21 Juli 2014
Russia could consider offering to the Philippines include “supplies of radar stations and means of intercepting and destruction of violators.” (photo : Wiki)
Russia offers radars to track incursions in PH borders
Russia is currently negotiating an agreement of technical military cooperation with the Philippines amid brewing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
“We fully understand the problems the Philippines has to face with its huge maritime border,” the visiting Deputy Director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Konstantin Biryulin, told Manila Bulletin in an exclusive interview Friday. “We have similar problems in Russia and we know how to tackle them. That’s why we have a proposal regarding equipments which could help in controlling those areas.”
Aside from finding ways to improve economic cooperation and further develop Russian-Philippine relations, Biryulin said one of the purposes of his visit is to negotiate military technical cooperation with the Department of National Defense (DND). Such cooperation may include, in particular, Russian sale of military hardware.
“Unfortunately our attempt has not yet brought any fruitful and desirable result,” he noted. Russia has in fact earlier bidded for the supply of fighter jets to the Philippines, a contract bagged by a Korean firm.
According to Biryulin, both sides have agreed to hold another round of consultations on military cooperation in Russia so that they could “adjust our position.”
“We need to consider the opinion of different Russian agencies because the scope of responsibilities of your DND is much wider than the Russian ministry of defense,” he pointed out. “Because here for example, you also tackle the issue of emergency response.”
“That’s why we need to seek advice of the Russian ministry of emergencies,” added Biryulin. “As soon as we get back, we will proceed with the consultations with the various agencies, in one to two months we will send our feedback to Philippines.”
He said military equipment that Russia could consider offering to the Philippines include “supplies of radar stations and means of intercepting and destruction of violators.”
With regards to technical characteristics, the Russian equipment is “in full accordance with western standards,” the Russian official said.
“Our producers are flexible in adjusting productions that can easily meet their requirements.”
(Manila Bulletin)
21 Juli 2014
CSB 8002, the second DN-2000 vessel for Vietnamese Coast Guard (photo : Soha)
Assemble the "Heart" for ships CSB 8002
(Soha.vn) - After a period of complete superstructure, CSB 8002 vessel was brought up momentum, proceed to assemble the machinery to prepare for the ceremony to launch in November.
CSB 8002 class ships DN-2000 is closed from the start of 2012 by shipbuilder Song Thu (Autumn Song Corporation - Department of Defense) made to its design Damen (Netherlands). After the dragon modules, the plant was urgently assembled the device in the cockpit.
According to Song Thu Company representative, will conduct immediate installation of electrical systems along the hull and 4 diesel electric propulsion C3516C manufactured by Caterpillar (USA) production. With four engines on the ship can reach a maximum speed of 21 knots / hour. All the equipment and technology used on ships are produced by the firm Damen, was imported under the supervision of experts Vietnam and the Netherlands.
All the basic parameters of CSB 8002 vessel similar to the "sister" CSB 8001 (marine police payroll for the 3, based in Vung Tau) are: length 90 m; 14 meters wide; stretch of water quantity 2,500 tons full load ...
According to Dutch experts, drawn from the experience of shipbuilding CSB 8001 as part of a helicopter flight deck that was short-Hong Ha shipbuilding company to additional processing parts. Therefore, the tail of the train parked CSB 8002 were made longer.
In addition, CSB 8002 vessel was painted a special coating. After launching, the ship will be staffing the Coast Guard Region 2 (closed at Ky Ha port, Nui Thanh, Quang Nam).
(Soha)
21 Juli 2014
DND is planning to acquire six CAS aircraft to replace OV-10 Bronco (photo : Gary Claridge King)
MANILA (PNA) -- Bid opening and submission for the Department of National Defense (DND)'s Php4,968,000,000 million close-air support (CAS) project has been reset anew to Aug. 11
Bid submission was originally slated for June 11 but it was reset to July 2.
It was ordered rescheduled to July 11 before being reset again to July 23.
It was reset again for Aug. 11. No reasons were given for the fourth reset.
The DND is planning to acquire six CAS aircraft to replace or beef up the Air Force's existing Rockwell OV-10 "Bronco" turboprop attack planes.
CAS refers to capability to provide air support to infantry and naval units in contact with the enemy.
Funding for this weapon system will be sourced from the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.
Bid submission and opening will still be held at the DND Bidding and Awards Committee conference room, basement right wing, DND Building, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
DND undersecretary Fernando Manalo earlier said that the contract includes integrated logistic support system.
