Singapore and Australia sign submarine rescue arrangement

RAN's Chief of Navy Vice-Admiral Ray Griggs (left) and RSN's Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Ng Chee Peng (right) at the signing the Submarine Rescue Arrangement on board the RSN’s submarine rescue and support vessel, MV Swift Rescue.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Ng Chee Peng signed the Submarine Rescue Arrangement with Royal Australian Navy (RAN)'s Chief of Navy Vice-Admiral Ray Griggs earlier today.

The agreement was signed on board the RSN's submarine rescue and support vessel, MV Swift Rescue.

The Submarine Rescue Arrangement establishes a framework between the RSN and RAN in the area of submarine rescue support and cooperation. Under the arrangement, the RSN will make available to the RAN MV Swift Rescue and other resources to render support and assistance in the event of an RAN submarine incident.

The Ministry of Defence said that the Submarine Rescue Arrangement reaffirms the close and long-standing bilateral defence relationship between Singapore and Australia, where both armed forces interact frequently through exercises, visits, professional exchanges and military courses.

One of Singapore's most advanced submarines declared battle-ready

The last of Singapore's most advanced submarines was declared battle-ready on Tuesday, sharpening the capabilities of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) in underwater warfare.

The RSS Swordsman was commissioned, following more than two years of tests and torpedo-firing exercises in Sweden and in the warmer and more corrosive waters here. The 60.5m diesel-electric vessel arrived in Singapore in last December. This is the second Archer-class vessel to be added to the RSN's 171 Squadron, after the first, RSS Archer, was declared operational in 2011. The submarine squadron also comprises four ageing Challenger-class submarines.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was at the ceremony in Changi Naval Base, said the new vessel will strengthen the navy's ability to safeguard Singapore's "continued and unimpeded access to the maritime routes".

He noted that Tuesday's ceremony also marked the end of the RSN's eight year journey to replace some of the Challenger-class submarines, which were built in the 1960s.

The Singapore Sling

Singapore has ordered another 20 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder and 100 AIM-120C7 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles for its 98 American F-15 and F-16 fighters. The AIM-9X-2 is the latest version of the Sidewinder, a missile that has come a long way since it first appeared in the 1950s. The 9X-2 can lock-on-after-launch. That is, the missile can be fired and then directed to a target via a datalink. That means it can be fired at ground targets or at an enemy aircraft behind you. The X-2 version also makes improvements in the warhead fuze and other components. As impressive as all these features, most are already found in similar missiles made in several other countries (including Russia and China). In effect, the X-2 version is just keeping up. What the U.S. sells, in addition, is an impressive track record of reliability and actually performing as expected in combat. Over 4,000 X model Sidewinders have been built since it entered service in 2003. Block II (X-2) entered service four years ago. Singapore has already ordered nearly a thousand AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles. The current order is costing $1.8 million per AMI-9X and $2.1 million per AIM-120C7. This includes technical services and support.

 

The AIM-9 is a heat seeking missile, and the heat sensors have become much more sensitive since the first AIM-9s. The current versions of the missile work by detecting a heat source at the point where the pilot is looking. This is done using the JHMCS (Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems), which allows a pilot to see, displayed on his visor, critical flight and navigation information. Sort of like a see-through computer monitor or HUD (Head Up Display). Most importantly, the pilot can turn his head towards a target, get an enemy aircraft or ground target into the crosshairs displayed on the visor and fire a missile that will promptly go after the target the pilot was looking at. For Sidewinder the pilot has to be looking at something giving off enough heat to catch the attention of the missile's heat sensor. With the X-2 the pilot can launch the missile before he has located the target via the JHMCS, saving a critical few seconds.

 

AMRAAM is a longer range radar guided missile that weighs 172 kg (335 pounds), is 3.7 meters (12 feet) long and 178mm (7 inches) in diameter. This is considerably larger than the 85.3 kg (188 pound) Sidewinder, which is about the same length but only 127mm in diameter. AMRAAM has a max range of 70 kilometers. U.S. aircraft use the AIM-120D while export customers get the C7 version. 

 

Eight years ago Singapore decided to order a dozen two-seater F-15SG fighter-bombers, and then 12 more to complement the 74 F-16s it already had. The last of the F-15SGs arrived last year. The F-15SG variant was a configuration that was unique to Singapore, and was the most advanced variant of the F-15. The two-seat F-15SG had high-end electronics comparable to the F-15E it was based on.

Indonesia-Singapore Submarine Rescue Pact: Promoting Southeast Asian Naval Cooperation – Analysis.

