26 Maret 2019
Su-30MKM works at ATSC (all photos : ATSC)
LANGKAWI: The first of the Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKM has undergone a refurbishment programme.
Aerospace Technology Systems Corp (ATSC), the Russian manufacturer's local partner, undertook a ‘Preventive and Restoration Work’ after the fighter jet reached 10 years of active service.
ATSC's corporate and contract administration senior manager Mazliza Mohd Noor said the particular aircraft, with military registration number M52-11, would be officially handed over to the RMAF tomorrow.
She said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was expected to hand over the aircraft to RMAF chief General Tan Sri Affendi Buang at a simple ceremony.
The event, to be witnessed by Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, is scheduled to be held just after Dr Mahathir opens the 15th edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) 2019 exhibition at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre at Padang Matsirat.
"The preventive and restoration work was done at a much lower cost domestically, rather than send the aircraft to Russia to have the job done.
"We are planning to undertake life-extension work for the remaining of the RMAF's fleet in stages," she said.
The New Straits Times has learnt that the preventive and restoration work was done to the tune of tens of millions of ringgit, but accounted for huge savings for the government by extending the aircraft's service life.
Affendi had recently voiced his concern that 40 per cent of the RMAF's assets required immediate upgrading.
These include the BAE Systems Hawk 100/200 fighter jets, Boeing F/A-18D Hornets and a fleet of 14 Lockheed C-130 Hercules, in service for over 20 years.
The Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri helicopters have also served the RMAF for over 40 years.
The Su-30MKM is the country's leading multi-role combat aircraft based at the Gong Kedak air base in Terengganu.
Masliza said ATSC focused on three primary core businesses - the RMAF's Sukhoi Su-30MKM and MiG-29N Fulcrum air superiority fighter.
At Lima 2019, ATSC will be presented with the 'Authorised Engineering Organisations and Approved Maintenance Organisation' (AMO) certificates by the RMAF's technical airworthiness department (DGTA).
"These awards are granted in conjunction with ATSC's 10 years of servicing and design, development, review and approval of ground support equipment and AMO for the Su-30MKM's intermediate level maintenance and depot level maintenance.
"The maintenance concerns the aircraft's weapon systems, service life extension and preventive restoration works, repair and overhaul after the successful compliance audits by the Aircraft and Aeronautical Maintenance Regulation and Team and Aircraft Aeronautical Engineering Regulation," she said.
On June 25, 1994, ATSC was formed in accordance with a deal between the government and Russian State Corporation named Rosvoorouzhenie, now known as Rosoboronexport, and Moscow Aircraft Production Organisation (MAPO), presently known as JSC RAC MiG.
ATSC is a subsidiary of National Aerospace and Defence Industry Sdn Bhd (NADI) which holds 70 per cent of the shares while its Russian partners, RAC MiG and Rosoboronexport each hold 25 per cent and five per cent, respectively.
The Ministry of Finance Incorporated holds the golden share of one per cent.
(NST)
26 Maret 2019
The first built for the Myanmar Air Force at the enterprise of the Chinese aircraft manufacturer Chengdu Aircraft Industries Company (Group) (CAC) is a double-seat fighter JF-17B (tail number "1707"). Chengdu, March 2019 (photo : dafengcao)
On Chinese web resources, a snapshot of the first JF-17B two-seat fighter built for the Myanmar Air Force, passing, as you can see, flight tests at the enterprise of the Chinese aircraft manufacturer Chengdu Aircraft Industries Company (Group) (CAC, part of the Chinese state corporation AVIC) in Chengdu, Apparently, this aircraft with the Myanmar's tail number "1707", is the first serial two-seater JF-17B in general, and Myanmar will become the first recipient of the "Sparky" based on the JF-17 (in Pakistan, the prototype of the "Sparky" JF-17B, which made the first flight to End in April 2017, it is still in the testing phase).
Recall that earlier in the fall of 2018, Myanmar received six single-seat JF-17M modification fighters (export version of the JF-17 Block 2 aircraft) under the first contract concluded by Myanmar with Pakistan in March 2015, the cost of the contract was, as it was stated, 129 million euros . Single JF-17M have Myanmar airborne numbers from "1701" to "1706", the ceremony of entering the first four of them into the Air Force of Myanmar took place in Maithila (near Mandalay) on December 15, 2018. Myanmar thus became the first foreign download and the recipient of the JF-17 light fighter (FC-1) Thunder of a joint Chinese-Pakistani production.
The total number of Myanmar-ordered JF-17 planes in single and double seaters is unknown, but, according to several reports, is 16 units. It was also reported that the Myanmar side was conducting preliminary negotiations on the partial localization of the assembly of these aircraft in Myanmar.
