CATEGORIES
Steel Gauntlets - Asia's Tank Force Reviewed
While the replacement of old MBTs for new on a 1-to-1 basis is unlikely, Asian governments are seeking new or modernised armour to keep ‘a heavy punch’ available if needed.
China Broadens Cyber Options
China is prepared to use its burgeoning cyber capabilities for industrial espionage, trans-national harassment, national defence and as a support to military operations.
Coast Guards Welcome OPV Boom
Asia-Pacific navies focus on OPVs to counter China but struggle with budgets and inter-service rivalry.
CSAR: Building Towards Capability
Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) as a joint force operation requires a specialisation that many nations cannot afford. However, mission equipment and specialised aircraft can provide a workable capability when required.
The Need For Sead
The United States and her allies in Asia-Pacific face an Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2AD) threat from two significant actors in the region; the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Raining Lead
Still master of the battlefield for well over a century, no infantry formation today would wish go into a conflict without the latest machine guns and squad automatic weapons.
The Art Of UAS Operations
Unmanned Aerial Systems Are Increasingly Capable of Maritime as Well as Overland Isr, but Whatever the Mission First Rate Simulation Training Will Yield the Best Operational Results.
Submarine Close Encounters
The burgeoning need for submarines in Asia Pacific is outstripping the region’s capacity to produce them.
Modernising The Philippines Armed Forces
The second five year plan in the ambitious 15 year Philippine armed forces modernisation strategy is moving beyond counter insurgency and onto ‘big-ticket’ assets.
Night Vision: Thermal Imaging To Image Fusion
Night vision systems, once jealously guarded, are now cheaper and more widely available than ever before.
Close Protection
Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) are the last line of defence for ships. While they were originally developed to protect against anti-ship missiles, the range of threats have evolved over recent decades, driving changes in CIWS architecture.
Starship Enterprise
While much attention is paid by Asia-Pacific nations to the maritime, land and air domains, there is a push to develop space capabilities across the region. These efforts are manifesting themselves into a regional ‘space race’ between rival nations.
More Than Body Armour
As demand for personal protection equipment (PPE) continues to rise, armed forces are also considering its integration into more holistic soldier modernisation concepts aimed at enhancing the situation awareness (SA).
Brunei Air Force Pilots 'Cool' With S-70i Simulator Training
Asian Military Review was recently invited to examine the Royal Brunei Air Force’s S-70i simulator in Brunei Darussalam.
Maritime Rotorcraft Growth Predicted
With naval expansion happening across the world, maritime helicopter operators can cross the gamut of options from the most ‘built-for-purpose’ helicopters to breathing new life into old machines.
Manpad Menace
Countering the MANPAD threat consistantly challenges industry’s design and development teams
Singapore Forges Next Gen Capabilities In Arizona
During its biennial overseas exercise, Forging Sabre, the Singaporean Armed Forces used enhanced C2 to further integrate fast jets, attack helicopters and UAVs into the precision, and simultaneous delivery of kinetic munitions
Unmanned, Unblinking Eyes Over The Ocean
The ramp-up of capability in terms of MALE/HALE operations is happening, although fully operational systems in many cases are still some years away.
Direct Action
As the contemporary operating environment continues to witness the growing emergence and influence of so-called ‘near peer’ adversaries, armed forces around the world continue to demand ever greater fire support to suppress enemy forces.
Metal Gear Solid
Armoured Combat Vehicles (ACVs) have received considerable attention from armies in the Asia-Pacific over the last few years. Major efforts have been taken, or are underway, to develop and acquire such platforms and to modernise and upgrade existing fleets.
Doing More Than It Says On The Tin
Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft can do much more than their acronym suggests. The increasing ability of these platforms to perform land and sea surveillance is making them evermore attractive to potential customers in the Asia-Pacific.
Small Platforms Make A Big Difference
Freedom of navigation and ‘presence’ missions in response to territorial disputes with the Peoples Republic of China, fishery patrols and interdiction of migrants at sea are among the operational requirements for Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and corvettes in the Asia-Pacific.
Dial 'M' For Madman
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is known for its penchant for missile development, particularly on a scale that would impact many nations around the world. With the US pushing all of Kim Jong-un’s buttons, this is likely to encourage the nation to back these developments further.
To The Lowest Echelon
Acquisitions are afoot in the Asia-Pacific of new tactical radios. While much activity is kept out of the headlines, a picture of energetic competition involving new and existing products from local and international suppliers is emerging.
Care From The Air
One of the world’s largest operators of aircraft in conflict zones is the United Nations. Relying on the provision of aircraft from member states and from the private sector, such aircraft provide lifelines for civilians caught up in hostilities around the world.
Periscope Depth
Whether driven by direct threats to national security, or as a result of the submarine procurement race that is currently taking place in the region, Asia-Pacific waters are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of submarines patrolling their depths.
Back In Business
Iran is coming in from the cold. The lifting of sanctions regarding that country’s clandestine nuclear weapons programme has implications for the Asia-Pacific as the Islamic Republic looks to revitalise its military.
Sounding Warnings Sooner
Most of the advanced military nations have some kind of Airborne Early Warning & Control systems (AEW&C). The widening use of gallium nitride allowing higher voltage is leading to more efficient radars.
Coastal Watchkeepers
Unmanned systems are making the monitoring of coastal borders a less labour intensive.
Anti-Missile Defence Analysis: Part 1
With US President Trump due to begin talks with North Korea’s President Kim Jong-un over denuclearisation, Asian Military Review presents two perspectives on anti-tactical and anti-ballistic missile systems.