col. Antonio Z. Francisco on Tuesday said two more supersonic jet fighters for the PAF will be arriving in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday.

In a statement, Francisco said the South Korean-made FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” jet fighters with tail numbers 005 and 006 will be landing at Clark Air Base Wednesday around 11 a.m. after their flight from from South Korea.

Read the full story at Tankler

News Story: Philippines eyes 14% defense budget rise to secure seas, fight rebels

By MANUEL MOGATO

VIENTIANE - The Philippines is proposing a 14 percent increase in defense spending next year to buy new ships and aircraft to boost its fight against Islamist militants and enhance maritime security in the disputed South China Sea.

According to internal documents seen by Reuters on Monday, about 130 billion pesos ($2.8 billion) or 96 percent of the proposed defense budget, would go to the armed forces.

The push to beef up military spending reflects regional concern about China's maritime assertiveness and the new government's determination to crush the entrenched and lucrative network of the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf rebels behind a spree of kidnappings.

Some 25 billion pesos would go to a modernization program, the Department of National Defense said in the documents, including the acquisition of two surveillance planes and six close-air support planes to fight Abu Sayyaf.

The rebels, who have their stronghold in two southern islands in the Muslim-majority south, are holding more than 20 hostages of five nationalities.

Read the full story at GMAnews

News Story: Western Defense Industry Future Imperiled by Local Programs

South Korea's T-50, T-50/FA-50 Golden Eagle

Aaron Mehta

WASHINGTON — A global push to grow domestic defense industries will have a dramatic impact on the Western defense export market over the next decade, a new report is warning.

Authored by Daniel Yoon and Doug Berenson, the report by Avascent, “Dynamics of International Military Modernization 2016,” concludes that while many challengers will emerge, the trio of Israel, South Korea and Brazil provide the most immediate threats to Western markets

Ironically, the market threat is one with its origins in Western exports, with the authors noting that “in many cases, these emerging players developed through diffused technology via prior export arrangements with Western suppliers, often through offsets requirements and domestic industry participation.”

Over the last five years, American firms have aggressively pursued foreign sales to try and offset a slowdown in US military funding. By and large American firms were successful in that strategy, the authors found, with “foreign sales have partially offset the decline in domestic demand since 2010, when only 17 percent of defense equipment manufactured in the United States was exported; by 2015, that number jumped dramatically to 34 percent.”

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Editorial: Philippines Looks to Arm Its New Fighter Jets

KAI FA-50 Golden Eagle (File Photo)

By Prashanth Parameswaran

Manila is moving forward with purchasing ammunition for its new jets from South Korea.

The Philippine military will look to purchase more than 100 million pesos ($5.77 million) worth of ammunition for two of its new fighter aircraft from South Korea, defense officials confirmed this week.

As I reported for The Diplomat in December, the Philippines had received the first two of a dozen new FA-50 jets it had ordered from South Korea, with the remaining jets expected to be delivered through 2017. As I indicated then, the jets were still unarmed and Philippine defense officials had indicated that getting them combat ready would require some additional time.

This week, Col. Restituto Padilla, spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), confirmed that as part of an existing arms acquisition package for the aircraft, the Philippine military would look to acquire 93,600 rounds of 20 mm ammunition as part of efforts to make the jets combat ready. The purchase, Padilla said, would cost P106.138 million and will be sourced from the AFP Modernization Act Trust Fund.

“Part of the procurement process is the armament system for our FA-50 fighters. This purchase is part of the arms acquisition package for our aircraft,” Padilla said, according to local media outlets.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

News Story: More ships, planes, combat gear for AFP in 2016

By: Frances Mangosing

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is expecting more assets to be added to its inventory in 2016 amid its efforts to build a minimum credible defense.

The military’s boost of assets occurs in the wake of China’s sweeping expansion in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Some of the assets expected in 2016 include the Philippine Navy’s first strategic sealift vessels (SSVs) due to arrive in May.

The government has earlier ordered two SSVs from Indonesia worth P3.87 billion from the AFP modernization fund. As of mid-December, the first vessel is 87 percent complete, Navy spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said recently.

The other SSV, also under construction, will be delivered to the Philippines in 2017.

IHS Jane’s, British publishing company which specializes in defense topics, said that these vessels have a full load displacement of 11,583 tons. It can indicate a crew complement of 121 and a lift capacity for 500 troops. It can also accommodate up to two medium helicopters on its flight deck.

The SSVs have a maximum range of 9,360 nautical miles, a top speed of 16 knots and an endurance of 30 days.

Read the full story at Inquirer

News Story: President Says Philippines To Spend $1.8B on Military Modernization

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine President Benigno Aquino promised Monday that 83.9 billion pesos ($1.77 billion) allocated for military modernization projects would be spent by 2017 as the country faces a territorial dispute with China.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the armed forces, Aquino said his administration had already spent 56.79 billion pesos of the total scheduled for full disbursement by 2017 on "big-ticket" modernization programs.

