Thursday 27 August 2015

Sukhoi PAK-FA : Ivan's Badass Stealth Fighter


The Sukhoi PAK-FA / T-50





The Sukhoi PAK-FA is destined to become Russia's first operational stealth fighter. Photo : United Aircraft Corporation



The PAK-FA ( Russian : Perspektivny Aviatsionny Kompleks Frontovoy Aviatsii, literally "Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation") is Russia's next generation multi-role stealth fighter. It is designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, the same company that also produced the extremely successful Su-27 / Su-30 / Su-35 Flanker family of aircraft. The prototype is given the designation T-50, but the final production type will likely have a different designation, perhaps Su-50. Already, some websites have nick named it the Firefox.

Its early developmental history is not well documented in open sources due to the extreme secrecy common in military projects of this nature. The Soviets probably conceptualized the need for a fifth generation fighter around the time of the initial deployment of its fourth generation predecessor, the Su-27 Flanker, in the early 1980s. However, the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union meant that the early efforts were fraught with difficulties and delays. Even designs in the early flight testing stage like the Mikoyan Project 1.44 MFI ( Multirole Frontline Fighter ) programme were eventually cancelled due to costs overruns. A new next-generation fighter project, the PAK-FA, was subsequently initiated. A competition took place in 2001 between the design houses of Sukhoi, Yakovlev and Mikoyan where Sukhoi emerged victorious and was chosen to lead the design of the new aircraft. After more competitions in 2003, various Russian institutes with long and unpronounceable names were selected to develop the PAK-FA's avionics suite. NPO Saturn would be the lead contractor for the engines. The Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association ( NAPO ) and Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association ( KnAAPO ) were both appointed the aircraft manufacturers. See what I mean?

By 2007, Russian news agencies reported that the PAK-FA programme's developmental phase had concluded and the construction of the first prototype for flight testing would begin. That same year, Russia and India agreed to co-operate and jointly develop India's fifth generation fighter aircraft project ( FGFA ) which will largely be based on the PAK-FA design but adapted for the unique needs of the Indian Air Force. After repeated delays due to unspecified technical issues, the PAK-FA's maiden flight finally took place on 29th Jan 2010.

From an initial single prototype, the Russian test fleet now has five and there are plans to build another four before the end of 2015. Initial production has been targeted for 2016 and a total of twelve aircrafts will be built for the Russian Air Force for a start.



First Flight of the Sukhoi PAK-FA on 29th Jan 2010. Photo : Sukhoi



First Flight of the Sukhoi PAK-FA Photo : Sukhoi



Test Pilot Sergey Bogdan and the then United Aircraft Corporation President Mikhail Pogosyan after successful maiden flight of the PAK-FA on 29th Jan 2010. Photo : Sukhoi

The Rapidly Diminishing Technological Gap


The emergence of the PAK-FA is significant as it draws to an end the more than three decade long American monopoly on the design of stealth or Very Low Observable ( VLO ) aircraft. Beginning even before the first flight of the Lockheed F-117A Night Hawk stealth attack fighter in 1981, America had lead and dominated the field of stealth design and technology. The F-117A became operational in 1983 and had a distinguished combat history during the First Gulf War in 1991, vindicating the billions of dollars spent in acquiring this new technology. By 1997, the USAF added to its ranks the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber followed by the fielding of the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor stealth fighter in 2005. The latest US-lead multi-national effort to produce the next generation stealth fighter is the ongoing Joint Strike Fighter ( JSF ) programme, a.k.a. the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

Slowly but surely, stealth technology had become a must have for anyone who can afford it. Apart from Russia, China has also been aggressively researching on stealth aircraft and has two different stealth fighters currently being flight tested, the Chengdu J-20 and the Shenyang J-31. Japan has its own stealth fighter programme in the form of the Mitsubishi ATD-X ( Advanced Technology Demonstrator - X ) due for flight testing this year. So does South Korea, who's Korean Aerospace Industries is developing the somewhat stealthy next generation fighter the KF-X.

Stealth In A Nutshell

Stealth technology refers to the application of scientific principles and techniques to render an object less detectable by an observer. The key word here is less detectable, not invisible, as many a lay person might mistakenly think. When designing aircrafts, aeronautical engineers are particularly concerned with the visibility of the aircraft in the radio frequency segment of the electromagnetic spectrum, that is to say, the detection by radar.



It is a fallacy to state that stealth fighters are invisible to radar as this article by Sputnik News Agency did.


There are of course other ways that an aircraft can be detected, especially if it is in fairly close proximity to the observer, like the Mark I human eyeball utilising the visible light spectrum, perhaps enhanced by optical aids like binoculars. Heat produced by the aircraft's engines and heat generated by the fuselage due to air resistance can be detectable by thermal sensors. Last but not least, the sound of the jet engines can also give away the presence of an aircraft. However, the use of radar remains the most practical and efficient way of detecting aircrafts, especially the non-stealthy variety, at long range.

To reduce the radar signature of an aircraft, the designers will shape the airframe such that incoming radar waves can be scattered away from the direction of the transmitting device thereby reducing the intensity of the returning / reflected pulse. They can also use composites to replace some of the metallic surfaces of the aircraft and that too helps. Finally, coating the reflecting surfaces with radar absorbing material ( RAM ) is another essential technique used by the engineers.



PAK-FA In Detail


The PAK-FA is a single seat, twin-engine multi-role stealth fighter with a design that is so advance that when operational, will likely render all NATO 4th generation legacy fighters and even the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ( JSF ) obsolete and irrelevant. Only the F-22A Raptor stands a remote chance of achieving parity with the PAK-FA in beyond-visual-range ( BVR ) and within-visual-range ( WVR ) air combat. Like the F-22, the PAK-FA carries with it all the hallmarks of a fifth generation fighter, namely stealth, supersonic cruise, thrust vectoring, highly integrated avionics and a powerful suite of active and passive sensors. Add to that unmatched agility, class-leading combat endurance, short take-off and landing ( STOL ) capability, all lacking in the F-22, and you can easily understand why the PAK-FA is such a badass. The ignorant might have dubbed it the Raptor-ski or the F-22-ski but the PAK-FA is not an imitation copy of the F-22. The era where Soviet / Russian technology lags behind those of the West by one to two decades is largely over. Nowadays it is more likely the West is trying desperately to keep up with Russian innovations. Let's examine these 5th generation attributes one by one.



PAK-FA Infographic. Source : Sputnik


Stealth



The radar cross section ( RCS ) is a measure of how detectable an object is with radar. The bigger the RCS, the easier the detection. Its unit of measure is in square meters ( m² ) or decibels relative to one square meter  ( dBsm ). Depending on its shape, an object can have different RCS when illuminated from different directions. The RCS can also vary based on the illuminating frequency of the radar. In air combat, the frontal RCS of an aircraft is the most relevant for obvious reasons. The table below compares the RCS ( frontal by default ) of different aircrafts and objects in the X-Band :


Object
RCS in m²
RCS in dBsm
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
100
20
Sukhoi Su-35 Super Flanker
2
3
Human
1
0
Dassault  Rafale
1
0
Tomahawk SLCM
0.5
-3
Bird
0.01
-20
Sukhoi PAK-FA
0.01
-20
Lockheed Martin F-35 Side/Rear
0.01
-20
Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk
0.003
-25
Lockheed Martin F-35 Frontal
0.001
-30
Insect
0.001
-30
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
0.0001
-40
Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor
0.0001
-40
Boeing X-45 UCAV
?
?


The PAK-FA is thought to have an all-aspect RCS of 0.01m² or -20dBsm. These are merely analytical estimates based on publicly available images of the prototype which may differ from the final production version. It is also worth noting that the prototypes may not necessary have the full VLO treatment like RAM coatings which is not needed when performing non-stealth related tests like weapons integration and may lead to falsely optimistic conclusions by Western defense analysts.

It would seem at first glance that the PAK-FA is less stealthy compared with the F-22 and the F-35 but in reality, the Russian designers gave up some stealth in exchange for aerodynamic agility. At -20dBsm, the PAK-FA is still several magnitudes more stealthy than legacy 4th and 4++ generation fighters like the Rafale or the US Teen-series fighters. It will probably be stealthy enough to delay detection by advanced AESA radars like the F-22's APG-77 until the enemy fighter is within its BVR missile range.

Also, unlike the F-35 where the -30dBsm RCS holds true only for the frontal aspect ( the rear and profile RCS is much higher due to less radar shielding to save costs ), the RCS of the PAK-FA is more or les the same when viewed from all angles ( all-aspect ). So less stealthy than the F-22 but enough to pose a tough challenge for its opponents.


Supersonic Cruise



Supersonic cruise ( sometimes called supercruise ) refers to the ability of an aircraft to sustain supersonic speeds for long durations without the need to engage its afterburners. Afterburners can increase the jet engine's power output tremendously but at the expense of huge fuel consumption and an increase in infra-red signature. The ability to supercruise meant ingress and egress from the area of operation can be achieved in a shorter time. Supercruise can also extend the maximum range of guided and unguided munitions and missiles by virtue of a higher initial velocity when released from the aircraft. Finally, supercruising allows the aircraft to launch ramjet powered missiles without the need for a powerful booster to first bring the missile to supersonic speeds for the ignition of the ramjet engine, making the missile launch stealthier, less detectable by the enemy's IRST.



The AL-31F 117S afterburning turbofans on the PAK-FA. Photo : NPO Saturn


The PAK-FA prototypes currently on flight tests are capable of supersonic cruise thanks to their NPO Saturn AL-41F1S ( a.k.a. Al-31F 117S ) afterburning turbofan engines with variable axisymmetric vectoring nozzles which also powers the Sukhoi Su-35S advanced Flanker. Each is capable of producing 8800 kgf of dry thrust and 14000 kgf of full afterburning thrust. Engine life is rated at 4000 hours. This engine is just a reduced risk, interim solution for the PAK-FA while an even more advanced and powerful engine is being developed. Reports have indicated that a Mach 1.5 or higher sustained speed is possible.
 



