Oct. 21, 2012 - By PAUL McLEARY Defense News

In many ways, the future of U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) looks similar to its past: Forward positioned forces will provide humanitarian assistance in partnership with the Navy and Air Force, as well as partner with host-nation forces to conduct multinational exercises and training programs.

The difference lies in the details. The 70,000 soldiers assigned to USARPAC, along with National Guard and reserve units taking part in the state partnership program with other nations, are looking to become even more active in the region, seeking to build new military-to-military partnerships with countries such as Vietnam and Myanmar. They also will restock and modernize garrisons in South Korea and Hawaii forced to make sacrifices as troops and equipment flowed to the Middle East over the first decade of this new century.

“You know, my boss is in Burma right now,” Maj. Gen. Roger Mathews, deputy commanding general of USARPAC, told Defense News when asked about some of the new outreach programs. “We are forward deployed in the region, so day in and day out we’re involved in working our relationships … to help develop everything from medical capabilities all the way through to major exercises.”

Given the new forward-leaning posture of U.S. forces in the region, Mathews said his job “is essentially being split next month, and we’re going to create a deputy commanding general for operations, Maj. Gen. Rick Burr, an Australian. That whole business of building partner capacity is huge, and you can see how that’s changing here.”

The Department of Defense recently announced that I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state will regionally align to the Pacific, “so what that does is give the [Pacific Command] commander assurance that he’s going to have another three-star capable headquarters in the mix,” Mathews said.

Since missions in the region range from theater security cooperation to humanitarian assistance to full-scale conventional operations, “there’s a lot that regionally aligned forces can do in this theater,” Mathews added, “and I Corps now has been added into that mix. That puts three three-star headquarters in the Pacific Area of Responsibility, with 8th Army being focused on the [Korean] peninsula.”

The Army also may establish a force rotation model to beef up the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea, which would not only expose more soldiers to the region but also improve their access to prepositioned stocks the Army is looking to ship to the country.

“The use of strategic lift is a commodity [in short supply], so you really have to look at how you use your prepositioned stocks to shorten the timeline for use,” he said.

While plans for prepositioning stocks in the region are still in the works, Mathews did say that one of the priorities will be to make better use of Army training ranges in Hawaii, Alaska and South Korea.

“We’ve got to find a way to leverage those facilities without moving a lot of equipment and troops around,” he said. The service is considering positioning Stryker units on the Big Island of Hawaii, as well as placing stocks in Australia, since the Marine Corps is increasing its presence there.

Whatever missions American forces take part in across the Asia-Pacific region, they will likely occur in partnership with regional allies, Mathews said, since building partner capacity not only helps host nations, but increases American security, as well. Ë

October 19, 2012 china-defense

Luda class DDG 107 "Yinchuan" decommissioned today after 36 years of service (here) marking it the third decommissioned Luda Class in recent weeks.

Oct. 19, 2012 – Defense news (AFP)

BANGKOK — The United States plans to invite Myanmar to a major regional military exercise next year, host country Thailand said Oct. 19, reflecting a dramatic easing of tensions between the former foes.

The move would see Myanmar’s military, which ruled the nation with an iron fist for almost half a century and is accused of a litany of human rights abuses, join the annual Cobra Gold drills as an observer.

“Myanmar is on the list of observers but it’s not finalized yet,” Thai Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Thanathip Sawangsang said, adding that the participants would discuss the idea at a meeting later this month.

Cobra Gold is the United States’ largest multilateral exercise in the Asia-Pacific region, bringing together thousands of troops from the United States, Thailand and other countries for field training.

Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia are expected to participate next year along with 13 observer nations, Thai officials said.

Past survival training sessions have seen troops drink snake blood and behead chickens.

The proposal to invite Myanmar was Washington’s initiative, according to a senior Thai military official who did not want to be named.

“If all members agree ... it will become official,” he said.

A U.S. embassy spokesman declined to comment.

Relations between the United States and Myanmar have improved markedly since President Thein Sein took power 18 months ago, ushering in a period of rapid political reforms in the former pariah state.

Thein made a landmark trip to New York last month, becoming the first Myanmar leader to speak to the U.N. General Assembly, following a series of visits to Myanmar by U.S. officials including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The regime has released hundreds of political prisoners, welcomed Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition party back into mainstream politics and inked a series of cease-fire deals with ethnic minority rebels.

In response the United States and other Western countries have begun rolling back sanctions, despite concerns about an ethnic conflict raging in northern Kachin state and a surge in communal violence in western Rakhine.

