Singapore Quietly Expanding F-15 Fleet from 24 to 40

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.

Indonesia and US to sign Apache Memorandum of Understanding

Indonesia and the United States are expected to sign an agreement soon to facilitate the Indonesian Army's (TNI-AD's) enhanced operation of on-order Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
The Indonesian Ministry of Defence said on 20 August that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) will cover the handling and security of data and communications received by the Apache during TNI operations.
The MoU is currently under review by the TNI chiefs of staffs. Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said he hoped this review would be completed soon to enable ratification of the MoU so the US could deliver the Apache helicopters to Indonesia before the 69th anniversary of the TNI on 5 October.

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Japan looking to buy more stealth fighters in 2015: Nikkei

Japan plans to seek funding to buy six F-35 stealth fighter jets in next year's budget to strengthen defense of remote southwestern islands against China, which has grown increasingly assertive at sea and in the air, the Nikkei reported.

The Ministry of Defense intends to ask that 124.9 billion yen ($1.21 billion) be set aside, the Nikkei said.

Chinese Experts: Vietnam Can Buy Amphibious Assault Ship, A-10 and Apache from US

Wasp class amphibious assault ship (photo : US Navy)

Expert: US-Vietnam military relations warming Vietnam was America intentionally offensive weapons

During the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff revealed Martin Dempsey on the 16th visit to Vietnam, the United States in the "near future" to discuss whether to cancel the ban lethal weapons to Vietnam provisions. Military expert Du Wenlong said during an interview with CCTV, said Vietnam needs offensive weapons, thereby improving sea and air forces of neighboring countries deterrent. China Research Institute of International Ruan Zongze that the warming of US-Vietnam military relations between the two countries, the United States marked the further deepening of the South China Sea issue involved.

Vietnam hopes to obtain weapons deterrent from the United States

U.S. arms embargo against Vietnam has experienced a process from tightening to relax. United States arms embargo against Vietnam South Vietnam regime collapse began in 1975, when the Viet Cong seized a large number of American arms left over to South Vietnam, the United States this has been brooding. 1984, Washington formally implemented an arms embargo against Vietnam. However, in recent years the attitude taken by the United States embargo has been softened. In 2007, the United States policy toward Vietnam weapons ban obvious change, the Bush administration revision of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, as the case may allow the sale of non-lethal weapons to Vietnam, but all deadly weapons remains limited. The United States if the "partial lifting of the ban on the sale of lethal weapons", arms exports to Vietnam will further relaxed.

A-10 attack aircraft (photo : USAF)

Du Wenlong believes that Vietnam needs to obtain two types of weapons: one is able to defend their vested interests weaponry; second is to improve the weapons of naval and air forces around the country have a deterrent, mainly offensive weaponry.

Du Wenlong noted that the Vietnamese want to get the most air and sea and amphibious equipment. Most Vietnam helicopters currently in use or during World War II and the Vietnam War from the United States seized the UH-1 helicopters, if Vietnam has A-10 attack aircraft and AH-64 "Apache" helicopter gunships, then Vietnam will be the ability to control at low altitude substantial increase in the target for reconnaissance capability will enhance the surrounding seas. In addition, the special needs of amphibious ships in Vietnam to improve amphibious capabilities, such as second-hand "Wasp" class amphibious assault landing craft or other common, with these weapons, the ability to defend and attack capabilities Vietnam vested interests will be greatly improved. Vietnam may also purchase radar, through a wide range of remote surveillance and early warning, raise the South China Sea maritime and aerial reconnaissance capabilities.

AH-64 attack helicopter (photo : GlobalAviationReport)

US-Vietnam military relations warming signs U.S. intervention in the South China Sea intensified

Ruan Zongze said, warming US-Vietnam military relations, and that the United States has begun to advance the Indochina region.

Ruan Zongze noted contradictory words and deeds of the United States, the United States on the one hand that the South China Sea issue "do not choose sides", on the other hand is sliding into the South China Sea issue has become a third party. He pointed out that the recent ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting, the United States formally thrown "freeze the South China Sea Action" three-point initiative, the proposal stood a non-objective and fair stance by China and the countries of resistance and opposition. Vietnam is now the United States tried to seize the South China Sea issue to intervene more forcefully, "military strength and economic strength in Vietnam belong to class level in the ASEAN region, and guardian of the southeast peninsula, geopolitical location of important American approached Vietnam relations, probably marks U.S. intervention to further deepen the South China Sea issue. "Ruan Zongze said.

(ChinaNews)

The fourth "Kilo 636.1" for Vietnamese Navy Came to the Factory Sea Trials

Fourth submarine for Vietnamese Navy named HQ-185 Khanh Hoa (photo : Itar Tass)

SAINT-PETERSBURG / ITAR-TASS /. Factory test runs fourth export diesel-electric submarine project 636.1 ("Varshavyanka") for the Vietnamese Navy began on Thursday in the Baltic Sea, ITAR-TASS reported a source in the military-industrial complex.

"Today, the ship came to the factory to the Baltic sea trials (ZHI). At the third ship crew training series continues to customer country," - said the agency interlocutor. He did not specify the duration of the fourth test of the submarine.

In mid-March of this year signed an act of acceptance of the third in the series of the submarine, which until the end of the year will be immersed in the lighter (specialized vessel for the transport of goods) and shipped to the customer. The first two submarines have already joined the Navy in Vietnam. The fifth boat and built a series of lies, and the sixth will be laid this year.

Contract for six submarines was signed with Vietnam in 2009. The agreement was signed during the visit of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to Russia. Multipurpose diesel-electric submarine project 636.1 belong to the third generation that are designed by experts CDB Marine Engineering "Rubin" / St. Petersburg /. They are considered one of the quietest in the world, have a submerged speed of 20 knots and a working depth of the dive - about 240 meters.

(Itar Tass)

Taiwan still hopes to buy F-35 fighters from US - defense official

Taiwan continues to hope for jet fighters with stealth, short take-off and vertical landing capabilities, a senior defense official said Tuesday, noting that the US-made F-35 is one option that fits the bill.

There is "a need" for higher performance combat airplanes, said Major General Chang Wen-shuo, deputy director-general of the Defense Ministry's Department of Strategic Planning, at a regular ministry press conference.

Both the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning, both made by Lockheed Martin, are on the purchase list, Chang said, explaining that "necessity" is the top consideration.