Regional Market News

New move in Southeast Asia air Force

7 January 2009

 

The current development and modernisation of air forces across Southeast Asia reflects the economic trends. Most of the air forces of the economically developed nations are basically replacing their ageing aircraft and equipment while some are upgrading existing ones. Even modern and high-tech armaments are being sought after despite the prevailing economic bullish situation. The air forces of countries like Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand and also maybe countries with less stable economies have been involved in evaluating and selecting new aircraft types. This include those with multi-role capability including AEW&C, tactical transports and UAVs. Defence spending in this region reached over US$200 billion during the period 1990-2002 and have been expected to peak at US$350 billion over the period 2005-2020.

 

Asia’s defence market poses many opportunities for suppliers over the next 15 years as regional governments seek to modernise their air forces. Many countries in Southeast Asia, North Asia and South Asia must replace or upgrade old combat aircraft, tankers and transport aircraft, as well as procuring new assets. It seems that Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan and India are the big spenders over the course of the next 15 years as they implement procurement plans for next generation combat aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles and C4ISR systems to enhance their varying doctrines of network centric warfare.
Big Asian countries such as Australia, Japan and South Korea are competing in obtaining the most advanced super fighter such as the F-22 Raptor putting the US in a lurch whether to “sell or not to sell” position with India and Pakistan not far behind although the best they were offered are the late variants of the F-16 or F/A-18 and even the Rafale, Gripen and the Typhoon. Smaller countries such as Thailand have achieved their goals by procuring AEW including Gripen fighters.
 

Combat Aircraft

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is considering purchasing spare parts of F-16 from the Lockheed Martin, under a commercial deal to supply needed aircraft components cheaper and faster. Local reports quoting defence sources said that the air force also plans a similar contract with Boeing, the supplier of F-15Ks. With most F-16 production lines being closed worldwide, South Korea has had difficulty supplying needed parts to its F-16 units in time, and the cost of aircraft parts has risen.


The South Korea's F-15K Slam Eagle fighter jets are operating normally and the country's plan to introduce more aircraft from Boeing remains on track despite the US grounding of its F-15 planes, air force and company officials said. The US Air Force has grounded all of its F-15 fighter jets because of worries over a possible structural failure of the model after a plane crash in Missouri early November 2007. A South Korean Air Force spokesman said the F-15Ks are in normal service and further added that the US Air Force confirmed there are no mechanical hitches in the F-15K, an upgrade of the US F-15 jets.


In 2002, South Korea signed a contract with Boeing to purchase 40 F-15 jets. Twenty-seven of them have been delivered so far with three more due to arrive here by the end of 2008.
The current precautionary grounding of US F-15s does not impact new F-15K aircraft on the production line in St Louis, said Boeing. Also South Korea's arms procurement agency has announced a contract to purchase additional 21 F-15K fighters. Under the second-phase F-X deal, worth US$2.3 billion, Boeing is to deliver the multi-role fighters to the ROKAF between 2010 and 2012.


It was reported that South Korea is likely to scrap an ambitious project to build its own version of a stealth fighter as it has been assessed as nonviable economically and technically. The fighter development programme, codenamed KF-X, aims to produce a multi-role fifth-generation aircraft suited to network-centric warfare after 2020 to replace outdated F-4Es and F-5Es and to market it globally. According to the sources the Korea Development Institute (KDI) concluded that the KF-X programme would not be affordable. The KF-X development would cost at least US$10 billion but bring about only US$3 billion in economic benefits, making the economics of the aircraft unsustainable, citing a KDI report over the KF-X's economic feasibility mandated by the Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA). The F-35 is regarded as the viable candidate for the third phase of the F-X programme because the only other stealth fighter in the world, the F-22 Raptor, may be out of Seoul's reach financially and legally. US law forbids the export of the F-22, while the F-35 was developed specifically for export.


Aside from getting SAAB’s AEW (Airborne Early Warning) aircraft, Thailand will also be getting six Gripen fighters. The Royal Thai Air Force's desire to have an AEW plane started about a decade ago. It planned to modify one of its C-130 transport planes for this purpose in 1997 and 1998 to use with the F-16 fighters and probably the F-18 fighters to be bought from the US. But the plan, which required about three million baht for modifications, was shelved due to budgetary problems. The dream of having F-18 jets was also shot down by Washington, which refused to sell them to Thailand. An air force source said the facilities and maintenance system at the Surat Thani air base will be improved this year to prepare for the arrival of the Gripen jets. The first three fighters will be delivered in January 2011, and another three will arrive about two months later. They will replace the F5 B/E jets based in the southern province, which will be decommissioned in 2011.
Earlier The Thai cabinet agreed the air force could buy 12 Gripen multi-role fighters from Sweden at a cost of 34.4 billion bath (US$1 billion). The procurement plan has been kept low profile, with air force chief ACM Chalit Phukphasuk refusing to comment.


