03 Nov 15. DSME discusses second frigate and submarine procurement with Royal Thai Navy. South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) is continuing discussions with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) over the potential sale of two major platforms: a DW3000-design multipurpose frigate and its DSME 1400 submarine.
Speaking to IHS Jane’s at the Defense & Security 2015 show in Bangkok on 3 November, DSME officials said they remain hopeful that a contract to build and supply the DW3000 frigate – a modernised derivative of the Kwanggaeto Daewang (KDX-1) destroyer in service with the Republic of Korea Navy – will be signed in 2016 as a follow on to the RTN’s purchase of a first-in-class DW3000 frigate in 2013. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
03 Nov 15. Bharat, Larsen & Toubro make joint bid for Vietnam’s frigate upgrade. Key Points:
• An Indian consortium is bidding to upgrade Vietnam’s five Petya-class frigates
• Upgrades aim to improve the ASW capabilities of the Soviet-era warships
An Indian consortium consisting of engineering firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and state-owned company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has submitted a bid to upgrade the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) Navy’s five Petya (Project 159A/AE)-class frigates, an official from India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) confirmed with IHS Jane’s on 4 November.
A major part of the upgrade work will be aimed at improving the platform’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. “This includes a replacement of the vessel’s hull-mounted sonar and anti-submarine weapons”, said the DRDO representative. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
03 Nov 15. US Army issues RfI for new fixed-wing utility aircraft. The US Army has issued a pre-solicitation notice for the procurement of up to 92 new fixed-wing utility aircraft, ahead of a request for proposals (RfP) expected later in November.
The pre-solicitation request for information (RfI) for the Fixed-wing Utility Aircraft (FUA) programme, posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website on 3 November, covers the acquisition of the aircraft, as well as the integration of military modifications, training, and other support. An RfP will be issued by the Army Contracting Command-Redstone (ACC-RSA) on behalf of the Fixed Wing Project Office (FWPO) on 18 November. No further details pertaining to aircraft specifications or the proposed mission were released.
The RfI for the FUA comes some two-and-a-half years after the US Army first revealed its intentions to procure a new fixed-wing utility aircraft via what was then called the Future Utility Aircraft (FUA) project. An RfI for this earlier FUA requirement, issued in April 2013, called for a new platform to replace its fleet of Beech C-12 Huron and Fairchild C-26 Metroliner operational support and platforms. At that time, the army said that the new solution must be a multi-engined commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) aircraft that was capable of being fitted with military communications and other equipment.
Performance specifications included a service ceiling of no less than 35,000ft (above mean sea-level), a high speed cruise airspeed of no less than 275kt, a maximum payload of no less than 2,700 lb (1,225 kg), and a ferry flight range of at least 2,400n miles with a 45 min fuel reserve. It should also have been capable of routine operations on semi-improved airfields without damage, and have seating for no less than nine passengers. With regard to cargo loading, the earlier FUA should have a cargo door fitted or the provisions for the installation of one. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
31 Oct 15. INDONESIA – Parliament approves USD78m for KF-X fighter programme. Unnamed South Korean officials have said that the Indonesian parliament has approved IDR1.07trn (USD78m) for the first tranche of Indonesian funding to be invested in South Korea’s KF-X fighter jet programme, according to South Korean news. The Indonesian and South Korean governments, along with Korea Aerospace Ind