New Combat Kit for NZ Soldier

18 September 2009

NZ soldiers wearing the new protective equipment in pre-deployment training for Afghanistan. September 2009. OH 09-0562-013 (photo : DefenceNZ)

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) troops deploying to Afghanistan this October will be equipped with the latest, battle tested body armour and protective equipment.

The Army has invested in a variety of gear, from patrol packs to ballistic glasses, to ensure the modern soldier is equipped to do the job they need to do on operations overseas.

The improved body armour has been developed based on lessons learned in Afghanistan and Iraq. The body armour is a Special Forces variant and is currently in use with US Navy SEAL’s and US Army Rangers.

The protective equipment includes new, lighter combat helmets, improved body armour, ballistic goggles and gloves, modular webbing and pouches, an enhanced individual torch, ergonomic camelback patrol pack, and for some, an improved hand-held GPS unit.“While the soldier is the first part of Army capability, it is also about ensuring our soldiers are well-equipped to do the job they are required to do,” says the Chief of Army Major General Rhys Jones.“This new protective equipment will enable our soldiers to undertake the tasks and demands we require of them in a range of complex operational environments like Afghanistan, Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands.”

The equipment will be first used by NZDF personnel deploying to Afghanistan in October. Remaining missions will be supplied with equipment in order of threat level over the next six months.

“There are currently 790 New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed on 14 operations, UN missions and defence exercises in 10 countries around the world,” MAJ GEN Jones says.

“They are often twelve months away from their families and the Army is committed to investing in their safety by ensuring they have the equipment and training to achieve their goals to a world-class standard.”The new equipment is lighter, more comfortable and provides the wearer with enhanced ballistic and fragmentary protection. The modular system can also by personalised by the soldier in how they attach the pouches to their webbing.

The current operational pool of equipment will be distributed for wider Army training purposes as the new equipment is phased in.

(DefenceNZ)

Enhanced Global Communications for ADF Forces

18 September 2009

The principal function of HMAS Harman is to provide administrative functions to all Navy personnel located in the Canberra area. The base is commanded by a navy CMDR Rank (photo : NavyAu)

Defence has signed a $94 million contract for the construction of three satellite communications earth terminals that will improve global communications for deployed ADF forces.

Greg Combet, the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, said the new terminals will be built at the Australian Defence Satellite and Communications Station near Geraldton in Western Australia.

“The completion of the new capability in 2013 will significantly enhance the wideband strategic communications support available to Australian forces overseas,” Mr Combet said.

“This includes those forces on distant deployments in the Middle East and also on operations closer to home in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.”

The contract, awarded to BAE systems, also includes five years of support for the new terminals and an enhanced network management system to enable the terminals to be controlled remotely from HMAS Harman in Canberra.

The new facility will increase the amount of data that will be able to be provided over the Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) System that Australia accesses, through a partnership with the United States Department of Defence.



(DefenceGovAu)

Pacific Patrol Boat Upgraded

17 September 2009

Each PPB will undergo a six-month life extension refit that will see the repair and refurbishment of key systems to allow a further 15 years of operation. (photo : DefenceGovAu)

The latest in a series of Australian-sponsored Pacific Patrol Boat refits has been completed and the refurbished vessel handed back to the Kingdom of Tonga at a ceremony at the Rosshaven Marine Shipyard in Townsville last week.

Under Australia's Defence Cooperation Program - sponsored and funded by Defence's International Policy Division - 22 Pacific Patrol Boats (PPBs) were built and gifted to 12 Pacific nations between 1987 and 1997.

The 31.5-metre PPBs are built to a commercial standard and are used by Pacific nations for maritime surveillance and response, in particular fisheries patrols.

Each PPB will undergo a six-month life extension refit that will see the repair and refurbishment of key systems to allow a further 15 years of operation, bringing the total operational life of the boats to 30 years.

The refit program includes repairs to ageing hulls and superstructures, structural modifications to improve and strengthen the hull, improvements in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, engine, generator and gearbox overhauls and installation of advanced navigation systems.

Since 2003, 12 PPBs have completed life extension refits in North Queensland.

All refits for the remaining PPBs are scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.

Tonga has three PPBs - VOEA NEIAFU, VOEA SAVEA and VOEA PANGAI.

