Filippine

[Andrea75]

US Navy returns to Philippines

 

U.S. and Philippine officials recently confirmed that Subic Bay – a natural harbor 80 km north of Manila that was the US 7th Fleet’s home until 1992 – is going to be playing a much larger role in U.S. Pacific Fleet deployments from now on.

 

The former U.S. naval port and its air station, now known as Subic Bay Freeport Zone, is set to host U.S. ships, marines and aircraft on a semi-permanent basis. To compare it to a relationship: the U.S. isn’t moving back in, but it’s going to be leaving a few things at the apartment. And it’s a bit more than just a toothbrush.

 

"There are very few ports that can accommodate naval assets and naval carriers, and one of them is Subic,” said Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Visiting Forces Agreement Director Edilberto Adan, who was speaking to reporters aboard USS Bonhomme Richard, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship. Bonhomme Richard was just one U.S. ship that was at Subic Freeport in preparation for PHIBLEX 2013 – a 10-day annual amphibious exercise involving U.S. and Philippine Marines that began its 29th iteration earlier this month.

 

Adan explicitly linked Subic to the U.S. military’s much-heralded shift of emphasis to the Pacific theatre. "As the U.S. begins to implement [the rebalance], Subic will play an important role because it is one of the important facilities that can service its presence in the Pacific," he said.

 

Philippine government gives OK for US to use old bases, newspaper reports

 

Qui un'immagine dal stellite U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay

 

 

Subic Bay Naval Station

[Andrea75]

sempre riguardo al ritorno a Subic Bay segnalo questo studio dell'U.S. Army War College SUBIC BAY NAVAL COMPLEX - ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES?. E' un pò datato (risale al 1992), ma analizza le vicende che hanno portato alla chiusura di Subic Bay e le conseguenze (alternative) che ne sono derivate. Ritengo sia utile per capire l'importanza strategica di questo angolo di Filippine.

 

 

One question comes to mind though: Is a continued presence at Subic Bay vital to the United States in view of the fact that, politically, the world is changing?

...

First of all the location of the base is near the strategic sea lines of communications traversing the South China Sea, Malacca, Sunda and Lumboc Straights. From the base, U.S. Navy ships and aircraft can provide support and protection to shipping of allied and friendly nations. Secondly, the base demonstrates U.S. resolve to protect regional countries from possible outside

aggression. This is also coupled with the United States' watching over the former Soviet Union. Thirdly, the base provides logistical support to U.S. forward deployed forces operating in the Southeast Asian region and in the Indian Ocean. The base also serves as a means of providing U.S. support to the Philippines if it is faced with an external threat.

...

There is no doubt that Subic Bay (and Clark Air Base) significantly enhanced the United States' ability to operate in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. In terms of location and facilities it is probably irreplaceable.

This is not just due to the monetary aspect of moving the base but also to the fact that there is probably no other location in that part of the world which could or would support such a concentration of military might. Yet for all their capabilities, can the United States operate without the Subic Bay? The answer to that question is yes.

...

Subic Bay allows the United States to more easily carry out its forward deployed strategy. If the base was not available to the United States this would not prevent the United States from continuing with that strategy. Therefore while the base makes for ease of action, it is not critical to the survival of the United States or to its ability to conduct forward deployed

operations.

... examined various alternatives for relocating the base and concluded that Guam offered the best site.

Even though Guam can not fully replace the facilities located in the Philippines, its primary attractions of being U.S. sovereign territory and already possessing substantial logistics, port, air and maintenance support facilities make it the best alternative to any other bases relocated to foreign soil. Although Guam does have the basic infrastructure, additional construction and upgrading of those facilities must be accomplished prior to its being fully able to support Western Pacific operations.

...

Subic Bay does make it much easier for U.S. forces to operate in Southeast Asia. Yet, it is not critical for the survival of the United States. Alternatives exist, particularly at Guam, which allow U.S. forces to carry out the same missions conducted from the Philippines.

 

Alcune cartteristiche tecniche

Subic Bay Naval Complex

Subic Bay functioned as the primary port facility, training area and logistics support base for the U.S. Seventh Fleet, which has operating responsibilities in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. The base itself has all the necessary support facilities, including communications facilities, to provide a wide and full range of services to the fleet. The Naval Supply Depot

and the Ship Repair Facility (SRF) are the two biggest assets of the base. Because of these two facilities, Seventh Fleet units can be maintained in a state of high operational readiness.

