Australia Signs Long-Term S-70B Seahawk Maintenance Contract

18 Desember 2009

S-70 Seahawk of the Royal Australia Navy (photo : DefenceGovAu)

The Australian government recently announced a multi-year In Service Support contract to BAE Systems Australia Ltd., covering the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of 16 S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters. Australia’s naval S-70s contain features from the US Navy’s SH-60B and SH-60F Seahawks, and were delivered from 1988-1992. The new 7-year, A$ 208 million (currently $187 million) support contract begins in April 2010, and is expected to run until existing Seahawks are withdrawn from service. Extension options could lengthen that period, however; and there have been recent reports that the Australian DoD is recommending Sikorsky’s new MH-60R Seahawk as a successor, rather than Eurocopter’s NH90 NFH variant of the Australian Army’s new transport helicopters.

BAE’s ISS contract will provide engineering, maintenance, and some supply services. It’s expected to support 130 jobs in new expanded facilities at the Albatross Aviation Technology Park, located near the S-70B fleet’s base at HMAS Abatross in Nowra, New South Wales, as well as securing a number of industry positions in Nowra, Melbourne and Amberley.

(Defense Industry Daily)

Vietnam Agrees to Buy Subs, Planes From Russia

17 Desember 2009

Kilo class submarine (photo : MilitaryPictures)

MOSCOW - Vietnam and Russia signed a major arms deal and a nuclear energy agreement Dec. 15, a sign of reviving ties between Moscow and its former Soviet-era ally in Southeast Asia.

Hanoi agreed to buy Russian-made submarines and aircraft in the arms deal, which was signed in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his visiting Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Tan Dung.

"Vietnam signed a contract for the purchase of submarines, planes and military equipment with the corresponding cooperation of the Russian side," Dung said in remarks translated into Russian.

Details were not released on the deal between Russian state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport and Vietnam's defense ministry.

However the Interfax news agency, citing an unnamed defense industry source, reported that Vietnam had agreed to buy six Russian-made submarines for a total price tag of about $2 billion (1.37 billion euros).

The six Kilo-class diesel-electric subs would be built for the Vietnamese navy at a rate of one per year, Interfax reported.

Moscow and Hanoi also inked a deal on the construction of Vietnam's first atomic power plant.

Last month, the Vietnamese parliament approved building the country's first nuclear power station, a lucrative project that has been keenly watched by potential foreign partners.

The agreement signed in Moscow was described as a memorandum on cooperation between Vietnamese electricity company EVN and Russia's state-owned atomic energy firm Rosatom, which had been interested in the project.

"Vietnam officially invites the Russian side to cooperate in the building of the first atomic energy plant in Vietnam under adherence to the necessary conditions," Dung said.

(Defense News)

PT. PAL Serahkan Kapal Patroli Cepat 38 meter

17 Desember 2009

Kapal patroli cepat 38 meter produksi PT. PAL (photo : Antara)

Bea dan Cukai Diperkuat Kapal Cepat

SURABAYA (SI) – Direktorat Jenderal (Ditjen) Bea dan Cukai Departemen Keuangan menambah armada untuk mengantisipasi kejahatan di perairan Indonesia.

Kemarin, PT PAL Indonesia (Persero) menyerahkan kapal patroli cepat 38 meter alumunium pesanan Ditjen Bea dan Cukai. Kapal yang diberi nama BC- 30001 tersebut merupakan kapal pertama dari tiga pesanan yang telah selesai dikerjakan.

Sedangkan untuk dua kapal lainnya dengan tipe sama, diperkirakan akan rampung pengerjaannya akhir Desember dan Januari 2010. Penyerahan kapal patroli cepat ini digelar di dermaga Divisi Kapal Perang PT PAL Indonesia.

Penyerahan dilakukan Direktur Utama PT PAL Indonesia Harsusanto kepada Menteri Keuangan Sri Mulyani. Tampak hadir pula Direktur Jenderal Bea dan Cukai Drs Anwar Suprijadi. Seusai penyerahan yang ditandai sirine, Sri Mulyani juga ikut mencoba merasakan kapal tersebut hingga Jembatan Suramadu.

Dikatakan Dirut PT PAL Indonesia Harsusanto, kapal ini merupakan kapal ke-160 yang dibuat sejak berdirinya PT PAL pada 1980. Sebelumnya PT PAL Indonesia sudah membuat kapal patroli berbagai versi untuk Kepolisian Republik Indonesia (Polri),TNI Angkatan Laut (AL) dan Ditjen Bea dan Cukai. ”Konsep pembangunan kapal ini menggunakan standar Lloyd Register,”jelas Harsusanto.

