Back
About RSIS
Introduction
Building the Foundations
Welcome Message
Board of Governors
Staff Profiles
Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
Dean’s Office
Management
Distinguished Fellows
Faculty and Research
Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
Visiting Fellows
Adjunct Fellows
Administrative Staff
Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
RSIS Endowment Fund
Endowed Professorships
Career Opportunities
Getting to RSIS
Research
Research Centres
Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
Centre of Excellence for National Security
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
Research Programmes
National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)
Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
Other Research
Future Issues and Technology Cluster
Research@RSIS
Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
Graduate Education
Graduate Programmes Office
Exchange Partners and Programmes
How to Apply
Financial Assistance
Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
RSIS Alumni
Outreach
Global Networks
About Global Networks
RSIS Alumni
Executive Education
About Executive Education
SRP Executive Programme
Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
International Programmes
About International Programmes
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)
International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
Publications
RSIS Publications
Annual Reviews
Books
Bulletins and Newsletters
RSIS Commentary Series
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
Commemorative / Event Reports
Future Issues
IDSS Papers
Interreligious Relations
Monographs
NTS Insight
Policy Reports
Working Papers
External Publications
Authored Books
Journal Articles
Edited Books
Chapters in Edited Books
Policy Reports
Working Papers
Op-Eds
Glossary of Abbreviations
Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
RSIS Publications for the Year
External Publications for the Year
Media
Cohesive Societies
Sustainable Security
Other Resource Pages
News Releases
Speeches
Video/Audio Channel
External Podcasts
Events
Contact Us
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University
  • About RSIS
      IntroductionBuilding the FoundationsWelcome MessageBoard of GovernorsHonours and Awards for RSIS Staff and StudentsRSIS Endowment FundEndowed ProfessorshipsCareer OpportunitiesGetting to RSIS
      Staff ProfilesExecutive Deputy Chairman’s OfficeDean’s OfficeManagementDistinguished FellowsFaculty and ResearchAssociate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research AnalystsVisiting FellowsAdjunct FellowsAdministrative Staff
  • Research
      Research CentresCentre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)Centre of Excellence for National SecurityInstitute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      Research ProgrammesNational Security Studies Programme (NSSP)Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      Other ResearchFuture Issues and Technology ClusterResearch@RSISScience and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      Graduate Programmes OfficeExchange Partners and ProgrammesHow to ApplyFinancial AssistanceMeet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other eventsRSIS Alumni
  • Outreach
      Global NetworksAbout Global NetworksRSIS Alumni
      Executive EducationAbout Executive EducationSRP Executive ProgrammeTerrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
      International ProgrammesAbout International ProgrammesAsia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
  • Publications
      RSIS PublicationsAnnual ReviewsBooksBulletins and NewslettersRSIS Commentary SeriesCounter Terrorist Trends and AnalysesCommemorative / Event ReportsFuture IssuesIDSS PapersInterreligious RelationsMonographsNTS InsightPolicy ReportsWorking Papers
      External PublicationsAuthored BooksJournal ArticlesEdited BooksChapters in Edited BooksPolicy ReportsWorking PapersOp-Eds
      Glossary of AbbreviationsPolicy-relevant Articles Given RSIS AwardRSIS Publications for the YearExternal Publications for the Year
  • Media
      Cohesive SocietiesSustainable SecurityOther Resource PagesNews ReleasesSpeechesVideo/Audio ChannelExternal Podcasts
  • Events
  • Contact Us
    • Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
      rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
      rsis.sg
      rsissg
      RSIS
      RSS
      Subscribe to RSIS Publications
      Subscribe to RSIS Events

      Getting to RSIS

      Nanyang Technological University
      Block S4, Level B3,
      50 Nanyang Avenue,
      Singapore 639798

      Click here for direction to RSIS

      Get in Touch

    Connect
    Search
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • CO14161 | “Smaller Small Navies” of Southeast Asia: Greater Regional Resilience?
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • RSIS Commentary Series
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • Future Issues
    • IDSS Papers
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers

    CO14161 | “Smaller Small Navies” of Southeast Asia: Greater Regional Resilience?
    Collin Koh Swee Lean

    12 August 2014

    download pdf

    Synopsis

    The rise of the hitherto low-key, “smaller small navies” of Southeast Asia, such as Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar and the Philippines, bodes well for regional resilience, and fits well in the broader schema of the envisaged ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC).

    Commentary

    CHINA’S HIGH-PROFILE participation in the recently-concluded Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational naval exercise held in Hawaii has been described as a milestone. Equally, this event was also a milestone of sorts for ASEAN because Brunei Darussalam participated with ships for the first time. Two of its warships, the offshore patrol vessels KD Darussalam and KDB Darulaman were deployed and debuted their combat capability by successfully conducting their first anti-ship cruisemissile firing in the Pacific Missile Range Facility.

    RIMPAC 2014 represents one example symbolising the low-key emergence of the “smaller small navies” of Southeast Asian countries such as Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar and the Philippines in particular. Unlike the more notable “Big Five” small navies in the region – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – these relatively unknown “smaller small navies” have taken comparatively smaller but no less important steps to enhance their capabilities and international presence. On the whole, this bodes well for ASEAN.

