Singaporean Leopard 2 Tanks Are Equipped For Urban Warfare

 The SAF’s prevailing focus on homeland security and urban warfare is reflected on the Leopard 2SG’s many improvements. The entire hull is covered in a layer of applique armor, with thick side skirts and cage or slat sections protecting the flanks, and the turret’s frontal arc encased in removable composite panels. The armament of the Leopard 2SG remains the same–a 120mm smoothbore main gun paired with a coaxial machine gun–although a secondary machine gun on the turret roof is absent. The enhanced protection level of each Leopard 2SG is to guarantee its survival against multiple explosive threats, especially high velocity projectiles at close ranges such as the ubiquitous rocket grenades of an RPG-7.

The Leopard 2SG’s protection level and ability to function day and night (thanks to the commander’s oscillating thermal camera on the turret roof) gives Singapore’s ground forces a superb fire support vehicle in any conflict scenario where the full brunt of their mechanized fleet is required. Complementing the Leopard 2SG is the tracked Hunter AFV that entered service in 2019 whose armaments (a 30mm cannon and a tandem missile launcher) and mobility puts Singaporean troops far ahead of their regional peers. To date, no other military in ASEAN has fielded a locally assembled tracked fighting vehicle. The success of the Hunter AFV is giving ST Technologies a greater incentive to look for viable exports and improve the vehicle; one variant has the Hunter converted into a light tank with a John Cockerill turret.

Although Indonesia and Singapore both operate Leopard 2 battle tanks, Singapore’s variant is considered more advanced. In 2010 the German manufacturer Rheinmetall unveiled its “MBT Revolution” upgrade for the Leopard 2A4 that was later rebranded as the “Advanced Technology Demonstrator” or ATD. Externally, the ATD and the Leopard 2SG resembled each other but the ATD had additional features such as the ROSY smoke grenade launcher, an active detection and protection system, and a remote weapon station mounting a 40mm grenade launcher. MINDEF can add these same countermeasures on the Leopard 2SG in the near future but these plans haven’t been announced. Internally, the ATD’s analog controls within the turret were replaced with digital subsystems and Rheinmetall ensured the crew had 360 degree situational awareness.

Last Two Super Tucano Arrived in Philippine

 The remaining two of the total six brand-new Embraer Defense and Security A-29 "Super Tucano" close-air support aircraft acquired by the Philippine government have arrived in Clark Air Base, Angeles City, Pampanga on Thursday afternoon."The two remaining Super Tucanos arrived yesterday (Thursday). The first aircraft touched down at 1304H (1:04 p.m.) and followed by the other at 1327H (1:27 p.m.)," said Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday.Andolong said the two Super Tucanos arrived from Vietnam, the last leg of their flight to the Philippines.

The A-29 attack helicopters are expected to beef up the Philippine Air Force's 15th Strike Wing.The first four Super Tucanos arrived in Clark Air Base in the afternoon of September 19. Embraer company pilots flew the aircraft from the company airfield in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and made fueling stops in the Canary Islands, Portugal, Malta, Egypt, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, India, Thailand, and Vietnam before landing in the Philippines.Andolong earlier said Embraer pilots will train PAF pilots selected to fly the "Super Tucano" for two months as part of the agreement under the Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee.

The A-29s were earlier scheduled to be delivered by the end of July but the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic and subsequent travel bans have skewed the delivery timetables.The aircraft, which will be part of the PAF's 15th Strike Wing, will beef up the remaining North American Rockwell OV-10 "Bronco" attack aircraft used by the Air Force in strike missions."They are a welcome and much-needed replacement for the PAF's aged, close air support aircraft, and their mission versatility and capability to carry a variety of ordnance will be very useful in the field," Andolong said.The Super Tucano is a turboprop aircraft designed for light attack, counter-insurgency, close air support, aerial reconnaissance missions in low threat environments, as well as providing pilot training. The contract for the six aircraft is worth PHP4.968 billion and was issued in late 2017.

To the 100th anniversary of the GLITs of the Russian Ministry of Defense

 

F-15 Night Takeoff (2020)

 

Philippine also Interested in Surplus Korean MD-500 Helicopters

 

DND eyes acquisition of surplus Korean MD-500 helicopters

MANILA – The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday has expressed its intent to acquire surplus Bell UH-1H and McDonnell Douglas MD-500 helicopters from South Korea.Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana expressed the intent in a congratulatory letter to newly-appointed South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook.

He added the DND plans to conduct a Joint Venture Inspection in the fourth quarter of this year.The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is known to operate a number of UH-1H and MD-500 helicopters in its fleet.South Korea is known to have retired these helicopters from military service early this year.The PAF uses the UH-1H primarily for cargo and personnel transport and disaster relief missions while variants or models of the MD-500 in its inventory are utilized for ground attack or close-air support sorties.

"The JVI will be conducted following strict bio-safety protocols amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, by a team composed of representatives from the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines," DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a message.He added that the acquisition project for the South Korean UH-1H and MD500 helicopters is still in the exploratory stage, with the details yet to be finalized including the timeline and number of rotary-winged aircraft to be acquired. 

Belarus and Russia joint exercise "Slavic Brotherhood - 2020"

 

A New Fleet of the Philippine Navy has arrived from the world's largest maritime exercise

 

India constructs world’s longest strategic tunnel above 10,000 feet to China border