Malaysia Plans to Induct Su-57 Fighter Jets by 2035

 

Despite mixed reviews of the Russian Su-57 Felon fighter jet, there is noticeable international interest in its purchase. According to local media outlet Twentytwo13, Malaysia is considering adding the Su-57 to the Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF) fleet by 2035. Unnamed sources report that Malaysia could receive its first Su-57 Felon towards the end of its 14th Plan, which involves procuring one squadron initially with an option for a second.

The sources also mention that Malaysia intends to acquire another type of fighter jet, likely the American-made F/A-18C/D Hornets from Kuwait. Additionally, Malaysia plans to upgrade its current fleet of 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKM jets to the Super Flanker standard.

Malaysia's interest in the Su-57 and the South Korean KF-21 Boramae is due to their modern, operational status. Initially, Malaysia considered several options, including the Eurofighter Typhoon, French Dassault Rafale, Swedish Saab JAS-39 Gripen, and American Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. However, these aircraft are classified as 4.5 generation and have been in service for about two decades. The Super Hornet, for instance, is nearing its 25th year in operation, with Boeing planning to end production by 2025. Experts believe this generation of aircraft has nearly reached its developmental potential.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to equip its fighter squadrons with the Su-57 Felon in a cautious low-rate initial production phase.

The Su-57 Felon, developed by Russia’s Sukhoi company, is designed for air combat and strike missions. It features stealth, supermaneuverability, and the latest avionics, and is set to replace older aircraft like the MiG-29 and Su-27 in the Russian Air Force. The Su-57 is 66 feet long, 46 feet wide, and 15 feet tall, enabling it to carry a variety of weapons and sensors while remaining hard to detect on radar. It uses two Saturn AL-41F1 engines that help it reach speeds of up to Mach 2 and fly at supersonic speeds without afterburners, conserving fuel.

The unique wing design combines trapezoidal and swept wings with two widely spaced engines, improving lift, reducing drag, and enhancing stability and control. The Su-57's movable horizontal and vertical stabilizers enhance agility, stability, and control during various flight phases. The aircraft is built with alloys, including 40.5-44.5% aluminum and 18.6% titanium, and composites, which make up 22-26% of its weight and about 70% of its outer surface.

The Su-57 features the N036 Byelka radar system, which uses AESA technology to electronically steer its beam, allowing quicker target spotting and tracking. This radar enhances the Su-57’s situational awareness and combat effectiveness. It can detect and follow multiple targets simultaneously and has advanced electronic warfare capabilities, including jamming enemy radars and communications and gathering intelligence from enemy signals. The radar’s low probability of intercept (LPI) capability makes its signals hard for enemies to detect, reducing the chance of the Su-57 being tracked or targeted.

The Su-57 is armed with the R-77 missile (AA-12 Adder), R-73 missile (AA-11 Archer), and R-37M missile (AA-13 Arrow) for long-range engagements. It also carries air-to-ground weapons like the Kh-38 missile and Kh-59MK2 cruise missile, which is designed for high-value targets with low radar visibility and precision. The Su-57 can deploy guided bombs such as the KAB-250 and KAB-500, making it effective for close air support and strategic bombing. Additionally, it has a 30mm GSh-30-1 autocannon for close-range air combat and ground target strafing, adding to its versatility and lethality.

Indonesia Considers Chinese YJ-12E Anti-Ship Missiles Amid South China Sea Tensions

 Indonesia is reportedly contemplating the purchase of YJ-12E anti-ship missiles from China, as indicated by Malaysian media. The defense portal DefSecAsia.com noted Indonesia’s interest in acquiring these missiles, raising eyebrows given the ongoing maritime border dispute between Indonesia and China in the South China Sea. This potential acquisition might be driven by political motivations beyond mere defense enhancements.

The South China Morning Post cited Indonesian analysts suggesting that the arms deal could symbolize a strategic political gesture, reassuring China that Indonesia is not a threat. An Indonesian military expert drew parallels to Malaysia's purchase of Keris patrol boats from China, intended to convey a non-confrontational stance towards China.

Moreover, reports indicate that Indonesia is considering collaboration with China for the production of the YJ-12E missile. Previously, Indonesia has partnered with Turkey to procure Atmaca anti-ship missiles and is currently negotiating joint production with Turkey. Malaysia has followed Indonesia's lead by expressing interest in a partnership with Turkish aerospace manufacturer Roketsan to produce Atmaca missiles.

STM General Manager Özger Gülerüz confirmed that Roketsan will supply Atmaca missiles to Malaysia, making it the second ASEAN nation after Indonesia to acquire this technology. The Atmaca is a sophisticated anti-ship missile with a range of up to 200 kilometers, and Indonesia is set to receive 45 Atmaca missiles to enhance its naval defenses. These missiles will be deployed on Fatahillah-class, Parhum-class, and KCR FPB 57 corvettes, bolstering their capabilities against enemy ships.

