Volume 28/issue 1 february 2020

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A s i a P a c i f i c ’ s L a r g e s t C i r c u la t e d D e f e n c e M a g a Z i n e

SINGAPORE’S ARMED FORCES

UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLES
FIFTH GENERATION FIGHTERS
MODERN FRIGATES
LASER WEAPONS
RADIOS IN THE JUNGLE
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Contents february 2020
VOLUME 28 / ISSUE 1

06

The Singapore Army will replace its ageing

M113 armoured personnel carriers with
indigenously built Hunter fighting vehicles.
(JR Ng)
FRIGATES STEPPING-UP
Frigates are being designed with more multi-mission
flexibility, as Dr Lee Willett explains.

12 18 22

UNMANNED
GROUND VEHICLES:
TRANSITIONING NOT YET WAR
THE GENERATION GAME CAPABILITY OF THE WORLDS
Andrew Drwiega reviews how both
Fifth generation aircraft acquisition in Asia is Andrew Drwiega learns about the progress
Australia and Singapore are planning
in part being driven by China’s own progress being made by the Dragonfire consortium in
to use UGVs.
as Alan Warnes reports. the development of laser weapons.

24 30 34

MUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE SINGAPORE KEEPS ITS

Thomas Withington takes a look at how
to overcome the difficulties of radio SPEAR TIP SHARP ANALYSTS COLUMN
communications in jungle terrain. JR Ng examines the current modernisation Ben Ho examines the impact of Singapore’s
plans for Singapore’s armed forces. decision to become an F-35 operator.

| february 2020 | 03

Index of Advertisers
AERONAUTICS 33
AIRBUS 9
ALKRAS 23
CODAN 27
CONTROP 11
DB CONTROL 15
EUROSATORY COVER 3
GENERAL ATOMICS COVER 2
IAI 5
ISDEF 29
L3 HARRIS 13, COVER 4
SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 21
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Editorial
CHINA
HEADS INTO
STORMY WATERS
T
he global political landscape is changing faster than I can recall over the last 50 years. The inward
looking “America first” attitude promoted by America’s President Trump has been recognised by
both China and Russia as an opportunity to sow seeds of doubt among America’s global allies that
were established or reinforced at the end of the Second World War.
The economic sanctions between the United States and China have destabilised the global economy, and
China has answered by pouring more investment into its Belt and Road Initiative which reaches out to over
150 countries on all continents.
Further, both China and Russia are actively making their own alliances with countries that are opposed to the
liberal democratic norms - such as Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Myanmar and North Korea.
While Russia has been an ideological adversary to Western Europe / North America since 1945, with a small
blip during the 1980s Perestroika period led by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and his glasnost policy,
China had largely been introspective his its last major engagement as a world influencer came to an end in
the early 1800s.
But now the oft quoted prophesy attributed to French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte has arrived: “China is a
sleeping lion. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will shake the world.”
China has now cemented itself as a global economic powerhouse, something that is beyond doubt. However,
there is now an ever quickening drive to back this up with a defence posture and capability that will protect
its economic Belt and Road Initiative.
The latest example occurred at the very end of December last year, when a Chinese warship joined with
others naval vessels from Russia and Iran to conduct joint four-day naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman and
the Indian Ocean.
The Chinese guided missile destroyer Xining reportedly joined three ships from Russia’s Baltic fleet - a
frigate, tanker and a rescue tug - together with unnamed vessels from the Iranian Navy and Revolutionary
Guards.
According to Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian, the exercise was conducted to
demonstrate “the goodwill and capability of the three sides to jointly safeguard world peace and maritime
security.” He further stated: “The joint exercise is a normal military exchange arrangement of the three
countries. It is in line with related international laws and practices, and has no connection with regional
situation.”
The Iranian perspective came across rather differently, with the State television claiming the exercise
represented “the new triangle of power in the sea”, according to Al Jazeera (27 Dec, 2019). The overt and
covert actions of Iran, from its alleged attack on Saudi Arabian Aramco’s vital Abqaiq processing plant and
Khurais oilfield in September, through to its ongoing involvement in the Yemen, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere is
a continual challenge to America and its Sunni allies.
If this marks the beginning of deepening Chinese involvement in the Middle East, particularly in support of
Iran and its Shia leaders, while Russia’s backing of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad continues, and the United States
rushes troops into the region following the Iranian missile attack on its based after its assassination of of
General Qasem Soleimani, then the danger of superpower conflict has taken one step closer.
Andrew Drwiega, Editor-in-Chief

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04 | Asian Military Review |

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 sea
power

US Navy
HNLMS De Ruyter, the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) De Zeven
Provincien-class LCF/air defence and command frigate is pictured in
September 2019 in the Atlantic Ocean with the US Navy (USN) nuclear-
powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower. The RNLN and the UK
Royal Navy (RN) are looking to co-operate on the inaugural deployment of
the RN’s HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier strike group (CSG), and a De Zeven
Provincien-class LCF frigate appears to be a likely participant.

FRIGATES STEPPING-UP
Modern frigates are now being equipped with greater capacity to
deliver ‘high end’ force protection.
by Dr Lee Willett

T
he inaugural deployment in
2021 of the UK Royal Navy’s
(RN’s) Queen Elizabeth carrier
strike group (CSG) will see HMS
Queen Elizabeth and its various
escorts conduct operations, exercises,
and diplomatic engagement around
the world, from the Mediterranean Sea,
across the Indian Ocean, and into the
Pacific.
Precise details of both the deployment
and the contributors to the CSG remain
to be confirmed. However, it is likely
that the CSG will include, at different
stages of the deployment, international
participants alongside the presence of
RN assets such as Type 45 air-defence
destroyers and anti-submarine warfare
(ASW)-capable Type 23 frigates.
In October 2018, the UK government
announced that the Royal Netherlands
Navy (RNLN) would be contributing to
the HMS Queen Elizabeth CSG’s maiden
deployment. As of January 2020, precise
details of what this contribution might
be – such as which ship might participate,
where, and in what role – remain to be
confirmed. However, one of the RNLN’s
four De Zeven Provincien air-defence
and command frigates (LCFs) would be
a likely candidate, and would certainly
fit with the operational and capability
requirements for escorting a carrier.
With strategic tensions in the Eastern
Mediterranean, the Gulf, and the South
China Sea enduring, a capable air-defence
platform such as an RNLN LCF would
add much value for a CSG.
“The original operational analysis
for the UK carrier group required
three guided-missile destroyer (DDG)
platforms for air-defence protection,
given the expected level of risk that was
acceptable, against the threat posed,”
Professor Peter Roberts, Director Military
Sciences at the London-based think-tank
the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI),
told Asian Military Review. “That level of
protection was deemed acceptable on
the assumption that all units were fitted
with [US] Co-operative Engagement
Capability (CEC).”
UK participation in the CEC
programme was dropped in 2012. More
recent models for the UK CSG deployment
concept suggest only one or two Type 45
destroyers may be included (the RN only
has six, in total). “Given the increased risk
that seems to have been accepted, and the
lack of mitigation available, the inclusion

