Malaysia's two Scorpenes - delivered 2009

Malaysia's first submarine, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, docks in Port Klang outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday, September 3, 2009.

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PETE'S COMMENT

Malaysia has a modest submarine force consisting of two Scorpenes: KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, commissioned in January 2009 and KD Tun Abdul Razak, commissioned in December 2009. Malaysia occasionally has low level naval confrontations with the Indonesia Navy over territorial boundaries and seabed oil rights (see my post about latest Ambalat flare up). Malaysia would also be sensitive about Singapore's growing submarine fleet (including Singapore's order in late 2013 of 2 HDW 218SGs). Malaysia is also in competition with countries in the northwest Pacific for resources in the South China Sea. To meet competition from Indonesia Malaysia's two Scorpenes are based at Sepanggar, Sabah. 

Scorpenes, like Australia's Collins, are attack submarines, with no capability to search for or recover crashed aircraft. Unlike most countries in the region Singapore has a highly specialised Submarines Support and Rescue Vessel (SSRV) the MV Swift Rescue. SSRVs are very expensive and rarely used - which explains why so few small to medium size navies have them. 

ARTICLE

Agency France Press (AFP) reported http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jzOLpsNfZQGbmInY3d2ZrMrvpDFg
September 3, 2009:

"PORT KLANG, Malaysia — Malaysia's first ever submarine was delivered Thursday to colourful fanfare and a royal visitor, in an acquisition that the government said "completes" the country's navy.

The European-made Scorpene submarine [with 32 crew] is the first of two commissioned from French contractor DCNS and Spain's Navantia for a combined total of 3.4 billion ringgit (961 million US dollars). The second submarine is scheduled for delivery in late 2009.

"With the arrival of the first submarine, our navy is now complete as it has an air component, a sea component and now a submarine component," Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told reporters.

The KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, named after the nation's first prime minister, sailed into a grand reception at the navy's deepwater Pulau Indah base in Port Klang, an hour's drive from the capital Kuala Lumpur...

Malaysian King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin was given a tour of the submarine, which set sail 54 days ago from the French port of Toulon, where the vessel was built. [journey included 32 days submerged, 12 days surfaced and 10 days of docking at ports].

Naval officials said the submarine would be based in Sabah state, on Borneo island, where it will undergo fine-tuning before it is deployed in search and rescue and military exercises.

The two submarines have long attracted controversy since the deal was signed in 2002.

Malaysia's opposition claims that a 540-million-ringgit commission was paid to a close associate of now-Premier Najib Razak in brokering the deal..."
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Pete

Fire reported on Australian submarine HMAS Waller - Feb 27, 2014

On February 27, 2014 a fire occurred in the forward battery compartment of Austrialia's Collins submarine HMAS Waller.

COMMENT

An Anonymous commenter (see Comments below) has advised me that the original Submarine Matters comment and detail on this page was incorrect. Therefore I'll let readers decide - with a:

- a dramatic version from the Mainstream Media and http://www.news.com.au/national/fire-emergency-aboard-hmas-waller-as-indian-submarine-blaze-kills-two/story-fncynjr2-1226840169661 and

- the (or an) official report http://news.defence.gov.au/2014/02/27/fire-onboard-royal-australian-navy-submarine/ . This is the official report from Australia's Department of Defence: 

Fire onboard Royal Australian Navy submarine

27 February 2014 | Media Release

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This afternoon HMAS Waller, one of the Royal Australian Navy’s submarines, experienced a fire while on the surface off the West Australian coast. Emergency response actions were taken to extinguish the fire.

There were no casualities. As a precaution, four members of the ship’s crew who were involved in the response to the fire have been landed for observation.

HMAS Waller had recently completed a scheduled maintenance period and was at sea as part of her return to operations.

A full investigation into the incident will be held.

At this stage no further details are available.

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If the commenter wants me to add more I can if I'm pointed to another official report.

