Forces armées de Singapour/Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)

Citation :

Singapour acquiert deux sous-marins ThyssenKrupp
     

SINGAPOUR, 02 déc 2013 (AFP) -
Singapour, qui dispose de l'armée la plus moderne d'Asie du Sud-Est, a annoncé lundi l'acquisition de deux sous-marins allemands, sans préciser les sommes engagées.

Le ministère de la Défense a signé un contrat avec ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems pour deux sous-marins de "Type 218SG" devant être livrés en 2020.

Le contrat prévoit notamment l'entraînement de l'équipage en Allemagne.

Les deux submersibles viendront renforcer la flotte d'Archer achetés à la Suède en 2005 pour remplacer ses sous-marins de la classe Challenger construits dans les années 1960 et acquis dans les années 1990.

"Les sous-marins de remplacement auront des capacités significativement supérieures et seront équipés de systèmes de propulsion anaérobie" permettant des plongées prolongées, a précisé le ministère dans un communiqué.

Singapore a prévu 12,34 milliards de dollars locaux (7,2 milliards d'euros) pour son budget militaire cette année, une hausse de quelque 500 millions par rapport à 2012.

La cité-Etat est entourée d'imposants voisins (Chine, Indonésie, Malaisie) et n'a eu de cesse de s'armer depuis sa scission douloureuse d'avec la Malaisie en 1965.

bjp/mba/sm/gab/fw

THYSSENKRUPP

http://www.marine-oceans.com/actualites-afp/6688-singapour-acquiert-deux-sous-marins-thyssenkrupp  

Citation :

Singapore officials view F-35B at Luke Air Base

GLENDALE, ARIZ. — Singapore defense officials visiting an Air Force base in Arizona have gotten a look at a new American fighter that the Asian nation may purchase.

Luke Air Force Base officials say an F-35B from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma flew to the pilot-training base just west of Phoenix on Tuesday.

The F-35B is the short takeoff and vertical landing version of the F-35 developed for the Marine Corps. The Air Force uses the standard F-35A.

The single-engine fighter did several approaches to the runway, maneuvered into a hover and then landed.

Singapore air force officials are at Luke for a training exercise being conducted at Luke and at the Barry M. Goldwater Range in southwestern Arizona.

Luke is expected to begin receiving F-35s early next year.

http://www.airforcetimes.com

Citation :

Singapore in no hurry to purchase F-35s: defence minister

Singapore’s defence minister has reaffirmed the nation’s interest in the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), but says there is no great rush to order the type.

In a joint press conference with his US counterpart in Washington DC, Singapore defence minister Ng Eng Hen said Singapore is “in no particular hurry because our [Lockheed Martin] F-16s are still very operational, they are due for upgrades but it is a serious consideration…”

Observers of the Singapore air force have tended to take the view that Singapore will first replace its 26 obsolescent Northrop F-5s with F-35s. An F-16 replacement programme is perhaps two decades away, however.

Singapore has not formally announced an upgrade programme for its 60 F-16s, but any such programme would likely extend the capability of these aircraft until the 2030s.

Ng’s comments came just days after he witnessed a flight demonstration at Luke AFB by a US Marine Corps F-35B.

“The US marines were kind enough to have a demonstration of the F-35Bs and it's quite an engineering marvel,” says Ng. “We recognise that there are aspects to consider and we will make our deliberate decision because as I said we are in no particular hurry, but we are seriously considering.”

Singapore’s interest in the F-35 has long been known. As security cooperation participant in the programme, it has access to programme data and is allowed to request special studies. In March 2013, Ng told the parliament that Singapore was close to completing its evaluation of the type.

Experts also feel that Singapore may have a strong predilection for the F-35B. Singapore’s small size and lack of strategic depth makes its air bases highly vulnerable in the event of a conflict. The F-35B's ability to operate from austere or makeshift airfields would, experts say, give the Singapore air force more flexibility in a conflict.

http://www.flightglobal.com

Citation :

Six "Victory-Class" Missile Corvette to improve "vision" and communication capabilities


“Lianhe Zaobao on 7 Dec 2013 featured the capabilities of the upgraded missile corvettes. The upgrades made included: (i) an enhanced Combat Management System; and (ii) advanced sensor systems, including the ScanEagle UAV. However, the MCVs would no longer have anti-submarine capabilities such as anti-submarine torpedoes and variable depth sonar detectors. The six MCVs had been in service for more than 20 years, and had been upgraded to ensure that they retained the capability and flexibility to meet new and evolving demands.