06 | Asian Military Review |


of a Dutch [air-defence and command
frigate] in the CSG21 group would be
significant,” said Roberts.
Added air defence
According to the Netherlands defence
ministry, the frigates provide force
protection for other units against surface
and air threats, as well as being able to
contribute to task group command-and-
control (C2) capacity.
In terms of air threats, kinetic
response is provided by the Raytheon
RIM-162 Enhanced Sea Sparrow Missile
(ESM) and Standard Missile-2 (SM-
2). The integrated engagement of the
missile capability is enabled by the ships’
Thales Sensor, Weapon, and Command
(SEWACO) combat management system.
However, perhaps the most significant
air-defence capability onboard is the
Thales Nederland Smart-L Extended
Long-Range radar. With the ability to
track multiple targets simultaneously,
it can prosecute endo-atmospheric
US Navy
The Indian Navy’s Project 17 Shivalik-class frigate INS Sahyadri (right) is pictured conducting task group replenishment-at-sea
operations off Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean in July 2018, during the USN-hosted ‘RIMPAC’ exercise. The navy is in the process of
delivering the improved Project 17A frigates: these seven ships bring a range of increased capabilities.
threats such as inbound aircraft. It also,
perhaps more notably, provides a sensing
capability for incoming ballistic missiles.
In addition, the LCF platforms have the
ability to share such data with other units
in the group, so that those units can also
engage the inbound targets.
All the major carrier navies – China,
India, France, the United Kingdom, and
the United States – operate or will be
operating their CSGs across the Indo-
Pacific theatre. Many Indo-Pacific
navies are also developing task group
capabilities, based around (for example)
amphibious forces.
Security of task groups centred
around high-value units such as aircraft
carriers and amphibious ships has been
the subject of much discussion, given the
emerging anti-ship missile threat, in the
form of both ballistic and cruise missiles.
In fact, there are several layers
involved in defending such a group
against such a threat. First, the group
needs to be found and fixed: here, it
| february 2020 |
sea
power
should be noted that the group will be
constantly on the move. Second, those
layers will include air-defence destroyers
and, more commonly now, frigates.
The emerging air-defence role of
frigates such as the LCF platforms
underline how frigates have become far
more of a high-end warfighting platform,
as opposed to being simply a mid-level
escort. Frigates were historically used as
ASW pickets, deployed far forward from
the task group to deal with incoming
submarine threats. However, the
frigate’s close-in air-defence role is now
increasingly significant, for example with
ships having to address the emerging
threat of anti-ship ballistic missiles
(ASBMs). While the simple deployment
of a CSG to a particular region does not
of course mean crisis or conflict, the RN’s
Queen Elizabeth CSG will require an air-
defence capability to offset risks posed
by such threats as China’s DF-21 and
DF-26 ASBMs. More capable, higher-end
frigates can add significant capability
07
 sea
power
The Royal Danish Navy (RDN) Iver Huitfeldt-class guided-missile frigate design is generating interest as a frigate
export option. Third-in-class ship HDMS Niels Juel is pictured here in April 2019, during a deployment with the
French Navy’s FS Charles de Gaulle CSG.
here, as demonstrated by the RNLN LCF
ships.
Anti-submarine warfare
The ASW role is still significant for
frigates. This is evident in the Indo-
Pacific theatre, where the ASW threat is
both growing and diversifying. Existing
submarine fleets are being upgraded, and
other navies are seeking to develop a
submarine capability.
Consequently, several of the region’s
larger navies are improving their ASW
capability with prominent new frigate
programmes. Such frigates, though, also
carry potent air-defence capability.
The Indian Navy’s Project 17A Nilgiri-
class frigates bring a very capable sonar
suite, with a Bharat Electronics HUMSA
hull-mounted active search-and-attack
sonar and a Thales Sintra towed array
sonar.
According to media reports, in
September 2019 the Indian Navy revealed
further details of the Project 17A design.
The frigates’ air-defence capability
will be provided by the India/Israel-
08
produced Barak-8 surface-to-air missile
(SAM), a vertically launched, 70km range
system designed to address long-range
aircraft and anti-ship missile threats. The
programme will deliver seven frigates,
and the reports suggest these are planned
to enter service in 2025-27.
As regards the Project 17A frigate (and
the predecessor, three-ship, Project 17
frigate programme), Dr Sidharth Kaushal,
sea power research fellow at RUSI, said
these frigates “do add some value in
terms of providing the Indian Navy with
a vessel that can both perform lower-end
tasks that its Kolkata-class guided-missile
destroyers might not be appropriate for
[and] that also has a degree of offensive
punch – ASW capability and organic air
defence – that could make it a useful
warfighting asset.” Kaushal pointed in
particular to the Barak-8 SAM capability
and the EL/M-2248 MF-STAR active
electronically scanned array radar in
delivering “a significant improvement
on the older Talwar-class [Project 1135.6]
frigates in terms of their air defence
capabilities.”
| Asian Military Review |
US Navy
“Unlike the Talwars,” he added, the
Project 17/Project 17A frigates “also
carry a bow-mounted sonar, so could
be a useful part of the ASW picket for
an Indian carrier group.” Of course, the
Sintra towed-array sonar in the Project
17A platforms would add further ASW
capability.
Task group capability
One navy that is very likely to be
contributing high-end ASW capability
to multinational task group operations
in the Indo-Pacific region in the future,
perhaps for example operating with an
RN CSG, is the Royal Australian Navy
(RAN). Here, the RAN’s future frigate
capability will be delivered by the
Hunter-class frigate. There are nine ships
planned in the class, and the first ship is
scheduled to enter operational service in
the late 2020s as the class begins replacing
the in-service MEKO 200 ANZAC-class
frigates.
The 8,800-tonne (full load) Hunter-
class frigate is derived from the UK RN’s
Type 26 Global Combat Ship. In ASW
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 sea
power
The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) future Hunter-class frigate
(an early design is shown here) brings significant anti-air and
anti-submarine capability, and is likely to contribute regularly to
task group operations across the Indo-Pacific region.
capability terms, the equipment fit will
include the Ultra Electronics S2150 hull-
mounted sonar, and the Thales S2087
towed array/variable depth sonar. The
frigates’ ASW reach will be extended
by the embarked helicopter, the ASW-
optimised MH-60 Romeo. Above the
water, the principal sensor will be the
CEA Technologies CEAFAR2-L long-
range, phased array air-search radar. The
principal effectors will be ESSM and SM-
2, fired from Mk41 vertical launching
systems. In terms of combat management,
the ships’ Aegis capability will be
interfaced with the Saab 9LV combat
management system.
According to the RAN, the Hunter-
class vessels “will be one of the most
advanced anti-submarine warships in
10
pre-production efforts on the [Hunter-
Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence
class frigates] … continue as planned,”
adding that “production prototyping [is]
set to commence before the end of 2020”.
Not only is the Hunter class based
on the UK Type 26 design, but the RAN
also is future-proofing technology for
the frigates by testing them out on
the in-service ANZAC frigates, as the
RN is doing with its own Type 23s. In
its evidence, the DoD explained that,
under the ANZAC Midlife Capability
Assurance Program, HMAS Arunta was
at sea fitted out with the CEAFAR2-L and
integrated Identification Friend or Foe
capability in a new mast superstructure.
“The experience gained by Australian
industry in this project will be further
leveraged for the integrated mast for the
Hunter-class frigates,” the DoD said.
The participation of any international
ship in any multinational task group
will depend on political agreement
and common or overlapping rules
of engagement, over and above any
technical integration. However, partner
navies seem likely to be able to make a
significant contribution to UK RN task
group deployments, and the RAN may be
able to make a significant contribution in
the Asia-Pacific region in particular.
When the RN’s new carrier capability
was first conceived, in the mid-1990s,
the sub-surface threat was perceived to
be reducing. That is far from the case
now, and great powers such as China
and Russia are developing extensive
and capable submarine fleets. Here, the
frigate’s traditional focus on ASW will
remain critical. Noting UK intentions to
deploy its major naval assets globally, the
RN’s ASW-capable Type 23s and Type
26s will face a busy operations plot in
the world”, providing “the highest levels the North Atlantic theatre alone. Here,
of lethality and deterrence our major Roberts noted “requirements to counter
surface combatants need in periods of Russian submarines in the Atlantic,
global uncertainty”. The RAN added that North Sea, Norwegian Sea, and the Arctic
the ships will be able to conduct various [are] arguably higher priority national
missions “[either] independently, or as tasks” than similar tasking requirements
part of a task group”. Such task groups elsewhere.
could be national constructs, based “One might imagine that matching
around the RAN’s Canberra-class landing the threat, risk, and mitigation might
helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious now require at least two ASW (towed-
assault ships or its Hobart-class, air- array fitted) frigates to accompany any
defence focused DDGs; they could also UK carrier during a deployment,” said
be international constructs. Roberts. “A higher number would be
In written evidence submitted required, depending on where the CSG
in November 2019 to an Australian was deploying to – the South China
Senate Reference Committee inquiry Sea, for example.” The inclusion of such
into Australia’s future sovereign ship- platforms from other navies operating in
building capability, the Department of the Asia-Pacific region thus would add
Defence (DoD) stated that “design and much to the capability and coverage of
| Asian Military Review |
 Commonwealth of Australia
sea
power

