Preferred Tenderer Announced for Anzac Frigate Maintenance

29 Februari 2012

HMAS Perth 157 Anzac class frigates (photo : Aus DoD)

A $300 million maintenance and repair contract for the Anzac Class Frigates will be negotiated with Naval Ship Management Australia, following their selection as preferred tenderer. Minister for Defence Materiel Senator Kim Carr said the new five-year contract was expected to provide better outcomes for industry and more effective, value for money outcomes for the Navy.

“In June of last year my predecessor Minister Jason Clare announced the Government’s intention to reform the naval ship repair sector – commencing with the release of the tender for the repair and maintenance of the Navy’s eight Anzac Class frigates,” Senator Carr said.

“I am pleased to announce the outcome of the Tender evaluation. I congratulate Naval Ship Management Australia, a joint venture of Babcock Australia and United Group Infrastructure, for being selected as the preferred tenderer.”

Senator Carr said the announcement follows extensive consultation with industry on a new approach to contracts for repair and maintenance work.

“In contrast to the previous arrangements which required every new maintenance activity to be individually contracted out, the grouping of ship repair and maintenance tasks offers the potential for significant cost savings.

“These savings are achieved through reductions in contracting activity, greater ability to forecast work effort, and productivity gains through greater investment in workforce skills and infrastructure.

“This initiative will provide industry with the predictability, certainty and stability that it needs to achieve efficiencies and provide job security for, and investment in, its workforce.

“This new contracting approach is good for industry, it is good for job security and development, it is good for Navy, and it is good for Australian taxpayers who rightly demand maximum efficiency from every dollar spent on Australia’s defence.”

Contract negotiations are expected to be finalised by June 2012.

(Aus DoD)

US Formally Offers 2nd Warship to AFP

20 Februari 2012

USCGS Dallas WHEC 716 (photo : Shipspotting)

MANILA, Philippines - A top military official bared yesterday that the United States has formally offered to the Philippines a second warship that is expected to boost the country’s territorial defense capability.

Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama said the US sent last week a letter notifying them about the availability of another US Coast Guard cutter, Dallas.

“They (US) sent a letter offering us formally (the ship). They are telling us this is available and their government has approved (the giving of the ship to the Philippines). They are asking us if we are interested,” Pama said.

He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is expected to reply to the letter next week.

“We will respond to the letter and tell them that we are interested. Once they receive that, the formal, detailed discussion would start,” Pama said.

The Navy chief said the transfer of the warship might be held in May if discussions run smoothly.

“If the talks are continuous and smooth flowing, we are looking at a formal transfer to be held in May,” Pama said.

The transfer cost would be funded by proceeds from the Malampaya natural gas project off Palawan that the Department of Energy will provide.

Officials have said the transfer cost for the cutter Dallas would be close to the P450 million spent for the first Coast Guard cutter that the Philippine Navy acquired last year.

The first Coast Guard cutter that was converted into the BRP Gregorio del Pilar was acquired from the US Coast Guard last year to improve the Philippines’ territorial defense capability.

The Gregorio del Pilar is the Navy’s first Hamilton-class vessel and was acquired under the US Foreign Military Sales program.

The ship is 380 feet long and is now the Navy’s largest ship. The ship is currently deployed in Palawan since Dec. 23 to secure the country’s natural resources.

The Philippines deployed the ship amid a territorial row over the Spratly Islands, an area in the West Philippine Sea that is rich in mineral and marine resources.

The Philippines, China, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan claim either part or the entire Spratly Islands, which has been the subject of a territorial dispute in the region.

Last November, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said her government is ready to provide a second war ship to the Philippines.

Clinton, who visited Manila to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty, said the US would remain “in the corner” of the Philippines, its “trusted ally.”

Early this month, US Rep. Ed Royce said the ship “should soon be on its way to Manila” and that the review process for its transfer would be completed soon.

Dallas is a weather high-endurance cutter and has features similar to that of Gregorio del Pilar.

The US Coast Guard had used the ship for drug and migrant interdiction, law enforcement, search and rescue, living marine resources protection, and defense readiness.

The ship can accommodate up to 180 officers and sailors.