The Saturn AL-31F 117S afterburning turbofan that powers the Su-35S Super Flanker and the PAK-FA prototypes. Source : NPO Saturn



Thrust Vectoring



Thrust vectoring or thrust vector control ( TVC ), is the ability of an aircraft or missile to manipulate the direction of the thrust from its engine or motor to effect a change in its flight path. This can be achieved by means of a steerable nozzle or a movable vane. The AL-31F 117S engine has a TVC capability of ±15° in the vertical plane and ±8° in the horizontal plane at a rate of 60°/sec. By combining the vertical and horizontal nozzle movements, the pitch, yaw and roll of the aircraft can be influenced and thus the PAK-FA is said to have 3D TVC.

Thrust vectoring is obviously a great advantage in dog fights as it allows the fighter to turn faster and tighter, contributing towards better agility and maneuverability, both important attributes for survival.

For aircraft on stealth penetration missions, another advantage is that 3D TVC can be used for primary pitch, yaw and roll control, in essence bypassing the conventional flight controls that require movements of the aerodynamic control surfaces like ailerons. This will ensure that the low RCS of the stealth aircraft is not compromised by movements of the control surfaces.




The thrust vectoring nozzle of the AL-31F 117S engine on a Su-35S Super Flanker at the Paris Airshow 2013. This same engine powers the PAK-FA prototypes. Source : Wikipedia

Highly Integrated Avionics



The PAK-FA has a digital glass cockpit similar to the layout in the Su-35S comprising of two large 38cm multifunctional LCD displays and three smaller control panel displays. The cockpit has a wide angle Head-Up Display ( HUD ) and the pilot wears a new NSTsI-V helmet mounted sight and display for the ZSh-10 helmet. Helmet mounted sights ( HMS ) allow for a rapid means to cue late generation heat seeking missiles with high off-boresight capabilities to achieve missile lock and missile firing with just the look from the pilot's eyes. They can also display flight information on the inside of the helmet visor so that the data is always in view, no matter where the head is turned towards.

The primary controls are a joystick and a couple of throttles, inevitably with Hands On Throttle-And -Stick ( HOTAS ) infusion which together with HUD and HMS help to increase the pilot's all important situational awareness by reducing the need to look at the cockpit panel displays.

The aircraft has a fully digitalized quadruple redundant advanced flight control system which together with the 3D thrust vectoring engines and all moving vertical and horizontal stabilisers allow for extreme agility.

The issue of datalinks is harder to tackle as there is not much revealed on the PAK-FA's bi-directional data transfer capabilities, the datalink terminals themselves, as well as the frequencies involved. It is nonetheless an important component in today's network centric warfare and the Russian designers already have an equivalent to NATO's JTIDS/MIDS Link 16 in the form of the TKS-2 datalink system of the Su-30MKK. The PAK-FA should have something similar if not better. So far, it is known to be equipped with the Polyot S111-N secure communications system.

The PAK-FA also carries the upgraded KRET BINS-SP2M inertial navigation system, that autonomously processes navigation and flight information, determines position and motion parameters in the absence of satellite navigation, and can integrate with GLONASS, Russia’s space-based satellite navigation system.


 Active and Passive Sensors


The PAK-FA has a plethora of advanced active and passive sensors.

Sh121 Multifunctional Integrated Radio Electronic System


If a fighter can only be as good as its radar, the PAK-FA has five. The main radar being nose mounted, two more cheek mounted ( forward fuselage ) side looking radars and two more at the leading edge extensions ( LEX ) of each wing. Collectively, they are known as the N036 Byelka radar system developed by the Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design ( NIIP ). The N036 radar is an integral part of the PAK-FA's Sh121 multifunctional integrated radio electronic system ( MIRES ) comprising of not only the several fore mentioned radars in different wave bands, but also an identification system ( IFF ), secure communications, electronic warfare ( EW ) and electronic intelligence ( ELINT ) components.

The main radar is the N036-1-01 active electronically scanned array ( AESA ) radar with more than 1500 transmitter/receiver ( T/R ) modules. It is a multimode radar for both air and surface targets that operates in the X-Band. The maximum detection range for this radar is said to be 400km. It can track up to 60 targets simultaneously and engage up to 16 at the same time.



The Tikhomirov NIIP N036-1-01 forward looking X-Band AESA radar which will be housed in the nose cone of the PAK-FA displayed at the MAKS 2009 airshow. Source : Wikipaedia 


The two side mounted secondary X-Band AESA radars are designated N036B-1-01 and have 358 T/R modules each. They are angled at a downward 15 degrees angle and is primarily for ground observation. These lateral arrays also augment the main forward looking radar by widening the angle of search.



The N036B-1-01 lateral array X-Band AESA radar which will be mounted on the forward fuselage of the PAK-FA displayed at MAKS 2013. Source : Wikipaedia


The most interesting would be the two wing mounted L-Band AESA radars designated N036L-1-01 which is unlike anything that the West has. The L-Band occupies the 1.0GHz to 2.0GHz region of the radio spectrum corresponding to wave lengths of between 15cm to 30cm. It is of a significantly lower frequency and therefore longer wavelengths compared with the X-Band which straddles the 8.0GHz to 12.0GHz region and have wavelengths between 2.5cm to 3.75cm. The L-Band is also a very congested band utilized by both military and civilian applications. For example, GPS and Glosnass navigation systems, military identification friend or foe ( IFF ) and its civilian analogue the secondary surveillance radar ( SSR ) systems, aircraft Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast ( ADS-B ), NATO's JTIDS/MIDS/Link-16 information distribution systems, GSM phones and radio astronomy. Add to that ground based long range search radars and airborne AWACS/AEW radars like the Israeli IAI / Elta EL/W-2085 multiband AESA used in the G550 ... you get the picture.

When fully functional and mature, this L-Band AESA radar has the potential to be a game changer in aerial warfare. Firstly it stands a better chance of detecting fighter-sized stealth aircraft compared with its X-Band counterparts as most low observable aircrafts have designs optimized for stealthiness in the X-Band. Many stealth shaping features such as jagged exhaust nozzles, faceted surfaces and specially shaped engine inlets become ineffective in the controlled scattering of incoming radar waves when their size approximates the wavelength of the inbound pulse. So a L-Band radar might just pick up a faint signature where the X-Band sees nothing. Larger VLO aircrafts like the B-2 bomber are more or less immune as they have structures larger than the typical 15cm to 30cm wavelength of the L-Band waves. At the same time the L-Band radar may also have a secondary function as a IFF transponder since the process utilizes a similar frequency band, thus reducing weight, volume and cooling requirements by saving on antennae and T/R module numbers. Thirdly, since the L-Band is utilized by so many applications, the L-Band radar may also be used to passively track and locate L-Band radar emissions from AWACS/AEW airborne radars, ground based search radars, emissions from JITDS/MIDS/Link-16 and hostile IFF / SSR emissions at long range. It can then be used to execute high powered active jamming on those individual L-Band sources, an electronic attack to blind hostile AWACS radars and sever command and communications datalinks. Broad area jamming of GPS / satnav receivers may also be possible rendering navigation more difficult for hostile forces and the accurate delivery of GPS guided munitions to those jammed areas quite impossible.



The N036L-1-01 L-Band AESA radar which will be mounted on the LEX of the wings of the PAK-FA displayed at MAKS 2009. Source : Wikipaedia


Also part of the Sh121 MIRES would be the KNIRTI L402 Himalaya electronic countermeasures ( ECM ) suite which uses the Byelka radar's arrays and its own arrays to detect, jam and defeat radiofrequency systems. One L402 is known to be mounted in the dorsal sting between the two engines.

101KS Atoll Electro-Optical Integrated System


If you think the MIRES is too much to handle, the PAK-FA has more up its sleeves. It will also be equipped with the 101KS Atoll Electro-Optical Integrated System which includes the 101KS-V Infra-red Search and Track System ( IRST ) mounted in front of the cockpit, the 101KS-N Targeting Pod mounted on the underside of the engine air intake, the 101KS-U ultra-violet sensitive Missile Approach Warning System ( MAWS ), and the 101KS-O Directional Infra-red Counter Measures ( DIRCM ) turret mounted on the upper fuselage.

The 101KS-V Infra-red Search And Track System ( IRST ) is designed to detect heat emissions from aircraft and missiles passively. IRST are essentially thermographic cameras that detect and track heat sources without emitting any radiation in the process ( passive ). Older generation IRST systems have been an integral part of all Russian 4th and 4++ generation fighters like the MiG-29 Fulcrum and the Su-35 Flanker as well as the Euro-canards like the Rafale and the Typhoon. The 101KS-V is also sometimes referred to as the OLS-50M which is an advanced IRST based on the revolutionary Quantum Well Imaging Photodetectors ( QWIP ) technology. These new generation IRST systems have the potential to operate in a much wider spectral bandwidth that includes the very longwave 15 micron band to detect very cool targets. They can also be made to operate simultaneously in several different bandwidths.



An IRST device mounted in front of the canopy on the starboard side of a PAK-FA prototype in a photo dated Sep 2013. The final production version may look different with stealth shaping and faceting. 



Frontal view of the PAK-FA with the ball-like IRST in front of the cockpit Feb 2014. Photo credit Roman Tregubov.


IRST may be the only effective means of detecting VLO aircrafts like the F-22 at long range since they are by virtue of their stealth, not highly visible on radars. All air frames, even stealthy designs, generate heat from air-resistance when the aircraft flies. The aircraft's engines also produce huge amounts of infra-red signature. In addition, IRST can also act as an early missile launch warning by detecting the heat from the enemy fighter's BVR missile launch.



The OLS-50M advanced IRST aka 101KS-V Optical Location Station displayed at the MAKS 2013 airshow. Source Wikipaedia



The 101KS-N is an advanced navigation and targeting system similar in function to the AN/AAQ28 Litening and AN/AAQ33 Sniper advanced targeting pods of the US military. To minimize the PAK-FA's RCS it would be integrated into the airframe and would not be hanging as an external pod like the Litening or Sniper ATP on a F-16. It gives the PAK-FA precision ground attack capabilities in all weather, day or night.

