South Korea's Navy plans to build the second ship of the Dokdo class large-deck landing ships as a light carrier to fly vertical takeoff aircraft, with a long-term goal of building two aircraft carriers by 2036. (US Navy)

Oct. 26, 2013 - By JUNG SUNG-KI  - Defense News

SEOUL — The South Korean Navy believes it can deploy two light aircraft carriers by 2036 and expand its blue-water force to cope with the rapid naval buildups of China and Japan, according to a Navy source.

The service has been exploring ways of securing light aircraft carriers based on an interim feasibility study, the source said.

“It’s a hope,” the Navy source said on condition of anonymity. “There are no fixed requirements at the moment, but we’ve been studying ways of launching light aircraft carriers over the next two decades.”

Rep. Chung Hee-soo of the ruling Saenuri Party revealed the contents of a program in a feasibility report last week.

“To cope with potential maritime disputes with neighboring countries, we need to secure aircraft carriers as soon as possible,” Chung, a member of the National Assembly’s Defense Committee, said during a confirmation hearing Oct. 11 for Adm. Choi Yoon-hee, new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “For more active international peacekeeping operations, our Navy should have carriers.”

According to Chung, the Navy envisions three phases:

■The first is to equip the second ship of the Dokdo-class landing platform helicopter ship (LPH) with a ski ramp to operate short-range or vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

The flight surface of the landing ship is already sprayed with urethane, which can withstand the heat created by the aircraft during operations.

Dokdo, with the addition of a ski ramp, could be deployed before 2019, according to the report, which suggests the Navy procure used VTOL jets from the US, UK and Spain if needed.

■Second, the Navy could build an amphibious assault ship, similar to the Spanish Navy’s Juan Carlos, before 2019.

■Finally, the service aims to build two 30,000-ton light aircraft carriers between 2028 and 2036, the report said. The carrier is to have specifications similar to the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour, which can support about 30 aircraft.

“We should have capabilities to deter North Korea, and at the same time, we need minimal capabilities to respond to potential threats from neighboring countries,” Choi replied to Chung, apparently referring to the naval buildups of China and Japan.

China commissioned its first aircraft carrier last year, with three more carriers planned. Japan, whose Navy is classed as a self-defense force, has controversially unveiled a 20,000-ton helicopter destroyer akin to a small aircraft carrier.

More Aegis Ships and Jets

During the National Assembly last week, the Navy unveiled mid- to long-term procurement plans to further strengthen its naval power.

The service plans to commission three more 7,600-ton KDX-III Aegis destroyers by 2023 to develop a strategic mobile fleet. The service has three KDX-III destroyers fitted with Lockheed Martin-built SPY-1D radar capable of tracking incoming ballistic missiles and enemy aircraft.

“The construction of new Aegis ships could be completed earlier than scheduled,” Adm. Hwang Gi-chul, chief of naval operations, testified. “And the new Aegis ships will have better stealth functions than those with the existing ships.”

The Navy will also launch six, 5,900-ton next-generation destroyers — dubbed KDDX — after 2023.

The development of an attack submarine is on track, according to the Navy. The service plans to commission six more 1,800-ton Type 214 submarines to bring the 214 fleet to nine subs by 2023. After that, it will deploy nine, 3,000-ton heavy attack submarines codenamed KSS-III. The KSS-III is to be equipped with a vertical launch tube to fire a 1,500-kilometer cruise missile that can hit key targets in North Korea.

Other procurement plans include the FFX program to build a dozen new frigates with advanced sensors and a wide variety of weaponry. The FFX program is intended to replace the aging fleet of existing Ulsan class frigates and Pohang class corvettes with multimission frigates.

The 2,300- to 3,000-ton FFX vessels are to be built in two batches with an objective of putting up to 24 ships into service by 2026.

The Navy also puts a priority on acquiring reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft. In particular, the service laid out plans to buy the Lockheed S-3 Vikings retired from front-fleet service aboard aircraft carriers by the US Navy in January 2009.

The service will purchase 18 S-3 jets and modify them into a new configuration meeting the Navy’s operational requirements. If adopted, it will be the first fixed-wing jet patrol aircraft operated by the South Korean Navy, which flies 16 P-3CK turboprop patrol aircraft.