Regards

Pete

High Tech US Anti-Satellite Weapons - GSAP

In late February 2014 US Air Force Space Command (AFSPC ) commander General William Shelton (above) has provided details about the new geosynchronous space situational awareness program (GSSAP) at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium and Technology exposition in Florida, US (see http://www.airforce-technology.com/news/newsusaf-launches-new-space-situational-awareness-satellite-programme-4185920) .

The US is gradually developing and deploying space based anti-satellite weapons. StrategyPage reports:

http://strategypage.com/%5Chtmw%5Chtspace%5Carticles%5C20140305.aspx

"Space: The Very High Spy

  

March 5, 2014:  The U.S. Air Force recently revealed that it is launching four GSSAP (Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program) satellites that will spy on the most valuable and potentially dangerous (to the United States) foreign satellites. Not the low flying ones, which can be monitored from the ground, but the more expensive ones that operate in 36,000 kilometer high stationary (geosynchronous) orbits. Up there you have surveillance and communications satellites that basically stay over the same area on earth.

The four GSSAP birds are mobile and will move about in the geosynchronous orbits checking out the competition and, in particular, looking for satellites equipped to attack other satellites in that space. They may spur an arms race up there if other countries, particularly China, suspects that the GSSAP birds have a secondary attack function to knock out key (especially in wartime) Chinese commercial and military satellites in the geosynchronous region. The stated reason for GSSAP is to give the U.S. (and its allies) a better idea of who has what up there and to have that information first. Two of the GSSAP birds go up this year and the second two in 2016. Information on GSSAP satellites was made public to try and avoid paranoid and unpredictable reactions from nations with satellites up there once they noted the GSSAP birds moving about...."  WHOLE ARTICLE

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Pete

Saab Being Subsidized To Buy Back Kockums?

A possible design for Kockums' A26. Will it ever be built? (Courtesy of Kockums' website ) 

Christopher Harress of International Business Times, March 3, 2014 reports http://www.ibtimes.com/saab-angling-take-control-thyssenkrupp-submarine-yard-sweden-1559035

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"Saab Is Angling To Take Control Of ThyssenKrupp Submarine Yard In Sweden"

Three years ago, Kockums, the Swedish national submarine manufacturer was sold by the Swedish government to Germany’s ThyssenKrupp, but after uncertainty over jobs and boat building guarantees, it appears the Swedish government is angling for Saab to take control of the Malmo-based ship-building yard.

In a clear statement of intent, Sweden’s procurement agency FMV announced on Feb. 27 that it was allocating $3.84 million to test whether or not Saab had the ability to design and build the next generation of Swedish submarine.

The move was spawned by disappointment coming from the Swedish Defense Ministry that Thyssen wouldn’t give guarantees that ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, what Thyssen renamed the old Kockums yard in Malmo, would continue to be a large-vessel producer in the region. Additionally, the ministry was concerned because Thyssen hadn’t provided fixed prices for the delivery of two new A26 generation subs and mid-life refits for the Gotland-class submarine.

That said, the failure for TKMS to get finalize those contracts has put jobs in jeopardy, says Thyssen. But Saab’s emergence as a possible buyer for the yard, according to the Swedish Defense Ministry, is because it’s believed that Thyssen is going to reorganize the 1000 unionized workers in Malmo and is to begin the manufacturing of small-sized subs and surface vessels up to 1000 tons. The New A26 class boats and those awaiting refit are around 1900 tons.

The Swedish government procurement agency has said that Thyssen’s reluctance to ioffer fixed prices for the new boats and upgrades means it is currently not possible to move forward to the build stage as it is not practical, sustainable or best use of taxpayer’s money.

Saab has contended that it could meet the needs to design, build and refit submarines, however, it has declined to comment suggestions that it might take control of the TKMS yard." 

ENDS 

COMMENT

Please connect with Singapore's December 2, 2013, decision to buy two HDW 218SG subs instead of the  purchasing Kockums' submarines  http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/singapore-buying-two-hdw-218sg.html and  http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/germans-sinking-kockums-swedish-sub.html 

This development begs questions. Why did the Swedish Government sell Kockums to its German competitors in the first place? Swedes may also want to know how much government money will be required to fund the buyback of Kockums? Also how much government money will Kockums need to build two new A26 generation submarines and for the mid-life refits for the Gotland-class submarines (two or all three)? 