Konstruksi lambung dan anjungan kapal yang dibuat dari bahan alumunium mampu menahan gelombang tinggi dan lebih lincah saat bermanuver. Kapal patroli cepat ini mempunyai kecepatan maksimum 30 Knot,walaupun saat official trialbisa mencapai 33 Knot. Harsusanto menambahkan, kapal patroli cepat BC-30001 memiliki dua baling-baling dan dilengkapi Radar NavNet yang mampu mengintegrasikan data-data peralatan sistim navigasi dan komunikasi seperti echo sounder,speed log dan GPS ke dalam peta elektronik dan sistem radar.

”Teknologi ini memungkinkan pertukaran data dengan kapal lain atau stasiun panai. Juga, kapal dengan ABK (anak buah kapal) maksimum 25 orang ini dilengkapi kemudi otomatis dan pendeteksi arah angin,”tandas Harsusanto.

Sedangkan bahan yang dipakai, lebih 40% memakai komponen- komponen lokal yang dipasok industri-industri dalam negeri, salah satunya PT Pindad (Persero). Sepanjang 2009,PT PAL Indonesia telah meluncurkan dua kapal, setelah sebelumnya menyerahkan KRI Banjarmasin 592 untuk TNI AL.

Dalam kesempatan sama, Sri Mulyani menginstruksikan peremajaan perangkat keamanan di Ditjen Bea dan Cukai. Salah satunya dengan terus memperbarui kekuatan armada dengan teknologi yang canggih. ”Modus penyelundupan serta kejahatan perairan semakin banyak dan kompleks. Jika Ditjen Bea dan Cukai tidak merespons dengan kekuatan baru dan memadai, maka banyak kejahatan yang sulit diantisipasi,”kata Sri Mulyani.

(Seputar Indonesia)

Kapal Selam TNI-AL Diperbaiki di Korea Selatan

16 Desember 2009

KRI Nanggala 402 (photo : Kaskus Militer)

Surabaya (ANTARA News) - Sebuah kapal selam dari jajaran Komando Armada RI Kawasan Timur (Koarmatim) TNI Angkatan Laut (AL) diboyong ke Korea Selatan untuk diperbaiki.

Kepala Dinas Penerangan Koarmatim Letkol Laut (Kh) Toni Saiful di Surabaya, Selasa mengatakan Kapal Perang Republik Indonesia (KRI) Nanggala-402 itu diangkut ke Korea Selatan dengan menggunakan kapal Combi Dock III.

"Kapal itu berangkat ke Korea Selatan pekan lalu untuk perbaikan lengkap (`overhaul`)," katanya.

Menurut dia, KRI Nanggala-402 adalah kapal selam kedua dalam jenis kelas cakra setelah kapal selam generasi sebelumnya, KRI Cakra-401. KRI Nanggala termasuk dalam jajaran armada pemukul milik TNI-AL.

Sistem penggerak kapal itu adalah motor listrik Siemens jenis "low-speed" yang disalurkan langsung melalui sebuah "shaft" ke baling-baling kapal.

Total daya yang dikirim adalah 5.000 shp (shaft horse power), tenaga motor listrik dihasilkan oleh baterai-baterai besar yang beratnya sekitar 25 persen dari berat kapal.

Tenaga baterai diisi oleh generator yang dijalankan empat unit mesin diesel MTU jenis "supercharged".

Kapal selam KRI Nanggala-402 itu memiliki 14 buah senjata torpedo buatan AEG dan dapat diincar melalui periskop buatan Zeiss yang diletakan disamping "snorkel" buatan Maschinenbau Gabler.

KRI Nanggala memiliki berat selam 1,395 ton dengan dimensi 59,5 m x 6,3 m x 5,5 m yang digerakkan oleh mesin diesel elektrik, dan empat unit diesel satu shaft yang mampu menghasilkan 4,600 shp. Kapal tersebut diawaki 34 pelaut itu sanggup mendorong kapal hingga kecepatan 21,5 knot.

Sebagai bagian dari armada pemukul, KRI Nanggala merupakan kapal selam tipe 209/1300 yang banyak digunakan Angkatan Laut di dunia.

Sebelumnya, Koarmatim juga telah mengirimkan KRI Cakra-401 ke Korea Selatan untuk diperbaiki. Perangkat teknologinya yang sebelumnya buatan 1970-an kini telah diganti dengan perangkatan teknologi buatan 1990-an.

KRI Nanggala buatan Howaldtswerke, Kiel, Jerman Barat 1981 itu pernah terlibat dalam latihan gabungan TNI AL-US Navy (CARAT-8/02) yang diadakan pada 27 Mei-3 Juni 2002.

