Page 16 - Australian Defence Magazine November 2022

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NEWS REVIEW
INDUSTRY UPDATE
NOVEMBER 2022 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
BELOW: The diesel-electric attack submarine Jingei (Swift Whale).
LEFT: Japan is seeking three new variants, all using the Type 16 chassis.
REGIONAL OUTLOOK
Infantry Combat Vehicle and Motorised Mortar Vehicle variants.
The former is fitted with a turret mounting a 30mm autocannon and is said to have capacity for eight dismounts.
Japan is seeking three new variants using the Type 16 chassis under the Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle program, with a Reconnaissance Combat Vehicle also being developed. The ministry had awarded Mitsubishi a US$16.2 million contract in May 2020 to produce prototypes of each variant, with delivery originally planned for March 2022.
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is currently using the Type 16, which is armed with a 105mm main gun, with its rapid deployment brigades.
SOUTH KOREAN TYPE 214 SUBMARINE DEFECTS
The readiness of South Korea’s Type 214 diesel-electric attack submarines has been severely impacted by defects in its inverters, requiring them to be returned to Germany for repairs.
According to a report submitted by Shin Won-sik, one of the country’s parliamentarians, the Siemens-built inverters on seven of the Republic of Korea Navy’s nine submarines, which are known locally as the Son Won-il class, have been found to be defective.
The remaining submarines have had “functional” issues with the inverters, according to the report which goes on to state that the exact reason for the inverter problems have yet to be determined.
The inverters are part of the submarines’ propulsion system, with each boat having a module of 12 fitted. ■
MIKE YEO | MELBOURNE
JAPAN LAUNCHES NEW SUBMARINE
Japan has launched the third Taigei- class submarine, keeping up its pace of launching one such boat annually.
The diesel-electric attack submarine, named the Jingei (Swift Whale), was launched at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe facilities on October 12. The submarine is due to be commissioned into the Japan Maritime Self- Defense Force (JMSDF) in March 2024.
The Taigei-class is unique in being the first submarine class to be powered by lithium-ion batteries. Japan has pioneered work in the use of such batteries for usage in conventionally powered submarines.
The lead boat of the class is currently in service with the JMSDF, with the second submarine, the Hakugei (White Whale), due to be commissioned in March 2023.
TAIWAN, CHINA COMMISSION NEW AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS
China and Taiwan have both commissioned new amphibious ships, as the naval build up on both sides of the strait separating the rivals continue.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its third Type 075 Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) with a ceremony at the China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in early October, making it the third such ship to enter service.
The ship, named the Anhui, will join the PLAN’s East Sea Fleet and is roughly analogous to Australia’s Canberra-class LHDs. The Type 075 has seven deck spots for helicopter operations on its flight deck, which measures 237 metres long and displaces approximately 40,000 tons.
The LHDs also have a well deck for carrying conventionally powered or air- cushioned landing craft.
Meanwhile, Taiwan has commissioned its first Yu Shan-class Landing Platform Dock (LPD) in late September. The 153m (502 ft) design also has a well dock for launching landing craft or amphibious assault vehicles out of its stern, although its flight deck and hangar only has space for operating two helicopters.
The ship is relatively heavily armed however, with provision for carrying up to 16 Hsiung-Feng (Brave Wind) II anti-ship missiles or 32 Hai Chien (Sea Sword) surface- to-air missiles, underscoring the Republic of China Navy’s intentions of using these for missions beyond amphibious operations.
JAPAN’S NEW TYPE 16 AFV
Japan is conducting trials with new variants of wheeled armoured vehicles using the chassis of the Type 16 8x8 tank destroyer as it seeks to develop a family of vehicles using a common platform.
Social media users posted several photos and videos of two of the variants using public roads in the southern part of the country in late September, which Japan’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed are the
JMSDF
JGSDF