19 September 2019
TNI AU harus menentukan pilihan pesawat AEW& C dalam waktu dekat (photo : Karl Drage)
Bisnis.com, JAKARTA–Kementerian Pertahanan direncanakan memperoleh pinjaman luar negeri paling tinggi untuk tahun depan.
Dalam RAPBN 2020, Kementerian Pertahanan diusulkan untuk memperoleh pinjaman luar negeri sebesar Rp9,05 triliun, terpaut jauh dibandingkan dengan kementerian dan lembaga (K/L) lain.
Kementerian PUPR direncanakan memperoleh pinjaman luar negeri sebesar Rp5,07 triliun, jauh dibawah Kementerian Pertahanan.
Dua K/L yang memperoleh pinjaman luar negeri di atas Rp1 triliun selain Kementerian Pertahanan dan Kementerian PUPR adalah Kementerian Perhubungan dan Polri dengan perolehan pinjaman luar negeri sebesar Rp2,93 triliun dan Rp1,8 triliun.
Selain 4 K/L yang sudah disebutkan, perolehan pinjaman luar negerinya diusulkan di bawah Rp1 triliun.
Kementerian-kementerian yang dimaksud antara lain Kemenristekdikti dengan pinjaman mencapai Rp862,8 miliar, Kementerian ATR/BPN sebesar Rp667,1 triliun, dan Kementerian Agama sebesar Rp308,9 triliun.
Adapun pinjaman luar negeri yang rencananya akan ditarik pemerintah pada 2020 sudah disepakati oleh Badan Anggaran (Banggar) DPR RI bersama dengan pemerintah dalam rapat panja hari ini, Rabu (4/9/2019).
Pinjaman luar negeri dalam RAPBN 2020 berada di angka minus Rp38,76 triliun.
Pinjaman luar negeri yang bernilai negatif tersebut disebabkan oleh tingginya pembayara cicilan pokok pinjaman luar negeri yang mencapai Rp87,11 triliun, sedangkan pinjaman luar negeri (bruto) yang ditarik pada 2020 sebesar Rp48,35 triliun.
Pinjaman ini terdiri dari pinjaman tunai sebesar Rp21,6 triliun dengan pemberi pinjaman potensial antara lain World Bank ataupun Asian Development Bank (ADB). Adapun Rp26,75 triliun sisanya merupakan pinjaman yang langsung diarahkan untuk kegiatan atau proyek.
(Bisnis)
18 September 2019
Seen here is the prototype of a laser weapons system South Korea will push to develop against aerial targets (photo : DAPA)
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- South Korea will launch a project to develop a laser weapons system designed to disable aerial targets, such as drones, the arms procurement agency said Tuesday.
Under the project worth 88 billion won (US$73.98 million), the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) seeks to complete the development of the system, named Block-I, capable of launching precision strikes against small unmanned aerial vehicles by 2023 for operational deployment.
The weapons system is supposed to direct lasers from optical fibers at aerial targets at a short distance to neutralize them.
It can react quickly, literally at the speed of light, and is capable of firing a number of shots without physical bullets or shells, as it relies on electrical power, which costs around 2,000 won per shot, according to DAPA.
Only a handful of advanced countries, including the United States, Israel and Germany, have acquired these weapons.
As part of preparations for the project, South Korea's state-run Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has studied related technologies for years, DAPA added.
"After the development of the system aimed at small targets at close range, we will continue to upgrade it to intercept bigger targets farther away, such as fighter jets and satellites. in the future," DAPA said in a release.
Drones, which are cheap and easy to control, have become an increasing security threat in recent years. Last week, a series of drone attacks damaged Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, severely hurting the global energy supply.
(Yonhap)
18 September 2019
INS Ranvir D54 destroyer (photo : Jerry E)
The aim is to bolster maritime relationships and contribute significantly to enhancing overall maritime security.
The maiden trilateral naval exercise involving India, Singapore and Thailand commenced at Port Blair on Monday. The exercise was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address at Shangri-La dialogue in June 2018.
RSS Tenacious 71 frigates (photo : dvids)
“The five-day exercise is aimed at bolstering the maritime inter-relationships amongst Singapore, Thailand and India, and contribute significantly to enhancing the overall maritime security in the region,” the Navy said in a statement. This would also strengthen interoperability and development of a common understanding of procedures, it added.