While Atmaca missiles will be stationed on warships, the YJ-12E is intended for shore-based military posts. Indonesian military experts suggest that the Atmaca and YJ-12E will complement each other in national defense. Should Malaysia also procure the Atmaca, they might consider the YJ-12E due to the synergy between these systems.

The YJ-12E, an export variant of China's YJ-12, is a supersonic anti-ship missile designed to target large naval vessels, including aircraft carriers. Known for its speed and maneuverability, it poses a significant threat in maritime warfare. The missile measures approximately 6.3 meters in length and 0.76 meters in diameter, allowing it to carry a substantial warhead while maintaining a streamlined profile for high-speed travel.

Powered by a solid rocket booster for initial launch and a ramjet engine for sustained supersonic cruise, the YJ-12E can achieve speeds of up to Mach 3, performing evasive maneuvers to evade interception. It can be launched from various platforms, including aircraft, surface ships, and potentially land-based launchers, enhancing its operational flexibility.

Equipped with a high-explosive warhead, the YJ-12E is designed to inflict maximum damage upon impact. Its high speed increases the kinetic energy, enhancing its destructive capability. With an operational range of approximately 400 kilometers, the YJ-12E can engage targets from a considerable distance, providing a strategic advantage by keeping launch platforms out of enemy defense range.

Malaysia Secures Turkish Corvettes for LMS Batch 2 Project: Enhancing Naval Capabilities

 

On June 10, 2024, Malaysia signed a letter of acceptance (LOA) with the Turkish Defense Industry Agency (SSB) for the procurement of three Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) corvettes for the Royal Malaysian Navy. This announcement, made by the SSB Chief, finalizes negotiations between the two countries, initially reported during the Defense and Security Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from May 6-9, 2024.

While details about the project timeline were not specified, SSB Chief Haluk Görgün confirmed that STM will construct the three ships in Turkey, tailored to meet the Royal Malaysian Navy's requirements. These ships will incorporate products from several Turkish defense industry companies, including HAVELSAN, ASELSAN, and ROKETSAN.

The announcement also highlighted a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Turkey and Malaysia regarding the procurement of defense products. This marks the first time Malaysia has signed a government-to-government (G2G) MoU for defense product procurement with another country.

“These significant meetings and agreements not only represent substantial progress in our defense industry cooperation but also herald a new era of strategic partnership between Turkey and Malaysia,” Görgün remarked.

Based on the MİLGEM corvette model displayed at the Malaysian Navy’s booth, the dimensions of the corvette for Malaysia are similar to the Turkish counterpart, with some configuration adjustments. The LMS Batch 2 Corvette will feature air defense missiles housed in 2×2-cell Vertical Launch Systems (VLSs) located in the aft mast area. The selected air defense missile is the Haegung (Sea Bow) Surface-to-Air Missile (SAAM) from South Korean company Lig NEX1, with 16 Haegung SAAMs onboard.

The Ada-class corvette, part of the MILGEM project, is Turkey’s first national shipbuilding initiative aimed at creating a modern littoral combat ship with indigenous anti-submarine warfare and high-seas patrol capabilities, utilizing stealth technology in its design.

The Ada-class Corvette is equipped to detect, locate, classify, identify, and destroy air, surface, and underwater targets, and provide Naval Gunfire Support. These corvettes are also adept at evading threats and performing maritime operations such as surveillance and patrol, protecting coastal areas and infrastructure, and monitoring Exclusive Economic Zones.

Designed to accommodate a 10-ton helicopter with platform, hangar, and extensive service and handling equipment, helicopter operations can be performed at sea state 4. A MILGEM corvette can house 106 sailors, including the flight crew, with a total accommodation capacity of 108.

The LMS Batch 2 corvettes are multipurpose vessels capable of executing a range of missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and both surface-to-surface and surface-to-air warfare.

LMS Batch 2 Main Specifications:

• Displacement: 2,500 tonnes
• Length: 99.56 meters
• Beam: 14.42 meters
• Draft: 3.9 meters
• Propulsion: CODAG (1 GE LM2500 gas turbine and 2 diesel engines)
• Max Speed: 26 knots
• Range: 4,000 nautical miles at 14 knots
• Crew: 111
• Weaponry: 1x 76 mm gun; 2x 12.7mm STAMP; 8 × Atmaca; 21 × RAM; 30 mm Aselsan Smash; 4-cell quad pack Haegung SAM; Gökdeniz CIWS

Turkey's Hürjet and Anka-III Unmanned Aircraft Conduct Joint Flight, Showcasing Growing Military Prowess

 

In a remarkable display of Turkey's advancing military capabilities, two indigenously developed aircraft—the Hürjet trainer jet and the Anka-III unmanned combat aircraft—recently completed a joint flight.