CO RSS Victory LTC Tony Wong said that the upgraded MCVs would continue to meet the RSN’s operational need to around 2020. The upgrade would also give the vessels better situational awareness thus allowing the crew to make quicker and more informed decisions. In the past, the MCVs had to approach a threat to identify it. However with the UAV capability, they could now assess it without putting the vessel and crew risk. The upgrades were also completed two months earlier than planned. The first CO of RSS Valour COL (Ret) Gary Lee shared his experience onboard the vessel. He said that one of his proudest moments was in 1991 when he commanded RSS Valour. Alongside RSS Vigour, the two vessels participated in Exercise Southern Friendship, sailing 22,000km in 72 days stopping at nine ports. COL (Ret) Lee “proudly” said that the voyage proved that the RSN’s strength and demonstrated the crew abilities. ME5 Foo Suan Yong shared that the current batch of soldiers were technologically savvy thus allowing them to easily master the high-tech systems.”

http://www.totaldefence.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/navy/news/2013/24-Dec-13.html

upgrade AESA

DSCA a écrit:

Singapore  - F-16 Block 52 upgrade

WASHINGTON, Jan 14, 2014 – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress January 13 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Singapore for an upgrade of F-16 Block 52 aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $2.43 billion.

The Government of Singapore has requested an upgrade of 60 F-16C/D/D+ aircraft.  The upgrades will address reliability, supportability, and combat effectiveness concerns associated with its aging F-16 fleet.  The items being procured in this proposed sale include:

  70  Active Electronically Scanned Array Radars (AESA)
  70  LN-260 Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems (GPS/INS)
  70  Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS)
  70 APX-125 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Combined Interrogator Transponders
  3   AIM-9X Block II Captive Air Training Missiles
  3   TGM-65G Maverick Missiles for testing and integration
  4   GBU-50 Guided Bomb Units (GBU) for testing and integration
  5   GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions for testing and integration
  3   CBU-105 (D-4)/B Sensor Fused Weapons for testing and integration
  1   AIS Interface Test Adapters for software updates
  1   Classified Computer Program Identification Numbers (CPINs)
  4   GBU-49 Enhanced Paveways for testing and integration
  2   DSU-38 Laser Seekers for testing and integration
  6   GBU-12 Paveway II, Guidance Control Units

Also included are Modular Mission Computers, a software maintenance facility, cockpit multifunction displays, radios, secure communications, video recorders; a Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS); maintenance, repair and return, aircraft and ground support equipment, spare and repair parts, tool and test equipment; engine support equipment, publications and technical documentation; aerial refueling support, aircraft ferry services, flight test; personnel training and training equipment, site surveys, construction,  U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support.  The estimated cost is $2.43 billion.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by increasing the ability of the Republic of Singapore to contribute to regional security. The proposed sale will improve the security of a strategic partner which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia Pacific region.

The proposed upgrade will improve both the capabilities and the reliability of the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) aging fleet of F-16s.  The improved capability, survivability, and reliability of newly upgraded F-16s will enhance the RSAFs ability to defend its borders and contribute to coalition operations with other allied forces.  The RSAF will have no difficulty absorbing this additional equipment and support into its armed forces.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

T-346A

Citation :

Rendering of Multi-level Multi-Mission Range Complex.


New indoor firing range complex to sharpen SAF firepower

Preview of the new SAF Multi-Mission Range Complex (MMRC), which is a first of its kind three-storey indoor live firing range located at Pasir Laba. Singapore's soldiers will now spend a lot more time sharpening their marksmanship at the Republic's latest indoor firing range that went fully-operational on Friday.
ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA

Très bonne infrastructure    J'aime bien la mentalité de ces armées asiatiques , professionnelle et studieuse , a l'image de leur pays .

Citation :

Singapour choisit l'A330 MRTT d'Airbus

Le 24/01/2014 à 10:58   | Par Guillaume Steuer  

De sources gouvernementales et industrielles concordantes, Singapour aurait signé courant 2013 un contrat pour l'achat de six ravitailleurs A330 MRTT. L'appareil, fourni par Airbus Defence & Space, a été préféré par l'île-Etat devant ses concurrents américains et israéliens. Si elle est confirmée, cette bonne nouvelle marquera un nouveau succès commercial pour l'avion-ravitailleur européen, déjà livré à quatre pays.

Interrogé, Airbus Defence & Space n'a pas souhaité commenter l'information.

Singapour avait exprimé il y a plusieurs années un besoin pour le remplacement de ses quatre KC-135R Stratotanker actuels. Face au MRTT, l'israélien IAI proposait notamment son Boeing 767 MMTT (Multi Mission Tanker Transport), solution qui a notamment été retenue par le Brésil face à l'A330 MRTT en raison de son prix inférieur. Côté américain, l'offre portait à l'origine sur des KC-135R "rénovés", même s'il est possible que Boeing ait également mis en avant son nouveau KC-46A dont les livraisons à l'US Air Force ne doivent pas commencer avant 2017.