capabilities interesting several different

navies – in September 2019, the UK
government down selected a Babcock-
led consortium as preferred bidder to
deliver its new Type 31e general purpose
future frigate. The consortium offered
the Arrowhead 140 design, based on the
6,600-tonne Iver Huitfeldt frigates. The
UK hopes that the Type 31e may appeal to
other navies, including in the Asia-Pacific
region.
Kaushal also pointed to Indonesia’s
five-year programme to procure four
frigates, noting the programme “may
begin shortly with [Indonesia] buying
two Iver Huitfeldts”.
The RAN’s MEKO 200 ANZAC-class frigate HMAS Arunta is pictured following its ANZAC Midlife
Capability Assurance Program upgrade. Arunta was the first ANZAC frigate to undergo the Another frigate programme of interest
upgrade, which included fitting the CEAFAR2-L long-range, phased array air-search radar. The in the Asia-Pacific region – and one that
ship is pictured embarking its MH-60 Romeo Seahawk helicopter. underlines the increasing appeal of frigate
capability – is the Japan Maritime Self-
Defense Force’s (JMSDF’s) acquisition of
the CSG, and the RAN’s Hunter-class the deployment, the frigate conducted air a new frigate, to replace its Abukuma-
frigate would be a prime example. control tasks, for example, for the CSG. class ships.
Two years later, in February 2019, sister The JMSDF has a long-established
Global capability ship HDMS Niels Juel joined up with the record of working at sea with other
Another carrier-escort capable frigate French Navy’s FS Charles de Gaulle CSG partner navies. Given the regional threats
provides another interesting case study for a deployment that stretched from the it faces, it also has a surface ship force
for the Asia-Pacific region. The Royal Mediterranean into the Northern Indian structure dominated largely by DDGs.
Danish Navy’s (RDN’s) Iver Huitfeldt Ocean and Gulf region. Once again, the Kaushal pointed to Japan’s interest in
guided-missile frigate is demonstrating frigate conducted a range of air-defence producing a multi-mission vessel to meet
capacity to support a range of tasks across tasks. its future frigate requirement, although
the operational spectrum, including Such is the importance of the he added that the programme may take
escort tasks but also providing more flexibility and design the frigates provide time to deliver as it is currently still in the
general-purpose frigate outputs. for the RDN that the navy is currently concept phase. According to reports, hull-
In February 2017, second-in-class considering an ASW fit for the frigates (as mounted and variable-depth towed array
frigate HDMS Peter Willemoes deployed announced in 2018). sonar systems may feature amongst the
into the Mediterranean with the US Highlighting the potential appeal of vessel’s ASW capability. AMR
Navy’s USS George H W Bush CSG. During the Iver Huitfeldt design – with its broad
 AIR
power
The Royal Australian Air Force has a requirement
for 72 F-35As, with 13 so far delivered to the first
unit – 3 Squadron at Williamtown.
THE GENERATION
GAME
The selection of the F-35 by US defence partners in Asia shows
how seriously the perceived threat from China’s own fifth generation
Chegdu J-20 is being taken.
T
he only fifth generation fighter
currently serving in Asia is the
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning
II Joint Strike Fighter. It sits at the
forefront of air combat technology,
and is the reason why Australia, Japan
and South Korea have opted for it. But
not everyone, such as Taiwan, can either
afford or be a suitable customer for the
F-35. Even if the United States agreed to
sell to the Taiwanese armed forces, which
is doubtful, there would be a massively
adverse reaction from China.
Last January, the Singapore Ministry
of Defence (MINDEF) announced it was
set to purchase ‘a small number’ of F-35s
for a full evaluation of the jet’s capability
12
by Alan Warnes
and suitability before opting for a full
fleet. The following month, Singapore’s
Defence Minister, Dr Ng Eng Hen told
parliament, “We will replace the F-16s
with the F-35 post 2030 and our initial
letter of request [LOR] covers a purchase
of four with an option for eight more if
required.” On 9 January, the Defence
Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)
announced a possible foreign military
sale (FMS) to Singapore of up to 12 F-35B
Short Take Off Vertical Landing variant at
a cost of $.2.75 billion.
Many nations aware of the resurgent
| Asian Military Review |
RAAF
China and on-off threats from North
Korea are on their guard, and mindful
of China’s own fifth generation fighter,
the Chengdu J-20 now serving in the
first operational unit. With its advanced
sensors and data fusion, the F-35 can
gather information and share it with other
aircraft, ships and troops on the ground
better than ever before. Enhancing an air
force’s situational awareness and combat
effectiveness is the name of the game
today.
Australia
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
ordered its first 14 F-35A Lightning IIs
on 25 November, 2009 at a cost of over
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 AIR
power
The US has deployed USMC F-35Bs and USAF F-35As to the region. This USMC F-35B from VMFA-121 based at MCAS Iwakuni was exhibited at
Singapore Airshow in February 2018. The Singapore Government announced a purchase of four F-35s in early 2019, although it didn’t state the
version, with an option for eight more.
$2 billion (the full cost is officially set at $17
billion although this is being challenged
by a report from the commonwealth
auditor general’s office). It led to the
first F-35A arriving in country on 10
December 2018.  Australia’s Minister
for Defence, Christopher Pyne was at
RAAF Williamtown when they arrived.
Pyne told reporters: “This is the most
advanced, multi-role stealth fighter in
the world. It will deliver next generation
capability benefits and provide a major
boost to our intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance capabilities,” adding,
“the Joint Strike Fighter can get closer to
threats undetected; find, engage and jam
electronic signals from targets; and share
information with other platforms.”
The total requirement is for 72 aircraft
and to date 13 have been delivered to No
3 Sqn at Williamtown AFB, New South
Wales. It is the first of two operational
squadrons and a training squadron to be
based at RAAF Base Williamtown and
another squadron will stand up at RAAF
14
Base Tindal. All 72 jets are expected to
be fully operational by 2023 and further
into the future, a fourth operational
squadron is being considered for RAAF
Base Amberley, pushing the total up to
100 F-35As.
No 3 Squadron is expected to reach
initial operating capability (IoC) with the
F-35A in 2020/21. Then 77 Squadron will,
like 3 Sqn, replace its legacy F/A-18A/B
Hornets with more F-35As.
There are 13 aircraft currently in
Australia, another five are based at Luke
AFB, Arizona where they are being used
to train personnel. So far 48 aircraft
have been contracted spanning Low
Rate Initial Production (LRIP) 10 (ten
aircraft), 11 (eight aircraft), 12 (15 aircraft)
and 13 (15 aircraft). The RAAF F-35A’s
current weapons load includes the
Raytheon AIM-120-C7 AMRAAM, AIM-
9X Sidewinder and GBU-31 Joint Direct
Attack Munition (JDAM) all carried in the
jet’s internal weapons bays.
Operating the F-35A alongside
| Asian Military Review |
Alan Warnes
Australia in Asia Pacific are Japan and
South Korea, which Minister Pyne claims
“are closely aligned with Australia’s
pursuit of shared strategic, security and
economic interests.”
Japan
The F-35A has been in service with the
Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF)
since March 2019. The 13 fighters
currently delivered are operated by
302 Squadron at Misawa and will be
followed later this year by the co-located
301 Squadron. Japan faces the strategic
rivalry of both China and an increasingly
assertive Russia, however US President
Donald Trump is also pressurising many
US allies to spend more on their own
defences. The Japanese MoD announced
its selection as the JASDF’s next-
generation fighter aircraft on 19 December,
2011 following the F-X competitive bid
process. The signing of an initial LOA
(Letter of Offer & Acceptance), for four
aircraft, was officially announced in June
 AIR
power

29, 2012, with the Japanese Ministry of
Defence stating that the cost of each F-35A
amounts to approximately 1 $128 million.
There is a current total requirement for 42
aircraft.  So far 34 have been contracted
via LRIP 8 (four aircraft), LRIP 9 (two),
LRIP 10 (four), LRIP 11 (six), LRIP 12 in
Fy 2018 (six), LRIP 13 in FY 2019 (six)
and LRIP 14 in FY 2020 (six). Following
assembly of the first four (AX-1 to AX-
4) in the US, the remaining 38 are being
assembled at Nagoya in Japan by
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI).  It
was  believed local production would
cease after the aircraft ordered through
LRIP-12, with future deliveries to come
from the US production line in Fort Worth
but the Japanese Government reportedly
reversed that decision in December 2019
following cost cutting measures by MHI.
The four US-built aircraft were
the 151st Fighter Squadron at Cheongju
Air Base, of an initial 40 to be purchased
that were announced on 24 March, 2014.
The first six aircraft were contracted
under LRIP 10 (FY2016) and another
ten more were contracted under LRIP 11
(FY2017). The first pair were delivered
to Cheongju on 29 March, 2019 and
were joined by a further two on 15 July.
On 10 October, 2019, the South Korean
government announced it would begin
the second phase of its plan to acquire
additional Lightning IIs. Under F-X III,
the RoKAF will get an extra 20 F-35As for
$US 3.3 billion, with the aircraft expected
to be delivered from 2021-2025.
South Korea has also been working
over the past decade, on developing
a fifth generation fighter, referred to
as KF-X. Last September, the Defense
Acquisition Program Administration
(DAPA) announced a critical design
review (CDR) of the fighter and had
given the go ahead for the construction
of the prototype. On 22 November, 2019,
MBDA was awarded a contract by Korea
Aerospace Industries (KAI) to integrate
the Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air
missile (BVRAAM) onto the KF-X. The
deal includes integration support to KAI,
transfer of technological know-how and
manufacture of test equipment for the

Millimeter-Wave HPAs: Higher

delivered to Luke AFB, AZ for training
from August 2016 to March 2017 and

Bandwidth to Combat New Threats

transferred to Misawa in May 2018.
Funding for 43 had been approved

at 70,000 ft Above Sea Level

through to FY2020, the final aircraft being
a replacement for the jet lost, with the
pilot, off the coast of Japan on 9 April,
2019.
On 17 December, 2018 the Japanese
cabinet  approved a plan to add an
additional 105 Lockheed Martin F-35s
to its planned fleet of 42 aircraft.  In a
press briefing, the chief cabinet secretary
Yoshihide Suga confirmed that the
country’s Medium Term Defence Program
had been approved by the cabinet,
covering 105 F-35As and 42 STOVL (Short
Take Off and Landing) F-35B with some
of the latter for the Navy. Japan has plans
to deploy the F-35Bs along the edges of
the South China Sea and East China Sea, High-power amplifiers designed and tested for
evidenced by the JASDF’s retrofitting harsh environments and high altitudes
the Izumo-class carriers for amphibious
operations.
The US Marine Corps (USMC)
has based VMFA-121 with its F-35Bs
at MCAS Iwakuni, Okinawa, which • 26.5-40.0 GHz, 125W MPM dB-3201
according to the Corps, sees ‘the fighters
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Hill AFB have also deployed to Kadena
Air Base in Okinawa, which the USAF
says ‘helps to demonstrate the continuing
US commitment to stability and security
in the region.’
For specs and customization info, call 510-565-2325
South Korea
or email info@dBControl.com
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF)
currently has eight F-35As, operated by © 2020 dB Control Corp US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Luke Milano
 AIR
power

China continues to develop the Chengdu J-20 fifth generation fighter,

which could be a real threat to the US and its allies. This example serving
the 176th Regiment was seen at Zhuhai Airshow in November 2018.

