Philippines:
The Army Artillery Regiment (AAR) has activated a new unit, the 10th Field Artillery, which will operate the 12 newly-acquired 155mm self-propelled howitzers from Israel.

Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad, in a statement Friday, said the 10th Field Artillery was activated during the AAR's 15th founding anniversary in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on June 22.

PA Inspector General, Maj. Gen. Roy M. Galido, who represented Army commander Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., headed the activation ceremonies.

”This newly activated unit will surely contribute to our continuing victory in the conduct of combined arms operations," he said in his speech.

The 10th Field Artillery will be led by Lt. Col. Chamberlain A. Esmino.

”As Artilyeros, let us not forget the characteristics that make you the best—speed and accuracy. Speed in providing the much-needed fire support to troops and accuracy in hitting only designated targets and avoiding collateral damage,” Galido added.

Earlier, the AAR announced that it had test-fired for the first time its newly-acquired Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer System (ATMOS) 155mm/52 caliber self-propelled artillery pieces.

Trinidad said the ATMOS 155mm howitzer system is a "shoot-and-scoot" weapon that can be rapidly deployed in rugged terrain.

"The weapon incorporates an 'inertial navigation system' (INS)-based gun-laying method and an automatic loader," he added.

The Army received 12 ATMOS howitzer units in December 2021 from Israeli defense company Elbit Systems.
it-for-israeli-made-howitzersaar-photo22-june-2022.jpg

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/117...by PMC Commandant, Maj. Gen. Nestor C. Herico
 
South Korea:
Footage has emerged of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 Boramae fighter conducting ground tests.

In a video posted on YouTube, the prototype fighter was seen taxiing across a temporarily closed road. Examination of Google Earth indicates that the fighter was heading north from KAI’s production facility to the taxiways and single runway of Sacheon airport.

Once on the runway, the fighter’s pilot advances the throttle. After remaining stationary for a few moments, the fighter accelerates down the runway for a short distance, before slowing down again.

It is not clear when the video was filmed, but media reports indicate that the fighter has powered up and started ground tests, pending a first flight before the end of 2022. FlightGlobal has contacted KAI for comment.

The KF-21 is South Korea’s most ambitious aerospace project to date. Powered by two GE Aviation F414s, it is aimed at replacing Republic of Korea Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-4s and Northrop F-5s.

Plans call for 120 examples to go to South Korea, and 50 to junior partner Indonesia.

KAI also sees potential for the KF-21 to replace legacy Lockheed Martin F-16s on the international market, although with twin-engines its operating costs are likely to be higher than for single-engined fighters.
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https://www.flightglobal.com/defenc...ound-tests-aesa-work-continues/149280.article
 
Tests of the new fighter KF-21 Borama South Korea

The South Korean aircraft manufacturer Korean Aerospace Industries has begun ground testing of the KF-21 Borama fighter. The plane was created as a cheap alternative to the American F-35 fighter. Borame does not have internal weapon hardpoints needed to reduce visibility. This does not allow it to be attributed to the fifth generation of aircraft. At the same time, he will be able to fly faster than the F-35, accelerating to a speed of Mach 1.9. On an external sling, the aircraft will be able to carry up to 10 missiles.

The aircraft actually belongs to the generation 4 plus fighters. The manufacturer claims that the radar of their aircraft is better than that of Russian or Chinese aircraft, although it is not clear how they came to such conclusions, other countries except Russia do not have exact information about the capabilities of the Su-57 radars. It is alleged that in total, at the points of external suspension, the KF-21 will be able to carry up to 7.5 tons of bombs, missiles or external fuel tanks, increasing the range of the vehicle. Such a load is quite at the level of the American F-35 and noticeably more than that of the F-22.

The aircraft is equipped with an active phased antenna array and software at the level of fifth-generation aircraft. There are also optical and thermal imaging passive systems for searching and aiming at enemy aircraft. The KF-21 in the Block 2 version will receive large compartments for the internal placement of weapons: this will reduce its radio visibility to the level of the F-117, and the Block 3 version will receive even lower radio visibility, closer to the F-22.

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MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine government has scrapped a deal to purchase 16 Russian military transport helicopters due to fears of possible U.S. sanctions, Philippine officials said.

Former Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday night he canceled the 12.7-billion-peso ($227 million) deal to acquire the Mi-17 helicopters in a decision last month that was approved by then-President Rodrigo Duterte before their terms in office ended on June 30.

 
Tests of the new fighter KF-21 Borama South Korea

The South Korean aircraft manufacturer Korean Aerospace Industries has begun ground testing of the KF-21 Borama fighter. The plane was created as a cheap alternative to the American F-35 fighter. Borame does not have internal weapon hardpoints needed to reduce visibility. This does not allow it to be attributed to the fifth generation of aircraft. At the same time, he will be able to fly faster than the F-35, accelerating to a speed of Mach 1.9. On an external sling, the aircraft will be able to carry up to 10 missiles.

The aircraft actually belongs to the generation 4 plus fighters. The manufacturer claims that the radar of their aircraft is better than that of Russian or Chinese aircraft, although it is not clear how they came to such conclusions, other countries except Russia do not have exact information about the capabilities of the Su-57 radars. It is alleged that in total, at the points of external suspension, the KF-21 will be able to carry up to 7.5 tons of bombs, missiles or external fuel tanks, increasing the range of the vehicle. Such a load is quite at the level of the American F-35 and noticeably more than that of the F-22.