Extrêmement discret sur ses achats d'armement, Singapour n'a jamais communiqué sur l'avancement de ce processus d'acquisition. Les nouveaux ravitailleurs de l'île-Etat seront principalement mis à profit pour alimenter en carburant la petite centaine d'avions de combat dont dispose la force aérienne locale (F-15SG et F-16C/D Block 52) notamment pour se déployer à l'étranger lors d'exercices internationaux. Les partenariats étroits entre l'Australie et Singapour dans le domaine de l'entraînement ont pu contribuer à faire pencher la balance en faveur du MRTT d'Airbus, déjà livré à la force aérienne de Canberra.

Après le Royaume-Uni, l'Australie, les Emirats Arabes Unis, l'Arabie Saoudite et Singapour, l'A330 MRTT pourrait bien accrocher l'Inde à son tableau de chasse. New Delhi est en effet entré depuis plus d'un an en négociations exclusives avec Airbus pour l'acquisition d'un lot de six A330 MRTT destinés à rénover sa flotte d'avions-ravitailleurs. Des opportunités existent aussi en Corée en Sud.

En France, le dossier MRTT avance, avec une notification de contrat espérée d'ici à la fin du mois d'août pour l'acquisition des premiers appareils qui devront venir remplacer les C-135 de l'armée de l'Air. Une nouvelle proposition technique et financière d'Airbus devait être remise ces jours-ci à la DGA et l'armée de l'Air et fera encore l'objet d'âpres négociations dans les mois qui viennent.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/defense/singapour-choisit-l-a330-mrtt-d-airbus.html  

Citation :

SINGAPOUR : Thales place son radar GM200

Le 11/02/2014 à 05:20   | Par Guillaume Steuer  



Des radars de surveillance Thales pour Singapour : la force aérienne de l'île-Etat (RSAF) a profité du salon aéronautique qui ouvrait ses portes aujourd'hui pour lever le voile sur une acquisition qui était jusque-là restée confidentielle. Baptisé "Shikra", un radar de surveillance 3D monté sur camion était visible sur le statique du salon. Le système n'est autre que le radar Ground Master 200 (GM200) de Thales, l'industriel ayant lui-même utilisé par le passé l'appelation Shikra pour promouvoir ce capteur à l'export.

Les premiers systèmes sont arrivés dans le pays en 2012, explique un aviateur singapourien. Celui-ci ajoute que les radars sont toujours "en phase d'évaluation" en vue d'une mise en service opérationnel attendue prochainement, et confirme que le système a été fourni par Thales. Le nombre de systèmes commandés n'est pas précisé, mais notre interlocuteur explique que le capteur est pour l'instant utilisé principalement à des "fins de surveillance" et n'est pas directement intégré à des effecteurs.

D'après une fiche technique présentée par la RSAF, le système affiche une portée maximale de 100 km et une altitude de détection allant jusqu'à 25.000 m. Le GM200 est un radar en bande S issu de la plateforme technologique SR3D ; il a déjà été vendu à plusieurs pays, notamment par les Emirats Arabes Unis l'an dernier.

Commandé par Singapour en 2013, le missile Aster 30 en version terrestre pourrait à terme être intégré à une architecture de défense sol-air incluant également le GM200, selon un autre aviateur singapourien.

La défense aérienne est visiblement à l'honneur sur le salon de Singapour puisque la RSAF expose aussi ses missiles sol-air très courte portée Mistral, fournis par MBDA, ainsi qu'un véhicule blindé à chenilles équipés du missile russe Igla et un autre blindé léger équipé du RBS70 de Saab.

Dernier système de défense aérienne à avoir été intégré dans la RSAF, le Spyder-SR israélien (photo ci-dessous), qui met en oeuvre des versions sol-air des missiles air-air Derby (guidage électromagnétique) et Python 5 (infrarouge) était également exposé à Changi. Celui-ci est actuellement en phase d'évaluation, explique un militaire singapourien. Il pourrait être utilisé de concert avec le GM200 de Thales.



http://www.air-cosmos.com/defense/singapour-thales-place-son-radar-gm200.html

Citation :

SINGAPOUR : les aviateurs exposent leurs drones  

Le 11/02/2014 à 05:52   | Par Guillaume Steuer



Le Heron 1 aux couleurs singapouriennes faisait sa première apparition au salon.

La force aérienne de Singapour (RSAF) exposait pour la première fois au salon deux aéronefs entrés récemment en inventaire : le drone moyenne altitude longue endurance (Male) Heron 1, fourni par Israel Aerospace Industries, et le drone tactique Hermes 450 d'Elbit Systems.