The 101KS-U is a missile approach warning system against infra-red homing missiles. MAWS using ultraviolet technology can operate under all weather conditions and will not be affected by solar clutter. They provide good directional information of the incoming missile for good decoy dispensing decision making, maneuvering and to cue the DIRCM system into action.



The 101KS-N targeting pod, 101KS-U UV sensitive MAWS and the N036UVS CPU for the AESA radar at MAKS 2013. Source Wikipaedia


DIRCM systems like the PAK-FA's 101KS-O work by directing a beam of energy towards the incoming heat seeking missile to confuse or destroy its tracking mechanism. In this case the directed energy takes the form of a laser beam. The 101KS-O turrets are located on the dorsal spine and the forward fuselage.

So in essence, the PAK-FA is overflowing with all sorts of sensors spanning a huge swathe of the electro-magnetic spectrum. Don't be surprised if the L-Band AESA radar could eves drop on your GSM phone signals too!


Extreme Agility



The PAK-FA's aerodynamic design is an evolution from the already agile Su-27/30/35 Flanker family of aircraft characterized by large wing areas and large control surfaces. This, combined with 3D thrust vectoring and an integrated digital flight control system and a powerful engine gives the PAK-FA unmatched maneuverability. The aircraft could recover from a controlled stall with ease, as demonstrated in may aerial displays. It could do crazy turns, even flat turns are possible. During air combat maneuvers, turning without banking would minimize the exposure of the usually problematic / unstealthy underfuselage to the enemy fighter.



The PAK-FA has been nicknamed Flatfish by some. Photo : UAC


Extreme agility may also allow the PAK-FA to achieve a kinematic defeat of incoming BVR missiles which may lack the ability to pull high terminal g ( meaning to turn tightly enough ) to home in for the kill. This will degrade the missile's probability of kill ( Pk ), requiring more missiles to be expanded to score a kill.

Although stealth fighters are optimized to fight stand-off battles with long range sensors and weapons, there may still be occasions when the BVR missiles have been exhausted or when the rules of engagement requires positive identification at WVR distances. When the fight gets close and dirty, that's when agility may mean the difference between survival or death.


Short Take-Off And Landing



The PAK-FA has been designed right from the start with STOL capabilities in mind. Ability to take-off or land on short airstrips is obviously an important tactical advantage, allowing the aircraft to use shorter, less conventional or even improvised runways like highways. STOL is also very important if you intend to have carrier based operations on platforms like the ski-jump equipped Admiral Kuznetsov. In fact, the PAK-FA has a robust undercarriage more akin to those of carrier-borne naval aircrafts. All it lacks is an arrestor hook. It would not be surprising if a navalised version, complete with folding wings, were to appear in the near future as a replacement for the Russian Navy's Mig-29K and Su-33.


Combat Endurance



The PAK-FA has a huge internal fuel capacity of something like 10000kg or 22700lbs. If you consider its fully loaded weight to be 29270kg as indicated by wikipaedia, it will yield a fuel fraction of 0.35, a respectable figure in line with an aircraft with supercruising capabilities. It gives the aircraft a maximum range of 3500km at subsonic speeds with internal fuel alone. With aerial refueling, the ferry range is extended to 5500km.


Armaments


Now, with all the important aircraft attributes discussed, we can examine the internal weapons bay and the assortment of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons that the PAK-FA was designed to carry.

In order to maintain stealth when carrying ordnance, the PAK-FA has two large main internal weapon bays arranged in tandem in the underfuselage measuring 4.6m long and 1.0m wide. It has another two smaller secondary weapon bays located at the wing root area lateral to the engine inlets.

The main internal bays can carry a total of eight air-to-air missiles (AAM ) or multitudes of air-to-surface weapons weighing up to 700kg or 1500lbs each. The secondary weapons bay are intended to carry one short range heat seeking missile each. Carrying all weapons internally preserves the aircraft's low RCS as well as the aerodynamic efficiency of the airframe, which translates to longer range, higher speeds and tighter turns.

For missions that do not require stealth, six external hardpoints are available for the attachment of heavy cruise missiles, bombs, AAMs and external fuel tanks.


 


The PAK-FA and its dazzling array of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons is
beautifully illustrated in this infographic by Anton Egorov.
You can download the wallpaper or buy this poster at his website infographicposter.com 



These are the concealable weapons, frequently with folding fins, that can fit into the weapon bays preserving stealth :

KTRV / Vympel K-77M

The K-77M is an improved version of the highly successful R-77 BVRAAM  ( NATO reporting name AA-12 Adder ). It has a dual-pulse motor and has a longer range compared to the R-77. It sports a AESA seeker and has conventional rear fins unlike the iconic lattice fins of the R-77. The K-77M and perhaps its ramjet powered cousin the K-77ME looks set to be the main medium range AAM for the PAK-FA.



T-50-053 prototype carrying the R-73 WVRAAM on the outer wing pylons and
R-77 BVRAAM on the inner wing pylons. Photo Credit : Antoly Burtsev


 
KTRV / Vympel K-74M2

The K-74M2 is an improved version of the R-74 which is in turn a modernized version of the highly maneuverable, high off-boresight capable heat seeking R-73 WVRAAM ( NATO reporting name AA-11 Archer ). When used in conjunction with a helmet mounted cueing system, the R-73 is decidedly deadly. The K-74M2 with its fully digital and re-programmable systems can be expected to be even deadlier. It has a reduced cross section to allow for fitting into the internal weapon bays of the PAK-FA.

KTRV / Vympel Izdeliye 810

The Izdeliye 810 is a very long range anti-ISR ( Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance ) AAM. Its targets includes AWACS, AEW/C, Elint, EW and other special purpose ISR platforms. There is no comparable missile of this class in the US/NATO arsenals. Another Russian VLRAAM, the Novator R-172 / K-172 / K-100 / RVV-L as it is variously known, has a range of 160nm ( 296km ) without booster and 215nm ( 398km ) with a booster pack. So it is probable that the Izdeliye 810 has a similar range. It is a huge missile but can still fit into the main weapon bay of the PAK-FA.

KTRV Kh-38ME

The Kh-38ME family of air launch short range modular missiles can be configured with different payloads and guidance methods against a wide variety of surface targets including ships, armour, hardened and soft targets. The warhead may weigh up to 250kg, about half the total weight of the missile, and may be either High Explosive - Fragmentation, Penetrating or Cluster. Guidance modes can be inertial and either active radar ( Kh-38MAE ), satellite ( Kh-38MKE ), semi-active laser ( Kh-38MLE ) or thermal imaging ( Kh-38MTE ). Maximum range is said to be 40km.



The Kh-38 multipurpose air to surface missile displayed at MAKS 2009. Source : Wikipaedia.



KTRV Kh-35-UE

The Kh-35UE is a modernized version of the Kh-35E tactical subsonic sea-skimming anti-ship guided missiles. Guidance is by inertial, satellite navigation, passive and active radar homing. Maximum range is 260km, double that of the Kh-35E. The penetrating high explosive fragmentation warhead weighs 145kg and is designed against vessels up to 5000 tonnes. It can be launched in all weather conditions, up to a sea state of 5 to 6.



The Kh-35U aka AS-20 Kayak air launched ASM has been nick named the Harpoonski.
Seen here with folding fins at MAKS 2009.
The Kh-35UE is an improved variant for the PAK-FA. Source : Wikipaedia



KTRV / Raduga Kh-58UShKE

The  Kh-58UShKE is the latest version of Russia's Kh-58 high-speed anti-radiation missile for use by the PAK-FA against ground based air defence radars operating in the frequency range between 1.2GHz and 11GHz ( L-Band to X-Band ). The missile is guided by a passive radar homing head and an autonomous control system. Maximum range is dependent on the aircraft's launch speed and altitude and can be as far as 245km. The missile's maximum flight speed is 4200km/h. It has a length of 4.19m and weighs 650kg.

The latest version revealed at MAKS 2015 in August has an added Imaging Infra-Red ( IIR ) seeker. The thermal imaging channel enables the missile to strike radars operating in pulse mode and turning off when the missile is in its terminal phase, a tactic effective only against older anti-radar missiles.



The Kh-58UShKE high-speed anti-radiation missile displayed at MAKS 2013.
Note folding fins. Source : Wikipaedia


KTRV KAB-500


The KAB ( Korrektiruyeskaya Aviatsionnaya Bomba - literally corrected air bomb ) family of guided munitions is Russia's equivalent of America's Paveway series and JDAM smart bombs. They come in a variety of seeker and guidance packages and can be used against surface targets like buildings and installations, runways, moored ships, bridges, hardened structures etc. The 500kg class is the biggest that can fit into the weapon bays of the PAK-FA.




A pair of KAB-500kr Electro-Optical Guided Bombs on the inner wing pylons
of the MiG-35 multirole fighter. Photo : RAC MiG




KAB-250

The KAB-250 is a 550lb smart bomb similar in concept to the American GBU-39 small diameter bomb. As it is smaller and lighter than its bigger sibling the 1100lb KAB-500, more can be carried by a single aircraft and more targets can be attacked in a single sortie.


These are the weapons too big or too heavy for the internal weapon bays of the PAK-FA but can be carried externally on underwing pylons :



T-50-054 Prototype carrying 2 x Kh-31 on inner wing pylon s and 2 x R77 on outer pylons.
 The outlines of the tandem main weapon bays are clearly seen
between the engines and air intake ducts in this photo taken
in May 2014. Photo Credit : Eshkina Koshka



KTRV / Zvezda Kh-31AD/PD

The Kh-31 is a family of medium range high speed air launched missiles that can be configured for use against different surface targets. They are ramjet powered. During launch, a solid fuel rocket booster accelerate the missile to Mach 1.8 before four air intakes open and the ramjet ignite.