New York-based Human Rights Watch has accused Myanmar forces of opening fire on Muslims in Rakhine, an accusation denied by the government.

Washington has also urged Myanmar to cut military ties with North Korea. Thein’s government has said that it will abide by U.N. resolutions banning weapons exports from the secretive communist state.

18 octobre 2012 Par Anja François RANDRIAVANIAINA - Tom's Guide FR

Si les drones sont généralement utilisés au profit des forces armées et de la sécurité, celui imaginé par des militaires sud-coréens n'est pas tout à fait dans le même registre. Cette fois, l’aéronef effectuera des attaques kamikazes.

Développé par la firme Korea Aerospace Industries, le drone en question est baptisé Devil Killer. Plutôt compact, l’aéronef mesure 150 cm de long pour une envergure d’aile de 130 cm. Sa principale mission est de frapper des cibles militaires avec une haute précision. L’avion kamikaze fera des crashs délibérés sur des pièces d’artillerie côtière ou sur des véhicules.  Pour accomplir cette mission, Devil Killer est équipé d’une vidéo caméra, d’un système de navigation et de bombes explosives. Le drone recherche automatiquement sa cible avant de s’écraser sur elle et ce, avec une vitesse maximale de 350 km/heure. Enfin, il accuse un poids de 25kg et possède des ailes repliables pour faciliter son transport.

En phase de concept, les militaires sud-coréens estiment que Devil Killer serait opérationnel dans les deux prochaines années.

October 19, 2012: Strategy Page

The Indian Army won a major victory over the Indian Air Force recently when the government agreed to transfer most attack helicopters from the air force to the army. That means the army gets control of over 270 armed helicopters (22 AH-64s, 179 light combat models and 76 armed Indian made transports). The air force will continue to operate a dozen or so elderly Mi-25 and Mi-35 helicopter gunships, until they retire by the end of the decade. These are export versions of the Russian Mi-24. The army has long complained that air force control of the armed helicopters, which were designed to support army operations, are sometimes difficult to get from the air force in a timely matter. Another aspect of this deal is a new agreement by the air force to station some transport helicopters at army bases in Kashmir, so that there will not be a delay when transport is needed for an emergency.

This sort of problem between the army and air force is not unique to India and is actually quite common. It all started back in the 1920s. For example, at the start of World War I (1914-18), the British Royal Navy had more aircraft than the Royal Flying Corps (which belonged to the army). But at the end of World War I, it was decided to put all aircraft under the control of the new Royal Air Force (the former Royal Flying Corps). The navy was not happy with this, and just before World War II broke out, the admirals got back control of their aircraft, at least the ones that operated from ships (especially aircraft carriers).

The army reformed its Army Air Corps during World War II, to control artillery spotter aircraft, gliders (for parachute divisions), and a few other transports for supporting commando operations. After World War II, the Army Air Corps mainly controlled the growing fleet of transport and attack helicopters. The Indian Air Force has always refused to allow the Indian Army to do the same thing after modern India was created in 1947.

Air forces tend to keep at it. Royal Air Force generals recently demanded control of everything that flies, believing that this is more efficient. The army and navy, not to mention the experience of many other nations, said otherwise. At the very least, the army needs to control its helicopters, and some small transports. In Russia, the army always controlled ground attack aircraft, as well as some fighters. In the United States, the Marine Corps controlled its own fighters, light bombers and helicopters. It made a difference, especially to the marines on the ground, that the marine aircraft were being flown by marines.

Another problem with a unified air force is that it becomes, quite naturally, air force centric. This is understandable, and the air force proceeds to develop strategies, and tactics, that emphasize looking at military matters from an air force viewpoint. Before World War II, this led to the doctrine of strategic bombardment. This was supposed to be a decisive weapon, but it wasn't. When nuclear weapons came along, the air force believed that it finally had a way to make strategic bombardment decisive. But it didn't, as ballistic missiles (another form of artillery) became the key delivery system for nukes, and nuclear weapons were so destructive that they became more of a threat, than a weapon that you could use (and they have not been used again, since the first two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan in 1945.) The fact of the matter is that wars are still ultimately won by the ground forces. As the army likes to point out, the ultimate air superiority weapon is your infantry occupying the enemy air bases. Everyone else (the navy and air force) is there to support the infantry in actually winning the war.

18 octobre 2012 Par Rédacteur en chef. PORTAIL DES SOUS-MARINS

Si un sous-marin indien restait bloqué au fond de la mer, les marins ne pourraient être secourus puisque le pays n’a que des installations de sauvetage rudimentaires. Dans un exercice unique et complexe, les marines indienne et américaine vont s’entraîner ensemble au sauvetage de sous-mariniers bloqués en profondeur.