Winning bidders must be able to deliver the aircraft within 540 calendar days from contract effectivity.
Participants in the DND's CAS project must have completed a similar program within the last 10 years.
Manalo added that the CAS aircraft must be used by the countries offering and manufacturing them.
(PNA)
20 Juli 2014
The Joint Chiefs of Staff reached the decision to take the C-103 twin-engine platform over the single-engine one, putting an end to a long-drawn-out heated debate, according to the ministry. (photo : pgtyman, kodef)
SEOUL — The South Korean military has chosen to equip its future fighter jet with two engines instead of one amid lingering worries over the economic and technical merits of the twin-engine aircraft development.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) held a top decision-making council Friday to make a choice about the number of engines for the KF-X jet, which is to be developed indigenously with technical assistance from a foreign partner.
South Korea aims to produce 120 or more KF-X aircraft after 2025 to replace the Air Force’s aging F-4s and F-5s, most of which will be decommissioned before the mid-2020s. The KF-X could be on par with an advanced F-16 jet armed with high-end avionics systems.
“The JCS formed a task force to review the costs, requirements and development schedules for the KF-X over the eight months,” JCS spokesman Eom Hyo-sik said. “As a result, the task force reached a decision that a twin-engine aircraft is a right choice as it meets future operational needs and can help catch up with neighboring countries’ aircraft development trends.”
Given the potential development period for a twin-engine jet, the spokesman said, the KF-X jet’s initial operating capability is to be scheduled for 2025, a two-year delay from the original goal.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) is set to launch a bid for the engine contract as early as next month. Candidates would include the GE F414 and Eurojet EJ200, according to DAPA officials.
The JCS’ decision on the twin-engine platform comes amid heated debate over the feasibility of the KF-X jet development. The state-funded Korea Institute for Defense Analysis (KIDA) vehemently opposed the twin-engine design, citing high costs and technical challenges.
The KIDA assessed the KF-X development would cost about 9.6 trillion won (US $93 billion), but it expects the cost would be doubled if the jet is a twin-engine design.
The institute also claims an F-16 class jet with double engines doesn’t have a competitive edge in the export market dominated by US and European fighter aircraft.
“A new fighter aircraft is a massive endeavor at the best of times, and wildly unrealistic technical expectations do not help the project,” Lee Ju-hyung, a senior researcher at the KIDA said.
Kim Dae-young, a member of the Korea Defense and Security Forum, a Seoul-based private think tank, was worried if potential cost overruns would eventually hinder the development of indigenous avionics systems.
“Under the original KF-X plan, [active electronically scanned array] radars and other avionics shall be developed locally, but if development costs increase, those systems are likely to be adopted from foreign defense companies inevitably,” Kim said.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) also preferred a single-engine type on the basis of its T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer jet co-developed by Lockheed Martin. In recent years, KAI successfully fielded T-50’s lightweight fighter version, the FA-50, which were exported to Indonesia and the Philippines.
During an air and defense fair in October, KAI displayed a conceptual design with a 29,000-pound engine.
“A single-engine concept is in pursuance of both affordability and combat performance based on the advanced FA-50 technologies,” a KAI official said.
On the other hand, the Air Force, backed by the state-run Agency for Defense Development (ADD), brushed off concerns over costs overruns and technical difficulties.
“The KF-X is a 4.5-generation fighter that can carry weapons of 20,000 pounds or more,” an Air Force spokesman said. “Indonesia, a partner of the KF-X project, is supposed to buy a bunch of jets, and when mass production starts, the costs will go down.”
The spokesman added that a twin-engine aircraft larger than the KF-16 will provide more room for future upgrades and will help cope with growing air powers in the neighborhood — China and Japan — which are accelerating air force modernization.
Lee Dae-yeol, head of ADD’s KF-X project team, argues that a fighter with a new concept has better economic feasibility in terms of total life-cycle costs.
“The ADD has secured about 90 percent of independent technologies for the KF-X,” Lee noted. “Of the 432 technologies needed, the agency is only short of 48 items, such as engines and some avionics systems.”
The ADD hopes that it will be able to get those lacking technologies in offsets from Lockheed Martin, the successful bidder for South Korea’s F-X III fighter jet development program, and other foreign companies.