The original Kh-31A is an anti-ship missile with the NATO reporting name of AS-17 Krypton. At Mach 3.5 it was Russia's first supersonic air launched ASM. The KH-31AD is an extended range version of the Kh-31A. It has a maximum range of 160km when released at 15000m at Mach 1.5. At 715kg ( 1573lbs ) and 5.34m long, it is just a tad too heavy and too long to fit into the PAK-FA's internal bays.

The Kh-31P is a medium range high speed anti-radiation missile for use against ground based and ship borne air defence radar systems. The Kh-31PD is an extended range version of the Kh-31P. It has a maximum range of 180 to 250km with launch parameters of 15000m and Mach 1.5. It has a inertial and wide-bandwidth range passive radar homing  guidance. External dimensions are the same as the Kh-31AD.


The Zvezda Kh-31A ASM, aka AS-17 Krypton at the MAKS 2003 air show. Source Wikipaedia


The BrahMos-NG

The BrahMos is a short range ( 290km ) ramjet powered supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia. Named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva Rivers, it was a design based on Russia's P-800 / 3M55 / SS-N-26 Oniks cruise missile. Three main variants exists, air launched, submarine launched and surface launched. The original air launched version is the BrahMos-A which is 8.5m long and weighs 2500kg. A monster of a missile which the Su-30MKI could carry three at a time. At a speed of Mach 3.0, the BrahMos is said to be the world's fastest cruise missile. It can be used for ground attack or in an anti-ship role. A hypersonic version known as BrahMos II capable of Mach 7.0 is currently in development. A smaller and lighter version with a length of about 6m and weighing 1400 to 1600kg with a warhead of 300kg has also been developed. Initially known as the BrahMos-M ( M for mini ), it is now called the BrahMos-NG ( NG for next generation ). The Su-30MKI can ( barely ) carry a full load of five BrahMos-NG. The PAK-FA probably can manage at least four at the expense of everything else including range.



The BrahMos-A air launched supersonic cruise missile on display at MAKS 2009. Source Wikipaedia



Comparing the size of the BrahMos-A and the BrahMos-M.
The mini-BrahMos is now known as the BrahMos-NG. Source : Wikipaedia.


KTRV KAB-1500

The KAB-1500 series of guided munitions is the 1500kg big brother to the KAB-500 and KAB-250. At 3300lbs they are simply too heavy for the internal weapon bays and so have to be carried externally in a non-stealth manner.


9A1-4071K

The 9A1-4071K is a modernized version of the venerable GSh-30-1 30mm cannon with a rate of fire of 1500 rounds per minute. 150 rounds will be carried. The cannon is mounted internally. Guns are still relevant in this age of long range and ultra-long range missiles.


The PAK-FA In Summary


It is not difficult to understand that combining a stealthy, aerodynamically advanced fighter design with state-of-the-art avionics and an array of advanced weaponry would create an extremely potent air platform. The PAK-FA seemed to have achieved all of the above attributes in a developmental timeframe ( 2001 - 2015 ) that is reasonable while costs are kept manageable, unlike Lockheed Martin's bloated, inflationary, under performing and many times delayed Joint Strike Fighter programme which started at around the same time. It would be interesting to compare the PAK-FA with the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 JSF since they are all 5th generation stealth fighters built to counter each other but that would itself justify a separate full article. The PAK-FA surely deserves the accolade Ivan's Badass Stealth Fighter.



Comparing the T-50, F-22 and the J-20. The chart is slightly outdated.
There are now 5 T-50 prototypes flying and there are a total of 195 F-22 produced,
187 production models and 8 prototypes. Source : Ria Novosti

Production


The initial projected production numbers for the Russian Air Force was 250 PAK-FA. The Indian Air Force wanted 214 FGFA. However, the trade sanctions against Russia brought about by the US and EU nations because of Russia's involvement in the Ukrainian Crisis and the fall in oil prices in the past 2 years have seriously affected the Russian economy. Export revenues slumped, jittery investors took 150 billion dollars out of the country, real wages tumbled and inflation is at a high of 16.9%. The reserves of the Central Bank of Russia decreased by 30 billion dollars this year alone and the Rouble also lost about half its value against the Dollar by Jan 2015 before recovering somewhat and then plunging again, reaching a 10 year low of RUB 0.01405 to the Dollar in late August. And now the IMF thinks the Russian economy will shrink by 4% in 2015. All this economic woes meant that Russia could no longer afford to buy that many PAK-FAs. The numbers were slashed drastically to 55 aircrafts, but as the economy continued its freefall even that reduced ambition seemed to be beyond reach. So finally, poor Pootin decided that he really could only cough out enough money for a dozen PAK-FA for now. Really? That's just a single squadron!



USD per 1 RUB 10 year chart 2005 to 2015. Source XE.com



USD per 1 RUB 1 month chart 10th Aug to 9th Sep 2015.
Ten year historical lows at USD 0.01405 to RUB 1 on two days
24th Aug and 25th Aug 2015. Source XE.com


The Indians it seems are also have some problems digesting 214 FGFAs. Budgetary issues dictate that they cannot have both the Rafele and the FGFA at the same time and they have reduced the aircraft numbers down to 144 instead. They are also unhappy with the unwillingness of the Russians to share key aspects of the designs with them and the general progress of the FGFA project. There were even talks of Indian officials being treated with disrespect by their Russian counterparts. The latest reports in Aug 2015 indicated that the IAF will further reduce its FGFA requirements to just 65 aircrafts to form three squadrons of 18 aircrafts each with the balance being used for training and evaluation.



T-50-051 and T-50-052 in formation flight. Photo UAC


Future export prospects for the PAK-FA to other countries are also not looking too bright. Although the PAK-FA is cheaper to produce compared to the F-22 or F-35, it is still very expensive at USD 50 - 100 million a piece. Not many Russian-leaning countries can afford them in numbers that Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation would like to see. The poor state of the Russian economy meant that Russia can no longer provide its allies with generous military aid like the Soviet Union did during the Cold War. Whoever wants the PAK-FA jolly well pays the ongoing market rates out of their own pockets. Analysts think that in total, less than a thousand copies of the PAK-FA might eventually be produced for domestic and export, and even that might be an over optimistic estimate looking at current Russian and Indian numbers which totals 77. Gone are the glorious Soviet era of the MiG-21 Fishbed which sold 11496 airframes worldwide, not counting the Chinese imitations. Those good old days only exists in memory.




































 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday 20 August 2015

Malaysia's MiG-29N : Fulcrum Most Tenacious


Most Tenacious Fighter






Profile view of a RMAF MiG-29N in a photo taken in 2014. Source Wikipaedia.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force ( RMAF ) MiG-29N ( NATO reporting name Fulcrum ) has to be the most tenacious fighter in recent memory, not in a dog fight as most might imagine, turning Gs and doggedly pursuing the enemy fighter trying to get missile-lock, but in its uncanny ability to evade relegation to the scrapyard time and again. The Fulcrums were delivered in 1995. In 2009, the Malaysians announced that the MiGs were to be decommissioned in 2010, but it did not happen. The Fulcrums soldiered on and were given another five years till 2015. Well we are currently approaching 4Q2015 and the Fulcrums are still around! The multirole combat aircraft ( MRCA ) project to replace the MiGs had stalled, and there are talks about upgrading the fleet to extend their service life to 2020 and beyond!



Malaysia's Love Affair With Soviet / Russian Weapons


Way back in 1994, not long after the Cold War ended, Malaysia, then under the leadership of Prime Minister Mahathir, placed an order for 18 MiG-29N jet fighters from Russia. That purportedly was to fill " a glaring gap in our need for an air superiority fighter ", in the words of the then Minister for Defence Najib Razak ( now Prime Minister ). A gap, real or perceived, that was getting increasingly bigger as their tiny neighbour Singapore acquired several tranches of fairly advance F-16 fighters from America beginning from 1988.

It was a highly unusual and controversial move, since Malaysia had all along been accustomed to fielding weapon systems from the West and in particular from the United States, examples of which included the Northrop Grumman F-5E Tiger and the Douglas A-4PTM Skyhawk. Prior to 1991, the MiG-29 was only made available to countries that were part of the Soviet bloc or else had good ties with Moscow, like India and North Korea.

The MiG-29 was selected from a shortlist of fighter jets that included the Lockheed Martin F-16, the Boeing F-18, the Dassault Mirage 2000 and the Dassault Rafale. It was supposedly chosen mainly for its low flyaway cost, which analysts say can be one third to one half less than its American or European counterparts. The Malaysians also seemed to believe that the MiG-29 was the most capable and versatile fighter that was available to them at that point of time.

Another factor swinging to the MiG-29's favour was that Yeltsin was only too happy to barter the Russian jets for Malaysian commodities like palm oil and durians, thereby further reducing the amount of cold hard cash that Mahathir had to cough out for the deal. The Russians also promised fast delivery starting from 1995 with new builds and not refurbished or upgraded Soviet surpluses.

Despite warnings from critics that the MiG-29 could prove expensive to operate in the long run, Malaysia went ahead to equip its air force with the Fulcrums anyway. I am not certain if the top brass had any concept of total cost of ownership and of maintenance and service contracts, but lo and behold, the critics got it right and the MiGs did turn out to be expensive and difficult to maintain.

Cheap To Own, Expensive To Use


Part of the reason why the MiGs were expensive and difficult to maintain was that Russian equipment were generally not made to match the high standards of their western counterparts. They are generally simple to operate and rugged to allow for operations under austere conditions but are certainly not made to last. They are relatively cheap to produce in large quantities so if any were to break down, they can be easily replaced rather than repaired. According to Mark Bobbi of IHS, during the Cold War, the Soviet Union's massive defense spending resulted in and allowed for hugely wasteful procurement practices where by aircraft manufacturers such as Mikoyan Gurevich and Sukhoi would design so called " throwaway aircrafts ", expected to operate for ten years or so with little or no maintenance before they were scrapped and replaced with all new aircrafts. So if you are trying to get some Russian or legacy Soviet equipment repaired, be ready to face some real hurdles.