By initial agreement, JF-17 aircraft for Myanmar were to be assembled in Pakistan at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) aircraft company in Kamra. However, the implementation of the contract was delayed due to tensions between Pakistan and Myanmar due to the persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. Therefore, the lead contractor for the implementation of the contract for the supply of JF-17 fighter jets to Myanmar was the Chinese CAC in Chengdu, which assembles Myanmar airplanes, and the Pakistani PAC produces for the Myanmar airplanes only airframe designs on a contract basis. Like all JF-17, Myanmar fighters are equipped with Russian-made RD-93 engines. First produced in Myanmar single-seat fighter JF-17M made first flight to Chengdu in June 2017.
(BMPD)
26 Maret 2019
P-8A in RNZAF paint scheme (image : RNZAF)
SIPRI kembali mengeluarkan laporan mengenai transfer persenjataan dunia, berikut disampaikan data impor persenjataan New Zealand selama kurun waktu 2018.
(SIPRI)
26 Maret 2019
Australia is buying two versions of NASAMS, jointly developed by Norway’s Kongsberg and Raytheon, one with a trailer-mounted six-cell launcher and one with four missiles fitted to a Hawkei armored 4x4 vehicle (image : AUS DoD)
New air defence capability
The Morrison Government today announced it will improve the protection of Australian troops through the purchase of a new short range air defence capability using Australian designed and built radars and vehicles.
Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, and Minister for Defence Industry, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, said the Government is committed to providing the Australian Defence Force with the best capability to protect Australia’s national interests.
“This new air defence capability combines world leading Australian radar technology with a highly effective air defence system that will contribute to the protection of our service men and women from modern airborne threats,” Minister Pyne said.
“The capability will be based on the Raytheon/Kongsberg National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) which is used by several countries including the United States.
“Australia’s version of NASAMS will use advanced radars designed and manufactured by Canberra-based company, CEA Technologies.
“The CEA radar that has been so successful on our ships will now be integrated into an Australian designed and built vehicle, the Thales Hawkei.
“I’m delighted to announce that one of Australia’s most innovative technologies will be used to further enhance the effectiveness of NASAMS and contribute to one of the world’s best short-range ground based air defence systems.”
Minister Reynolds said Australian industry will play a vital role in the $2.5 billion project to buy and sustain the short-range air defence capability, which will replace the Army’s current ageing RBS-70 man-portable air defence system.
“Australian industry will secure more than $1 billion of the total investment in acquiring and maintaining the short range air defence capability,” Minister Reynolds said.
“Today’s announcement will create opportunities for defence exports generating employment for at least 100 Australian workers over the projected life of the capability.
“This project is further proof of the Government’s determination to build a sovereign and sustainable defence industrial base as a national strategic asset, and is another example of Australian industry playing an integral part in developing world-class capability for the Australian Defence Force.”
Much of this work will be done at the new Raytheon Australia Centre for Joint Integration, which will be built in the defence industry precinct at Mawson Lakes with a $50 million investment from Raytheon.
Premier of South Australia, the Hon Steven Marshall MP, said the South Australian Government is proud that Raytheon Australia has decided to call Mawson Lakes home for their new Centre for Joint Integration.
“This project will create new high-tech jobs and supply chain and export opportunities for our defence industry, with work to be undertaken at Raytheon Australia’s Centre for Joint Integration in South Australia,” he said.
“This significant facility strengthens South Australia’s position as a key strategic hub for Raytheon Australia, one of the largest defence companies in the Australian market. It will accelerate growth in the defence sector and supports future Raytheon programs across maritime, aerospace, cyber and systems integration.” said Premier Marshall.
(Aus DoD)
26 Maret 2019
HAL Tejas (photo : Alert5)
Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) merupakan pesawat tempur yang diasaskan dari pesawat jet latihan yang mana diubahsuai untuk kegunaan pertempuran udara, serangan darat dan bantuan rapat, pengintipan serta rondaan.
LCA mengunakan kelajuan subsonic tetapi mampu mencecah kelajuan 1 Mach+. Ia dilengkapi misil anti udara, bom panduan laser malah misil serangan darat. Ia membolehkan pesawat melakukan misi serangan anti Insurgensi (COIN) dan bantuan rapat udara (CAS) secara berkesan.
Berbeza dengan jet pejuang Lightweight seperti F-16 Fighting Falcon atau JAS-39 Gripen yang digunakan untuk pertahanan dan penguasaan udara, LCA lebih pada misi pertahanan sendiri dan menghapuskan ancaman jarak pendek.
LCA turut dilengkapi radar multi mod, pod saaran, pod peperangan elektronik serta pod tangki bahan api tambahan.