The ADD envisions that a KF-X Block 2 would have internal weapons bay, and Block 3 would feature stealth improvements to the level of the B-2 bomber or F-35 joint strike fighter.
Indonesia is the only KF-X partner at the moment. Indonesia is to bear 20 percent of the projected development costs, while the Korean government will take 60 percent. The funding for the remaining 20 percent remains unclear, as KAI is expected to bear part of the money.
(DefenseNews)
19 Juli 2014
Tiga kapal MRLF Bung Tomo class (photo : Grhm Rpr)
London (ANTARA News) - Menteri Pertahanan Republik Indonesia Purnomo Yusgiantoro meresmikan kapal perusak kawal rudal jenis Multi Role Light Frigate (MRLF) KRI Bung Tomo-357 dan KRI John Lie-358 di Dermaga Anchorline, Barrow-In-Furness, Inggris, Jumat (18/7).
Selain dihadiri jajaran Kementerian Pertahanan RI, acara pemberian nama dan peresmian KRI Bung Tomo-357 dan KRI John Lie-358 juga dihadiri anggota DPR dari Komisi I bidang pertahanan, pejabat TNI Angkatan Laut, Dubes RI didampingi pejabat KBRI London serta pejabat pemerintahan Inggris, demikian Pensosbud KBRI London Heni Hamida kepada Antara London, Sabtu.
Setelah peresmian, kedua KRI langsung menuju Indonesia dan diharapkan bisa turut berpartisipasi memeriahkan HUT TNI ke-69 pada 5 Oktober 2014 di Pangkalan TNI Angkatan Laut Surabaya.
Kapal perang produksi BAE Systems, Inggris, tahun 2004 tersebut memiliki spesifikasi teknis yang handal.
Dengan panjang 95 meter dan lebar 12,7 meter serta dilengkapi sistem pendorong empat motor pokok CODAD (Combined diesel and diesel) yang mampu berlayar dengan kecepatan maksimum 31 knots.
Kedua kapal perang tersebut juga dilengkapi dengan sistem persenjataan yang tergolong mutakhir, seperti peluru kendali anti kapal permukaan MM 40, peluru kendali anti serangan udara Sea Wolf, meriam 76 mm, meriam 30 mm serta torpedo anti kapal selam.
Didukung oleh sistem kendali persenjataan, navigasi dan komunikasi yang terintegrasi dengan baik, kapal jenis MRLF tersebut dirancang untuk mampu bertempur menghadapi ancaman baik dari atas air, bawah air maupun udara.
Sebelum diresmikan menjadi kapal perang Republik Indonesia oleh Menteri Pertahanan RI, kedua kapal menjalani prosesi pemberian nama yang memiliki arti simbolis agar kapal tersebut memiliki semangat kepahlawanan dari tokoh pahlawan nasional yang digunakan serta agar kapal beserta awaknya di dalam pengabdiannya demi kejayaan bangsa dan negara senantiasa dilindungi oleh Tuhan Yang Maha Esa.
Prosesi pemberian nama KRI Bung Tomo-357 dan KRI John Lie-358 dilakukan oleh Lies Purnomo Yusgiantoro, istri Menhan RI selaku ibu kandung kapal.
Bung Tomo merupakan salah satu tokoh pahlawan yang lahir di Surabaya pada tanggal 3 Oktober 1920.
Bung Tomo terkenal karena peranannya yang signifikan dalam membangkitkan semangat rakyat Indonesia untuk melawan kembalinya penjajah yang akan menguasai negara Indonesia.
Semangat pertempuran Bung Tomo telah ditunjukkan dalam pertempuran 10 November 1945 yang hingga kini diperingati sebagai Hari Pahlawan oleh seluruh bangsa Indonesia.
Sementara Laksamana Muda TNI Jahja Daniel Dharma atau yang lebih dikenal sebagai John Lie merupakan salah seorang perwira tinggi TNI Angkatan Laut pada masa perang revolusi.
Pada awal kemerdekaan, John Lie ditugaskan mengamankan pelayaran kapal-kapal yang mengangkut komoditas ekspor Indonesia yang akan diperdagangkan di luar negeri menembus blokade penjajah.
Hasil dari penjualan hasil bumi tersebut selanjutnya digunakan demi keperluan perjuangan mempertahankan kemerdekaan Indonesia.