(PhilStar)

Philippines to Get Second Hamilton Ship by May

19 Februari 2012

USCGS Dallas WHEC 716 (photo : Eucom)

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—If things go according to plan, the Philippine Navy would be getting its second Hamilton ship by May of this year, Vice Admiral Alexander Pama said Saturday.

Speaking to reporters in a chance interview after the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Homecoming, Pama said that he has received the formal letter of offer on the Hamilton Class Cutter US Coast Guard Dallas.

“Kung masusunod yung schedule, bago matapos and taon, dalawa na yung Secretary Class natin. Maaring May (If the schedule will be followed, before the end of the year we will have two Secretary Class vessels),” Pama told reporters.

In May 2011, the Philippine Navy Acquired a Hamilton Class Cutter, which the Philippine Navy christened as BRP-Gregorio del Pilar, from the United States as excess defense article under the Foreign Assistance Act.

Like the BRP-Gregorio del Pilar, the Dallas will likely be stripped off most of its equipment and armaments. Pama said they requested that some of the equipment be retained on the ship.

“Naiintindihan naman natin na ibang kaggamitan doon ay di basta-basta pwedeng ipamigay… Kasama sa pag-uusapan kung ano iyong pwedeng i-retain (We understand that some of the equipment they can’t give away easily… This is still included in the negotiations, which equipment can be retained),” Pama said adding that both parties are still in the initial stages of the negotiation
When asked where the Dallas will be deployed, Pama said: “We will cross the bridge when we get there.”

He said that they are currently arranging for the transfer of the vessel and training personnel.

However, he admitted that normally, vessels are deployed in tandem. BRP-Gregorio del Pilar, which was commissioned last December 2011, was deployed to the Malampaya natural gas field in the West Philippine Sea.

The United States Congress formally approved the transfer of the Dallas Cutter to the Philippines on February 10.

(Inquirer)

U.S. to Send Second Ship to Bolster Philippines

08 Februari 2012

USCGS Dallas is set as a second warship to be transfereed to Philippine (photo : USCG)

WASHINGTON - The U.S. will soon give a second Coast Guard cutter to the Philippines as part of efforts to boost the ally’s military amid tensions at sea with China, officials said Tuesday.

The U.S. last year transferred its Hamilton cutter to the Philippines, which made it the flagship of its notoriously dilapidated navy and recently sent it on a mission to the disputed Spratly islands.

Lawmakers will this week conclude formalities to send to the former U.S. colony another cutter, the Dallas, Representative Ed Royce and senior Pentagon official Peter Lavoy told a congressional hearing.

“It should soon be on its way to Manila,” said Royce, a Republican from southern California whose district has a significant Filipino American community.

“The U.S. and the Philippines want peace and stability in this region, which is key to the global economy,” Royce said as he chaired the hearing of a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee.

The Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries have accused China of bellicose behavior over disputes in the South China Sea. Despite historical sensitivities about U.S. troops, the Philippines has said it would welcome further rotations by U.S. forces on its soil and more joint exercises.

Lavoy, the top civilian at the Pentagon handling East Asia, said that the U.S. was “considering a range of military capabilities” as it helps the Philippines move from “an inward focus on domestic threats to an outwardly focused military that needs to be reorganized to address external concerns.”

But Lavoy was noncommittal when asked whether the U.S. would be willing to provide F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, saying it was critical to look at affordability and other factors.

Kurt Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asia, said that cooperation also depended on human rights. Congress has blocked $3 million due to concerns over extrajudicial killings by the Philippine military.

“Although the pace of killings has declined, trying and convicting perpetrators remains an ongoing challenge,” Campbell told the hearing.

But Campbell praised Philippine President Benigno Aquino for addressing human rights and other U.S. concerns, including human trafficking.

(Defense News)

Unit Boustead Dapat Kontrak Mindef Bernilai RM9 Bilion

17 Desember 2011

Malaysia memesan 6 fregat Gowind - Littoral Combat Ship yang akan diserahkan dalam 3 tahapan pembangunan lima-tahunan Malaysia : RMK-10, RMK-11, dan RMK-12 (image : DCNS)

KUALA LUMPUR, (Bernama) -- Unit kepada Boustead Holdings Bhd, Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd telah diberikan kontrak bernilai RM9 bilion oleh Kementerian Pertahanan.