Local media reports revealed that the ANKA-3 Flying Wing Unmanned Combat Aircraft and the HÜRJET, Turkey's first domestically built supersonic jet, flew together. During the test, the aircraft reached an altitude of 7,000 feet, flew at 165 knots, and remained airborne for 50 minutes.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) announced on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that this joint flight marked the ANKA III's eighth sortie and the HÜRJET's 66th. This joint operation could signify the beginning of future collaborations, considering the Hürjet's role as a trainer aircraft and the Anka-III's as an unmanned jet. Analysts note this is significant as TAI plans to integrate manned-unmanned teaming in its next-generation stealth aircraft, 'KAAN', utilizing a data link for coordination.

The Anka-III made its maiden flight last year, following its development initiation in 2022. This medium-altitude UAV, designed for long-endurance surveillance, boasts a 30-hour endurance and can operate at 30,000 feet, covering 250 kilometers. The stealth UCAV, weighing 6.5 tonnes with a payload capacity of 750 kilograms, first flew on December 28, 2023.

The Anka-III is capable of various missions, including electronic warfare, ISR operations, and precision strikes, often overseen by ground stations. Its stealth design aims to withstand combat missions, such as electronic warfare and the suppression of enemy air defenses.

TAI is enhancing Anka-III's capabilities, with plans for a supersonic version featuring two engines, as confirmed by TAI CEO Temel Kotil.

The Hürjet, an advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft, made its maiden flight on April 23, as announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on April 25. The aircraft, which has completed 66 sorties in over a year, gained attention after TAI won a contract to supply light combat aircraft to the Royal Malaysian Air Force, although it lost the tender to South Korea's FA-50.

Despite this setback, Turkey continues its efforts to export the Hürjet, recently entering Spain's tender to replace its F-5 trainer aircraft. Some analysts view the Hürjet as a competitor to Boeing's T-7 Red Hawk, which has faced delays. TAI hopes to market the Hürjet internationally before the T-7.

Hürjet is part of TAI's ambitious projects, including the Anka-III and KAAN fighter jets. The trainer is scheduled for its first overseas flight in Egypt this year, aiming to attract international customers. This recent flight underscores the rapid progress the aircraft has made in just a year.

US Navy and Taiwan Conduct Unplanned Military Exercises in West Pacific Amid Rising Tensions with China

 

In an unannounced move showcasing growing maritime cooperation, the U.S. and Taiwan conducted impromptu military exercises in the West Pacific. This development comes amid rising tensions between Taiwan and China, ahead of the inauguration of Taiwan's president-elect, Lai Ching-te. According to unnamed sources cited by Reuters, the drills took place during routine naval encounters.

One source mentioned the involvement of “multiple military assets,” while another highlighted that these exercises were unofficially termed “unplanned sea encounters,” implying a tacit agreement that these drills were coincidental rather than premeditated.

These exercises occurred between a series of scheduled high-profile drills. In mid-April, the U.S. conducted a trilateral exercise with Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) and Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) vessels, focusing on interoperability and warfighting capabilities. Shortly after, the Balikatan 24 exercise in the Philippines involved the U.S., Philippine, Australian, and French forces, concentrating on counter-landing operations and maritime domain awareness.

During the unplanned U.S.-Taiwan drills, around six ships, including supply vessels and frigates, engaged in basic communications, resupply operations, and joint anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercises. These drills are critical for ensuring operational compatibility between the two navies in emergencies, involving tactical maneuvers and underwater target searches.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, Major General Sun Li-fang, stated that the exercises adhered to the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), which manages interactions between different militaries at sea. This protocol was previously utilized in 2016 during an encounter between the USS Chafee and three ROCN ships.

The disclosure of these exercises follows Taiwanese Chief of General Staff Admiral Mei Chia-shu’s visit to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) change of command ceremony in Hawaii in early May. Shortly after, China conducted significant military exercises around Taiwan, labeled “Joint Sword-2024A,” which involved near-encirclement maneuvers similar to those after Nancy Pelosi's visit in 2022.

In late May, the U.S. began Tiger Strike 2024 with Malaysia, focusing on amphibious warfare and multi-domain awareness. Early June saw the announcement of the “Freedom Edge” exercise, a first-time trilateral drill involving the U.S., Japan, and South Korea.

These high-profile activities in the West Pacific lead up to the Rim of the Pacific 2024 (RIMPAC 24) exercises, scheduled from June 28 to August 2, involving 29 nations, 40 surface ships, 3 submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft, and more than 25,000 personnel. The Italian carrier Cavour and a French Navy FREMM air defense frigate will also participate.

JF-17 Outshines LCA Tejas in Export Market: India and Pakistan Unveil Advanced Fighter Jets

 The skies over the Indian subcontinent are heating up as India and Pakistan introduce their latest supersonic fighter jets, the Tejas Mk 1A and the JF-17 Block III, both competing for regional air supremacy and a share in the global market for cost-effective combat jets.

