VOLUME 25/ISSUE 3 MAY 2017 US$15 ASIA PAcific’s LARGEST CIRCULATED DEFENCE MAGAZINE NAVAL DIRECTORY SINGAPORE’S ARMED FORCES NAVAL HELICOPTERS SMALL ARMS/LIGHT WEAPONS CIWS MARITIME PATROL AIRCRAFT www.asianmilitaryreview.com One Source. Naval Force Multiplier. Seagull: From MCM to ASW, unmanned sea supremacy Elbit Systems’ synergistic technologies are now revolutionizing Unmanned Surface Vessels. Seagull delivers multi-mission power while protecting lives and reducing costs. Two organic USVs controlled by one Mission Control System (CMS), taking on the challenges of Mine Counter Measures (MCM) and Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW). Rule the waves with Elbit Systems’ new naval force multiplier. Visit us at IMDEX 2017 Stand #M22 02 | ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW | Contents MAY 2017 VOLUME 25 / ISSUE 3 Andrew White examines small arms and light weapons procurement in the Asia-Pacific and 14 finds international suppliers vying with local companies to satisfy emerging demands. Front Cover Photo: Close-in weapons systems provide vital protection for warships against anti-ship missiles and an expanding set of ENHANCING threats, as detailed in this issue’s Close Protection article. THE MISSION 20 36 46 52 Naval Starship Directory 2017 Feet Wet Enterprise AMR’s ever-popular Naval Close Protection Andrew Drwiega examines A space race is well underway in Directory returns with Gerrard Cowan explores the naval support helicopter the Asia-Pacific, with Dr. Alix Valenti at the helm, with improvements being rolled out procurement across the Asia- Beth Stevenson discussing updated naval orders-of-battle in the close-in weapons system Pacific, noting the preference the health of several space and programme information domain to protect warships for new, as well as upgraded, programmes in the region, and from across the region. against emerging threats. rotorcraft. their strategic implications. 32 42 06 Doing More Troubled Waters Alan Warnes measures the With Less demand for maritime patrol Faced with a falling birth rate, aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region but no fall in regional tensions, with local designs beginning Singapore is modernising its to compete with their Western Catch up on all the latest defence radio frequency news and armed forces, Dr. Alix Valenti counterparts. analysis in Thomas Withington’s regular Pulse column. explains. | MAY 2017 | 03 Index of Advertisers BIDEC 57 Editorial BOEING - P8 COVER 4 COLT 15 CONTROp 6 DB CONTROL 19 … AND CARRY DSA 51 DSEI 53 A BIG STICK ELBIT COVER 2 FLIR 5 he machinations of the Democratic People’s IAI 7, 23 Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) government IMI 37 and ruling Kim dynasty are regular topics ISDEF 55 of interest to AMR editorials. The editorial in the magazine’s previous issue (April) NEXTER 39 Texamined the death of Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of the country’s Supreme Leader PACIFIC 45 Kim Jong-un, on 13th February at Kuala Lumpur International Airport; widely believed to RafaeL 35 have been the handiwork of DPRK agents. RENK 41 SAAB 9 The slaying of Mr. Kim is not the only reason that the Hermit Kingdom is back in the SHOW DAILY AD COVER 3 headlines. The DPRK’s sabre-rattling has intensified of late, with a test of four Medium- SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 49 Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs) of an unknown type on 6th March from the country’s TADTE 47 Tongch’ang-dong Space Centre. All four missiles reportedly crashed into the Sea of Japan. TELEPHONICS 17 These tests were followed up on 4th April with a further MRBM test, this time of a single TEXTRON AVIATION 11 weapon, from the port city of Sinpo on the country’s eastern coast. Once again, the MRBM WEBSITE AD 13 crashed into the Sea of Japan. Advertising Offices Five MRBM tests in less than one month have, understandably, been seen as provocative by France/Spain Stephane de Remusat, REM International the DPRK’s neighbours notably Japan and the Republic of Korea. Japan’s Prime Minister Tel: (33) 5 3427 0130 E-Mail: [email protected] Shinzo Abe declared that the 6th March tests: “clearly demonstrate evidence of a new threat Germany from (the DPRK).” The US government for its part has acted in a swift and determined Sam Baird, Whitehill Media Tel: (44-1883) 715 697 Mobile: (44-7770) 237 646 fashion. As this issue of AMR explains, it deployed the US Army’s Lockheed Martin E-Mail: [email protected] Turkey / Eastern Europe / UK Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system to Osan Zena Coupé Tel: +44 1923 852537, [email protected] airbase in the west of the Republic of Korea. Media reports state that this THAAD battery Nordic Countries/Italy/ Switzerland should be declared operational by June. Meanwhile, the wake of the 4th April MRBM Emanuela Castagnetti-Gillberg Tel: (46) 31 799 9028 test, the US Navy’s USS Carl Vinson ‘Nimitz’ class aircraft carrier, and her accompanying E-Mail: [email protected] Carrier Battle Group (CBG) has been ordered to sail towards the Korean Peninsula. The Russia Alla Butova, NOVO-Media Ltd, new administration of President Donald Trump has already set out its stall regarding the Tel/Fax: (7 3832) 180 885 Mobile : (7 960) 783 6653 Email :[email protected] DPRK, with James Mattis, US secretary of state for defence, telling the media in late March USA (East/South East)/Canada (East) Margie Brown, Blessall Media, LLC. that: “Right now (the DPRK) appears to be going in a very reckless manner … and that has Tel : (+1 540) 341 7581 Email: [email protected] got to be stopped.” USA (West/South West)/Brazil/Canada (West) Diane Obright, Blackrock Media Inc The deployment of both the THAAD SAM battery and the USS Carl Vinson CBG sends out Tel : (+1 858) 759 3557 Email: [email protected] the welcome message to the DPRK’s neighbours, and the wider world, that such provocation All Other Countries will be checked and met by force if necessary. The US has, once more, stepped up to the Jakhongir Djalmetov, Media Transasia Limited Tel: +66 2204 2370, Mobile: +66 81 6455654 mantle in the Asia-Pacific as a reliable ally, and as a force to be reckoned with. Email: [email protected] Roman Durksen, Media Transasia Limited Thomas Withington, Editor Tel: +66 2204 2370, Mobile +66 9 8252 6243 E-Mail: [email protected] Editor: Thomas Withington Tel: (33) 562 271 697, E-mail: [email protected] Publishing Office: Chairman: J.S. Uberoi Audit Bureau Of Circulations Media Transasia Limited,1603, 16/F, Island Place Tower, 510 King’s Road, Hong Kong Controlled circulation: 21,271 (average per issue) certified by ABC Hong Kong, Operations Office: for the period 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2015. President: Egasith Chotpakditrakul Subscription Information Gaurav Kumar Chief Financial Officer: ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW can be obtained General Manager: Jakhongir Djalmetov by subscription. Subscription rate for one year International Marketing Manager: Roman Durksen (8 issues) is U.S.$ 100.00 Readers should Digital Manager: David Siriphonphutakun contact the following address: Sales & Marketing Coordinator: Wajiraprakan Punyajai Subscription Department, Graphic Designer: Khakanaa Suwannawong Media Transasia Limited. Production Manager: Kanda Thanakornwongskul Group Circulation Manager: Porames Chinwongs 75/8, 14th Floor, Ocean Tower II, Soi Sukhumvit 19, Media Transasia Ltd. 75/8, 14th Floor, Ocean Tower II, Soi Sukhumvit 19, Sukhumvit Rd., Bangkok 10110, Thailand Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand. Tel: 66 (0)-2204 2370, Fax: 66 (0)-2204 2387 Tel: 66 (0)-2204 2370, Fax: 66 (0)-2204 2390 -1 Email: [email protected] 04 | ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW | STANDING WATCH Twice the Standoff, Proven at Sea Selected for U.S. PBEOS Program FLIR Systems continues to redefine what’s possible with the new SeaFLIR 280-HD. Unmatched multi-spectral HD imaging in a light weight, compact, powerful system designed for your maritime mission. SeaFLIR 280-HD Long-Range, Light Weight System Designed to Perform in Visit us at SOFIC 2017 – BOOTH #726 the Harshest Maritime Conditions Flir.com/amr 17-1292-SUR-SEA-280HD-Print-Revise.indd 1 4/14/17 11:41 AM by Thomas Withington The US Army has enhanced the defences of the Korean Peninsula with the deployment of an AN/TPY-2 radar, while new deliveries of Elbit tactical radios are revealed, and new wide-body aircraft self-protection systems enter the market place. surface-to-air missile battery. Advanced elements of the US Army battery arrived at Osan airbase, on the western coast of the Republic of Korea (ROK) on 6th March, according to local media reports. The deployment was in The US Army has response to the launch of deployed an AN/ TPY-2 ground-based four ballistic missiles from air surveillance radar to the ROK the Democratic Republic of following a series of Korea’s (DPRK) Tongch’ang- ballistic missile tests performed in March dong Space Launch Centre by the DPRK. on the western coast of the DPRK. Some of the missiles were reported to have flown for circa 533 nautical miles/ nm (987 kilometres/km) before falling into the Sea of Japan. The AN/TPY-2 radar accompanying the THAAD battery was reported to have arrived at Osan airbase Radar on 16th March. Additional press reports stated that the entire As of early March, the US Army commenced the deployment of THAAD battery is expected to be declared as operational in June. its Raytheon AN/TPY-2 X-band (8.5-10.68 gigahertz/GHz) ground- Open sources note that the radar can operate in a so-called TM based air surveillance radar as part of a larger deployment (Terminal Mode) by which it provides fire control information of a Lockheed Martin Terminal High Altitude Area Defence for the THAAD battery, meanwhile the radar’s FBM (Fixed 06 | ASIAN MILITARY REVIEW | Naval Future.