Gordon Arthur

India issues Ka-226T RfP, scorns competitive process

India’s MoD issued an RfP earlier in May for the 200 Kamov Ka-226T helicopters that it plans to buy to replace geriatric light utility platforms ...

Say ta-ta to communication and surveillance problems

At last month’s DefExpo 2018 exhibition in Chennai, Tata Aerospace & Defence showed a 4x4 SUV-type solution offering mobile communications for both military and disaster ...

South Korea launches second LPH

Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) ceremonially launched a landing platform helicopter (LPH) – the second Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship – in Busan on 14 ...

Austal misses out on Australian OPV project

Prime contractor Luerssen Australia announced on 11 May that it had concluded commercial negotiations with several partners for the Project Sea 1180 OPV programme, but ...

Author

Gordon Arthur is the Asia Pacific editor for Shephard Media. Born in Scotland and educated in New Zealand, Gordon is currently based in the territory of Hong Kong.

His work has appeared in nearly 40 international defence journals and magazines to date. His focus is primarily on Asia-Pacific countries, and he travels extensively in the region to attend defence shows and observe military exercises.

DN - Defence Notes

India intends to place fighters farther east

11th May 2018

India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands are in a key strategic location astride the western approaches to the Malacca, Sunda, Lombok and Ombai Wetar Straits. To ...
DN - Defence Notes

Australia gives defence budget a moderate lift

10th May 2018

Australia announced its defence budget for FY2018/19 on 8 May, with the total amounting to A$36.4 billion ($27.2 billion). This figure is in line with ...
NWI - Naval Warfare

HHI cuts steel on first Philippine frigate

8th May 2018

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) hosted a ceremony on 1 May to mark the initial cutting of steel for the first of the Philippine Navy’s (PN) ...
NWI - Naval Warfare

Canadian navy sees greater engagement in Asia

4th May 2018

Half of Canada’s seaboard fronts onto the Pacific Ocean, yet the country’s military is rarely seen across the other side of the Pacific in Asia. ...
NWI - Naval Warfare

Insight: China breaks promises and militarises South China Sea reefs

3rd May 2018

News has emerged from a US television network, likely leaked by US intelligence sources, that China has installed two missile types onto three of its reclaimed ...
NWI - Naval Warfare

Philippine Coast Guard expands its horizons

2nd May 2018

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), once part of the Philippine Navy until formally separated in April 1998, has long contended with meagre resources and old ...
RH - Rotorhub

Philippine and Malaysian police expand fleets

30th April 2018

Two Southeast Asian police forces are inducting new helicopters – the Philippines is now the proud owner of a Bell 429 and Malaysia is awaiting the ...
DH - Defence Helicopter

Seoul to begin search for naval helicopters

27th April 2018

The Republic of Korea Navy’s (ROKN) search for a dozen additional helicopters suitable for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) is set to begin in May, according to ...
NWI - Naval Warfare

Philippine Navy obtains its first ever missiles

25th April 2018

This week the Philippine Navy (PN) received a shipment of Spike-ER missiles, Typhoon MLS-ER launchers and Mini Typhoon 12.7mm RWSs from Rafael in Israel, destined ...
DH - Defence Helicopter

Insight: Indian helicopter dreams produce nightmares

25th April 2018

The Indian military’s seemingly endless pursuit of new helicopters is a sorry tale of woe for both the armed forces and for foreign OEMs wanting ...
LWI - Land Warfare

DSA 2018: Purveyors of protected mobility vehicles eye Malaysia

23rd April 2018

An interesting aspect to the DSA 2018 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur was the number of 4x4 protected mobility vehicles on display, as prospective sellers anticipate ...
LWI - Land Warfare

DSA 2018: Rapid Ranger rides into Malaysia

20th April 2018

Thales, in conjunction with local partner Global Komited (a Weststar subsidiary), exhibited a Starstreak very short-range air defence system mounted on a URO Vamtac 4x4 vehicle at ...
UV - Unmanned Vehicles

DSA 2018: Chinese company adds sparkle to UAVs

20th April 2018

Sparkle Tech exhibited its newest UAV, the Tiger Shark, at DSA 2018 in Kuala Lumpur. This Chinese company, headquartered in Hong Kong, has been manufacturing ...
LWI - Land Warfare

DSA 2018: Malaysia buys LG1 howitzers

19th April 2018

The DSA 2018 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur witnessed a rarity on 19 April, an actual purchase contract, on this occasion for 18 LG1 Mk III 105mm ...
DH - Defence Helicopter

DSA 2018: Malaysian MD 530Gs approach their Destini

19th April 2018

When the Malaysian Army ordered its six MD 530G scout helicopters from MD Helicopters, as announced on 1 February 2016, the first aircraft were to ...
DB - Digital Battlespace

DSA 2018: Hanwha defends with Naval Shield CMS

19th April 2018

Hanwha Systems displayed a mock-up of a triple-display console for its combat management system (CMS), which it generically calls Naval Shield, at the DSA 2018 ...
UV - Unmanned Vehicles

DSA 2018: Turkish robots march into Malaysia

18th April 2018

On 18 April, Aselsan signed a cooperation agreement with Malaysian firm DefTech at the DSA 2018 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, with the focus on robotics ...
UV - Unmanned Vehicles

DSA 2018: Al Seer gazes eastwards

18th April 2018

Al Seer Marine Technologies, a company based in the UAE, promoted its second-generation USVs at the DSA 2018 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. While one of ...
UV - Unmanned Vehicles

DSA 2018: DefTech advances unmanned technology

18th April 2018

DefTech displayed several UAVs at its booth at DSA 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, including a brand new Camar tactical UAV that possesses a 4m wingspan. ...
LWI - Land Warfare

DSA 2018: Malaysian Guardians approach Lebanon

17th April 2018

The Malaysian Armed Forces’ new 4x4 protected vehicles for its peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon are currently in transit to the strife-torn country, Shephard learned at ...