It is the second major arms procurement approved by the cabinet recently. An air force source said the Swedish purchase will be made in two batches. The first six jets, including spare parts and training programmes, will be bought with a five-year budget of 19 billion baht (US$560 million) starting this fiscal year. The 15.4 billion bath (US$455 million) cost of the other six planes will be met from the 2013-2017 budget.
The Indonesian Air Force is to acquire three Sukhoi aircraft out of six fighters which due to arrive later in 2008. The three Sukhoi 30MK fighters from Russia are expected to arrive in Indonesia before the National Defence Forces (TNI) anniversary on October 5. The three aircraft would become part of the Air Force's Sukhoi Squadron V based in Makassar, South Sulawesi.  Meanwhile, the Indonesian defence ministry and Sukhoi aircraft maker Rosoboronexport would soon finalise negotiations on the supply of the six Sukhoi 30MK fighter planes to Indonesia. It was reported that the process to purchase the six Sukhoi planes is almost completed and awaiting for the issuance of a letter of credit by the finance ministry.


The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has received another six JF-17 Thunder aircraft from China. Two such aircraft were received earlier. According to an official announcement, the aircraft have been inducted into the PAF for test and evaluation flight at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in Kamra. JF-17 Thunder aircraft is an advanced multi-role light combat aircraft jointly developed by China and Pakistan under a strategic collaboration project. The aircraft is designed to be cost-effective and can meet the tactical and strategic needs of the PAF. The serial production of JF-17 Thunder has already started and the production capacity would be gradually taken to 25 aircraft per year by 2011. The first 50 aircraft would have avionics of Chinese origin while the next batch would be fitted with indigenously-developed avionics and European radars. PAF would induct 150 aircraft into its inventory in the first phase, under an agreement with the Chinese company, Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) and the total induction could go up to 250. The JF-17 will replace Pakistan’s MiG-21-derived Chengdu F-7, Nanchang A-5 and Mirage III/V currently in service. Azerbaijan and Zimbabwe have each placed orders as well. Nine other countries which have expressed interest in purchasing the JF-17 are Bangladesh, Myanmar, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Algeria.


The US Defence Department has awarded a US$498.2 million contract to Lockheed Martin to supply 18 F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. The decision is in line with a senior US official’s assertion that the Congressional restrictions on providing US$50 million in military aid to Pakistan would not affect the sales of F-16 aircraft. The Pentagon recently released a list of defence contract awards, which include an authorisation for Lockheed to sell 12 F-16C and six F-16D planes to Pakistan. Pakistan already has a fleet of F-16AM, which is an upgraded single-seat version of F-16A. Pakistan is to get 18 new F-16C/D fighters by 2010 besides upgrades for its current fleet of 34 F-16 combat aircraft as part of a US$2.1 billion deal for new weapons, avionics, engines, and other equipment for F-16 fighters announced in September 2006. Pakistani F-16s will be equipped with AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM, AIM-9M-8/9, JDAM, Harpoon Block II, Joint-Helmet Mounted Cueing System, CFTs and possibly IRIS-T. All 18 new aircraft will come from Block 50-52, first delivered to the US Air Force in late 1991.


Australian Ministry of Defence will look into the possibility of F-22 fighters for Australia but made no promises to lobby the US Congress to lift a ban on foreign sales of the most advanced US fighter. Australia wanted the opportunity to consider the F-22 as part of a review of the country's air capabilities. The US had no objection in principle, but could not sell the fighter until the law was changed. Japan also has been pressing Washington to release the F-22 for export. The stealth fighter can cruise at supersonic speeds, has radars capable of detecting cruise missiles, and wideband data links for networked operations. It was reported that Beijing is likely to perceive the fighter's introduction in the region as directed against it.


Northrop Grumman has begun production of major structural components for the first F/A-18F Super Hornet Block II strike fighter aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Australia is purchasing 24 F/A-18Fs from the US in the first international procurement of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The F/A-18E/F is the US Navy's combat-proven strike fighter. The F/A-18E/F entered service with the US Navy in 1999, and the navy is expected to acquire a minimum of 460 Super Hornets through 2012. As of Apr 23, 2007, the first JSF test aircraft has completed 14 test flights. Test pilots have been impressed by the aircraft's maturity so early in the test programme and it’s excellent handling qualities. Deliveries of JSF aircraft are expected to extend beyond 2030 and could comprise more than 4500 aircraft. Australia's first JSF deliveries are expected in 2013.


The Indian government has extended by eight weeks the deadline for opening bids for the multibillion-dollar tender for purchasing 126 fighter aircraft. No reason was given for the decision, though the Indian Air Force is facing a serious depletion of its force levels. The selection process for the deal is largely in the hands of the civilian bureaucracy.


