AMR_2004-05 (1)

Volume 28/issue 3 april/may 2020
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A s i a P a c i f i c ’ s L a r g e s t C i r c u la t e d D e f e n c e M a g a Z i n e

WEAPONS SYSTEMS FOR
WHEELED/TRACKED VEHICLES

MARITIME UAVS
5TH GENERATION AIRPOWER

SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE

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Contents
april/may 2020
VOLUME 28 / ISSUE 3

06 UAVS OVER THE MARITIME HORIZON
JR Ng examines the variety of UAVs now operating in the
maritime, including an update on Chinese platforms.

AV8 Gempita AFV 30 variant 18
equipped with the Denel LCT 30
turret and carrying a 30mm cannon
during a National Day Parade
rehearsal. (Dzirhan Mahadzir)

12

5TH GENERATION FIGHTERS; BIGGER AND BADDER
BEYOND LOCKHEED MARTIN
Christopher Foss details the increase in weapon calibre
The F-22 and F-35 are widely know as 5th Generation combat aircraft, now being installed on a range of wheeled and tracked
but international competitors are rising to the challenge, armoured vehicles.
as Jon Lake reports.
26
22

AI CUTS THE CLUTTER ANALYSTS COLUMN

Thomas Withington investigates how artificial intelligence Having just announced their purchase of four F-35B fighters,
will help sort the ‘wheat from the chaff’ in a crowded Ben Ho argues that the F-35A might ultimately be the best aircraft
electromagnetic environment. for Singapore’s Air Force.

| april/may 2020 | 03

Index of Advertisers Editorial

AAD 21 THE TIMES
THEY ARE
BELL 17 A-CHANGIN’

CODAN COVER 4 Since my last column - China’s Influence(za) freezes business at the Singapore Airshow - the
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HOUSE AD COVER 3 Schools are closed and people are working from home where they can.

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MBDA 9
But defence acquisition is a long term business, carried out over years if not decades in the case of major
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04 | Asian Military Review |

ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE

OBSERVE, DECIDE, GUIDE

INTELLIGENCE ONBOARD

© Safran - ESO / L.Calçada / Daniel Linares - PEMA 2M

SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE, safran-electronics-defense.com
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INTELLIGENCE ONBOARD

Day after day, you face critical challenges. The products and services
developed by Safran Electronics & Defense, whether civil or military, deliver
the technological superiority, effectiveness, reliability and competitiveness
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sea

power

Japanese MoD

In 2013, Japan’s Ministry of Defense released imagery and tracking data of
the Chinese BZK-005 long-range surveillance UAV approaching the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.

THUEHAOVMRSAIORZVIOTENIMRE
Maritime patrolling with UAVs has becoming the norm, allowing
manned missions to be dedicated to more labour intensive tasks.

Airborne maritime domain by JR Ng weight (MTOW) of up to 2,600lb (1,180kg)
operations such as anti- and can carry 660lb (300kg) of mission
submarine warfare (ASW), address with medium- and high-altitude, equipment. This includes up to 550lb
intelligence, surveillance, long endurance (MALE and HALE) (250kg) of internal stores in its 2.5m-long
and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms with their long range and payload bay, which the company believes
and patrol missions have typically been loiter capabilities as well as their inherent to be among the largest available for its
the province of multi-engine aircraft to carry multiple sensor payloads class.
specifically designed for extended simultaneously.
overwater operations or commercial Elbit Systems has also stated that its
platforms modified for such operations. At the other end of the spectrum are Universal Ground Control Station (UGCS)
smaller fixed-wing and vertical take-off can simultaneously control two Hermes
However, the means of acquiring and landing (VTOL) UAVs, which are 900 UAVs to maximise asset utilisation
and maintaining adequate fleets of such also gaining favour as shipborne ISR and manpower, while reducing overall
manned platforms remain beyond what assets that can be readily deployed to operating costs.
some Asia Pacific countries – including extend a surface vessel’s detection range.
maritime states with large economic MALE UAVs The Hermes 900 has met with a
exclusive zones (EEZs) and contiguous Israel’s Elbit Systems has developed recent string of successes in Europe. For
waters to secure – can field by their a maritime patrol mission suite for its instance, the European Maritime Safety
respective air and naval forces and Hermes 900 UAV, which can comprise a Agency (EMSA) has been used to provide
maritime security agencies. synthetic aperture radar (SAR) such as maritime patrol services to on a daily
Leonardo’s Gabianno T200 X-band radar, rotation since April 2019, with Iceland
As a result, there is a growing a stabilised electro-optical/infrared (EO/ being the first country to take advantage
requirement for affordable alternatives IR) turret and electronic surveillance of this service. According to Elbit Systems,
to conventional ISR and maritime patrol systems. the Icelandic maritime authorities are
aircraft (MPA) which the unmanned using the eastern Egilsstaðir airport from
aerial vehicle (UAV) industry hopes to According to Elbit’s specifications, which the UAV – modified to withstand
the Hermes 900 has a maximum take-off

06 | Asian Military Review |

sea

power

the North Atlantic Ocean’s strong winds pave the way for Civil Aviation Authority vessels to low radar cross section (RCS)
and icy conditions – can cover over half (CAA) permission to operate these boats using inverse-SAR mode – can be
of the country’s EEZ. systems in unrestricted airspace. complemented by electronic support
HERON FISHES FOR SUBS measures (ESM) and communications
The Hermes 900 has also found Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has intelligence (COMINT) systems to
regional traction with at least two of the introduced a new ASW capability to its monitor electromagnetic signatures and
nine air vehicles – ordered under a $153 Heron MALE UAV family. The company cue the radar to the presence of vessels
million package that includes other UAVs said it has developed a new sonobuoy and human activity.
such as the Hermes 450 and Skylark – dispensing system (SDS) and a magnetic
already delivered and undergoing local anomaly detector (MAD) which enable “The ELM-2022U can spot submarine
testing and integration by the Philippine air vehicle to detect and track submarines periscopes and snorkels from a great
Air Force (PAF). in both shallow and deep waters. distance,” the company added, noting
that the UAV would engage its SDS and
Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana These new payloads complement loiter over an area to receive and process
told media that the Hermes 450 and the Heron’s primary surveillance sensor, acoustic signals generated by deployed
Hermes 900 UAVs are expected to be the IAI ELTA E/LM-2022U maritime sonobuoys, cross referenced with data
operated from airbases in Palawan radar which is lighter and more compact from its MAD probe, radar, and EO/IR
province facing the South China Sea version of the E/LM-2022 system already sights. The intelligence is then transmitted
as well as in the southern province of deployed aboard MPAs around the world. to a shore-based control centre or a ship’s
Mindanao. According to IAI, the E/LM-2022U can combat information centre (CIC) using
cover up to 150 nautical miles (nm) of satellite communication (SATCOM) or
More recently, Elbit Systems water from a cruising altitude of 20,000 direct line-of-sight (LOS) datalinks.
announced in February that it has been feet (6,100m)
contracted by the UK’s Maritime and IAI is also highlighting how Heron
Coastguard Agency (MCA) to supply “The use of UAV-mounted ASW UAV mission control modules, including
several UAV’s including the Hermes 900 capabilities offers significant advantages stabilised directional antennas and
to explore the feasibility of supporting over conventional manned aircraft, SATCOM terminals, can enable naval
search and rescue (SAR) operations. The including longer mission time, persistent vessels to take over control of in-theatre
MCA will commence evaluations from monitoring of sonobuoys, and centralised UAVs to as part of their organic sensor net
West Wales airport within 2020, while operation of surveillance over very large to boost situational awareness.
the maritime missions will be conducted areas,” the company stated.
within the Aberporth military training Elbit Systems has found some traction in the
area. According to IAI, the radar – which airborne maritime patrol and surveillance
it claims can detect and classify “all market with its Hermes 900 UAV.
One of the main objectives, according types” of surface targets from large
to MCA officials, will be to validate the
effectiveness and safety of UAVs and

