29 Sep 16. ADAS 2016: Philippines to establish dedicated defence industrial zone. The Government Arsenal, a Philippines state-owned defence company, has outlined plans to establish a dedicated defence industrial zone to support the development of related capabilities in the country. The plan to develop the Government Arsenal Defense Industrial Estate (GADIE) has been drawn up over the past two years and is now awaiting presidential approval, officials told IHS Jane’s on 29 September at the Asian Defence and Security 2016 (ADAS 2016) exhibition in Manila.
Officials added that the site would be geared towards promoting defence industrial clusters across all tiers of manufacturing that will encourage cost efficiencies and promote capability advancement. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
28 Sep 16. ADAS 2016: Leonardo Helicopters positions for growth in Asia Pacific with emphasis on training support. Leonardo Helicopters has identified the Asia-Pacific region as an area of priority for the next five years and is touting the company’s track record of providing support and training for nascent helicopter units as the company’s unique differentiator.
In an interview with IHS Jane’s, John Ponsonby, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters UK, pointed to the company’s activities with services in the Middle East and Africa as example of how it has supported helicopter units from scratch.
“We have conducted training with ab-initio pilots and saw them through the whole process of integrating the aircraft onboard ships that they are operating for example”, said Ponsonby, adding that besides training, the company also assists naval services with developing ship helicopter operating limit (SHOL) perimeters. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/IHS Jane’s)
28 Sep 16. ADAS 2016: Saab targets Gripen at Philippines. Saab is to open an office in Manila by the end of 2016 to support the company’s campaign to sell its JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft to the Philippine Air Force (PAF), an official from the Swedish company told I HS Jane’s on 28 September.
Speaking on the opening day of the Asian Defence and Security 2016 (ADAS 2016) exhibition in Manila, Carl-Erik Leek, Saab’s executive vice-president in the Asia Pacific, said the new office would be the centre of the company’s marketing activities in the country.
At present, these are undertaken from Saab’s regional headquarters in Thailand, although the company does not currently have a major presence, in terms of previous defence sales, in the Philippine market.
The new office will also be supported by the Swedish government’s intention, announced in December 2015, to open an embassy in Manila to support growth in bilateral trade and investment. Both Saab’s office and the new embassy are expected to be operational by November.
Leek, who will head up the new Manila office, said Saab’s primary target in the Philippines is the PAF’s requirement – outlined in the service’s modernisation programme, Flight Plan 2028 – for 12 multirole combat aircraft. “Saab can fulfil the PAF requirement for an affordable fighter aircraft,” said Leek. “We think we are a strong contender.”
He added that the offer would include a package of support systems, similar to the capabilities that Saab has supplied the Royal Thai Air Force, which procured 12 Gripen C/D aircraft ordered in two phases in 2008 and 2010, with deliveries completed in 2013. “[The PAF offer] will be a whole system including ground infrastructure, an integrated command-and-control system, sensors, and datalinks,” he said.
In addition, Leek highlighted opportunities for Saab to meet Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) requirements for naval systems – such as combat management systems – radars and air defence. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/IHS Jane’s)
28 Sep 16. Details emerge on cost of India’s Rafale deal. The per unit cost of the 36 Dassault Rafale deal that India signed with France on 23 September in New Delhi for EUR7.9bn (USD8.9bn) was around