KF-X integration and trials campaign.
Hanwha Systems is developing an AESA
radar for the programme.
China
The impressive looking Chengdu J-20 is
China’s equivalent to the very capable
Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor, and the
The People’s Liberation Army Air Force
(PLAAF’s) first fifth generation aircraft. It
is a major concern to the US, and is now
believed to be serving with three units,
including at the Flight Test and Training
Base at Dingxin, also known as the 176th
Brigade, and the Flight Training Base
in Cangzhou, referred to as the 172nd
Brigade. In early 2019, the first regular
operation PLAAF unit to receive J-20s was
the 9th  Brigade at Wuhu, in the Eastern
Theatre Command. An image released by
the PLAAF showed a J-20 with the serial
62001, the first official acknowledgement
that a new unit had been formed. It is
unclear how many have been delivered,
as the PLAAF is keen to keep this secret,
but at least 13 different serials have been
identified.
The jet made its first public display at
Zhuhai Air show in November 2016, but
in November 2018 a three ship formation
of J-20s were noted. Unsurprisingly there
was no J-20 on the ground, but during the
opening ceremony there was a glimpse
of the J-20’s manoeuvrability. Airshow
spectators witnessed the three 172nd
Regiment jets sweep by, with one (78231)
pulling up as it passed the crowd and
disappeared. The remaining pair (78232
and 78233) remained to demonstrate their
formation skills with the spectacle of
vapour pouring off the top of the wings.
Eventually 78233 was left to display on its

16 | Asian Military Review |


powered by an upgraded Russian Saturn
Alan Warnes
AL-31 engines and not the WS-15 that was
originally intended to power them. Issues
with the latter has meant that a stopgap
solution had to be found so the aircraft
could be pushed into service in 2017, well
ahead of schedule, because of increasing
security challenges in the region.
In late December images appeared of
new J-20s modified with the Shenyang
WS-10B Taihang engine as a stop-gap for
the original WS-15 powerplant. The latter
cannot provide the thrust-to-weight ratio
to push the J-20 to supersonic speeds,
without the use of afterburners, which
makes the jet un-stealthy. The WS-10B
features saw-toothed exhaust petals and
is believed to power a handful of J-20s, as
opposed to the AL-31 has flush exhaust
petals. The J-20 is thought to be equipped
with an AESA radar, and at Zhuhai, a chin
mounted electro optic sensor was evident,
while it has been reported that there are
six electro-optic apertures positioned
around the aircraft, that form a passive
detection system.
India and Pakistan
India, once a partner with Russia on
the Su-57 (formerly known as PAK-FA),
referred to as the fifth Generation Fighter
Aircraft (FGFA) has dropped the aircraft
from its future plans. According to reports,
the aircraft’s poor low observability
characteristics were the main reason.
KAI
own exhibiting its stealthy look combined
with all over jagged edges.
On the last day of the public flying
display, on 12 November, four J-20s
returned. During the final pass two of
them opened their weapons bays to show
four beyond visual range (BVR) PL-15s
air to air missiles (AAMs) nestling inside.
These missiles are thought to house a
small AESA radar and have a range of
200+kms (125+ miles). Alongside them
were two short range PL-10s AAMs which Wind tunnel testing for the fuselage of
are known to have a range of 20kms the KFX began in 2016.
(12 miles). These initial J-20s are being
| feBRUARY 2020 |
AIR
power
However, Russia has improved the
aircraft, now referred to as the Sukhoi Su-
57 and India is now said to be showing
interest again. If it doesn’t happen then
it is likely, the Indian Air Force might
consider the F-35.
India’s long-time foe, Pakistan is
now working on a fifth generation
fighter programme, known as Azm. In
November 2018, the PAF Chief of Air
Staff, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar
Khan told the author that it was part of
his plans to build a broader and longer
vision, he referred to as ‘Building a Next
Generation PAF – 2047’, the significance
of 2047 is that the PAF will be 100 years
old. “We have been working on a fifth
generation fighter for almost a year now
and it is likely to take several years before
it is flying. “It is an indigenous concept
at this time – we are self-reliant and
not dependent on Western or Eastern
partners.” Although he didn’t exclude the
possibility that China could get involved.
He continued: “It will be collaborated
with private industry and our own
academia. We are setting up our own
aviation hub and now formulating our
vision which will cover manufacturing
facilities and laboratories. We have
recently opened up a new university
too, albeit in a make-shift location and
we will link all of this to developing our
own fifth/sixth generation fighter and
commercial aircraft”. AMR
17
 land
warfare

UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLES:

TRANSITIONING CAPABILITY
Unmanned ground vehicles will see a significant take up
in Asia as a flexible, cost effective and mission agile alternative
to more expense manned systems.

by Andrew Drwiega

The Australian Army trialed an unmanned

ground vehicle (UGV) in the Shoalwater Bay
Training Area during Exercise Talisman Sabre
2019. The Mission Adaptable Platform System
Mule can carry over 500kgs of equipment.

18 | Asian Military Review |

 l and
warfare

T
he cumulative expenditure on

Commonwealth of Australia
military Unmanned Ground
Vehicles (UGVs) over the next
decade to 2029 is expected to value
around $7.4 billion, according to an
analysis study by Reporterlinker based on
Globaldata research.
The study, published in August 2019,
states that the military UGV market was
projected to be worth $597 million by the
end of 2019, and suggested that with “a
compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of
3.58 percent to value $849 million by 2029.”
Military users are increasingly
experimenting with UGVs to establish their
utility and practicality in a variety of roles,
including intelligence gathering, combat
support and logistics supply among others.
According to the study, while North
America is expected to account for nearly half
of the requirement at 46.1 percent up to 2029,
Asia-Pacific will account for over one third at
34.7 percent with Europe securing around
a 14 percent share. The Asian demand will
largely come from militaries in China, India,
Japan and Singapore.
The study categorises UGVs into five
areas of specialisation: combat, ISR, EOD/
IED, mine-clearing and engineering, and
logistics. Of these, the study finds that the
largest expenditure, around 47.6 percent
($3.5 billion), will go on combat UGVs.
During the forecast period, combat UGVs
account for the largest share of 47.6 percent,
with cumulatively expenditure of $3.5 billion.
The study finds that “Asia-Pacific is expected
to be the dominant market for combat UGVs
throughout the next decade, followed by
North America and Europe.”
EOD/IED UGVs will be second with
a share of around 20.1 percent. In order of
decreasing investment will be the sectors for
EOD/IED, logistics, ISR then mine-clearing
and engineering with shares of 14.9 percent,

Presidium Scout equipped with sensors

Presidium

for forward area surveillance

| february 2020 | 19
 land
warfare
Features of the digitised, manned NGAFV.
ST Engineering
12 percent, and 5.4 percent respectively run between two pre-programmed points
over the 2019-2029 period. autonomously.
The Australian Army the MAPS Mule
AUSTRALIAN MULE unmanned ground vehicle during the
In 11 June 2017, Queensland-based summer exercise Talisman Sabre 2019,
Praesidium Global announced that it had held in Shoalwater Bay Training Area,
won a contract to supply its unmanned Queensland. The Mule, a six-wheeled
ground vehicles for test and evaluation platform that can carry over 500kgs of
by the Australian Army. The company’s equipment, was trailed by soldiers from
main offering is the Mission Adaptable 9th Force Support Battalion (9FSB) as they
Platform System (MAPS), a medium- conduct operations.
sized semi-autonomous platform which Lieutenant Patrick Mueller, a 9FSB
can, according to the company, “be fitted workshop platoon commander said of
with range of plug and play options the Mule: “We started using them for
from on-board re-charge generator and things like daily replenishment, so water,
additional battery pack, through to food and rubbish runs into a central point
acoustic gun shot detection.” A remote … one of the operators took to using them
weapons station can be fitted with a low- to haul cabling around the position to do
recoil 30mm cannon. electrical runs.
The company states that its Mule “Other ideas that were floated
version is suitable for both tactical and including using them to carry
non-tactical scenarios. It is guided by ammunition to forward defensive pits, as
either remote control, or it can be set to well as carrying defensive stores – wiring,
follow a soldier, or can be programmed to sandbags – which is a difficult task with
a small amount of people,” said Mueller.
The Mule can be adapted for specialist
ST Engineering
roles through the inclusion of a hydraulic
crane arm, a surveillance module as well
as combat litters for medical evacuation.
Expalining his experience of operating
the Mule, Corporal Aaron Le Jeune said it
was an easy platform to learn and use: “It
operates off a standard gaming controller
and uses four buttons, so it’s a very simple
piece of equipment to operate,” he said.
ST Engineering’s unmanned NGAFV shown Praesidium Global is also offering
with the much smaller armed Probot during Scout and Pathfinder versions. The Scout
a trial last summer. is small, weighing only 70kg, and has
20 | Asian Military Review |
been designed to be carried inside an
armoured vehicle such as a personnel
carrier the deployed from that base. It
deploys with its own sensors to provide
tactical intelligence. An MBT version is
described by the company as “a parasitic
UGV that can be attached to the rear of
a MBT in a purpose-built cocoon.” it
would be controlled by one of the tank
crew, probably the loader, and can be
independently operational for up to four
hours.
The company also envisages a Scout
Pathfinder which would be “the world’s
first air-droppable UGV system designed
to conduct ISR tasks in denied or non-
permissive areas.” It would be parachuted
into a location, potentially behind enemy
lines, to operate clandestinely which
using its sensors to report information
back to the controllers, either on the
ground or even airborne.
MANNED TO UNMANNED
TRANSITION
In the summer 2019, Singapore based ST
Engineering’s Land Systems business
unveiled its prototype unmanned
Next Generation Armoured Fighting
Vehicle (NGAFV). Developed alongside
the Singapore’s Defence, Science and
Technology Agency (DSTA), the manned
version is already being acquired by the
Singaporean Army in the form of the
Hunter AFV, following a contract award
by the Ministry of Defence in 2017.
The NGAFV has been designed
“for the technologically savvy and
interconnected next-generation soldier”
according to the company’s website.
The manned AFV has digital
architecture with multi-function displays
featuring video and data that provide all
crew members with a digital ability to
command, fire and manoeuvre the AFV
through the the Integrated Battlefield
Management System (iBMS).
Its firepower is guided by an
Automatic Target Detection and Tracking
Systems. that augment the crew with
swift and effective detection and target
engagements.
These advances are all helping to
frame the development of the unmanned
NGAFV which was revealed on video in
July 2019. Alongside this was a smaller
weaponsied 4x4 wheeled Probot UGV,
armed with an ST Engineering Land
Systems’ Adder RMG remote control
weapon station (RCWS) featuring a
RMG7.62mm gun system. Development
continues on both types. AMR
technology
s p o t l i g h t
MBDA
A Laser Direct Energy Weapon (LDEW) demonstrator from the Dragon
fire consortium shown at DSEI 2017.
NOT YET WAR
OF THE WORLDS
A UK consortium named Dragonfire is working
towards initial laser demonstrations which will
potentially culminate in a weaponised capability
over the next ten years - but it won’t be
Star Wars.
by Andrew Drwiega
“The Martians fought with weapons as
yet unimagined by the people of Earth; an
invisible sword of fire that destroyed all it
touched.”
T
he foresight exhibited by HG
Wells when writing his book War
of the Worlds in 1897, predated
the first laser by over 60 years. It
was not until 1960 that Theodore
Maiman invented the world’s first laser,
known as the ‘ruby laser’, as it produced
a red visible light.
Fast forward another 60 years and
now there is every probability that lasers
will actually be used as weapons within
the next decade.
One of the trials currently underway
for laser guided energy weapons is the
being conducted by the UK Dragonfire
22
Aeronautical Society (RAeS) on 7 January,
“Much of the technology has come out
Challenges
‘human interface’, and power and cooling
consortium. This is being let by MBDA
with partners QinetiQ, Leonardo, Arke,
BAE Systems and Marshall ADG.
Working on behalf of the UK Ministry
of Defence who provided an investment
of £30 million in January 2017, under
contract to the Defence Science and
Jeff Wayne’s take on Martian laser weapons
as shown on the cover of his War of the
Worlds Album released in 1978.
| Asian Military Review |
Technology Laboratory (DSTL), the
consortium’s stated objective is to
develop a Laser Directed Energy Weapon
(LDEW) through a limited Capability
Demonstrator Programme (CDP).
In July 2019, then Defence
Secretary Penny Mordaunt said that
the Government would be investing
around £130 million into Directed Energy
Weapons research and demonstrations.
Speaking at a briefing at the Royal
DSTL’s Ben Maddison said that the
consortium had been making good
progress over the last couple of years.
of industry,” largely what was currently
available. “It should also be cheap to fire
and maintain, and it should hit the target
straight away” he stated.
Future systems need to be affordable,
with little required maintenance and we
cheap to use. “What we are looking for is
something more effective than what we
pay for in terms of current systems (such
as missiles),” he added.
As a weapons system, lasers have
a variety of component parts, from
detection and tracking, though to the
which must all work together. “If the
laser can fire 100km, but the tracking
only works out to one kilometre, then it
is only effective at that range,” observed
Maddison.
Potential uses include anti-UAV
defence (potentially also including swarm
attacks, as well as defending ships at sea
from anti-ship missiles.
While lasers will work in fog and
rain, there challenge will probably be
more with the sensors used in detecting
and tracking the target(s). There is also
a question of legality when using lasers,
particularly against people. But if the laser
is attacking a manned platform, then the
people onboard will suffer accordingly
whether they are hit or not.
The Dragonfire consortium is
working towards a position where it will
have developed and demonstrated the
capability of a laser weapon to a point
where “in a few years time we will be
to meet the UK’s military requirements,
where down selecting and buying a laser
weapon would be a sensible option,”
stated Maddison.
There are three elements to that
process. Can a laser weapon be actually
built that would usefully deliver an effect.
 technology
Leonardo s p o t l i g h t