Elbit Systems

| april/may 2020 | 07

sea

power

JR Ng carrying capacity of 330lb (150kg). The
UAV is powered by a rear-mounted
piston engine that drives a two-bladed
pusher-propeller that enables it to attain
a claimed maximum level flight speed of
107kts (200km/h) although it typically
cruises at speeds between 64-97kts (120-
180 km/h) up to its ceiling of 24,000ft
(7,300m). Operational radius is believed
to exceed 1,000 nautical miles (1,850km)
when equipped with SATCOM datalinks.
Beihang UAS is quoting a flight
endurance of 40 hours when the BZK-005
is configured as a maritime ISR platform
with a chin-mounted EO/IR sensor turret,
although it has also been sighted over the
years with a chin-mounted SAR system
along with a belly mounted EO/IR
turret, or studded with COMINT/ELINT
antennas.
The company launched an export
variant called the BZK-005E in late 2018,
which features a higher MTOW of 3,300lb
(1,500kg) and improved payload capacity
China’s CASC is developing a heavy fuel engine version of its popular CH-4 UAV and eyeing of 815lb (370kg) and is understood to
regional requirements for affordable maritime patrol. It has also integrated a belly mounted feature a more powerful, three-bladed
synthetic aperture radar seen here.

propulsion system. It has also developed
the TYW-1, a strike-capable version of the
The Chinese perspective airframe of the BZK-005 comprises a main BZK-005 with four underwing hardpoints
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) fuselage that incorporates a top-mounted that can be used to mount weapons.
is widely seen to be one of the leading satellite communications antenna fairing, The state-owned China Aerospace
regional developers of maritime-specific with swept back mid-mounted wings that Science and Technology Corporation
UAVs, having deployed such platforms support twin tailbooms. The company (CASC) is likewise developing a new
operationally for at least a decade. For claims that this configuration heavy fuel engine (HFE)-equipped
instance, the interception of a Chinese air Company specifications, the BZK-005 variant of its Cai Hong 4 (Rainbow 4, or
vehicle – since identified to be the MALE- has maximum take-off weight (MTOW) CH-4) MALE UAV for potential maritime
class Beijing University of Aeronautics of 2,755lb (1,250kg) and offers a payload operations, noting that such propulsion
and Astronautics (BUAA) BZK-005 – by
Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF)
combat aircraft over the East China Sea
on 9 September 2013 provided the first Schiebel
glimpse of the People’s Liberation Army
Air Force (PLAAF’s) emerging long-
range unmanned maritime surveillance
capabilities.
According to the Japanese Ministry
of Defense (MoD), the JASDF aircraft
tracked the UAV heading towards the
Miyako strait between Okinawa and
Miyakojima islands before the air vehicle
performed a short circular patrol about
92nm (170km) shy of the waterway before
returning to China.
The indigenously developed BZK-
005 UAV – also known as the Changying
(Long Eagle) – is understood to be the
standard long-range reconnaissance and
electronic intelligence (ELINT) platform
for the PLAAF as well as the PLA Ground
Force (PLAGF) and PLA Navy (PLAN).
According to Beihang UAS, the Schiebel is offering its S-100 vertical take-off and landing UAV with a new heavy fuel engine
commercial arm of BUAA, the distinctive and wide area sensors such as the PT-8 Oceanwatch.

08 | Asian Military Review |



sea

power

JR Ng PT-8 Oceanwatch wide-area maritime
surveillance payload which is designed to
Beihang UAS is offering an improved version of the shadowy in-service BZK-005 medium altitude detect small or distant objects. According
long endurance reconnaissance UAV for export. to the latter, the PT-8 system employs
a purpose-built multi-camera gimbal
configurations can offer extended on- Minor Project (NMP) 1942 programme with onboard artificial intelligence (AI)
station loiter while reducing maintenance aimed addressing a shipborne UAV software that automatically detects and
workloads. requirement by the Royal Australian tracks objects of interest.
Navy (RAN).
The CH-4 has been acquired by Schiebel announced in November
military forces in the Middle East and The S-100 has a MTOW of 440lb (200kg) 2019 that it has secured a deal to supply
even Southeast Asia, with the Indonesian and features a two-blade main rotor with a an undisclosed number of S-100 UAVs to
Air Force (TNI-AU) set to receive as diameter of 3.4m and streamlined carbon the Royal Thai Navy (RTN).
many as six conventionally powered air fibre monocoque pod and boom fuselage.
vehicles along with associated ground According to company specifications, the “Following an extensive competitive
control equipment and mission systems. UAV can carry up to 110lb (50kg) in stores tender process, Schiebel was awarded its
At least two examples have already been along with 110lb (50kg) of fuel and is first contract with [Thailand], which was
delivered as of October 2019. understood to offer a six-hour endurance signed by Schiebel’s CEO Hannes Hecher
VTOL UAVs when carrying a 74lb (34kg) payload, and Admiral Prachachart Sirisawat,
Regional interest in VTOL UAVs has although this can be extended to 10 hours director general Naval Acquisition
also taken off largely due to a growing with an external fuel tank. Management Office, and authorised by
requirement to equip new naval and even [the] Commander-in-Chief of Royal Thai
maritime security vessels with an organic This effort is expected to lead on to Navy Headquarters in Bangkok,” the
and readily deployable offboard sensor Project Sea 129 Phase 5 Stage 1, which company said, noting that the S-100 will
platform to aid situational awareness will field a suitable UAV aboard the be the service’s first VTOL UAV.
and/or targeting. RAN’s 12 Arafura-class offshore patrol
vessels (OPVs), the first two of which are According to Schiebel, the UAVs will
Unlike shipborne fixed-wing UAVs being built by ASC under the direction be deployed in 2020 to the Pak Phanang
such as the Boeing-Insitu ScanEagle of prime contractor Lürssen. Phase 2 will district in the southern Nakhon Si
system that must be launched by a select another UAV type to equip the nine Thammarat province, as well aboard RTN
catapult and recovered via an arresting future BAE Systems Hunter-class frigates. frigates to support land- and sea-based
cable or net (which potentially limits ISR operations. The company said it will
their recovery envelope), VTOL UAVs The RAN’s S-100 UAVs are believed supply the UAVs and effect technology
typically require much less deck space to be equipped with L3Harris Wescam’s transfer via its local partner, the Bangkok-
and are therefore easier to operate from MX-10 EO/IR payload, which can based MoraThai Defence Company.
smaller vessels. support up to six sensors simultaneously
including high-definition daylight and Switzerland’s UMS Skeldar is also
Austria’s Schiebel has gained a thermal cameras. It can also be equipped looking to leverage on its recent successes
foothold in the region with its S-100 with an eye-safe laser rangefinder to aid with the Canadian Armed Forces and the
Camcopter platform, which has targeting. German Navy with its V-200B VTOL UAV
been acquired under the Australian to secure its first customer in the Asia
Department of Defence’s (DoD’s) Navy To boost the S-100’s maritime Pacific.
surveillance capabilities, Schiebel
has integrated Overwatch Imaging’s The latest V-200B platform has a
MTOW of 518lb (235kg) and features a
4m long pod and boom fuselage with a
two-bladed main rotor measuring 4.6m
in diameter, a belly mounted payload
bay and fixed twin-skid undercarriage.
The V-200B features a lighter propulsion
system that provides up to 22lb (10kg) in
weight savings, which can be applied to
either increase its endurance or payload
capacity.