This was more than the sum spent by the three previous administrations, said Aquino, who took office in 2010 and leaves office next year, as he bemoaned the lack of proper equipment that had long hampered the military.

"Back then, because of lack of equipment, there was a soldier in a sensitive operation carrying a purple backpack from a fast food chain. I just don't think a purple backpack is suited for an operation in the jungle," he told assembled soldiers.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: S. Korea, RI aerospace firms sign KFX cooperation deal

A model of one of several possible designs for the KFX

Novan Iman Santosa

South Korea and Indonesia are set to elevate their strategic partnership by signing a strategic cooperation agreement on the joint development and production of KFX/IFX jet fighters.

The agreement was signed on Friday by Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. president and CEO Ha Sung-yong and his counterpart PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) president director Budi Santoso.

Witnessed by Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu and South Korean Ambassador to Jakarta Cho Tai-young at the Defense Ministry, the agreement represents the second phase of the KFX/IFX program, the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase.

Ryamizard said that aircraft technology was not a simple process but was something that needed support and commitment from all parties including the sharing of expertise, knowledge and technology.

“The agreement is a strategic early step for bot defense industries, especially PT DI, to develop production and technology capabilities, especially jet fighters,” he said, expecting the jet fighter to become Indonesia’s leading product.

Ryamizard revealed that the agreement would lead to production, maintenance or sustenance, modification and upgrade of the jet fighter.

Read the full story at The Jakarta Post

Think Tank: Sea, air and land updates (1-Dec-2015)

Alice Slevison, Mercedes Page and James Mugg

Sea State

Beijing has announced plans to establish a naval facility in Djibouti with the goal of boosting counter-piracy and peacekeeping efforts in the region. Reportedly, the Chinese installation will be located near a US airbase. The outpost will break Beijing’s longstanding policy against building military facilities abroad Since 2008, China has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the area, sending 21 convoys with a total of 60 vessels into the Gulf of Aden. Until now, Chinese vessels have been reliant on foreign facilities for resupply.

Meanwhile, tensions have heightened on the Korean Peninsula with reports that Pyongyang attempted to conduct a submarine-launched ballistic missile test on Saturday. The launch, which took place between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, is said to have been unsuccessful. According to a Korean government official, ‘there is no evidence of the missile taking flight, and only debris from its cover was found, so it is highly likely that the launch was a failure’. The launch comes only three weeks after North Korean President Kim Jong-un declared an extensive ‘no sail zone’ in the waters off its eastern city of Wonan.

While in London, the Royal Navy’s flagship vessel, the HMS Ocean, is set to be decommissioned in 2018 despite a multi-million pound refit. The Davenport-based helicopter carrier and assault ship underwent an AU$135 million upgrade in 2014. The decision to decommission the vessel, which played a crucial role supporting operations in Afghanistan and Libya, was made in the recent strategic defence and security review.

Editorial: Philippines Receives 2 New Fighter Jets from South Korea

A F/A-50 Golden Eagle Fighter (File Photo)

By Prashanth Parameswaran

The delivery marks small but significant step in military modernization efforts.

The Philippines received the first two of a dozen new fighter jets from South Korea over the weekend in a notable development in the Southeast Asian nation’s effort to modernize its underfunded military.

The jets, which touched down at Clark Air Base on Saturday morning, were the first to arrive of 12 FA-50 Golden Eagle jet fighters that the Philippines had acquired from Korean Aerospace Inc. for 18.9 billion pesos ($402 million) last year (See: “South Korea, Philippines Deepen Military Ties”). That deal is part of an ongoing military modernization program, which has taken off under President Benigno Aquino III (whose tenure expires next year).

The arrival of the jets is significant as it marks the first time that Manila has had a supersonic capability since it decommissioned its Northrop F-5 “Tiger” jet fighters back in 2005 due to the lack of spare parts.

“We’re glad were finally back to the supersonic age,” Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

News Story: PH air force returns to supersonic age - Fighter jets arrive in Clark

An F/A-50 in flight (File Photo)

The fighter jets arrive a decade after the Philippine Air Force retired the last of its US-designed fighters in 2005

MANILA, Philippines – The fighter jets have landed.

Two of a squadron of FA-50 Lead-In Fighter Trainers (LIFT) that the Philippines acquired from South Korea arrived Saturday morning, November 28, at the former US air base in Clark, Pampanga.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) flew S-211 trainer jets in a diamond formation to meet the FA-50s over Tarlac. A Water Cannon Salute – a ceremony where firefighting vehicles spray water on newly arrived aircrafts – was given to the jets while they were taxiing. Guests and the media witnessed the show.

