FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017. Issue 01
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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017. Issue 01. READY FOR WHEREVER YOUR MISSION TAKES YOU ELAMS TOC: The ELAMS TOC Primary mission is to provide effective, reliable space for execution of battlefield C4I. MECC® Shower/Latrine: The AAR MECC® is a fully customizable ISO that allows you to mobilize your mission. SPACEMAX® The SPACEMAX® shelter provides lightweight, durable solutions for rapidly deployable space that reduces costs and risk. 2 armadainternational.com - february/march 2017 MADE IN armadainternational.com - february/march 2017 3 www.AARMobilitySystems.com THE USA FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 www.armadainternational.com 08 AIR POWER COST VERSUS CREDIBILITY Andrew Drwiega examines maritime patrol aircraft procurement, and the options available for air forces and navies on a budget. 14 20 26 LAND Warfare TURING STIRLING CLASS WAR CATCH-22 VEHICLES FOR CHANGE Stephen W. Miller examines how the designs of Thomas Withington examines the Link-22 tactical Andrew White uncovers some of the latest light armoured vehicles are changing around data link, its workings and what it heralds for advances in vehicle technology to help the world. tomorrow’s naval operations. commandos reach their objectives. 32 38 FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES SEA POWER 44 THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH WHAT LIES BENEATH LAND Warfare Parachute technology is over a century old and is Warship definitions are becoming increasingly PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE being continually refined, thanks to advances in blurred due to technological advances. Are we Claire Apthorp explores some of the innovative design and manufacturing, Peter Donaldson moving towards the multipurpose combatant, asks methods being adopted for military vehicle finds out. Dr. Alix Valenti? maintenance, repair and overhaul. 2 armadainternational.com - february/march 2017 armadainternational.com - february/march 2017 3 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS AAR COVER 2 Gulfstream 5 ON THE COVER: Maritime patrol aircraft such Astronics 21 IDEF 52 as Saab’s Swordfish design fall under our spotlight in BIDEC 45 IMDEX 54 Andrew Drwiega’s Cost Versus Credibility article in Border & Security 51 IMDS 53 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017. Issue 01. this issue. Armada Consultancy COVER 3 ISDEF 25 Armada Subscription 19 Kongsberg 13 Armada Website 41 LAAD 35 Volume 41 , Issue No. 1, February/March 2017 Datron COVER 4 Rosoboronexport 7,11 Published bi-monthly by Media Transasia Ltd. Defence&Security Thailand 49 Sea Air Space 31 Copyright 2012 by Media Transasia Ltd. Publishing Office: Media Transasia Ltd., 1603, DSA 23 UDT Global 35 16/F, Island Place Tower, 510 King’s Road, Hong Kong DSEI 47 Unmanned Systems Defence 29 Editor: Thomas Withington General Manager: Jakhongir Djalmetov EW Europe 43 Xponential 37 International Marketing Manager: Roman Durksen Digital Manager: David Siriphonphutakun FNSS 17 Sales & Marketing Coordinator: Wajiraprakan Punyajai Graphic Designer: Khakanaa Suwannawong Production Manager: Kanda Thanakornwongskul Group Circulation Manager: Porames Chinwong THIS MONTH ON ARMADAINTERNATIONAL.COM Chairman: J.S. 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Tel : (+1 540) 341 7581 Self-Propelled Howitzer chassis, it was announced surface-to-surface missile to an undisclosed Email: [email protected] on 19th December 2016. customer by the end of 2017, the firm has told USA (WEST/SOUTH WEST)/BRAZIL/CANADA (WEST) Diane Obright, Blackrock Media Inc armadainternational.com. Tel : (+1 858) 759 3557 Email: [email protected] ALL OTHER COUNTRIES Jakhongir Djalmetov Media Transasia Limited Tel: +66 2204 2370, Mobile: +66 81 6455654 Email: [email protected] Roman Durksen Media Transasia Limited Tel: +66 2204 2370, Mobile +66 9 8252 6243 E-Mail: [email protected] Controlled circulation: 25,278 (average per issue) certified by ABC Hong Kong, for the period 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2015. Printed by Media Transasia Ltd., 75/8, 14th Floor, Ocean Tower II, Soi Sukhumvit 19, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand. 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Nansen’ class frigates. 