(Antara)
19 Juli 2014
Dalam divisi ini akan ditempatkan 6 ribu hingga 10 ribu personel yang siap menjaga wilayah timur Indonesia (photo : Marinir)
Jakarta, JMOL ** Markas Divisi III Marinir di Sorong yang telah direncanakan Mabesal sejak setahun lalu kini sudah rampung dibangun. Markas yang terletak di kilometer 16 Sorong Aimas itu berdiri megah. Kepastian administrasi dan kedatangan personel, tinggal menunggu keputusan Presiden.
“Divisi Marinir merupakan tahapan dalam membangun Armada RI kawasan Timur di Sorong yang telah direncanakan lama oleh Kemhan dan Mabesal,” ujar Dirjen Kuathan Kementerian Pertahanan RI Laksda TNI Agus Purwoto di kantornya beberapa waktu lalu.
Sejauh ini, Korps Marinir TNI AL terbagi menjadi pasukan, yakni Pasmar 1 yang bermarkas di Gedangan Sidoarjo dan Pasmar 2 yang bermarkas di Jakarta.
Lebih lanjut, menurut Agus, pembangunan Divisi III Marinir merupakan pengembangan postur organisasi Marinir sebagai Kotama (Komando Utama—red) yang ditempatkan di daerah strategis dan rawan konflik.
Rencananya, dalam divisi ini akan ditempatkan 6.000 hingga 10 ribu personel yang siap menjaga kedaulatan NKRI di pulau paling timur Indonesia. Selain itu, kebutuhan akan Alutsista juga menjadi perhatian pemerintah yang saat ini telah memasuki penghujung masa jabatan.
“Paling tidak, ini merupakan pencapaian dalam MEF tahap I dan akan dilanjutkan kemudian di tahap II,” papar Agus.
Ditinjau dari letak geografis, Sorong merupakan kota strategis di Pulau Papua, khususnya Papua Barat. Kota yang terletak di ujung kepala burung Pulau Papua tersebut merupakan pintu masuk Papua dan penghubung antara Papua dengan daerah lain.
Beberapa konflik horizontal kerap terjadi di kota ini. Salah satunya, kerusuhan bernuansa SARA pada April lalu, serta adanya pasukan OPM pimpinan Izak Klablim dikabarkan sering melakukan operasi di daerah ini.
Diharapkan, dengan kehadiran Divisi Marinir di Sorong dapat meminimalisasi gejala-gejala tersebut, baik dengan Operasi Militer Perang (OMP) maupun Operasi Militer Selain Perang (OMSP).
Sepanjang sejarah perjalanan korps yang memiliki slogan Jalesu Bhumyamca Jayamahe (Di Laut dan Darat Kita Jaya) ini selalu dikenal dekat dengan rakyat, serta merakyat.
(Jurnal Maritim)
19 Juli 2014
KDB Daruttaqwa (photo : Brunei Mindef)
LEMWERDER, BREMEN - Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) Patrol Vessel DARUTTAQWA marks a historical milestone when she began her maiden voyage yesterday on Tuesday, 15th of July 2014.
Patrol Vessel DARUTTAQWA with a complement of 13 officers and 48 crew members onboard is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel (L) Khairil bin Haji Abdul Rahman.
Present to bid farewell was Brunei Darussalam Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Pehin Datu Penglima Colonel (R) Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil bin Haji Ahmad and Head of Project Naval Overseer (PNO), Lieutenant Colonel (L) Azlan bin Haji Ahmad.
Darussalam class corvette (imege : Superboy)
Welcoming His Excellancy at Luerssen Wharf was the Managing Director of Fr Luerssen Werft (FLW), Mr Peter Luerssen before embarking onboard DARUTTAQWA for group photo session with officers and crew of Patrol Vessel DARUTTAQWA.
To bless the maiden voyage, a Doa Selamat was recited by 17052 Lance Corporal Sahrul Al-Hasri bin Hamzah, followed by the Azan as soon as the ship underway by 13007 Staff Sargeant (L) Aliuddin bin Sarbini.
The maiden voyage from Lemwerder, Bremen, Federal Republic of Germany will stop over to Valencia (Spain), Jeddah (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Mumbai (Republic of India) and Republic of Singapore. DARUTTAQWA will sail across the North Sea, English Channel, Atlantic Ocean, Straits of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea through Suez Canal, Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean, Malacca Straits and South China Sea over 46 days and expected to berth at Muara Naval base on Saturday, 30th August 2014.
(Brunei Mindef)