The quality of service and support from Russia is also simply not at the same level as those from Western companies like Boeing or Dassault. Apart from the language barrier, the work culture is entirely different. Business ethics may be non-existent, as the Russian supply chain is notoriously known to be the most inefficient and corrupt.

To make matters worse, the Malaysians themselves imposed restrictions as to who could supply parts and carry out maintenance works on their aircrafts. It seemed that only companies majority owned by indigenous people could qualify and they of course seized the opportunity to inflate prices, since there was little transparency and almost no competition. In the end, each Fulcrum would cost $5 million to service annually, and that's in US Dollars, not the Malaysian Riggit which in recent times had fallen to historical lows.

 

To Decommission Or Not To Decommission 


By 2009, barely 14 years after initial Fulcrum deliveries, the Malaysians have had enough of the maintenance nonsense and was actively looking forward to retire them. Two had already crashed, one in 1998 and the another in 2008. At the 2009 Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition ( LIMA 2009 ), then Minister for Defence Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had reportedly said that the ministry would phase out the MiG-29 in 2010 and replace it with a more capable multirole combat aircraft. It was estimated that USD 75 million could be saved annually by phasing out the MiGs and that the money could be better spent on servicing the other aircrafts in the inventory of the RMAF.

However, barely a year later, typical of the flip-flop decision making process of Malaysian politicians, the very same Minister announced that the RMAF would continue to fly 10 out of the 16 remaining Fulcrums until 2015. This is despite the fact that, in his words, the MiGs and their weapon systems had gone past their expected operational lifespan of 10 years. So the most flyable ones would be selected and the operational tempo would be reduced to allow them to last until 2015.

In the mean time, Malaysia had initiated a MRCA competition for 18 aircrafts with another 18 as option and eventually shortlisted the French Rafale, the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen, European Typhoon and the American F/A-18 Super Hornet. The Russian Su-30 did not make it to the final listing for reasons not immediately apparent, since Malaysia already has 18 Su-30MKM advanced Flanker-H variants in operation from 2007.

The problem was, they did not give themselves a firm deadline for the final decision and have still not made up their minds. All that while, the fiscal and political situation deteriorated with falling oil and commodity prices, depreciation of the Ringgit, the withdrawal of popular food and petrol subsidies and the increase in consumption tax, making the decision to buy expensive fighter jets hard to swallow with voters. Negotiations with the aircraft manufacturers soon turned from an initial out right purchase to leasing options. Then, all of a sudden, on 1st Jun 2015 during the 57th anniversary ceremony of the RMAF at Kuantan ( where the MiG-29N squadron is based ) the air force chief announced that the MiG-29 may not be retired after all! They could be upgraded perhaps to the latest MiG-29 SMT standard or equivalent and fly till the year 2020 or beyond! The entire MiG-29 replacement programme is beginning to look like a circus complete with clowns which only the just cancelled Indian M-MRCA programme could beat.

The Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum


Before we go into details of the proposed upgrading of Malaysia's MiG-29N, let us first take a closer look at the original Cold War relic itself.



Serbian MiG-29 carrying R-60 ( AA-8 Aphid ) air-to-air missiles. Wikipedia



German Air Force MiG-29 on its last US Tour. USAF


The MiG-29 Fulcrum is a twin-engine, single seat fighter produced in land-based and carrier-capable variants. It was the product of the Soviet aircraft company Mikoyan Design Bureau which has a long history dating back to World War II. They produced many of the iconic post war fighter designs used by the Soviets and their affiliates, including the MiG-15 which was active during the Korean War, the MiG-17 and MiG-19 during the Vietnam War, and the MiG-21 during the Middle-Eastern Wars.

It was conceptualized in the seventies as an air superiority fighter in response to the emergence of the new American " Teen Series " fighters, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 ( Now Boeing ) and the General Dynamics F-16 ( Now Lockheed Martin ).



The uninspiring MiG-17 restored with Polish Air Force markings. Wikipedia


While their earlier designs were esthetically uninspiring and probably aerodynamically poor - the MiG-15 and 17 do resemble flying cylinders with wings stuck onto them and the cockpit added as an after thought -  the MiG-29 is rather different and much more elegant in shape and form. For the first time ever, the Soviet design is actually streamlined and beautiful and doesn't hurt the eyes to look at. When western intelligence first saw the pictures of the MiG-29 in 1977 around the time of its first flight, they realized that the Soviets had finally caught up in aeronautical technology and that they might be looking at a formidable fighter.



Peruvian MiG-29 in a near vertical climb. Source RAC MiG


Introduced into service with the Soviets in 1983, it wasn't until 1986 that the MiG-29 was first publicly seen in the West when it was displayed in Finland. Then, the Soviets were trying to sell it to the Finns. It subsequently went on display in 1988 at the Farnborough Airshow and even conducted flying displays at the 1989 Paris Airshow. Here are some of the vital statistics of the baseline Fulcrum :

Length                                 :  17.37m
Wingspan                            : 11.40m
Empty Weight                     : 11000kg
Maximum Takeoff Weight : 20000kg
Engines                               : 2 x Klimov RD-33 Afterburning Turbofans rated at 8300Kgf each
Fuel Capacity                     : 3500kg Internal. Additional 900kg in Centreline Drop Tank.
Maximum Speed                : Mach 2.25 or 2400km/h at altitude
Range                                 : 1430km with max internal fuel
Combat Radius                  : 185 to 278km ( 100 - 150 nautical miles )
Service Ceiling                  : 18013m ( 59100 ft )
Maximum G-Load             : 9g ( limited to 4g with centerline fuel tank until empty )
Guns                                  : 1 x 30mm GSh-30-1 cannon with 100 to 150 rounds.
Hard Points                        : 6 x under-wing pylons, 1 x centerline under fuselage
Weapons                            : Mix of short range and medium range air-to-air missiles.
                                             including the AA-8 Aphid, AA-10 Alamo and AA-11 Archer
                                             Limited ground attack capability with bombs and rockets.
Avionics                            : Phazotron N019 Radar
                                            Laser Range Finder
                                            Infra-red Search and Track sensor
                                            Helmet mounted target designator
                                           
Secrets of the Fulcrum began to unravel when the German Air Force inherited East Germany's 24 early model MiG-29 upon reunification in 1990. They were almost brand new, having been delivered in 1988 and 1989, and were quickly made NATO-compatible and integrated into the Luftwaffe. Before long, NATO fast jet pilots were conducting dissimilar air combat training ( DACT ) with the Fulcrums, pitting it against F-16s and F-15s. From 1996 some USAF pilots even got to learn to fly the Fulcrum in exchange programmes with the Luftwaffe.



A Luftwaffe MiG-29 firing a AA-10 Alamo missile at a QF-4 drone. Source : Wikipedia
 
 
In addition, the US Government also bought 21 nuclear-capable MiG-29 fighter jets from Moldova in 1997 mainly to prevent them from being sold to Iran. They were purchased under the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program ( a.k.a. the Nunn-Lugar program ) aimed at reducing, controlling and eliminating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction from the former Soviet Union. The MiGs were dismantled and shipped in crates to Wright-Patterson Air Base, Ohio, where Air Force officials would study the aircraft's capabilities and ways to counter them. These are some of the things they have learnt about the Fulcrum.

It has an incredible turn rate and is extremely agile in a dogfight, more than a match for similar 4th generation American fighters like the F-16 and the F-15.

It is extremely lethal at close range where the use of the helmet-mounted sight with the heat-seeking air-to-air AA-11 Archer missile enables firing at up to 45 degrees off-boresight. This capability was remarkable because the US only managed to catch up in 2003 when the all-aspect AIM-9X Sidewider missile ( said to have a 90 degree off-boresight capability ) and the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System ( JHMCS ) was pressed into service.

The MiG-29 was found to be lacking good avionics with a sub-par fire-control radar, poorly developed Head-Up Display and a knob and switch congested cockpit. All these eventually contributed to limited situational awareness for the pilot. As a result, the Fulcrum pilot has little autonomy and is highly dependent on ground based intercept controllers to vector them during engagements.

The Fulcrums have limited fuel capacity, carrying 3500kg internally and another 900kg in a centerline external tank, no inflight refuelling probe and two thirsty RD-33 engines to feed. This translates to a very small combat radius. According a former Luftwaffe commanding officer of the MiG-29 squadron, the Fulcrum has a combat radius of about 100 to 150 nautical miles.

So in essence, the early export versions of the MiG-29 are of  not much use apart from intercepting aircrafts that were near its base.


RMAF's MiG-29N





A pair of Royal Malaysian Air Force MiG-29N Fulcrum from the
now defunct 17 Squadron in close formation.
 Note the aerial refueling probe below the canopy. Source : RAC MiG




Malaysia's Fulcrums are designated the MiG-29N and the MiG-29NUB for the two-seater trainer version. They have the baseline Fulcrum-A configurations but had received some upgrade work in 1999 to enhance their fire control radars and allow them to have beyond visual range ( BVR ) missile capabilities. In particular, we are talking about equipping the Fulcrums with the Vympel RVV-AE missile, a.k.a. the Vympel R-77 or AA-12 Adder medium range air-to-air missile. It was a serious game changer at that time as it introduced a new capability to the region. None of the South East Asian air forces had BVR missiles at that time and the United States was reluctant to sell it to anyone least it triggers off an arms race. But Malaysia had to do it first, and the floodgates were opened. Today, almost every regional air force has BVR capabilities. The F-16 and F-15 fighters of the Republic of Singapore Air Force are equipped with the AIM-120C5 and C7 variants. Even RMAF's F/A-18D Hornets have the AIM-120C5.