Specifically, Subic Bay provides the United States with over 1.75 million square feet of storage space, 110 million gallons of petroleum product storage and a magazine area capable of storing 46,000 tons of munitions of various types. SRF Subic Bay has 800,000 square feet of work and machine shop space, three working wharfs and four floating drydocks capable of

handling all ships with the exception of aircraft carriers.

A part of Subic Bay Naval Station is occupied by Cubi Point Naval Air Station. Numerous maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) operate out of Cubi as well as periodically deployed tactical aircraft. These aircraft primarily conduct antisubmarine warfare (ASW) patrols, but they also have the capability to conduct various types of war at sea strike operations. The ASW Operations

Center at Cubi Point also provides coordination for conducting ASW operations in the South China Sea and other adjacent waters. The rest and recreation opportunities afforded, both on and off base, also provides for significant morale building which has a positive impact on fleet readiness.

 

Clark Air Base

Clark Air Base served as the headquarters for the Thirteenth Air Force. Under its immediate operational control were the Third Tactical Fighter Wing, composed of the 3rd and 90th Tactical Fighter Squadrons. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm the aircraft were relocated out of the Philippines to support the war effort. The aircraft never returned. Prior to that, these aircraft provided the primary air defense and power projection forces for the protection of the Philippines and other areas of Southeast Asia.

Also located at Clark were the 6200th Tactical Fighter Training Group and its 26th Aggressor Squadron. These units provide excellent air combat training for Navy and Air Force pilots operating out of the Philippines as well as allied pilots. Clark further served as the primary logistic hub for air shipments to and from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

The air base itself provided modern maintenance facilities for the upkeep and repair of the entire U.S. Air Force inventory of aircraft in the Western Pacific. Its primary runway was 10,500 feet long and capable of handling any aircraft. It had a 200,000 cubic foot capacity for ammunition storage, 3 million square feet of supply storage space and the ability to store

25 million gallons of petroleum products.

In addition to the aviation units at Clark, there were a number of medical, rescue and communications facilities. These facilities, as with the similar ones at Subic Bay, greatly enhanced the operational readiness of U.S. forces operating in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

[Andrea75]

China to conduct naval exercises in East China sea

 

China will conduct naval exercises on Friday to practice defending territorial sovereignty in the East China Sea, state media said, amid strained ties between Tokyo and Beijing over a disputed island chain.

Both sides have adamantly pressed their claims to the Tokyo-controlled islands — known as the Diaoyus in China and Senkakus in Japan — and the row has caused diplomatic and economic fallout between the historic rivals.

“The exercise is aimed at… sharpening their response to emergencies in missions to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime interests,” the official Xinhua news agency on Thursday quoted a navy statement as saying.

China has sent maritime surveillance ships and fisheries patrol vessels near the islands in recent weeks as the row has escalated, and on Wednesday a Chinese naval flotilla passed near separate islands that are internationally recognised as Japanese.

As well as naval vessels, Friday’s exercise will include vessels from the marine surveillance agency and fishery administration, both of which the statement said “have been stalked, harassed and even intentionally interfered with by foreign vessels”.

The three bodies have staged joint exercises before, it said.

[Andrea75]

un articolo di commento Gli Usa entrano nella disputa sino-giapponese sulle isole Diayou

 

... e un documento ufficiale Senkaku (Diaoyu/Diaoyutai) Islands Dispute: U.S. Treaty Obligations

 

The inclusion of the Senkakus (Diaoyu Islands) in the Okinawa Reversion Treaty under the definition of “the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands” made Article II of the Treaty applicable to the islands. Article II states that “treaties, conventions and other agreements concluded between Japan and the United States of America, including, but without limitation to the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America ... become applicable to the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands as of the date of entry into force of this Agreement.” Using “Okinawa” as shorthand for the territory covered by the Treaty, Secretary of State Rogers stated in his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the Security Treaty “becomes applicable to Okinawa” in the same way as it applied to the Japanese home islands. Deputy Secretary of Defense David Packard, in his testimony, stressed that Japan would assume the “primary responsibility” for the defense of the treaty area but that the Security Treaty was applicable.