The arrival of the fighter jets marks the return of the Philippine Air Force to the supersonic age.

The jets were flown to the Philippines by South Korean pilots and will only be formally turned over to the Philippine Air Force after a series of acceptance flights. Another ceremony is expected.

Read the full story at Rappler

News Story: First 2 'Golden Eagle' fighters from Korea arriving at Clark Friday

By: Jaime Sinapit

MANILA, Philippines -- The first two FA-50 “Golden Eagle” jet fighters from South Korea will be touching down at Clark airbase in Pampanga on Friday.

The Philippines has acquired 12 of the two-seater aircraft from Korean Aerospace Inc. for P18.9 billion as part of the military’s modernization program. All the fighters are expected to be delivered by 2017.

Philippine Air Force commander Lieutenant General Jeffrey Delgado will lead the welcome of the jets. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin has also been invited.

Delgado earlier rode one of the fighters during test flights in South Korea.

The FA-50, an upgraded version of KAI’s supersonic T-50 advance trainer jet, is expected to boost the Air Force’s capability to patrol the country’s airspace. However, the jets that will be delivered are not yet combat-ready.

Read the full story at InterAksyon

Editorial: US Stops Export of Korean Fighter Jets to Uzbekistan

By Catherine Putz

Washington has reportedly nixed a fighter jet deal worth $400 million, over concerns about technology leakage.

This Sunday, the United States blocked the sale of 12 T-50 Golden Eagles from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to Uzbekistan the Korea Times reports.

The jets, jointly developed by KAI and Lockheed Martin in 2006, are designed as supersonic trainers and multirole fighters. Lockheed Martin promotes them as delivering “the fighter-like performance and capabilities needed to eliminate 5th Generation training gaps and inefficiencies.” Although the T-50 and its variants are Korea’s first indigenous supersonic aircraft, the jets use Lockheed Martin’s avionics system and engines, making their sale a matter of U.S. concern. Although Lockheed Martin’s advertising material proclaim that the T-50 was “envisioned to be exported to other countries” it seems Uzbekistan doesn’t quite measure up.

A source told the Korea Times that “KAI has been in negotiations with the Uzbek government to export the supersonic trainers, but the U.S. government is opposing the deal, citing possible technology leakage and diplomatic policy.”

A presumably Korean military source honed in on Uzbekistan’s relations with Russia as the main cause for concern in comments to the Korea Times, saying, “As Uzbekistan has close ties with Russia, the U.S. is worried that an export of T-50s to Uzbekistan may lead to its technologies being transferred to Russia.”

Read the full story at The Diplomat

News Story: Seoul Debates Best Strategy To Acquire AESA Radar

A model of one of several possible designs for KFX

By Jung Sung-ki

European Radar Makers Eye KF-X Jet

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean defense officials are in a quandary over how to acquire an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a key component for the country’s fighter development program code-named KF-X, following the US refusal to transfer the advanced radar technology.

South Korea had expected  to learn the AESA technology for the KF-X jet through offset deals connected to its F-X III contract to buy 40 Lockheed Martin-built F-35As.

South Korea seeks to develop a twin-engine KF-X fighter jet on par with the F-16 and produce 120 units starting in 2025 to replace its F-4 and F-5 fleets. The project is estimated to cost some US $16 billion.

But the US government refused to transfer four of the 25 fighter technologies South Korea wanted, citing the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Those technologies concerned AESA, an electro-optical targeting pod, infrared search-and-Track (IRST) system, and a radio frequency jammer.

During the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX), which ran from Oct. 20 to 25, European radar makers sought to woo South Koreans apparently disappointed by the US.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

PacificSentinel NOTE: I replaced the incorrect  "infrared search-and-rescue systems" with the correct "infrared search-and-Track (IRST) system" in the original story text

News Story: Korea tries its hand at blocked jet technologies

A model of one of several possible designs for the KFX

BY JEONG YONG-SOO, SER MYO-JA

SEONGNAM, Gyeonggi - Despite the recent controversy about Washington’s refusal to transfer technologies essential to building advanced fighter jets, Korea has already managed to develop some of the required systems, the JoongAng Ilbo learned Thursday. 

Washington informed Seoul in April that it would not issue licenses for the transfer of four technologies considered crucial for Korea’s project to develop new multirole fighters with more advanced capabilities. Under the KF-X program, the government planned to invest a total of 18.4 trillion won ($16.2 billion) to develop 120 jets by 2025.

The U.S. rejection of the technology transfer was considered a major setback. Seoul’s calls for technology export licenses from Washington were repeatedly rebuffed, and the latest refusal came as President Park Geun-hye was visiting the United States earlier this month.

The JoongAng Ilbo learned Thursday that the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has managed to develop two out of the four core technologies on its own. 