For the exercise, guided missile stealth frigate RSN Tenacious of Singapore, and Thailand Navy’s guided missile frigate HTMS Kraburi would join with INS Ranvir a guided missile destroyer, INS Kora a missile corvette and INS Sukanya an Offshore Patrol Vessel along with P8I long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
HTMS Kraburi 457 frigate (photo : ThaiPublica)
Harbour phase
During the harbour phase scheduled at Port Blair, professional exchanges, sports fixtures, and cross deck familiarisation visits would be organised, the Navy said. “The sea phase is scheduled from September 18 to 20, and a host of surface and air operations involving gunnery, force protection measures and communication drills would be conducted providing experience gaining and learning from each other’s best practices,” the statement added.
The Initial Planning Conference (IPC) to discuss the modalities of the exercise was held in May and the Final Planning Conference (FPC) was held in August. Malaysia has also evinced interest in joining the exercise.
(The Hindhu)
18 September 2019
Northrop Grumman has been selected to continue supporting Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure Systems for the RAAF (photo : Northrop Grumman)
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been selected by the Australian Defence Organisation on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to continue its support of the service’s Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems.
Northrop Grumman’s LAIRCM functions by automatically detecting a missile launch, determining whether it is a threat, and activating a high-intensity, laser-based countermeasure system to track and defeat the missile.
Under the terms of the $96 million award, Northrop Grumman will provide sustainment, repair, engineering, logistics and training support services for LAIRCM, AN/AAR-47 and AN/APR-39. Currently, five aircraft types in the RAAF are protected with LAIRCM.
LAIRCM spotted on Australian C-130J (photo : Shephard)
“Since 2001, Northrop Grumman and the RAAF have been working in partnership to keep aircrews safe from the threat of infrared guided missiles. This Australia-based sustainment activity is critical to keeping the LAIRCM system ready for aircrew safety and mission success,” said Bob Gough, vice president, land and avionics C4ISR, Northrop Grumman.
Work will be performed at Northrop Grumman’s repair facility at the RAAF Edinburgh base in South Australia. The facility provides efficient in-country support services for the repair and maintenance of LAIRCM systems, cutting the time to return a system to service by as much as 50 percent.
Northrop Grumman's infrared countermeasures systems have been installed on more 1,500 aircraft of more than 80 different types, including both fixed and rotary wing.
(Northrop Grumman)
18 September 2019
Currently defence spending between 1.1 to 1.3 percent of GDP (photo : dvids)
The Department of National Defense on Friday revealed that among the actions it was taking to address security issues in the West Philippine Sea was asking Congress to finance the Philippine military's modernization program.
Speaking before the Makati Chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Defense Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna said that they were lobbying Congress to nearly double defense spending to two percent of gross domestic product.
"In the ASEAN region, the Philippines is second to the lowest among the ten member-states, spending only between 1.1 percent and 1.3 percent of its gross domestic product on defense," explained Luna.
"We need such an increase to have a sustained multi-year funding for the upgrading and modernization of land, air (drones), sea (surface and undersea), space and cyber capabilities (satellites and radars) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines."
Presently, a large portion of the defense budget goes to salaries of soldiers and civilian employees, as well as pensions for war veterans, retirees and dependents.
Another big chunk goes to disaster risk reduction and management.
"We hope that Congress finds wisdom in investing more resources for [the defense establishment's] modernization efforts... towards developing the country’s credible defense posture," added Luna.
Air patrols
But despite the limited resources available to it, the AFP was enhancing its surveillance efforts with regular maritime and aerial patrols, not only in the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea, but also over the Philippine Rise and the rest of the country's maritime domains.
"These surveillance and enforcement operations will arm the Government of the Philippines in lodging diplomatic actions on every Chinese incursion and unlawful action in our maritime domain," explained Luna.
The Defense Undersecretary also thought it noteworthy that the AFP had deployed ground troops to secure the country’s interests in the Kalayaan Island Group.
Facilities in the Kalayaan municipality, including the airstrip and berthing spaces for Filipino fishermen were also being repaired and improved.
New power, water, and communication facilities were also being installed in the area.
"Repair and rehabilitation efforts in the Philippine-occupied features in the West Philippine Sea are concrete acts to assert our rights over the area," said Luna.