For the maritime mission, UMS
Skeldar has integrated Sentient Systems’
visual detection and ranging (ViDAR)
payload, which is a persistent wide-
area maritime sensor that automatically
detects objects on the ocean surface and
provides the operator with detailed
imagery and location coordinates of
surface objects. According to Sentient
Systems, the ViDAR offers a 20nm (37km)
wide search swath, equating to over
13,360 square nautical miles of cover in 12
hours at a speed of 60kts (111km/h). AMR

10 | Asian Military Review |

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AIR

power

RT

Russian Sukhoi Su-57 ‘Felon’

LF5OIGTCHHKTGHEEERNESDE; RBMAEATYIROOTNNIND
International competition is 'hotting up' to design alternatives to
Lockheed Martin’s 5th Generation F-22 and F-35 combat aircraft.

And 6th Generation is just over the horizon.

Predictions about the future by Jon Lake loop’, and ‘on the scene.’ Situational
of air to air combat aircraft awareness is hard to achieve when an
and of tactical fast jet aircraft last manned fighter programme, and operator’s view of the scene is provided by
have changed rapidly. About that manned fighters would give way a narrow field-of-view video sensor and
a decade ago, many expert to advanced and autonomous stealthy via a relatively low-resolution TV screen.
observers, analysts, and industry insiders drones. There is little ability to detect movement
confidently predicted that the Lockheed using peripheral vision, nor to pick up
Martin F-35 Lightning II would be the But since then, a succession of a thin wisp of smoke or a momentary
asymmetric and counter insurgency
campaigns have underlined the vital
importance of having a human ‘in the

12 | Asian Military Review |

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power

Chinese Internet the Su-57’s supermaneuvrability and
3-D thrust vectoring are intended and
First public flight of the Chengdu J-20 prototype, 11th January, 2011 expected to give it a decisive advantage.

The Su-57 prototype flew for the
first time on 29 January 2010, and series
production began in July 2019. Currently
76 Su-57s are scheduled for delivery to
the Air Force by 2028, though just 15
have been ordered to date. Plans for the
production of 144 aircraft as the FGFA
to meet Indian requirements have been
abandoned. Su-57s have undertaken brief
deployments to Khmeimim air base in
Syria for combat evaluation.

glint. A video camera could fail to register (Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG) used Chengdu J-20
visual phenomena like these. Competing the tag for its MiG-35. China’s first new generation fighter, the
demands for bandwidth and enemy GPS Chengdu J-20 is now in frontline service
jamming can also be limiting factors There have been some attempts to with the 9th Air Brigade at Wuhu Air
for unmanned platforms, while latency catch up (or at least narrow the gap) Base, having made its maiden flight
can make the air-to-air role particularly with the F-22 and F-35, and both Russia on 11 January 2011. A large fighter,
difficult for an unmanned platform. and China have attempted to develop similar in size to the F-22, the J-20 has
their own stealth fighters in the shape a configuration reminiscent of the MiG
As a consequence of these limitations, of the Russian Sukhoi Su-57 ‘Felon’ and 1.42/1.44, with a Delta wing, twin
there has been a distinct shift in attitudes, China’s Chengdu J-20. But while both of tailfins and canard foreplanes. The J-20
and Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles these fighters do incorporate some of the does appear to incorporate some LO
(UCAVs) are today seen as a complement characteristics that are supposed to mark characteristics, though it appears to be
to manned combat aircraft, as well as an out the5th Generation, both fail to fully optimised for reduced frontal RCS, and
attritable adjunct. The manned fighter’s meet Lockheed’s definition. not for all-aspect stealth. The aircraft is
future again seems secure, and a number believed to offer a combination of high
of new types are under development. The Su-57 is optimised for reduced speed, a large missile load and long range,
frontal RCS, and does feature very high rather than great agility or very low RCS.
For some years, it has been assigned performance and supermanoeuvrability,
that only Low Observable (‘stealthy’) and has a degree of information fusion China’s second ‘stealth fighter’ is
fighters could survive in contested though it very clearly does not have all- the Shenyang J-31 (designated FC-31 for
airspace, and that older fighters that lacked aspect RCS, and has large, conventional export), which is claimed to be cheaper,
radar stealth were, by definition, verging jet pipes. The Su-57 can engage enemy lighter and more maneouverable than
on obsolescence. The 5th Generation label aircraft at very long range, but is intended the J-20. The J-31 bears some resemblance
was adopted by Lockheed Martin as a to get close to US stealth fighters, forcing to the original YF-22, though it has
marketing term, aimed at differentiating them into a WVR engagement, where conventional circular section convergent/
its new stealthy F-22 and F-35 fighters
from their competitors. Shenyang

Lockheed originally defined the The Shenyang J-31 (designated FC-31 for export), is claimed to be cheaper, lighter and more
5th Generation as enjoying all-aspect maneouverable than the J-20
radar stealth, supermaneouvrability
(the capability of fighter aircraft to
execute tactical maneouvers that are
not possible with purely aerodynamic
mechanisms) and super-cruise
performance. When it became clear that
the F-35’s super-cruise performance was
marginal, different characteristics were
brought into the definition, including
sustained supersonic operations, high
altitude capability (>50,000 feet), highly
integrated avionics and sensor fusion and
net enabled capabilities, but VLO stealth
remained the cornerstone of Lockheed’s
fifth generation definition.