“The S-3 introduction will offer a great opportunity for the ROK Navy to operate a carrier-based jet, as the service envisions deploying aircraft carriers in the future,” Kim Dae-young, a research member of the Korea Defense & Security Forum, a private defense think tank here. “From the operational perspective, the S-3 is expected to be used for various purposes, such as patrol, surface warfare and aerial refueling.”

In order to beef up its anti-submarine operation, the Navy will procure six more new naval helicopters by 2022.

In January, AgustaWestland won a $560 million contract to supply the South Korean Navy with six AW159 Lynx Wildcat helicopters equipped with an active dipping sonar for anti-submarine role.

17.10.2013 journal-aviation.com

NEW DELHI, 17 octobre (Reuters) - L'Inde bouclera une commande de 126 chasseurs Rafale à Dassault Aviation avant la fin de l'exercice budgétaire en cours, fin mars, a déclaré jeudi un haut responsable de l'armée de l'air.

New Delhi a annoncé en janvier 2012 l'ouverture de discussions exclusives avec Dassault pour ce contrat estimé à 15 milliards de dollars (11 milliards d'euros) après un appel d'offres opposant le Rafale à l'Eurofighter Typhoon, construit par un consortium incluant EADS, BAE Systems et Finmeccanica.

Mais les discussions se sont enlisées depuis, notamment en raison de divergences sur le rôle du groupe public indien Hindustan Aeronautics dans la construction des avions.

Le lieutenant-général S. Sukumar, vice-che d'état-major de l'armée de l'air, a déclaré lors d'une conférence sur l'aéronautique que le contrat serait signé avant la fin de l'exercice budgétaire, selon un communiqué publié par l'organisateur de la conférence, la Confédération de l'industrie indienne.

L'accord initial prévoit que Dassault Aviation livre les 18 premiers avions "clés en main" et assemble le reste en Inde, avec Hindustan Aeronautics comme principal partenaire local.

Dassault a toutefois exprimé des doutes sur la capacité du groupe indien à assurer la fabrication d'un appareil aussi sophistiqué que le Rafale. Hindustan a entamé au début des années 1980 le développement d'un petit avion de combat, un projet qui n'a pour l'instant pas abouti.

Un porte-parole de Dassault s'est refusé à tout commentaire. (Shyamantha Asokan; Marc Angrand pour le service français)

October 17, 2013 By Christopher P. Isajiw  - China Power

As part of its Pacific pivot, the United States has been making substantial increases in its Asia-based forces, including a bolstering of the U.S. Marine Corps amphibious combat capabilities. One hypothetical scenario that the Navy and Marine Corps train for would be a strike against Taiwan and a possible amphibious combined force invasion carried out by China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). A key spearhead of any such action would be the PLA Marines.

The PLA Marines are at present a relatively small amphibious assault force, numbering just two brigades with roughly 6,000 men each. Nevertheless, they are reinforced by naval and air power, amphibious artillery and armor. The PLA Marines are considered an elite special operations force, and theoretically therefore “punch above their weight class.” They are well trained and well equipped, using both the latest Chinese and Russian technology. They are trained for amphibious and airborne assault operations. While they were originally designed to be a much larger mass invasion force, they have quickly evolved into a rapid deployment invasion force specifically tasked for assault operations. Despite this, however, the PLA Marines are still very much a work in progress (as is arguably the PLA Navy in general), and currently lack the full necessary capabilities for a cross-Strait invasion of Taiwan. They are, however, rapidly developing this capability as part of overall Chinese military strategy.

Read more

TOKYO, 16 octobre - RIA Novosti

Deux avions hybrides Osprey MV-22 ont été utilisés pour la première fois lors des manœuvres conjointes nippo-américaines qui ont eu lieu dans la préfecture de Shiga (île japonaise de Honshu), a annoncé mercredi le ministère japonais de la Défense.

Ces aéronefs sont rattachés à la base américaine de Futenma, à Okinawa. La population s'oppose à leur déploiement dans la préfecture, car la sécurité des avions hybrides suscite des craintes: l'an dernier, deux appareils de ce type se sont écrasés à l'extérieur des frontières japonaises.

Des avions hybrides Osprey MV-22 sont apparus pour la première fois au Japon en 2012. D'ici à 2014, le commandement américain envisage de porter leur nombre à 24 appareils.

L'avion de transport hybride a ceci de particulier qu'il possède des ailes tournantes munies d'hélices qui lui permettent de combiner les fonctions d'avion et d'hélicoptère, notamment de décoller verticalement. Il est pourtant à noter que la moindre erreur de pilotage risque de provoquer un crash.

