US eases arms embargo on Vietnam amid China's maritime expansion

HANOI -- The U.S. government on Thursday relaxed an arms embargo on Vietnam, which likely lobbied for the move to boost its naval capabilities as territorial disputes with China heat up.

     No details have been confirmed on the specific weapons Vietnam will acquire from the U.S., but state-owned media here has suggested the P-3 Orion surveillance planes, among other equipment and devices.

     The Chinese navy owns about 10 times as many vessels as its Vietnamese counterpart. For example, China owns almost 70 submarines, while Vietnam counts just two.

     In addition, over 95% of Vietnam's weapons are Russian-made and generally inferior to those manufactured in the U.S. and other Western countries. Many outdated models are still in commission as well, and modernizing equipment had become a pressing issue for its military.

     Vietnam is also concerned that Russia, its biggest arms provider, is pivoting toward China as relations with the West break down over the Ukraine crisis.

     But many note that Vietnam does not yet have the capability to use advanced weapons. It likely plans to first import weaponry related to maritime security and train personnel on highly advanced Western equipment, then branch out to other armaments such as fighter jets and helicopters.

     The U.S. has not exported arms to Vietnam in about 40 years. The partial lifting of the embargo could signal further developments in their relations, which have improved steadily since they normalized ties in 1995. The Southeast Asian country is also a potential ally in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a planned economic framework headed by the U.S.

     Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang had told former U.S. President Bill Clinton in July that easing the embargo would be an important demonstration of mutual trust and the full normalization of bilateral ties.

     Hanoi has also invited U.S. President Barack Obama to visit next year for the 20th anniversary of the bilateral accord, and could be preparing policy measures to attract U.S. investment in the country.

Philippines-France Defense Cooperation Agreement - Easing the Supply of Military Equipment for the AFP

Philippine president Benigno Aquino III's official visit to France from September 17 to 19, 2014, concluded with several discussions and deals with the French government and France-based multinational companies. In relation to defense and security, Aquino was able to push for the signing of an updated Defense Cooperation Agreement between France and the Philippines, as well as meeting with Airbus top officials.

President Aquino meets French president Francois Hollande in Paris.
Photo taken Mr. Christian Hartmann c/o Reuters.


France-Philippines Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA)
The 2 countries already have a previous DCA and the one signed in France this week updates and further strengthen this defense agreement. This paves the way for the the French government to assist the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and for allowing French companies to supply the Philippines with weapons platforms, systems, and defense-related goods and services. This also allows the Philippines to tap French assistance in other defense-related issues like training and education, warship visits and military aircraft stop-overs, and others.

Previously, the Department of National Defense (DND) indicated that a DCA is important in paving the way for defense acquisitions with certain companies and governments where the supplier is based. Such examples of previous DCA signed by the Philippine with other countries are those with Canada, South Korea, Indonesia, and the United States. This paved the way for the AFP and DND to acquire military assets from the said countries, with the Bell 412 CUH and VIP helicopters from Bell Textron Canada, FA-50 Fighting Eagle jets from Korea Aerospace Industries, and Strategic Sealift Vessels from PT PAL of Indonesia.

RI, South Korea to reach deal on phase II of KFX/ IFX fighter jet

KFX/IFX fighter jet (photo : kjclub)

Indonesia and South Korea are expected to reach an agreement on the second phase of the joint development and production of the KFX/ IFX fighter jet, a step that will mark the epitome of the two countries’ strategic partnership, the South Korean envoy said.

The three phases of developing the KFX/IFX fighter jet are technology development (TD), engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) and joint production and marketing.

The TD phase was concluded in December 2012, which saw a number of engineers from state-owned airframer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) and officers from the Indonesian Air Force going to South Korea to discuss a number of development issues with their South Korean counterparts.

Vietnam Welcomes Sixth Twin Otter Seaplane

Sixth Twin Otter seaplane VNT-773 of Vietnamese Navy (photo : Phunu Today)

The sixth Twin Otter seaplane has officially hit the road in Vietnam, is expected to land at Cam Ranh Bay in early October.

Reportedly, sixth seaplane DHC-6 Twin Otter (as well as the final agreement to purchase six planes were Navy Vietnam and firm Viking Air of Canada signed in 2010) brought number MSN 887 VNT-773 (N900VK / C-GVAT) has officially hit the road in Vietnam on the morning of 28/9.