4 armadainternational.com - february/march 2017 armadainternational.com - february/march 2017 5 THE PLATFORM MATTERS Special missions call for special aircraft. Gulfstream’s military service record stretches a half-century and is marked by versatility, reliability and performance. Gulfstream aircraft perform as trainers and transports, intelligence gatherers and medevac platforms. Today’s fleet is in service to nearly 40 countries, and Gulfstream provides more large-cabin business jets for special missions than any other aircraft manufacturer. Whatever your mission, Gulfstream delivers. TROY MILLER | +1 703 841 7443 | [email protected] | GULFSTREAM.COM/SPECIALMISSIONS 4 armadainternational.com - february/march 2017 armadainternational.com - february/march 2017 5 Editorial Blood Will Have Blood Her husband’s to Aleppo gone,” thus ar- cal facilities. Under the Geneva Convention: “in- ticulates one of the Witches in the first tentionally launching an attack in the knowledge act of Shakespeare’s masterpiece Macbeth. The that such attack will cause incidental loss of life northern Syrian city is mentioned several times or injury to civilians” is a war crime. by the Bard. It appears once more in Othello, and Aleppo now joins Grozny, devastated from “has the distinction of being one of the oldest the airAD during the First (1994 to 1996) and Second continually-inhabited cities in the world. (1999 to 2000) Chechen Wars. Like the aftermath Much of that city now lies in ruins. The Bat- of the air attacks on Grozny, television pictures tle of Aleppo concluded on 22nd December 2016 from Aleppo are adorned with the same evis- when forces loyal to the Syrian President Bashir cerated buildings and smouldering wreckage; a al-Assad captured the city from rebels ending a macabre trademark of Russia’s application of air battle and siege which had raged in the city since power in the urban environment. While the use 2012. Mr. Assad’s victory was helped in no small of such intense levels of force may have helped part by military assistance from the Russian achieve the Russian government’s objectives in Army and Russian Air Force. As television pic- both Syria (shoring up the support of Mr. Assad, tures relayed around the world, the level of de- and battling his opposition) and Chechnya struction that four years of war had visited upon (re-asserting Russian control over the Chechen Aleppo was palpable. Republic in southwest Russia), Moscow’s The actions of the Russian Air Force in par- actions in Syria could ultimately prove counter- ticular have been singled out for criticism. The air productive. force has been accused of indiscriminately target- Far from defeating the Islamist insurgency ing civilians by the United Nations (UN), which opposing Mr. Assad, Russia’s actions may in the in mid-November 2016 condemned air attacks on long run embolden it. The ruination visited on five Syrian hospitals. While the UN stopped short Aleppo could become a powerful recruiting ser- of apportioning blame, Human Rights Watch, a geant for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, and New York-based non-governmental organisa- other extremist elements in the Middle East and tion, on 1st December 2016 accused both Russian beyond: Aleppo may yet play Banquo’s Ghost to THOMAS WITHINGTON, and Syrian forces of deliberately targeting medi- Moscow’s Macbeth. Editor 6 armadainternational.com - february/march 2017 armadainternational.com - february/march 2017 PB new ROE Asian_Military_Review_All_213x286_eng (2).pdf 1 12/6/16 3:44 PM C M Y CM MY CY CMY K 6 armadainternational.com - february/march 2017 armadainternational.com - february/march 2017 7 AIR POWER COST VERSUS CREDIBILITY While a maritime patrol capability is important for many countries, not all can afford aircraft than provide a full spectrum of capabilities. However, inexpensive but effective is a difficult goal to attain in what is often a multi-mission domain. Andrew Drwiega hen the British to scrap the ongoing Hawker-Siddeley/BAE in the SDSR. This appears to be a clear government announced Systems Nimrod MRA4 MPA programme, example of the need to make large savings that it was to buy nine an act which was expected to save the overriding the strategic security of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon Ministry of Defence (MOD) more than UK and the capability requirements of the Maritime Patrol Aircraft $2.4 billion over the following ten years, armed forces.” It went on to underline that W(MPA) from the United States government according to media reports.