    Low-key but significant capability creep

    Unlike the high-profile acquisitions of new warships and submarines amongst the “Big Fives”, the low-key capacity-building efforts of these “smaller small navies” largely went unnoticed, with the exception of the Philippine Navy which garnered much attention with its ambitious modernisation plans. The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) is one such navy which has made tremendous “creeping” improvements in its capabilities. It has replaced its traditional fleet of small coastal patrol and missile fast attack craft with larger and more capable German-built offshore patrol vessels since 2009.

    The other “smaller small” navy whose capacity-building programme has had little media attention is that of Myanmar. In recent years, Myanmar shipyards, reportedly with Chinese technical assistance, had managed to construct and put into service a modest fleet of stealthy-looking patrol craft and missile-armed frigates. These represent a quantum leap over the relatively antiquated inshore and coastal patrol vessels obtained from an array of foreign sources.

    Even more notably, according to a recent IHS Jane’s report in July this year, the Myanmar Navy was in the process of “preliminary discussions” about the purchase of a small number of vessels from Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL, based on the 11,000-tonne full-load displacement Makassar-class landing platform dock (LPD) currently operated by the Indonesian Navy.

    If the deal goes through, the Myanmar Navy would become the fifth ASEAN navy after Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand to operate an LPD-type large amphibious landing vessel which has so far proven its utility in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) during recent natural calamities.

    Greater international participation

    The induction of longer-range, higher-endurance seagoing platforms allows these “smaller small navies” to take part in major multinational operational and training initiatives conducted in distant waters they had never ventured into before because their limited force projection capabilities confined them to coastal waters. Their engagements in such initiatives deserve attention.

    A good example was the case of the Myanmar Navy which participated in the India-hosted Exercise Milan – its first-ever multinational training engagement – in 2003, during the time when it started incorporating newly-built missile corvettes into its fleet. If the Myanmar Navy proceeds with the LPD purchase, it may in future expand its participation in the regional HADR and other emergency response initiatives.

    Prior to this year’s RIMPAC, its first-ever ship participation in a major international exercise, the RBN had attained a milestone last October when KDB Darulaman joined the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus Maritime Security Field Training Exercise in Australia.

    The Philippine Navy has been buoyed by the recent acquisition of better seagoing capabilities, particularly the newly-inducted patrol frigates sourced from the United States, to be augmented by new missile-armed frigates and reported purchase in January 2014 from PT PAL of a pair of Strategic Sealift Vessels also based on the Makassar-class (in January 2014). Likewise, the Philippine Navy will likely deploy warships to major multinational exercises such as RIMPAC.

    Implications for ASEAN Political-Security Community

    The continued salience of non-traditional security challenges makes it more imperative for closer intra-ASEAN cooperation and with external partners. Collective capacity-building effort constitutes the prerequisite for ASEAN to become more self-sufficient in responding rapidly in times of disasters and emergencies. Singapore’s offer to establish a regional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief centre at the Changi Command and Control Centre, a plan which was supported by the other ASEAN governments, is one such initiative aimed at strengthening regional resilience.

    In this regard, the capacity-building efforts of the “smaller small navies” of Southeast Asia, albeit low-key and more modest in scope compared to the “Big Fives”, would go a long way in contributing to regional resilience. This will put into practice the shared responsibility amongst ASEAN member states for comprehensive security – one of the objectives stated in the ASEAN Political-Security Blueprint promulgated in 2009.

    The gradual catching-up by the “smaller small navies” in terms of capabilities has the potential to bear more fruits into the future, judging by the recent activities of some of these services. Notably for example, in the aftermath of the Super Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, the RBN deployed the offshore patrol vessel KDB Darussalam to deliver HADR supplies to the Philippines.

    The entry of the Philippines and potentially Myanmar into the “club” of ASEAN navies operating LPD-type large amphibious landing ships would further bolster the collective pool of assets that can be utilised by the regional grouping for future contingencies.

    About the Author

    Koh Swee Lean Collin is Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University.

    Categories: RSIS Commentary Series / International Politics and Security / Southeast Asia and ASEAN

    Synopsis

    The rise of the hitherto low-key, “smaller small navies” of Southeast Asia, such as Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar and the Philippines, bodes well for regional resilience, and fits well in the broader schema of the envisaged ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC).

    Commentary

    CHINA’S HIGH-PROFILE participation in the recently-concluded Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational naval exercise held in Hawaii has been described as a milestone. Equally, this event was also a milestone of sorts for ASEAN because Brunei Darussalam participated with ships for the first time. Two of its warships, the offshore patrol vessels KD Darussalam and KDB Darulaman were deployed and debuted their combat capability by successfully conducting their first anti-ship cruisemissile firing in the Pacific Missile Range Facility.

    RIMPAC 2014 represents one example symbolising the low-key emergence of the “smaller small navies” of Southeast Asian countries such as Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar and the Philippines in particular. Unlike the more notable “Big Five” small navies in the region – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – these relatively unknown “smaller small navies” have taken comparatively smaller but no less important steps to enhance their capabilities and international presence. On the whole, this bodes well for ASEAN.

