The Asia-Pacific comprises a highly-congested and complicated operating

environment for nations seeking to assert their authority and control over

strategic areas, with armed forces around the region continuing to invest

heavily in programmes to enhance the capabilities of their personnel.

by Andrew White

According to the Rand Corporation‟s operational Summary of the

Asia-pacific region in 2015, published in December 2015, one of the most

prevalent threats in the areas is increasing Chinese investment into

defence technology to contest the traditional air superiority of the US. One

example of this is the People‟s Republic of China‟s plans to purchase six

battalions‟ worth of Almaz-Antey S-400 medium- to high-altitude surface-

to-air missile systems, reported in November 2015, expected to be

delivered from Russia by late 2017. “China‟s ability to project power to

more distant locations is limited, but its reach is growing. Over the next
years, the Chinese PLA (People‟s Liberation Army) is likely to concentrate

on improving weapon systems and equipment, particularly in high-priority

areas such as naval, air, missile and space capabilities. All these

developments are likely to improve the PLA‟s overall combat capabilities,”

the report articulated. Such sentiments were echoed by the Australian

Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) with Dr. Tobias Feakin, its director of

national security programmes, explaining how the past decade has seen

the Asia- Pacific region becoming a „‟global point of strategic interest and

competition,” as mentioned in the ASPI‟s December 2015 end of year

review. Summarising the past twelve months of military manoeuvres,

exercises and industrial developments in the region, Dr. Feakin revealed,

“While the US has renewed its economic and military focus in the region,

China has rapidly modernised and expanded its military forces and tested

the boundaries of international „norms‟ in the South and East China Seas.
Both countries seek to influence nations in the region in order to gain

greatest access to Asia‟s rapidly expanding markets.”

The result is a series of “Show of Force” posturings by major powers

in the area, generally focused on disputed island chains, such as the

Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea (parts or all of which are

claimed by Brunei-Darussalam, the People‟s Republic of China, Malaysia,

the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam), while nations spread influence

across the region with cooperative exercises, memoranda of understanding

and industrial agreements designed to optimise strategic interests. Add to

this the ongoing threat of insurgency across the region, the past year has

seen insurgent incidents throughout the region in Afghanistan, Indonesia

and Thailand to name just a few, and militaries and security forces

continue to develop technology, concepts of operations and tactics,

techniques and procedures to counter such threats.

 Such a focus is now seeing the main powers in the region

concentrate on developing and improving Counter-Insurgency (COIN)

capabilities with a particular emphasis on offensive action and

reconnaissance missions as well as hostage rescue tasks. Areas of interest

have ranged from lethality and protection through to mobility, Command

and Control (C2) technology and support systems across a wide ranging

cross-section of ground, maritime and airborne environments.

Australia

Lethality remains one of the top priorities for Asia-Pacific countries

seeking to overcome insurgent combatants, who, more often than not, are

equipped with powerful small arms such as the Kalashnikov AK-477.62mm

assault rifle as well as homemade bombs. In Australia, the armed forces

continue to respond to such threats with that country‟s army now one of

the first services to be issued with the first tranche of the Thales Enhanced
F88 (EF88) Austeyr assault rifles; a direct replacement of the legacy Steyr

AUG F88 rifle with enhancements covering increased lethality, accuracy

and reliability.

The 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) was the first unit

to receive the new rifle, which retains the same North Atlantic Treaty

Organisation (NATO) standard 5.56mm x 45mm ammunition as its

predecessor, in the second half of 2015 with the remainder of the Royal

Australian Army set to receive the weapon throughout 2016 as part of the

Australian Ministry of Defence‟s Project Land 125-3C which works to

enhance infantry soldier equipment. With the procurement of 30000 new

rifles, worth approximately $100 million, the remainder of this programme

includes the procurement of ancillary equipment including optical

gunsights, laser aiming devices and the Steyr Mannlicher SL40 40mm

Grenade Launcher Attachment or Underslung Grenade Launcher (UGL),

worth a remaining $367 million. Additionally, the EF88 is said to be some

20 percent lighter than the Thales-manufactured F90 SA2 rifles, a variant

of the F88 (see above) and the baseline design for the EF88.

New Zealand

Meanwhile, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF, which includes

the country‟s navy, army and air force), has also responded to

requirements in the contemporary operating environment with the

selection of a replacement for its legacy Steyr AUG A1 assault rifle (also an

F88 variant) with US smalls arms specialist Lewis Machine and Tool (LMT)

chosen to supply its CQB16 weapon as part of the NZDF‟s Individual

Weapon Replacement Programme. A total of more than 8000 weapons,

which is based on a traditional LMT AR-15 design as opposed to the

bullpup design of the AUG A1, will be delivered to units within the NZDF

between 2016 and 2017, according to official sources. The rifle was
officially selected in August by the NZDF ahead of competition from Heckler

and Koch, Sig Sauer, FN Herstal, Colt Canada and Ceska Zbrojovka(CZ).

