Philippine Army to get 28 upgraded APC's by Q1 of 2015

The Philippine Army (PA) announced that the delivery of its 28 Israeli upgraded APCs (armored personnel carriers) is scheduled for the first quarter of 2015.

This was revealed by Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato Thursday.

“Delivery of all APCs is scheduled for the first quarter of 2015,” he added.

The Department of National Defense (DND) earlier announced that the payment for the PHP 882 million upgraded armored personnel carrier (APC), bagged by Israeli defense manufacturer Elbit Systems Ltd., will be done in three tranches.

Dr. Peter Paul Galvez, Defense spokesperson, said first payment will be pegged at P405 million, the second will be PHP 335 million and the third at PHP 142 million.

Elbit Systems Ltd., formally announced the signing of the PHP 882 million deal (roughly USD20 million) last June 22.

Taiwan set to take August delivery of more Apache helicopters

Taipei, Aug. 20 (CNA) Taiwan is set to take delivery of six more AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the United States in late August, the Army said Wednesday, in line with a delivery schedule announced after an Apache crashed in northern Taiwan in April.

It will be the fourth shipment of a NT$59.31 billion (US$2.01 billion) order for 30 of the newest Apache model.

"The helicopters are scheduled to arrive in Kaohsiung in late August or early September," an Army official told CNA.

They will be flown to an Army Aviation Special Forces base in the neighboring city of Tainan after being unloaded and checked, the official said.

The latest shipment comes after an Apache crashed into the top of a three-story residential building in Taoyuan County's Longtan Township April 25, damaging four homes but causing no serious injuries.

On July 15, the Army said the environment and human error were found to be the main causes of the crash. Apache training operations had returned to normal before the investigation report was completed, it added.

At the time, the Army said the fourth batch of Apache helicopters would arrive in Taiwan in August, with a final batch expected to be delivered in October.

The crashed chopper was one of 18 that have been delivered to Taiwan by the U.S. since last November.

According to a previous delivery schedule for the final two batches -- said by an Army oficial before the April crash -- the fourth was set to arrive in May and the final one in July. The Army official has attributed the delay to shipping issues.

The model E is the latest in the Apache attack helicopter series. The U.S. and Taiwan are the only two countries using it so far.

Joint Venture Wins Bidding for Supply of AFP Protection Gear

Achidatex Nazareth Elite and Colorado Shipyard Corp. to supply 44,080 sets of force protection equipment for soldiers (photo : Achidatex)

MANILA, Philippines - A joint venture between Israeli firm Achidatex Nazareth Elite and local company Colorado Shipyard Corp. has won the bidding to supply 44,080 sets of force protection equipment for soldiers.

The STAR learned over the weekend that the Department of National Defense (DND) issued the notice of award to the joint venture last July 28.

The project involves the acquisition of 44,080 sets of force protection equipment for Army and Marine troops. The equipment will protect soldiers who are serving on the frontlines of security operations.

The government has allotted P1.763 billion for the project.

Sources said the DND will save around P300,000 if the deal with Achidatex and Colorado pushes through.

The joint venture, however, was not the lowest bidder for the project.

During the opening of bids held last year, South Korean firm Kolon Global Corp. submitted the lowest bid, offering to supply the equipment for P894 million. The bid price would have allowed the government to save P870,000.

The bids and awards committee, however, disqualified Kolon after the company failed to meet some requirements during the post-qualification phase.

A defense department post-qualification team said Kolon’s goods did not meet certain standards aimed at ensuring the protection of soldiers in the field. The team said all ballistic inserts of samples submitted by Kolon did not conform to dimensional requirements since they have shorter measurements.

(PhilStar)

Indonesia upgrades naval base near South China Sea

Indonesia upgrades naval base near South China Sea

The Indonesian Navy (Tentera Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Laut, or TNI-AL) has begun upgrading its naval base at Ranai in Riau Islands to support a planned increase in ship numbers in the region, a senior TNI-AL officer has said.

Speaking to IHS Jane's on 14 August in Jakarta, TNI-AL Chief of Staff for the Western Fleet (KOARMABAR) Commodore Amarulla Octavian described the upgrades as consisting primarily of logistics support facilities, including the building of fuel depots, that will enable the TNI-AL to sustain deployments in the area.