India and Pakistan's New Fighter Jets

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to receive the upgraded Tejas Mk 1A by July, while the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) recently incorporated the JF-17 Block III in December 2023. These aircraft represent advanced iterations of their predecessors and are designed for a variety of military missions.

Production and Evolution

The Tejas, developed by India’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the JF-17, a product of the Sino-Pakistani partnership between the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Complex (CAC), are both classified as 4.5-generation aircraft, with the JF-17 Block III described as “fourth-generation plus.”

Budget-Friendly Powerhouses

Both the Tejas Mk 1A and the JF-17 Block III are single-engine, lightweight, multirole fighters designed to replace aging fleets—India’s MiG-21 and Pakistan’s assortment of Chinese and French jets. The Tejas Mk 1A completed its first test flight on March 28, 2024, while the JF-17 Block III had its inaugural flight on December 15, 2019.

Specifications and Features

The Tejas Mk 1A boasts advanced technology, including new electronics, processors, and fly-by-wire hardware, with approximately nine hard points for various weaponry. The JF-17 Block III features superior maneuverability, extended range, advanced electronics, and the NRIET/CETC KLJ-7A AESA radar.

Cost and Export Potential

The Tejas Mk 1A development has a reported budget of $5.9 billion, while the JF-17 Block III costs around $55 million per unit, as indicated by Iraq’s interest in purchasing 12 units for $664 million. The JF-17 has been exported to countries like Nigeria and Myanmar, with potential deals with Azerbaijan and Iraq. Meanwhile, despite negotiations with Malaysia and Argentina, the Tejas has yet to secure export orders.

Future Developments

The PAF plans to develop the JF-17 PFX, continuing the evolution of the JF-17 series. India aims to expedite the delivery of the Tejas Mk 1A to pave the way for the LCA Mk 2, featuring more capable engines and extended flight duration. The first squadron of Tejas Mk 1A is planned for deployment at the Nal air base in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district.

As these advanced fighter jets take to the skies, the rivalry between India and Pakistan intensifies, setting the stage for an electrifying aerial showdown.

The Red Dragon Flexes more muscle ----------------------Defense News

BEIJING — China said March 4 its military spending would top $100 billion in 2012 — a double-digit increase on last year — in a move likely to fuel concerns about Beijing’s rapid military build-up.

The defense budget will rise 11.2 percent to 670.27 billion yuan ($106.41 billion), said Li Zhaoxing, a spokesman for China’s national parliament, citing a budget report submitted to the country’s rubber-stamp legislature.

The figure marks a slowdown from 2011 when spending rose by 12.7 percent but is still likely to fuel worries over China’s growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region and push its neighbors to forge closer ties with the United States.

Li described the budget as “relatively low” as a percentage of gross domestic product compared with other countries and said it was aimed at “safeguarding sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity”.

“We have a large territory and a long coastline but our defense spending is relatively low compared with other major countries,” Li told reporters.

“It will not in the least pose a threat to other countries.”

China has been increasing its military spending by double digits for most of the past decade, during which time its economy, now the world’s second largest, has grown at a blistering pace.

The People’s Liberation Army — the world’s largest with an estimated 2.3 million troops — is hugely secretive about its defense programs, but insists its modernization is purely defensive in nature.

The rapid military build-up has nevertheless set alarm bells ringing across Asia and in Washington, which announced in January a defense strategy focused on countering China’s rising power.

Analysts said the smaller-than-expected increase in spending this year was an attempt by Beijing to ease concerns in the United States and the region about its growing military might.

“It is doubtful whether the message will get across because most countries know that the real budget is at least double the published one,” said Willy Lam, a leading China expert at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Lam said funding for modernizing the country’s military was not included in the published budget, which mostly covered salaries for defense personnel and maintenance of existing equipment.

Money for research and development of modern weaponry “comes from elsewhere”, he said.

Taiwan-based PLA expert Arthur Ding said the still considerable growth in this year’s budget would push “regional countries to try to build closer ties with the United States”.

“I think the regional countries will be really concerned about that,” Ding told AFP.

“China has to explain and try to convince the regional countries why they need such a high growth rate.”

Tokyo has repeatedly questioned Beijing’s military intentions. A Japanese government-backed report last month warned that Beijing’s assertiveness in the South China Sea could soon be replicated in neighboring waters.

China lays claim to essentially all of the South China Sea, where its professed ownership of the Spratly archipelago overlaps with claims by Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia.

Beijing and Tokyo also have a long-standing dispute over an uninhabited but strategically coveted island chain known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese, which lies between Japan and Taiwan in the East China Sea.