Kontrak itu ialah untuk penghantaran enam unit generasi kedua "Patrol Vessels Littoral Combat Ships" (Frigate Class) kepada kementerian, kata syarikat dalam kenyataan kepada Bursa Malaysia Jumaat.

Niaga janji itu meliputi reka bentuk, pembinaan, peralatan, pemasangan, pelaksanaan, integrasi dan pengujian ke atas keenam-enam kapal itu, katanya.

"Kontrak itu bernilai RM9 bilion, akan dilaksanakan dalam tempoh tiga Rancangan Malaysia, 10, 11 dan 12," katanya.

Penghantaran pertama dijangka pada 2017 dan disusuli oleh yang lain setiap enam bulan selepasnya.

(Bernama)

The Philippine Navy Expects to Receive the Second USCG Ship Early Next Year

14 Desember 2011

USCGS Dallas WHEC 716 (photo : USCG)

PH Navy getting another refurbished US Coast Guard vessel

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Navy expects to receive another refurbished US Coast Guard cutter, its second, early next year, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said on Tuesday.

"I was told it (cutter) will come early next year. Sigurado na â˜yun (Thatâs for sure)," Gazmin said.

The first Hamilton class cutter, renamed the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, will be commissioned on Wednesday by President Benigno Aquino III.

Gazmin described the acquisition of the Hamilton class cutter as a "hot transfer," with the Philippines to shoulder only the refurbishing of the vessel.

However, no price has been set and Gazmin said the cost of the ship will depend on its condition.

During Monday's turnover at Camp Aguinaldo for the new Armed Forces chief, President Benigno Aquino III vowed to further boost the military's capabilities both for external and internal defense.

(Interaksyon)

See Also :

DND eyes 3 more Hamilton-class ships
14 Desember 2011

MANILA, Philippines - The government is planning to acquire as much as three Hamilton-class ships to beef up the Navy’s maritime defense capabilities, officials said yesterday.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said they are trying to acquire two more cutters after they received the BRP Gregorio del Pilar from the US Coast Guard early this year. The BRP Gregorio del Pilar is the Philippines’ first Hamilton-class cutter – a high speed vessel that can cut through waves – and is now its largest ship, at 380 feet long.

“We are trying to acquire three,” he said referring to the Hamilton-class cutters.

This was confirmed by Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay, who revealed that two more Hamilton-class ships may be acquired from the US next year.

“The plan really is to acquire three ships,” Tonsay said in an interview.

“One may be acquired early next year. The other one (would be acquired) hopefully later next year,” he added.

Tonsay said the two ships would secure the energy projects in Malampaya off Palawan. The funding for the acquisition of the cutters would come from the Department of Energy.

“It will expand the area of sovereignty patrol conducted by the Philippine Fleet,” he said.

Tonsay said they have yet to determine the acquisition costs for the two ships. He, however, said the cost for each ship would not be far from that of BRP Gregorio del Pilar, whose transfer cost was pegged at P450 million.

The BRP Gregorio del Pilar will be commissioned today to pave the way for its deployment to the West Philippine Sea to secure the country’s energy projects. It was acquired under the US Foreign Military Sales program using proceeds from the Malampaya project funds.

During a visit to Manila last month, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton assured the Philippines that the US would provide a second war ship to the military.

The ship, named US Coast Guard Cutter Dallas, may be transferred to the Philippines by the first or second quarter of 2012. The military has sent a Navy team to the US to determine the requirements for the acquisition of the second ship.

The US Coast Guard Cutter Dallas is a weather high-endurance cutter and has features similar to that of BRP Gregorio del Pilar.

(PhilStar)

Malaysia Firm Expects to Seal French Ship Deal

07 Desember 2011

A model of the Boustead Gowind Frigate displayed at Lima 2011. (photo : Malaysian Defence)

A Malaysian government-linked shipbuilder said Wednesday it expects to finalise the sale of six naval vessels developed by French navy equipment manufacturer DCNS next month.

Boustead Naval Shipyard was selected by the Malaysian navy earlier this year to build the six corvettes, which are designed for coastal patrol activities.

Zainal Abidin Ahmad, Boustead's assistant general manager, said the two companies would present final design specifications to the navy this month.

"Our expectation is to get it (the deal) signed in January," Zainal said at a maritime and aerospace show on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi.