Selon un aviateur de la RSAF, les premiers Heron 1 auraient été livrés en 2012 et le système serait toujours en cours de montée en puissance. Les Heron singapouriens sont équipés d'un capteur optronique jour/nuit mais dépourvus de radar SAR/GMTI et de liaison Satcom, selon notre interlocuteur. Ils sont en revanche dotés d'un système de décollage/atterrissage automatique.

Sur son chalet situé à quelques dizaines de mètres seulement du Heron 1 singapourien, IAI affiche une bannière sur laquelle sont justement censés figurer les drapeaux des pays client de cet appareil… mais celui de Singapour manque à l'appareil.

Les premiers Hermes 450 (photo ci-dessous), des drones tactiques affichant une endurance et une capacité d'emport réduites par rapport au Heron 1, avaient été commandés en 2007 et leur acquisition avait fait l'objet d'une communication officielle. Ils étaient alors venus compléter une flotte de drones essentiellement composée de Searcher II.



Hermes 450 et Heron 1 sont mis en oeuvre par deux escadrons différents, précise un militaire singapourien. Celui-ci ajoute que l'armée de terre dispose pour sa part de mini-drones, sans en préciser le type.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/defense/singapour-les-aviateurs-exposent-leurs-drones.html"

Citation :

SINGAPOUR : la base de Cazaux accueillera bientôt douze M-346



L'industriel singapourien ST Aerospace précise aujourd'hui que les deux derniers biréacteurs d'entraînement M-346 commandés par la force aérienne locale (RSAF) fin 2010 seront livrés en mars 2014 par l'avionneur italien Alenia Aermacchi. Les appareils seront tous basés en France, sur la base de Cazaux qui héberge depuis plus de dix ans un détachement permanent chargé de la formation avancée des pilotes de chasse singapouriens.
 
ST Aerospace et Alenia Aermacchi ajoutent que les premières activités de formation sur M-346 avaient commencé dès février 2013 à Cazaux, et que le premier vol au profit d'un élève-pilote a eu lieu sur M-346 dès le mois suivant. Le détachement avait cependant dû être cloué au sol pendant plus de trois mois suite à l'accident d'un prototype de M-346 en mai 2013.
 
Boeing est également partenaire du contrat singapourien : l'industriel américain est responsable de toute la partie "sol" de la formation des élèves de la RSAF.
 
Lors de l'annonce du contrat en septembre 2010, ST Aerospace avait précisé que le montant global de l'accord était évalué à 410 millions de dollars.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/defense/singapour-la-base-de-cazaux-accueillera-bientot-douze-m-346.html

impressionante la config GBU des F-15SG

Citation :

Singapore could ultimately decide SABR/RACR showdown in SE Asia




The story of which industry team will capture the lion's share of the business to upgrade the Lockheed Martin F-16 has taken a new turn, with a decision by Singapore potentially now a 'game winner', while rumours continue to circulate about the US Air Force's (USAF's) future plans for modernising its own F-16 fleet.
The USAF's Combat Avionics Programmed Extension Suite (CAPES) programme was originally intended to involve 300 US F-16 aircraft, all of which would be upgraded with Northrop Grumman's Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) and a set of other onboard systems integrated by Lockheed Martin, the aircraft's original manufacturer.
Both the SABR and its competitor, the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR), are active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars designed to replace the F-16's existing Northrop Grumman AN/APG-68 mechanically steered array (MSA) radar set. For its proposed upgrade Raytheon is paired with BAE Systems, which performs the role of integrator and supplier for a new set of cockpit displays, an electronic warfare suite, and a main mission computer.
Taiwan (the Republic of China - ROC) had elected to join the USAF in a joint effort focused on the SABR radar, with Lockheed Martin as the programme integrator, and would have 146 of its aircraft upgraded with this package. The island nation is one of the three near-term export customers for an F-16 modernisation, along with South Korea, with 130 F-16s to be modernised, and Singapore, which is looking to modernise between 60 and 70 of the type.
Taiwan elected to go with the same upgrade configuration as the USAF on the basis that the programme's non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs would be amortised over a total of 446 aircraft. However, there have been rumours for months now that on 4 March the USAF could zero out budgeting for the CAPES upgrade in its 2015 budget plan in an effort to maintain current funding levels for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
Officials from Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman stated at the Singapore Airshow this month that there would be no impact on the unit cost if the USAF withdrew from CAPES. The head of LM Aeronautics, Orlando Carvalho, stated that almost every country contemplating an F-16 upgrade "is doing something unique", which makes the question of if or when the USAF decides to go forward with CAPES a non-issue.
However, an industry source who spoke with IHS Jane's claimed that the reason there would be no appreciable impact on the unit cost for the upgrade offered to Taiwan if the USAF ditched CAPES is because "in reality the Taiwanese were always paying for the entire NRE; they just do not know it". The source further claimed that Taiwan will end up not only paying the full NRE costs of the SABR plus the Lockheed Martin upgrade, but that, "since SABR was never productionised and has only ever existed as a few prototypes, Taiwan will also pay for the creation of the entire SABR production line and the establishment of a full raft of suppliers to support that effort".
These and other uncertainties led South Korea to instead bid its F-16 upgrade competitively, which resulted in its selection of the combination of RACR and BAE Systems, which has a cost structure independent of the USAF programme. Raytheon executives such as Jim Hvizd, vice-president for international strategy and business development, state that the approach of their company was to minimise the cost of the upgrade by making the RACR a production-standard design from day one that is piggy-backed on the 'hot' production lines of the company's other AESA models. This makes the Raytheon offer "orders of magnitude cheaper" than the rival package from Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, Raytheon officials claim.
Singapore, meanwhile, has now become an effective tie-breaker as to which of the teams will win the most F-16 upgrade business, with its selection seen as potentially pivotal because of the reputation the island state has of being a smart buyer. Industry sources state that Singapore had originally been predisposed to select the Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman package and the SABR radar, but one source told IHS Jane's that "if the USAF or the ROC were to pull out of the effort, the uncertainties that this creates might cause them [Singapore] to re-evaluate their options".
Raytheon representatives point out that there would be certain synergies that Singapore would take advantage of by selecting RACR. "Their current fleet of 25 F-15SG fighter aircraft are fitted with the Raytheon AN/APG-63(V)3 AESA, so incorporating RACR into their F-16 gives them a level of commonality with some unique advantages," noted one Raytheon official.