Cet exercice de sauvetage se déroulera ce mois-ci. L’US Navy devrait envoyer par avion un système de sauvetage — un deep-submergence rescue vessel (DSRV) ou un submarine rescue chamber (SRC) — à Mumbai.

Ce matériel sera ensuite acheminé vers la zone d’exercice, où il plongera pour s’amarrer sur le sous-marin en détresse pour récupérer les sous-mariniers. Il s’agit d’une manœuvre rarement exécutée par des marins indiens.

Les moyens de sauvetage dont dispose la marine indienne — des combinaisons de sauvetage ou des navires de soutien de plongée — ne peuvent intervenir que dans des eaux relativement peu profondes.

Depuis 10 ans, la marine indienne souhaite acquérir son propre système de sauvetage, sans succès jusqu’à présent. A titre « temporaire », l’Inde a signé en 1997 un contrat avec l’US Navy pour pouvoir utiliser ses moyens d’intervention dans le monde entier.

Mais l’accord a été suspendu après les sanctions prises par le gouvernement américain, après les essais nucléaires Pokhran-II, en 1998. Il a été relancé en 2004, mais il y a eu des retards importants dans la mise en place des infrastructures nécessaires.

Il a ainsi fallu fixer des “Padeyes” — des anneaux soudés autour du sas de sauvetage permettant au DSRV de s’amarrer au sous-marin.

Référence : Times of India

Oct 18, 2012 ASDNews Source : Rheinmetall AG

    A reliable partner for the Australian Defence Force

Australia is one of the most important powers in the Asia-Pacific region. The Land Warfare Conference (LWC) 2012 offers an impressive overview of the latest developments in wheeled and tracked vehicles, weapons, ammunition, command and control technology, force protection systems, sensors and much more. Rheinmetall, one of the world’s leading suppliers of defence technology, will be exhibiting a selection of its product portfolio to Australian and international military delegations and other experts. The Land Warfare Conference takes place from 29 October to 2 November 2012 in Melbourne.

Mobility

Dependable vehicles form the key link in every logistic’s chain. Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles’ (RMMV) robust and versatile TG, HX and SX vehicle series have reliably served armies around the world for many decades. RMMV is proposing its HX series for Australia’s LAND 121 Phase 3B programme, for which RMMV was selected as preferred bidder in December 2011.

All HX vehicles are “military off the shelf” (MOTS) products specially developed for military applications. The HX series ensures extreme mobility and reliability even in the harshest terrain. RMMV’s HX MOTS vehicle family not only features outstanding mobility, protection and reliability, but also displays maximum modularity and interoperability.

The HX series can be either equipped with a modular armoured cabin (MAC) or a fully integrated armoured cabin to meet the highest STANAG or MIL-STD specifications with regard to ballistic and mine protection.

At LWC 2012, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles is showcasing an advanced version of the protected HX series for the first time in Australia. The HX 4x4 is equipped with an integrated armoured cabin as well as the active hard-kill system ADS (Active Defence System). Also on display at the Rheinmetall stand is a version of the HX 8x8 with modular armour, integrated load handling system (ILHS) and solar shield.

Simulation

With over 2,000 systems in service worldwide, Rheinmetall offers a comprehensive array of live, virtual and constructive simulation products ranging from low-cost computer-based training systems to highly advanced full-mission simulators for surface combatants, submarines, land and aerial platforms as well as live training for land and air applications. It is a leader in simulation capabilities for fully networked joint and combined exercises.

Rheinmetall has just expanded its international simulation activities to include Australia. Its Adelaide-based subsidiary, Rheinmetall Simulation Australia, is a sign of the Group’s strong commitment to consult and support customers in all areas of simulation and training technologies.

The generic “Demonstrator for Gunnery and Combat Simulation” clearly shows Rheinmetall’s expertise in the simulation of tank and infantry fighting vehicles for crew training. The demonstrator features the Rheinmetall simulation system TacSi as its simulator core and an integrated VBS2 visualisation system. It will be on display at LWC 2012.