Others defined 5th Generation using
different attributes: Boeing would claim
the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was 5th
Generation, while Russia’s RSK-MiG

| april/may 2020 | 13

AIR Turkish Aerospace

power

The TF-X programme being conducted by
Turkish Aerospace aims to provide the Turkish
Air Force (TurAF) with a 5th Generation aircraft
to meet its requirements beyond 2030s.

divergent afterburner nozzles, with to service entry in 2028. The TF-X is fighter with high levels of agility, super
no thrust vectoring. The aircraft was intended to replace the Turkish air force’s cruise, heavy payload, and a low radar
developed independently as a ‘private fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16C/Ds and cross-section. The general configuration
venture’ by the state-owned Shenyang was originally expected to augment the was frozen in 2015, and detailed design
Aircraft Corporation, perhaps benefiting F-35, with the TF-X planned to provide is now underway. A prototype is now
from the work of Chinese cyber attackers, better air-to-air combat capabilities expected to make its first flight in 2032.
who reportedly acquired terabytes of than the Joint Strike Fighter, with high
secret information from the database of manoeuvrability, all-aspect LO, and These Korean, Turkish and Japanese
the Joint Strike Fighter programme. The sensor fusion. aircraft could perhaps be described as
prototype first flew on 31 October 2012, 5th Generation fighters, but an even more
but it was not until 2018, that reports Although Japan has now ordered advanced group of combat aircraft is now
emerged suggesting that the FC-31 105 F-35As (the first 38 being built by under development, perhaps inevitably
program has received State funding and Mitsubishi) and 42 F-35Bs, it has an prompting use of the term 6th Generation.
was likely to be procured for the People’s aspiration to maintain indigenous aircraft
Liberation Army Air Force and for the design and production capabilities and Each of these programmes aim to
PLANAF. has a requirement for more advanced produce a manned combat aircraft at
fighter aircraft. In February 2019, Japan the heart of a ‘system of systems’, which
A number of new advanced fighter announced that a new indigenous stealth will also incorporate unmanned ‘loyal
programmes are now in development. fighter, the F-3, would be developed wingmen’ (also known as remote carriers),
Interestingly, most of these echo the as part of the next ten-year Mid-Term swarming drones and a host of other
twin-tailed LO configuration of the F-22 Defense Programme (MTDP). This connected air power assets. The future
and F-35. Korea’s KAI KF-X is not a true followed speculation that plans for a manned fighter may not have a full range
stealth fighter, and features an external new indigenous fighter based on the X-2 of capabilities by itself but will operate as
IRST and in its initial form at least, will (previously ATD-X) Shinshin technology highly-connected network nodes, passing
rely on the external carriage of targeting demonstrator had been cancelled. The and receiving fused sensor data and other
pods, weapons and fuel, though internal new fighter will reportedly incorporate information to multiple other platforms
weapons carriage will be introduced after a number of technologies tested on and participants (including ships, ground
the initial Block I aircraft. KAI plans to the X-2, including EMP-resistant fibre- forces and satellites), contributing to a
roll out a prototype in the first half of optic fly-by-light controls, and flight complex and highly accurate picture of
2021, with a first flight in early 2022, and control systems that can automatically the battlespace. This promises to ensure
service entry in 2026. compensate for damage, as well as an unmatched situational awareness for the
innovative composite ceramic/silicon pilot.
Like the KF-X, Turkey’s TF-X, also carbide skin.
known as the National Combat Aircraft The manned fighters at the heart of
(Turkish abbreviation MMU), was In India, the Advanced Medium these programmes are still in the study
unveiled in mock-up form in 2019. A Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme stage, with different concepts and aircraft
prototype is due to be rolled out in was launched In October 2008. AMCA is configurations still being assessed. Some
2023 with a first flight in 2025, leading intended to be an indigenous multi-role expect there to be less emphasis on radar
stealth but rather a more balanced effort

14 | Asian Military Review |

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power

BAE Systems play. The USAF long ago abandoned
its ambitious plans for an ‘all-Stealthy’
BAE Systems and its partners are developing the Tempest frontline aircraft fleet, developing a
design to be a 6th Generation combat fighter. doctrine and tactics that saw older,
non-stealthy fighters operating in co-
to reduce radar, IR, electronic, acoustic of travel – a glimpse into what the future ordination with fifth generation assets.
and even visual signature. There may be could look like, though it did indicate that
a greater emphasis on increased speed the UK was pushing to develop a new Most of the world’s leading air forces
and range. manned combat aircraft within its FCAS are developing (or have developed)
system or systems. similar concepts of operations that will
Europe took an early lead in drawing see them co-ordinating the operational
up plans for these new Future Combat On 19 July 2019 Sweden and the use of F-35s with operations by their
Air Systems. The Airbus consortium first United Kingdom signed a memorandum older fighter types. These may offer
revealed its FCAS proposal in July 2016, of understanding (MoU) to explore ways some different sensor capabilities, some
designing the aircraft and its supporting of jointly developing sixth-generation useful performance characteristics, and
assets in response to a joint German- air combat technologies, while Italy a much larger arsenal of weapons. 4th
Spanish Next Generation Weapon announced its involvement in Team and 5th Generation fighters can operate
System (NGWS) requirement. France and Tempest on 10 September 2019. synergistically, with each bringing
Germany signed a High Level Common different strengths and advantages to the
Operational Requirements Document for The United States Air Force is fight.
an FCAS (also known as SCAF or Système looking at a similar ‘System of Systems’
de Combat Aérien Futur) in April 2018, approach to meet its - Next Generation There is even a growing realisation
with Dassault taking design leadership Air Dominance (NGAD) requirement. that radar stealth may soon not be the
for the Next Generation Fighter (NGF) This was intended to include a Next best or most effective means of achieving
element of the NGWS. Spain formally Generation Tactical Aircraft (the so-called survivability in a contested environment
joined the European Future Combat Air Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) aircraft) – counter stealth technologies are being
System/Système de Combat Aérien to replace the Boeing F-15 Eagle and the developed and are already starting to
Futur (FCAS/SCAF) programme on 14 Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in the air proliferate, while the greater use of
February 2019. superiority and air dominance roles. networked sensors (including IRST
systems and EO/IR devices) may make
The British government and the Royal The United States Navy is examining it harder for fifth generation aircraft
Air Force’s Rapid Capability Office have its own Next Generation Air Dominance to successfully ‘hide’. If bistatic radar,
joined with BAE Systems, Leonardo, analysis of alternatives, seeking a or metre-wave radar, or some other
MBDA and Rolls Royce to form Team replacement for the Boeing F/A-18E/F technological advance deprives LO
Tempest in 2018. The group was charged Super Hornet and E/A-18G Growler aircraft of their ability to delay or reduce
with conducting a wide-ranging Future for service entry in the 2030s. The Navy the chances of detection, stealth might start
Combat Air System Technology Initiative places less emphasis on Stealth, but to look as anachronistic and irrelevant as
(FCAS TI), which was to include a host of instead focused on increased range, since some of the clever camouflage schemes
technology demonstration programmes. range was perceived to be a significant and paints that were once used to hide
limitation for the carrier air wing. nocturnal bombers from prowling night
A new, next-generation fighter concept fighters, or to reduce their conspicuity if
(dubbed Tempest) was unveiled on 16 But 5th and 6th Generation fighters illuminated by searchlights.
July 2018 at the Farnborough Airshow, are far from being the ‘only game in town.’
but this represented just one in a range 2019 saw a growing recognition that non- Some believe that reprogrammable
of concepts explored by Team Tempest. It stealthy fighters are not somehow fatally electronic warfare systems can provide
was indicative only of a possible direction flawed and catastrophically vulnerable ‘digital stealth’, and represent a more
and that they still have a vital role to effective means of countering evolving
threats. Mark Hewer, Leonardo’s Vice
President for the Integrated Mission
Solutions Business Area, points out
that: “You cannot easily modify a stealth
platform to counter new high-end threats,
because you can’t redesign the skin of
your aircraft, or its internal structure, or
its configuration. You have got what you
have got.”