The original deadline was March 3, 2008. It was reported that some sources suggested that it was extended at the urging of some of the competitors. Under the contract, India would buy 18 fighters in a readymade condition and assemble the remaining 108 domestically. Six companies—Lockheed Martin and Boeing, with the F-16 and F/A-18 E/F respectively, Gripen from Sweden, Rafale from Dassault, Eurofighter from EADS and Russian MiG MAPO’s MiG-35—are in contention.


Earlier in 2007, the Indian government issued the much-awaited tender for purchase of fighter aircraft. The deal is expected to be worth Rs. 42,000 crore (US$9.7 billion) but half of the amount must be sourced from India. The IAF wants to induct at least 126 medium category fighters to have the right mix of small, medium and large aircraft in its fleet. The fighters will equip seven squadrons and replace some MiG-21 versions being phased out and also fill the gap due to delayed development of the indigenous fighter Tejas. The Request for Proposals (RFP), as the tender is called, is of great interest to the manufacturers.


India is also moving towards signing a big contract with France for the upgrade of the 51 Mirage-2000 fighter jets in the IAF combat fleet, which comes after a US$964 million deal was inked with Russia to upgrade 63 MiG-29s. The bone of contention between India and France for the Mirage-2000 upgrade, however, remains the huge cost of the deal, which is in the region of €1 billion. India is still waiting the response of Thales and Dassault Aviation for request for proposal. India has initially bought 40 Mirage-2000s in the mid-1980s, which were followed by another 20 or so in later years. India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas successfully test-fired for the first time a close combat air-to-air missile off the Goa coast. The initial operational configuration for the fighter is expected between 2011-12 and the aircraft will be fully operational by 2013. The Indian Air Force has already placed orders for 20 LCAs with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited with a provision for buying another 20 in the same contract.


Based on threat perception, the country's eastern region got its first Sukhoi squadron in October 2007. Two Sukhoi squadrons would be based at Tezpur. Local news reports quoting IAF sources said the two squadrons would comprise a total of approximately 36 Sukhoi-30 aircraft. The air force was in the process of procuring 126 fighter aircraft in the next five to six years, IAF has included 40 Su-30MKI aircraft in the list.


The Indian Government is modernising its air force. The biggest contract will be for the modernisation of the MiG-29 fighters which is estimated at over US$1 billion, reports quoting Ministry of Defence sources said. The venerable Russian fighters will be fitted with ventral fuel drop tanks (extra fuel tanks) to almost double the endurance of the fighters. While some MiG-21 variants have been getting upgraded since the last few years, the modernisation of the air superiority MiG-29 had got tangled on the price issue. The long overdue upgrade of the Anglo-French Jaguar fighter-bomber combat capability has also been cleared. An Israeli company will fit advanced sensors on the fighter to improve its targeting capability. Under the second contract, the foreign company which has won the Rs400-crore (US$92 million) order to supply a refuelling fleet tanker for the navy has also agreed to meet the “direct offset” clause. It was reported that the plan was prepared to deal with the induction of fifth generation fighters and handle sophisticated surveillance and real-time data transfer requirements of the advanced early warning aircraft. India recently signed a pact with Russia for developing futuristic fighter aircraft and officials expected the prototype in five years.


Japan's Defence Ministry has decided to build a stealth fighter and wants a first test flight within five years, a news report said. The move could concern Washington as Japan is a major customer of US defence equipment. Japan is moving ahead because the US military has been reluctant to sell Japan F-22 Raptors, the latest US Air Force jets built to evade radar detection at supersonic speeds. Previous media reports have said the ministry will include funds to develop the manned prototype in its budgetary request in 2008.


The United States flew Raptors to Japan earlier this year on their first foreign flight, showing its commitment to the two countries' security alliance amid tensions with North Korea.


A defence ministry official has previously said Japan was looking at six models of aircraft including the Raptor, the Eurofighter and the JSF F-35. The Japanese government has not supported development of a domestic fighter aircraft since the F-1 support fighter jet in the 1970s. F-15 fighter jets, which form the core of Japan's fighter force, are being manufactured here under a licence agreement with the US. Japanese interest in the advanced F-22 fighter jet, arising from Japan's changing military posture, has cropped up in recent high level meetings between Tokyo and Washington. Japan and the United States already jointly design F-2 support fighters, but production is set to end in the year to March 2012. It was reported that the development of Japan's new prototype would likely cost tens of billions of yen, or hundreds of millions of dollars, over 10 years. The design would not include installing weapons and it is unclear if Japan would actually produce the prototype due to the huge cost of building a full aircraft, the report said.


