31 Januari 2015
RAAF F-35 AU-1 aircraft (photo : F35)
AUSTRALIA'S new Lightning combat aircraft will be able to shoot back at enemy aircraft.
AIRCRAFT maker Lockheed Martin says there is no technical problem with aircraft's 25mm gun, although its computer software isn't yet complete and it hasn't been fully tested on the aircraft.
By the time these advanced aircraft enter operational service with the RAAF in 2020, the gun will be fully functional.
But the US Marine Corps, which plans to field their first operational Lightnings later this year, won't start out with a working gun.
Lockheed Martin Australia director of international business development, Graham Bentley, said despite media reports from the US earlier this month, there was no technical problem with the gun and no software glitches.
There was an extensive test program and the US Marines, Air Force and Navy had decided what weapons should take priority for software integration, testing and certification.
When fully developed, the aircraft will be able to field a gun and 10 different types of bombs and missiles.
But US Marine Corps aircraft will initially be able only to fire AIM-120 missiles and drop laser and GPS guided bombs.
"That testing of the gun will get into full steam mid-year our time," Mr Bentley told reporters.
The Lockheed Martin Lightning joint strike fighter is an advanced combat aircraft with the RAAF looking to acquire as many as 100. The program has experienced technical problems, rising costs and delays.
Because of aircraft's complexity and the protracted test program, computer software will be be delivered in various blocks, each providing additional capability.
US Marine Corps aircraft will be deemed combat ready with what's termed software block 2B, which provides a limited war-fighting capability.
Mr Bentley said the full gun capability would come with the final block 3F software, scheduled for delivery in 2019, a year before the RAAF plans to field its first operational Lightning aircraft.
(The Australian)
31 Januari 2015
Pesawat N219 buatan PT DI, sudah dipesan Thailand dan diminati Filipina (image : PT DI)
SEMARANG, KOMPAS.com — Menteri Riset Teknologi dan Pendidikan Tinggi M Nasir mengatakan bahwa Thailand sudah memesan pesawat N219 yang risetnya tengah dikembangkan Lembaga Penerbangan dan Antariksa Nasional (Lapan).
"Riset N219 ini tengah dibuat, dilakukan. Harapannya, pada pertengahan tahun ini sudah bisa digelindingkan keluar hanggar, sudah bentuk bodi pesawat," katanya di Semarang, Jumat (30/1/2015) malam.
Meski pesawat N219 masih dalam proses riset, dia mengatakan, sudah ada negara lain yang memesan pesawat penumpang berukuran kecil itu, yakni Thailand. Selain itu, ada juga negara lain yang menyatakan tertarik.
"Sudah ada pemesanan N219 dari Thailand. Yang sudah melihat-lihat Filipina. Namun, yang sudah jelas memesan adalah Thailand. Diharapkan, akhir 2015, sudah bisa terbang, teruji," tuturnya.
"Kalau semuanya sudah beres, termasuk sertifikasi pesawat, ditargetkan pada 2016 sudah bisa dilakukan produksi massal untuk pesawat N219. Pesawat ini memiliki berbagai kelebihan," katanya.
N-219 rancangan PT Dirgantara Indonesia berbasiskan CASA C-212/NC-212 Aviocar yang produksinya lebih dulu dilakukan di hanggar produksinya, di Bandung.
Dengan banderol harga 4 juta dollar AS, N219 bisa mengangkut 19 orang dengan beban maksimal lepas landas sekitar 7,5 ton dari bobot kosongnya sekitar 4,5 ton. N219 ditenagai dua mesin Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42 yang bisa membuatnya terbang hingga jarak tempuh ekonomis sekitar 1.100 kilometer pada kecepatan jelajah sekitar 400 kilometer per jam.
Walau dirancang untuk bisa beroperasi dengan perawatan pada kondisi di wilayah terpencil, N219 dilengkapi instrumen cukup canggih, di antaranya adalah head-up display memampangkan instrumen penerbangan digital.
Maklum, N219 didedikasikan bisa menggantikan DHC-6 Twin Otter buatan de Havilland, Kanada, yang dikenal di seluruh dunia sangat tangguh dan andal dalam operasionalisasinya di wilayah-wilayah terpencil dengan fasilitas sangat minim.
Ia menjelaskan, pesawat N219 memang didesain untuk transportasi udara antardaerah dan antarpulau dengan jarak yang tidak terlalu jauh dan kelebihannya tidak memerlukan landasan panjang.
"Panjang landasan yang dibutuhkan untuk pesawat ini hanya 550-600 meter. Jadi, memang tidak butuh landasan panjang. Biasanya, landasan sampai 1,4, 1,8, 2,4 dan 2,8 kilometer," katanya.