The two sides have occasionally clashed diplomatically over the issue, most notably in late 2010, when Japan arrested the captain of a Chinese fishing vessel near the island chain after a collision with its coastguard.

China began revamping the PLA — the former ragtag peasant force formed in 1927 by the Communist Party — in earnest after a troubled 1979 incursion into Vietnam, when the neighbors vied for influence over Southeast Asia.

Asian Navies Shift to Bigger Vessels, Downplay Littoral Ops

TAIPEI - As Western navies build fewer aircraft carriers, destroyers and submarines, Asian navies are moving in the opposite direction, ignoring the littorals with construction and procurement of larger warships and submarines.

The U.S. and Europe have stepped back from larger platforms designed for the Cold War and invested in smaller platforms such as the U.S. Navy's Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). But this is not the case in East Asia and the Pacific, where there have been increases in spending on destroyers and submarines in Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, said Bob Nugent, vice president of naval advisory services at AMI International, based in Seattle.

One of the most notable cases involves Taiwan's procurement of four Kidd-class guided missile destroyers and plans to procure eight submarines. Japan and South Korea have also invested heavily in guided missile destroyers equipped with advanced phased array radars.

Even in budget-challenged Southeast Asian countries, the trend has been a shift from smaller to larger platforms, such as frigates and large corvettes. Examples include Singapore's Formidable-class frigates, Indonesia's SIGMA-class corvettes, Malaysia's recent decision on the SGPV/LCS frigates, and Vietnam's plan to buy SIGMAs and the pending delivery of Russian-built Kilo-class submarines.

The main reason regional navies are ignoring littoral capabilities has to do with geography. In the region, "the home team enjoys an enormous advantage of range and proximity and the attacker would have to be prepared to conduct pre-emptive strikes against the coast state's bases before conducting operations in the littoral," said Sam Bateman a regional naval specialist at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, in Singapore.

The U.S. Navy should "think twice" about deploying classic sea control/power projection capabilities, such as carrier battle groups, within range of subs and land-based strike aircraft, Bateman said. The U.S. Navy's new LCS will be "hugely vulnerable without close-air support and that cannot be guaranteed."

The U.S. and Singapore have recently agreed to allow the U.S. Navy to station the LCS in Singapore.

Air support is the "elephant in the room" with littoral warfare, Bateman said. Littoral warfare is dependent on fire support directed against targets on land, either from aircraft close-air support or naval gunfire. Despite all the advances with missiles, "the big caliber naval gun remains an attractive and effective way of putting down fire in coastal areas."

Another problem in the Asia-Pacific has been increased tension over exclusive economic zone (EEZ) claims, particularly in the South China Sea. Many countries, including China, claim restrictions over naval operations in their EEZs.

Some within the region have invested in stealthy vessels to avoid detection in the littoral environment. Singapore's Formidable-class frigates are based on the stealthy French-built La Fayette-class frigates and Singapore's ST Engineering is conducting research to develop the 27-meter Stealth Interceptor and 57-meter Stealth Patrol Vessel.

Taiwan wants to build a stealthy 900-ton catamaran corvette and is manufacturing a stealthy 180-ton fast-attack missile patrol boat, armed with Hsiung Feng-2 anti-ship missiles. The stealthy SIGMA-class corvettes procured by Indonesia and now being considered by Vietnam are other examples.

For Asian countries dealing with the littoral issue, the challenge is finding the right investment balance among intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and defensive and offensive technologies, Nugent said.

"Unmanned systems are critical to ISR and defense in the littoral now and will become more so for offensive littoral warfare as unmanned maritime systems are more widely armed for all domains in the future," he said. Investments in better sensors and C4ISR are the other areas where the "gaps that create vulnerabilities in ship's self-defense against missiles and torpedoes in the littoral are getting a lot of attention."

Another area of growing interest is the use of unmanned surface vehicles (USV) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV). ST Engineering is developing the 9-meter Venus USV ostensibly for harbor patrol, but the vessel has potential for littoral warfare.

USVs and UUVs will be "particularly useful for littoral warfare as they can be launched outside the EEZ or convenient surveillance range of the coastal state, which is unlikely to have the capabilities of detecting them," Bateman said. "They can be used for surveillance/intelligence collection and as an offensive weapon - to lay mines or fire torpedoes," he said.

There is also potential for anti-submarine warfare, but that capability is as yet "unrealized."

Malaysia Firm Wins $2.8 Billion Navy Ship Deal

KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian shipbuilder says it has won a 9 billion ringgit ($2.8 billion) deal from Kuala Lumpur for six naval vessels developed by French manufacturer DCNS.

In a filing with the local bourse Dec. 16, Boustead Naval Shipyard said it was given a letter of award by the Malaysian defense ministry to build and deliver six "second generation patrol vessels littoral combat ships."

"The delivery of the first of class ship is estimated in 2017 with follow on ships every six months thereafter," it added.