Les Etats-Unis insistent sur l'utilisation d'Osprey MV-22 sur leurs bases au Japon, car par rapport aux hélicoptères de transport classiques, ces appareils possèdent une vitesse deux fois plus élevée et une capacité d'emporte trois fois plus grande.

15 octobre 2013 Portail des Sous-Marins

La Chine pourrait devoir sacrifier jusqu’à 40% de sa flotte pour essayer de couler un seul des porte-avions américains, comme l’USS Gerald R Ford, selon un article d’un journal russe.

La Chine dispose actuellement de plusieurs armes efficaces qui pourraient être utilisées contre un groupe d’escorte d’un porte-avions américain, comme les missiles balistiques anti-navires DF-21D et 12 destroyers lance-missiles. Les 2 destroyers Type 051C et les 6 Type 052C sont équipés de missiles anti-navires comme le YJ-83, C-805 et YJ-62. Ils constitueraient aussi une menace sérieuse pour un porte-avions américain dans la région Asie-Pacifique. De plus, la Chine a acheté 4 destroyers de la classe Sovremenny à la Russie, équipés de missiles anti-navires Moskit SSM P-270.

Outre le Liaoning, son premier porte-avions, la marine chinoise dispose aussi de 15 frégates Type 054A, équipées de missiles anti-aériens HQ-16 à lancement vertical. Tout en défendant la flotte chinoise contre les aéronefs basés sur les porte-avions américains, les frégates Type 054A peuvent aussi couler des navires ennemis grâce à leurs missiles anti-navires C-803.

Si un groupe de bataille américain devait pénétrer dans les eaux situées au large des côtes chinoises, la marine chinoise pourrait aussi envoyer ses 10 corvettes Type 056 et 40 embarcations lance-missiles pour mener un combat de type guérilla en mer contre l’US Navy, explique l’article. Tous ces navires peuvent lancer des missiles anti-navires comme le YJ-83 et le C-803 : l’US Navy pourrait perdre jusqu’à 10% de sa force dans la région si un de ses porte-avions devait être coulé.

Cependant, pour la marine chinoise, couler un porte-avions américain ne serait pas chose si facile. Selon le magazine américain Forbes, plusieurs méthodes ont été développées par l’US Navy pour défendre ses porte-avions contre des attaques chinoises. Alors que des drones aériens à long rayon d’action sont capables de détruire les sites de missiles chinois, des chasseurs F-35, d’une portée de 200 à 300 nautiques permettent aux bâtiments américains de combattre sans entrer dans les eaux chinoises.

Le journal russe estime que de 30 à 40% de toute la flotte navale chinoise pourrait être perdue pour seulement détruire un seul porte-avions américain. En même temps, le plus grand défi pour l’US Navy, dans un conflit éventuel avec la Chine, serait de déployer ses 11 porte-avions, ses 88 navires de surface, 55 Littoral Combat Ships et 31 navires d’assaut amphibie dans le Pacifique Ouest avec un faible préavis.

Référence : China Times (Taïwan)

October 16, 2013 By  Carl Thayer - Flashpoints

Southeast Asia’s annual summit season has just ended. Indonesia hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, while Brunei, as current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), hosted the ASEAN Summit, East Asia Summit and other related ASEAN meetings. Media coverage contrasted President Barack Obama’s “no show” with President Xi Jinping’s successful debut in the region. Xi became the first person to address a joint sitting of Indonesia’s parliament, and also paid a state visit to Malaysia.

Much of the media coverage and commentary by analysts rightly stressed Xi’s major economic initiatives, including the establishment of an Asian infrastructure development bank and a new 100 billion yuan ($US16.3 billion) currency swap agreement between the Chinese and Indonesian central banks.

Little notice was given to Beijing's defense and security agenda, however. For example, in Xi’s address to the Indonesian parliament on October 3, he proposed a Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation between China and ASEAN. According to a commentary by Ruan Zongze, the deputy director of the China Institute of International Studies, in an article published last week, the purpose of the treaty was “to cement peaceful relations with ASEAN countries…and to eliminate any ASEAN countries’ misgivings about China.”

Xi met with his counterparts, Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak, and secured their agreement to raise bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic partnerships. Each statement on comprehensive strategic partnership included a clause on defense and security cooperation.