Menurut dia, potensi pemasaran pesawat ini cukup besar, terutama dari dalam negeri yang kebutuhannya mencapai 200 pesawat, tetapi tentunya kebutuhan itu tidak semuanya bisa tercukupi.
"Kapasitas produksi di pabriknya saja hanya 24 pesawat setahun. Kalau kebutuhannya 200 pesawat kan bisa sampai delapan tahun baru terpenuhi. Makanya, kami dorong pengembangan kapasitas produksi," kata Nasir.
(Kompas)
30 Januari 2015
Cut-away model of the Type 210mod advanced compact submarine design by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems' Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) shipyard. (photo : Jane's)
The company highlighted the capabilities of the two submarines in meetings in Bangkok recently as part of the Royal Thai Navy's (RTN's) continuing review of submarine platforms, said sources.
This evaluation programme - which has also featured Russia's Kilo-class Project 636 submarine and China's Yuan-class (Type 041) platform - is in support of the RTN's plan to procure up to three submarines within the next few years. South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering's Chang Bogo-class (Type 209) submarine is also expected to be evaluated by the RTN.
(Jane's)
29 Januari 2015
Komodo - kendaraan 4x4 produksi Pindad (photo : Defense Studies)
BANDUNG - PT Pindad menargetkan peningkatan jumlah ekspor produknya sebesar 25 persen dalam lima tahun mendatang. Target utama BUMN ini tetap memasok kebutuhan alutsista dalam negeri yang dipesan oleh Departeman Pertahanan RI untuk persenjataan TNI dan Polri.
"Saat ini ekspor produk baru lima persen, namun dalam lima tahun ke depan kami targetkan bisa mencapai 20-25 persen," kata Dirut PT Pindad Silmy Karim di Bandung, Kamis (29/1) saat menerima kunjungan Danjen Kopassus Mayjen TNI Doni Monardo di Bandung.
Dengan peluang pasar ekspor yang cukup besar dalam beberapa tahun ke depan serta kian diperhitungkannya produk Pindad, Silmy optimistis bisa meningkatkan ekspor.
Ekspor produk saat ini, kata dia, adalah amunisi yang diproduksi di Turen, serta persenjataan seperti senjata genggam maupun laras panjang SS dan beberapa jenis lainnya.
Untuk merealisasikan proyeksi itu, pihaknya melakukan beberapa langkah dan upaya, antara lain menjalin kerja sama dengan industri pertahanan terkemuka. Kerja sama itu dalam hal pemenuhan pemesanan 120 juta butir peluru selama 5 tahun.
Selain itu menjalin kerja sama strategis dengan industri sejenis lainnya. Bentuknya, pemenuhan kebutuhan kendaraan taktis.
"Salah satunya dalam pengembangan kendaraan taktis 4x4, dimana Pindad akan memproduksi untuk pesanan ke luar negeri," katanya.
Kepercayaan terhadap produk Pindad juga, kata Silmy Karim, juga dari pasukan perdamaian PBB yang memesan 44 unit kendaraan taktis produk PT Pindad, yaitu Anoa.
"Pasukan PBB menggunakan 44 unit Anoa untuk menjalankan misi perdamaiannya di Afrika," katanya.
Upaya-upaya kerja sama itu, terangnya, sebagai jawaban tantangan sekaligus tindak lanjut UU 16/2012 tentang Industri Pertahanan Nasional yang berdaya saing tinggi.
"Pindad berkomitmen untuk meningkatkan kapasitas produksi. Peningkatan itu tidak hanya kuantitas tetapi juga kualitas," kata Dirut Pindad menambahkan.
(Investor Daily)
29 Januari 2015
BTR-3E1 with 90mm CMI CSE90LP (photos : CMI. Thai Defense)
The new ukrainian wheeled tank destroyer BTR-3E1 with 90mm CMI CSE90LP has been tested in Thailand for for mechanized infantry regiment (MGS) , reported defence-blog.com. CMI Defence and Ukroboroprom integrate the Cockerill CSE 90LP turret with the BTR- 3E 8×8 vehicle. The resulting system offers robust organic direct firesupport to current and future BTR-3 users.
The Cockerill CSE 90LP is a low-weight two-person turret. Featuring the proven Cockerill 90mm low pressure gun (of which some 2,500 units have been sold) the turret provides a range of highly effective fires from HE to APFSDS-T and Canister. These fires are accurately delivered around the clock using electrically-powered gun drives and a night/day digital fire control system. The low weight of the Cockerill CSE 90LP turret permits the high mobility of the Ukroboronservice BTR-3E chassis to be fully utilized. Despite its high capability and advanced design, the Cockerill CSE 90LP turret is simple to use and ruggedly reliable in the field; a real soldier’s tool.