Patrol Boat VOEA PANGAI will commence its refit in mid-September 2009.

(Australian Defence)

Saab Celebrates First Flight of Thai Fighter

17 September 2009

JAS-39 Gripen D of the RTAF (photo : Gripen International)

Thailand’s first of at least six Saab Gripen C/Ds has made its first flight from the Swedish manufacturer’s Linköping facility.

Flown by a Saab test pilot, the two-seat Gripen D completed its 80min debut sortie on 16 September.

“The Royal Thai Air Force will start their training on Gripen in Sweden next year, and the fighters will be delivered to Thailand in 2011,” says Saab.

Gripen D - two seat version Gripen of RTAF (photo : Gripen International)

Sweden signed a production deal with Thailand in 2008 to supply the nation’s air force with six Gripens, plus two Saab 340s – one to be used for transport and training purposes, and the other configured with Saab Microwave Systems’ Erieye airborne early warning and control radar.

Bangkok had intended to place a follow-on order for a second batch of six Gripens earlier this year, but has suspended the move due to political and economic factors.

(Defense News)

TNI Pesan Meriam Penangkis Udara Swiss

17 September 2009

Rheinmetall Defence (Oerlikon Contraves) Skyshield 35 - ground base air defense system (photo : Aviation Week)

Jakarta - Pasukan Khas TNI Angkatan Udara telah memesan meriam Penangkis Serangan Udara (PSU) terbaru jenis Oerlikon Contraves 35 mm buatan Swiss. Alat ini untuk memaksimalkan pengamanan pangkalan udara.

"Senjata ini untuk menggantikan PSU Triple Gun buatan 1950 yang telah lama digunakan TNI Angkatan Udara dan sebagian sudah disisihkan secara bertahap sejak 1990," kata Komandan Korps Paskhas TNI AU Marsekal Pertama TNI Harry Budiono di Jakarta, Rabu (16/9).

Ia menambahkan, PSU Oerlikon Contraves 35 mm telah digunakan di 40 negara tersebar di Asia dan Eropa. "Jika Indonesia serius berniat membelinya dan telah tandatangan kontrak, maka mereka baru akan membuatnya. Jadi, nanti kita mendapat barang baru," ujar Harry.

Selain PSU dari Swiss, Paskhas TNI AU juga akan meneruskan pengadaan radar rudal antipesawat QW-3 buatan China. "Kontrak sudah ada di Departemen Pertahanan. Kita akan beli tiga unit dan akan ditempatkan di Madiun dan Jakarta," imbuhnya.

Hispano Suiza Triple Gun (photo : Kaskus Militer)

Harry mengatakan, pengadaan sejumlah peralatan itu merupakan bagian dari Program Pengembangan Kekuatan (Propangkuat) TNI AU 2005-2009 yang karena keterbatasan anggaran maka baru dilanjutkan prosesnya pada Probangkuat 2009-2014.

Untuk persenjataan personel dan kendaraan tempur lainnya, Paskhas TNI AU menggunakan standar yang digunakan TNI. "Seperti untuk persenjataan personel individu kita menggunakan senjata SS-1 V1 PT Pindad dan lainnya," tuturnya. [*/sss]

(Lintas Berita-Inilah)

2 Lagi Hercules Menyusul Diremajakan di Dalam Negeri

16 September 2009

C-130 Hercules TNI-AU (photo : Jumpseat)

Hercules TNI AU Diremajakan

JAKARTA — Pemerintah Indonesia memutuskan untuk melanjutkan program peremajaan pesawat angkut C-130 Hercules TNI Angkatan Udara untuk memelihara dan meningkatkan kesiapan skuadron udara angkut berat.

"Dalam waktu dekat dua Hercules TNI AU akan segera diremajakan di dalam negeri," kata Dirjen Sarana Pertahanan Departemen Pertahanan Marsekal Muda TNI Erris Heryanto, di Jakarta, Rabu (16/9).

Sebelumnya, empat Hercules C-130 telah diremajakan. Pertama diremajakan di Singapura, dan TNI Angkatan Udara sekaligus mengirimkan teknisi untuk meningkatkan kemampuannya dalam pemeliharaan dan perbaikan pesawat Hercules.