Last week Boustead said it had been selected by Malaysia's navy to build the corvettes, which DCNS says can stay at sea for three weeks and are designed to navigate coastal areas and island groups to fight piracy and patrol fisheries. The vessels are 330 feet long and can each transport one EC275 helicopter made by Eurocopter, a subsidiary of EADS.

DCNS already had a relationship with Boustead through a joint venture in 2009 to maintain two diesel-propelled Scorpene submarines used by the Malaysian navy.

DCNS has previously sold 11 frigates to Malaysia's neighbor Singapore, five of which were built in the city-state.

Philippines' New Warship Sent to Disputed Waters

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines launched its newest warship on Dec. 14, a former U.S. Coast Guard cutter that President Benigno Aquino said would be deployed to waters at the heart of a territorial dispute with China.

Aquino said the 378-foot (115-meter) Gregorio del Pilar would lead patrols in the parts of the South China Sea that the Philippines claims exclusively as its own and where exploration for potentially lucrative gas fields is underway.

"The Gregorio del Pilar, named after the newest general of the Philippine revolution, will take the lead in patrols for our sovereignty, and in ensuring that our waters are crime-free," Aquino said.

Aquino was speaking at Navy headquarters in Manila during a commissioning ceremony for the vessel, which replaces a World War II-era destroyer as the country's top warship.

Gregorio del Pilar was acquired from the United States earlier this year amid rising tensions between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea.

Tensions escalated after the Philippines accused the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy of firing warning volleys at Filipino fishermen in the South China Sea, harassing an oil exploration vessel and putting up markers on Philippine islets.

Those areas are much closer to the Philippine landmass than Chinese, but China insists it has sovereign rights to virtually all of the South China Sea, even waters up to the coasts of Southeast Asian countries.

Other parts of the sea, which are reputedly rich in mineral resources and straddle vital sea lanes, also are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The competing claims have for decades made the sea one of Asia's most dangerous potential military flashpoints.

Meanwhile in Beijing, state media reported that China has sent its largest patrol ship, the 3,000-ton Haijian 50, to the East China Sea to guard the country's territorial rights.

China has repeatedly locked horns with neighbors Japan and Taiwan over a group of uninhabited islands - called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in Chinese - in the East China Sea that Beijing claims are in its territorial waters.

Japan and Taiwan also claim sovereignty over the area, which is similarly believed to be rich in oil and gas.

Philippines Asks S. Korea For Military Hardware

Manila - Philippine President Benigno Aquino asked his visiting counterpart from South Korea on Monday for aircraft, boats and other hardware to help boost his country's military, amid rising tensions with China.
Aquino said he and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak discussed their respective regional security concerns, which for the Philippines is the disputed South China Sea, where China has been accused of bullying.

"On defence cooperation, I expressed to President Lee the interest of the Philippines to gain some specific defence articles such as military-grade helicopters, boats and aircrafts," Aquino said in a joint forum.
"This is in consonance with the upgrading and modernisation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines."
Lee did not disclose any response to the specific request but said South Korea wanted to cooperate with the Philippines to resolve its maritime problems.
"We agreed that we will continue to work together so that we can peacefully resolve this issue according to international rule, norms and standards," said Lee, who is on a three-day visit to the Philippines.
Aquino has this year begun upgrading the Philippines' military, which is one of the weakest in the region with its navy made up of mostly World War II-era ships and its air force consisting of Vietnam War-vintage planes.
He has said the Philippines needs to be able to defend its claims to waters and islands of the South China Sea.
China and Taiwan claim the South China Sea in full, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have claims to parts of the area, which is believed to hold vast oil and gas deposits.
The Philippines has accused the Chinese military of aggressive acts in the Philippine-claimed areas of the sea this year, including firing on Filipino fishermen, laying buoys and harassing an oil exploration vessel.
Aquino and Lee also oversaw the signing of economic agreements, the most significant of which will see South Korea provide the Philippines with up to $500 million in development loans from 2011 to 2013.
South Korea will also help build a coal-fired power plant in a free-trade zone on the main Philippine island of Luzon, and a dam on a river in the central island of Panay.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the dam project was worth $300 million.

Despite Sales Drop, France 4th Largest Exporter

PARIS - French arms export orders fell in 2010, but the country held its ranking as the world's fourth-largest exporter, an annual report on foreign defense sales to parliament said Oct. 26.
Exports declined to 5.12 billion euros ($7.12 billion) in 2010 from 8.16 billion euros in the previous year, according to the report.