The Japanese Defence Ministry's request for ¥112 billion (US$1 billion) in funds to improve F-15 jet fighters in fiscal 2008 is likely to be cut by one-third as the government reviews its budget in light of conflict-of-interest scandals.
The ministry says the reduction could hinder the nation's air defences, but the Finance Ministry has all but decided to lop ¥23 billion (US$211 million) to ¥35 billion (US$322 million) off the original request, leaving just enough to upgrade 20 F-15s, instead of the original goal of 32.


Pakistan and Peru want to purchase South Korea's retired A-37 light attack aircraft, officials of the Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). Peru's air force chief of staff asked to buy A-37 aircraft during a meeting with DAPA commissioner Lee Sun-hi when Lee visited the South American nation in October 2007. Talks over the delivery of spare parts of the A-37 are also under way between the South Korean Air Force and Pakistani authorities, following a request for the deal in May via diplomatic channels, the official added. Korea is reviewing the requests from the two nations positively as part of an effort to enhance defence and diplomatic ties with them, as well as help expand South Korea's defense industry. The A-37, nicknamed Dragonfly, was developed in 1963 by modifying the Cessna-built T-37 trainer. The aircraft was used during the Vietnam War as a ground attacker. The South Korean Air Force had operated the “Black Eagles” acrobatic flight team with A-37 jets since 1994. The team made its last air show appearance in October last year with A-37s, which will be replaced with indigenous T-50 supersonic jets. In June 2008, the Air Force decided to ground jets with an age greater than 35 including RF-5 reconnaissance planes and A-37Bs amid safety concerns.


Singapore will be acquiring 12 more Boeing F-15SG fighter aircraft as part of its air force's continuing effort to renew its fighter fleet. The 12 jet fighters would be in addition to the earlier purchase of 12 F-15SGs announced in December 2005. The ministry said that it had exercised the option to purchase more F-15SG fighters which was part of the original contract signed in December 2005. The additional F-15SGs, which will be equipped with sophisticated avionics and weapon systems, will be delivered from 2010. The ministry signed the contract with Boeing to replace the force's A-4 Skyhawk fighters which have been retired. The initial purchases are expected to be delivered from 2008. The F-15SG, which has a configuration that is unique to Singapore, would be “the most advanced variant of the F-15” and would operate as the Singapore air force's next generation multi-role fighter jet. The F-15SG is a derivative of the US Air Force F 15E Strike Eagle.


Taiwan has started negotiations with the US regarding the procurement of 66 F-16 fighter aircraft in order to strengthen its national defence which would help narrow the gap in military capacity between Taiwan and China. Ministry of National Defense estimates show that the arms purchase will help maintain a ratio in military capabilities of 1:1.67 between Taiwan and China until 2035. This ratio, said by ministry would allow Taiwan to defend itself. The legislature has already made it clear it will pass a classified budget for the purchase of 66 F16C/D fighter jets, pending approval by the US. The F16C/D is an improved version of the 146 F16A/B fighter aircraft Taiwan currently has in its fleet.


The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), in the meantime, has received and commissioned the first six Sukhoi Su-30MKM, which arrived in the country in June 2007. A dozen more Sukhois will arrive before the end of 2008. With the commission of new strike fighters, the service mulls over whether its plans to have 72 combat aircraft in its fleet would be approved by the government. With the addition of the Sukhois, the RMAF has about 60 combat aircraft in service, which include the BAE Systems Hawk 108/208s, Boeing F/A-18D Hornets and MiG-29 Fulcrums. If the budget for the additional fighters is approved, Sukhoi will face a tough battle with Boeing, which has been promoting the F-18E/F Super Hornets to replace the eight Hornets in service with RMAF.
Although Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and China have procured Su-30MKs and/or MiG-29s in recent times, there are many other countries in the region that are currently examining the procurement of next generation fighter aircraft from Russia.


Many former Warsaw Pact allies require new aircraft. There are also more than 900 Russian and Chinese manufactured MiG-21s in service in the region that will need to be upgraded in the short term, and replaced within a decade. India, Laos, Vietnam, North Korea and China are currently examining their options based on funding for future defence procurement.


The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has procured almost 200 Su-27s and Su-30MKs in recent years and is currently negotiating the purchase of 24 Su-30MK2s from Russia. The PLAAF is understood to be seeking western avionics for its indigenous combat fighter designs. The current goal is to have a mostly fourth-generation air force (with integrated C4ISR systems for increased battle effectiveness), giving it an advantage over the older fourth-generation aircraft of Taiwan, even though the ROCAF has been attempting to purchase latest generation Fighting Falcons to replace its older F-5s. The PLAAF is also developing its own fifth-generation fighter, the J-XX, as a possible counter to latest generation Western fighters; however it is still under development.


