Joint exercise to strengthen ties between Pak, Saudi navies

Maritime security operations against asymmetric threats as well as contemporary challenges like piracy, terrorism, narcotics, arms and human smuggling have a great impact on the maritime environment, Rear Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah said at a press briefing on Saturday.

“It needs no emphasis that present day navies are increasingly focused on policing roles and sharing of resources for countering these multifarious maritime security challenges requires collaborative approach at regional as well as international level,” he observed.

“To this end, the Pakistan Navy as a responsible maritime power is contributing relentlessly in maintaining legitimate maritime order at sea through the conduct of maritime security operations in the Arabian Sea and beyond.”

He said the Pakistan Navy regularly conducted bilateral and multilateral exercises with regional and extra-regional navies to improve its interoperability with international navies.

“These exercises are a clear manifestation of Pakistan’s commitment towards maintaining peace and stability in the region.”

Naseem Al Bahr is one such bilateral maritime exercise conducted with a brotherly navy, the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF). Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia not only enjoy deep-rooted fraternal ties, but also share historic maritime traditions.

Naseem Al Bahar is a biennial exercise evolved as a manifestation of the unique Pak-Saudi interpersonal relationship and mutual resolve to enhance bilateral cooperation in facing the common challenges.

“The participation of RSNF ships in the exercise will further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between the two brotherly navies. At this juncture, we thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and particularly, the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, for their participation in the exercise, Naseem Al Bahr-X, which is scheduled from 12 to 22 Jan 13 off the coast of Makran,” Zakaullah said.

“It is also a milestone in history of the Pakistan Navy in which the complete exercise will be conducted from Jinnah Naval Base, Ormara. Naseem Al Bahr series of exercises is indeed a concerted effort from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to promote maritime security awareness for collaborative maritime security in the region.”

The rear admiral said first Naseem Al Bahr exercise was conducted in January 1993 and the present exercise also marks the twentieth year of this interaction with the RSNF.

Zakaullah said the aim of the exercise was to foster friendship, develop common understanding and increase interoperability with the RSNF in the domains of traditional as well as non-traditional warfare in order to maintain peace and stability for the larger good of the region.

He said in the traditional warfare domain, the objective was to share and refine tactics, techniques and doctrines through jointly undertaking anti-surface, anti-submarine and anti-air operations with RSNF units.

In the non traditional domain, he added, the exercise would mainly focus to improve interoperability and tactical proficiency in the execution of combined maritime security operations against asymmetric threats like piracy, counter terrorism and defence of port infrastructure to mention a few.


He disclosed that four RSNF ships which include frigate (HMS Makkah) embarked with a Dauphin helicopter, a guided missile equipped patrol craft (HMS Tabuk), Mine counter measures vessel (HMS Shaqra) and a tanker (HMS Boraida) were participating in the exercise.

In addition, he said a platoon of the RSNF Marines and a Special Operations Force team along with explosive ordnance disposal elements had also arrived in Pakistan for various exercises.

Three PN destroyers/frigates, missile boats, mine hunters, submarine, PN long range maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, elements of Pak Marines, Special Services Group (Navy) and PAF fighters are representing Pakistan in the exercise.

After the arrival of the RSNF ships, the exercise will progress through phased activities in harbour and at sea for gradual improvement and coordination in all professional realms.

The exercise will culminate with live weapons firing by RSNF and PN units.

The activities in harbour include professional seminars on information security, counter piracy, mine counter measures and host of other events which will provide opportunity to share experiences and knowledge.

The sea phase of the exercise is planned from January 15 till 20 in which RSNF and PN units will operate together and will exercise all facets of modern warfare.

Zakaullah said the good thing about the exercises was that each series was refined and improved based on the lessons learnt from the previous ones.

 

Pak-Saudi joint naval exercises from today

Navies of the present day world are increasingly focused on policing roles and sharing of resources for maritime security operations against asymmetric threats viz contemporary challenges like terrorism, piracy, narcotics, arms and human smuggling which have greatly impacted the maritime environment.

Pakistan Navy is engaged in Maritime Security Operations in the vital region of North Arabian Sea which enhances national and global economy through maintenance of legitimate maritime order at sea. Pakistan Navy’s outreach to regional and global navies in respect of defence collaboration is a potent mean to advance nation’s foreign office policy objectives.