The Vympel R-77 BVRAAM aka AA-12 Adder, nick named AMRAAMski
by Western journalists seen hare on display at MAKS 2009 in Moscow. Photo : Wikipedia


Another important part of the upgrade was the addition of a retractable aerial refueling probe on the port side just below the canopy. This can significantly increase the combat radius of the Fulcrum when paired with RMAF's KC-130 tanker. I am not sure if the MiG-29N can buddy refuel each other like what you see below, but getting an aircraft with low fuel capacity to refuel another one with an equally low fuel capacity is probably not the smartest idea except during an emergency.


A Russian two-seater carrier-borne MiG-29KUB buddy-refueling an
Indian MiG-29UPG serial number KBU-3123.
Note the prominent dorsal hump behind the canopy not
seen in the baseline Fulcrum. Source : RAC MiG

A quick calculation based on the internal fuel capacity of 3500kg and a gross takeoff weight of 18000kg would yield a fuel-fraction of just 0.194. And I thought the F/A-18 Hornet was bad at 0.23. The norm is between 0.30 to 0.35. No wonder we rarely see operational Fulcrums flying without their underbelly tanks and sometimes even under-wing tanks.

Initially equipping two squadrons, 17 and 19 at Sultan Ahmad Shah Air Base in Kuantan on the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia, all assets are now merged under the banner of 19 Squadron, the Cobras. That made sense as the RMAF is estimated to have only about 10 flyable Fulcrums currently, out of the initial 18 procured in 1995.

Proposed Upgrading of The MiG-29N


So far it has been established that the MiG-29 with its many short comings is far from being the most capable 4th generation fighter jet that money can buy. It is inferior in almost every aspect when compared to its bigger cousin the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker. As a result it did not enjoy as much success as its designers at Mikoyan had hoped for, both domestically as well as internationally. Only a total of about 1600 have been produced. Many of the earlier MiG-29 variants are in urgent need for upgrades to enable them to extend their service life and RAC MiG ( Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG, sometimes also called RSK MiG, the latestest incarnation of the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau ) is doing a roaring business upgrading those old airframes for Russia and its allies. The MiG-29SMT upgrade for the Russian Air Force converts the baseline Fulcrum into a MRCA by having new radars with air-to-ground capabilities and also comes with improved cockpit displays and ergonomics like HOTAS, digital fly-by-wire controls, engines with higher thrust ratings, conformal fuel tank and aerial refueling probe. India is doing the same to its Fulcrums with the MiG-29UPG variant by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ( HAL ). In other words, it gives the early generation Fulcrum what it should have had but didn't have.


The MiG-29SMT is a multi-role combat aircraft with air-to-air
and air-to-ground capabilities seen here carrying the AA-12 Adder
and the KAB-500Kr Electro-Optical Guided Bomb. Photo : RAC MiG


The same Russian MiG-29SMT from a different view.
The distinctive dorsal hump is difficult to miss. Photo : RAC MiG



 Yet another view of the MiG-29SMT. Photo : RAC MiG



Meanwhile at the LIMA 2015 exhibition, the CEO of Malaysia's Aerospace Technology Systems Corp. (ATSC) Mohd Fadzar Suhada announced that they have an upgrade solution for his country's ageing MiG-29Ns. ATSC was formed in 1994 as part of the original MiG-29N deal with Russia. Its original role was to help in the servicing and maintenance of the Fulcrums but have since been involved with servicing the Su-30MKM Flankers as well. It is a joint venture which is 70% owned by Malaysia and 30% by Russian interests.

The proposed MiG-29N upgrade programme was launched in conjunction with RAC MiG of Russia, the original equipment manufacturer, and is very similar to India's ongoing MiG-29UPG programme meaning it is less risky as it has a proven blueprint to follow. The first MiG-29UPG upgraded in India had just been flight-tested in Feb 2015 and a total of 62 Fulcrums are being upgraded by HAL with the help of RAC MiG. Photos of earlier batches being upgraded in Russia in 2011 can be seen below.




The Indian Air Force MiG-29UPG serial number KUB-3301 being put through its paces halfway through its upgrade at Zhokovsky Air Field, Ramenskoye, Russia. You can see where the cut had been made to create the dorsal hump behind the canopy. It has yet to be painted over. The additional space can accommodate a conformal fuel tank or possibly an ECM suite. The UPG upgrade includes the new Zhuk-M2E radar, new avionics, a OLS-UEM IRST sensor with the laser, thermal-imaging and television capabilities, as well as new enhanced RD-33 series 3 turbojet engines. Photo : RAC MiG



A closer look at the Indian Air Force MiG-29UPG serial number KUB3123 on the ground, the same aircraft in the buddy refueling photo above. The retractable aerial refueling probe is clearly seen here. Also seen is the AA-12 Adder BVRAAM on the under-wing pylon. Photo RAC MiG 


He claimed that the upgrade programme was not an interim solution until the MRCA came along but rather a medium to long term solution to Malaysia's fighter requirements, delivering what the RMAF needed at 20% the cost of buying new.

The upgraded Fulcrums would be known as the MiG-29NM where M stands for Modernized or Modernizirovannyi, depending on which part of the world you come from. They will incorporate the Phazotron NIIR Zhuk-ME FGM-229 slotted phased-array fire control radar that will provide an air-to-ground capability not available on the original aircraft, which like mentioned before are optimized for air defense. The weapons systems and the pylons will be upgraded enabling the MiG-29NM to carry the full range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons available to Malaysia's Su-30MKM Flankers. The avionics system improvements will include a night vision goggle-compatible digital cockpit, with two color multifunction displays and hands-on-throttle-and-stick ( HOTAS ) functionality. The existing Klimov RD-33 Series 3 engines of the MiG-29N will remain but a conformal fuel tank will be added to the dorsal spine of the aircraft, which together with an underbelly external tank can increase the range by 30%.

While the original Soviet MiG-29 Fulcrums are said to have a service life of 2500 flight hours, it seemed that Malaysia's MiG-29N have a slightly better life span of 4000 hours, but still far short of the F-16 Block 40/42 airframe which is rated at 8000 hours. ATSC have plans for structural upgrades to the Fulcrum's airframe as well to extend the service life to 6000 flight hours. According to the CEO, most of Malaysia's Fulcrums have only accumulated 1800 hours of flight time in the past 20 years of service and he believed that they can be supportable for the next twenty years. Now if that was true, then the Fulcrums would have had less than a hundred hours of flight per year for their entire service life of two decades. That is pretty low by anybody's standards. In comparison, the F-16s of the US Air National Guard ( ANG ) on average accumulate 210 flying hours annually, with some airframes doing up to 300 hours per year. Really, but what the heck did RMAF buy the Fulcrums for if they used them so frugally, just to form the Smokey Bandits acrobatic team for the LIMA exhibitions?



The extremely polluting Klimov RD-33 engines of the MiG-29 contributed to the name of RMAF's aerial acrobatic team. I'll be happier if only the Russkies could build them to EURO VI standard ... just kidding!


The Smokey Bandits at the Singapore Airshow 2012. Look at the exhaust
and how many trees the TUDM would have to plant after that. Wikicommons



While a small number of aircraft will be upgraded in Russia by RAC MiG, ATSC plans to upgrade the majority of Malaysia's MiG-29s locally at their MiG-29 Technical Centre at Kuantan. The first prototype can be completed in 18 months after contract confirmation. Even though it is just a proposal, the CEO claimed that the Air Force is receptive to the idea. So the MiG-29N may be hanging around for a little longer.


Who Would Benefit From The Modernised MiG-29N?


The most obvious would be the RMAF who would definitely appreciate the new air-to-ground capabilities of the upgraded MiG-29NM and the hopefully increased serviceability and availability rate of the refurbished Fulcrums. The ability to use and share all of the armaments of Su-30MKM is also a tactical as well as a logistical advantage. That being the case, the MiG-29NM should be able to conduct all kinds of missions from air-to-air interception, maritime interdiction, precision strike and suppression of enemy air defenses ( SEAD ) to  secondary missions like reconnaissance. With the funds for the MRCA project drying up, a revamped MiG-29 squadron could be all that the RMAF would get for a long time to come.

The USAF and other friendly foreign air forces like the RAAF would also continue to benefit from the chance to conduct dissimilar air combat training with a fairly advanced aircraft of Russian origin for many more years. They have been doing that for quite some time already in the Five Power Defence Arrangements ( FPDA ) Bersama Lima series of exercises and the Cope Taufan exercises.




Exercise Cope Taufan 2014 : A most bewildering assortment of aircrafts from the USAF and the RMAF flying over the Penang Bridge - F-15C of the Massachusetts ANG, MiG-29NUB, F/A-18D, Su-30MKM, Hawk 108 and the F-22A of the Hawaii ANG.  Photo : Wikipedia

The Malaysian aerospace industry also stands to benefit from the upgrade works as most of it will be done in-country, creating employment opportunities and stimulating the local economy. The technology transfer that is invariably part of the deal will also be an advantage to the Malaysians.

Of course the picture wouldn't be complete until it is mentioned that, knowing how Malaysia is being run, with corruption being endemic and commonplace, many individuals may potentially stand to benefit from the proposed upgrading of the MiG$. They could be government officials or military officers involved with the project, or else brokers or middleman, contractors and suppliers. Through kickbacks, unauthorized commissions and payments, inflated claims, cash and other forms of bribery, part of the allocated funds for the upgrade will invariably find its way into the pockets of these individuals. Don't believe me? Just look at Prime Minister cum Finance Minister Najib Razak ( the Defense Minister when the MiGs were bought ) and his 1MDB scandal involving USD700 million of "donations", purportedly from the Saudi Royal Family, deposited into his personal bank account. Everything else pales in comparison.

I cannot help but wonder if this is the real reason why the Malaysians wanted to upgrade the moribund MiG-29 and so many attempts to decommission the aircraft over the past few years have all failed, one way or another. Because there is money to be made, the Fulcrums get to live on. They are like the proverbial cat with nine lives. Perhaps Malaysia's MiG-29N should be renamed Kucing instead of Fulcrum. Kucing is Malay for cat. Long Live the Fulcrum. Banzai!