The foreign sales were secured in a "difficult climate and in an extremely volatile context," a Defense Ministry spokesman, Army Gen. Philippe Ponties, told journalists.
Exports are seen as vital to French defense industry and the government, as the domestic budget is expected to fall sharply as part of deficit reduction plans.
A major objective next year is to pursue at a New York conference an international treaty on arms sales, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero.
France held a 6 percent share of the world market based on an annual average of deliveries, behind the United States, which dominates with a 53.7 percent share, Britain with 12.5 percent, and Russia with 8.2 percent, the report said.
The world market was estimated at 60 billion to 70 billion euros in annual sales, Ponties said.
Major deals sealed last year included a sale of the A330 multirole tanker transport aircraft to Saudi Arabia, Cougar helicopters to Malaysia, and the upgrade of Alphajet trainer jets for Morocco.
This year, France sold two Mistral-class command and projection ships to Russia, and signed a long-awaited contract to modernize Mirage 2000 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force.
Winning a big contract for 60 Rafale fighter jets with the United Arab Emirates has proved elusive, as the UAE balked at an initial $10 billion price tag.
Defense Minister Gérard Longuet said Paris is in "final negotiations" with the UAE on the Rafales, but there has been no comment from UAE authorities.
Paris supports foreign arms sales, which are seen as a key foreign policy tool, helping France hold its place at the top in international affairs, Ponties said.
The sales are conducted under a strict export control regime, he said.
The foreign contracts also are seen as vital to maintaining the country's defense industry and technology base and supporting 135,000 directly employed in the domestic economy, he said.

Taiwan Urges Better South China Sea Defense

TAIPEI - Taiwan's security chief called Oct. 26 for improved defenses of a group of islands in the South China Sea, reacting to reports that rival claimants to the disputed waters are building up arms.
"The Spratly Islands are our territory ... We should upgrade our defense capabilities and replace some aging equipment," Tsai De-sheng, head of the national security bureau, said in parliament.

Tsai's comments came after defense minister Kao Hua-chu endorsed a plan proposed by lawmakers to deploy advanced missiles in the contested waters over concerns that Taiwan's coast guards were vulnerable.
The Taiwanese coast guard currently has a 130-strong garrison on Taiping, the biggest island in the Spratlys archipelago.
Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, China, Malaysia and the Philippines claim all or part of the Spratlys, which could lie on top of large oil reserves.
All claimants except Brunei have troops based on the archipelago of more than 100 islets, reefs and atolls, which have a total land mass of less than five square kilometers (two square miles).
Taiwan's navy in July took a group of academics to the disputed islands despite a flare-up of regional tensions over rival claims for the contested waters.
Tensions in the decades-old dispute escalated this year amid accusations from the Philippines and Vietnam that China was becoming increasingly aggressive in staking its claims.

Panetta Heads to Asia with Focus on North Korea

WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta embarks Oct. 23 on a tour of Asia to take the pulse of key allies as Washington prepares for rare direct talks with North Korea over its nuclear program.
In his first trip to the region since taking the helm at the Pentagon in July, the former CIA director will begin with a stop in Indonesia before heading to Japan on Oct. 24 and South Korea on Oct. 26.
The trip coincides with sensitive direct talks between the United States and North Korea in Geneva next week to try to lay the ground for reviving long-stalled nuclear disarmament negotiations.
Before any broader discussions, the United States and South Korea are insisting the North take concrete steps to demonstrate it is sincere about resuming the full six-party nuclear dialogue with Japan, Russia and China.
In meetings in Tokyo and Seoul, Panetta "will have an opportunity to discuss with his counterparts where we are in the diplomatic process," a senior defense official said.
The defense chiefs will examine what steps to take to bolster diplomacy but also insure that they are prepared, should North Korea "choose to undertake a provocation," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"We are essentially exploring the proposition and trying to ascertain if the North Koreans are serious about engaging in nuclear diplomacy and serious about living up to their commitments under the six-party process," the official said.
In April 2009, the North formally quit the six-party forum a month before staging its second atomic weapons test. In 2010, Pyongyang torpedoed and sank a South Korean ship and unleashed an artillery barrage on a South Korean island.
"If they are serious and they are willing to take concrete steps, then there's a clear path back towards the six-party process and diplomacy," the defense official said. "But that yet has to be seen."
Apart from diplomacy focused on North Korea, Panetta's talks in Tokyo are expected to cover missile defense plans, potential U.S. arms sales and the controversial future of the U.S. Futenma air base on the island of Okinawa.
The Pentagon chief travels to Seoul for a two-day stop with U.S.-South Korean relations at a high point, after President Lee Myung-Bak's red carpet treatment this month in Washington and the approval of a free-trade agreement between the two countries.
Panetta was scheduled to meet Lee, Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan and his counterpart, Kim Kwan-Jin, after South Korean and U.S. forces staged a major joint exercise this week over the Yellow Sea that simulated dogfights with North Korea.
Before Japan and South Korea, Panetta will start his trip on the Indonesia island of Bali, where he is due to arrive Oct. 22 before meetings with Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro to discuss maritime security and reforms in the country's military, another defense official said.
The United States last year resumed ties with Indonesia's special forces after a 12-year suspension following military reforms and pledges from Jakarta to safeguard human rights.
The Pentagon chief also will hold talks with defense ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the sidelines of the bloc's meeting in Bali.
Disputes between ASEAN members and China over the resource-rich South China Sea will likely feature high on the agenda, as Washington has called for a regional code of conduct and insisted on "freedom of navigation" through the crucial global shipping route despite Beijing's territorial claims.
China says it has sovereignty over essentially all of the South China Sea, where its professed ownership of the Spratly archipelago overlaps with claims by Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia.