This means that when new counter-
stealth radars are introduced, there will
be little that can be done to counter
that, or to restore the combat advantage
enjoyed by stealth aircraft. By contrast,
EW systems can be upgraded and
updated, incorporating new hardware
and software and are thereby able to
evolve to take account of a changing and

16 | Asian Military Review |

Dassault/Airbus AIR

Dassault Aviation and Airbus showed for the first time a life sized model of their Next power
Generation Fighter (NGF) at Paris Air Show, 17 June, 2019.
dynamic threat, in a way that stealth
aircraft cannot.

Others believe that a renewed
emphasis on defence suppression and
electronic attack offers a better way of
ensuring survivability in the modern
battlespace.

This may have given a renewed
‘window of opportunity’ for further
sales of late ‘fourth generation’, non-
stealthy fighters, like the Boeing F-15K/
SA/SG/QA Advanced Eagle, the Boeing
F/A-8E/F Super Hornet, the Dassault
Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon and
the Saab Gripen, which may continue
to compete with later fighter types,
perhaps particularly in the Asia Pacific
region. Remarkably, even in the second
decade of the 21st Century, the USAF
is still placing orders for advanced
derivatives of the Boeing F-15 Eagle, a
decidedly last-generation fighter which
first entered service in 1974, while the
Lockheed Martin F-16 (which is of similar
vintage) is also continuing to find new
customers. AMR

land

warfare

Christopher F Foss

The German PSM Puma Armoured Infantry
Fighting Vehicle is fitted with a remote
controlled turret armed with a Mauser 30mm
MK 30-2 dual feed cannon and a co-axial MG

BIGGER AND BADDER
Infantry Fighting Vehicle operators want more punch from their
medium calibre cannons - and onboard missiles will increase the

number of blows they can deliver.

The latest generation of Infantry by Christopher F Foss Pact who use the 30mm 2A42 dual feed
Fighting Vehicles (IFV) are cannon. Typical installations including
being armed with larger calibre the platform is stationary or moving. the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV),
weapons which have increased The weapon, which is stabilised, is laid BMD-2 and BMD-3 airborne assault
range and fire more effective onto the target by the gunner and/or the vehicles (AAV) and many others.
ammunition. commander who are normally provided Ammunition
with an integrated stabilised day/ While the main thrust of this article is
The main drawback of moving to a thermal sighting systems incorporating a on the actual weapon, development of
larger calibre is that less ammunition is laser rangefinder. ammunition is always on going with
carried but this is offset by the greater medium calibre weapons now firing
effectiveness of the ammunition. Some of While there is some standardisation armour piercing fin stabilised discarding
these larger calibre weapons are installed in members of NATO on larger calibre sabot (APFSDS) and air-burst munitions
in one or two person turrets while others tank (120mm smooth bore) and artillery (ABM). The latter are more expensive
operate in remote controlled turrets (155mm) ammunition there is a complete but are highly effective against dug in
(RCT). lack of standardisation in medium calibre infantry.
weapons in NATO with calibres of 20mm,
A computerised fire control system 25mm, 30mm, 35mm and 40mm currently The British and French armies
(FCS) is usually fitted enabling the main being deployed.
armament to engage threat targets when
The opposite is the case for the Russian
Army and former members of the Warsaw

18 | Asian Military Review |

Christopher F Foss land

warfare

French Nexter VBCI (8x8) has a one person for almost 50 years and is armed with a cannon which is electrically powered.
turret armed with a Nexter 25mm M811 dual Rheinmetall 20mm MK 20 Rh 202 dual The BAE Systems Hagglunds CV9040
feed cannon and 7.62mm co-axial MG feed cannon and 7.62mm MG3 co-axial
MG. Surplus Marder 1 IFV have been is the standard IFV of the Swedish
are standardising on the CTAI 40mm supplied to Chile, Indonesia and Jordan. Army and is fitted with a two person
Cased Telescoped Armament System turret armed with a Bofors 40mm L/70
(CTAT). CTAI is a joint venture company Marder 1 is slowly being replaced cannon which is fed from a magazine
between Nexter Systems of France and by the Puma IFV which is fitted with below holding 24 rounds of ready use
BAE Systems of the UK with the main an RCT turret armed with the Mauser ammunition and with the empty cartridge
weapon production facility at Bourges 30mm MK 30-2 ABM dual feed cannon cases ejected through the turret roof.
in France, but ammunition production is with a 5.56mm co-axial MG which will be
undertaken in both countries. replaced by a 7.62mm MG. A pod of two Export customers for the CV90 IFV
MELLS anti-tank missiles (ATM) are to be have always opted for a different weapon
Two British Army platforms are being installed on the left side of the turret. including Denmark (35mm), Finland
armed with the 40mm CTAS which are (30mm), Estonia (35mm), Norway (30mm),
the General Dynamics Land Systems Australia has ordered the Boxer (8x8) Netherlands (35mm) and Switzerland
UK Ajax reconnaissance vehicle and the to replace its LAV-25 (8x8) reconnaissance (30mm) with these supplied by the now
Lockheed Martin UK Warrior Capability vehicles and one version will be armed Northrop Grumman, Armament systems.
Sustainment Programme (WCSP). In both with the latest Rheinmetall Lance two
cases the weapon is installed in a two person turret armed with Mauser MK While the ideal solution is to have a
person turret which is also armed with 30-2 and7.62 mm co-axial MG. common medium calibre weapon across
a 7.62mm co-axial machine gun (MG) the whole AFV fleet, this is not always
and in both cases the 40mm CTAS and The original Mauser 30mm MK 30 dual achieved.
7.62mm MG is provided as Government feed cannon is installed in the General
Furnished Equipment (GFE) as it the Dynamics European Land Systems Ulan Malaysia, for example, is taking
refurbished 7.62mm MG. (Austria) and Pizarro (Spain) IFV and the delivery of a complete fleet of Turkish
Rheinmetall Lance turret installed on four FNSS Savunma Sistemleri Pars (8x8)
The one French Army platform fitted Piranha III (8x8) for the Spanish Marines. family of vehicles with production now
with 40mm CTAS is the Nexter/Arquus undertaken in Malaysia by DefTech
Jaguar (6x6) reconnaissance vehicle While the Mauser 30mm MK 30 dual under the local name of the AV8 Gemita.
which is the replacement for the currently feed cannon is gas operated, Mauser has
deployed AMX-10RCR (105mm) and also been working on the Wotan 30mm The IFV version is fitted with an FNSS
Sagaie (90mm) 6x6 armoured cars. Savunma Sistemleri Sharpshooter one
person turret armed with a Northrop
The 40mm CTAS can fire a complete Grumman, Armament Systems stabilised
family of ammunition including 25mm M242 dual feed cannon and a
APFSDS-T, Kinetic Energy Airburst (KE- 7.62mm coaxial MG while the Armoured
AB), General Purpose Round – Airburst- Infantry Fighting Vehicle has South
Tracer (GPR-AB-T), General Purpose African Denel Land Systems LCT 30 two
Round – Point Detonating – Tracer person turret armed with a stabilised
(GPRPD-T), General Purpose Round - 30mm GI-30 dual feed cannon and
Kinetic Energy – Tracer (GPR-KE-T) and 7.62mm coaxial MG.
associated training rounds. Chain guns
The now Northrop Grumman, Armament
The Nexter 25mm Model 811 dual Systems ‘Chain Gun’ family of weapons
feed cannon is still being marketed by the are by far the most widely deployed of
company and this is already installed in any medium calibre cannon in the West
520 VBCI (8x8) deployed by the French
Army. Export sales of the 25mm M811 have Dzirhan Mahadzir
been made to Singapore for the AMX-10P
Marines amphibious vehicle and Turkey AV8 IFV 25 variant (front) with Sharpshooter turret with 25mm cannon
for some of the FNSS Savunma Sistemleri and AFV 30 variant (back) with Denel LCT 30 turret with 30mm cannon
Turkish Infantry Fighting Vehicle (TIFV). during a firepower demonstration at Gemas camp.