Peningkatan kemampuan pesawat Hercules TNI Angkatan Udara yang dilakukan di Singapura mencakup perbaikan airframe (badan pesawat), modifikasi avionik, dan modifikasi mesin.

Peremajaan dua pesawat Hercules terakhir akan dilakukan di Depo Pemeliharaan 30 Pangkalan Udara Abdurrahman Saleh yang mencakup peningkatan kemampuan mesin dari T56-7 ke T56-15 atau ditingkatkan dari tipe B ke tipe H.

Peningkatan kemampuan yang dilakukan di Depo Pemeliharaan 10 Pangkalan Udara Husein Sastranegara, Bandung, mencakup perbaikan badan pesawat dan modifikasi avionik. Peningkatan kemampuan dua Hercules di Depo 10 dan 30 sudah dilakukan sepenuhnya oleh teknisi TNI AU yang sebelumnya dikirim ke Singapura.

"Kini, dua Hercules mendatang seluruhnya akan dikerjakan di Tanah Air, mencakup seluruh aspek peremajaan," katanya.

Pada kesempatan terpisah, Asisten Logistik Kepala Staf Angkatan Udara Marsekal Muda TN Imam Wahyudi mengatakan, program peremajaan terhadap dua unit Hercules TNI Angkatan Udara tipe B akan dilakukan di Depo Pemeliharaan 10 Pangkalan Udara Husein Sastranegara dan Depo Pemeliharaan 30 Pangkalan Udara Abdurrahman Saleh.

"Melalui program peremajaan, usia pakai pesawat-pesawat itu dapat diperpanjang 15 hingga 20 tahun mendatang, dengan kondisi kembali prima," katanya.

Tentang ketersediaan mesin Hercules tipe B yang sudah langka di pasaran, Imam mengatakan tidak masalah karena mesin C-130 Hercules tipe B dapat ditingkatkan menjadi mesin Hercules tipe H yang masih banyak terdapat di pasaran.

(Kompas)

TNI-AL Prioritaskan Kapal Patroli Cepat Pada 2010

16 September 2009

Rancangan Kapal Patroli Cepat FPB-60 (photo : Angkasa)

Jakarta - Mabes TNI Angkatan Laut pada 2010 akan memprioritaskan pengadaan kapal patroli cepat untuk menjaga wilayah perairan nasional, termasuk di wilayah perairan yang berbatasan dengan negara lain.

Dalam perbincangan singkat dengan ANTARA di Jakarta, Selasa malam, Kepala Staf Angkatan Laut Laksamana TNI Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno mengatakan, untuk menimbulkan efek tangkal (detterence) maka kapal-kapal patroli cepat itu akan dilengkapi persenjataan seperti peluru kendali yang memadai.

"Dengan tingkat kesiapan kapal-kapal perang yang minim, maka kita harus memiliki strategi dan skala prioritas tinggi agar wilayah perairan kita tetap terjaga, karena banyak kandungan mineral, minyak dan sumber daya alam lainnya ada di laut," tuturnya.

Tak hanya itu, dengan pengadaan kapal-kapal patroli cepat dapat makin memberdayakan industri pertahanan dalam negeri karena PT PAL sudah dapat membuat kapal-kapal patroli cepat.

"Selain itu, kapal patroli cepat dapat lebih lincah bermanuver terutama di wilayah-wilayah perairan sempit seperti di sebagian perbatasan laut kita dengan negara lain," kata Tedjo.

Berdasarkan hasil audit bersama Departemen Pertahanan dan Mabes TNI tentang persenjataan TNI, kesiapan rata-rata persenjataan TNI hanya 35 persen.
Kasal mengatakan, pihaknya tidak dapat memprediksi berapa persen kenaikan kesiapan alat utama sistem senjata matra laut dengan adanya kenaikan anggaran pertahanan pada 2010 sebesar Rp40,7 Triliun.

"Semua sangat tergantung dari apa yang akan kita prioritaskan, apakah tempur, angkut atau apa. Tetapi, yang jelas dengan kondisi yang ada maka kita akan prioritaskan kapal patroli cepat yang dipersenjatai secara memadai hingga menimbulkan efek tangkal efektif dan efisien," demikian Tedjo.

(Antara)