In short, while maintaining neutrality on the competing claims, the United States agreed in the Okinawa Reversion Treaty to apply the Security Treaty to the treaty area, including the Senkaku (Diaoyu/Diaoyutai). During a 2010 worsening of Japan-PRC relations over the islands, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton summed up the U.S. stance by stating, “... with respect to the Senkaku Islands, the United States has never taken a position on sovereignty, but we have made it very clear that the islands are part of our mutual treaty obligations, and the obligation to defend Japan.”

It also should be noted that in providing its consent to U.S. ratification of the Treaty, the Senate did not act on the advice of several committee witnesses that it include a reservation concerning the Senkakus (Diaoyu/Diaoyutai) in the resolution of advice and consent to ratification. Moreover, the Security Treaty itself declares in Article V that each party would act “in accordance with its constitutional provisions and processes” in response to “an armed attack ... in the territories under the administration of Japan.” “Administration” rather than “sovereignty” is the key distinction that applies to the islands. Since 1971, the United States and Japan have not altered the application of the Security Treaty to the islands.

[Andrea75]

Tokyo's Missing Muscle

 

The "dynamic defense" strategy, approved by then-Prime Minister Naoto Kan in late 2010, attempts to strategically reallocate these impressive defense resources in order to counter China's rise. The plan calls for lighter, more mobile military capacities and a shift of Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) from the north -- originally stationed there to defend against a Cold War invasion from the Soviet Union -- to the south, positioned to face a potential threat from China. Dynamic defense has also meant mobilizing surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence divisions, as well as forming an amphibious warfare unit to defend southwestern islands. Late last month, some 40 Japanese troops conducted joint exercises with the U.S. Marines in Guam in order to learn amphibious warfare conduct.

 

But in practice, these developments are tactical, not strategic, and many of these initiatives have made minimal progress. The recent bold rhetoric is deceiving. For the better part of the past two decades, Japanese conservatives have called for amending the constitution, as well as increasing the role of the SDF. Yet, with the exception of a few incremental improvements, the SDF still operates under suffocating restrictions during overseas peacekeeping missions. Japanese troops abroad aren't allowed to defend themselves -- or friendly troops -- unless they come under direct attack. Consider the deployment of Japanese troops to South Sudan: UN commanders agreed that, should hostilities occur, Japanese soldiers would be protected by other peacekeeping forces -- in this case, the Rwandan Army. The fact that highly trained and well-equipped troops from one of the world's richest and most technologically advanced countries were forced to rely on soldiers with questionable training from an underdeveloped country should be cause for alarm. Yet virtually no one in the Japanese parliament took issue.

...

In order to adapt to the new realities of regional and global security, Tokyo must re-examine its constitution, as difficult and wrenching as that might prove to be. Constitutional revision requires two-thirds of votes in both houses of parliament, as well as a national referendum. But first, Japan needs to pass a law on holding a national referendum. And according to a poll conducted by the liberal newspaper Asahi Shimbun in April, 55 percent of respondents do not want to reform Article 9 of the constitution -- the basis of Japan's pacifism. As a result, Tokyo has to deal with the legislative roadblock of passing a special-measures law every time it wants to send the SDF abroad, hindering efforts to play a more active role in global security.

 

All of this is a pity, considering that Noda actually does seem to have some type of vision for Japan's future. Last year, he chose to deliver one of his first major addresses as prime minister at Hyakuri Air Base, where he spoke movingly of the heroic efforts of the SDF in response to the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. He also warned of the rising military challenges facing Japan. The prime minister's speech was a remarkable break from the past, both because of its unsparing praise of Japanese troops and for its blunt declaration that the SDF is not simply a relief agency but a fighting force that needs to be prepared for rising regional challenges. Alas, the speech received little attention outside of Hyakuri. In that sense, the biggest threat to Japan's security is itself.