The vessels weigh 2,400 tonnes, are 100 metres (330 feet) long and can each transport one EC275 helicopter made by Eurocopter, a subsidiary of EADS.

Zainal said Malaysia's navy had yet to choose how to arm the vessels.

The design is still under wraps and the size of the deal has not been disclosed.

However, industry analysts say the cost of one corvette runs to more than 100 million euros.

In landing the order, state-controlled DCNS beat out bids by Germany's TKMS and Dutch firm Damen.

DCNS already had a relationship with Boustead through a joint venture in 2009 to maintain two Diesel-propelled Scorpene submarines used by the Malaysian navy.

The corvettes, which can stay at sea for three weeks, are designed to navigate coastal areas and island groups to fight piracy and patrol fisheries, according to DCNS.

DCNS has sold 11 frigates to Malaysia's neighbour Singapore, five of which were built in the city-state.

(MSN News)

Vietnam to Buy Second Batch of "Gepard"

07 Desember 2011

Gepard 3.9 Vietnam People Navy (PetroTimes)

Russia will sell to Vietnam two frigates "Gepard"

INTERFAX.RU - "Rosoboronexport" and Gorky Zelenodolsk plant successfully completed a contract to supply two ships to Vietnam "Gepard" and signed another contract for two such ships.

"The contract is made on time. In the Vietnamese side were no comments. The first "Gepard" was raised last year, the second - in this. We signed a contract for a second pair of these ships," - said to "Interfax-AVN" on Wednesday, Deputy Director for state defense order and Foreign Economic Affairs of Zelenodolsk plant Gorky, Sergei Rudenko.

He noted that if the first two frigates such as "Gepard" missile guided frigates ships, then the latter will be more ships with ASW-role. According to Rudenko, other countries in Southeast Asia interest in these ships exhibit.

"Yesterday, here at the show we had a meeting with Defense Minister of Cambodia. They asked a couple of ships," - said Rudenko.

(Interfax)

New Cutting Edge Missile Defence System for ANZAC Ships

28 November 2011

All eight of the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac Class frigates will be upgraded with an advanced Anti-Ship Missile Defence system, total cost is $650 million, including the funds already spent upgrading HMAS Perth. (all photos : Aus DoD)

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Government has approved the upgrade of all eight of the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac Class frigates with an advanced Anti-Ship Missile Defence system.

The total project cost is in excess of $650 million, including the funds already spent upgrading HMAS Perth.

The ANZAC Class Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) project has also been removed from the Projects of Concern list.

The 2009 Defence White Paper outlined the Government’s intent to put all of the ANZAC Class ships through an ASMD upgrade program, subject to the successful outcome of at-sea trials on the first ship.


The upgrade of HMAS Perth as the lead ship for the ASMD program was successfully completed earlier this year.

Following exhaustive testing, including in theUnited States, the Chief of Navy agreed to the operational release of the system in July 2011.

Government has now approved the installation of the system on the remaining seven ships of the ANZAC class by 2017.

Minister Smith said this was the latest weapon in Navy’s arsenal and meant the Navy’s ANZAC frigates would be a lot more capable.

At the moment our ANZAC frigates can track and destroy one target at a time.


The new system is able to identify, track and guide missiles to multiple targets at the same time.
Minister Clare said the project was a great Australian success story – cutting edge technology developed right here inAustraliaby CEA Technologies.

The remaining upgrade installation and integration work will be undertaken by the ANZAC Ship Integrated Materiel Support Program Alliance, comprising SAAB Systems, BAE Systems and the Defence Materiel Organisation.

Minister Clare said that the ASMD upgrade program is a good demonstration of how the Projects of Concern process can effectively manage difficult projects and deliver successful national security outcomes for Australia.

(Aus DoD)

USCGS Dallas : The Second Hamilton Class Ship to be Transferred to the Philippines

09 November 2011

USGGS Dallas WHEC 716 (photo : USCG)

Second Hamilton-class ship to be deployed to West Phl Sea

MANILA, Philippines - The second Hamilton-class patrol ship that will be acquired from the US would also be deployed to the West Philippine Sea area to secure the country’s natural resources, the Navy said yesterday.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay said the ship, which may be transferred to the Philippines by the first or second quarter of 2012, would also guard the energy projects in Malampaya off Palawan.

