Asian Defence News1

Indian Navy has started training on the MH-60R

The Indian Navy is ready to take a step towards modernising its ageing helicopter fleet as the United States is set to hand over three MH-60R helicopters to it in their country, where Indian crews are stationed for training on the new platform, by the year-end, people familiar with the developments said on Monday.Two of the multi-role helicopters (MRHs) will be delivered to the navy next month, with the third delivery planned around the year-end, said one of the officials cited above. The Indian crews, including around 15 officers, began their training at Pensacola in Florida on Monday.

Last year, India ordered 24 Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters from the US to strengthen the navy’s anti-submarine/anti-surface warfare and surveillance capabilities. The government-to-government contract for the helicopters is worth around ₹17,500 crore.The navy had first moved a case to buy multi-role helicopters, a critical operational necessity, more than 15 years ago.

But the MRHs were ordered only last year as a replacement for the Sea King 42/42A fleet, which went out of service nearly two decades ago. The MRH is expected to be the mainstay of the navy’s anti-submarine/anti-ship warfare and airborne early-warning capabilities in the coming years.“The procurement is progressing well. The first batch of three choppers is likely to arrive in India in May-June 2022. The remaining 21 helicopters are likely to be delivered over the next three years (by 2024),” said a second official.

Armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, MK 54 torpedoes and advanced precision weapons, the twin-engine helicopters can operate from frigates, destroyers and aircraft carriers.Ship-borne multi-role helicopters have been an essential force multiplier for any navy since the 1960s, maritime affairs expert Rear Admiral Sudarshan Shrikhande (retd) said. “I recall the great combat power the earlier helicopters like the Sea King 42 and Kamov variants brought to the fleet in the late 1980s. The induction of the new MRH is a qualitative relief, but quantitative gaps also need addressing,” he said.

The navy is also pursuing a plan to build 111 naval utility helicopters (NUH) in India under the strategic partnership (SP) model to replace its outdated fleet of French-designed Chetak choppers. The defence acquisition council (DAC), India’s apex procurement body, cleared the ₹21,738-crore NUH project under the SP model in August 2018, but there has been no forward movement during the last three years.

Royal Australian Navy Training Manoeuvres with Brunei Navy a Success

HMAS Parramatta sails in company with Royal Brunei Navy ship KDB Darulehsan while conducting maritime manoeuvres (photo : Aus DoD)

HMAS Parramatta joined Royal Brunei Navy ships Darulehsan and Syafaat for shared training during a recent visit to Brunei.The three ships conducted a range of contactless training activities, including communication exercises, replenishment-at-sea approaches and maritime manoeuvres.Commanding Officer Parramatta Commander Anita Nemarich said the chance to train with Brunei was a great success for both navies.“The in-company training built upon the strong relationship between the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Brunei Navy,” Commander Nemarich said.

“It was wonderful to spend the day working alongside such professional units, and it provided excellent training opportunities for our crews.“Australia and Brunei share a strong bilateral defence relationship and are like-minded regional partners. Events like this continue to build on those great connections.”Parramatta officer-of-the-watch phase two trainee Sub-Lieutenant Jacqui Dendle said it was a valuable experience to work alongside the Royal Brunei Navy.“Being able to put my training into action while conducting officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres was a great opportunity for me,” Sub-Lieutenant Dendle said.“Working with the Royal Brunei Navy was a great experience and a highlight from my time on board Parramatta during this regional presence deployment.”

The officer of the watch is responsible for the navigation and running of the ship, taking charge while the commander is away from the bridge.Parramatta is conducting a regional presence deployment with HMAS Ballarat. The two Anzac-class frigates are conducting a number of navy-to-navy engagements with partner nations across the region.

Royal Thai Navy Chief Naval Aviation RTN Visited Operation of S-100 Camcopter VTOL UAV

Two Schiebel Camcopter S-100 rotary-wing UAV(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) serial 1425 and 1426 of of 104 Naval Air Squadron, Naval Air Wing 1, Royal Thai Naval Air Division (RTNAD), Royal Thai Fleet, Royal Thai Navy (RTN) at Koh Kra Island, Pak Phanang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province (photo : Naval Air Aviation)

Rear Admiral Surachai Charoenrob, Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Air Aviation Division The Royal Thai Navy and its delegation visited the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles and the well-being of troops at Koh Kra, Pak Phanang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province on May 1, 2021.

Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) type Schiebel Camcopter S-100 2 units number 1425 and 1426 of Squadron 104, Wing 1, Naval Aviation Division of the Royal Thai Navy at Koh Kra, Pak Phanang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat on May 1, 2021.It shows that the Camcopter S-100 rotary wing unmanned aircraft that the Royal Thai Navy procured from the Austrian company Schiebel has been deployed in Pak Phanang District. Nakhon Si Thammarat According to the previous information already.The 104 Squadron, which was previously stationed with 18 A-7E Corsair II attack aircraft, has been converted to an unmanned aerial vehicle squadron that also includes 6 Orbiter 3B and RQ-21 Blackjack in future.

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US Agreed to Sell T-6 Trainer Aircraft to Vietnam

The U.S. has agreed to sell T-6 trainer aircraft to Vietnam to help improve pilot training, Pacific Air Forces Commander Kenneth Wilsbach said on Friday.

"We're committed to helping that aircraft to be delivered and then operationalizing and improving the Vietnamese Air Force's pilot training," he said at a teleconference hosted by the U.S. Department of State Asia Pacific Media Hub on June 4. He did not mention how many aircraft would be delivered to Vietnam.Replying to a question about cooperation between the two countries in the near future, he said the T-6 aircraft deal is one of the "biggest things" to be noticed.

In 2019 Senior Lieutenant Dang Duc Toai finished the U.S. Air Force's Aviation Leadership Program for which he flew the T-6 for more than 167 hours.Wilsbach said that later this summer the Vietnamese Air Force chief is planning to attend the Pacific Air Chiefs Conference in Hawaii, the U.S., to which 22 nations would be sending their air chiefs for talks.Wilsbach will chair the event and the U.S Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Charles Brown, will attend it.

"We're excited that Vietnam's air chief is coming for that. We're looking forward to the discussions, which I believe will lead to furthering of our relationship, and give us other opportunities for engagement."