[Simone]

Ringrazio Andrea75 che sta aggiornando questi Topic con frequenza quotidiana ed, in pratica, rende il Sito sempre più ricco di informazioni geopolitiche, da quello che ho capito molte persone, sopattutto intellettuali, in Giappone temono che la rimozione dei vincoli costituzionali potrebbe rafforzare la corrente,mai del tutto estinta, di pensiero più legata alle tradizioni guerriere che è stata alla base della politica fino al 1945. Bisogna anche tenere conto che fra le frange più conservatrici del Paese del sol Levante è ancora viva la voglia di "vendetta" contro gli Alleati e non è impossibile pensare che, lasciando campo libero a questa porzione non trascurabile del Giappone, con una situazione politica non del tutto solida, questa corrente potrebbe acquisire molto potere, come fece negli anni '20.

lLa SDF non può operare aggressivamente all'estero,però le Diyaou/Senkaku sono parte del territorio giapponese e non ci sono limiti alle iniziative che si possono eventualmente prendere per cercare di respingere un'ipotetica invasione, le esercitazioni si susseguono con regolarità e sembra che le capacità militari siano molto alte. Non ci sono prove sul campo, ma i militari giapponesi hanno fama di essere molto coraggiosi e bene organizzati ed i mezzi ed i materiali non mancano.

In più Okinawa è tutt'ora una grossa base americana dove sono dislocati anche gli F22,che costituiscono un deterrente non da poco contro eventuali malintenzionati

[Andrea75]

Ringrazio Andrea75 che sta aggiornando questi Topic con frequenza quotidiana ed, in pratica, rende il Sito sempre più ricco di informazioni geopolitiche,

 

Lo faccio volentieri

[Andrea75]

China flexes muscleswith drills amid island dispute

 

China dispatched naval vessels, aircraft and helicopters to the East China Sea on Friday, flexing its muscles in exercises likely to further stoke a bristling territorial dispute with Japan.

 

A fleet of 11 vessels, including some warships, along with eight aircraft were sent to waters off its east coast, China said, in Beijing’s most confrontational act yet in a row that has chilled ties between the regional heavyweights.

[Andrea75]

Three Chinese 'Surveillance' Vessels Enter Japanese Waters Around Senkaku Islands

 

 

Japan Protests After Chinese Vessels Enter Disputed Waters

[Andrea75]

Un tentativo di accordo multilaterale China snubs SE Asia push for South China Sea deal, che la Cina - evidentemente - non gradisce

 

China has resisted proposals for a multilateral code of conduct for the South China Sea, preferring to try to negotiate disputes with each of the far less powerful individual claimants.

[Andrea75]

Tokyo's Missing Muscle

 

Recent rhetoric signals that the Japanese government is taking a tough stance on foreign policy. In reality, however, politicians and citizens alike are easily distracted by sideshows and seemingly incapable of crafting a cohesive defense strategy. When it comes to national security, Japan is its own worst enemy.

[TT-1 Pinto]

Prossima modernizzazione delle forze aeree ....

 

Manila plans wide-ranging modernisation of air force ....

 

By: Greg Waldron (Singapore - 1 hours ago)

Source: Flight International

 

The Philippines could issue requests for proposals (RFPs) for advanced jet trainers, transport aircraft and helicopter modifications within the next 12 months.

 

The Philippines air force has identified several capability gaps that it hopes to fill in the coming years, says an air force spokesman. Budgets have been approved for several acquisitions, but a competitive bidding process must be conducted for each purchase, with request for proposals to be issued before the end of 2013, he adds.

 

The highest profile acquisition planned is for 12 lead-in fighter trainer aircraft. Requirements for the type include radar, supersonic speed, and the ability to prosecute both ground and air targets - the latter with beyond visual range missiles.

 

"The [Korea Aerospace Industries] F/A-50 more or less fits our requirements, but we have not concluded it will be the F/A-50," says the spokesman.

 

Other types Manila could consider include the Alenia Aermacchi M-346, Yakovlev Yak-130 and the BAE Systems Hawk.

 

The Philippine Department of National Defence is in the process of drafting an RFP and the air force hopes to have the aircraft on the flight line as early as 2014-15, the spokesman says.

 

Although the Philippines retired its last Northrop F-5s in 2004, the spokesman says it has retained a foundation of jet pilots through the continued use of four Aermacchi S-211 jet trainers.

 

The 12 new aircraft would be used for both training and combat, and form a bridging capability for the future acquisition of a multi-role fighter, he adds.

 

With regard to airlift, the air force has two operational Lockheed Martin C-130Hs and a single C-130B. It hopes to obtain an additional C-130, as well as two medium lift transport aircraft and two light transport aircraft. All three acquisitions have been approved by air force leadership, with RFPs likely in the next 12 months.

 

In addition, the air force hopes to upgrade or refurbish 21 Bell UH-1 utility helicopters. The work would involve the modification of transmissions, improved engines and airframe improvements. Some of these aircraft are in service and some in storage. Manila hopes to start receiving refurbished UH-1s in 2014, the spokesman says.