Selain itu kapal selam tersebut juga pernah terlibat dalam Latihan Operasi Laut Gabungan (Latopslagab) XV/04 di Samudera Hindia, tanggal 8 April hingga 2 Mei 2004. KRI Nanggala juga berhasil menenggelamkan eks-KRI Rakata, sebuah kapal tunda samudra buatan 1942 dengan torpedo SUT.(*)

(Antara)

Australia to Upgrade Pine Gap Radar Antenna

15 Desember 2009

Pine gap radar (photo : 40yrs)

Upgrades to the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap

Upgrades to the antenna farm at the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap (Pine Gap) are expected to commence in May 2010.

These upgrades are intended to replace aging equipment and address technological change.

Australian contractors have been sought privately for the infrastructure upgrades.

Construction will be ongoing over several years with the refurbishment expected to be completed by 2014.

Pine Gap is a Defence facility jointly run by the Australian and United States Governments. The facility is an essential part of Australia’s national defence and alliance with the United States. Pine Gap provides intelligence and early warning that would be unavailable from any other means and is unique in the region.

As stated in the 2009 Defence White Paper Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, “the capabilities at Pine Gap will evolve to meet new demands and take advantage of new technologies, and the facility will remain a central element of Australia’s security and of our relationship with the United States.”

(Defense Aerospace)

Dephan Terima Hibah Dua Unit Helikopter NBO-105 Dari Dephut untuk TNI AD

15 Desember 2009


Helikopter NBO-105 (photo : yoelvisian)

Jakarta – DMC, Departemen Pertahanan (Dephan) menerima hibah dua unit Helicopter NBO-105 dari Departemen Kehutanan (Dephut) yang selanjutnya diserahkan kepada TNI Angkatan Darat. Penyerahan dua unit helikopter tersebut dilaksanakan secara simbolis melalui penandatangan naskah berita acara serah terima oleh Sekjen Dephut Dr. Ir. Boen M. Purnama M.Sc dengan Dirjen Ranahan Dephan Marsdya TNI Eris Herryanto, MA, Selasa (15/12) di kantor Dephut, Jakarta.

Usai diserahterimakan kepada Dephan, selanjutnya Dephan menyerahkan kedua helikopter tersebut kepada TNI AD yang juga dilaksanakan secara simbolis melalui penandatangan naskah berita acara serah terima oleh Dirjen Ranahan Dephan Marsdya TNI Eris Haryanto, MA dengan Asisten Logistik (Aslog) Kasad Mayjen TNI Hari Krisnomo S.IP, M.Sc. Acara serah terima tersebut dihadiri dan disaksikan oleh sejumlah pejabat di lingkungan Dephan, Dephut, Mabes TNI dan Mabes TNI AD.

Sekjen Dephut dalam sambutannya mengatakan, dua unit Helikopter NBO-105 merupakan buatan PT DI yang diproduksi pada tahun 1981. Selama pengoperasiannya pernah dikerjasamakan oleh Dephut dengan TNI AU. Selanjutnya dalam rangka mendukung operasional TNI AD, pada tahun 2004 dipinjampakaikan kepada TNI AD untuk masa pinjam pakai selama dua tahun dan dapat diperpanjang atas kesepakatan kedua belah pihak.

Lebih lanjut Sekjen Dephut mengatakan, dengan memperhatikan aturan yang ada dan mengingat kedua unit helikopter tersebut dirasa sangat dibutuhkan untuk mendukung operasionalisasi kegiatan TNI AD, maka Dephut menghibahkannya kepada TNI AD melalui Dephan.

Disamping alasan lainya antara lain pemeliharaan pesawat atau helikopter yang ternyata menurut Sekjen Dephut memerlukan biaya yang sangat besar dan harus memiliki fasilitas dan Sumber Daya Manusia yang memadai untuk operasionalisasinya.

Diakhir sambutannya Sekjen Dephut berharap, setelah diserahterimakannya kedua helikopter tersebut diharapkan nantinya dapat berguna bagi TNI AD khususnya dalam rangka mendukung operasional di lapangan sesuai dengan tugas pokok dan fungsinya.

Sementara itu, Dirjen Ranahan Dephan mengatakan, saat ini Alutsista yang dimiliki oleh TNI masih sangat kurang dan masih jauh dari apa yang diharapkan apabila dibandingkan dengan luas wilayah Indonesia. “Alutsista TNI khususnya pesawat terbang atau helikopter masih dirasakan kurang”, ungkapnya.

Oleh karenanya, dengan dihibahkannya dua unit helikopter oleh Dephut kepada TNI AD diharapkan akan dapat membantu TNI AD dalam melaksanakan tugas – tugas operasionalnya.