CL-41G Tebuan TUDM (photo : Mir ZafriZ)
Malaysia memiliki pesawat jenis LCA sejak 1967 dengan kemasukan 20 buah CL-41G Tebuan dari Canada untuk melawan Komunis ketika Insurgensi 1970 -1989. Ia diasaskan dari pesawat latihan jet CL-41 Tudor yang digunakan oleh Tentera Udara DiRaja Canada untuk Latihan. Ia dibersarakan berperingkat dengan yang terakhir aktif pada 1987 di Pangkalan Udara Kuantan.
Kemudian Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia (TUDM) mengunakan 21 buah Aermacchi MB339 (13 AM pada 1983 dan 8 CM pada awal 2000an). Kemudian pada 1994, 28 buah pesawat jet BAE Hawk (18 varian Light Attack Hawk 208, 10 varian LIFT Hawk 108) memasuki perkhidmatan pada 1994. Hawk 208 terlibat dengan Ops Daulat pada 2013 untuk mengebom kedudukan penceroboh Sulu dari Selatan Filipina dengan mengunakan bom panduan laser Paveway II.
Namun menjelang 2010, TUDM mula merancang untuk mengantikan Aermacchi MB339 dan BAE Hawk atas faktor keselamatan, untuk mendapatkan teknologi serta untuk meningkatkan keupayaan juruterbang.
Pada 2012, TUDM dilaporkan membuat penilaian terhadapa Yakolev Yak-130 Mitten semasa Pameran Udara Zhuhai di China. Selain itu, Leonardo menawarkan M346 Master dan KAI menawarkan T-50 Golden Eagle kepada Malaysia dengan dapat dilihat mereka hadir pada pameran DSA dan LIMA.
MB-339CM TUDM (photo : mdsaleh)
Pada 2019, media melaporkan Malaysia telah memohon mendapatkan maklumat (RFI) dari KAI untuk FA-50, Leonardo untuk M346 FA dan Yakolev untuk Yak-130. Selain itu, pesawat tempur dari PAC iaitu JF-17 Thunder dan HAL Tejas turut menerima RFI dari Malaysia.
FA-50 dan M346 FA diasaskan dari pesawat LIFT namun dipertingkatkan ke LCA setaraf keupayaan jet pejuang Lightweight seperti F-16 dan Gripen. Yak-130 selain untuk LIFT ia turut boleh dipertingkatkan tahap kombatannya dan sistem persenjataan. Russia dilaporkan berminat mengunakan Yak-130 sebagai penganti pesawat tempur serangan darat Su-25 Frogfoot.
FA-50, M346 FA dan Yak-130 juga digunakan sebagai pesawat latihan persediaan untuk juruterbamg mengendalikan jet pejuang Generasi ke-4+ dan Generasi ke-5.
JF-17 Thunder dan Tejas sebenarnya jet pejuang Lightweight tapi dikelaskan LCA masih bergelut dalam pembangunan dan peningkatan keupayaan.
BAE Hawk 108 dan 208 TUDM (photo : Blaster Aviagraphey)
JF-17 sebelum ini menghadapi sekatan dari US sebelum ini, dilihat sedang melakukan pembangunan peningkatan pesawat ini ketahap lebih tinggi seperti Block 2, Block 3 dan LIFT. Mengunakan teknologi Russia - China berbanding blok barat pada awalnya dilihat JF-17 tidak mencapai tahap optimum. Baru-baru ini China dilaporkan enggan berkongsi teknologi jet pejuang Generasi 4+ pada Pakistan untuk JF-17 sebaliknya menawarkan J-10 untuk kegunaan Tentera Udara Pakistan.
Tejas dilaporkan gagal dalam pengauditan untuk menilai tahap keupayaan untuk diuji nilai oleh Tentera Udara India (IAF). Tejas Mk1 dilaporkan gagal memenuhi kriteria yang dikehendaki IAF sekaligus ia gagal mendapatkan pelepasan (IOC) untuk diterbangkan dalam perkhidmatan IAF. HAL dilaporkan telah meningkatkan keupayaan Tejas dengan pengenalan varian Mk1A dan Mk2. Namun program Tejas dilihat bakal tergugat apabila Lockheed Martin - TATA memperkenalkan F-21 iaitu varian F-16 Viper Block 70.
Malaysia dilaporkan akan membuat perolehan 12 buah LCA dengan pilihan tambahan 24 buah pada masa akan datang dengan kos USD 300 juta. Jika Malaysia menempah pesawat berkenaan dalam tempoh 2019 - 2020, dijangka pesawat pertama bakal tiba pada 2021.
Ia penting untuk TUDM sebagai persediaan mengendalikan jet pejuang generasi baharu selain membantu jet pejuang utama dalam inventori TUDM.