 

Manila will also re-task its PZL-Swidnik W-3A Sokol helicopters to the search and rescue (SAR) role from the combat utility role. So far, the Philippines has received four Sokols from a 2010 order for eight examples of the type. It will receive the remaining four by the end of 2012.

 

"It was decided that the Sokols would be best to fill the SAR role," says the spokesman. "We are optimising resources."

 

The Sokols will still be operated by the air force, but will be available for civilian SAR missions.

[Andrea75]

... sempre in tema di shopping:

 

2nd Philippine Navy warship from US to arrive February

 

The second warship to be acquired by the Navy from the United States (US) is expected to arrive by February, Defense Secretary Voltraire Gazmin said Monday.

Gazmin said US Pacific Command chief Adm. Samuel Locklear III gave him the assurance of the second warship's delivery during their meeting in Hawaii early this month.

“Our new ship will be coming sometime next year, about February. I met with Admiral Locklear in Hawaii before I joined the trip of the president to Australia and New Zealand. He assured us that the ship will arrive by February 2013,” he said.

The scheduled arrival of BRP Ramon Alcaraz in February is a month later than the initial expectations.

 

 

DND puts on hold plan to get third warship from US

 

Acquisition of a third warship from the US has been put on hold to allow the government to equip two former US Coast Guard vessels now known as BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz.

The Gregorio del Pilar was acquired last year, and the Ramon Alcaraz is expected to arrive by February.

Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo told The STAR existing vessels must be equipped with the necessary weapon systems.

“The additional (cutter) was put on hold,” he said.

“We can use the money to enhance the capability of the two (warships). We would like to equip our ships.”

Manalo said the decision to hold the acquisition of a third warship is premised on the need to enhance the capabilities of the Del Pilar and the Alcaraz.

[Andrea75]

Why the United States is not ready for conflict in Asia.

 

Despite the potential value of such networks, U.S. policy remains focused on building strategic partnerships and shoring up U.S. deterrent capabilities. Reassuring nations about U.S. staying power has value, but to address a region marinating in identity politics, we should flip the priorities, and spend the dominant portion of U.S. diplomatic efforts, resources, and security partnering on collaborative, multilateral networks designed to address mutual challenges. Instead of negotiating new basing rights for a battalion in Australia, for example, we should be developing a regional action network on renewable energy or cybersecurity. Such approaches could address the security risks of identity-seekers by muting specific disagreements, encouraging a habit of collaboration, and undermining more extreme xenophobic nationalisms.

 

Doing this won't be easy. States in the region have powerfully divergent perspectives and interests and often reject outsiders trying to shape outcomes. But that's what effective diplomacy is all about -- and such a role would position the United States for another long run of leadership, not through a dominant role in alliances or an overpowering regional military presence, but by leading the region toward stability by discovering shared interests and leading toward norms and institutions. This is, after all, the role America has been playing since 1945. We just need to find new ways to keep playing it, in a more sustainable form and a tone more suited to the emerging strategic era.

[Andrea75]

segnalo questo paper Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress

 

This report presents policy and oversight issues for Congress arising from maritime territorial disputes involving China in the South China Sea (SCS) and East China Sea (ECS) and an additional dispute over whether China has a right under international law to regulate U.S. and other foreign military activities in its 200-nautical-mile maritime Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

China is a party to multiple maritime territorial disputes in the SCS and ECS, including, in particular, disputes over the Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, and Scarborough Shoal in the SCS, and the Senkaku Islands in the ECS. Maritime territorial disputes involving China in the SCS and ECS date back many years, and have periodically led to incidents and periods of increased tension. The disputes have again intensified in the past few years, leading to numerous confrontations and incidents, and heightened tensions between China and other countries in the

region, particularly Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

In addition to maritime territorial disputes in the SCS and ECS, China is involved in a dispute, particularly with the United States, over whether China has a right under international law to regulate the activities of foreign military forces operating within China’s EEZ. The dispute appears to be at the heart of multiple incidents between Chinese and U.S. ships and aircraft in international waters and airspace in 2001, 2002, and 2009.