He said the acquisition of the ship from the US will improve the military’s maritime defense capability.

“It (acquisition) will boost our external defense and it will add to our desired fleet of Hamilton-class vessels,” Tonsay said.

A Navy inspection team, led by Navy Vice Commander Rear Adm. Orwen Cortez, was sent to South Carolina last week to inspect the US Coast Guard vessel being eyed for acquisition.

The team conducted the inspection from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 as part of the Navy’s continued efforts to upgrade naval capability.

In a statement, Tonsay said the team inspected the US Coast Guard cutter Dallas, which would be acquired through the US Excess Defense Articles project.

The inspection involved orientation tours, preliminary transfer discussions, and ship’s organization and mission briefings.

“An in-depth inspection of the entire ship, examination of the actual equipment on board, and checking of machinery records were also conducted to ensure the actual status of the ship,” Tonsay said.

He said the Navy team and the US Coast Guard discussed matters pertaining to the transfer of the ship to Manila.

“These (matters) include the readiness status of the vessel where it was determined to be mission ready and is expected to be a hot transfer,” Tonsay said.

“This means that the ship is still very much in active service in the US and will be decommissioned only to effect its transfer to the Philippines,” he added.

The US Coast Guard cutter Dallas is a weather high-endurance cutter and has features similar to the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the first Hamilton-class cutter acquired by the Navy from the US Coast Guard.

The US Coast Guard had used the ship for drug and migrant interdiction, law enforcement, search and rescue, living marine resources protection, and defense readiness.

It is powered by diesel engines and gas turbines and is re-equipped with a helicopter flight deck, a retractable hangar, and facilities to support helicopter operations. The ship can accommodate up to 180 officers and sailors.

Earlier, the government acquired its first Hamilton-class vessel from the US Coast Guard to upgrade the military’s external defense capabilities.

The ship, which has been renamed BRP Gregorio del Pilar, was deployed at the West Philippine Sea to secure energy projects. The vessel is expected to be commissioned this month.

The transfer cost for the Gregorio del Pilar has been pegged at P450 million. It was acquired under the US Foreign Military Sales program using proceeds from the Malampaya project funds.

The Gregorio del Pilar is classified as a cutter, a high-speed vessel that can cut through waves. The ship is now the Navy’s largest vessel.

The 380 feet-long vessel was turned over by the US Coast Guard to Philippine officials in California last May 13. It arrived in Philippine territory last Aug. 17.

(PhilStar)

PAL dan Damen Schelde Akan Berbagi Membangun Blok Modul PKR

03 November 2011

Teknologi modular kapal Sigma/PKR memungkinkan pembangunan blok-blok secara terpisah untuk kemudian dirangkai menjadi satu (image : Militaryphotos)

PT PAL Gandeng Belanda Buat Kapal Perang

SURABAYA--MICOM: Direktur Sumber Daya Manusia dan Umum PT PAL Indonesia, Soewoko Kartanegara, menyatakan bahwa PT Penataran Angkatan Laut (PAL) akan melakukan joint production pembuatan kapal Perusak Kawal Rudal (PKR) dengan Belanda.

"Sampai saat ini prosesnya masih dalam negoisasi" ujarnya di sela-sela kunjungan ke PT PAL Indonesia, Surabaya, Rabu (2/11).

Soewoko menjelaskan bahwa kapal yang akan dibuat adalah kapal jenis Sigma Class yang rencananya blok utamanya akan dibuat di Belanda, sedangkan blok yang bukan utama akan dibuat di Indonesia.

Perusahaan Belanda yang akan melakukan joint production dengan Indonesia adalah Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS), Belanda.

Beberapa hal yang masih dinegosiasikan oleh PT PAL untuk pembuatan kapal PKR tersebut adalah jumlah personel PT PAL yang akan dikirim kesana dan jumlah kapal yang akan diproduksi.

"Kita sih maunya 200 orang, dan kalau buat kapal itu kan tidak mungkin satu karena harganya akan mahal" pungkasnya.

Sementara itu, staf khusus Direktur Utama PT PAL Bidang Alutsista, Edy Andarto, mengungkapkan bahwa PT PAL telah mengembangkan desain pembuatan Fregate terbaru dan juga kapal LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock). "Tapi semua tergantung dengan pemerintah juga mau kapan memesannya," Ujarnya. (OL-8).

