Singapore Picks Spider Air Defense System

Spyder air defense system

Singapore will buy the Mobile Air Defense System with short Spider, produced by Rafael, based in Israel, to replace the short-range air defense missile system of the Singapore Air Force, a source confirmed here.

It is only one of the many aerial competitions in defense in Southeast Asia, where these weapons are in increasing demand.

The spider will replace the low-level air defense system, a clear time optical system composed of a fire unit, an optical tracker, and a generator.

"We are in final negotiations with Rafael for the system," said the source.

Rafael did not respond to requests for comments. The announcement is expected imminent, sources said during the Singapore air show, which was held here from February 19 to 24.

Singapore issued the call for tenders in December 2006, seeking a mobile air defense system that could be integrated into its military network. The deadline was extended until April 2007 to maximize the options for competitors.

"It is not so much a matter of missile as the integration of new and extended capacities to respond to the concerns that everyone has for asymmetrical threats," said a source.

Sources of the show have suggested that Rafael offers Singapore the possibility of providing command and control and radar for the spider.

There was no compensation requirement, but there is a technology transfer. And the sources say that there was an "implicit industrial participation" and that "somewhere and in a way, the engineering in terms of things will have a song".

Sources have declared that Singapore does not need protection against independent forces for expeditionary missions and that the single urban environment of Singapore must be taken into account, although it is not part of the requirement.

"One of the main advantages of the spider system is that we can detect air respiratory targets, such as drones, glider bombs, and planes, without any limitation. There is no system that Can treat these types of multiple threats, "said Joseph Horowitz, commercial director, and marketing director, Air & Missile Defense Systems, Rafael.

The spider is available in short and medium-range versions. The short-range version draws both the Bvr Radar Derby air-surface missile for a short and medium beach and the infrared infrared python-5 air missile for a very short range.

The spider seems to have defeated two rivals.

The MBDA missile systems based in the United Kingdom have proposed an air defense system with a short vertical launch range, and a modular fire system mounted on a 5-ton truck.

"We offer long-term technology transfer cooperation with the Singapore authorities," said Carol Reed, head of MBDA marketing and external communications.

"Moda is looking forward to working with the Ministry of Defense and was a long-standing partner. We have provided the ASTER-15 [Air Surface Missile] for the new [formidable] frigates. Historically, we were working With the Singapore armed forces since the 1980s with the Rapière and Mistral. "

Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, based in Raytheon and Norwegian, have teamed up to present the advanced air missile system launched on the surface with a Kongsberg control and control unit.

"We have a very close association relationship that dates back 30 years," said Kyrre Lohne, director, marketing, integrated air defense systems, Kongsberg.

Lohne and Stephen Ladd, principal director of Raytheon, Business Solutions - Alliances, said: "We are waiting to hear the announcement."

"From the point of view of the KDA / Raytheon, the whole region [Asia-Pacific] is an environment of rich air defense opportunity," said Ladd. 

"Asymmetrical threat is an increasing concern while the region is also concerned about the broader global security threat and what it means for internal security."

Thales Pitches Air Defense

In Southeast Asia, air defense is considered an increasing priority.

Meanwhile, the French Systems Company Thales presented its multidimensional Starstreak missile to two Asian countries that seek to buy short-range air defense systems, said Alexandre de Juniac, director-general of the air systems division.

Chinese and Polish suppliers are candidates for one of the Asian competitions.

"It's in the middle of the last stage," said Juniac during the Singapore Airshow. He refused to appoint the countries.

Regional expenses and increasing defense expenses in the Asian region are the sets of Thales' efforts to guarantee its first sale of the StarstrefreadRead Multomission.

Thales also hopes to find European buyers for the weapon, said Juniac. The company has largely paid for the development of the new version of the hypervelocity sequence with its own funds.

The multimission starstrefread is designed to be used against aircraft and armored vehicles. The main sensor is based on optronics, rather than on radar, to detect and follow the target.

The weapon mounted on the vehicle complies with the requirements for the forces deployed, said Juniac. The expeditionary forces are looking for easy-to-maintain equipment that has a common logistics chain. The company hopes to earn sales by offering a single system that protects against land and air threats with the same missile while simplifying training and support needs.

Long-time territorial jealousies have fueled security problems in the region, with close neighbors who jockey for marine and land resources.

Singapore and Malaysia challenged the property of the island of Batu Puteh, while Indonesia claimed the islands of Sipadan and Ligitan. The Philippines dispute the property of Malaysian territory Sabah.

In the region, Thailand is a prospect of a modern air defense system, but the political situation must stabilize before supply decisions can be taken, Juniac said.

India is an important market for air defense capacities, marked by a high demand for local industrial participation and technology transfer. The challenge was the long gestation time for decisions.

Thales offered the Crotale MK 3 Missile Prolonged with Shiakra radar to the countries of North Africa, the Persian Gulf, and Greece. The weapon has not been presented in Asia so far. The Crucial hypervelocity missile has an extended beach of 50 kilometers from 10 to 12 previous kilometers.

Singapore and Malaysia have bonds of arms with France. The DCNS sold two scorpene diesel-electrical patrol submarines in Kuala Lumpur, while Singapore bought six formidable class frigates from the French Naval Company. 

The Defense Science and Technology Agency integrates combat systems. A defense leader said integration seemed to be at the basic level.