The issue of whether China has a right under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to regulate foreign military activities in its EEZ is related to, but ultimately separate from, the issue of maritime territorial disputes in the SCS and ECS. The two issues are related because China can claim EEZs from inhabitable islands over which it has sovereignty, so accepting China’s claims to islands in the SCS or ECS could permit China to expand the EEZ zone within which China claims a right to regulate foreign military activities.

Modificato 6 Novembre 2012 da Andrea75

[TT-1 Pinto]

Di questo articolo .... "DND puts on hold plan to get third warship from US" ....

 

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=865572&publicationSubCategoryId=63

 

.... postato il 2 Novembre da Andrea75 .... mi sembra opportuno evidenziare un passaggio che riguarda in modo particolare il nostro paese ....

 

Other countries are also offering defense equipment to the military.

 

Italy is ready to provide two missile-firing warships.

 

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the two Italian Navy vessels cost about P11.7 billion.

 

The Maestrale-class ships were commissioned in 1982.

 

They are more capable than any of the vessels in the Navy’s inventory.

 

The two warships have anti-aircraft, anti-ship and anti-submarine capabilities, as well as missile systems and modern radars.

 

[Scagnetti]

Sì si sapeva da tempo che la vendita di 2 maestrale fosse a buon punto (e si ipotizzava se non sbaglio anche la vendita di due Minerva).

Comunque al buon Andrea gli ultimi sviluppi non potevano certo sfuggire , solo che ha postato nella sezione Marine militare italiana.

 

Vedi il suo ultimo messaggio di ieri in quel tjhread e il realtivo link incluso:

 

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=866838&publicationSubCategoryId=63

[TT-1 Pinto]

Sì si sapeva da tempo che la vendita di 2 maestrale fosse a buon punto (e si ipotizzava se non sbaglio anche la vendita di due Minerva).

Comunque al buon Andrea gli ultimi sviluppi non potevano certo sfuggire , solo che ha postato nella sezione Marine militare italiana.

Cosa che a me era sfuggita ....

 

Ti ringrazio per la segnalazione ....

[Scagnetti]

Un po' difficile stare dietro a tutto quello che posta,

cmq grazie Andrea!

[TT-1 Pinto]

Tornando all'arcipelago ....

 

Philippines Protecting South China Sea Interests ....

 

China's increased assertiveness over territorial claims to the South China Sea is leading the Philippines to embark on the biggest military procurement program it has ever undertaken.

Fonte .... http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_11_05_2012_p42-512226.xml

[Andrea75]

Indonesia National Air Space Surveillance Program

 

Lockheed Martin and Indonesian technology firm PT CMI Teknologi (CMI) recently completed a production readiness review that qualifies CMI to begin in-country manufacturing for the TPS-77 and FPS-117 long-range surveillance radars.

Lockheed Martin and CMI are jointly pursuing the National Airspace Surveillance – Republic of Indonesia (NASRI) program, with the intent to produce more than 20 new radars to improve airspace surveillance, safety, and management over the Indonesian Archipelago in support of the government’s defense revitalization initiative.

 

Indra will implement four new latest-generation radar systems in Indonesia. This contract means that there will now be ten stations deployed by the company, controlling approximately 70% of the archipelago's airspace.

The new stations will be at Natuna, Tanjung Pinang, Sorong and Pontianak and will have Indra mode S secondary radars. This technology is the most advanced in the market in terms of the detection and identification of aircraft and complies with the highest standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Eurocontrol, amongst others.

These systems will be added to the ones already implemented by Indra at Sentani, Bali, Medan, Curug, Tarakan and Timika. The modernisation of the surveillance network will appreciably improve the safety of air operations and increase the number of flights that can be managed.

The radar system implemented by Indra at Curug will be used to train the technicians who are to use this surveillance system technology.

...

Additionally, Indra is equipping the Medan control centre, which once construction is completed will manage Sumatra's traffic, and the Berau control centre with its automated air traffic management system. This solution is already in place at the Sentani centre, which manages Papua's traffic.

[Andrea75]

Il problema dei territori contesi? Ecco la soluzione: Thanks Climate Change: Sea-Level Rise Could End South China Sea Spat

 

One of the world’s leading monitors of sea level rise and climate change, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in 2007 forecasted a 2.0 to 11.5°F increase in global temperatures that will result in 3 to 6 feet of sea level rise by the end of this century. Yet, one of the biggest misconceptions about sea-level rise is that it is caused directly by glacial melt around the North and South Poles. On the contrary, as global temperatures increase, the oceans become warmer and thus expand. Nearly 57% of current sea level rise is actually attributed to this phenomenon; the remainder is from ice-berg, glacial and polar icecap melt. In the last few years, China has become particularly aware of the implications of sea level rise and has been studying its affects, in addition to its regular monitoring of its surrounding waters.