(Media Indonesia)

Philippine Navy Chief Eyes 2nd US Warship

19 Oktober 2011

USCG's Hamilton class (photo : Militaryphotos)

WASHINGTON D.C.--The Philippine Navy will likely get its second Hamilton-class cutter next year, boosting its capability to patrol the country’s maritime borders even as it races to finally acquire missiles for its ships.

But Vice Adm. Alexander Pama, Navy Flag Officer-in-Command (FOIC), said the bigger challenge is not in getting the new weapons the Philippine Navy needs but in improving its “absorptive capacity” to operate and maintain them.

“We have to consider everything,” he told ABS-CBN News. “Buying equipment is the easiest thing to do. The more difficult part is the capability of people because for so long we were concentrated on helping in the counter-insurgency effort. Now we’re shifting to external defense and a conventional navy. That needs a re-adjustment of the skills of our people and that doesn’t happen overnight.”

Meanwhile, the Navy chief downplayed the “freak” collision of a Philippine patrol ship with a Chinese fishing fleet “mother ship” near Recto Bank earlier this week. The patrol ship, reportedly the World War II-vintage BRP Rizal, was trying to take a closer look at the Chinese vessel when it experienced a problem with its rudder, Pama explained.

“It was an accident,” he stressed, adding that the BRP Rizal was investigating reports of poachers in the area. Recto Bank lies about 80 miles northwest of Palawan and is well within the country’s economic zone.

Pama was on his way to the biennial Sea Power Symposium in Newport, Rhode Island where he will address about 70 chiefs of navies from all over the world on “maritime terrorism”. The event is organized by the US Navy.

He stopped briefly in Washington DC to brief think tank groups on the state of the Philippine Navy and naval challenges in the South China Sea.

At the Sea Power Symposium, Pama said he will be sharing the Philippine Navy’s “best practices” in combating terrorism at sea. “They can see that we’re doing something right there and it’s something we can share with the other navies,” he said.

As former commander of Task Force Stingray, an elite naval force created following the string of Abu Sayyaf attacks on beach resorts, he stressed the need to pre-empt terrorists while they’re still on land.

“You don’t address the event itself because by that time it would be too late. Maritime terrorism starts on land,” he said, adding that since Task Force Stingray was established the Abu Sayyaf was never able to replicate the kind of raids it launched on Sipadan Island or the Dos Palmas resort.

But as the Philippine Navy’s focus turn increasingly on the Spratly Islands and the country’s need to tap its vast resources, Pama stressed that "no matter what and no matter with what, we will carry out our mandate even if all we can do is spit on them.”

Pama said they are laying down plans to upgrade the Philippine Navy’s capabilities all the way to the end President Aquino’s term. “The President said he can not commit for the next administration so we’re concentrating on the ‘doables’ and on what the economy can support,” he explained.

Rear Admiral Orwen Cortez, Philippine Navy vice commander, is scheduled to visit the US in early November to inspect another Hamilton-class all-weather high-endurance cutter (WHEC) that could be retired and turned over to the Philippines next year.

A first Hamilton-class cutter was turned over earlier this year and is now deployed with forces patrolling western Palawan.

The third Hamilton-class cutter is projected to be acquired by the Philippine Navy in 2013.

Pama also revealed that they are now preparing to acquire some missile technology. The Philippine military is the only one in Southeast Asia that still does not have missiles. “It’s in the drawing board. I can’t say when but if things turn out as planned, it will be more sooner than later,” he told ABS-CBN News.

Despite recent irritants over the Spratlys dispute, Pama said he was convinced that competing countries were committed to a peaceful resolution of their overlapping claims. “I wouldn’t say it’s getting more dangerous; there are just issues and challenges confronting everybody. I can say the neighborhood has states that are responsible enough. No nation, at least within ASEAN, is out there to make trouble.”

(ABS-CBN News)

DCNS would be Favored to Sell Corvettes to Malaysia

07 Oktober 2011

Corvettes of the family "Gowind" interest of Malaysia. (image : DCNS)

The French group hopes to export its ships in the family "Gowind" for maritime surveillance.
The French naval construction company DCNS is preferred to provide corvettes to Malaysia as part of a call for tenders for 24 copies, said Tuesday the financial daily Les Echos. "We received a letter of intent about a month ago, and since we are in advanced talks," he told the newspaper near the public group.

