U.S. Approved the Sale of 9 ESSM to Thailand...!!!

                   ESSM medium-range surface-to-air missile (photo : Defense Industry Daily)

WASHINGTON – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress August 7 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Thailand for nine Evolved SEASPARROW Missiles (ESSM) and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $18 million.

The Government of Thailand has requested a possible sale of nine Evolved SEASPARROW Missiles (ESSM); three MK25 Quad Pack canisters; and four MK783 shipping containers; spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering; technical and logistics support services; and technical assistance and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $18 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by increasing the ability of Thailand to contribute to regional security and improving interoperability with the U.S. Military in operational and exercise scenarios. It is consistent with U.S. national interests to assist Thailand in developing and maintaining a strong and ready ship self-defense capability which will contribute to the military balance in the area.

ESSM provides ship self-defense capability. The proposed sale will add to Thailand’s capability to meet current and future threats from anti-ship weapons.

The proposed FMS case includes support equipment, training and technical assistance required for the RTN to effectively incorporate the ESSM into its fleet. With this support, the RTN will have no difficulty absorbing the ESSM into its frigates and being fully operational.

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

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

The prime contractors will be Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona and BAE Systems in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

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.

(DSCA)

2 Italian Frigates to Sail In with Technical Support...!!

                                               Maestrale class frigates (image : MConrads)

MANILA — They will not only be sailing into Philippine waters with their weapons, sensors and other equipment intact.

A Defense official said Italy's "Maestrale" class frigates eyed by the government to bolster its Navy will also sail in with technical support which will allow the prospective crew to use the ship to its fullest potential.

DND Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said this is one of the reasons the "Maestrale" is such an attractive proposition.

Technical support means the Italians would train PN personnel in the proper use of the frigates' systems and maintenance.

Acquisition of the ships is expected to cost the Philippine government P 11.7 billion.

Aside from this, the Italian Navy also guaranteed to supply its Filipino counterpart with spares which the ships need for dockyard maintenance.

"It means that we don't have to scrounge around for parts. We can call them about the items we need and they will supply them to us. It means greater availability for our

'Maestrale' for maritime missions," Manalo stressed in Filipino.

He added the Italians will put the ships on "zero time" or intensive overhaul wherein their equipment — weapons, navigation, sensors, engines, and hulls — will be made good as new.

"This will take around nine months. Once it is complete, the ships will be good as new or even better," he emphasized.

                              AB-212 anti submarine warfare helicopter (photo : Militaryphotos)

The "Maestrale class is composed of eight vessels, all of which were built by Fincantieri S.p. A, Riva Trigoso, except for Grecale, built by Fincantieri S.p.A. – Muggiano, La Spezia.

It is primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare.

However, the ships are highly flexible so they are also capable of anti-air and anti-surface operations.

Ships of this class have been widely used in various international missions and during normal operations of the Italian Navy.

The first of these ships entered the service in early 1982. The rest of the fleet was launched over the next three years.

The ships of the Maestrale class are scheduled to be replaced by the "Rinascimento" class starting in 2011.

The frigates have a displacement of 3,100 gross register tons, a length of 122.7 meters, draft of 4.2 meters.

Its propulsion system consists of two GE/Avio General Electric LM2500 gas turbines; two D Grandi Motori Trieste BL-230-20-DVM diesels, and two five-blade propellers.

This gives the "Maestrale" class a top speed of 33 knots and cruising range of 6,000 nautical miles at 15 knot economical speed.

It has a complement of 24 officers and 201 enlisted personnel.

The "Maestrale" frigates armament fit consists of four Teseo Mark-2 anti-ship missile launchers, one octuple Aspide surface air missile launchers, one Otobreda 127 mm main gun, two Oto Melara twin 40mm automatic cannon, two 533mm torpedo tubes and two 324mm torpedo tubes for anti-submarine warfare.

It is also capable of carrying two AB-212 helicopters for anti-submarine and patrol work.