For example, when Xi and Yudhoyono met on October 2, they agreed “to strengthen security communication and coordination through defense consultations and navy dialogues…” On the following day, the two presidents issued a joint statement on the “Future Direction of China-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.” This document included a commitment to enhance bilateral defense ties by conducting joint military exercises and training, and to cooperate in maritime security, defense industry, and non-traditional security areas – such as consultations on counter-terrorism.

In Malaysia, Xi and Najib met on October 4. During the meeting, Xi put forward a five-point proposal that included making full use “of the defense and security consultation mechanism” as well as aiming to “increase exchanges between the two militaries, deepen law-enforcement cooperation, and join hands in combating terrorism and trans-border crimes.” After their talks they announced that they would raise bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. At a press conference President Xi stated, “We have agreed to strengthen our partnership with naval defense, joint military exercises to combat terrorism, transnational crime and promote security.”

After Xi concluded his state visits, China Premier Li Keqiang attended the 16th China-ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in Brunei. Li proposed cooperation in seven areas including active discussions on signing a Treaty on Good Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation and boosting maritime cooperation and exchanges in the field of security. In his remarks to the 8th East Asia Summit the following day, Li promoted a “new security concept” incorporating comprehensive security, common security, cooperative security and candid dialogue.

Defense and security cooperation between China and Malaysia dates back to 2000 with the signing of a long-term cooperative framework agreement. This agreement included a defense clause calling for an exchange program of high-level visits, study tours, seminars, ship visits, and cooperation in training, research and development, and intelligence sharing. In addition, the agreement also called for cooperation between national defense industries to include reciprocal visits, exhibitions, seminars and workshops to explore the possibility of joint or co-production projects.

In September 2005, China and Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation covering personnel exchanges and training as well as an annual security dialogue. Later that year, Malaysia and China raised their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership at a summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur. This agreement included the promotion of information exchanges on non-traditional security issues, consultations in defense and security areas, and military exchanges. Since 2005, Malaysia and China have exchanged visits by defense ministers and hosted goodwill port calls by naval vessels.

The first China-Malaysia defense and security consultation was held in Kuala Lumpur in September 2012. It was co-hosted by the Secretary General of Malaysia’s Defense Ministry and the Deputy Chief of Staff of the People’s Liberation Army. This meeting agreed to continue high-level exchanges and cooperation in training and non-traditional security issues.

China-Indonesian defense cooperation dates to April 2005, when the presidents of China and Indonesia issued a joint declaration in Jakarta on building a strategic partnership. In May 2006, the two sides inaugurated an annual defense and security dialogue. Since then China and Indonesia exchanged visits by their defense ministers and hosted goodwill port calls by naval vessels.

In November 2007, China and Indonesia signed an important defense cooperation agreement that included sharing defense technology and arms sales. It was not until 2010, however, before the two sides adopted a Plan of Action to implement defense cooperation under the strategic partnership agreement. The two sides have since conducted joint exercises between their special forces. Indonesian pilots have trained in China on its Sukhoi flight simulators, and both sides have entered into co-production arrangements of C-705 anti-ship missiles. On October 1 this year, China and Indonesia held their fifth Defense Consultative Forum since 2007.

The raising of China’s relations with Indonesia and Malaysia to comprehensive strategic partnerships signals the importance of their economic relationship and growing interdependence. The defense and security aspects of this new relationship represent more continuity than change. China’s “new security concept” was first broached in 1997. Both Indonesia and Malaysia have proceeded cautiously in developing defense ties with China. This development should be welcomed for the experience it provides China in interacting with regional armed forces. Next year, Indonesia will host a joint naval exercise involving ASEAN members and their dialogue partners.

China’s proposal of Treaty on Good Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation will have to be studied carefully. The present ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation is open to all external powers who adhere to its tenets. China’s proposed treaty appears exclusivist, aimed at drawing a circle around China and Southeast Asia.

October 16, 2013 idrw.org (IANS)

An Indian Navy destroyer and a Royal Navy frigate Tuesday began the ninth edition of annual Konkan-13 exercise off India’s western coast, with the focus on asymmetric operations, anti-air warfare and boarding, search and seizure of ships.

The Konkan series of bilateral exercises commenced in 2004 and eight such exercises have been conducted till now, an Indian Navy statement said.

“These exercises provide an opportunity to both the navies to work together at sea and in harbour to build interoperability, and to share best practices among the crew,” it said.