In early January this year China publicly unveiled the Chengdu Jian-10 (J-10) multi-role indigenous fighter jet, which first entered service with PLAAF about three years ago. Foreign military experts claimed that the J-10 cannot match the performance of fourth-generation US fighter jets, but its basic design and indigenous equipment are comparable to those of mainstream fighter aircraft in the West. As many as 300 J-10s may be produced. The J-10 first flew in 1998 and entered the PLAAF service in 2003, and the single-seat and twin-seat trainer are described as "all-weather, high-performance multi-role fighter aircraft capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles." Currently the J-10 fighters in service with the PLAAF are powered by a Russian-made Lyulka-Saturn AL-31F turbofan engine. Recent Chinese media reports however reported that the fighter was to be fitted with an indigenously built engine "within this year". With an indigenous jet engine, the J-10 could be making its way to China’s allies like Pakistan, Myanmar and some African countries.

 

Jet Trainers

Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica company, has signed with the Philippine Department of National Defence a contract valued at US$13.8 million for 18 SF-260F/PAF primary training aircraft in early 2008. In addition to the aircraft the contract, which is part of the programme to modernise the Philippine Armed Forces, also includes the training of pilots and technicians, technical assistance and the supply of ground support equipment and spare parts. The delivery of the 18 SF-260F/PAF trainers will start 12 months after contract signature and will conclude within 18 months. The aircraft will be assembled in the Philippines on behalf of Alenia Aermacchi, with the work being performed locally by Aerotech Industries Philippines Inc. The agreement is further confirmation of the training qualities of the Aermacchi SF-260, which the Philippine Air Force (PAF) had previously procured in both the piston-engined variant (46 aircraft) and the turbine-powered model (18). The PAF also uses another Alenia Aermacchi product, the S-211 jet, for basic and advanced training. Earlier the government made the decision to buy 52 trainer aircraft, 18 new and 34 used. It was reported that the second-hand are T41s, which will be bought from South Korea at a “very, very cheap price as trainer aircraft” as a special favour.


The first phase of T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer jet production has been completed. T-50 is South Korea's first semi-indigenous aircraft co-developed by Lockheed Martin. The development was 13% funded by the US firm, 17% by state-run Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and 70% by the Korean government.


More than 20 T-50s have been operational with the Republic of Korea Air Force since the first aircraft, under US$1.1 billion first-phase production, was delivered in December 2005, according to a March 2008 DAPA statement. The first aircraft under second phase production will roll out in August 2008. About 60 more T-50 and other variants, including an A-50 light attack aircraft version, are to be produced in coming years. About 10 T-50s will be operational with the air force's aerobatic flight team, Black Eagles, by 2012. The T-50 is now vying with Italy's Aermacchi M-346 for a United Arab Emirates bid to acquire more than 40 advanced trainers. Singapore is also a potential T-50 customer, along with the United States and Greece. In June 2007, KAI won the Turkish contract for more than 30 KT-1s, beating out the Super Tucano from Brazil's Embraer. The deal was worth about US$450 million.


The Indian Air Force inducted the British-built Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) Hawk as trainer aircraft for its fighter pilots in February 2008. The AJTs, purchased after a much-debated bidding process, were inducted at the Air Force Station in Bidar, nearly 150kms from Hyderabad, a region known as a cradle of fighter pilot training. The induction of the Hawk aircraft fulfils a long-pending requirement of the Indian Air Force for an Advanced Jet Trainer. With its proven design and advanced avionics, the Hawk-132 aircraft is expected to bridge the gap between the performance spectrum of the Intermediate trainer and frontline fighter aircraft which trainee pilots would finally fly. The contract for purchase of 66 AJTs was signed in 2004 amid furore over frequent crashes of the MiG-21 fighter aircraft which had earned the sobriquet “flying coffins”. Of the 66 AJT Hawk-132 aircraft, 24 will be bought from the British Aerospace Systems (BAE) while the remaining 42 will be manufactured under license by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited at Nashik and Bangalore. 

 

Air-to-Air, Surface-to-Air & Air-to-Surface Missiles

In a major breakthrough, India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, successfully test-fired for the first time a close combat air-to-air missile off the Goa coast in October 2007. The LCA fired a Russian R-73 air-to-air missile during a technology demonstrator flight. Hailing it as a “milestone”, a Defence Ministry spokesman said this heralds the start of the weaponisation of Tejas.


The Indian government has cleared a Rs10,000-crore project with Israel to develop an advanced medium-range surface-to-air (MR-SAM) missile system capable of detecting and destroying hostile aircraft, missiles and spy drones at a range of 70km. The project, approved by Cabinet Committee on Security, will provide the Indian Air Force (IAF) with nine advanced air defence squadrons, each with two MR-SAM firing units, for “protection of vital and strategic ground assets and area air defence.” The project is crucial because there are still “many gaping holes” in India’s radar network and the armed forces only have near-obsolete air defence units like Russian-origin Pechora, OSA-AK and Igla missile systems. To further augment air defence capabilities, IAF is also on course to procure 18 Spyder quick-reaction low-level missile systems from Israel.