In view of the ongoing quest for submarines in Southeast Asia, the recent signing of a submarine rescue pact between Indonesia and Singapore bodes well for future regional cooperative efforts among existing and future submarine operators in Southeast Asia.

The signing of a submarine rescue pact between Indonesia and Singapore on 10 July 2012 constitutes a pioneering move amid the ongoing regional quest for submarines. Comprising protocols for resource-sharing and development of joint operating standards, this agreement is one of a handful of new naval cooperation initiatives observed in Southeast Asia in recent years.

The Submarine in Modern Naval Warfare

The submarine is long valued for its ability to exert disproportionate impact in naval warfare. A suitably-equipped and skillfully-crewed submarine may allow a weaker navy to create problems for a stronger navy. Notwithstanding the advent of the nuclear-powered submarine, the diesel-electric powered submarine (SSK) remains relevant till this day and continues to feature in the global naval arms market. It remains an attractive choice for smaller navies seeking a credible sea denial capability.

Modern SSK designs have since evolved to incorporate new capabilities to increase their versatility and lethality. For instance, some can be armed with submerged-launch, long-range standoff weapons such as land-attack cruisemissiles. Major international submarine manufacturers nowadays also offer new SSKs equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) which extends submerged endurance for weeks without the need to snorkel. Dubbed the ‘poor man’s nuclear submarine’, an AIP-equipped SSK expands the range of warfighting options for a smaller navy, including a credible power projection capability hitherto unavailable in earlier SSK designs.

Southeast Asia’s Submarine Quest

Therefore, it is little wonder that several Southeast Asian navies eagerly seek modern SSKs, regardless of whether it is a mere token force of one or two boats in service, as part of the overall pattern of regional naval modernisation since the 1990s. Singapore became the second submarine operator in Southeast Asia after Indonesia in the 1990s. Plans by Malaysia and Thailand to acquire their own around the period were stymied by the Asian financial crisis in 1997-98. In the early 2000s, Malaysia revived its submarine program and commissioned a pair of Scorpene-class SSKs equipped with submerge-launched Exocet anti-ship cruisemissile. They were then arguably the most modern SSK in the region until Singapore inducted the first Swedish, AIP-equipped Västergotland-class SSK in 2011.

Probably the most conspicuous was Vietnam’s acquisition of 6 Russian-built Project-636MV Kilo-class SSKs, reportedly armed with Klub-series cruisemissiles, in 2009. In December 2011, Indonesia inked a deal with South Korea for 3 Type-209/1400 SSKs to bolster its existing two-boat force. Even though Thailand recently axed a plan to procure decommissioned German Type-206A SSKs, it continues to express serious interest in acquiring such a capability soon. Even cash-strapped Philippines included at least one SSK in its long-term wish-list as part of its armed forces modernisation program.

Potential Source of Destabilisation

With more submarines projected to roam the mostly semi-enclosed Southeast Asian waters, potential risks exist for regional maritime safety and security. Further compounded by the customary lack of transparency in submarine operations, there is greater hazard of at-sea collisions considering that navigable strategic waterways in the region are characterised by shallow waters.

Equipped with modern signal intelligence suites, submarines can also loiter near or inside foreign waters thus creating a potential source of tension. One may recall the infamous ‘Whiskey on the Rocks’ incident in 1981 when a Soviet submarine ran aground on the Swedish coast near a strategic Swedish naval base in Karlskrona. That incident sparked heated diplomatic exchanges under Moscow’s threat of force to secure the release of the boat and crew.

Therefore, the potential risk of similar incidents occurring in volatile Southeast Asia remains. In fact, such a danger was well amplified in April 2000 when former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid cautioned Singapore’s submarines not to stray outside designated sea lanes when traversing through Indonesian waters while urging the Indonesian Navy to stay vigilant.

Progressing Beyond the Bilateral Pact

Prior to the Indonesia-Singapore pact, the primary submarine-related naval activity was Exercise Pacific Reach, a multinational submarine rescue drill first held in 2000. Seen in this context the promulgation of this bilateral submarine rescue pact is significant. It marks not only a furtherance of longstanding cooperation between the two navies but also symbolises increased trust in the traditionally sensitive undersea domain.

Viewed in the wider context of naval activities in Southeast Asia, this bilateral pact is even more significant since previous regional initiatives mostly revolved around more ‘traditional’ modes such as information sharing and intelligence exchange; ship-to-ship communication and maneuver; as well as surface gunnery and missile firing exercises – but never before in the undersea realm. The implementation of the bilateral pact thus heralds advancement towards broader intra-Southeast Asian naval cooperation.