Meanwhile US company DefenseNews reported on the same matter, but failed its geography test - by placing Helsinki in Sweden - see http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140302/DEFREG01/303020012/Saab-Maneuvers-Buy-Swedish-Submarine-Maker?odyssey=mod_sectionstories naughty!

Pete

Espionage - Sumer Khan: Alleged agent for Pakistan.

A nuclear capable Mirage 2000 at Iron Fist

Sumer Khan (in centre)

Further Update of 2014 on the Sumer Khan case. India's Sunday Standard, March 2, 2014 reported  http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Pakistani-Agent-of-Fear-Sends-Chill-Down-Defence-Ministry-Spine/2014/03/02/article2085090.ece :

"[In 2013], Home Ministry official Surendra Sharma [he appears to be also known as Surendra Singh -  see below] working in the Office of Foreigners Division was arrested after Counter-Intelligence unit of Army and the Intelligence Bureau busted the ‘Pokhran ISI spy ring’ in Rajasthan. Sharma was allegedly supplying classified information to ISI operative Sumer Khan. The Home Ministry estimates that security agencies have arrested at least 48 ISI spies including 10 Pakistani agents and 38 Indians in the last three years. Of the 38 Indian moles, 10 were government officials, including two ex-servicemen, three serving personnel and three civilians."

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Update on Sumer Khan espionage network from India Today, March 5, 2013 http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/suspected-isi-agents-interrogated-sent-to-police-remand/1/256608.html :

"Suspected ISI agents interrogated, sent to police remand

Two suspected ISI agents who were nabbed from Barmer and Delhi for passing on vital information to Pakistan were subjected to joint interrogation by the Military Intelligence officials, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the intelligence wing of the Rajasthan police in Jaipur after they were sent to two days remand by a Jaipur court on Tuesday.

Surendra Singh, a class IV employee of the Union home ministry, was arrested from Delhi on Monday, for his links with the computer-savvy Sumer Khan who was arrested near Pokhran's Chandan firing range in Jaisalmer on February 25 for passing on information on the airbase of the Indian Air.

Recently IAF's mega exercise Iron Fist was carried out in Chandan.

During interrogation Khan, who was allegedly passing on information to Pakistan for the past three years, is believed to have told the investigators that he was getting classified documents from Surendra posted with the foreign desk's dispatch section of the Union home ministry.

The interrogation of Surendra, arrested under Section 8 of the Official Secrets Act, is believed to have been focused on documents he had shared with Khan and others.

Khan was caught after his calls and e-mails to Pakistan were intercepted by intelligence sleuths.

A native of Karmu-ki-Dhani, a hamlet close to the Chandan airbase, he also kept track of army movements in the range and had visited Pakistan in 2011 and 2012. He was trained in identifying vehicles and war planes."

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 An IntelNews item http://intelnews.org/2013/02/26/01-1204/ alerted me to the following:

Bangladesh's The Daily Star, February 26, 2013 reports (BBC Online written story) http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=45036 :

"India arrests 'spy for Pakistan'"

Indian police say they have arrested a man [Sumer Khan] suspected of passing military secrets to arch-rival Pakistan.

[Sumer Khan] an Indian citizen, was held in the western state of Rajasthan near the two countries' border.

[According to The Times of India http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-26/india/37308994_1_isi-agent-defence-information-police-custody The man is 34-year-old Sumer Khan from Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district arrested for sending strategic information to Pakistan's ISI via emails and mobile calls for the past three years. Sources say that Sumer Khan's uncle lives in Pakistan and was a mediator [go-between] between him and ISI. The man [Sumer Khan?] had allegedly gone to Pakistan at least thrice and had been trained to gather intelligence. The arrest has come just two days after the conclusion of India's biggest air exercise 'Iron Fist' in Jaisalmer.]

Police say [Sumer Khan] passed details of military exercises held last week to [ISI]. India and Pakistan frequently accuse each other of spying. The arrest comes after weeks of tension over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

[Sumer Khan] is accused of "passing information related to Indian defence installations and military activities", senior police officer DS Dinkar told AFP news agency.