Raytheon Missile Systems of the United States has been awarded a contract to build AIM-9X tactical air-to-air missiles for South Korea's F-15K aircraft. The South Korean Air Force will receive a total of 102 AIM-9X missiles, and associated equipment and services. The AIM-9 missile is a supersonic, heat-guided, air-to-air missile carried by most western fighter aircraft. The missile is used for self-defense purposes in a close range combat situation, less than 20km, also known as a dogfight. The AIM-9X is the most advanced variant.


Singapore is seeking up to 84 precision-guided bombs for its F-15 fighter jet fleet as part of a military package valued at up to US$200 million. The notice of a potential sale is required by US law. It does not mean a sale has been concluded. Congress retains the power to block a sale but rarely does so.

 

Transport Aircraft

The increase in peacekeeping missions and disaster relief operations in the region have served to prioritise the acquisition of military transport aircraft by Asian countries. Just about every air force in the region has a requirement for new tactical transport aircraft.


As the venerable C-130 Hercules continues to soldier on after more than four decades in service, newer tactical transport aircraft such as the A400M from Airbus Military, C-295 from EADS, and C-27J Spartan from LMATTS (Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems) have begun to enter service in the Asia-Pacific.


Malaysia will be among the first in the world to use the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft. The Royal Malaysian Air Force has ordered four A400M aircraft costing RM2.8 billion (US$840 million), to be delivered in 2015. Germany and South Africa also ordered the aircraft which useful for humanitarian missions. An RMAF spokesperson said the aircraft could reduce flying time when sending troops to overseas missions. Previously the RMAF had to use commercial aircraft for foreign missions. He also added that although the RMAF would have the larger aircraft, the existing 20 Hercules transport aircraft would still be in service for domestic usage.


The Royal Australian Air Force received its third Boeing C-17A Globemaster III. The aircraft joined two other giant Globemasters already in service with No. 36 Squadron.  The C-17 project's US$2.2 billion budget includes the construction of permanent facilities for No. 36 Squadron and supporting agencies at RAAF Amberley. The aircraft is the third of four Globemasters for Australia and a continuing growth in RAAF's Responsive Global Airlift Capability. Globemasters are already demonstrating their value in Australian Defence Force operations and exercises, supporting other ADF activities and humanitarian and disaster relief. The Air Force accepted this third aircraft from Boeing last December. The fourth Globemaster is due to arrive later in 2008. The Globemaster carries up to four times the payload of the C-130. It can carry more than 70 tonnes of cargo, or up to three Black Hawk helicopters, a single Chinook helicopter, or five Australian Light Armoured Vehicles.


The Royal Thai Air Force will spend about a billion baht (US$30 million) to modernise the avionics of its six C-130H transport aircraft. Thai Aviation Industries Co is the supplier and the modernisation will be paid for from the national budget from this year till 2010. The modernisation of the entire fleet of the 12 C-130H transport airplanes is nearly complete. Earlier, six of the planes had undergone modernisation at a cost of 900 million bath (US$27 million) to be paid for by instalments between 2006 and 2008. The avionics on the transport airplanes are old. The parts production lines have been terminated. The old equipment poses a major obstacle as aircraft on international missions are subject to equipment-requirement regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.


The New Zealand Cabinet has agreed to a US$21.2m project to upgrade the self-protection system fitted to the C-130 Hercules aircraft. The C-130 fleet provides the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) with an essential air transport capability for a wide variety of roles and tasks and the air force wants to ensure that the aircraft and the NZDF personnel travelling onboard are protected against possible threats. These aircraft frequently operate in locations such as Afghanistan where there are potential ground based, anti-aircraft threats. The C-130 fleet has been equipped with a self-protection capability since the 1990s. However, a significant escalation in the sophistication and availability of anti-aircraft missiles means it is appropriate to upgrade the existing system to meet this evolving threat.


The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will get five C-130 cockpit upgrade kits from the US to improve operational capabilities of the ageing fleet of its main transport aircraft. The USAF has awarded the US$6 million contract to Rockwell Collins for supplying avionics kits to the PAF. A spokesman for the PAF said that the air force would be getting the upgrade kits for its current fleet and added that it was one of components of the US$75 million agreement with the US government that also included the sale of six C-130 aircraft to Pakistan. The upgrade contract will be completed in a year and it is expected that the PAF will start getting the deliveries by the later part of 2008. It was reported that the avionics and display systems company is likely to provide communication, navigational and surveillance system including Flight 26x8-inch multi-function displays, AN/ARC-210 radios, SAT-2000, multimode receivers, automatic direction finder and high frequency data link upgrades. After the upgrades the C-130s are expected to have improved situational awareness, reduced crew workload and enhanced flight safety features.