However, for this bilateral pact to expand into a wider regional initiative, three ingredients are needed. First, bilateral-level trust needs to proliferate among all navies in the region. Second, information-sharing in submarine operational safety needs to gain traction. The recent ASEAN Maritime Security Information-Sharing Exercise co-hosted by Indonesia and Singapore is notable in this respect and may serve as a useful basis.

Lastly, in view of the considerable expanse of Southeast Asian waters wherein submarines are envisaged to operate, it is necessary for all submarine operators in the region to each establish at least a rudimentary submarine rescue capacity. This will facilitate effective pooling and sharing of submarine rescue know-how and resources in Southeast Asia.

Such future initiatives may hold huge promise for regional maritime safety and security, for they provide for not merely better submarine operational safety in the region but also further promote mutual confidence and trust as well as enhanced interoperability amongst Southeast Asian navies.

China has territorial claims to nearly 20 countries

Chinese leader Mao Zedong not only built a strong country but also outlined a global goal: "We must conquer the globe where we will create a powerful state." Today, China has territorial claims to all its neighbors. Naturally, the U.S. is dreaming of becoming a mediator in resolving disputes in the region. But it seems that Beijing absolutely does not care about their opinion.

Burma, Laos, Northern India, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Ryukyu Islands, 300 islands of the South China, East China and Yellow Seas, as well as Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Taiwan, South Kazakhstan, the Afghan province of Bahdashan, Transbaikalia and the Far East to South Okhotsk - here is the complete list of areas that, according to Zedong, were lost due to the fall of the Qing empire. All of these countries and regions combined exceed the territory of modern China. Not all complaints are voiced by the Government of China in the international arena, but within the country the imperialist ambitions have not been lost, but rather, are actively promoted.

   

The PRC authorities talk out loud only about the areas that, at least theoretically, can be taken away from Japan and Korea. Tokyo is regularly frustrated not only because of the travel of the Russian leaders to the Kuril Islands, but also about the Chinese ships freely entering the disputed Senkaku Islands waters. Beijing believes that the Islands are called Diaoyu, and they belonged to China, but the malicious Japanese tricked the U.S. into giving them to Japan because after World War II the uninhabited archipelago was in the US jurisdiction.

Significant reserves of natural gas were found on the islands. For the growing industry of China and stagnant Japan it is more than a serious argument in favor of the struggle for the archipelago, no matter what it is called. Not to mention the fish that is found there in large quantities. To date, the only agreement the parties have reached in the negotiations is on the joint development of oil fields. In addition, if the Japanese behave more or less decently, the Chinese are regularly caught for illegal fishing in the area.

Any territorial dispute, but rather, its resolution, is a serious precedent. If China's claim in respect of at least one territory from the list of the "lost" is satisfied, the Chinese machine would be unstoppable. Despite the fact that the Chinese are very pleased to partner with Russia and have always supported Russia in the UN Security Council, in person, on the sidelines, its diplomats supposedly jokingly hint to their Russian colleagues: you must understand that soon you will have to share the Far East? China has more than a billion people, while Russia's vast territory barely has 150 million.

These dangerous trends - demographic, and as a result, geopolitical - must sound scary to the Russian government, but so far it seems that it is happy with the fact that Beijing makes territorial claims only to Seoul and Tokyo. In 2005 Russia had already given China a bounty in the form of 337 square kilometers of land in the area of ​​Big Island (upper Argun River in the Chita region) and two sites in the vicinity of the islands Tarabarov and Big Ussuri near the confluence of the Amur and Ussuri.

However, none of the leaders of the military departments of ASEAN that includes all debating countries agree to recognize, for example, the fact that Diaoyu belongs to Japan. Instead, the defense ministers of Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand and Singapore urged the Japanese authorities to proceed with caution and within the framework of the international law. These countries certainly do not need a resolution to the dispute because in that case their territory will be separated from China only by perseverance of the latter.

They are silent about the "Iodo island" (the Chinese version is Suenchzhao. - Ed) in the East China Sea. The sneaky Chinese took the principle of dividing the Arctic as an example and now claim that the underwater ridge of this tiny piece of land is under close control of the Chinese. Since the Iodo is closer to Korea, in 2003 the Koreans built an uninhabitable marine research station there. From the standpoint of the international law, this rock in general should not be the subject of a debate.

In any case, the controversy continues, Japan and South Korea remain to be supported by their all-time ally - the United States. For the US, the unification of Southeast Asian Nations is a chance to save their own economy, because in that case the World Trade Center will move there, where currently there are no transnational corporations in the amount sufficient for the U.S. 