The harbour phase of the exercise would involve professional discussions, interactions and social functions, while the sea phase will have exercises in various surface and air dimensions of naval operations.

Indian Navy will be represented by INS Delhi, an indigenously built destroyer hosting a Chetak helicopter and accompanied by shore-based aircraft. It is commanded by Capt. Sandeep Mehta.

The Royal Navy would be represented by HMS Westminster, a Type 23 Frigate, commanded by Capt. Hugh Beard.

The thrust of the exercise this year would be on asymmetric operations, anti-air warfare and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) exercises.

“The cooperation between the two navies is a positive and tangible symbol of commitment in ensuring a positive climate for maritime security and economic development,” the statement said.

“Such exercise between the two navies manifest growing friendship between the two nations, with an aim to maintain peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region,” it further adds.

15 Oct 2013 By Dean Nelson, in New Delhi - telegraph.co.uk

Corruption allegations give India a way out of deal to buy 12 British-made helicopters

India’s Attorney-General has cleared the way for the country's government to cancel its £480m deal with AgustaWestland for 12 British-made helicopters after allegations of corruption.

The contract was suspended by the government in February this year following allegations that commissions were paid by the Italian-owned company to senior defence officials, including relatives of India’s former air chief SP Tyagi.

The allegations, which have been denied by the former air chief, emerged from investigation in Italy which led to an arrest warrant for Giuseppe Orsi, the chief executive of Agusta Westland’s parent company, Finmeccanica. Investigators allege he paid €30m (£25.4m) to a British man, Christian Michel, to act as a middleman between the company and members of the Tyagi family.

It is alleged the commissions were paid to influence the altitude specifications for the helicopter contract to allow AgustaWestland to tender for its AW-101 VVIP model.

India’s Ministry of Defence believes AgustaWestland is in breach of an "integrity act" included in the contract which bans the use of middlemen or the payment of commissions.

AgustaWestland has denied the allegations and announced last week it has triggered an arbitration clause in its contract in attempt to salvage the deal. It believes that the contract cannot be cancelled before arbitration has been completed.

Its India chief executive Jackie Callcut, today said the company had yet to receive any notification from the Indian government.

“The arbitration process is ongoing… the company has consistently stated that it has found no evidence of any wrong doing, and that to date no proof of wrong doing has been presented to the company. It is also clear that an attempt to cancel the contract will result in a further delay to the helicopters that India urgently needs and are ready for delivery. Meanwhile the quality of the aircraft themselves is not in question,” she said.

The formal cancellation of the contract is expected to lead to legal action by AgustaWestland to recover its losses.

It is understood the Indian government has paid 45pc of the contract price and taken delivery of three of the helicopters. Three more were completed before the contract was suspended earlier this year but have not been delivered, while the remaining six are close to completion at AgustaWestland’s Yeovil factory.

Commander Higineo Neves, Chief of Naval Component Timor-Leste, promotes Midshipman Jacinto Do Nascimento to Sub-Lieutenant, during his officer training at HMAS Creswell.

16 October 2013 LCDR Chloe Wootten (author and photographer) – Pacific Sentinel
 

The latest New Entry Officers’ Course (NEOC) at HMAS Creswell has a very special trainee, one paving the way for his nation and Navy.

Jacinto Do Nascimento is the first Timor-Leste Navy officer to attend training at the Royal Australian Naval College in an agreement between the navies set to continue into the future.

As part of the ADF Defence Cooperation Program, the undertaking proposes to train up to two Timor-Leste officers per year, making the Royal Australian Navy the training partner of choice for the fledgling Timor-Leste Navy.

Highlighting the importance of Jacinto’s training, Commander Higineo Neves, Chief of Naval Component Timor-Leste took a break from events associated with the International Fleet Review, to travel to Creswell to congratulate one of his own officers.

Commander Neves officially promoted Midshipman Do Nascimento to Sub-Lieutenant in front of his NEOC 49 peers to resounding applause.

Lieutenant Commander Mark Burton, Senior Naval Advisor to Timor-Leste, captured the significance of the ceremony, “Since Timor-Leste independence was granted in 2002, building a naval presence has been vital.”

“The Royal Australian Navy is committed to assisting our colleagues in Timor-Leste to achieve this aim, as one of their closest neighbours in the region,” he said.

“It is an emotional day to watch this commitment come to fruition here at the Naval College.”