One report says his telephone calls to a relative in Pakistan, who it is alleged works for Pakistani intelligence, were intercepted.

The man was arrested by army intelligence at his house in a village near the town of Pokhran on Sunday and is being questioned by security agencies.

He appeared in court in Jaipur on Monday and was remanded in custody, police sources said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pranab Mukherjee both attended the war games, codenamed "Iron Fist", which were held near Pokhran on Friday.
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COMMENT
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It may or may not be significant that where Khan (a minority Muslim in mainly Hindu India) was arrested is near the site of India’s nuclear tests, including the five simultaneous tests in 1998 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokhran-II . Indian military and also its civilian security service (IB) would be most sensitive to the passing of nuclear weapon information to Pakistan. Whether Khan passed such information (nuclear aspects of Indian military exercises?) remains to be seen.
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Pete

China's Submarines - Excellent Danish Report

An crucial characteristic of submarines is quieting . See quieting improvements for diesel-electric propelled Chinese and Russian submarines (above) and nuclear propelled (below). The green area indicates submarines that would be relatively easy for navies to detect vs. red which would be difficult to detect. (Image Credit: US Office of Naval Intelligence, 2009) reproduced at http://manglermuldoon.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/chinas-anti-access-strategy-submarine.html

Morten Hetmar Vestergaard wrote an excellent paper in late 2013 that has been published by several institutions including the Royal Danish Defence College. His paper is Overseas or Submarines? Understanding and Explaining China’s Naval Modernisation and Maritime Strategy. He presented it at the International Society of Military Sciences Conference, København, Denmark, November 12-14, 2014.

The paper is at   https://pure.fak.dk/ws/files/4783982/Overseas_or_Submarines_ISMS_Paper_Morten_Hetmar_Vestergaard.pdf.

More details about the paper are at http://pure.fak.dk/portal/en/publications/overseas-or-submarines(e3cbc7ef-0bec-4248-8ae7-159e2975ec55).html including the paper's Abstract which is:

"The rise of China in recent decades has taken place on an unprecedented scale and at a breathtaking a pace. Few, perhaps none, have gone so far so fast from weakness to strength. Especially the modernization of China’s Navy has been a focal point of debate regarding the evolving security environment in Asia. Deduced from defensive and offensive realism, this paper makes theoretically informed hypotheses and predicts corresponding naval force postures expected in each hypothesis. The hypotheses are then tested on the empirical data to explain China’s strategic behaviour and procurement patterns in the maritime domain. The findings are significant particularly in the development of two major constituents of the Chinese Navy, namely submarines and principal surface combatants. In these areas, the development of capabilities has taken place at a dramatic pace and breadth. The paper concludes that the naval capabilities of China have evolved in a manner exhibiting a power-maximising strategic behaviour in line with the revisionist disposition of great powers in offensive realism that accordingly corresponds with the predicted posture. As a whole, the empirical data presented in this paper is consistent with a tendency in the modernization of China’s Navy to establish itself as a dominant power in its maritime region."

The following are some details in the paper:

Pages 10 and 11 - details about China's SSBNs.

Pages 11 to 13 - details about China's SSKs  including the Ming, Romeo and Song classes. 

Pages 23 to 24 - China's Anti Ship Ballistic Missile derived from the DF-21.

Pages 26 and 27 concern the Yuzhao-class (Type-071) Landing Platform Dock 
(LPD) noting that China's Changbaishan of that class sailed between Indonesia and Australia in February 2014.

Pages 27 to 30 - details of China's Kilo, Ming, Romeo, Song and Yuan SSKs,

Pages 33 and 34 - Chinese SSNs and again SSBNs including a graph of the increasing quietness of Chinese and also Russian nuclear submarines (also reproduced in the second graph above).

Appendix A pages 43 to 46 - provide class, displacement, laid down, launched and commissioned details of all of China's submarine types.

Appendix B pages 47 to 51 - provide class, displacement, laid down, launched and commissioned details of all China's surface combatants.

Pete