The Rheinmetall Marder 1 IFV has
been in service with the German Army

| april/may 2020 | 19

land

warfare

and many other parts of the world. For the US Army’s Next Generation Patria
By March 2020 total ‘Chain Gun’ Combat Vehicle (NGCV) the company is
developing, in co-operation with the US Patria AMV XP (8x8) fitted with Kongsberg
production was rapidly approaching Army the 50mm XM913 which is based Remote Controlled Turret armed with 30mm
20,000 weapons, in all calibres, for the on their proven Bushmaster III 35/50 mm cannon and 7.62mm co-axial MG. Mounted
home and export markets for air, land weapon. on the roof is a Kongsberg Protector RWS
and sea applications. armed wth 12.7mm MG and a Javelin ATM
For this weapon the company is
These include the 25mm M242, 30mm developing a family of 50mm ammunition The latest French Jaguar (6x6) has a
M230 (for Apache attack helicopter), which will include armour penetrating, pod of two MBDA MMP ATGM in the
30mm MK44, 35mm Bushmaster III, 50 high explosive and a programmable ABM. right side of the turret which are raised
XM913 and 7.62mm MK52. prior to being launched and enable
As previously mentioned the 30mm targets to be engaged at a range of some
The most widely used is the 25mm 2A42 and to a lesser extent the 30mm 4,000m. The standard infantry version of
M242 dual feed cannon which is installed 2A72 are the standard Russian medium the MMP has been already been deployed
in the US Army Bradley IFV, US Marine calibre weapon, but Russi has developed by the French Army as the replacement
Corps LAV (8x8), Canadian Light Armour a 57mm calibre weapon which is expected for the MILAN ATM.
Vehicle (8x8) as well as many export to be deployed in the future. This has
customers. been shown in a number of applications The Russian Army fitted pintle
including the AU-220M for trials mounted ATM to its BMP-2 IFV while the
Export customers have moved to the purposes this has been fitted to a BMP-3 BMP-3 IFV has a two person turret armed
30mm MK44 dual feed cannon and so far IFV and T-15 heavy IFV platform. with a 100mm 2A70 gun which can also
well over 20 countries have adopted this Anti-tank missiles fire a laser guided projectile (LGP) and
for a variety of applications with typical To enable targets to be engaged beyond this also has a 30mm 2A72 co-axial dual
examples being the Bionix II deployed range of the main armament of IFV, some feed cannon and a 7.62mm co-axial MG.
by Singapore and CV9030 deployed platforms are also armed with ATM.
by Finland, Norway and Switzerland The United Arab Emirates deploy a
and Poland for their locally built Patria The US Army BAE Systems M2 large number of BMP-3 IFV and some
Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV) called Bradley, IFV for example, has a pod of of these turrets have been installed on
the Rosomak (Wolverine). two Raytheon TOW ATM installed on the a batch of Patria Armoured Modular
left side enabling targets to be engaged Vehicle 8x8L which still retains its
To meet a US Army Urgent Needs out to a range of 3,750m, with more recent amphibious capabilities.
Requirement a batch of 83 production TOW versions having a longer range.
General Dynamics Land Systems Stryker The latest Russian T-15 heavy IFV
LAV (8x8) have been fitted with a The German Marder 1 series IFV had has the same turret as that fitted to new
Norwegian Kongsberg MCT RCT armed a pintle mounted MBDA MILAN ATM Bumerang (8x8) IFV which in addition to
with an 30mm XM813 dual feed cannon with a maximum range of 2,000m but this being armed with 30mm 2A42 dual feed
that in addition to firing conventional is now being replaced by the Eurospike cannon and 7.62mm co-axial MG also has
natures of ammunition can also fire LR ATM which is called the MELLS by a pod of two Kornet laser guided ATM
the 30mm MK310 Programmable ABM the German Army. ether side.
round. This version is called the Dragoon
and is only deployed in Europe. The Northrop Grumman, Armament Systems, Early ATM had a single high-
family of Chain Guns includes, from top to explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead
Northrop Grumman, Armament Systems bottom M242 25 x 137mm, M230 30 x 113mm, but latest models have a tandem HEAT
MK44 can be chambered to fire 30 x 173mm warhead to neutralise threat targets fitted
or 40 x 180mm with the latest weapon being with explosive reactive armour (ERA) but
the XM913 50 x 228mm for some ATGW alternative warheads
are available including high-explosive
fragmentation and thermobaric. AMR

20 | Asian Military Review |

1 - 3 SEPTEMBER 2020

BRISBANE CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE
AUSTRALIA

Network and connect with Army, the Australian Defence Force, industry
and government at the premier land forces exposition for Australia and
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Platforms - Equipment - Support - Technologies

technology

spotlight

AI CUTS THE CLUTTER

Artificial Intelligence is helping to assist the collection and analysis
of SIGINT on and off the battlefield in an increasingly crowded
electromagnetic spectrum.

by Thomas Withington The term Artificial Intelligence, AI
for short, gets thrown around
Thomas Withington with merry abandon. Scarcely a
day goes by sans blood-curdling
warnings on how AI risks making
humans superfluous or conversely how
we should welcome the benefits it may
bring. Polemics aside AI is changing the
way that humans process data, and in
the Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) domain
it could be exactly the right technology
at exactly the right moment. This topic
was under lively discussion at this year’s
Embedded Tech Trends conference held
in late January in Atlanta, Georgia, and
organised by the VITA open systems
architecture advocacy organisation.
To understand AI’s applicability to
SIGINT we need to understand AI.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines
artificial intelligence as “the theory and
development of computer systems able to
perform tasks normally requiring human
intelligence.” James Kilgallen, president
and founder of COMINT Consulting,
says that the central tenet of AI is to
“lighten human workload and improve
task accuracy.”