The BTR-3E1 project fulfilled the wish of highly mobile infantry with reasonable firepower but there are some missing puzzles ,the MGS ,which will provide the heavy punches for this (these) regiment(s), IMO, this 90 mm is more than enough firepower to support the infantry (but 105 should do some jobs better,i.e. tank hunting).
(Defence blog)
29 Januari 2015
The RBAF has four S-70As in service (photos : Militaryphotos, Airforce Technology)
BRUNEI’S Ministry of Defence yesterday said it will transfer S-70A Blackhawk helicopters belonging to the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) to the Malaysian Armed Forces.
News of four S-70A Blackhawk helicopters from the RBAirF to be transferred to the Malaysian Armed Forces have been widely reported in prominent Malaysian websites since early this week and was confirmed by a statement from Brunei’s Ministry of Defence on its website yesterday.
“The Ministry of Defence is pleased to inform that the defence relations between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia continue to be strengthened especially with the close consultation between the two countries; exchanges in trainings and joint military exercises; exchange of information; participation of both countries in international operations, such as the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the International Monitoring Team (IMT); and many others.
“This cooperation will be further enhanced with the transfer of the S-70A Blackhawk helicopters belonging to the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) to the Malaysian Armed Forces.
“The helicopters are still operational in the Royal Brunei Air Force and are expected to be ready for the handover as early as September when the new RBAirF S-70i Blackhawk helicopters are fully operational.
“Details of the transfer will be further discussed by both sides.
“The Ministry of Defence hopes that the transfer of these helicopters will contribute towards enhancing the Malaysian Armed Forces capability and to the efforts of both countries in preserving regional peace and security,” read the statement.
Brunei’s Ministry of Defence had ordered 12 S-70i Blackhawk helicopters that were contracted to Sikorsky as part of Royal Brunei Air Force’s helicopter fleet modernisation.
The new fleet will enhance the Royal Brunei Air Force’s rotary wing capabilities in air mobility, Search and Rescue (SAR) and enhance surveillance of Brunei’s waters and borders. The first batch of the uniquely configured aircraft was delivered in early 2014.
Equipped with a suite of advanced avionics and sensors, the multirole aircraft can perform a variety of missions over land and water, including search and rescue, humanitarian relief, anti-piracy, troop transport and medical evacuation.
The contract includes ground support equipment, spares and technical training.
The Ministry of Defence has an option to order an additional 10 aircraft as part of the same contract.
Meanwhile, Malaysia will almost certainly operate the second-hand tactical / transport helicopters out of Labuan RMAF Base on an island just eight kilometres off the coast of Borneo, the land that holds Brunei, the Malaysian provinces of Sarawak and Sabah and Indonesian Kalimantan. From Labuan the choppers will likely be deployed to maintain peace in the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone), airheadfly.com reported.
By helping neighbouring Malaysia with additional rotary wing, Brunei more or less provides an extra forward line of defence for its own security, the website added. The Blackhawk is not new to Malaysia, as the Royal Malaysian Air Force flies a pair for VIP duties.
(BorneoBulletin)
29 Januari 2015
HMAS Brunei L127 and HMAS Tarakan L129 (photo : Aus DoD)
The Australian Government will gift two recently-decommissioned Landing Craft Heavy vessels, including a package of spare parts, to the Philippines Government, the Minister for Defence Kevin Andrews announced today.
Mr Andrews said the former Royal Australian Navy vessels HMAS Tarakan and Brunei would be gifted to the Philippine Navy after being refurbished with new safety and navigation equipment.
“I expect the vessels will be refitted and ready for hand over in May 2015,” Mr Andrews said.
The Landing Craft will be commissioned in the Philippines Navy and will provide additional intra-theatre sealift capability.
A lack of sealift capability hampered efforts to assist Philippines’ coastal areas devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
“The Landing Craft will greatly improve the Philippines’ ability to respond to natural disasters by enabling heavy equipment and large amounts of aid to be moved to affected areas,” Mr Andrews said.
The Landing Craft Heavy fleet was decommissioned from Australian service at a ceremony in Cairns on 19 November 2014.
The Philippines Government is also considering whether to purchase the remaining three Landing Craft Heavy. The former HMAS Wewak, Betano and Balikpapan were decommissioned from the Royal Australian Navy in 2012.
(Aus DoD)
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