Aiming to provide formal opportunity for both Pakistan Navy and Royal

Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) to enhance interoperability & tactical proficiency, practice and improve tactics related to Anti Submarine warfare, Anti Surface Warfare, Anti Air Warfare and Air operations, develop common tactics against asymmetric, air, surface, sub-surface and mine threats including defense of port infrastructure, demonstrate MCM capabilities, share and refine the tactical doctrines and to conduct Live Weapon Firing, the biennial conduct of Joint PN – RSNF Naval Exercise Naseem AL BAHR series was evolved.

Since its institution in 1993, the Exercise has matured into an advanced level maritime exercise. The 10th exercise of this series; to be held from 12 – 22 Jan 13 in Pakistani waters, will involve participation of State Of The Art Sea and Air platforms besides Special Forces.

The tempo of the Exercise will be developed progressively, with seminars followed by tactical games during Harbour Phase. Thereafter, sea Phase will be conducted for tactical & operational training workup including Live Weapon Firings at Sea. Side by side, Pakistani and RSNF Special Operating Forces (SOFs) and Marines will also be conducting Joint exercises.

The conduct of Joint Exercise between Pakistan Navy and RSNF in the present geo-political situation, has added significance and it is considered that this will go a long way in enhancing the brotherly relations between the two countries.

GD Wins $133M for Saudi Abrams Tanks

General Dynamics Land Systems has been awarded $132.7 million for the procurement and production of 69 Saudi M1A2 (M1A2S) Abrams tanks for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This work is part of a plan by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to upgrade its fleet of tanks.

The Foreign Military Sales contract was awarded by the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command for the Royal Saudi Land Forces.

This contract extends work started in 2008 to update M1A1 and M1A2 tanks to the M1A2S configuration for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The M1A2S conversion increases the efficiency and capability of the tank.

The work will be performed by current employees at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2014.

General Dynamics Land Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics

Saudi Arabia orders General Dynamics tanks

General Dynamics Land Systems, a subsidiary of Falls Church-based General Dynamics Corp., has won a $132.7 million contract for 69 M1A2 Abrams tanks for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Foreign Military Sales contract was awarded by the U.S. Army’s TACOM Life Cycle Management Command for the Royal Saudi Land Forces.

It extends work General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) started in 2008 to update existing Saudi tanks.

The tanks will be produced in Lima, Ohio, and be completed by July 2014.

Report: Saudi Arabia Mulls German Tank Deal

Saudi Arabia is planning to buy 30 German Dingo 2 armoured vehicles worth about 100 million euros, Bild am Sonntag reported in its Sunday edition.

Quoting sources close to the talks on a deal, the paper said Riyadh could eventually purchase up to 100 of the mine resistant, ambush protected Dingos.

The Dingo 2 is advertised by its maker Krauss-Maffei Wegmann as “the safest and best-protected wheeled vehicle in its class” with an “outstanding performance on extremely difficult terrains and under extreme climatic conditions”.

The vehicle is also fitted with a nuclear biological and chemical protection system.

Germany’s national security council of which Chancellor Angela Merkel is a member is still to make a final decision on the deal but has already given the green light in principle, said the weekly.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly shown an interest in German tanks.

Earlier this year Bild am Sonntag reported, quoting government sources, that Riyadh wanted to buy 600-800 Leopard battle tanks, more than twice as many as originally envisaged.

For decades Germany has declined to sell such heavy weapons to Saudi Arabia because of concerns over human rights and fears for Israel’s security.