The advent of 5G Spectrum Growth
communications poses Lightening the load and improving task
challenges for SIGINT accuracy are two vital contributions
professionals given the AI could make to SIGINT. The sheer
expected saturation of weight of SIGINT data is increasing
the electromagnetic exponentially. This has been witnessed
spectrum, potentially in the Asia-Pacific region since the start
in wavebands used by of this century and shows no signs of
radars and tactical radios. abating. The electromagnetic spectrum
is increasingly inundated by the cellular
22 and wireless networks needed to keep
people and businesses connected.
Speaking during the Association of Old
Crows’ 2019 Electronic Warfare Asia
conference and exhibition in Singapore Dr.
Hubert Piontek, Hensoldt’s head of sales
for spectrum dominance and airborne
systems, warned delegates that regional
demands for commercial and consumer
connectivity could see requirements

| Asian Military Review |

Thomas Withington technology

spotlight

Military radar engineers design their systems to emitter the lowest levels of power possible for of radar and hence the platform it may
them to perform their tasks so as to hide radar transmissions as deeply in the ether as possible. equip. Analysing the radar transmissions
will also identify the mode the radar is
for at least 19 gigahertz/GHz worth of radars. Radars and radios emit with their using: Is it performing a general search
bandwidth to satisfy these in the short transmissions forming the Electronic and of its environment, or is it illuminating a
term, with the risk that these demands Communications Intelligence (ELINT/ specific target, the latter of which could be
could rise to 70GHz of bandwidth. COMINT) which is grist to the mill for construed as a belligerent act? ELINT will
SIGINT practitioners. also reveal the location of the platform
Military use of the electromagnetic SIGINT providing information on whether a ship
spectrum will grow in the Asia-Pacific Collecting ELINT and COMINT allows or aircraft is heading towards national
hand-in-hand with the uptake expected SIGINT experts to identify and localise airspace, something that could also be
in the civilian sphere: The demand for hostile and friendly platforms, troops construed as a hostile act.
armoured vehicles in the region could and military installations using their RF
see over 13,500 platforms being acquired (Radio Frequency) transmissions. Like Analysing COMINT pays similar
between 2020 and 2030 according to a tabloid journalist ferreting through dividends. On the battlefield, collecting
publicly available figures. Likewise the the detritus of a B-list celebrity’s trash COMINT on opposing forces can reveal
regional demand for new naval vessels can, radar and radio emissions yield a their location. It maybe possible to
could see a total of 251 warships being trove of information. Ships or aircraft break the encryption used by hostile
acquired over the same timeframe with can be identified based upon their radar communications to collect valuable
a similarly strong demand for over emissions with the characteristics of these intelligence. Conversely, a sudden
280 new combat aircraft. All of these transmissions used to identify the type upsurge in communications may reveal
platforms will need radios, and the that the enemy is repositioning to attack.
warships and combat aircraft will need It is thus clear that collecting COMINT
and ELINT becomes paramount to
| april/may 2020 | understanding an enemy’s intentions.
The problem for SIGINT professionals
not only in the Asia-Pacific, but globally,
is that they will have to collect signals
of interest in an increasingly deluged
spectrum which risks drowning out
the military emitters from their civilian
counterparts.

This is further complicated by
two additional factors, namely the
advent of so-called fifth-generation
(5G) wireless communications, and the
efforts of military radar and tactical
radio engineers to ensure that the
transmissions of their products become
ever more difficult to detect. 5G is a series
of wireless communications protocols
being implemented globally. These
protocols will greatly increase the amount
of data carried by wireless networks. As a
comparison an existing fourth-generation
smartphone can handle between 15
megabits-per-second (mbps) and 45mbps
of data. This could increase to between
150mbps and 200mbps for 5G systems. To
allow such wideband communications
5G will need to migrate to wavebands
not traditionally associated with wireless
communications. This risks encroaching
on frequencies traditionally used by
the military. An array of wavebands
is mooted for 5G including 2.4GHz to
4.2GHz, although frequencies of 24GHz
upwards have been proposed. The
2.4GHz to 4.2GHz waveband captures
frequencies routinely used by some
S-band (2.3GHz to 2.5GHz/2.7GHz to
3.7GHz) naval surveillance and ground-
based air surveillance radars. While 5G

23

technology

spotlight

Harris being produced by Motorhead is more
powerful and crowds out the former. In
Military communications engineers take strenuous efforts to shield their wares from discovery. SIGINT, the morass of signals in the ether
Frequency hopping is a standard technique, which is also used by radars, applied to this end. can be thought of as Motorhead, with the
signal of interest produced by the radar
communications will not necessarily a Reptile at full volume. The listener can being Norah Jones. The task of the SIGINT
encroach upon S-band in all cases, it could no longer hear Ms. Jones as her song is professional is to detect and isolate the
flood the ether with more signals which now being drowned out by the band. The weak radar signal from the prevailing
have to be analysed and eliminated as sound of Ms. Jones’ performance is still electromagnetic noise.
irrelevant by SIGINT operatives. Using there as the strings on her guitar are being
wavebands of 24GHz and above could plucked causing them to vibrate, disturb Frequency hopping is another tool
place some 5G protocols squarely in the air and produce sound. Yet the sound used to mask radar and radio signals.
K-band (24.05GHz to 24.25GHz) which is Transmissions skip in a pseudo-random
routinely used for fire control radars, and sequence across a particular waveband
missile guidance radars on account of the thousands of times a second to prevent
high precision provided by its very short SIGINT collectors from detecting a
wavelengths. stream of transmissions which can then
be used to identify and locate a specific
emitter. Like a newspaper article torn
into a thousand pieces, the vexing task
is to gather all of the tiny bits of paper,
and reassemble the words into a coherent
order to reconstruct the article: “AI can
interpret these RF signal changes much
more speedily augmenting the abilities of
human operators,” says Nigel Forrester,
director of business development at
Concurrent Technologies. It is sifting
through this deluge of electromagnetic
noise where AI could pay dividends. As
a written statement supplied to AMR
by CRFS notes: “The collection phase is
the most straightforward operation that
can be automated … by automating the

US DOD

RADAR DESIGN There are expectations within the EW domain that SIGINT and electronic attack specialisations
Meanwhile, radar designers continue to may merge in the future, increasingly enshrining both jobs within one profession. AI could help
take steps to lessen the chances of signal with the increase in workload that this may herald.
detection by reducing the transmission
power of their equipment as much as
possible. This helps ensure that the radar’s
transmissions still hit targets but will be
difficult to detect against the background
electromagnetic noise. This can be
explained with the following analogy:
Imagine a person blindfolded standing at
the back of a concert hall. In front of them
jazz chanteuse and queen of dinner party
background music Norah Jones takes to
the stage. She begins performing her soft
ballad Don’t Know Why. The person in
the concert hall can clearly hear, but not
see, Ms. Jones. A few minutes later, heavy
metal legends Motorhead, acknowledged
to have been one of the loudest bands
in the world and unsuitable for dinner
parties, also take to the stage and begin
playing their rock anthem Love Me Like