The aircraft is equipped with an active phased antenna array and software at the level of fifth-generation aircraft. There are also optical and thermal imaging passive systems for searching and aiming at enemy aircraft. The KF-21 in the Block 2 version will receive large compartments for the internal placement of weapons: this will reduce its radio visibility to the level of the F-117, and the Block 3 version will receive even lower radio visibility, closer to the F-22.

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Wonder if it has the ability to carry internal hard points in later versions?
 
When I found out the KTM 390 was made in India, it was scratched off my list. What a heartbreak.
 
The Philippines is looking at buying heavy-lift Chinook helicopters from the United States after scrapping a deal for Russian military helicopters.

The country’s former defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on July 27, 2022 that the Philippines had permanently dropped the $227 million deal to acquire 16 Russian military helicopters over possible US sanctions due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

In a briefing reported by Reuters on August 15, 2022, Manila's ambassador to Washington said that the US was willing to do a deal for the same amount that the Philippines was due to spend on the Russian contract.

"This cancellation of this contract is precipitated mainly by the war in Ukraine. While there are sanctions expected to come our way, from the United States and western countries, obviously it is not in our interest to continue and pursue this contract," Jose Manuel Romualdez was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The Philippines is now negotiating with Russia on recovering a $38 million down payment for the 16 helicopters, he said.

Any deal with the US would probably include maintenance, service and parts, the ambassador said.
https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/31904-philippines-talks-us-chinook-helicopters
 
Taiwan:
The Biden administration plans to formally ask Congress to approve an estimated $1.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan that includes 60 anti-ship missiles and 100 air-to-air missiles, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the package.

The package, which is still in an early stage, includes 60 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles for $355 million, 100 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder tactical air-to-air missiles for $85.6 million, and $655.4 million for a surveillance radar contract extension, the people said. The Sidewinder missiles will arm Taipei’s U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/29/biden-taiwan-arms-sales-congress-00054126
 
Taiwan:
The Biden administration plans to formally ask Congress to approve an estimated $1.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan that includes 60 anti-ship missiles and 100 air-to-air missiles, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the package.

The package, which is still in an early stage, includes 60 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles for $355 million, 100 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder tactical air-to-air missiles for $85.6 million, and $655.4 million for a surveillance radar contract extension, the people said. The Sidewinder missiles will arm Taipei’s U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/29/biden-taiwan-arms-sales-congress-00054126


Are they helping Taiwan to defend against the Philippines?
 
The Philippine Navy (PN) is poised to be at par with its regional counterparts through the acquisition of more modern warships in the coming years, its acting chief said on Thursday.

"In five years time, when the arrival of the seven more Acero-class gunboats, the new construction landing docks, the new generation corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, the average age of our seagoing platforms will be 10 years old. Comparable and even better than our maritime neighbors," PN acting flag-officer-in-command Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia said in his assumption speech at the Navy headquarters.

Valencia referred to the warships that were procured as part of the PN’s modernization program.

To date, the Navy is now equipped with two brand-new missile-armed frigates, two landing docks, two anti-submarine helicopters, and 12 multi-purpose attack craft, six of which are now equipped with the Israeli-made Spike-ER surface-to-surface missiles.

This is a far cry from the ships Valencia had seen and served during the beginning of his naval service, noting that some of these date back from World War II and are antiquated as of that time.

"But despite the great strides we have achieved then, I believed we could still do better," Valencia said.

Another example of the PN getting even more capable and better is when the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), in the recently concluded Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in Hawaii, won third place in the Naval Surface Fire Support "Rodeo" besting 16 other warship participants

Valencia said such a feat was once only a dream 10 years ago.

"I remember the first naval exercise that I participated in and as part of this exercise, we fired our 3.50 inch (naval) guns. Not only did our gun crew miss by a mile but we were told to cease firing as the deck was so brittle that there was a danger of it collapsing. And also, so much rust was raining down below deck due to the recoil of our naval guns," he added.

He said the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) will take full delivery of its BrahMos anti-ship missile systems within the next three years.
o-luna-and-crew-in-formation08-june-2022navy-photo.jpg

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1183293
 

Still, the designation will help accelerate Taiwan’s purchases of U.S. military equipment. Taiwan currently faces a $14 billion backlog in delivery of weapons it purchased from the United States...The Taiwan Policy Act directs the Defense and State departments to “prioritize and expedite” foreign military sales for Taipei and prohibits both departments from delaying the sales through a bundling route, whereby a defense manufacturer would simultaneously produce weapons systems from multiple contracts.
 
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has announced that it will build 10 additional Tuo Chiang class corvettes amid increasing tensions with China. The initiative is part of the island nation’s continuing military modernization efforts to deter a possible invasion by Beijing.
1000x667_wmkn_026928451614.jpg
 
China now has problems selling subs and probably also ships as no more German engines are delivered to China after an EU embargo targeting dual use goods.

Lets see what happens here.



They even don't have a gas turbine they used an Ukrainain one which I guess will be complicated to support.

Also their newest carrier still uses oil boilers (!)

Exageration but you get the gist.

649436d3e95c4d8b95b7e72187628888.jpg
 
The US government has agreed to let Taiwan buy the NASAMS air defence missile system, Up Media reports.

The offer from the Americans were made during the annual Monterey Talks security meeting by both sides in Annapolis on June 20.

According to the news report, the Taiwanese will be allowed to buy the latest variant of NASAMS which can fire the AIM-9X, AMRAAM, and AMRAAM-ER missiles.
x-Norwegian_Advanced_Surface_to_Air_Missile_System.jpg
 

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