As part of his visit to Creswell, Commander Neves presented the establishment’s Executive Officer, Commander Letitia van Stralen, and Training Commander, Commander Patrick O’Brien with ‘tais’—scarves symbolising friendship.  Creswell returned the gesture with presentation of a crest to signify the ongoing partnership between the navies.

RAN Navy Daily

The Pondicherry-class minesweeper Kozhikode was built for the Indian Navy by Russia. India plans to buy eight mine countermeasures vessels from South Korea to replace its aging ships. (Indian Navy)

Oct. 15, 2013 - By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI – Defense News

NEW DELHI — India’s Defence Ministry has decided to award a US $1.2 billion contract to Kangnam Corp. for eight mine-countermeasure vessels in India’s first big-ticket defense program with South Korea.

The deal has been cleared ahead of Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony’s planned visit to Seoul later this year, and will help boost defense ties with South Korea, an Indian MoD official said.

The finalization of the contract was delayed after Italy’s Intermarine, which was competing for the contract, approached India’s anti-fraud agency, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), with issues related to the transparency of the procurement. The CVC cleared the purchase last year, but the MoD has since dragged its feet in deciding to award the contract, the source said.

India is reaching out to friendly nations in the region, including Japan and South Korea, as part of its Look East policy in a bid to contain the rising influence of China, said defense analyst Mahindra Singh.

The Indian Navy is likely to give additional orders to the South Korean company for the countermine ships, since the service has a requirement for more than 24 minesweepers, an MoD source said. The Indian Navy operates 12 aging Pondicherry and Karwar-class minesweepers.

The purchase of the new countermine ships is part of a long-term plan to acquire vessels for littoral warfare, including large landing platform decks, fast attack craft and advanced offshore patrol vessels.

In 2008, India sent bids for the countermine ships to Kangnam, Intermarine, Northrop Grumman, Izhar of Spain and DCN International of France.

The Navy has wanted new minesweepers for more than 13 years, but delays in procurement due to bureaucratic red tape have been holding back the order.

According to the deal, the first two minesweepers will be constructed at Pusan, South Korea, and the remaining six will be built at the Goa Shipyard through technology transfers.

South Korea has become a big-ticket supplier of weapons to India — along with Russia, Israel, the United States and France — and is aggressively tapping India’s $100 billion weapons market.

Samsung has jointly developed a howitzer gun with Indian private-sector company Larsen & Toubro, and it is likely to put up a tough fight against Russia’s Rosoboronoexport in the quest to supply 155mm/52-caliber tracked guns.

The Larsen & Toubro-Samsung team is competing with Rosoboronexport, and with state-owned Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML), which has partnered with Slovakian company Konstrukha.

The Indian Army wants to buy 100 tracked guns valued at more than $750 million. The tender, issued in 2011, was a rebid of a 2007 tender, which went to India’s Tata Power SED, Larsen & Toubro, BEML and Rosoboronexport.

South Korean firm Doosan has also been given a tender this year for the purchase of 104 self-propelled gun missile systems to replace aging Russian Kvadrat systems.

Indo-South Korean defense ties began in 2005, when the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on defense logistics and supplies.

In 2007, the defense ministers of the two countries met to hash out a defense cooperation plan, which was followed in 2010 by the signing of a declaration of strategic partnership.

16/10/2013 par Jacques N. Godbout - 45eNord.ca

L’armée sud-coréenne envisage d’acquérir le système de défense antimissile à haute altitude THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) pour renforcer la capacité d’interception de son système KAMD (Korea’s Air and Missile Defense), a fait savoir  une source militaire, rapporte l’agence de presse sud-coréenne Yonhap.

Les Sud-Coréens écarteraient ainsi la possibilité d’acheter des missiles SM-3 (Standard Missile) pour les installer sur des destroyers Aegis. «Nous envisageons d’établir un système de défense antimissile multicouches mais le SM-3 ne fait pas l’objet d’un examen», a déclaré la source sous couvert d’anonymat selon ce que rapporte l’agence sud-coréenne.

Le système de défense antimissile compte trois phases: phase ascendante, phase intermédiaire et phase terminale.

En service depuis 2008, le Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) de Lockheed Martin Space Systems est un système de missiles antibalistiques conçu pour détruire les missiles balistiques de portées moyenne ou intermédiaire dans leur dernière phase d’approche en s’écrasant contre eux (hit-to-kill).

Le missile ne transporte aucune ogive, c’est seulement son énergie cinétique qui sert à détruire.