Munitions

As a performance-driven global player, Rheinmetall has unique expertise and innovative strength in armour, artillery, air defence, medium calibre, mortar and infantry ammunition and systems. Its stated aim is to supply the world’s armed forces with customized services and an unparalleled range of products that includes environment-friendly and insensitive ammunition as well as state-of-the-art effectors. Prominent examples are the Group’s comprehensive portfolio of 40mm x 46 (low velocity/LV and medium velocity/MV) and 40mm x 53 high velocity (HV) ammunition, the new family of insensitive 60mm mortar bombs, medium-calibre Ahead airburst ammunition, 105mm and 155mm artillery ammunition and propulsion systems and, last but not least, programmable 120mm tank rounds that are fully compatible with Rheinmetall’s 120mm smoothbore gun, which of course serves as the main armament of the Abrams tank in service with the ADF.

In addition to this, with more than 40 industrial sites, Rheinmetall Defence has extensive experience in plant design, including development, engineering and production – an essential capability for safeguarding operational excellence in Europe, North America and Africa.

Rheinmetall’s exceptional knowledge and competence in the field of ammunition, its solid track record with various forms of operator models, its successful turn-around of previous less-than-optimally run ammunition and propellant plants within months of taking operational control, as well as its strong focus on global operations, make the Group an ideal partner for the Australian Domestic Munitions Manufacturing Arrangements Project (DMMA).

Air defence

Modern air defence systems have to counter traditional threats from above as well as random asymmetric attacks in the form of rocket, artillery and mortar fire (RAM). Rheinmetall Air Defence’s response to these tactical and technical challenges is the Oerlikon Skyshield MOOTW/C-RAM system. This system is designed to protect military installations and critical civilian infrastructure from RAM attacks domestically and during expeditionary deployed operations – whether in high-intensity conventional conflicts or during military operations other than war (MOOTW).

The Skyshield MOOTW/C-RAM system is based on Rheinmetall’s Ahead airburst technology. The German Bundeswehr has already procured two Skyshield MOOTW/C-RAM systems, which it refers to as Mantis.

Rheinmetall’s Air Defence team will demonstrate a visual presentation of the Skyshield MOOTW/C-RAM system at the Land Warfare Conference. Fabian Ochsner will also give a lecture about the Swiss solution of using ground-based air defence systems in MOOTW and other scenarios. Furthermore, Rheinmetall is displaying its Oerlikon Skybat Simulator, a training system for the Skyshield and the Skyguard air defence systems.

Protection

When it comes to force protection and civil defence, Rheinmetall supplies cutting-edge systems and comprehensive, single-source solutions – whether the aim is preventing optical, optronic or electronic detection, perfecting individual body armour, developing innovative vehicle systems or even safeguarding large-scale critical infrastructure.

Rheinmetall Chempro und Rheinmetall Verseidag Ballistic Protection Systems are responsible for the Group’s passive protection products. These are made of lightweight, high-performance materials. They are designed for applications in tactical vehicles, helicopters and ships to protect troops and crewmembers. Inserts for ballistic vests made from these materials are also available.

“Soft-kill” solutions offer excellent active protection for ground vehicles as well as fixed-wing aircraft helicopters and ships. Smoke/obscurant systems like ROSY make vehicles invisible to the enemy in the event of an ambush. “Hard-kill” systems such as Rheinmetall’s ADS neutralize incoming projectiles before they reach their target, serving as a first line of defence.

Rheinmetall has been one of the most trusted names in the international defence industry for well over a century thanks in part to its unsurpassed ability to integrate new and existing technology into a highly effective “systems of systems”.

On show at LWC 2012 are ROSY and ADS as well as a protected wheel case.

Network-enabled solutions

A key element for the transformation of armed forces is the networking of existing and new capabilities in joint and combined arms as well as for border security operations – moving away from platform-oriented approaches to capability and network-enabled solutions. At every echelon, sensors, C2 and support systems are integrated into a network to create an appropriate overall C4ISTAR architecture.

In Melbourne Rheinmetall Defence Electronics will be showcasing its C4ISTAR system integrator competence, presenting an ultramodern crew compartment.

A fully digital, interoperable, modular platform, this independent land system solution uses open architecture and standard interfaces. It even includes future system characteristics such as augmented reality. The sensor-to-shooter chain is completely covered, giving the crew a full common operational picture and an unrivalled ability to react faster and with greater precision than ever before. The system has already been successfully integrated into several vehicles and turrets such as the Rheinmetall Lance turret and the MBT Revolution Upgrade Kit, and is linked to Rheinmetall Defence Electronics’ state-of-the-art Gladius future soldier system (formerly known as IdZ-ES).

Sensors and fire control technology

High-performance sensors and fire control systems make it possible to quickly detect, identify and discriminate between potential threats, engaging these where necessary. At LWC 2012 Rheinmetall’s Electro-optics business unit is presenting a selection of its diverse array of products in this field.