http://www.janes360.com/article/34422/singapore-could-ultimately-decide-sabr-racr-showdown-in-se-asia

Citation :

Singapore confirms A330 MRTT buy

Singapore will obtain the Airbus Defence & Space A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT), its defence ministry has confirmed.

The disclosure was made via the ministry's Cyberpioneer Twitter account, which says: "(The) air force will replace ageing KC-135R with Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft.”

The posting did not determine how many examples the Republic of Singapore Air Force will obtain, but Airbus has previously confirmed tabling a proposal for six of the type.

Singapore’s interest in the A330 MRTT has long been rumored. It is understood that it also had considered Boeing's in-development KC-46A tanker for the requirement.

Given Singapore's use of the Boeing F-15SG, which requires a boom for air-to-air refuelling, the country is likely to obtain its aircraft in a configuration similar to those used by the Royal Australian Air Force, which also includes a hose and drogue refuelling pod under each wing. The latter will support types including a potential future Singaporean fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35Bs.



Airbus Defence & Space

Based on the A330-200 airliner, the MRTT is capable of carrying approaching 300 passengers in an airliner-style cabin, as well as performing air-to-air refuelling duties. Singapore firm ST Aerospace has a long history of aircraft modifications and upgrades, and is well placed to perform the conversion programme for the nation's future A330 MRTT fleet.

Flightglobal's MiliCAS database records Singapore's air force as operating four KC-135Rs, using airframes originally manufactured between 1960 and 1964.

The Cybyerpioneer account also confirms Singaporean plans to obtain two additional Sikorsky S-70B maritime helicopters. Flightglobal originally reported this procurement in February 2013.

http://www.flightglobal.com

RSS STEADFAST ( 70 ) ... ou est passé Herackles ?!

Citation :

  Singapore Intends to Acquire Russian MANPADS "Igla-S"

26 April 2014


MANPADS "Igla-S" (photo : Itar Tass)

MOSCOW (ARMS-TASS). Singapore Armed Forces may acquire Russian-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), "Igla-S". This was stated by ARMS-TASS head of the design department Engineering Design Bureau (KBM) holding "Precision complexes" Georgy Vasilyev.

"From Singapore we have long-standing ties, they are going to negotiate the possibility of acquiring Igla-S", - he said.

The army has Singapore currently has an old version of MANPADS "Igla". The main differences of the modernized complex is to increase by about half power of the missile increased to 6 km range missile applications due to different decisions in the field of aerodynamics, as well as advanced algorithms breeding goals and increased noise immunity.

Anti-aircraft guided missile (SAM) MANPADS "Igla-S" is equipped with a contact-proximity fuse, which also provides high hit probability. Installing microelectronics and holding SMD allowed to reduce the amount of homing (GOS) and, consequently, increase the mass of the warhead SAM - from 1.3 kg to 2.5 kg. Application detonation fuel enhancer striking effect in undermining warhead, also significantly increases the combat effectiveness of missiles.

