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 COVER STORY

31 st

YEAR EDITOR’S NOTE

CREDIT

LINE Investing in Strength

It is a sign of the times that we are in, as well as a reflection of China’s growing
naval might, that countries in the region are bolstering their underwater
EDITOR-in-CHIEF warfare capabilities by inducting some of the most sophisticated submarines
Vittorio Rossi Prudente
vittorio.prudente@gbp.com.sg in the world. Militaries clearly believe that it is money well spent, as can be
seen from the fact that Singapore, which has one of the most modern
Editor conventional submarine fleets in the world, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India are
Jay Menon all looking to introduce more submarines to their fleets.
jay.menon@gbp.com.sg
The growing demand for unmanned systems, and Ukraine’s imaginative use
Managing Editor
Arun Sivasankaran of such assets in the ongoing conflict against Russia, has led to militaries
arun.sivasankaran@gbp.com.sg investing in unmanned surface vessels. While the U.S. has stated its intention UNDERWATER EFFECT
to introduce USVs in large numbers and has sought industry input for a Large
Technology Editor
Atul Chandra Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV), Taiwan wants to purchase about 200
atul.chandra@gbp.com.sg low-cost armed sea drones to help thwart a potential Chinese invasion.
South Korea intends to increase the e percentage of drones in its naval
ASEAN Correspondent operations to 28% by the mid-2030s and 45% by the 2040s. Singapore has Nations in the region are bolstering their
Yulian Ardiansyah
yulian.ardiansyah@gbp.com.sg a newly formed USV squadron.

Art Director Another trend visible across regions, especially in Asia, is that of militaries underwater warfare capabilities
Sudheesh Kularmunda being eager to add anti-ship missiles. The Philippines, which has established
sudheesh.kularmunda@gbp.com.sg
an anti-ship missile battalion, recently took delivery of the BrahMos By ATUL CHANDRA
supersonic anti-ship cruise missile, thereby becoming the first international
Web Director
Elmer Valencia customer for the missile. The Indian Navy is clearly happy with the missile, as
elmer.valencia@gbp.com.sg can be seen from the service’s intention to acquire 200 of the missiles. The ations in the region operate Navy (2) and the Brazilian Navy (4). readiness of the Indian Navy. These
anti-ship missiles market is an increasingly crowded one, a sure sign that N
Director of Sales some of the most sophis- submarines will also feature higher
Akshay Satyamurthy there is no paucity of buyers. ticated submarines in the levels of indigenous content and all
akshay.satyamurthy@gbp.com.sg The Indian Navy presently oper-
Please visit www.gbp.com.sg for the latest news, unfiltered and unbiased, world. These sophisticated conven- three will be built by Mazagon Dock
Cover Image Credit from the world of defence. tional submarines, which are vital in ates three different classes of Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) under
thyssenkrupp protecting their maritime interests submarines of French, Russian license from French shipbuilder
Marine Systems GmbH in an increasingly tense regional and German origin, comprised Naval Group. The Navy remains
Editor environment, offer significant of seven Russian built Kilo Class committed in its quest to acquire six

Advertising Contacts: Asian Defence Technology deterrent value with their combina- submarines, five Scorpene subma- conventional submarines under the
rines with a sixth due for delivery,
Project P75 (I) programme, which is
marketing@gbp.com.sg tion of torpedoes and land attack and four Type 1500 diesel-electric
missiles. While Malaysia is looking a follow-on to the P75 programme,
Europe & Americas to add two more submarines to its submarines. The first of its new which resulted in six Scorpene
and all other countries: fleet, Indonesia has recently placed Scorpene submarines was inducted submarines being built. These
Global Communications sas in 2017 and the last of six Scorpene submarines are to be equipped with
Tel: +39 049 723548 orders for two more submarines. submarines for the Indian Navy
Ingrid@global-communications.it Singapore Navy’s fourth Type Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)
218SG submarine was recently was launched in April 2022. India’s systems.
Japan launched at thyssenkrupp Marine Ministry of Defence has approved
Visionworks Global Business Press Pte.Ltd. the procurement of three additional
Jerry.Suppan@gmail.com ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY Systems (tkMS) shipyard in Kiel, Scorpene submarines under the Singapore Boosts
30 Cecil Street, Germany. However, it is the French Buy (Indian) category. Underwater Edge
India + South East Asia #19-08 Prudential Tower, Singapore 049712 Scorpene that has found the most
Akshay Satyamurthy success in the region with Malaysia The Republic of Singapore Navy
Mob: +919980080246 Tel: +65 6850 5269 | Fax: +65 6438 2436
akshay.satyamurthy@gbp.com.sg Email: enquiry@gbp.com.sg | Web: www.gbp.com.sg (2), Indonesia (2) and India (6) all The additional submarines, would (RSN) boasts of one of the most
placing orders. Other customers of not only help in maintaining modern conventional subma-
the Scorpene include the Chilean rine fleets in the world. These
ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY is a bi-monthly publication for diplomats and professionals in the defence, security and academic fields. required force level and operational
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