(MDR)
25 Maret 2019
The Bronco 3 is easy to drive and deceptively quiet meaning it cannot be heard until relatively close (photo : Paolo Valpolini)
Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engineering) is positioning its Bronco 3 to address the potential emerging requirements of current Bv206 users, according to Dominic Phoon, vice-president and product director of the Programme Management Office.
The Bronco 3 was specifically designed for extreme weather requirements, such as those required by many legacy Bv206 users, Phoon told Jane's in March at the Ivalo Test Ground in Finland. ST Engineering representatives said the vehicle has been demonstrated to five Bv206 user countries.
The vehicle utilises Soucy rubber tracks in widths from 600 to 700 mm so that it can theoretically cross 80% of the world's terrain, according to Phoon.
The wheels and drive sprockets are also provided by Soucy and built from Ultra High Molecular Weight-Polyethylene (UHMW-PE), which Soucy said can operate at temperatures from -73° to 80° C.
The vehicle is built from steel armour and so confers ballistic protection on the vehicle at its basic level. Phoon said the steel for the monocoque structures is provided by SSAB and designed to withstand Arctic temperatures without becoming brittle and compromising protection.
The vehicle's ballistic protection can be extended to STANAG 4569 level 3 (7.62×51 mm armour-piercing with steel core) and the mine protection is provided by a V-shaped hull bottom made from a single sheet of steel for each module. The plate covers the diesel fuel tanks, which further help to dissipate blast energy away from the hull. The manned areas are provided with armoured crew citadels, reinforced with high-strength steel frames to ensure that only the crewed areas are protected.
In a modern battlespace any patrol, convoy, or resupply mission can become a combat mission, which typically means that future vehicles must be able to withstand a small arms fire ambush and a mine blast as a minimum.
(Jane's)
25 Maret 2019
Combined fleet exercise-Sea Shield 2019 (photo : Min Aung Hlaing)
Tatmadaw (Navy) launches Combined Fleet Exercise-Sea Shield 2019 off Coco Island
Tatmadaw (Navy) launched Combined Fleet Exercise-Sea Shield 2019 off Coco Island on March 18, attended by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, the Office of Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services reported.
“The naval fleet exercise is conducted every four months. The Combined Fleet Exercise-Sea Shield is launched every year. A team of navy seals conducted a drill in which they approached an enemy-occupied merchant ship on board the four fast combat boats and three helicopters, captured the ship,and rescued the hostages. Our exercise record becomes better. It is cooperated by the air force. Our mission becomes faster and more effective. War vessels performed exercises to prevent danger of enemy’s submarine and airstrikes of enemy, open fire of anti-submarine mines and torpedoes for prevention of surprised attacks from fast combat vessels of enemy,” said Chief of Staff (Navy) Commodore Moe Aung.
UMS Anawratha 771 firing C-801 missile (photo : IndoPacific SCS Info)
war vessels performed exercises to prevent danger of enemy’s submarine and airstrikes of enemy, open fire of anti-submarine mines and torpedoes for prevention of surprised attacks from fast combat vessels of enemy, change marching formation to avoid airstrikes, deploy war vessels to combat the fast vessel of enemy with attacks, conduct counter-shooting to long-range guided missiles of enemy with the use of weapon systems from own vessels, and took practices of opening collective fire of mix caliber artilleries, exercises of electronic warfare, firing of rockets and shooting of large artilleries.
UMS Bayinnaung 772 corvettes (photo : IndoPacific SCS Info)
After the combat exercise, two war vessels participated in one more exercise namely the Underway Replenishment At Sea, aimed at re-supplying fuel, water, rations and ammunition among war vessels to one another.
1667 officers and other ranks and 29 different kinds of war vessels participated in the naval exercise.
UMS Tabinshwehti 773 corvettes (photo : IndoPacific SCS Info)
The launching war and practice of opening fire at sea will be conducted from March 3 to 18, announced by the Office of Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services on February 27.
The Combined Fleet Exercise-Sea Shield has been launched since 2014 and now it will be the fifth. The Combined Fleet Exercise-Sea Shield that was last launched was in 2017. Since then it lasted for nine days from March 23 to 31.
Sin Phyushin F14 frigates (photo : IndoPacific SCS Info)
The Combined Fleet Exercise-Sea Shield has been held since 2014 with the aim of controlling warfare skillfully in four operation fields through three readiness of the naval vessels in order to strengthen sovereignty in the territorial waters and airspace, according to the Office of Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.
The last naval exercise conducted in 2017 was the fourth one in which 28 war vessels of different kinds, helicopters and more than 1,400 officers and other ranks.
(Eleven Myanmar)
