Page 30 - Australian Defence Magazine February 2022

30 DEFENCE BUSINESS REGIONAL OUTLOOK
FEBRUARY 2022 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
REGIONAL OUTLOOK
A round-up of events making news across the Indo-Asia-Pacific region this month.
MIKE YEO | MELBOURNE
INDONESIA GIVES UP ON SU-35
Indonesia has reluctantly conceded defeat in its attempts to buy Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E interceptors from Russia, end- ing a long-running saga that started in 2015.
TNI-AU Chief Of Staff Air Chief Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo told media Indonesia will now turn its attention to the Boe- ing F-15EX Eagle II or Dassault Rafale, as it seeks to beef up its air defences.
He did not indicate how many fighters Indonesia is seek- ing, but said the country wanted two to three squadrons, suggesting at least 24-30 aircraft.
Jakarta had concluded negotiations for an initial buy of 11 Su-35s in 2018 but has yet to sign a contract. It is believed its reluctance to do so was over concerns that such a deal would risk triggering American sanctions.
MALAYSIA EXPRESSES INTEREST
IN KUWAITI HORNETS
Malaysian Deputy Defence Minister Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz said the country is hoping to buy Kuwait’s entire fleet of 33 Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet multi-role fighter jets, al- though discussions have yet to begin.
Malaysia currently operates a fleet of eight F/A-18D twin- seat fighters in the air defence and strike role, serving along- side 18 Russian-built Sukhoi Su-30MKM Flanker-H jets. The Hornets were acquired in 1997 and have been upgraded over the past decade.
Kuwait is seeking to dispose of its F/A-18C single-seaters and F/A-18Ds and is currently taking delivery of 28 Euro- fighter Typhoons and a similar number of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.
Malaysia had hoped to acquire a new multi-role fighter to replace retired MiG-29 Fulcrum interceptors, but budget shortfalls have repeatedly forced plans to be deferred and has instead turned its focus on acquiring a light combat air- craft to replace its ageing fleet of Hawk 108s and 208s.
CHINA TRANSFERS SUBMARINE TO MYANMAR
China has transferred a former People’s Liberation Army Navy Type 035 (Ming-class) diesel-electric attack submarine
to Myanmar, marking the first transfer of such equipment between the two countries.
Photos released by Myanmar's military government showed the commissioning of the UMS Minye Kyaw Htin, bringing the Southeast Asian nation’s fleet to two boats.
The submarine was commissioned on 24 December, coin- ciding with the 74th anniversary of the navy, which also saw the induction of the Inlay-class Offshore Patrol Vessel UMS Inwa, two 18-metre riverine fast attack craft and four 20m riverine patrol boats.
Myanmar took delivery of a Russian-built Project 877 Ki- lo-class boat from India in March 2020.
NORTH KOREA TESTS HYPERSONIC MISSILE
North Korea has conducted its first missile test of the new year, firing what it calls a hypersonic weapon into waters east of the Korean Peninsula on 5 January.
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report- ed the weapon flew 700 kilometres after performing evasive manoeuvres.
Photos released by KCNA showed a conical-shaped Ma- noeuvring Re-entry Vehicle (MARV) propelled by a liquid- fuel booster that appears to be a shortened version of the booster for the Hwasong-12 ballistic missile.
North Korea’s Academy of National Defense Science also released a statement on the test, saying the hypersonic glide vehicle performed lateral manoeuvres over 120 kilometres.
It also said the test verifies performance of engine ampu- lisation under winter conditions, continuing a previous test carried out by North Korea in September 2021.
Ampulisation is the capability to fuel the missiles in a factory, seal them hermetically in canisters and store them so they can be quickly moved and launched, negat- ing the previous need to fuel missiles in the open prior to launch and thereby leaving them vulnerable to detection and attack. ■
ABOVE: Indonesia already operates a number of Sukhoi Su-27SKM (pictured) and Su-30MK2 multi-role fighters.
NIGEL PITTAWAY