Vasilyev noted that in addition to Singapore's "Needle-S" attended to Turkey, Malaysia and Egypt.

(Itar Tass)  

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2014/04/singapore-intends-to-acquire-russian.html

Citation :

Airbus Defence To Test-Fly Upgraded A330 Tanker in 2016

MADRID — The military aircraft arm of Airbus Defence and Security will start test-flying an enhanced version of the A330 MRTT tanker transport in the second half of 2016 and intends to adopt the new standard with the delivery of the first platform to Singapore, its latest customer.

The improvements will include upgrades to the military systems and the green A330 aircraft itself, according to Antonio Caramazana, the Airbus vice president of military derivative programs.

Updating reporters on the A330 program’s progress, Caramazana said the new package of military modifications will include upgrades to mission systems, refueling boom control laws, decluttering the boom visual systems and mission planning systems.

Installation of the IFF Mode 5 will make the aircraft compatible with the civil regulations involving ADS-B.

Other upgrades relate to changes being made to computers, avionics, and the structural and aerodynamics of the basic green airframe being built by Airbus for airliner and military customers.

The aerodynamic modifications relate primarily to changes to the slats and flaps on the wing. Caramazana said the wing changes will bring small but worthwhile improvements in fuel efficiency.

Conversion of an MRTT Enhanced prototype is planned to start in October of next year with the flight test program getting underway in July the following year.

Singapore will be the first customer for the update and all future deliveries after late 2017 will receive the new configuration.

Work on the boom control laws was prompted by a Royal Australian Air Force requirement to have current standards supplemented by additional capability to enhance the accuracy of large aircraft receiving fuel from the A330.

Work on the new control laws, known as Boom Upgrade 3, have been completed and the final certification and qualification process is underway.

The enhancements can be retrofitted, and Caramazana said the British had already contracted Airbus to look at the feasibility of incorporating some of the upgrades on its fleet of A330s.

The British tanker/transports don’t use an aerial refueling boom on the fuselage but instead deploy a Cobham-supplied fuselage refueling unit, along with two under-wing pods.

Royal Air Force inflight refueling aircraft are provided by the Airbus-led AirTanker consortium. Under a private finance initiative the consortium is providing 14 A330 tanker transports for the military.

So far, nine aircraft, called the Voyager in British service, have been released into service for RAF use.

Airbus has made a clean sweep of tanker orders internationally since losing to Boeing for the US Air Force requirement.

Aircraft are in service with Australia, Britain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The A330 secured a contract from Singapore earlier this year and Airbus is in final negotiations with Qatar, France and India.

The next contract opportunity is in South Korea where it is head- to-head with Boeing’s 767-based offering.

Caramazana said he expected to be under contract with France by the end of the year for nine A330s and three options.

The Airbus executive said France had dropped the idea of incorporating a large cargo door on the aircraft due to time and budget constraints. But France has included in the contract the requirement to use the aircraft for communications relay work.

Caramazana said the French use of the aircraft for duties other than tanking or transport was part of a growing trend. A couple of years ago the RAF looked at the possibility of using at least some of the A330 fleet for surveillance work.

Caramazana said Airbus was currently conducting feasibility studies on including special mission capabilities such as signals intelligence and electronic intelligence in its role. ■

http://www.defensenews.com

Citation :

US offers Singapore F-16 training deal worth $251 million


The US Department of Defense has notified Congress of the possible extension of Singapore’s Lockheed Martin F-16 training programme in Arizona.

A release by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency has said the five year, $251 million contract would extend the Singapore air force’s Peace Carvin II detachment at Arizona’s Luke air force base.

The package includes a broad range of equipment and services including training, captive air training missiles, jet fuel, air-to-air tanker support, and other elements related to hosting a contingent of fighters in the continental USA.

“Singapore needs this training and equipment to support its F-16 aircraft,” says the DSCA. “The continuation of this training program will enable Singapore to develop mission-ready and experienced F-16 pilots. The well-established pilot proficiency training program at Luke Air Force Base will support professional interaction and enhance operational interoperability with US forces.”

Singapore is an important operator of the F-16, with Flightglobal’s World Air Force’s directory showing that it has 60 F-16 C/Ds.

It plans to upgrade these aircraft with active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and new avionics. Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems are both interested in the avionics work, while Northrop Grumman and Raytheon are interested in the radar upgrade.

Singapore also has a long term interest in obtaining the F-35 joint strike fighter, and is believed to have a preference for the F-35B short takeoff vertical landing (STOVL) variant.

http://www.flightglobal.com

M-346 à Cazaux (France).