The success of the White House in the region does not depend on the strength that America loves to show any chance it has, but rather, diplomacy, as the countries of ASEAN and Asia-Pacific region do not trust each other or anyone outside the regional boundaries. However, Washington is trusted here because of the support of Seoul and Tokyo. However, China has already pushed Japan out of the ranks of the largest economies in the world, and the structure of the region is no longer formed on spatial basis.

Therefore, territorial claims of China, and not Russia, India or, for example, Australia are so important for Washington. Beijing is the only capital of the world, ready to use force in the struggle for the sake of expansion. During the last ten years, while America was blowing up its financial bubble, China has not only developed the industry, but also equipped its area of ​​interest with military equipment. China has placed 38 new diesel and nuclear submarines in the region, purchased four destroyers of class "Modern" from Russia and built another dozen on its own, and has launched a network of ground-based ballistic missiles to destroy naval targets.

Only one other country has done this before - the Soviet Union during the "Cold War". It is no wonder that the Americans are very concerned with the regular quarrels between China and its major allies. Construction of a naval base on Hainan Island does not add confidence to the U.S. The proximity to the Malacca Strait poses a threat to the smooth supply of Washington's main allies in the region - Japan, South Korea and Taiwan - this is the way the US sees the situation. The American senators have already decided that such behavior is a threat to Beijing's regional peace and stability, economic development and even "food security". The international community is well aware what usually follows such wording.

Singapore, Indonesia Ink Submarine Rescue Pact

Singapore and Indonesia signed a submarine rescue support and cooperation agreement on Monday, making it the first such arrangement between Asean countries.

The arrangement means that the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) submarine rescue system will be made available to the Indonesian Navy, whose resources will also support the RSN in the event of a submarine disaster.

The RSN's submarine rescue system comprises a submarine and rescue support vessel called the MV Swift Rescue, and a submersible rescue vessel, the Deep Search and Rescue Six.

The two navies will also develop a joint standard for conducting rescue operations together.

An online portal that links up the naval operation centers of all 10 Asean countries was also launched yesterday. The ceremony was attended by the navy chiefs from Brunei, Malaysia and Thailand.

Spearheaded by the Singapore and Indonesian navies, the Asean Information-Sharing Portal will enable naval commanders to exchange information in real time through a group chat function.

To facilitate this exchange of information, the portal also has real-time translation capabilities and can translate between languages such as English, Bahasa Indonesia, Thai and Vietnamese. The translation engine is also able to recognize and translate specific naval terms.

Commanders can also access the portal on smartphones running both the Android and iOS operating systems, allowing them to receive maritime security alerts and continue group discussions on the move.

The portal is being tested by about 60 personnel from Asean navies in an inaugural three-day exercise that ends Tuesday.

How the world has changed

As if further evidence was needed about how profoundly the world has changed, this week’s 68th anniversary of D-Day comes with confirmation, in chapter and verse, that Germany has built four nuclear-weapons-capable submarines for Israel. A fifth is under construction near the old U-boat works in the Baltic port of Kiel. A contract for a sixth was signed this spring. Several more are under consideration.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is winding up an eight-day tour of the Asia-Pacific region. Earlier this week, Mr. Panetta visited a U.S. supply ship berthed in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. He was working on a deal that someday could see U.S. warships use Vietnamese harbors as they counterbalance China’s dominance in the region.

Germany and Israel working together. Vietnam looking to the United States for protection against Chinese influence. How things do change.

The German magazine Der Spiegel this week confirmed details of the long-reported German-Israeli submarine deal. Reporters interviewed officials of both countries and toured the submarine Tekumah in the Israeli port of Haifa.

There was no official confirmation that the Dolphin-class diesel-propelled boats carry nuclear warheads. Reporters were not allowed to visit weapons decks. But former German officials said there was never any doubt that the subs would be capable of launching small cruise missiles with nuclear warheads.

Today’s submarines can fire cruise missiles from torpedo tubes, the missiles then emerging from the sea to fly to their targets. Each German-made sub has standard 533-millimeter torpedo tubes, capable of firing the Israeli-made "Popeye" cruise missile. But in response to a special Israeli request, the magazine reported, German engineers designed four additional tubes large enough to accommodate U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles should the United States ever agree to sell them.

Even the Popeyes, with their 900-mile range, could rain havoc across Iran, particularly if an Israeli sub slipped into the Persian Gulf. In the Cold War argot of "mutually assured destruction," the subs provide Israel with a ‘second-strike" deterrent.

"In the end, it’s very simple," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Der Spiegel. "Germany is helping to defend Israel’s security. The Germans can be proud of the fact that they have secured the existence of the State of Israel for many years to come."