refracted off a target, so safety of operation

An illustration showing how a Dragonfire type LDEW may be
positioned to defence a Royal Navy warship from multiple attacks.
Secondly, what are the requirements
for such a weapon. Finally, can it be
effectively fielded onto a battlefield. The
current demonstration will require three
ISO containers; the laser module itself (to
generate and direct the laser beam); the
thermal management module to provide
power generation and cooling; and a third
to act as a command and control module.
Not Star Wars
“It isn’t going to be like Star Wars,”quipped
Alkras HP.pdf 1 1/20/2563 BE
“to track and engage the targets using a
Maddison. “The lasers cannot be seen
when they operate and they won’t make
much noise.”
Building a whole system requires
‘world leading subsystems and
components’. The complexity means
that subsystem testing and integration is
happening simultaneously, so that results
can be achieved over the terms of the
development programme.
Laser beams can be powerful, both
in terms of distance and when they are
11:17 AM
is also a key item on the consortium’s
worksheet.
“What we are hoping to achieve is
to conduct a couple demonstrations
culminating with a firing against a moving
air target. Within the demonstration
parameters, the consortium is not setting
rigid goals “to blast things out of the sky,”
but to determine and understand how to
get a certain amount of laser power onto a
target and be effective.
Essentially the requirement will be:
range of movement; gauge the radiance
on the target; assess the effectiveness of
the weapon; use around 50 kilowatts of
power; engage multiple targets in a series
(mindful of swarming attacks); address
power and heat management issues;
conduct command and control; and target
deconfliction.”
The ongoing challenge will be to drive
down size, weight and power so that, in
time, a laser weapon may be mounted on
a vehicle or ship and powered by the host
platform itself. AMR

NOVEL CLASS OF MOLECULAR LASERS FOR DEFENSE.

Novel Class of multi kilowatt Lasers has been developed
by ALKRAS for defense.
ALKRAS Molecular laser technology became an excellent
solution for various applications such as Anti Drone systems,
landmine neutralization and ground sabotage operation.
Compare with the currently used traditional laser technologies
a new ALKRAS lasers have the several important advantages
C
which make them superior and attractive in most of applica-
M tions. For example: Eyes safety wave length range is one of
Y
them which allow new laser systems to be used for the air or
ground defense in heavy populated areas such as airports,
CM
embassies and any civil or military installations. Concentrated
MY Laser beam has in 3-5 times faster targets penetration made
out of carbon fiber, plastic, fiberglass, rubber and any other
nonmetal materials.
CY

CMY

The Laser beam with used wave length has much less
K
turbulence distortion in atmosphere propagation and
significantly less Dust Scattering, which make new
laser sources very effective in the extreme conditions
such as deserts or areas with dust particles. New
Lasers integrated with Beam Directors are compact,
simple in operation and low maintenance. The current
tested laser system ML01 is effective to the distances
up to 1km.
For more information: www.alkras.com
technology
s p o t l i g h t

MUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE

Rainforests and tactical radios don’t get on. Fortunately,
help is at hand in ensuring armies can communicate
more easily in thick vegetation.
by Thomas Withington

“J
ungle radio communication
is severely handicapped
by radio wave absorption,
wherever radio waves must
propagate for a considerable
distance through the dense, moist jungle
vegetation,” noted the United States
Army’s Tactical Jungle Communications
Study. This document was published in
1968, three years after the commencement
of overt US involvement in the ongoing
Vietnam War; a conflict occurring in a
country where almost 48 percent of her
terrain was covered by jungle.
Rainforests create nightmares for
conventional Very/Ultra High Frequency
(V/UHF: 30MHz to three gigahertz/
GHz) tactical communications. V/UHF
communications have a Line-of-Sight
(LOS) range. For example, a V/UHF
antenna placed three metres (ten feet)
above the ground will have a range
of approximately seven kilometres
(4.4 miles). Yet this line-of-sight range
presumes nice, flat open space with no
obstacles that could conceivably obstruct
the journey of these communications.
With its tree canopy and abundant flora
such luxuries are not available in jungles.
Another US Army document published
while the Vietnam War was ongoing
examining field artillery techniques
stated that jungle vegetation can reduce
V/UHF radio ranges between 10 percent
and 60 percent. Such reductions cause
problems not only for soldiers, squads
and platoons to communicate with one
another, but also for ground-to-air/air-to-
ground communications.
Dean Booker, Codan’s business
development director for tactical
communications, served with the British
Army’s Royal Corps of Signals and is
highly familiar with the challenges
jungles cause for tactical communications:
“The jungle presents its own unique
challenges around the foliage and dense
canopy. Communications distances are

24 | Asian Military Review |

 technology
s p o t l i g h t

transceiver acts as a communications though it, allows you to extend your

UK MOD Crown Copyright 2020

relay, as well as a transmitter and receiver.
Radio traffic too uses the transceivers in
a particular network to jump from one
radio to the next radio within range, and
so on, until the traffic reaches its intended
recipient. While this offers a partial
solution, the same LOS restrictions apply.
A MANET network used by a battalion in
the flat open desert can by definition cover
a geographically larger space due to the
lack of obstacles between the transceivers.
MANET ranges achievable in a jungle
where LOS reach will be much shorter
will correspondingly diminish: “In a
jungle a MANET radio’s ability to create
a network of systems and hop signals
communications range,” observes Brian
McDonald, director of field operations for
Persistent Systems: “In a high RF (Radio
Frequency) absorbing environment,
dynamic pathways become massively
important. You need a network where
the best pathway for data is selected in
real time, and where users coming in and
out of the network are not going to be an
issue.”
Jungle communications are a
concern for armies in the Asia-Pacific.
Although local deforestation is a major
environmental headache with serious
global impacts, the region still boasts 18
percent of the world’s total rainforest;

Jeff Wode
British troops training for jungle
warfare. The thick vegetation found in
jungles creates serious problems for
conventional tactical radios which can
experience difficulties in penetrating this
abundance of plant life.