 

AEW&C Aircraft

Countries in the Asia-Pacific are expected to account for about 50% of the world market for Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) platforms that are valued at US$30 billion over the next decade. The concept of C4ISR has really taken off in the region and therefore it is little surprise that so many Asian nations are seeking to develop AEW&C capabilities. Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, China and Pakistan have identified requirements for AEW&C aircraft while Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines are planning procurement of such platforms before the end of the decade. The contenders include the Airbus A320-200 led by Thales, Airbus A321-200 with L3-Com, Gulfstream G-550 and Ilyushin Il-76 by Israel Aircraft Industries’ Elta Industries, and the B737-700 from Boeing, which supplied units to Australia and Turkey.


The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is finally fulfilling its dream, by equiping its fleet with an airborne early warning (AEW) plane, although it will be a second-hand one. The first AEW aircraft built by SAAB of Sweden will be deployed in 2010, about a year ahead of delivery of the first batch of Gripen C/D jets. The AEW plane comes as part of a 19 billion bath (US$560 million) aircraft procurement package, which includes six Gripen fighters, a used plane for transport and logistic support and training in Sweden for Thai pilots to get familiar with the multi-role Swedish Gripen. Both the AEW and transport planes are the same model - the two-engined SAAB 340. They have been in operation for about 10 years, but will be refurbished before delivery to Thailand. Although the Thais’ AEW aircraft is a used one, the technology will make a big change in the history of the Thai air force.  The air force's desire to have an AEW plane started about a decade ago. It planned to modify one of its C-130 transport planes for this purpose in 1997 and 1998 to use with the F-16 fighters and probably the F-18 fighters to be bought from the US.


The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on April 3 got the first of the five airborne early warning and control aircraft it ordered from the SAAB, according to a PAF statement. The first SAAB 2000 Erieye aircraft for the PAF was rolled out in Sweden and prepared for flight trials by the year end after being equipped with a full suite of mission systems, including radars and avionics. The aircraft will be put through trials before being delivered to the PAF in 2009. The PAF plans to have a fleet of five SAAB 2000 Erieye aircraft. Pakistan signed a contract with SAAB for the AEW&C in June 2006 and the aircraft have been specially developed to the PAF's requirements. The aircraft will also be equipped with electronic surveillance support systems for intelligence gathering and a full set of defensive aids. The project merges SAAB's 2000 turboprop aircraft with Ericsson's Erieye radar system.


The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has nicknamed the country's first airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft as “Peace Eye.” The spy airplane will be deployed from 2011. The military said it picked the name among six finals sent by civilians and service personnel through two rounds of review and opinion polls for the E-737 based on Boeing's 737-700 aircraft. The Peace Eye, which means a watchful eye to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula, matched the expectations to stress a peaceful role and general missions of the AWACS, the Air Force said. In 2006, Seoul agreed to purchase the four spy planes, known for their unique blend of high-performance and mission equipment, from Boeing.  The airplane is capable of 360-degree detection and tracking of air and sea targets with a 400-kilometer radius.


Two aircraft will be delivered in 2011 and the other two will arrive in South Korea the following year. Australia and Turkey also adopted the same 737 airplane, named “Wedge Tail” (Tasmanian Eagle) and “Peace Eagle,” respectively.


Boeing has conducted a successful functional check flight of the first 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft modified in Australia for Project Wedgetail. During the two-and-one-half hour flight on Jan 23 2008 from Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, they performed a series of functional tests that verified the airworthiness of the aircraft's systems and structures. The flight followed major aircraft modifications performed by Boeing Australia Limited at Amberley, including the installation and checkout of an advanced Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) antenna, ventral fins and mission system equipment. The plane then will return to Australia to complete configuration updates and production acceptance testing prior to delivery. Boeing will deliver the first two Wedgetail aircraft in March 2009 and the remaining four aircraft by the end of 2009.
The India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is looking for a partner in the product maintenance of the three airborne early warning and control system (AEW&CS) aircraft that it is building for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The DRDO had initiated pre-proposal talks with some private and public sector companies, including Larsen and Toubro, Tata Power and Bharat Electronics Limited for the “eye in the sky” project. This project involves using a flying platform (most likely the Embraer EMB 145) and mounting sensors (radars) that look deep and far, and provide C2BM (command and control, battle management) functions by datalink for both tactical and defence forces.

 

Aircraft Tankers

Aerial refuelling can extend a force's strike range past their normal limits, which is why many countries require aerial tankers. Many of the air forces in the Asia-Pacific region understand the importance of increasing the range of their combat and surveillance aircraft through the acquisition of aircraft tankers, or upgrading existing aircraft such as C-130s to tanker aircraft.