 

Indeed, Chinese satellites outfitted with advanced altimeter as well as multiple ocean observation stations along the SCS have been monitoring currents, depths, and temperature changes in the contested water for decades. Many of these observations are beginning to be tied with sea level rise and are filling the media and scientific journals, such as Journal of Tropical Oceanography (热带海洋学报) and Journal of Ocean University of China (中国海洋大学学报), with increasing frequency. The overwhelming conclusion is that the water temperature has been increasing and so have the water levels.

 

... naturalmente i problemi continuerebbero a rimanere aperti. Nel triste caso di un innalzamento del livello del mare tale da sommergere le terre contese si aprirebbe la disputa per le perforazioni sottomarine

[Andrea75]

Taiwan tests new anti-ship missile: Report

 

 

Taiwan tested its longest range ship-to-ship missile within a month of China putting its first aircraft carrier into service, a report said today.

 

Dubbed an “aircraft carrier killer”, the missile has a range of 400 kilometres (250 miles) and is capable of achieving Mach 3.0, or triple the speed of sound, the Taipei-based United Daily News said.

 

“The Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology finished a series of tests off Taiwan last month,” it said, in reference to Taiwan’s arms development unit.

 

“No ship is capable of withstanding its high-velocity impact,” the paper quoted an unnamed military source as saying.

 

Taiwan’s defence ministry declined to comment on the report.

 

The missile was described as a long-range variant of the Hsiung Feng III, already installed on Taiwanese frigates and missile boats and designed to achieve Mach 2.0 with a range of up to 130 kilometres (80 miles).

 

China put its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, into service last month.

 

The Pentagon said the ship, a refurbished Soviet vessel, was the first step towards a future fleet of carriers expected to be built domestically in coming years.

 

Ties between China and Taiwan have improved significantly since the Beijing-friendly Ma Ying-jeou became the island’s president in 2008, vowing to adopt a non-confrontational policy towards the mainland. Ma was re-elected in January for a second and last four-year term.

 

But China still regards Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, although the island has governed itself since the two sides separated in 1949 after a long civil war.

[Andrea75]

Accordo tra Canada e Filippine PM announces agreement to increase business opportunities in the Philippine defence and security sector

 

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Canada and the Philippines that will create new opportunities for Canadian businesses in the defence and security sector. The Prime Minister made the announcement during an official visit to the country.

 

“Canada and the Philippines continue to increase cooperation on security issues,” said the Prime Minister. “This MOU will enable the Philippines to acquire the equipment and expertise it needs to fulfill the country’s defence and security agenda, while creating opportunities for the Canadian defence and security sectors in the Philippines.”

 

The MOU between the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) and the Filipino Department of National Defence (DND) will enable the Philippines to acquire Canadian defence- and security-related equipment, systems and services on a direct, sole-source basis through the CCC. The MOU is effective immediately.

 

The Government of Canada, through CCC, will guarantee the terms and conditions of contracts signed between CCC and the Philippines.

 

Canada’s defence and security sector employed 109,000 Canadians and generated over $12.6 billion to the Canadian economy in 2011, slightly more than half of which came from international markets.

 

Canada works closely with the Philippines to advance security-sector reforms and capacity development.

[Andrea75]

Tensions flare over South China Sea at Asian summit

 

Japan warned on Monday that a row over the South China Sea could damage "peace and stability" in Asia as China stalled on a plan to ease tensions and disagreements flared between the Philippines and Cambodia over the dispute.

The acrimony provided an uneasy backdrop to U.S. President Barack Obama's arrival in Cambodia for a regional summit where he is expected to urge China and Southeast Asian nations to resolve the row, one of Asia's biggest security issues.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda challenged efforts by summit host Cambodia, a staunch China ally, to limit discussions on the mineral-rich sea, where China's territorial claims overlap those of four Southeast Asian countries and of Taiwan.

"Prime Minister Noda raised the issue of the South China Sea, noting that this is of common concern for the international community, which would have direct impact on peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific," a Japanese government statement said after Noda met leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).