"It is also worth noting that the aforementioned improvements will not only enhance our maritime patrol in the WPS, but more importantly, it will greatly aid Filipino fishermen and residents in the area, especially in their livelihood."
(GMA News)
18 September 2019
C-17 Globemaster III dengan livery TNI AU (image : Skadron Udara 31)
"Alutsista untuk Skadron angkut berat masa depan dan semoga dapat terealisasikan amin... A-1701 C-17 Globe Master" demikian posting gambar dan tulisan yang termuat dalam medsos instagram resmi Skadron Udara 31 TNI Angkatan Udara.
Skadron Udara 31 (SkU 31) adalah adalah skadron angkut berat TNI AU yang bermarkas di lanud Halim Perdana Kusuma, Jakarta. Skadron ini mengoperasikan pesawat C-130B Hercules dan C-130H Hercules ex Australia.
Sejalan dengan program peremajaan pesawat angkut, maka Kementerian Pertahanan telah memesan 5 pesawat angkut C-130J Super Hercules dari Lockheed Martin yang rencananya akan ditempatkan di Skadron Udara 31 ini.
Sebagai skadron angkut yang siap melayani pergerakan pasukan Kostrad khususnya Divisi Infanteri I yang bermarkas di Cilodong, Depok yang saat ini mengoperasikan tank tempur Leopard II dengan bobot hingga 62 ton, maka untuk pergeseran antar pulau dengan cepat hanya dapat diakukan dengan kapal pendarat katamaran LCAT atau pesawat angkut berat dengan payload di kisaran 70 ton.
Kita bisa lihat komparasi payload pesawat angkut berat militer yang saat ini ada di pasar yaitu : Airbus Military A400M (Eropa) payload 37,0 ton; Kawasaki C-2 (Jepang) payload 37,6 ton; Antonov An-70 (Ukraina) 47,0 ton; Ilyushin Il-76 (Rusia) 50,0 ton; Xian Y-20 (China) payload 66,0 ton dan Boeing C-17 (USA) payload 77,5 ton.
Pesawat angkut berat C-17 Globemaster III buatan Boeing dengan payload 77,5 ton tentunya dapat mengakomodir keinginan tersebut. Namun demikian untuk memiliki pesawat angkut berat ini issue yang tak kalah pentingnya adalah mengenai lini produksi yang sudah akan dihentikan, dengan demikian hanya tinggal peluang untuk memiliki secara second hand saja dari pesawat yang digunakan pertama kali sejak 1993 ini.
Keinginan TNI AU untuk memiliki pesawat C-17 ini dengan demikian masuk akal, tinggal kemudian bagaimana mengalokasikan budget anggaran pertahanan yang setiap tahun naik sehingga keinginan tersebut dapat terakomodir.
(Defense Studies)
17 September 2019
Peregrine offers the range of the AIM-120 AMRAAM with the manoeuvrability of the AIM-9X Sidewinder. According to USAF, AMRAAM has a range of more than 17.4nm (32km) (image : Raytheon)
TUCSON, Ariz., /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is developing a new medium-range, air-launched weapon called the Peregrine™ missile that is half the size and cost of today's air-to-air missiles, yet delivers greater range and effect.
The Peregrine™ missile is a small, fast, lightweight air-to-air weapon for use against drones, manned aircraft and cruise missiles.
Developed to strengthen the capabilities of current fighter aircraft, the new, smaller Peregrine missile is faster and more maneuverable than legacy medium-range, air-to-air missiles, and doubles the weapons loadout on a variety of fighter platforms. Its sophisticated, miniaturized guidance system can detect and track targets at any time of day and in any weather condition.
Peregrine missile is half the length of the AMRAAM (photo : Flight Global)
"Peregrine will allow U.S. and allied fighter pilots to carry more missiles into battle to maintain air dominance," said Dr. Thomas Bussing, Raytheon Advanced Missile Systems vice president. "With its advanced sensor, guidance and propulsion systems packed into a much smaller airframe, this new weapon represents a significant leap forward in air-to-air missile development."
The Peregrine missile benefits from military off-the-shelf components, additive manufacturing processes and readily available materials to offer an affordable solution for countering current and emerging airborne threats.
(Raytheon)