Japan's first air tanker, which will greatly extend the range of fighter jets, including F-15s and F-2s, arrived at the Air Self-Defence Force base in Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture. The KC-767, a version of the Boeing 767 passenger jet that provides aerial refuelling for other aircraft, is to be handed over to the ASDF on Feb 2008 after maintenance work at a Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd plant adjacent to the base. The ASDF plans to procure four KC-767s. They will be deployed to the Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture. Delivery is one year behind schedule due to problems with some parts, requiring repair work by Boeing. Procurement of the KC-767s, which will also be used for transport missions, was part of the five-year defence build-up programme for 2001-2005.


The Taiwanese Air Force confirmed its plan to purchase KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft from the US. At the moment, they are yet to hear anything from the US regarding their request to purchase the KC-135. The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker has been in service with the US Air Force since 1957. It can hold more than 90 tonnes of fuel. Among Taiwan's major fighter aircraft, only the US-made F-16 Falcon is equipped with the necessary “facilities” for air refuelling. These “facilities,” however, were sealed by the US before the aircraft were sold to Taiwan. However, Taiwan claimed that these “facilities” for air refuelling can be restored at any time. It was reported that the first group of F-16 pilots was trained for air refuelling during their training in the US. The Air Force did not provide details on the procurement, nor would it mention the budget allotted or the quantity of aircraft it planned to acquire.


EADS has successfully completed ground vibration testing of the Royal Australian Air Force's first KC-30B Multi-role Tanker Transport (MRTT), advancing the world's most capable military aerial refuelling tanker/transport programme closer to the flight test phase. Designed to validate the KC-30B MRTT's airframe structural response, these ground-based tests were conducted with the centreline fly-by-wire Aerial Refuelling Boom System (ARBS) and two underwing hose-and-drogue pods installed. Since the aircraft's underwing pods can be installed or removed depending on operational requirements, ground vibration testing was also performed without the pods. Completion of the EADS ground-based evaluations, which were monitored by international airworthiness authorities, clears the way for the start of flight tests with the no. 1 KC-30B MRTT, including in-flight refuelling contacts with a variety of receiver aircraft.

 

UAVs

The global market for UAVs over a period of 10 years is reportedly close to US$14 billion, with countries in the Asia-Pacific expected to account for some 355 units. Although some countries in the region have acquired tactical UAVs such as Searcher II, every defence force wants to acquire UAVs such as Bell Textron’s Eagle Eye, General Atomic’s Predator B and Northrop Grumman’s Global Hawk.
Australia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea are some of the US allies in the region that have expressed a strong interest in procuring the Global Hawk. However, with a price tag of US$35 million per unit such procurement plans are some way off. Australia has announced that it wants to procure Global Hawk but so far has not signed a contract.


The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) inducted the indigenously manufactured Uqaab (eagle) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System (UAVs). It said that the long endurance of UAVs provides sustained support for more efficient and time-critical targeting, and other missions requiring greater persistence than what is provided by manned aircraft. In the future, the PAF is looking forward to equip these UAVs with the most modern and lethal payloads, thereby enhancing their capability even further. Defence sources said Pakistan had developed two versions of UAVs. The two versions include a tactical version of UAV with the flying range of 150km onwards while the strategic version of the UAV can go up to 350km onwards. The two state-of-the-art systems can undertake a pre-programmed mission or can be piloted by the Air Vehicle Controller. The strategic version of the UAV has the capability to adapt to the change of mission during the flight. It can transmit information and data through ground control station and can even change the flight path, height and speed according to the situation.


South Korea's Air Force plans to create a tactical reconnaissance wing consisting of surveillance airplanes, advanced airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by 2012 in a bid to develop its independent intelligence gathering and surveillance capabilities against North Korea. The Seoul government is also seeking to purchase four RQ-4B Global Hawk spy planes from the US by 2011. The Global Hawk entered service after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the US. It is designed to survey vast areas with near pinpoint accuracy from as high as 65,000 feet for up to 35 hours. A unit costs US$27.6 million. The latest model, the RQ-4B, is estimated to cost US$45-60 million. The RQ-4B would be able to fly just outside North Korean air space and see everything that is going on inside the North. South Korea's arms procurement agency, Defence Acquisition Programme Administration, requested about US$200 million for the purchase of the Global Hawk. Seoul's plan to purchase Global Hawks has been stalled, however, as overseas sales of the aircraft are prohibited under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a global arms control pact. The MTCR is a voluntary association of countries that share the goal of non-proliferation of ballistic missiles and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical, biological and nuclear attacks. The Global Hawk is classified as a category 1 item by the 34-member regime. MTCR members are required to coordinate national export licensing efforts, and all MTCR decisions are made by consensus. The US is seeking to amend related provisions for the Global Hawk sale, but some member countries including Russia are skeptical about the plan, concerned it would undermine their own UAV technology.

 

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