reduced due to the wet dense foliage

that absorbs the signals.” He added that
the environmental conditions cause
challenges for the hardware. Electricity
and water are not the best of friends,
with humidity raising the ambient
temperatures within which tactical
radios must operate: “Most tropical
rainforests have their own climate that is
extremely humid and nightly rainfall and
thunderstorms add to this.”
The latter can become greatly
restricted by overhead tree canopy.
Contemporary tactical radios use Mobile While MF communications can work well in rainforests their practicality can
Ad Hoc Networking (MANET) to be hindered by the size of the antennas needed for such communications and
restrictions on their bandwidths.
establish communications networks: Each

| february 2020 | 25
technology
s p o t l i g h t
The US Army’s AN/PRC-155 manpack radio is one of several transceivers which has received
the MUOS waveform which will help troops to communicate in jungles. It is one of several
transceivers to have received this new waveform.
with 26 percent of its land covered by
jungle. Thus there is every chance that
future conflicts in the region could be
wholly or partially fought by armies
in the jungle. This could be especially
relevant during counter-insurgency
operations where guerrillas may seek to
use jungles to hide, organise and mount
operations. The challenging topography
of a jungle creates other challenges,
particularly restricting the areas where
vehicles can operate and thus potentially
causing more reliance on dismounted
patrols. Booker says that products such
as Codan’s Sentry-U 61060-PR personal
role radio can provide intra- and inter-
squad communications to support jungle
operations.
Waveforms
Much as it did during the 1960s the US
Army is once again driving research
efforts to improve jungle tactical
communications. In 2014 the US
Department of Defence’s Small Business
Innovation Research website published a
solicitation for a tactical communications
system which can offer between two
megahertz and 60MHz of communications
bandwidth providing both static and on-
the-move communications for deployed
troops. The tricky part is that the radio
must be able to transmit through the
jungle canopy either to an airborne
radio relay mounted on an aircraft, or
to a satellite to allow communications
26
US DOD
traffic to be retransmitted back down to
Earth through the trees to the intended
recipient. The challenge was grasped by
Gird Systems of Cincinnati, Ohio which
initially demonstrated a communications
system able to penetrate jungle canopy to
provide voice and data communications.
The firm won a further award in 2017
for an initiative just short of two years’
duration to transition this work via a
grant worth nearly one million dollars.
This sees the firm taking its technology
to the prototype stage so that it can be
demonstrated to the US Army.
At the heart of Gird Systems’
approach is a waveform which works
with a prototype software defined radio.
Waveforms are essentially the software
algorithms radios use to transmit in a
US DOD
Although seen there in an environment
vastly difficult from the rainforests which
cover significant tracts of the Asia-Pacific the
MUOS waveform offers promise for SATCOM
in jungle environments with a minimum of
supporting infrastructure.
| Asian Military Review |
particular way to achieve a particular
task. For example, ground-to-air/air-
to-ground communications will require
a radio to use particular amplifications,
bandwidths and transmission security to
ensure that a soldier on the ground can
efficiently and effectively communicate
with an aircraft. Waveforms are pre-loaded
into a tactical radio so that the operator
does not need to manually tune their set
every time they want to communicate in
a particular way. To date, Gird Systems’
technology has demonstrated that it can
achieve transmission ranges of up to
56.3km (35 miles) through dense jungle
canopy. What is more, this has been
achieved with a low signal-to-noise ratio.
Put simply, this is the measurement of
desired signal that contains the traffic
compared to background noise. The low
signal-to-noise ratio in this case means
that the communications remain clear
despite the challenges inherent in the
jungle environment.
Staying with waveforms the US
Department of Defence’s (DOD)
Mobile User Objective System
(MUOS) narrowband military satellite
communications system can help troops
so equipped communicate in jungles. The
MUOS initiative provides a waveform
which can perform satellite transmissions
across a waveband of 300MHz to
three gigahertz. Although MUOS is a
narrowband UHF waveform it can be
ported into existing DOD tactical radios.
For example, the US Army’s General
Dynamics AN/PRC-155 and L3Harris
AN/PRC-117G V/UHF manpack radios
covering frequencies of 30MHz to three
gigahertz have received the MUOS
waveform. The goal of the waveform is
to provide the soldier with ‘cellphone’
like connectivity in terms of intuitiveness
and clarity, and usefully it can penetrate
jungle foliage. As of May 2018, the
following radios were being equipped
to carry the MUOS waveform beyond
those discussed above. These include
General Dynamic’s AN/USC-61C High
Frequency (HF: three megahertz to
30MHz) and V/UHF maritime radio, plus
the US Army’s L3Harris AN/PRC-158
manpack transceivers, Collins Aerospace’
AN/PRC-162 TruNet V/UHF manpack/
vehicular radio, the same company’s AN/
ARC-210 V/UHF airborne radio used by
all five of the US armed forces and the
handheld L3Harris AN/PRC-163 V/UHF
transceiver also used throughout the US
armed services. The big attractions for
the MUOS waveform concerning jungle
 CODANCOMMS.COM

•
•
•
•
•

BE HEARD
ON THE FRONT LINE
technology
s p o t l i g h t
DVIDS
A US Marine calls for a radio check using a PRC-117G radio during atn exercise at Marine Corps
Base Camp Pendleton, California.
communications is that it can be ported
into those radios listed above avoiding
the need to purchase new transceivers.
Secondly, the waveform can be used
while static or on-the-move with a
minimum of accompanying SATCOM
infrastructure. Nonetheless, MUOS only
offers narrowband communications.
What is more, as a US DoD proprietary
waveform certainly countries may not
have access to it, or the transceivers
which can accommodate it.
Low Frequencies
McDonald says that another approach
to solving the riddle of jungle tactical
communications can be found by
using comparatively lower frequencies
compared to V/UHF for transmissions.
Low Frequency and Medium Frequency
wavebands of 30 kilohertz/KHz to
300KHz and 300KHz to three megahertz
respectively employ surface wave
transmissions. The clever thing about
surface wave communications is that
they follow the curvature of the Earth as
opposed to travelling in a straight LOS
fashion a la V/UHF communications.
These characteristics allow LF and
28
MF to transmit over-the-horizon as
the signals bend around the Earth.
Nonetheless, despite offering promise
for jungle communications the use
of lower frequencies has drawbacks.
Firstly the efficiency of the transmission
will depend on the terrain traversed
by the transmissions. Moisture on the
ground or in the soil provides good
conductivity for LF/MF communications
as does swamp, with bodies of water
providing particularly good conductivity.
Conversely drier urban areas and
desert provide bad connectivity. The
moist ground in a jungle yields just
the sort of environment that LF/MF
communications work well in, although
one of the drawbacks is that LF and MF
radios are far from mobile: A medium
frequency antenna can be between 25m
(8ft) to 250m (820ft) high; hardly practical
for a foot patrol, but possibly more
practical for a static Forward Operating
Base (FOB). Even in jungle canopy such
large transmissions would probably need
to be well camouflaged.
The other challenge is that “lower
frequency is fine for voice communications,
but has a lower data-handling capacity at
| Asian Military Review |
a time when the warfighter needs access
to high bandwidth capabilities, such
as video and sensor data,” McDonald
cautions. HF communications do not
offer much additional utility in the jungle
environment where these signals suffer
significant RF attenuation. Attenuation
is the phenomenon where signals can
lose some of their strength as they travel
and encounter solid objects, buildings,
the atmosphere, people and animals.
The abundance of vegetation can cause
significant attenuation problems for HF
leading to losses of signal strength. This
reduces the range such communications
can achieve when performing ground-
wave surface-to-surface communications,
and the quantities of data that HF radios
can handle. Usefully, HF radios can use
the ionosphere. This is an upper layer
of the atmosphere between 60km (37.3
miles) and 1,000km (621.5 miles) altitude.
This is electrically charged layer cannot
be penetrated by HF transmissions.
Instead, HF signals hit the ionosphere
and bounce back to Earth which allows
them to achieve their intercontinental
ranges. HF radios still require antennas
that can penetrate jungle canopy to
perform these sky wave transmissions.
Like its LF and MF counterparts, for this
reason HF tactical radios maybe best
suited to equipping static installations
such as FOBs.
Short of a major technological
breakthrough occurring in the near
future it appears that armies in the
Asia-Pacific and elsewhere will have to
continue relying on a surfeit of disparate
capabilities to ensure that they can remain
connected in the jungle environment. LF,
MF and to a lesser extent HF all enable
static bases to remain in contact with one
another albeit at the cost of bandwidth.
Satellite communications performs a
similar role although terminals need to
be situated in areas free of obstructions
to communicate with the spacecraft
overhead. Conventional V/UHF tactical
communications using MANET provide
the best means for deployed formations to
remain in contact, albeit at shorter ranges
compared to those achievable in less
obstructed environments. Innovations in
terms of waveforms could offer promise
in increasing range and data carriage
still further, although it must be stressed
that such breakthroughs remain at the
prototype stage for now. For the time
being, it appears that rainforests will
continue to tax the signaller’s skills to the
maximum. AMR
Ministry of Economy and Industry
 Regional
M i l i t a r i e s
SINGAPORE KEEPS ITS
SPEAR TIP SHARP
The modernisation of Singapore’s armed forces is
The Republic of Singapore Air Force operates around
60 F-16C/D and 40 F-15SG multirole combat aircraft.
S
ingapore’s intent to maintain
one of the most modern
defence forces in Asia Pacific
was once again emphasised
when it won US government
approval to procure up to 12 short take-off
and vertical landing (STOVL) Lockheed
Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike
Fighters. The proposed deal is expected
to pass congressional scrutiny with ease,
given the island state’s longstanding
economic and security partnerships, and
paving the way for the Singapore Armed
Forces (SAF) to develop its first-ever
STOVL capability.
The deal comprises an initial batch of
four F-35Bs with an option for up to eight
more and is expected to be set to contract
later in 2020, and includes up to 13 Pratt
& Whitney F135 engines (including one
initial spare), communications, electronic
warfare (EW), and navigation systems,
as well as the Autonomic Logistics
Information System (ALIS) maintenance
and logistics planning suite, software
development and integration, and
30
moving into high gear.
by JR Ng
training equipment. If fully exercised, the
total value of the proposed package is
valued at an estimated $2.75 billion.
Singapore’s F-35 programme is aimed
at seeking a replacement for the Republic
of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF’s)
upgraded but ageing fourth-generation
Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Fighting
Falcon multirole combat aircraft delivered
in the early-to-mid 1990s, and is just one
of several high-profile acquisitions that
the SAF is expected to pursue over the
next decade to cement its technological
advantages over other regional countries
to deter aggression and boost its standing
on the world stage.
Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen
has on several occasions expressed the
view that it is imperative that the SAF
must exploit cutting-edge technologies
including unmanned systems and high-
level automation across the board in
order to address a projected deficit in
manpower, which is projected to lead
to a 30 percent reduction in the pool of
eligible recruits by 2030.
| Asian Military Review |
JR Ng
Sustained defence budget/
procurement targets
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)
has generally implemented a long-
term approach to financing defence
procurement and operations, with
funding consistently between 3-4
percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
Singapore announced a defence budget
of $10.98 billion (S$15.47 billion) in March
2019, a 4.8 percent increase over the
previous year.
“We expect our nominal defence
spending over the next decade to grow at
three to four percent each year, to at least
keep pace with inflation,” said Dr Ng at
the Committee of Supply (COS) debate
in parliament, noting at the time that
the slight uptick in expenditure was due
mainly to changes in several acquisitions
and projects.
“However, the overall defence
expenditure will even out in subsequent
years,” he added, noting that MINDEF
will continue its approach of steady
defence spending and will avoid spikes