Visitors can inspect the Group’s tried-and-tested laser pointers, laser target markers and laser light modules, including the Vario Ray (LLM-VR), and the LLM01, which is in service with numerous armed forces and law enforcement agencies worldwide. The Group’s ZEFF identification friend-foe system, known as the Dismounted Soldier Identification Device/DSID, tops off the division’s product range on display, together with its Multi-Ray fire control unit.

Together with the Saphir 9.6 aiming device and a fire control unit, the Vingmate aiming and fire control system features a combined tripod and gun cradle. It is thus suitable for various 40mm automatic grenade launchers such as the MK19 and GMG, but also for heavy .50 cal. machine guns like the BMG, or even 20mm automatic cannon such as the GAM B01. Multi-Ray and Vingmate are both designed to permit programming of airburst rounds via an infrared laser beam as they leave the barrel.

Rheinmetall: global source for defence technology

Rheinmetall, globally recognized for its core competencies, stands for capacity-oriented innovation. Based in Düsseldorf, Germany, Rheinmetall supplies the world’s armed forces with systems and equipment developed and designed to ensure successful outcomes in complex modern military operations. Its Combat Systems, Wheeled Vehicles and Electronic Solutions divisions have loyal customers worldwide.

Rheinmetall also maintains an extensive network of international partnerships serving new markets as well as enabling technology transfer that substantially benefits both the industry and military of customer nations. This makes Rheinmetall a highly sought-after industrial partner in the quest to supply modern armed forces with advanced capabilities.

The Rheinmetall products on display at LWC 2012 underscore the multifaceted capabilities of one of the world’s leading suppliers of high-quality systems and equipment for armed forces and law enforcement agencies.

October 18, 2012 by Ritu Sharma - defenceeXpress

In a bid to address the “critical hollowness” faced by the Indian Army especially in the form of depleting tank ammunition, the Cabinet Committee on Security on Thursday cleared purchase of 10,000 Invar missiles from Russia worth Rs. 2,000 crore along with the acquisition of BrahMos missiles for the Indian Air Force (IAF), valuing around Rs. 6,000 crore.

A file photo of the Sukhoi fighter jet with BrahMos air version at display at DefExpo-2012

The shortage of tank ammunition was brought to the light in a letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by the former Indian Army Chief General VK Singh. The former Army Chief had written that the force was left with only 3-4 days of ammunition in case of an emergency. On Thursday the CCS headed by the Prime Minister cleared the purchase of 10,000 Invar missiles for the Russian-built T-90 tanks at an estimate cost of around Rs. 2,000 crore.

Under the proposal, the 10,000 Invars will be brought off the shelf from the Russian manufacturers whereas 10,000 more will be licensed-produced by Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) under Transfer of Technology. Invar is fired from the gun barrel of T-90 tanks that are going to be mainstay of the Indian Army’s armoured corps in the years to come.

The CCS also gave its nod for the procurement of the air-version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile that has the capability of hitting within a range of 290 km. The BrahMos acquisition for the IAF also includes funds for retrofitting of the missiles with the Russian-built Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets. The integration of missile – co-developed by India and Russia – will be done by the Indian aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

Presently two Su-30MKI fighter jets are being equipped with the air version of BraMos and the test are scheduled to be conducted by December end.

Oct. 18, 2012 By NIGEL PITTAWAY  Defense News

New Transport Capabilities Extend AF Reach Beyond Tactical Ops

MELBOURNE — Australia’s airlift capability has steadily evolved in recent years, with the Royal Australian Air Force now operating on a global scale in addition to supporting forces at home.

The first C-130J-30 Hercules by Lockheed Martin was delivered more than a decade ago. Five Boeing C-17s are in service and new A330-based tanker transports are on the way.

Capability will be further enhanced over the next few years with the introduction of the Alenia C-27J Spartan to fill the battlefield airlifter role in 2015, and beyond that, replacement of the VIP fleet.

In January 2006, the Air Force’s Air Lift Group was a largely tactically focused force which, apart from a handful of elderly De Havilland Canada Caribous and Boeing 707s, was centered on the C-130.

At that time, Air Lift Group owned 47 aircraft that could carry 3,775 people and 656 tons of cargo. By January 2016, when the C-27J is in service, it will have one fewer aircraft, but lift capacity will be 4,321 passengers and 950 tons of cargo.