With all these features, the "Maestrale" will be the most potent ships acquired for the PN, making the latter more capable of defending the country's territorial waters. (PNA)

(Balita)

DND Officially Recommends T-50..!!!

                                                      TA-50 Golden Eagle (photo : KDN)

Purchase of Korean Jets Recommended

The Department of National Defense (DND) has recommended to President Aquino the purchase of South Korean-made jet fighters to boost the country’s external defense capability.

Fernando Manalo, DND undersecretary for finance, munitions, installations and materiel, said the assessment conducted revealed that it is South Korea’s T50s which is ideal for the country’s Philippine Air Force.

“Based on our assessment it is the T50 of South Korea that is most advantageous to us in consideration to the obtaining situation in the West Philippine Sea,” said Manalo.

Aside from capability, the T50s are also ideal in terms of the country’s limited budget for Air Force modernization, he said.

If the contract is signed with South Korea before the end of 2012, Manalo said the fighter jets could be delivered to the country within two years from 2013.

What would happen if the contract is signed, according to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, is that they would request for immediate delivery of two of the T50s to facilitate the training of Air Force pilots.

“We will negotiate so we can get the two immediately for training so that when the rest of the 10 arrives, our pilots are already trained,” said Gazmin.

Manalo stressed the need to sign into law the P75-billion modernization budget for military modernization.

“Without the law, we cannot implement the acquisition of these fighters . . . because there is no budget,” said Manalo.

The Philippines is now focusing on its external defense after it became locked in a standoff with China a few months ago near the Scarborough Shoal.

The two Philippine civilian ships have already pulled out several weeks ago to deescalate the tension but Chinese ships remain in the area and even set structure to block other ships from entering the Shoal.

(Manila Bulletin)

Philippine Navy Buying 2 Italian Warships..!!!

                                  Maestrale class, 3.100 ton frigates (photo : Militaryphotos)

MANILA, Philippines - Two Italian warships are set to strengthen the Philippines' maritime defense capabilities, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Thursday.

Gazmin said the Philippine Navy is buying the P11.7-billion Maestrale class-frigates , which have anti-submarine and anti-aircraft weaponry.

The move is part of the Armed Forces' modernization program, the defense chief said at a forum in Camp Aguinaldo.

"These frigates are warships. These have anti-air, sub-surface, they have anti-submarine (capabilities). What we are getting are really meant for war," Gazmin said.

The frigates, which were commissioned in the 1980s, are being used by the Italian Navy.

He said the Navy is waiting for the approval of contract that is expected to be signed in January 2013.

The ships will then be delivered by November after they are refurbished.

"These are operational. They are being used by the Italian Navy. They will be refurbished and overhauled," Gazmin said.

The Philippine Navy bought a Hamilton-class cutter from the US Coast Guard for about P400 million last year.  A similar vessel is expected to be delivered to the Navy within the next few month.

"These will be a big help because they will be giving us a very good defense posture," Garzmin said. "These will help in guarding (our territory), against terrorism, enforcement of maritime laws."

Fernando Manalo, defense undersecretary for finance, munitions, installations and materiel, said a separate P3.2-billion contract for the purchase of 10 attack helicopters from Eurocopter could be signed this month.

The helicopters will be delivered this year if the contract gets the green light.

Multi-role fighter jets

The Department of National Defense is also eyeing KAI T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic advanced trainers and multi-role fighters from South Korea.

Manalo said Malacañang has received the department's proposal to buy the aircraft.

"We are also looking at other options for the lead-in (fighters) but to be specific, based on our assessment, it is the T-50 of South Korea that is most advantageous to us in consideration to the obtaining situation in the West Philippine Sea and what is affordable to us," he said.

However, the T-50's purchase will rely on the modernization law that is still being deliberated by Congress.

"We have been engaging the company (Korea Aerospace Industries) and for as long as the contract is signed before the end of the year, then the target of 2 years delivery period is still doable," Manalo said.

(ABS-CBNNews)