24 | Asian Military Review |

technology

spotlight

US DOD of the SIGINT collection and analysis
loop is not an option, even with the
AI is already assisting some SIGINT collection efforts, particularly in the COMINT domain. advances AI promises: “As with all AI
Its involvement in AI is likely to only increase in the coming years. that is completely autonomous, errors
and blind dependency without human
signals collection process, the SIGINT “AI in processes that lend themselves to judgement where warranted can be
operator spends less time looking for automation and more environmental self- especially dangerous,” Kilgallen warns.
signals and more time acting against awareness offer the highest rewards with This is important as some members of the
them.” Dr. Karen Haigh, Mercury System’ the least risk while AI as a tool for SIGINT electronic warfare community argue that
chief fellow technologist says that “AI matures,” argues Kilgallen. the distinct skills set hallmarking SIGINT
can provide the initial recognition up collection and analysis professionals and
front for the SIGINT operator, it can help AI is already employed in some electronic attack experts will increasingly
identify a signal at speeds which are electronic warfare applications. Kilgallen merge and “in the very near future will
beyond humans.” says that his company uses “AI very likely be vested in one person,” he
PROGRESSIVE LEARNING techniques for the precision classification continues. The trend to merge these
AI-based SIGINT systems may be able and identification of transmitting disciplines risks leading to an escalation
to ‘learn’ the prevailing electromagnetic equipment” in their COMINT systems: in workload for the single individual
environment by observing it over a “These feed a more detailed intelligence tasked with collecting SIGINT and
prolonged period: An Electronic Support or situational picture, which in turn leads performing electronic attack. Concerns
Measures (ESMs) fitted to a maritime to more accurate threat assessment.” Yet about data accuracy aside, AI offers
patrol aircraft which flies across the same there are risks: “AI-based inference does potential benefits as “computer-based
coastline at roughly the same time each not generate 100 percent perfect results” inference isn’t susceptible to tiredness or
week will be able to develop a picture warns Forrester, “accuracy depends on other human traits,” remarks Forrester.
of the usual day-to-day electromagnetic the quality of the original data” used As CRFS’ statement notes AI “can lighten
activity in that part of the world. It will to train the AI element of the SIGINT cognitive loads in operators by tackling
note the usual marine radio and coastal system. Starting off with biased data repetitive tasks, searching through
cellphone traffic, along with the usual and a lack of data diversity if all data is large datasets, and drawing complex
emissions from civilian marine navigation drawn from a single source can mean relationships between seemingly
radars on ferries, fishing boats and cargo “that your results become warped,” Dr. disparate data that a human operator
vessels. The destroyer which one day Haigh advises. The data that the AI will would never be able to see.”
sails through international waters close learn from needs to be “diverse enough
to this coastline will suddenly stick out to cover all of the conditions you might While AI is assuming growing
like the proverbial sore thumb as its radar be experiencing.” A trade-off may also be importance in SIGINT it is still very much
and radio emissions will be distinct from necessary between the desired accuracy at the start of this journey. Given that AI
the prevailing electromagnetic pattern of and the desired speed of the AI-enabled is only as good as the data it receives
life. AI algorithms embedded in ESMs SIGINT processing. As CRFS cautions: this presents challenges given the speed
could be used to learn the environment, “Humans are equally capable of producing with which communications technology,
filter out extraneous clutter and isolate bad intelligence just as much as machines, particularly in the civilian wireless
the signal of interest all with little or no but because the process can be automated domain, evolves. Forrester says that
intervention from the operative. Using and executed rapidly, the rate at which this presents challenges as “to infer the
these errors are produced increases.” signal classification of a 5G transmitter,
the (SIGINT system) must have already
Taking the human completely out been trained using data from existing 5G
networks.” Given that 5G is only at the
start of its global rollout, as matters stand
at present AI-enabled SIGINT systems
risk having a paucity of 5G data to work
with for the time being. Furthermore AI
is moving into opposing domains which
could exploit this technology to better
hide signals of interest: “AI will also
be used by radar and radio engineers
which could make for some interesting
interactions,” observes Dr. Haigh. We
may well be on the dawn of a minor
revolution regarding the widespread and
routine adoption of AI in SIGINT, but
as discussed above, there are challenges
ahead: “We expect it will take at least
another three and possibly up to five
years before AI is common in the majority
of SIGINT deployments,” Forrester
concludes. AMR

| april/may 2020 | 25

Analyst

Column

TFMSH-I3ONO5RGUBEAGPHOTSREO’NS

TBy Ben Ho metres. A true vertical take-off is however 2017. The F-35’s teething problems are
here have been more something rarely carried out except finally being sorted out but this lack of
developments in Singapore’s during in-extremis conditions because it a track record may be key in explaining
F-35B Lightning II acquisition. severely reduces the amount of fuel and/ Singapore’s cautious F-35 purchase.
Singapore Defence Minister or ordnance the aircraft can carry. Also,
Ng Eng Hen recently said that the typical weapons load of an F-35B is Going forward, the RSAF is likely
the city-state was in the “final stages” only 83 percent (or about 1,400 kilograms to remain with the ‘B’ variant of the
of buying the Lockheed Martin 5th less) of a conventional take-off/landing Lightning II although there would be
Generation fighter. When delivered ‘A’ variant. Moreover, the technical milage in considering the cheaper, more
around 2026, the aircraft will be based in complexity of the F-35B means that there capable, and technically less complex
the United States for in-depth evaluation will be a premium placed on maintenance, ‘A’ variant in future procurement plans.
and training. Singapore’s defence which is a major consideration for RSAF After all, the current price tag of an F-35A
commentariat has been understandably planners to ponder when drawing up the is some $90 million and this compares
abuzz over the F-35B decision since news austere-base concept of operations for the favourably to the $115 million of its
of its procurement broke in January. aircraft. STOVL brethren. Besides a larger payload
as mentioned earlier, with a combat radius
A commonly raised issue concerns Another salient point about of 590 nautical miles, the F-35A can also
the jet’s short take-off and vertical Singapore’s small F-35 purchase (an strike targets further out compared to the
landing (STOVL) capability. Although initial order of only four planes with an ‘B’ variant (450nm).
I covered this in February’s column, a option for another eight) is that it clearly
few additional points are in order. The manifests the city-state’s gradualist and It is therefore conceivable that the
F-35B’s STOVL capability means that evolutionary approach towards defence F-35A could be in RSAF service one day,
the potential for dispersing fighters from acquisition. Singapore’s modus operandi although arguably well into the 2030s
regular airstrips and deploying them in this regard has usually been this: make and beyond. By then, the cost of the F-35
from austere ones is greatly multiplied. a limited purchase, slowly ease in the should have gone down significantly and
It is worth noting that during Exercise capability while fastidiously assessing its problems rectified. That said, replacing
Torrent in 2016, the Republic of Singapore its effectiveness and level of integration. the entire RSAF F-16 fleet (three squadrons
Air Force (RSAF) deployed its F-15s and Only when the F-35B has been truly of 60 planes) with an equal number of
F-16s from Lim Chu Kang Road, which bedded into the RSAF/Singapore Armed F-35s would amount to a prodigious
is a long stretch of road outside the main Forces edifice would another purchase be amount of defence dollars. One way
city near Tengah Air Base. During this considered. around this would be to accept having
exercise, road fixtures like bus stops and a smaller F-35 force supplemented with
traffic lights were removed, and in their In contrast, Singapore’s first buy of unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAV)
place, temporary airfield lights and other the F-15 in 2005 was much larger (12 following Australia’s ‘loyal wingman’
installations for runway operations were planes with an option for eight more), concept. While the concept is still in its
set up. All these occurred within 48 hours, but the Eagle had an enviable decades- infancy, RSAF chieftains might do well to
and a 2.5 kilometre-long temporary long operational record by then. The look into it for their long-term planning.
airstrip was birthed. same cannot be said of the F-35 at this And no, UCAVs will not entirely replace
stage, given that the first F-35B Squadron manned aircraft in the future but their
The F-35B’s STOVL capability means to achieve Initial Operational Capability importance as supporting actors should
that it will be able to utilise even shorter (IOC) was achieved in 2015 with the not be undervalued. AMR
roads as makeshift runways, being able first F-35A deployment into Europe in
to take-off from distances as short as 170

26 | Asian Military Review |

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