Opposition politicians and even some members of Merkel’s ruling centre-right coalition had slammed the reported tank sale, particularly in light of pro-democracy uprisings throughout the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia Warns Iraq That Failure To Accomodate Sunnis Risks Even More Violence And Sectarianism

Saudi Arabia  warned Iraq against sectarian extremism after two weeks of protests by Sunni Muslims against Baghdad's Shi'ite-led government.
The street protests across Iraq's Sunni heartland have strained the Arab state's fragile political balance and renewed fears of intensified sectarian strife.
"We are convinced that Iraq will not stabilize until it starts handling issues without sectarian extremism... Until these issues are addressed, we don't think there will ever be stability in Iraq, which pains us," Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told a news conference in Riyadh.
Iraq's Arab majority is mostly Shi'ite but the country was dominated by Sunnis under former strongman Saddam Hussein and much of the fighting since he was deposed has fallen along sectarian lines.
Sunni Saudi Arabia has a tense relationship with Baghdad and senior princes have previously described Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as being in hock to Shi'ite Iran, in comments to U.S. diplomats released by WikiLeaks.
Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, is locked in a struggle for regional influence with fellow OPEC-member Iran, backing opposing sides in Syria and Lebanon, where Shi'ite parties are allied to Tehran.

Riyadh also accuses Tehran of fomenting unrest in Bahrain and Yemen, and of instigating protests among Saudi Arabia's own Shi'ite minority, charges Iran denies.
Former Saudi intelligence head Prince Muqrin described Maliki as "an Iranian 100 percent" in comments to visiting U.S. officials relayed in a July 2008 embassy cable released by the WikiLeaks website.

Slim, fast: Saudi military told to shape up, or ship out

Saudi Royal Guard officers have been ordered to slim down to receive their promotions and avoid punitive action.

Under an order from King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, the officers have been given three months to shrink their waist to the ideal sizes endorsed in the military, local Arabic daily Al Sharq reported on Wednesday.

Officers who fail to lose weight and to shape up will face punitive measures that include losing their right to promotion.

Saudi criteria to join the military service include a minimum height of 175 centimetres and a weight that is in proportion to the height.
King Abdullah has been pushing since he assumed power in 2005 for sweeping positive changes and reforms in several sectors in the Saudi kingdom.

Will the Saudi guards be able to reign in their bellies? Should the Saudi royals practice what they preach? Comment below.

Saudi Arabia National Guard ordered 68 MPCV air defense vehicles from French company Lohr

According to French financial daily "Les Echos", the Saudi Arabian National Guard ordered 68 MPCV air defense vehicles from French company Lohr. Very little information is avaiblable on this specific vehicle, however Army Recognition saw it during Eurosatory 2012 back in June. We are therefore able to provide some details on this little-known vehicle.

The MPCV (Multi-Purpose Combat Vehicle), based on a Mercedes Unimog 5000 chassis, is an armored high-mobility 4x4 vehicle offered by SOFRAME (Lohr group). It is designed for a crew of four to ten men depending on its configuration and missions.
The version that has been ordered by Saudi Arabia National Guard is fitted with an MBDA turret which comprises:
» MBDA's MISTRAL 2 Surface-to-Air missiles
» A12.7mm self-defence machine gun
» An electro-optic sensor suite
» A fire control system
» Communication systems

MPCV, with four ready-to-fire Mistral 2 missiles (plus 4 additional munitions inside the vehicle), permits the interception of manoeuvring air targets at ranges exceeding 6 km and altitudes exceeding 3,000 m. The very-high mobility and short reaction time (2 seconds) provides this vehicle configuration with excellent air defence capabilities against saturating threats: a unit of four MPCVs can engage up to 16 different targets coming from any direction in less than 15 seconds. The system is also well adapted to the protection of deployed units or convoys, not only through its performance in autonomous detection and identification (integrated IFF) but also thanks to its capability to lock-on to targets and fire if required even when the vehicle is on the move.


MPCV has been designed to minimize crew workload and facilitate long duration operations. It can be operated by a single soldier or by a two-man crew including a team leader. Significantly for operational flexibility, MPCV can be operated from within the vehicle or, remotely, through a state-of-the-art fully mobile workstation which can be installed in a building, a bunker or any other protected position if static operations are called for.