Citation :

SAF considers buying larger ship for humanitarian ops


The Joint Multi-Mission Ship can help with disaster relief amid increasing demands for military to do so: Dr Ng

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is considering buying a Joint Multi-Mission Ship (JMMS) — a larger ship compared with the Land Ship Tanks (LSTs) on the SAF’s books — that will enable it to send more helicopters to crisis-hit areas.

Revealing this in a media interview last week to mark SAF Day today, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen noted an increasing recognition by militaries around the world, including the SAF, that “in specific circumstances, the military is an organisation which, if it can, can step forward to help”.

Citing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief as clear examples, he said: “We know that the responsibility falls squarely on the SAF to protect Singapore, that we are very clear. But beyond that, we recognise that there are increasing demands for what we call expanded operations ... During the haze, the SAF also stepped forward to distribute masks.”

He said the SAF’s experience in helping with relief efforts for Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines in November last year and reportedly killed thousands of people, underscored the need for a JMMS, which has greater capacity and longer range than the LST. The latter can carry two Super Puma helicopters or one Chinook.

“The typhoon was so devastating that … communications were knocked out. There was no centralised ability for command and control for the air space. And in that context, a ship such as the JMMS would be very useful,” said Dr Ng.

The Ministry of Defence is in the final legs of evaluating what is required for such a ship, said Dr Ng.

In April, Singapore offered to host a regional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief coordination centre at its Changi Command and Control (C2) Centre. Dr Ng said that since then, several countries have expressed support for the proposal.

“A number of military chiefs have visited our Changi Command and Control Centre. They feel that it’s an idea that meets the needs of the times and I would say we are working out the mechanics,” he said.

In the meantime, the Republic is actively seeking to build networks with other militaries and also civilian groups such as voluntary welfare organisations and United Nations agencies.

Stressing that no single country will have all the resources to cope with a catastrophe, Dr Ng said: “Part of building the networks is cultivation of relationships, knowing where your resources can be or where they can be pre-positioned, and who is available to be activated ... Obviously, the affected country must agree to the help but once it does, then we can move.”

Another area that the SAF is working on is beefing up cyber defence, which will have an increasingly large impact on the Republic’s defence operations, Dr Ng said.

The SAF is ramping up its hiring, training and deployment of officers in this area.

“I would say that all countries are grappling with this because we recognise that it is a new frontier that can have an impact sometimes equivalent, sometimes even more than, the physical terrain. So if your networks are knocked out, for example, it can have security implications and that is something that we take very seriously,” said Dr Ng.

http://www.todayonline.com

Citation :

Singapore Buys MBT Merkava Mk 4 ?

05 Juli 2014

Source IntelligenceOnline.com reports that Singapore will be the first foreign buyer of major Israeli tanks series Merkava. According to these reports, Singapore signed a contract for the purchase of 50 tanks Merkava Mk 4 new construction. According to the resource, the transaction amount reaches $ 500 million

Earlier, at the beginning of June 2014, the Israeli newspaper "Yediot Ahronot", citing a source in the Israeli Defense Ministry announced the signing of export agency of the Ministry of Defence Shibata first export contract for the Merkava Mk 4 tanks, without naming the customer and saying only that it is a country, "related long-term relationships with Israel in the field of security. "Also does not provide any details, except that the amount of the contract is "several hundred million dollars."

Merkava tanks series produced in the Israeli public a tank factory in Tel Hashomer in 1979, however, despite the considerable interest shown in him at different times by different potential foreign customers, never exported. This let low rates of production of tanks Merkava, their high cost, as well as export restrictions by both the U.S. (acting supplier significant portion of the tank units and systems and provide partial funding for the program of the issue), and most of the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Now, for reasons mainly economic plan, Israel's Defense Ministry has issued export permits Merkava Mk 4.

Singapore since 2007 acquired are considered 182 Leopard 2A4 tanks from the German Bundeswehr presence (part of them for use on parts and conversion into special machines), and is currently carrying out a program of modernization.

(BMPD)  

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2014/07/singapore-buys-mbt-merkava-mk-4.html

Citation :

Singapore – Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Kits

WASHINGTON, Jul 7, 2014 – The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Singapore for Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $63 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 3, 2014.

The Government of Singapore has requested a possible sale of 913 KMU-556B/B Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits for Mk-84 2000 lb bombs, 100 FMU-152A/B fuzes, and 300 DSU-40 Precision Laser Guidance Sets. Also included are containers, munition trailers, support equipment, spare and repair parts, test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and technical support, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $63 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy objectives and strategic national security objectives of the United States by supporting Singapore as a key regional partner in counter-terrorism and an important force for political stability and economic progress in South East Asia.