unless a heightened threat environment
calls for increased spending. However,
he also stressed that the ministry
would avoid sharp decreases that could
potentially “undermine our defence
capabilities over the medium term”.
Major SAF acquisitions already
outlined by Dr Ng through 2030 include
the F-35; Airbus A330 Multi-Role Multi
Role Tanker Transports (MRTTs) and
Airbus H225M medium utility and
Boeing CH-47F heavy-lift helicopters.
Major naval assets being introduced or
earmarked for the Republic of Singapore
Navy (RSN) following the delivery of all
eight locally constructed Littoral Mission
Vessels (LMVs), include new Type 218SG
diesel-electric attack submarines (SSKs),
Multirole Combat Vessels (MRCVs) and
the Joint Multi-Mission Ship (JMMS),
while the Army’s major land combat
platforms will include new armoured
fighting vehicles (AFVs) and wheeled
artillery systems.
These platforms will be supported
by force-multiplying capabilities
such as advanced communications
networks and navigation systems, cyber
capabilities, unmanned systems, as
well as an increasing focus on Fourth
Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies
such as artificial intelligence (AI) and
autonomous systems.
Spreading its wings
The RSAF’s current air combat capability
JR Ng
Singapore has committed to replacing its mine countermeasures ships with unmanned surface
vessels, the first of any Asia Pacific countries to do so.
is centred on a mixed fleet of 60 F-16C and
40 F-16D Block 52+/52+ fighters, which
were acquired in the 1990s, and 40 Boeing
F-15SG multirole fighters delivered from
2009.
The F-16C/D fleet is undergoing a
comprehensive mid-life upgrade (MLU)
programme, with key enhancements
centred on a new active electronically
scanned array (AESA) radar – likely
the Northrop Grumman’s AN/APG-
83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar – and
updated avionics including the Link-16
Multifunctional Information Distribution
System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-
LVT) which would enable the F-16s to
share and receive data more readily with
the newer F-15SG aircraft.
The MLU also includes a range of
precision weapons and training munitions,
Boeing GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs
(SDB), KMU-572/B 500lb Joint Direct
Attack Munition (JDAM) and KMU-
556/B 2000lb JDAM tail kits. Of particular
note is the SDBs, which would enable
the F-16s to carry a greater number of
precision munitions and increase their
air-to-ground strike potential with their
compact size and weight. Upgrade work
commenced in 2016 and is expected to
be completed by 2023, with the F-16 fleet
remaining operational until the 2030s
after which it will be replaced by an
undisclosed number of F-35s.
Other recently acquired platforms
for the RSAF include Airbus H225M and
| FEBRUARY 2020 |
Regional
M i l i t a r i e s
Boeing CH-47F transport helicopters, as
well as a total of six Airbus A330 MRTTs
to replace four recently retired Boeing
KC-135R Stratotanker refuelling aircraft.
Although yet announced, other expected
platform procurement targets include a
new maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to
replace its Fokker 50 Enforcers which
were delivered in the early 1990s as well
as a replacement for its 1980-vintage
Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules
tactical transport aircraft.
Plans are also underway to introduce
new and more capable unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) to the RSAF, which
presently operates the Elbit Systems
Hermes 450 tactical and Israel Aerospace
Industries (IAI) Heron-1 medium-altitude
long-endurance (MALE) platforms.
These achieved full operational capability
(FOC) status in 2015 and 2017 respectively.
Underpinning the RSAF’s air defence
capabilities is its recently upgraded
Integrated Air Defence System (IADS),
which has gained greater reach and
lethality thanks to its new MBDA Aster
30 SAMP/T (Sol-Air Moyenne Portée
Terrestre) self-propelled surface-to-air
missile (SAM) system. According to
MINDEF, the Aster 30 missile is equipped
with a two-stage effector and has a
claimed interception range of around
70km against aircraft-sized targets.
The new SAM system is replacing the
service’s upgraded but ageing Raytheon
MIM-23B Improved Homing All the Way
Killer (I-HAWK), which entered service
in the early 1980s.
Strengthening sea lines of
communication
The RSN is also benefiting from a range
of new naval platforms and equipment.
At the tip of the service’s refined and
sharpened spear will be its four new air-
independent propulsion (AIP)-equipped
Type 218SG Invincible-class SSKs, which
will replace its Swedish-made Archer
(Västergötland)-class submarines by
2025. The first of the four Type 218SG
submarines was launched in February
2019 by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems
(TKMS) in Kiel and is scheduled to enter
service in 2021.
Following the delivery of the eighth
and final LMV – the future RSS Fearless
– by local shipbuilder ST Engineering
Marine in November 2019, the RSN’s
surface warfare capabilities will be
further amplified by the introduction of
new Multirole Combat Vessels (MRCVs)
which are expected in 2025 and will
31
 Regional
M i l i t a r i e s
JR Ng
The Singapore Army will gain a significant boost in firepower with the new Hunter armoured
fighting vehicles, which can be armed with anti-tank guided munitions.
replace its 62m Victory-class missile
corvettes that have been in service since
1989.
Dr Ng revealed during the
announcement of the MRCV programme
in 2018 that these ‘frigate-sized’ vessels
will feature high levels of automation for
reduced crew manning requirements and
will serve as ‘motherships’ for a range of
unmanned air, surface, and underwater
vehicles.
In contrast, the Joint Multi Mission
Ship (JMMS) programme will replace
the RSN’s four Endurance-class
amphibious transport ships “after 2020”,
although MINDEF remains coy about
the specifications and capabilities of
the replacement design. Dr Ng earlier
noted that it will be expected to serve
as a command platform and feature
a significant lift capacity to support
humanitarian assistance and disaster
relief (HADR) operations. Details on
whether the JMMS will capable of
supporting the RSAF’s incoming F-35Bs,
which can take-off in distances under
170 metres and land vertically, are being
closely watched.
The RSN has emerged as a leading
adopter of high-end unmanned
capabilities, and is phasing out its fleet of
four Bedok-class mine hunters in favour
of locally developed unmanned surface
32
vessels (USVs) configured for mine
detection and classification as well as
mine identification and disposal missions,
which are set to be operationalised from
2020.
Increased firepower and protection
The Singapore Army is envisioned to
evolve into a more agile, protected, and
lethal force with new additions to its
combat vehicle fleet in the coming decade.
A key highlight is the fully digitalised 29.5
tonne Hunter tracked AFV developed
under the service’s Next Generation AFV
(NGAFV) programme, which entered
service in June 2019 and is intended
to replace its hundreds-strong fleet of
upgraded but increasingly obsolescent
M113A2 Ultra armoured personnel
carriers (APCs) in service since the early
1970s.
According to MINDEF, the Hunter
AFV is also the Singapore Army’s first
mechanised armoured vehicle to be
equipped with an anti-tank guided
missile (ATGM) capability and a laser
warning system. Two Spike ATGMs can
be carried in a retractable launcher on
the roof of its Rafael Advanced Defense
Systems Samson 30 Integrated Remote
Weapon System (RWS) for engaging
armoured threats at long range, while the
Orbital ATK 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II
| Asian Military Review |
automatic cannon and a co-axial 7.62mm
machine gun provides firepower at closer
distances.
These direct fire guns can be traversed
360 degrees and elevated between -10 to
60 degrees to engage threats in confined
urban environments. Rafael states that
the RWS can carry up to 230 rounds of
ammunition for the automatic cannon
and 500 rounds for the co-axial machine
gun.
The Hunter AFV represents a step
change in terms of combat potential and
survivability compared with the tracked
combat platforms that are presently in
Singapore Army service, offering not only
a credible anti-armour capability thanks
to its ATGM-equipped RWS, but also a
newly developed battlefield command
and control (C2) operating system known
as the Army Tactical Engagement and
Information System (ARTEMIS).
ARTEMIS is designed to manage
most of the Hunter’s critical mission
equipment – including its weapons,
sensors, and communications systems –
and perform real-time mission planning.
The suite is also capable of exploiting the
data collected by the vehicle’s sensors and
share it wirelessly with other vehicles and
units using the army’s tactical network
radios and wide area communication
networks. The Hunter will also be
capable of controlling unmanned aerial
and ground vehicle, using ARTEMIS to
share intelligence and targeting data with
friendly units to improve their ability to
perform co-ordinated manoeuvres and
fires.
“The Hunter is born locally through the
collaboration between the army, Defence
Science and Technology Agency, and ST
Engineering,” Dr Ng announced during
the vehicle’s commissioning ceremony.
“The [vehicle] replaces the M113 APCs
[and] represents a significant step-up in
all areas: better firepower, mobility, and
protection,” he added.
The Hunter family is expected to
comprise five variants: combat, bridge,
command, engineer, and recovery, with
initial deliveries of combat vehicles
already in progress.
The army’s long-range firepower will
also be boosted by the Next Generation
Howitzer: a wheeled self-propelled
155mm/52-calibre weapon system that
will offer a higher rate of firepower
and reduced manpower requirements
over the army’s current towed Field
Howitzer 2000 (FH2000) introduced
in the 1990s. The new weapon will
 Regional
M i l i t a r i e s