The SOFRAME MPCV basic specifications are as follow:
» Max speed: 90 Km/h
» Poids 13,000 Kg
» Ballistic protection: Level 2 & 2A

Saudi F-15 jet crashes on training mission, pilot missing

A Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 jet crashed in the Gulf during a routine training exercise late on Sunday and the pilot has not been found, the defence ministry said on Monday.
Saudi Arabia maintains a powerful air force supplied primarily by equipment made in the United States and Britain.
Last year Washington announced a $29.4 billion deal to sell the new F-15, made by Boeing, to the Saudi air force. Industry sources have said the Saudis will buy 84 of the jets.
The plane that crashed was based at the King Abdulaziz Air Base in the kingdom’s Eastern Province and piloted by Lieutenant Fahd bin Falih al-Masarir, a defence ministry statement said.
The ministry said the jet went down in Saudi waters and that authorities were investigating the cause of the crash.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter and main Arab ally of the United States, also has Tornadoes and Typhoons in its air force.
The predominantly Sunni-Muslim kingdom is locked in a tussle for regional influence with rival Shi’ite power Iran and is concerned about the destabilising effect of last year’s Arab uprisings.
Its air force was last used in combat during the brief 2009-2010 conflict with Yemeni Houthi rebels.

Saudi Arabia keen on $130m Patriot missile deal

Saudi Arabia is seeking to order a $130m military package from the United States to help with its Patriot Missiles programme.
According to the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency, the Government of Saudi Arabia is asking for technical services to "recertify the functional shelf life of up to 300 Patriot guidance enhanced missiles and associated equipment".
The estimated cost is $130m, the Agency said, adding that the proposed sale was still to receive approval from the US Congress.
"The proposed recertification program will allow the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces to extend the shelf life of the PAC-2 missiles in its inventory for an additional 12 years," it said in a statement.
The Agency said the principal contractor would be Raytheon Corporation, based in Massachusetts.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia said it was interested in ordering $300m worth of military equipment spare parts from the United States.
The Agency said the Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of spare parts in support of M1A2 Abrams tanks, M2 Bradley fighting vehicles, high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, equipment, support vehicles and other related logistics support.

Saudis seek U.S. defense equipment buy

Saudi Arabia is seeking a U.S. Foreign Military Sales Order II to provide funds for blanket requisition of spare parts and other items for armored vehicles.

The blanket requisition in support of the country's M1A2 Abrams tanks, M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles would come under the Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement between the countries and has an estimated cost of $300 million.

"This proposed sale will allow the Royal Saudi Land Forces Ordnance Corps to continue to purchase needed repair parts to maintain their fleet of M1A2S Abrams Tanks, M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, construction equipment, and support vehicles and equipment," the U.S. Defense Cooperation Agency said.

"This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East."

Canadian Arms Exports To U.S. and Saudi Arabia Up

 It’s only a two-country sample, and a full report won’t be made public until sometime this fall, but it appears Canadian arms companies have been enjoying unprecedentedly good times in recent years.

Foreign Affairs recently released figures detailing how much arms companies asked to export to the United States and Saudi Arabia on a year-by-year basis since 2006. The numbers were made public in response to a question from NDP MP Helene Laverdiere, and the results are surprising.

Canadian companies asked to export $49.6 million worth of guns, bombs, armoured personnel vehicles and other military equipment to the United States in 2007. By 2011, that number had increased to more than $250 million. The main areas of growth came in the form of smooth-bore guns and automatic weapons, both big and small, as well as bullets, bombs, missiles and other ammunition.

Canadian companies only have to request export permits for certain items that are considered of military value, unlike exports to most other countries, so the numbers across the board are likely low. Similarly, just because a company requests an export license, that doesn’t mean the goods were actually sent. But for the most part they are, and the trend is certainly favourable to Canadian arms companies.

Similarly, Canadian companies asked to export $54 million worth of military goods to Saudi Arabia in 2006. That compared with nearly $2.5 billion in 2011, which coincided with the Arab nation’s decision to purchase 700 armoured vehicles from General Dynamics Land Systems in London, Ont. That purchase was notable because Saudi Arabia allegedly used some of those vehicles to help crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Bahrain during last year’s Arab Spring.

Saudi Arabia contract to DCNS for the French

The French group DCNS shipbuilding could finalize a contract billion with Saudi Arabia to modernize its fleet. According to the daily La Tribune, the signature should be between Paris and Riyadh during the visit of François Hollande in November in Saudi Arabia. The contract, called LEX (Life Extension Sawari 1) door "on the modernization of four Al Medinah class frigates and two oil-tanker class Boraida commissioned in 1985-1986" in the contract Sawari I.

