AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM IN ASIA

New STARStreak Missiles Delivery to ROYAL THAI ARMY from 2017

24 November 2015 Defence Studies

Thales will start delivering the additional STARStreak missiles and Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML) to the Royal Thai Army (RTA) from 2017.

Thales signed a multi-million pound contract with Thailand-based DataGate in September to supply the STARStreak air defence missile system. The contract follows on from Thailand's initial purchase of STARStreak in 2012.

"STARStreak High Velocity Missile (HVM) is designed to provide close air defence against conventional air threats such as fixed wing fighters and late unmasking helicopter targets. It is capable of being launched from lightweight land. sea and air platforms, from either automatic fire control systems such as RAPIDRanger or the STARStreak LML. STARStreak can therefore be deployed quickly into operations and is easy to integrate into a force structure" Dawn Ross, Communication Manager, Advanced Weapon Systems at Thales told Daily News.

"The system plays a key part in the air to protecting the Kingdom of Thailand," Ross added.

All the missiles ordered in 2012 were delivered to the RTA this year, Ross added.

"STARStreak is the leading VSHORAD system in the world today, enabling nations to protect key assets against both emerging and established threats. We are honored to continue to serve the Royal Thai Army as a key supplier for Thailand's advanced air defence capability."

Thales has previously exported weapons to the Indonesian government. In Malaysia this year, Thales signed a contract with Global Komited, a company within The Westar Group, to supply ForceSHIELD, the Thales integrated Advanced Air Defence system.

The purchase of ForceSHIELD will enable the Malaysian Armed Forces to replace and enhance the previously comisssioned Thales STARBurst missile system, which has been in service since the mid 1990s. 

THALES ANNOUNCES ORDER FOR FORCESHIELD INTEGRATED AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM AND STARSTREAK MISSILES FOR INDONESIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

15/01/2014

Thales UK today announced that it has signed a contract worth over £100 million with the Indonesian Ministry of Defence for ForceSHIELD, Thales’s integrated Advanced Air Defence system.

In addition to the supply of STARStreak short-range air defence missiles, the system comprises CONTROLMaster200 radar and weapon coordination systems, RAPIDRanger mobile weapon systems and Lightweight Multiple Launchers (LML), as well as associated communications, training and support equipment.

“This deal worth over £100m is great news for the UK and the aerospace industry…

Victor Chavez, CEO of Thales UK, said: “Thales is the only European defence contractor with the in-depth knowledge and range of advanced technologies to deliver a leading-edge integrated air defence solution such as ForceSHIELD. This solution for the Indonesian Army marks a new approach to air defence in that it provides a complete turnkey solution comprising latest-generation ‘sensor to effects’ technologies. I would like to express my gratitude to the Prime Minister for his personal support on this project and the support of the government – it makes a huge difference to industry and our customers.”

The British Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. David Cameron MP, said: “This deal worth over £100m is great news for the UK and the aerospace industry, and a strong vote of confidence in this Government’s long-term economic plan. It will help secure highly-skilled jobs in Northern Ireland and throughout the supply chain. This is precisely the reason why I go on these trade missions to countries like Indonesia, to drum up jobs and investment for our country, and I’m delighted my trip has resulted in a clear win for Thales.”

For the realisation of this programme, Thales will increase its existing industrial cooperation with the Republic of Indonesia, and has signed an agreement with the Indonesian company PT LEN Industri. The Group will continue to develop a long-term partnership with the Indonesian industry on future programmes in both the military and civil sectors.

Note to editors: About Thales’s ForceSHIELD solution

Thales’s ForceSHIELD solution is based on customising and combining a range of product lines such as radars, communications, engagement and fire control systems, launchers and missiles to meet front-line users’ needs.  This approach provides highly-effective capabilities for its customers to meet the increasing array of asymmetric and conventional air threats in today’s security environment.

The CONTROLMaster200 comprises the latest generation solid-state radar, capable of detecting and tracking 200 targets simultaneously out to ranges up to 250km. It incorporates the CONTROLView engagement control system that evaluates threats, assigns weapons, and coordinates combat management activity – enabling complex and critical decisions to be made faster and with greater precision and security.

The RAPIDRanger is a unique lightweight vehicle-based launcher and fire control system, which can be integrated into a network-enabled force structure and coordinated with a variety of Command and Control systems. Equipped with the STARStreak high-velocity missile, RAPIDRanger has the ability to defeat a wide variety of air threats, including ground attack aircraft, pop-up Attack Helicopters, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and cruise missiles.  The STARStreak missile operates at a speed in excess of Mach 3 to defeat fast-moving threats and those with short unmasking times.  The three-dart ‘hittile’ configuration maximises lethality and the highly-accurate laser beam riding guidance enables engagement of low-signature targets and is immune to all known countermeasures.

About Thales and Thales UK

Thales is a global technology leader in the Aerospace, Transportation and Defence & Security markets. In 2012, the company generated revenues of €14.2 billion (equivalent to £ 11.5 billion) with 65,000 employees in 56 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers and local partners.

Thales UK employs 7,500 staff based at 35 locations. In 2012 Thales UK's revenues were around £1.3 billion. 

Singapore boosts air defence with new missile 
system

SINGAPORE - Singapore's air defence will be beefed up with the acquisition of anew state-of-the-art missile system, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in Parliament yesterday.

The Aster-30 surface-to-air missile system - used by militaries such as those in France and Italy - will replace the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) I-Hawk system, which has been in service for 30 years.

Describing the new ground-based air-defence system as "many times more potent" than its predecessor, Dr Ng said it has the ability to engage multiple air threats simultaneously and from a longer distance.

The Aster-30 is developed in France by missile-system maker MBDA, and can tackle threats, such as fighter planes, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and precision-guided munitions.

The medium-range weapon will be part of a "multi-layered" air-defence system, with the Gulfstream-550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft at the outer perimeter, and the mobile Spyder surface-to-air missile system covering a shorter range.

While giving an overview of the plans to build a "comprehensive shield" protecting Singapore against airborne threats, Dr Ng said that the move to relocate Paya Lebar Airbase will not compromise security.

He said the Defence Ministry and Singapore Armed Forces conducted a thorough assessment in 2011 of Singapore's defence capabilities and security threats in the long term, and were satisfied that RSAF's ability to safeguard Singapore's skies would not be compromised.

Existing airbases at Changi East and Tengah will be expanded to accommodate the relocated airbase assets, he added.

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/singapore-boosts-air-defence-new-missile-system#sthash.2h02ijdj.dpuf