Le THAAD est conçu, construit et monté par Lockheed Martin Space Systems .

Le ministère de la Défense a d’ailleurs souligné que «le missile SM-3 et les intercepteurs basés à terre (GBI:Ground-Based Interceptor) sont des systèmes d’interception de la phase intermédiaire et capables d’intercepter des missiles dans l’espace exo-atmosphérique» alors que les THAAD et PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability) sont destinés à intercepter des missiles dans leur phase terminale.

Selon le rapport du ministère, écrit l’agence sud-coréenne, le système THAAD est donc mieux adapté au système de défense antimissile de couche basse de la phase terminale du KAMD que l’armée coréenne vise à construire que le SM-3.

Quant au système PAC-3, sa capacité d’interception a été remise en question au sein de l’armée.

«L’altitude d’interception du système PAC-3 est inférieure à 30 km, ce qui permet une seule chance d’intercepter des missiles et pourrait engendrer des dégâts en cas d’interception de missiles portant une ogive nucléaire ou des armes chimiques», a expliqué un responsable de l’armée sud-coréenne, soulignant que, en revanche, comme l’altitude d’interception du système THAAD se situe entre 40 et 150 km, il est possible de profiter de deux occasions d’interception en le déployant avec le système PAC-3 et de réduire les dégâts lors de l’interception de missiles dans la couche haute».

SEOUL, 15 oct. (Yonhap)

L'armée envisage d'acquérir le système de défense antimissile à haute altitude THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) pour renforcer la capacité d'interception de son système KAMD (Korea’s Air and Missile Defense), a fait savoir ce mardi une source militaire, écartant la possibilité d’achat de missiles SM-3 (Standard Missile) pour les installer sur des destroyers Aegis.

«Nous envisageons d'établir un système de défense antimissile multicouches mais le SM-3 ne fait pas l'objet d’un examen», a déclaré la source sous couvert d'anonymat.

Dans un rapport soumis hier au député du Parti Saenuri, Yoo Seong-min, le ministère de la Défense a déclaré que «le missile SM-3 et les intercepteurs basés à terre (GBI : Ground-Based Interceptor) sont des systèmes d'interception de la phase intermédiaire et capables d'intercepter des missiles dans l'espace exo-atmosphérique alors que les THAAD et PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability) sont des systèmes destinés à intercepter des missiles dans les couches haute et basse de la phase terminale qui se diffèrent des SM-3 et GBI en termes d'interopérabilité et de performance».

Selon le rapport du ministère, le système THAAD est plus adapté au système de défense antimissile de couche basse de la phase terminale KAMD que l’armée coréenne vise à construire que le SM-3. Le système de défense antimissile compte trois phases : phase ascendante, phase intermédiaire et phase terminale.

Séoul cherche à améliorer son système de défense antimissile à celui de PAC-3 en innovant l'actuel PAC-2 mais la capacité d'interception du système PAC-3 a été remise en question au sein de l'armée.

«L'altitude d'interception du système PAC-3 est inférieure à 30 km, ce qui permet une seule chance d'intercepter des missiles et pourrait engendrer des dégâts en cas d'interception de missiles portant une ogive nucléaire ou des armes chimiques», a expliqué un officiel de l'armée. «Concernant le système THAAD, comme son altitude d'interception se situe entre 40 et 150 km, il est possible de profiter de deux occasions d'interception en le déployant avec le système PAC-3 et de réduire les dégâts lors de l’interception de missiles dans la couche haute», a-t-il ajouté.

10/15/2013 Defence IQ Press

Has China cloned an AH-64D Apache? Or has it got its hands on the real thing? A photo that surfaced on the China Defence Blog suggests one of the two scenarios must be true.

Speculation is mounting that it could be a downed Apache picked up in Iraq, such as in the 2003 attack on Karbala where two U.S. pilots and their rotary wing craft were captured. At the time, US authorities claimed to have destroyed the helicopter in an airstrike the following day. It could either be the actual Apache that was shot down, or it could be the result of an elaborate reverse engineering effort on China’s part to create a perfect copy of the helicopter.

Another question is why was it not covered up? Transporting an illicit piece of military hardware like an Apache in broad daylight and within range of anyone with a point-and-shoot camera doesn’t appear to make sound military strategy. It’s led some to claim it may be nothing more than a movie prop, although that seems unlikely given the level of detail clearly on show in the photographs.