So nearly a week after the graduation ceremony second pilot group of Vietnam Navy in Victoria on 22/9, sixth seaplane DHC-6 Twin Otter take off has done for the country itinerary .

Earlier, speaking at the graduation ceremony on 22/9 pilots Vietnam, CEO of Pacific Sky Aviation, Mr. Michael Coughlin said 5 out of 6 Twin Otter from Viking Air 400 order has been transferred to the Vietnamese Navy South. It is expected that the sixth aircraft will arrive in Vietnam base in early October.

Vietnam pilot group of 10 recently graduated from flight training at Pacific Sky on 22/9. They were happy to receive the diploma, behind the sixth Twin Otter seaplane.

Pacific Sky Aviation is a member company of Viking Air, participate in training to take on all the technical staff and pilots Twin Otter floatplane in Vietnam. With the support and teaching of Pacific Sky, in 2013, a first group of 26 Vietnam Navy officer has completed flight training program and a maintenance phase, while the second group of 10 Pilots also completed a flight training program lasted 20 months intensive.

The seaplane pilots Vietnam undergone training in Canada include: 6 months learning English aviation; certification of private pilots transport and trade of Canada; a total of 6,000 hours of flight training; collective response on the water and on a night flying aircraft C172, C182 and DHC-2 Beaver.

The pilots must have 1,000 hours total on the DHC-6 aircraft types, including 650 hours of flight time and 2,100 takeoff - landing on the coastal waters and the lakes in British Columbia.

When on the water, the pilot will also be supported by a pilot training aircraft DHC-6's Pacific Sky and Viking representative in Vietnam.

With a team of 6 Twin Otter, Vietnamese Navy Aviation will soon have a fleet of maritime patrol aircraft modernization, strengthening the protection of the sovereignty of the island nation.

(PhunuToday)

Taiwan advised to start small in bid to make submarines at home

As the 2016 presidential election edges closer, Taiwan's desire to build submarines at home has gained attention, with one submarine expert suggesting that Taiwan start with small 500-ton vessels.
Wang Jyh-perng, a Navy captain and associate research fellow at the Association for Managing Defense and Strategies, said Monday that for a beginner like Taiwan, building small ships would allow it to avoid the high costs in developing and producing submarines as big as the 3,000-ton Swordfish-class diesel sub it owns now.

It would also be easier for Taiwan to acquire the technologies needed if it aimed at smaller targets, Wang said while addressing a national defense policy blue paper released by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party last week.The party proposed that the military engage in "reverse engineering" on its Dutch-made Swordfish-class subs before moving to develop and build at least six 1,500-ton new subs, since it was almost impossible for Taiwan to buy submarines from other countries due to its political status.

Wang, who was once dispatched by the Navy to Holland to monitor the fabrication of the Swordfish-class subs in the 1980s, said it was not impossible for Taiwan to build a sub.But it would have to integrate the skills and technologies owned by its state-owned shipbuilding company, CSBC Corp., Taiwan with machine processing techniques of the private sector, he said.

Three Phases of AFP Modernization Cost P300B

Three phases modernization need PhP 300 billion (photo : PN2020)

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang said on Friday, October 3 that approximately PhP300 billion is needed to complete three phases of AFP modernization.

“We can think of it like boxing where the first horizon is the bantamweight, then the second horizon is the middleweight, and eventually the third horizon is heavyweight,” General Catapang explained.

First phase of the modernization, currently ongoing, will attain minimum credible defense posture. Department of National Defense already awarded several contracts to supply military hardware including 12 units FA-50s, 2 strategic sea-lift vessels, number of attack helicopters and 3 medium lift fixed wing aircraft. DND is currently in the later stage of acquiring frigates and air defense radar systems.

DND is also acquiring anti-submarine helicopters, close air support aircraft and patrol aircraft as part of first phase.

“The second horizon is another P85-P100 billion which will take six years, while the third horizon is P100-P125 billion and another six years for military hardware and also bases development,” the AFP chief said.

For the second phase, DND is eyeing to acquire multi-role fighter jets as part of the phase. The phase is expected to kick-off coming 2018.

(AngMalaya)