Vietnam to Get Sub Fleet in 6 Years: State Media

HANOI - Vietnam will have a submarine fleet within six years, the defense minister reportedly confirmed Aug. 4, in what analysts say is intended as a deterrent to China's increasing assertiveness at sea.

"In the coming five to six years, we will have a submarine brigade with six Kilo 636-Class subs," Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh was quoted as saying by the state-controlled Tuoi Tre newspaper.

Russian media reported in December 2009 that Vietnam had agreed to buy half a dozen diesel-electric submarines for about $2 billion.

Thanh said the fleet was "definitely not meant as a menace to regional nations," according to the report.

"Buying submarines, missiles, fighter jets and other equipment is for self-defense," he was quoted as saying.

Ian Storey, a regional security analyst at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in Singapore, said the submarine deal has been driven by events in the South China Sea, where China and Vietnam have a longstanding territorial spat over the Paracel and Spratly archipelagos.

Tensions rose after Vietnam in May accused Chinese marine surveillance vessels of cutting the exploration cables of an oil survey ship inside the country's exclusive economic zone.

"These purchases are designed to deter the Chinese from encroaching on Vietnamese sovereignty," Storey told AFP.

He said the country already operates two midget submarines bought years ago from North Korea.

In the newspaper report, Thanh did not specify how Vietnam was paying for its naval upgrade.

"It depends on our economic ability. Vietnam has yet to produce modern weapons and military equipment, which are costly to import," he said.

Analysts say the country's economy is in turmoil with galloping inflation, large trade and budget deficits, inefficient state spending, and other woes.

Much of Vietnam's military hardware is antiquated but this week it received the first of three new coastal patrol planes for the marine police, announced the manufacturer, Madrid-based Airbus Military.

Russian media reported last year that Vietnam ordered 12 Sukhoi Su-30MK2 warplanes in a deal worth about $1 billion.

Other nations in the region have accused China in recent months of becoming more aggressive in enforcing its claims to parts of the South China Sea.

The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims to all or parts of the waters, which are potentially rich in oil and gas deposits and straddle vital commercial shipping lanes.

Malaysia to Deport French Lawyer in Graft Probe

KUALA LUMPUR - A French lawyer for a rights group in an inquiry into alleged corruption linked to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was detained July 22 in Kuala Lumpur and will be deported, the government said.

The Malaysian government has dismissed graft allegations linked to a $1.1-billion submarine purchase in 2002, when Najib was defense minister, saying it is an opposition-backed attempt to smear his image.

At the request of Malaysian human rights group Suaram, French judicial officials opened a probe in March 2010 into the sale of the two Scorpene submarines, which were made by French shipbuilder DCN.

William Bourdon, Suaram's lawyer in France, was detained by immigration officials when his plane arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on a domestic flight July 22, he said.

"After a few questions, two hours of waiting and different transfers, a deportation order was served on me," he told AFP.

"I told the Malaysian police that I did not understand this decision, which is devoid of any justification. I was not given any explanation, and nor was the embassy representative who was with me."

Bourdon had arrived in Malaysia on July 21 to speak at a Suaram fundraiser in Penang state, and had been due to speak at another function July 22.

Immigration director general Alias Ahmad confirmed in a statement that Bourdon had been arrested and would be deported.

"Investigations by the immigration department revealed that Bourdon had violated the terms of his social visit pass," he said without elaborating.

Bourdon said he was told he would be sent back to France on Sunday evening and would be held in the airport detention centre in the interim, but took the initiative to leave as soon as possible.

"This expulsion is serious interference with the exercise of the legal profession, which is protected under international law," he said.

"I wonder if the expulsion isn't a sign of a certain nervousness among the Malaysian authorities."

Suaram alleges DCN paid a commission of 114 million euros ($160 million) to a company called Perimekar, which is linked to Abdul Razak Baginda, an associate of Najib's.

Abdul Razak has been acquitted of charges of abetting the 2006 murder of his mistress, Mongolian interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu, which the opposition has also been trying to link to Najib.

But Najib has denied any link to that case. The Malaysian government has also maintained that the submarine deal, brokered when Najib was defense minister, was free of graft and that Perimekar had not improperly benefited.