Wednesday 15 July 2015

Bigger, Meaner And Leaner : Singapore's Independence-Class Littoral Mission Vessel





RSS Independence in 2016. Photo : MINDEF




Smarter, Faster And Sharper?


The official MINDEF news release announcing the launch of the Republic of Singapore Navy's ( RSN ) first of eight littoral mission vessels ( LMV ) on the 3rd of July 2015 screamed : Smarter, Faster And Sharper : Singapore Navy Launches First Littoral Mission Vessel. Personally, I think Bigger, Meaner And Leaner might describe these new ships better. Read on to find out.




The Littoral Mission Vessel at a glance. Source : MINDEF





Littoral Mission Vessel



What's a littoral mission vessel? A littoral mission vessel or LMV is simply a large offshore patrol vessel ( OPV ) if you are more familiar with that term. As the name implies, they are supposed to operate in littoral environments, that is, shallow coastal waters not too far from the shore. They are also designed to be modular and configurable for different missions. The 8 LMVs planned are to replace 11 of the RSN's existing Fearless-class Patrol Vessels ( PV ) which have been in service since 1997.

Their primary mission is to ensure the maritime security of the Port of Singapore and the surrounding territorial waters, ultimately contributing towards the seaward defense of Singapore. They are the work horses of the Navy.




The RSN's early generation Patrol Craft was replaced by the
Patrol Vessels in 1997. The PV will in turn be replaced
by the LMV. Source : Republic of Singapore Navy


After holding a name-the-vessel contest earlier in the year, the RSN selected eight names that reflected the theme of Singapore's nationhood. These are also ideals that Singapore's pioneers and the founding Prime Minister, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, fought for, as well as the attributes that they exemplified. They will be named RSS Independence, RSS Sovereignty, RSS Unity, RSS Justice, RSS Indomitable, RSS Fortitude, RSS Dauntless, and RSS Fearless. Collectively, they are the Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessels.

The LMV is jointly designed by local ship builder Singapore Technologies Marine ( ST Marine ) and SAAB Kockums AB of Sweden, working closely with the Defense Science and Technology Agency ( DSTA ), taking into account the unique requirements of the RSN. Apart from submarines, Kockums is also famous for building Sweden's iconic Visby-class stealth corvettes and would no doubt have brought to the table their wealth of experience in the designing and building of low observability vessels.

The contract to build the LMVs was awarded to ST Marine in 2013. The ships are being constructed at ST Marine's Benoi Shipyard at the Jurong Industrial Area. According to MINDEF, the first LMV is scheduled to be delivered in 1Q2016 and all are expected to be fully operational by the year 2020, by which time the existing PV fleet would have reached the end of their operational life after being in service for more than 20 years.




Launch of the RSS Independence at ST Marine's Benoi shipyard
on 3rd July 2015. Source : RSN



RSS Independence was launched by Dr Ivy Lim, wife of the
Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen. Source : RSN


One look at the LMV's exterior, especially of the rounded composite mast, and you would have realised that stealth is an inherent part of the ship's design. There are also no funnels to discharge engine exhaust and emit infra-red signature. Stealth technology has found its way to almost every class of modern warships nowadays and the Navy would be foolish not to embrace it.

Not so immediately obvious is the fact that the LMV is also purpose designed around the theme of minimizing manpower requirements. In fact I could argue that the LMV owed its existence mainly to the lack of manpower within the RSN. Anything that can be automated would have been automated. The ship's sensor, weapons and systems are constructed to allow for easy accessibility and simple maintenance. The LMV's layout is also such that all the major command and control centres of the ship are integrated together at the same location at the bridge. This co-location of the Bridge ( command and navigation ), Combat Information Centre or CIC ( sensors and weapons ), the Machinery Control Room or MCR ( engineering ), is known as the Integrated Command Centre and it integrates and synergises the management of navigation, engineering and combat functions.

On the other hand, it could also mean that a hit at the bridge could wipe out the entire command of the ship. To realise how radical this integrated concept is, just take a look at RSN's Victory-class missile corvettes ( MCV ) which are a generation older. The CIC is actually located two decks below the bridge and the two centres are physically linked by a steep flight of spiral stairs. When the ship closes up for Action Station, the commanding officer is at the bridge while his deputy, the executive officer, is in the CIC. That way a single hit cannot take out all the senior command.




LMV sailing across a console displaying a digital map of Singapore :
a networked, everything integrated ship. Source : RSN





The LMV is marginally faster than the PV which has a
maximum speed of 22 knots. It has a helideck that can
accommodate a medium-lift helicopter including the S-70B
shown above. It can also deploy up to two RHIBs.





Superior suite of sensors : LMV superimposed on digital map of
Australia / Indo-Pacific. Could an up scaled version
be the Armidale-class replacement that the RAN is looking for?  Source : RSN


LMV Characteristics


Length             : 80m
Beam               : 12m
Draught           :  3m
Displacement  : 1250 tonnes
Speed              : In excess of 27 knots
Endurance       : 3500 nautical miles ( 14 days )
Complement   : 23 ( including 5 Officers )
Engines           : 4 x MTU 20V 4000 M93L diesel engines.
Configuration  : Combined Diesel and Diesel ( CODAD )

Sensors           :  Thales NS100 3D surveillance radar
                          Kelvin Hughes SharpEye Navigation Radar
                          Stelop Compass D Electro-Optic Director
                          Stelop 360 All-Round Surveillance System

Weapons        :  OTO Melara 76.2mm Super Rapide Main Gun
                         Rafael 25mm Tyhoon Remote Weapon Station
                         2 x OTO Melara 12.7mm Hitrole RWS
                         12 x MDBA VL-Mica
                         2 x LRAD Long Range Acoustic Device
                         2 x Water Cannon System

Others             : Helicopter Deck for one Medium Lift Helicopter
                         Launch and Recovery System for 2 x RHIBs
                         or Protector USV











MTU 20V 4000 M93L Diesel Engines



MTU has been providing diesel engines to power RSN ships for many years. The MCVs, PVs, FFGs are all powered by MTU diesels. RSN has now selected MTU's 20V 4000 M93L diesel engine for the LMVs.  This compact engine has 20 cylinders in V configuration. The cylinders have a bore of 170mm and a stroke of 190mm so each will have a displacement of 4.313 litres. Multiply that by 20 and you get the total displacement of 86.26 litres for each engine. Fuel consumption is said to be 1135.7 litres per hour and each engine weighs 15587 kg. The LMV will be equipped with four of these engines, known for their low consumption and long service life, with each unit producing 4300kW (5766bhp) at 2100 rpm. From the product data sheet " MTU Series 4000 diesel engines offer unrivalled power density in terms of volume-to power ratio and power-to-weight ratio. ". A good choice for a small vessel.




The MTU Series 4000 V20 Diesel displacing 86260 cc.
Four will power each LMV. Source : MTU



Thales NS100 3D Naval Air And Surface Surveillance Radar



The NS100 is Thales' new generation of 3D air and surface surveillance naval radar which combines state of the art S Band Active Electronically Scanned Array ( AESA ) antenna technology and dual axis multi-beam processing. This new concept enables simultaneous detection of a large variety of targets from fast jets to hovering helicopters to sea skimming missiles to high diving munitions to small UAVs, all in one single mode.

The NS100 can be integrated with other sensors like the Scout Mk3 FMCW Radar for LPI ( Low Probability of Intercept ) and dual band surface surveillance, IR camera for nearby situational awareness, AIS ( Automatic Identification System for ships ), ADS-B ( Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast for air traffic management ), and IFF ( Identification Friend or Foe ) interrogator and transponder. This creates a multi-sensor integrated solution saving space and also optimizes overall field of view when all sensors are positioned together topside.

The NS100 has an instrumented range of 200km. It is capable of 3D air surveillance and weapon support for active missiles, 2D surface surveillance, surface gun fire support, jammer surveillance and IFF interrogation support. It has a physical dimension of 3m by 3m. Its MTBCF ( mean time before critical failure ) is 3000 hours. A mean radar for a small ship.

 


The Thales NS100 3D radar. Source : Thales


 Kelvin Hughes SharpEye Navigation Radar



The SharpEye solid state radar system is a digital radar technology that is available in X and S Band frequencies. It is an affordable navigation and surface search pulse Doppler radar sensor offering high reliability ( solid state, no moving parts, no magnetron, low maintenance ), low cost of ownership, and improved detection ranges especially of small targets in clutter ( think inclement weather, high sea states ).


The Kelvin Hughes Sharpeye Navigation Radar's upmast transceiver. Source : Kelvin Hughes



Traditional radar in heavy rain : details lost in heavy clutter



SharpEye in heavy rain : minimal clutter


STELOP 360 All-Round Surveillance System and Compass D Electro-Optic Director



There is not much publicly available information regarding these STELOP products but I guess the 360 could be a all-weather day and night high resolution camera system. The Compass D could be an imagery system for target identification. STELOP is a subsidiary company of ST Engineering, a sister company of ST Marine.


 OTO Melara 76/62 Super Rapid Gun Mount 



The Italian made OTO Melara 76.2mm Super Rapid naval gun can be found on almost every major RSN surface combatant starting from the Victory-class missile corvettes in the eighties, with the trend continuing in the Fearless-class patrol vessels, the Endurance-class landing platform dock, the Formidable-class stealth frigates and now the LMVs. This light weight and space saving 62 calibre gun can be mounted on relatively small ships and has a maximum rate of fire of 120 rounds per minute. It can be used against surface as well as air threats, including missiles, up to a maximum range of 16km. The barrel can be elevated from -15° to +85°. Automatic loading is provided through a below deck revolving magazine which holds 80 rounds and rapid reloading is easily undertaken even during firing action by two ammunition handlers.