And thanks to the retirement of the Caribous and 707s and the imminent withdrawal of the C-130H Hercules fleet, the average aircraft age will drop from 24 years to just nine. Australia’s Hercules have been constantly deployed to the Middle East for almost a decade, operating first in Iraq and later Afghanistan.

In December 2006, the first C-17A Globemaster III was delivered to Australia. This aircraft transformed the way Air Lift Group does business. The sixth and final aircraft is due to be delivered at the end of October, and these aircraft bear the brunt of deployments to and from the Middle East, as well as humanitarian and disaster relief efforts around the globe.

“The C-17A has been incredibly successful and represents our biggest leap so far, coming out of a C-130-centric business, then transforming into an intercontinental operator working in the hub-and-node style of operations,” said Air Commodore Gary Martin, commander of the Air Lift Group.

“We have a C-17A that transits to the Middle East every other week with up to 98,000 pounds of cargo in the back, taking the required vehicles, food supplies, weapon systems, etc., directly from Australia to Afghanistan in a single flight,” he said. “The aircraft then recovers to the United Arab Emirates and operates a shuttle back into Afghanistan for a few days. It’s definitely become the powerhouse of our global mass transport capability.”

The C-17A has also taken over many of the tactical roles in-theater, including airdropping of supplies using the Joint Precision Air Drop System, with an accuracy of about 10 meters.

“That’s one of the huge changes, the speed and distance that can be covered and the ability to get the load to the person in the foxhole in the dead of night and nobody knows we were there,” Martin said.

The stalwart of the Air Lift Group remains the Hercules, with 12 C-130J-30s and currently four C-130Hs in service. The older aircraft are being withdrawn and will cease flying in December. Four of the original 12 aircraft have been given to Indonesia, and the sale of a further six to the Indonesian Air Force was announced in August.

The C-130J-30 fleet is due for two further incremental software upgrades between 2014 and 2019 and the installation of the Large Aircraft Infra-Red Counter Measures self-protection system.

“That then gives us a highly maneuverable aircraft, well-tested and well-tried, and one which is still able to conduct all the tactical activities we require, both in the region and in the prolonged operations we are undertaking in Afghanistan,” Martin said.

The next aircraft type to be acquired is the C-27J, 10 of which are on order through the Foreign Military Sales program with the United States for delivery beginning in 2015. The 1.4 billion Australian dollar ($1.43 billion) deal has attracted critics, who claimed an open competition was not conducted and questioned the value of purchasing a European aircraft through an FMS deal. The project is the subject of an ongoing review by the Australian National Audit Office.

The Air Force has steadfastly maintained its preference for the aircraft, which will fill the battlefield airlift role vacated by the retirement of the Caribou in 2009.

“The C-27J will fill the niche between [the Chinook helicopter] and Hercules quite nicely, and the contract negotiations between our Transition Team, the Project Office, the USAF and [Italian C-27J builder] Alenia are progressing very well,” Martin said. “We’re in the early stages, but most of the timelines have been established.”

Australia is acquiring five KC-30A multirole tanker transports from Airbus Military, and despite a series of delays to the project, Martin said the aircraft is settling into service well.

“We performed 71 tasks last month [September] with two out of the three aircraft delivered so far and of those, 50 percent were air-to-air refueling missions and we didn’t have a single aircraft turn away from us,” he said. “Considering we’ve only been flying it for one year and we’re not even at initial operating capability [due in December] yet, that’s a great achievement,” he said.

Work with the Advanced Aerial Refueling Boom System has not commenced, however, due to a boom separation incident over the Atlantic Ocean in January 2011. Trials will commence next year.

“This aircraft can look after six fighters from Australia to the mainland United States quite happily,” Martin said. “Its loiter time and fuel-offload capabilities are almost twice that of a KC-10A.”

The final part of the Air Lift Group jigsaw puzzle will be the replacement of its three Bombardier Challengers and two 737-Boeing business jets (BBJs) in the VIP fleet between 2016 and 2019.

“Looking at the Challenger market, there’s probably between 11 and 17 corporate jets out there right now which could fulfill our requirements in a pretty dynamic way,” Martin said. “But when it comes to the BBJ replacement, it’s really between Airbus and Boeing.”

“The Australian Defence Force will soon have the complete package, from strategic airlift capability down to local,” said Andrew Davies of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. “It will be capable of hub-and-spoke operations anywhere in the world.”

Cyber Test Range will help Australian military develop, test and evaluate integrated cyber technologies

18.10.2012 DEFENSE STUIDES

19 October 2012 Pacific Sentinel