Capable of engaging targets at very close quarters out to long range,

the NZDF demanded a rifle which could “ detect, identify and engage”

enemy targets out to a maximum effective range of 500 metres/m (1640

feet/ft), official sources explained to AMR. The procurement falls in line

with a wider NZDF strategy to enhance the capability of ground-based

units with other areas of interest comprising protection, situational

awareness, mobility and support.

India

Without question, the largest small arms programme in Asia-Pacific,

however, remains under the control of the Indian Ministry of Defence

(MoD) which continues to consider future options for the Indian Army and

Special Operations Forces. The MoD is seeking to equip more than 400
infantry battalions with a new assault rifle, although this process has been

ongoing for almost ten years now under the nomenclature of the Future

Infantry Soldier As A System (FINSAS) project. Initial iterations of the

programme called for a modular weapon system which could allow soldiers

to switch between calibres depending upon the type of mission being

undertaken as well as supporting C2 equipment. The two major

components of the programme comprise the selection of an assault rifle

and carbine for Close Quarter Battle (CQB) scenarios. Following

environmental trials in the Rajasthan desert and mountainous regions of

Jammu and Kashmir participating entries, including requirements. This has

led the MoD to revise requirements for a modular-calibre weapon with the

most likely option for the Indian Army now the provision of the Ordnance

Factory Board‟s Excalibur 5.56mm x 45mm assault rifle. Industry sources

informed AMR that an evaluation programme is expected to be conducted

in 2016 across a variety of environments similar to previous tests. Should

the Excalibur get the go-ahead, a deal could see the domestic Ordnance

Factories Board (OFB) supplying approximately 600,000 weapons to the

army over the next few years.

According to OFB, the Excalibur Mk.1 comprises a variant of the

company‟s infamous INSAS assault rifle which has already undergone

evaluation with the Indian Army over recent years as part of “large scale

infantry combat,(COIN) and mob control situations. The reason for calling

it Excalibur is that it incorporates the features of a weapon which is rugged

for battlefield engagements and at the same time capable of being light

and easy to handle during low intensity conflict and CQB situations. It has

been engonomically designed with a folding butt stock and can fire

magazines with capacity for anywhere between 20 or 30 rounds. It is also

fitted with Picatinny rail adaptor systems for the mounting of electronic
devices,” OFB literature explained. Weighing a total of 3.8 kilograms/kgs

(8.3pounds) without a magazine, the Excalibur Mk.1 includes a 400mm

(15.7 inches/in) chrome-plated barrel. The gas operated weapon provides

semi-automatic and automatic firing modes with a capability to accurately

engage targets at ranges out to 400m (1312 feet).

However, the Indian Army does seem to be progressing with its CQB

Carbine requirement, following the trial of the ARX-160 and ACE weapons

in 2013. An initial tender for nearly 45000 carbines, available in 5.56mm x

45mm calibre, was launched back in 2010 although a larger order for up to

an additional 350,000 carbines could be made dependent on future

options. These weapons are set to be issued to India‟s Special Forces for

COIN operations. The short-barrelled ACE carbine, a conventional design as

Opposed to retaining a bullpup configuration, comprises a 368mm (14.5in)

barrel, which is also available in 7.62mm x 39mm and 7.62mm x 51mm

calibres. It features an ambidextrous fire selector switch, polymer lower

receiver for reduced weight and foldable or retractable buttstock.

Based on the company‟s legacy Galil assault rifle, a former weapon of

choice for the Israel Defense Force, the ACE is designed to incorporate

“human engineering and ergonomics to make it suitable for the emerging

unstable realities of modern combat,” IWI officials explained to AMR. The

company is also in the process of marketing small arms to the Philippines,

Thailand and Vietnam, copany officials explained.

Philippines

Finally, in the Philippines, the armed forces continue to undergo a

modernization programme and will soon be equipped with new Harris

tactical radios. A $12 million contract was awarded to the company on 16th

February with elements including the Falcon RF-7800V handheld and

tactical vehicle radios, and RF-7800I intercom systems. More information

regarding this acquisition can be found in this issue's Pulse column.

According to a company spokesperson, this solution for in-vehicle voice and

data communications will provide the Philippines armed forces with secure

tactical network connectivity. Harris will also provide the Falcon RF-7800V

handheld Very High Frequency (30-300 Megahertz) Combat Net Radio for

general use by the army. President of tactical communications at Harris,

Brendan O‟Connell explained, “These radios will provide soldiers in the

Philippine Army with advanced command and control, and real-time

situational awareness capabilities. They also will have secure

interoperability with more than 15000 Harris Falcon radios currently fielded

within the Philippines armed forces.”

Conclusion

With the exception of COIN operations, it appears likely that the

contemporary operating environment in the Asia-Pacific will continue to

witness a type of nonkinetic warfare with nations in the region more

interested in shows of force as part of wider psychological and

informationbased warfare. However, a mature capability at the lowest

tactical level will continue to remain a significant deterrent for smaller

nations seeking to ensure their own security in the region.