The OTO Melara 76/62 Super Rapide Gun Mount on the missile corvette RSS Valour circa 1999. Source Wikipedia


Rafael 25mm Typhoon RWS



The Rafael Typhoon is a light weight, stabilized, remotely controlled weapons station that can be mounted with various small and medium calibre guns, as well as missiles, grenade launchers and even decoys. In this case it is mated with a M242 Bushmaster 25mm chain gun. The on-mount electro-optical director has colour CCD for day operations, FLIR for night operations, and an eye-safe laser range finder. It has its own ballistic computer for calculating firing solutions and an automatic tracker. The entire mount weighs less than 1000kg and does not require deck penetration making it ideal for small vessels. One stern facing Typhoon RWS will be installed on the LMV. They will be used for force protection especially against asymmetrical threats like a swarm of fast boats. They are also found on the RSN's Endurance-class LPD and Formidable-class FFGs with two mounted on each ship.



The 25mm Typhoon RWS is also known in the USN as the
Mk38 Mod2 seen here on DDG-103 circa 2013.
Note the on-mount EO director. Source : US Navy.

OTO Melara 12.7mm Hitrole RWS



The OTO Melara 12.7mm Hitrole remotely controlled naval turret is rather similar to the Typhoon RWS except it has a smaller calibre. Hitrole is the acronym for Highly Integrated Turret, Remote, Overhead, Light, Electrical. It is gyro-stabilized. Two of these would be installed at the bridge-wing area, port and starboard. They would replace the traditional 4 x Chartered Industries of Singapore CIS 0.5in Heavy Machine Guns mounted all around the bridge-wing on the older RSN vessels.



The OTO Melara 12.7mm Hitrole Remote Controlled Naval Turret.
Source : OTO Melara

MBDA Missile Systems VL-MICA


The MBDA VL-Mica is a short range vertical launch surface to air missile for point and close-area defense. It offers all weather capability against a wide range of aerial threats including aircrafts, helicopters, missiles, precision guided munitions and smart bombs in a modular and compact setup. It also features autonomous guidance and extremely short reaction time and has multiple target capability for defense against saturation anti-ship attacks. The MICA missile is available with two different seekers - Infrared (IR) and Radio Frequency (RF), both highly resistant to countermeasures and decoys, ensuring a high hit probability. The VL-MICA will be deployed in a 12 cell vertical launch system ( VLS ) in the forward section of the LMV just aft of the OTO Melara main gun. They have never been previously deployed in the RSN and are far more capable than the Mistral missile found on the PVs and perhaps the Barak missile on the MCVs as well.




The MBDA VL-MICA at launch. Source : MBDA



The VL-MICA vertical launch system seen here in a 12 cell configuration.
Source : MBDA


VL-MICA missiles with heat seeking IR seeker ( top ) and
 radar guided RF seeker ( bottom ). MBDA


VL-MICA with IR seeker inside VLS. Source : MBDA


The LRAD 1000RX



LRAD Corporation has many different products for its clients from the ultra portable to the heavy weight for vessels and land installations. I must admit I am not certain if it is this particular model that the RSN has chosen for the LMV but the 1000RX resembles the shape of the LRAD seen in RSN's full scale bridge mockup.

The LRAD 1000RX is a long range acoustic hailing device. It projects sound in a focused and directional manner to standoff distances said to be up to 3000m. It broadcasts clear, authoritative voice commands and a whole range of eardrum busting warning tones to modify the behavior of potential threats and thus provide additional time to escalate the use of force if necessary.

It is rugged, simple to operate, has low power requirements and has an all-weather capability. It can be remotely controlled over an IP network and can be integrated with cameras and high intensity xenon lights. From the product brochures " As part of a layered communication and EOF ( escalation of force ) strategy, LRAD systems provide military personnel additional time and distance to distinguish between security threats and innocent civilians before employing lethal force ".

Two would be installed at the bridge wing.



The LRAD 1000RX mounted on a warship. Source : LRAD


Front view of the LRAD 1000RX with camera and xenon light. Source : LRAD


Rear view of the LRAD 1000RX with camera and xenon light. Source : LRAD



Water Cannons


The LMVs are also equipped with water cannons as part of their non-lethal arsenal. Two would be installed at the bridge wing next to the LRAD.


Lack Of Anti-Submarine Capability


A quick look at the sensors and weapon systems and you would have noticed that the LMV does not have a sonar system for submarine detection. Neither does it have any torpedo tubes, anti-submarine rockets or depth charges, the staple for any self-respecting anti-submarine platform. Of course this omission is intentional. The LMVs are not supposed to be ASW assets just as their predecessors, the Fearless-class PVs are currently solely used for coastal defense and maritime security operations only.

Of the original twelve PVs commissioned by the RSN, six are of the ASW variant with bow mounted sonar and torpedo launchers. They are known as the Anti-submarine Patrol Vessels or APVs. One of the APV, RSS Courageous, was badly damaged in a collision with a container ship in 2003 and was stricken from the navy list.

The remaining five APVs subsequently had their ASW equipment removed and for the past few years had been performing normal patrol duties with the other six non-ASW sister ships. This could be due to the fact that since 2005 the RSN had acquired a better ASW platform in the form of the Formidable-class frigates, and together with the Victory-class corvettes which are also capable ASW ships ( variable depth sonars ), they made the APVs redundant.  ( Note : the Victory-class seems to have also lost their ASW capabilities, after the Scan Eagle UAV upgrade )

At the same time, the threat of terrorism post 9/11 and the surge in piracy activities around the Straits of Melaka and surrounding Indonesian waters meant that there was and still is an increased need to step up maritime security operations in and around Singapore. That burden fell on the shoulders of the eleven APVs and PVs and the men and women of the 182 SQN and 189 SQN. These brave warriors reportedly spend up to a third of their time on sea duties away from the comforts of their home and loved ones. With the arrival of the new LMVs which are bigger and more sea worthy, at least the sailors can have more room and more comfort while on their routines.



Keeping Singapore Safe. The iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel
and Casino stand in the back ground. Source : Republic of Singapore Navy.
    
      

Missions and Modules



The LMVs are well equipped for routine territorial waters patrol duties but their size and endurance and the helicopter landing deck means that they can also be adapted to take on more demanding missions further afield with the appropriate mission module. For example, adding a containerized medical module for Humanitarian and Disaster Relief ( HADR ) missions is a no brainer. Other mission modules may include mine countermeasures module ( MCM ), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance module ( ISR ), oceanography and undersea surveillance module, and perhaps a special operations module. Needless to say, LMVs can also be called upon to perform the usual escort duties and provide naval gunfire support.


Littoral Mission Vessel vs Littoral Combat Ship



Though build along similar concepts of multi-mission adaptability for coastal operations, they are not to be confused with the US Navy's Littoral Combat Ship ( LCS ) which comes in two distinctive versions, the monohull Freedom-class ( LCS-1 ) and the trimaran Independence-class ( LCS-2 ). It is with LCS-2 that the most confusion may arise for the uninitiated as they are both known as " Independence-class " littoral something.




USS Freedom ( LCS-1 ) Littoral Combat Ship in transit off
Southern California in a USN Photo taken on 28th Apr 2015.



Potential name confusion : The Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship
USS Independence ( LCS-2 ) at RIMPAC 2014. USN Photo.


Bigger, Meaner and Leaner



Now you have a better idea of what the LMV is and what it is capable of :

Bigger : At 1250 tonnes and 80m, the LMV is a lot bigger than the PV which is only 55m in length and about 500 tonnes. Bigger means better sea keeping, better endurance, space for more weapon systems, space for bigger and more capable systems, more space for working and living, space for future upgrades ... and also more areas to clean before First Lieutenant rounds.

Meaner : The LMV has the same 76mm main gun as the PV, but everything else is superior. VL MICA instead of Mistral for air and missile defense, additional 25mm chain gun, remotely controlled instead of manually manned 12.7mm HMG, options for non-lethal response, better radar, better electro-optics sensors, capability to carry a medium-lift helicopter, UAV, USV and UUV, infusion of stealth technology ... the list goes on.

Leaner : The entire ship manned by just 23 men. The smaller PV needed 30 and a typical sea patrol involves 30 to 35 personnel. And under the multi-crew concept each PV has 2 sets of deployable crew. A WWII era destroyer escort of a similar tonnage would have required something like 15 officers and 200 enlisted men to operate. Until DSTA, DARPA or somebody finds a way to build a 1250 tonne USV or a squad of robotic sailors, 23 men is about as few as you get away with. Don't anyone forget the domestic before the First Lieutenant rounds. Some things just cannot be automated!


Food For Thought


The RSN's Patrol Vessels are currently less than 20 years old and could have been upgraded to extend their service life for another 10 years or more. The Singapore Armed Forces is known for its frugality and would not have replaced an old equipment until it has exhausted all upgrade options or when it has become economically unviable to continue using or maintaining that weapon system. The fact that these PVs are being replaced a little earlier than usual means there has to be other reasons behind that decision. Most probably it reflects the dire manpower situation within the Navy.

Declining birth rates have reduced the annual intake of conscripted personnel. At the same time career naval personnel are leaving the Navy for the private sector. Even for those who remain with the service, how many would voluntarily want to be in the PV squadron with their punishing patrolling routines? I would rather be with the frigates if I had the choice. There are simply too many PVs that require too many men ( and women ) to staff.

So RSN's solution is to use technology to overcome this shortage in manpower. Get rid of the PVs, replace them with fewer but bigger ships that each require less manpower resources to operate. Make the ships more appealing to work in and more comfortable to live in and hopefully that will make staff retention easier.

Fortunately, with regards to the shortage in manpower, new technology is not the only trick up the RSN's sleeves. After 48 years of existence, the Republic of Singapore Navy has a vast pool of reserve personnel to depend upon in times of crisis. They maintain their proficiency through annual recalls ( known as in-camp training ) that frequently involves a period of sea deployment on their respective vessels. Already the RSN has staffed an entire ship with reserve personnel. The missile corvette RSS Vigilance is a such an example.

This article is a tribute to the men and women of the Patrol Vessel Squadron of the Republic of Singapore Navy. They are the unsung heroes that have kept the waters of Singapore safe all these years.