    Low-key but significant capability creep

    Unlike the high-profile acquisitions of new warships and submarines amongst the “Big Fives”, the low-key capacity-building efforts of these “smaller small navies” largely went unnoticed, with the exception of the Philippine Navy which garnered much attention with its ambitious modernisation plans. The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) is one such navy which has made tremendous “creeping” improvements in its capabilities. It has replaced its traditional fleet of small coastal patrol and missile fast attack craft with larger and more capable German-built offshore patrol vessels since 2009.

    The other “smaller small” navy whose capacity-building programme has had little media attention is that of Myanmar. In recent years, Myanmar shipyards, reportedly with Chinese technical assistance, had managed to construct and put into service a modest fleet of stealthy-looking patrol craft and missile-armed frigates. These represent a quantum leap over the relatively antiquated inshore and coastal patrol vessels obtained from an array of foreign sources.

    Even more notably, according to a recent IHS Jane’s report in July this year, the Myanmar Navy was in the process of “preliminary discussions” about the purchase of a small number of vessels from Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL, based on the 11,000-tonne full-load displacement Makassar-class landing platform dock (LPD) currently operated by the Indonesian Navy.

    If the deal goes through, the Myanmar Navy would become the fifth ASEAN navy after Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand to operate an LPD-type large amphibious landing vessel which has so far proven its utility in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) during recent natural calamities.

    Greater international participation

    The induction of longer-range, higher-endurance seagoing platforms allows these “smaller small navies” to take part in major multinational operational and training initiatives conducted in distant waters they had never ventured into before because their limited force projection capabilities confined them to coastal waters. Their engagements in such initiatives deserve attention.

    A good example was the case of the Myanmar Navy which participated in the India-hosted Exercise Milan – its first-ever multinational training engagement – in 2003, during the time when it started incorporating newly-built missile corvettes into its fleet. If the Myanmar Navy proceeds with the LPD purchase, it may in future expand its participation in the regional HADR and other emergency response initiatives.

    Prior to this year’s RIMPAC, its first-ever ship participation in a major international exercise, the RBN had attained a milestone last October when KDB Darulaman joined the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus Maritime Security Field Training Exercise in Australia.

    The Philippine Navy has been buoyed by the recent acquisition of better seagoing capabilities, particularly the newly-inducted patrol frigates sourced from the United States, to be augmented by new missile-armed frigates and reported purchase in January 2014 from PT PAL of a pair of Strategic Sealift Vessels also based on the Makassar-class (in January 2014). Likewise, the Philippine Navy will likely deploy warships to major multinational exercises such as RIMPAC.

    Implications for ASEAN Political-Security Community

    The continued salience of non-traditional security challenges makes it more imperative for closer intra-ASEAN cooperation and with external partners. Collective capacity-building effort constitutes the prerequisite for ASEAN to become more self-sufficient in responding rapidly in times of disasters and emergencies. Singapore’s offer to establish a regional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief centre at the Changi Command and Control Centre, a plan which was supported by the other ASEAN governments, is one such initiative aimed at strengthening regional resilience.

    In this regard, the capacity-building efforts of the “smaller small navies” of Southeast Asia, albeit low-key and more modest in scope compared to the “Big Fives”, would go a long way in contributing to regional resilience. This will put into practice the shared responsibility amongst ASEAN member states for comprehensive security – one of the objectives stated in the ASEAN Political-Security Blueprint promulgated in 2009.

    The gradual catching-up by the “smaller small navies” in terms of capabilities has the potential to bear more fruits into the future, judging by the recent activities of some of these services. Notably for example, in the aftermath of the Super Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, the RBN deployed the offshore patrol vessel KDB Darussalam to deliver HADR supplies to the Philippines.

    The entry of the Philippines and potentially Myanmar into the “club” of ASEAN navies operating LPD-type large amphibious landing ships would further bolster the collective pool of assets that can be utilised by the regional grouping for future contingencies.

    About the Author

    Koh Swee Lean Collin is Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University.

    Categories: RSIS Commentary Series / International Politics and Security

    Popular Links

    About RSISResearch ProgrammesGraduate EducationPublicationsEventsAdmissionsCareersVideo/Audio ChannelRSIS Intranet

    Connect with Us

    rsis.ntu
    rsis_ntu
    rsisntu
    rsisvideocast
    school/rsis-ntu
    rsis.sg
    rsissg
    RSIS
    RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    Getting to RSIS

    Nanyang Technological University
    Block S4, Level B3,
    50 Nanyang Avenue,
    Singapore 639798

    Click here for direction to RSIS

    Get in Touch

      Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
      Privacy Statement / Terms of Use
      Help us improve

        Rate your experience with this website
        123456
        Not satisfiedVery satisfied
        What did you like?
        0/255 characters
        What can be improved?
        0/255 characters
        Your email
        Please enter a valid email.
        Thank you for your feedback.
        This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
        OK
        Latest Book
        more info