In the South China Sea, things are a little more nuanced. China has asserted its maritime rights throughout 1.4 million square miles from the Straits of Taiwan south to the Malacca Straits and Singapore. This concerns its southeast Asian neighbors and opens an opportunity for the United States.

A third of the world’s shipping operates in the South China Sea; the United States is determined to exert a greater security presence there.

Panetta told a regional security conference in Singapore last weekend that the United States gradually would redeploy its defense forces around the globe so that 60 percent of them, instead of the current 50 percent, were in the Pacific basin. This is in keeping with President Barack Obama’s pledge last year to "pivot" toward the Pacific because of its increasing economic and trade importance.

China, of course, holds more than $1.2 trillion of U.S. debt. But the United States imported nearly $400 billion worth of Chinese goods last year. The two nations’ interests are far more aligned than they are opposed. History suggests it’s wise to remember that.

RSAF welcomes inauguration of Heron 1 UAV

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) enhanced the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of the 3rd Generation Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as it inaugurated the Heron 1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) into 119 Squadron (SQN) on 23 May.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, who officiated at the inauguration ceremony at Murai Camp, pointed out that the SAF's vision for UAVs started as early as the 70s, quoting Singapore's first Defence Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee: "For our kind of terrain, we must have Remotely Piloted Vehicles. We must see the enemy without being seen."

"The UAVs have realised the vision of SAF’s founding pioneers but only through continued investments to develop this capability," he added. "As a result, the SAF today is an advanced user of UAVs... (which) are used routinely in exercises as well as in operations."

Highlighting the importance of the UAV in transforming the SAF into a modern and effective fighting force, Dr Ng noted that the Heron 1 UAV will "provide our commanders, planners and soldiers on the ground (with) better situational awareness to make timely and informed decisions to engage the adversary decisively and complete their missions effectively".

Featuring state-of-the-art avionics, detection capabilities and communication systems, the Heron 1 UAV will replace the Searcher-class UAV that has been in service since 1994.

Compared to its predecessor, which has a maximum operating altitude of 10,000 feet, the Heron 1 UAV can fly twice as high at 20,000 feet. It has a flight endurance of over 24 hours, more than three times that of the Searcher UAV (eight hours). Furthermore, the Heron 1 UAV has a maximum operating range of 200km, double that of the Searcher-class.

The advanced UAV is also equipped with an Automatic Take Off and Landing (ATOL) system, which allows a desired flight route to be scheduled prior to launch, and is able to return to a pre-designated recovery point at the end of its mission. This enhances the timeliness in which information is disseminated, as UAV operators can focus on collecting and processing information instead of flight operations.

Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Kenneth Won, Commanding Officer of 119 SQN, was proud of his squadron's achievements in being the first UAV squadron to operate the Heron 1.

"It's not always been smooth-sailing; there have been a lot of challenges along the way but we've achieved a key milestone in bringing in this new capability. More importantly, we have built a team in which the operational and logistics crew are strongly integrated."

He noted that the Heron 1 UAV's advanced surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities will provide the RSAF with "sharper eyes" in the skies, which will be an important component in the complex battle environment of the future.

Officer Commanding of 119 SQN and UAV Pilot Major (MAJ) Low Jun Horng commented on how the improved systems of the Heron 1 UAV have made it more mission-effective: "The Heron 1 provides us with an enhanced situational awareness of the battlefield as it has better detection capability and three times the flight endurance of the Searcher UAV... It also gives us the ability to see things in colour as compared to the monochrome video system of the Searcher UAV. This allows us to detect targets that could not have been detected previously with the Searcher."

Paying tribute to the personnel of 119 SQN, Dr Ng said: "The advanced surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of the Heron 1 UAV are, however, only as effective as the people who operate and maintain them. I would like therefore to commend all of you, the men and women of 119 Squadron, who have worked tirelessly in the last year to ready the Heron 1 UAV systems to support the SAF's operations."

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National Development Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Chief of Air Force Major-General Ng Chee Meng and senior officers from the SAF were also present at the ceremony.

Singapore - Helicopters give navy greater reach

6 battle-ready Seahawks protect warships from subs and other threats

Singapore's six naval helicopters are now battle ready - providing a new weapon to protect the island's waters.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen declared the anti-submarine S-70B Sikorsky Seahawks operational on Tuesday.

He spoke after watching the helicopters team up seamlessly with the navy's radar-evading stealth frigates to destroy hostile aerial and underwater targets at the start of a week-long fleet exercise.

In a drill held in the South China Sea, sailors and airmen showcased how they have successfully integrated the work of the warships and the helicopters. And they demonstrated the firepower of the Seahawk, which can be deployed up to 400 nautical miles ahead of the frigate from which it operates.