Singapore is requesting these guidance sets, services and equipment to sustain its air-to-ground weapons stockpiles and to accommodate training expenditures. This sale will enable the Republic of Singapore Air Force to sustain mission-ready status to ensure it can contribute to coalition operations and meet its national defense requirements. Singapore maintains a large CONUS F-15SG training presence at Mountain Home AFB. A portion of these munitions are anticipated for use at this CONUS training facility, and will enable RSAF pilots to practice using GPS-guided munitions that will further refine their combat capability. Singapore should have no difficulty absorbing these additional munitions into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of these munitions and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be the Boeing Defense, Space and Security in St. Louis, Missouri. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Singapore.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

-30-

http://www.dsca.mil

Citation :

RSAF 428th FS participates in first Nellis Red Flag



7/24/2014 - Republic of Singapore air force aircrew members assigned to the 366th Fighter Wing, 428th Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, perform pre-flight checks prior to a Red Flag 14-3 training mission, July 18, 2014, at Nellis AFB, Nev. The 428th FS is RSAF overseas-based fighter training detachment; the experiences gained during Red Flag are intended to improve the chance of success for aircrews in combat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)

http://www.mountainhome.af.mil

Citation :

The Republic of Singapore Air Force

Exercise Pitch Black 2014

It's been busy down under at Darwin, Australia. Exercise Pitch Black 2014 is in full swing!

The RSAF deployed about 300 personnel, six F-15SG fighter aircraft, eight F-16C/D fighter aircraft, one G550-AEW aircraft, and one KC-135R aircraft for this year's Exercise Pitch Black.


  

PHOTOS:

Citation :

Singapore Quietly Expanding F-15 Fleet from 20 to 40

22 Agustus 2014



The RSAF has being quietly augmenting the size of its F-15SG fleet. (photo : US Air Force)

Singapore appears to have quietly boosted the size of its F-15SG fleet from 24 aircraft to 40, according to Boeing financial statements, aircraft registration filings, and US congressional reports.

Singapore originally bought 12 F-15SGs - with an option for eight more - under a contract signed in December 2005. In October 2007 the city-state modified this option by buying 12 more to give it a total of 24.

These aircraft have all been confirmed as delivered and have US-type serial numbers running from 05-0001 to 05-0024. Several remain in the United States with the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) 428th Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB) in southwestern Idaho, while the remainder are active in Singapore with 149 Squadron.

Aircraft operating in Singapore use four-digit serial numbers in the 83xx sequence, starting at 8301, although these do not run consecutively.

In January 2014, several aircraft with new serial numbers - 05-0025, 05-0028, 05-0030, 05-0031, and 05-0032 - were seen at Mountain Home AFB. These had not been previously reported and suggest that Singapore has obtained another batch of eight aircraft.

Meanwhile, a 26 November 2012 letter from the US State Department to House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner under the Arms Export Control Act refers to the "sale, modification, and follow-on support of eight F-15SG aircraft to the Government of Singapore".

Figures released by Boeing show that eight F-15s were delivered to an unspecified customer in 2012.

Boeing financial data also shows that a total of 93 F-15s were delivered from 2005 to 2012. South Korea has confirmed that it received 61 and Singapore that it received 24 for a total of 85, leaving eight unaccounted for in public records.

Finally, on 5-6 August 2014, Boeing took out civil aircraft registrations for what it described as F-15SG aircraft: N361SG, N363SG, N366SG, N368SG, N373SG, N376SG, N378SG and N837SG.

Neither Boeing nor the Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) would confirm whether the city-state had acquired 16 more F-15s than previously disclosed, although they also did not deny it.

A Boeing spokesman told IHS Jane's that the company was "unable to discuss" the number of F-15s it had supplied to Singapore, while a MINDEF spokesman said: "The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) bases our procurement on the assessed long-term defence needs, and the RSAF has purchased sufficient F-15SGs to meet our defence requirements."

COMMENT

Singapore's reticence on its follow-on purchases of F-15s is unsurprising: it has long demurred on outlining the extent of its defence procurement and capabilities, instead preferring to quietly build up what is widely seen as the best equipped military in Southeast Asia.

One retired armed forces officer told IHS Jane's that this was a strategic decision to keep its neighbours guessing, and also because the country's leaders did not need to use military procurement as a populist crutch.

However, this refusal to confirm acquisitions can occasionally lead to surreal conversations with military and defence industry officials, such as at the 2012 Singapore Airshow, when Israeli officials would not confirm the sale of IAI Heron unmanned aerial vehicles to Singapore despite the presence of one on static display at the show.

(Jane's)

http://defense-studies.blogspot.fr/2014/08/singapore-quietly-expanding-f-15-fleet.html