The Malaysian authorities, which require local assembly and transfer of technology, did not retain the other hand the German TKMS and Dutch Damen also candidates for this tender, specify Les Echos. The case could be completed by the end of the year, they added.

The building belongs to the family DCNS "Gowind" for missions "surveillance zone, the fight against piracy and terrorism, enforcement, fight against drug trafficking, environmental protection, humanitarian , search and rescue, maritime security, "said the DCNS on its website. These include corvettes able to deploy a helicopter or a drone.

(Le Point)

Malaysia Mulls Joint UK Warship Development

17 September 2011

Type 26 FFG (all images : Defense Industry Daily)

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia is considering a number of defence joint ventures with the UK including the development of navy ships with BAE Systems, reported The Timesin London today.

The UK paper reported however that the Malaysian government would want assurances that it would be protected from the type of budget overruns that had hit previous BAE projects.

“Malaysia is considering joining Britain in developing a new generation of navy frigates — but only if it is protected from the sort of budget blowouts that have blighted recent BAE projects,” said The Times.

“Brazil, India, Turkey and Australia have expressed interest in helping to develop the Type 26 frigate, or Global Combat Ship, but BAE’s reputation has made other potential partners nervous and Malaysia would want a guarantee that it would not be liable for budget overruns before it signed up.”

It also quoted Grant Rogan, the chief executive of Blenheim Capital, an apparent adviser to the Malaysian government, as saying that the project had been discussed at the ministerial level in Malaysia as a way to both strengthen bilateral relations with the UK and grow the nation’s industrial base but that the Malaysian government will be “very firm on cost control”.

Rogan was also quoted as saying that the Type 26 frigate is just one of a number of potential defence joint ventures that Malaysia is considering with Britain.

According to The Times, BAE Systems had bust its budget for the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers, which entered service three years late while the cost of the six ships increased from £5 billion (RM24.38 billion) to £6.4 billion.

It added that BAE’s Astute nuclear submarine was delivered five years late and its cost increased from £5.2 billion to £6.7 billion

The proposed Type 26, which will weigh up to 6,000 tonnes, is supposed to replace Type 22 and Type 23 frigates and is expected to form the backbone of the UK Navy’s fleet from about 2020.

BAE, together with Turkey’s Nurol, won a contract last year to supply 250 armoured vehicles to Malaysia, in a deal reportedly worth RM1.72 billion.

The company was also reported in July to be bidding for a tender to replace Malaysia’s MiG-29N with its Eurofighter Typhoon.

The Times said that the MiG-29N replacement deal could be worth £2.4 billion.
The UK based BAE Systems is considered Europe’s largest defence contractor and had 2010 sales of about £22.4 billion.

(The Malaysian Insider)

Australian Made Radar Latest Weapon in Navy’s Arsenal

05 September 2011

HMAS Perth with new phased array radar (photo : CEA)

Navy’s new anti-ship missile defence radar system has been released for initial operational use after achieving outstanding results from the trial of the system off the coast of Australia and Hawaii.

The new multi-phased array radar system has been installed on the Anzac-class frigate HMAS Perth.

The radar identifies, tracks and guides missiles to multiple targets at the same time.

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare inspected the radar at work on-board HMAS Perth while it was conducting training exercises off the coast of Western Australia.

“This is the latest weapon in Navy’s arsenal. It means our Anzac frigates will be a lot more capable,” Mr Clare said.

“At the moment our Anzac frigates can track and destroy one target at a time. This new radar means they will now be able to track and destroy multiple targets at the same time.

“This is also a great Australian success story. It’s cutting-edge technology developed right here in Australia by CEA Technologies.”

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs said HMAS Perth had just returned from testing the system on the United States Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii with tremendous results.

“The tests proved that the new system can defend the ship from modern cruise missile attack. This is a significant enhancement for the Anzac-class frigates.”

HMAS Perth is the lead ship in this project. Following the successful testing of the system on this ship, the Government will soon make a decision about upgrading the other seven Anzac-class frigates.

(Aus DoD)