This major contract to DCNS will both lengthen a ten year life of the frigates and try to win new contracts (Sawari Sawari 2 and 3) with the sale of several FREMM multi-mission frigates with vertical launchers for MBDA ASTER 30 missiles. But the export contracts involve increasingly technology transfers, establishment of production capacities on the ground state client, and partnerships with local manufacturers. Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa as the United Arab Emirates and Algeria now require technology transfer, production and on-site training.

Abu Dhabi Future "hub" naval

Biennially held in Abu Dhabi, IDEX, the largest international exhibition of defense in the Middle East. From 17 to 21 February 2013 was held in conjunction with this exhibition the NAVDEX, the international naval defense. The capital Abu Dhabi has focused its activities outside oil like Dubai in strategic sectors such as renewable energy (Masdar), aeronautics (Mubadala), defense (Tawazun) and the naval sector with Abu Dhabi Mar. With the opening of its new deep-water port, Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi intends to make the naval sector, one of the key industrial development.

In 2010 the Abu Dhabi Emirate naval group MAR (ADM) has signed a partnership with the German TKMS on the acquisition of the German company in the field of civilian vessels (construction, services, activities, components for industry). Already present in the construction activities of yachts and mega-yachts, this joint venture allows the Emirates group to expand its military operations in the construction of submarines and surface ships, frigates, corvettes and patrol vessels Offshore. Abu Dhabi in March will be in charge of contracts concluded in the Middle East and North Africa, and the first frigates and corvettes should leave the shipyard in Abu Dhabi and compete term European shipbuilders.

Abu Dhabi group already owns shipyards in France (Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie CMN) and the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi March Group is a holding company controlled by Al Ain International Group (70%) and Privinvest (30%) and belongs to Sheik Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is part of the ruling family of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. ADM has resumed activities shipyard Greek Hellenic Shipyards (Skaramangas).

Shipbuilders Gulf and Asian newcomers sector

This partnership German-Emirati TKMS / ADM may weaken eventually all European manufacturers including French DCNS including export to North Africa and the Middle East where ADM wants to establish itself as a significant player in the region and rake commands. Even if the defense minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, in the presence of Minister of Economy Pierre Moscovici, welcomed this week when setting afloat the frigate Normandy, the success of multi-mission frigates European FREMM (6000 tonnes) a partnership between France and Italy, it remains that the construction program FREMM as prime contractor DCNS has been downgraded with the building 11 frigates instead of the 17 planned to equip the Navy nationwide by 2022. In the midst of public spending cuts, the note is salt have nearly 642 million euros or 7.07 billion frigate TTC for 11 frigates.

The French naval industry faces fierce European and international competition. TKMS German, Spanish Navantia, Italian Fincantieri BVT Surface Fleet UK (BAE Systems), or the Dutch Damen Shipyards align each product offerings in the segment of surface ships. In addition to the European competitors, the French DCNS faces the U.S. ((Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics Marine Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon), but also to new entrants in particular South Korea and China with the most competitive prices.

In the midst of the euro crisis and budget cuts, the export market is vital to the French DCNS especially as the French government owns a 65% DCNS group. Maghreb and Middle East, DCNS has trouble selling its next-generation frigate, full of technology, but very expensive. Morocco, however, DCNS recorded its first export contract in 2013 with the delivery of the frigate FREMM Mohammed VI valued at 470 million euros.The French DCNS is counting on Saudi Arabia to fulfill its backlog. This is not counting on the German TKMS, the German giant of the shipbuilding industry that has sold two Meko frigates to Algeria for 2.5 billion euros and use the naval hub in Abu Dhabi to counter DCNS ambitions of Saudi Arabia and in the region with more competition in terms of cost.

The French will have to create a structure in Saudi Arabia for ad hoc industrial rehabilitation ships. The shipbuilding industry is located in Jeddah Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf in Dammam and Jubail. The ODAS, founded by the French government and large groups which ensures contracts from state to state between France and Saudi Arabia, will have to offer a comprehensive industrial cooperation but growing wave of Saudization, Riyadh could also require technology transfer as well as on the plate electronics, training of Saudi engineers and other technical personnel and assembly term FREMM frigates in Saudi Arabia.