complement the service’s existing Primus
tracked 155mm/52-calibre self-propelled
howitzer and High Mobility Artillery
Rocket System (HIMARS).
According to MINDEF, the Next
Generation Howitzer will be a fully
automated system replacing the
Singapore Army’s towed Field Howitzer
2000 (FH2000), which was introduced in
the early 1990s. The self-propelled Next
Generation Howitzer will have a 155
mm/52-calibre gun offering a higher
rate of firepower and reduced manpower
requirements compared to the FH2000.
Although the MINDEF has yet to
release detailed specifications about
the Next Generation Howitzer, ST
Engineering Land Systems’ 8×8 Advanced
Mobile Gun System (AMGS) design is
widely seen as the leading contender,
with silhouette graphics released by the
ministry depicting a vehicle that appears
to visually match the company’s offering.
The proposed design has a proposed
gross vehicle weight of 28 tonnes that is
expected to offer a maximum road speed
of 80km/h and a cross-country speed of
30km/h. It will feature a high level of
automation with automatic projectile and
charge loading capabilities, while its gun
laying system is integrated to an on-board
fire control system to enable the crew to
perform fire missions without leaving the
safety of its armoured crew cabin.
ST Engineering claims that the AMGS
can fire six rounds every three minutes
with an effective maximum range of
40km with extended range full bore
(ERFB) ammunition.
Other modernisation priorities
for the Singapore Army over the next
decade include a new armoured all-
terrain tracked carrier (ATTC) to enhance
battlefield logistics and combat support
operations. The proposed design of
this vehicle also appears to match the
ST Engineering Land Systems Bronco
3 vehicle, which it claims to offer a 30%
increase in volume and performance over
the first-generation Bronco.
The army also unveiled two new
combat support vehicles in August 2019:
the Satellite Communications Very-
Small-Aperture Terminal Subscriber
Detachment (Satcom VSD) and the
Wheeled Recovery Vehicle (WRV).
The Satcom VSD is based on the URO
Vehículos Especiales SA (UROVESA)
4×4 Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico
(VAMTAC) ST5 high-mobility tactical
vehicle and entered service in 2016. The
vehicle features a rear-mounted cabin that
contains a retractable AvL Technologies
satcom reflector antenna, which appears
to be the company’s 1.5m Premium SNG/
MIL antenna optimised for Ku- and Ka-
band communications. It also features an
integrated GPS and stabilised fluxgate
compass to increase positioning accuracy.
Another recently unveiled army asset
is the Wheeled Recovery Vehicle (WRV),
which is based on the Rheinmetall MAN
Military Vehicles (RMMV) 8x8 SX45
chassis. MINDEF stated that the WRV
has been specifically designed to enhance
recovery operations for the army’s entire
range of motorised combat and support
vehicles. It is equipped with a rotator
crane that enables it to tow and suspend
disabled vehicles weighing up to 35
tonnes in urban and cross-country terrain.
An armoured cabin protects the crew
from small arms fire and shrapnel. AMR

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C o l u m n
ANALYSING
SINGAPORE’S
F-35B ACQUISITION
By Ben Ho
L
ast month, the United States
approved the sale of up to
12 Lockheed-Martin F-35B
Lightning II fighter jets and
related equipment and services
to Singapore in a $2.75 billion deal. The
US Department of Defense (DoD) said
that Singapore asked to buy four planes,
with the option of eight more as well
as up to 13 aircraft engines, electronic
warfare suites, and various support
services. According to figures cited in the
2019 Singapore Budget debate, the F-35B –
the most complex and expensive amongst
the three Joint Strike Fighter variants –
costs around $115 million.
The acquisition of America’s most
advanced warplane will mark a quantum
leap in capability for the Republic of
Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as a whole.
The F-15 Eagles and F-16 Falcons currently
in RSAF service are considered fourth-
generation aircraft, while the F-35 is
a fifth-generation asset. Indeed, the
Lightning II is slated to replace the Falcon,
which is continually being upgraded,
but which could face obsolescence post-
2030. Moreover, the procurement of the
Lightning II would not only make the
RSAF the first South-east Asian air force
to owe a 5G fighter capability, but also a
true stealth aircraft.
The Lightning II can function not
just as a traditional fighter capable of
attacking aerial and surface targets but
to borrow a term from American football
parlance, as a ‘quarterback’ too. With its
cutting-edge sensor array, it could act as a
network node sending target information
to friendly aircraft as well as ground and
naval forces in order to ‘dictate play’ over
34
and on the battlefield. For instance, an
RSAF F-35 could relay infoormation to
the non-stealthy F-15 without the latter
activating its sensors and compromising
itself.  As the Lightning II carries a
much smaller payload compared to the
Eagle due to its ordnance being stowed
internally to preserve stealth, it would
make sense for the latter to act as a bomb/
missile ‘truck’. It is also worth noting
that during a 2018 training exercise, a US
Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B provided
target information to a High Mobility
Artillery Rocket System on the ground.
Given that the Singapore Army also
possesses the same artillery platform,
expect it to team with the F-35B when the
latter enters RSAF service.
What is more, the Lightning’s
quarterback capability ties in seamlessly
with the SAF’s ongoing initiative to
become a next-generation fighting
force that is networked and integrated.
MINDEF speaks of the concept of
Knowledge-based Command and
Control (IKC2) “tying… air, land and sea
capabilities into a synergistic whole”. It
contends that IKC2 “gives commanders
and soldiers the ability to see first, see
more; understand better; decide faster;
so that they can act decisively to achieve
victory,” adding that “(t)his is achieved
by leveraging on networks of sensors,
shooters and communications to provide
comprehensive awareness and self-
synchronisation on the battlefield.” The
F-35B, with its game-changing ability to
network with other SAF assets, would
have an pivotal role to play in all of these
All that being said, why did Singapore
choose the costlier short take-off and
vertical landing (STOVL) B variant over
| Asian Military Review |
the “conventional” A variant that costs
$80 million apiece? The city-state’s
tiny size and lack of strategic depth are
perhaps the main reasons behind the
decision. In the current era of long-range
precision-guided munitions, Singapore’s
few airbases could be easily targeted and
the F-35B offers redundancy on this note.
Its STOVL capability would allow it to
deploy under less-than-ideal operating
conditions, such as from a long stretch of
road, should regular airfields be rendered
inoperable from enemy action. Indeed,
the F-35B can deploy from an airstrip of
less than 170 metres in length. In stark
contrast, the corresponding figure for the
F-35A is 2,400-plus metres. The B variant’s
STOVL capability could also complicate
the adversary’s targeting calculus given
that he must factor in the likelihood of
F-35Bs operating from ad-hoc runways.
In the larger strategic context,
Singapore is one of the very few nations
in the Asia-Pacific and the rest of the
world not allied with America to possess
the F-35. This aircraft is on the books of
staunch US allies Australia, Japan, and
South Korea, with all three possessing the
A variant and the two north-east Asian
powers planning to buy the B variant
for possible deployment on its landing
ships helicopter that could function as
de facto aircraft carriers. Outside of the
region, Israel and a number of North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies such
as the United Kingdom, Italy, and the
Netherlands possess the F-35. Singapore’s
F-35 procurement thus affirms the robust
long-standing defence ties between the
city-state and Washington. AMR
 LAND AND AIRLAND DEFENCE AND SECURITY EXHIBITION

08-12 JUNE 2020 / PARIS

THE UNMISSABLE
WORLDWIDE
EXHIBITION

1,802
exhibitors +14,7%
from 63 countries
65,9% of international
65 startups at Eurosatory LAB

98,721
Total attendance
(exhibitors, visitors,
press, organisers)

227
Official delegations
from 94 countries
and 4 organisations
(representing 760 delegates)

696
journalists
from 44 countries

75 Conferences
2,102 Business meetings made

2018 key figures

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