"The logistics facilities are being [upgraded] to support the TNI-AL's increasing presence in the region so that we may safeguard the country's maritime territories from any hostile forces should they pose a threat", he said, although without making specific reference to any particular country.

http://www.janes.com/article/42114/indonesia-upgrades-naval-base-near-south-china-sea

Vietnames Ka-28 were Upgraded in Crimea

Ka-28 of the Vietnamese Navy is being upgraded in Ukraine (all photos : Kienthuc)

Video reportage of NTS-TV channel showed one or two a helicopter Ka-28 painted badges Vietnam Air Force is being repaired.

Recently, NTS-TV channels have made ​​reports noted the revival of the defense industry in Crimea lands newly incorporated into the Russian Federation. Typically, helicopter repair plant in Sevastopol - the famous port city in Crimea.

In the clip, in 1.26 minutes with the emergence of an anti-submarine helicopters Ka-28 painted badges Vietnam People's Air Force . That means, Ka-28 helicopter of Vietnam has been upgraded in this contract may be signed before that.

In fact, there was news in 2010, Vietnam has decided to sign a contract with Ukraine's Sevastopol plant to repair and upgrade the entire Ka-28 have on the payroll. The Ka-28 aircraft in Vietnam was transferred to Ukraine to implement the items included: reinforcement extends shelf chassis, replace the electronic components semiconductor older generation with digital equipment and installation of LCD display, equipped with software controlled weapon firing permits the new types of modern weapons ..

Redoubtable hunter killer submarine

Ka-28 is considered one fearsome anti-submarine helicopters in the world. It has unique characteristics that do not have a helicopter of the United States and Europe have been.

What makes unique Kamov helicopters are used coaxial rotor lift. Accordingly, instead of using a helicopter main rotor tradition, Kamov Ka-28 structure using two rotors turning in opposite directions upgrade will create 2 rotation torque and in opposite directions, so they themselves cancel each other out.
The use of wing structure completely eliminates the tail rotor, which reduces noise and aircraft size width. Also, it helps to have helicopters in maneuverability and flexibility. And because there is no tail rotor should not be afraid of this kind of cross wind blowing, maybe landing in all weather conditions.

"Submarine hunter killer" features the versatile tactical skills, have the ability to find and destroy submarines with three different options with the most modern equipment currently at a depth of three times the depth of operation submarine.

Earlier, a helicopter Ka-25 submarine hunter only one detector plans detectors from APM (magnetic probe generated from submarine shell). Ka-28 also has the ability to detect submarines by hydro-acoustic buoys RGB radio (radio detection when the submarine emits radio signals over the air) and humidity VGS (sounders propellers of ships underground).

Ka-28 is equipped with surveillance radar systems add water and anti-jamming device, jammer unable to detect submarines. Its weapons bay itself leads carry torpedoes, bombs and mines sunk.

While other helicopters to equip the boat floats, life jackets for marine landing on the Ka-28 is equipped with life jackets for aircraft to float on water in emergencies. To the rear of the Ka-28 rubber boats were packed. 2 officers tasked navigation push boats, inflatable manipulated to jump into the sea when a situation to an emergency landing in the sea.

(KienThuc)

China continues building ‘fixed aircraft carrier’ in disputed water with PH territory

Amid Philippine government’s call for construction freeze within the disputed territories in South China Sea including West Philippine Sea, China openly rejected the proposal.

The Fiery Cross is under Chinese Control

“China opposed it immediately. They should study it before they reject it. If they reject it without studying it, then it looks like China does not recognize that the developments in the South China Sea are creating problems for everyone,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said after attending the regional Ministers’ Meeting over the weekend.

According to del Rosario, China is like saying “What tensions? What problem? There is no problem.” The Philippine top diplomat said problems can’t be solved if it is not recognized.

Planned airstrip at Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reef in West Philippine Sea. Internet Photo

Instead of listening to international community’s call to freeze construction, China is busy building its ‘fixed aircraft carrier’ inside Philippine exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.

According to Filipino fishermen operating in West Philippine Sea, China is creating concrete sea barriers in Mabini reef. They also attested that there is an increased Chinese coast guard presence in the territory.

“The artificial island at Fiery Cross Reef will be an unreplaceable military base with great strategic significance due to its location and size. Such a base will realize the value of the South China Sea for China and ensure China’s status in South East Asia,” a Chinese news provider said.

“It can threaten all our vital economic installations and this is the most awesome, our vital military installations including what would be the installations we can make available at the EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement),” Former National Security Adviser Roilo Golez told ANC.

http://www.angmalaya.net/world/2014/08/14/3149-china-continues-building-fixed-aircraft-carrier-inside-ph-territory