The ADD even showed trial versions of an infrared search and track (IRST) system and electro-optical target tracking devices (EO TGP) at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition. The products, built in cooperation with Korean companies, were not available for public viewing but presented in a separate exhibition room to a small group of selected guests. 

The exposition is taking place from Tuesday to Sunday at Seoul Air Base in southern Gyeonggi.

Read the full story at Korea JoongAng Daily

News Story: Seoul Arms Exhibition Opens

By Jung Sung-ki

SEOUL — The  biennial Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX), set to run Tuesday through Sunday, will feature about 380 aerospace and defense firms worldwide.

Held at an Air Force base in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, an F-22 Raptor flew aerial demonstrations to showcase its high-end performances on Monday's media day. Two F-22 aircraft arrived earlier at Osan Air Base of the Seventh Air Force headquarters in Pyeongtaek to take part in the Seoul ADEX 2015.

“Aerial demonstrations will be performed by the F-22 Demonstration Team from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and the C-17 Demonstration Team from Hickam AFB, Hawaii," the Seventh Air Force said in a news release.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Tech Transfer Hobbles South Korea's Fighter Program

A Model of one of several possible KF-X Designs

By Jung Sung-ki

SEOUL, South Korea — Only six months after Seoul’s KF-X fighter program took off, the state project valued at about US $15 billion faces a crash over tech transfer issues with the US government.

The KF-X is linked to Lockheed Martin’s sale of 40 F-35As to South Korea under the F-X III program through the Foreign Military sales process. Lockheed Martin offered to provide 21 technologies required to build the KF-X fighter jet as part of F-X III offset deals. The US aircraft giant was also selected as the main partner to build KF-X with Korea Aerospace Industries.

At the request of Seoul’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Lockheed Martin also agreed to consult with the US government over the transfer of four more technologies related to the active electronically scanned radar (AESA), electro-optical targeting pod, infrared search-and-rescue systems, and radio frequency jammer.

In April, however, the DAPA received notice of the refusal to transfer the four technologies, according DAPA officials.

“We were trying to secure the US export license of those technologies but failed to get them,” Lt. Gen. Park Shin-kyu, head of DAPA’s procurement business bureau, said. “Instead, we’ll seek ways of obtaining those technologies from other countries or through local developments.”

The general hinted the KF-X timeline could be further delayed from 2025 without the US tech transfer.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Korea to sell four T50 trainer jets to Thailand

By Shin Hyon-hee

South Korea on Thursday secured a contract to export four T-50 trainer jets to Thailand in another coup that marks the local defense industry’s growing technological clout. 

The $110 million agreement was clinched between the Korea Aerospace Industries and the Thai government in Seoul. The supersonic aircraft, built with technical assistance from the American defense giant Lockheed Martin, is scheduled to be delivered by March 2018.

The Thai Air Force has been pushing to replace its L39 jets manufactured in the former Czechoslovakia and used for more than 30 years. Its cabinet approved 3.7 billion baht ($103 million) for the project late last year. 

The country’s sole aircraft maker vied with those from the U.S., Russia, China and Italy. The Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province-headquartered company and its Chinese competitor had been seen as the most likely winners.

Read the full story at The Korea Herald

Editorial: South Korea, Philippines Deepen Military Ties

By Prashanth Parameswaran

Defense ministers advance defense cooperation following bilateral meeting.

South Korea and the Philippines have agreed to deepen their military ties following talks by their defense ministers, media outlets reported Monday.

As I have written previously, Seoul and Manila have recently been deepening their ties, particularly in the defense realm, as the Philippines looks to modernize its military in part to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. In December 2014, on the sidelines of the 25th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III had suggested that the two countries form a “comprehensive strategic partnership” (See: “Philippines, South Korea Eye Stronger Partnership Amid Chinese Protests”).

This week, South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo paid a two-day visit to the Philippines, where he held talks with his Filipino counterpart, Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

Editorial: Philippines Slams China Over ‘Deceitful Rhetoric’ on South China Sea

By Franz-Stefan Gady

Philippine officials renew their attack on China’s alleged aggression in disputed waters.

Over the weekend, the Philippine Department of National Defense once more attacked China’s purported aggression in the South China Sea, calling Beijing’s announcement that it is committed to peace “deceitful rhetoric,” according to AFP.

“The Chinese leadership should go beyond deceitful rhetoric claiming peaceful efforts before their aggression takes a greater and irreparable toll on the region and beyond,” Peter Paul Galvez, a defense department spokesman stated in a statement last Sunday.

China has pushed its territorial claims in the South China Sea vis-à-vis the Philippines with vehemence. Among other things, Beijing has seized Scarborough Shoal – a shoal located between the Macclesfield Bank and Luzon island that is claimed by China, Taiwan, and the Philippines – from Manila in 2012 and continues to prevent the latter from carrying out oil and gas explorations in what the Philippines consider its territorial waters.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

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