Menurut Dirjen Ranahan Dephan, kedua helikopter tersebut selama ini sangat bermanfaat bagi TNI AD. Satu unit saat ini dalam keadaan unserviceable, dan satu unit lagi berada di lapangan dalam rangka mendukung kegiatan di perbatasan.

“TNI AD merasa terbantu dengan adanya dua heli ini untuk kegiatan operasional, mudah -mudahan setelah diserahterimakan, TNI AD akan lebih leluasa lagi untuk memanfaatkan kedua heli ini”, tambah Dirjen Ranahan Dephan.

Senada dengan Dirjen Ranahan Dephan, Aslog Kasad juga mengatakan bahwa kedua helikopter tersebut selama ini sangat dibutuhkan dan sangat membantu TNI AD khususnya Kodam Tanjung Pura untuk mendukung kegiatan - kegiatan yang berkaitan dengan pengamanan wilayah perbatasan. (BDI/HDY)

(DMC)

Thailand’s Armed Forces Modernisation Plans (3)

15 Desember 2009

HTMS Chakri Naruebet - the 11,400 tonnes carrier (photo : Naval Technology)

Royal Thai Navy

Thailand has a 3,219km coastline hosting isolated beaches and islets that offer havens for smugglers and gunrunners. Cambodia is an epicentre of illicit arms trading, and many transhipments funnel through Thailand. The RTN operates numerous patrol craft to counter such criminal activity, plus river patrol boats to secure inland waterway (for example, there are 75+ boats on the Mekong River). The First Naval Area Command (NAC) covers the Eastern Gulf of Thailand; the Second NAC is responsible for the Western Gulf of Thailand; and the Andaman Sea is patrolled by the Third NAC. Naval vessels are supported by two air wings.

Thailand will receive 141m LPD from ST Marine (photo : TAF)

The RTN possesses a number of amphibious vessels able to insert Marine Corps (RTMC) personnel in trouble spots. The RTMC, headquartered at Sattahip Naval Base, has six infantry battalions and a strength of 20,000. The RTMC is heavily involved in countering the southern insurgency, and is set to receive twelve BTR-3E1 vehicles. Keen to develop its amphibious capability and to update craft dating from WWII, the RTN commissioned ST Marine in Singapore in mid-November 2008 to build a $131.7 million Endurance-class Landing Platform Dock (LPD). Although two are required, funding for only one 141m LPD has been released thus far. This type of multipurpose vessel will be useful for disaster relief. At the same time, Thailand ordered two LCMs and two 13m LCVPs from ST Marine, plus another two 23m LCUs from an undisclosed manufacturer. The LPD should be delivered in 2012.

Thailand’s largest naval vessel is the 11,400-tonne HTMS Chakri Naruebet, Southeast Asia’s only aircraft carrier. Purchased from Spain when Thailand’s economy was booming in the 1990s, it carries six helicopters and six AV-8S Matador jump-jets. In actual fact the carrier should be viewed as somewhat of a white elephant - it spends most of its time in port as it is expensive to operate, and crewmen need to be drawn from other vessels.

Thales proposed for midlife Naresuan class frigates (image : Thales)

Midlife updates to two Chinese-manufactured Naresuan-class frigates (based on the Jianghu-class Type IV) are being delayed for now. The upgrade of four Chao Phraya-class frigates (Jianghu class) is unaffected though, where Chinese C-802A anti-ship missiles will replace older C-801 missiles. The frigates’ radar and electronic warfare systems will also be upgraded, and there is interest in Chinese LY-60 Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM).

Nearly half the RTN’s 130 vessels are USbuilt, though many smaller coastal patrol vessels are constructed locally as Thailand develops a sustainable shipbuilding industry. In September, the government rubber-stamped the $48 million construction of one T.994 patrol vessel by the RTN Dockyard, while two more (T.995, T.996) will be produced by Marsun Shipbuilding. These ships improve upon the earlier T.991-993 design, being a bit larger and with rearranged weapon configurations that include a DS-30MR cannon and OtoMelara 12.7mm Naval Turret. The RTN also recently inducted four new vessels similar to the Swedish CB90 into its Naval Special Warfare Unit. The first of their kind in Thailand, they can attain speeds of 42 knots.

The 90m OPV has designed by BVT for Royal Thai Navy (image : Thales)

An important domestic project is a partnership between Bangkok Dock and the British BVT Surface Fleet. On 30 June, a $85 million contract was signed for the design of a 90m Ocean Patrol Vessel (OPV) suitable for protecting Thai waters, as Thailand looks to secure its coastal waters. These OPVs will also form the nucleus of a coast guard under RTN command. Based on an existing BVT design, the first craft will be built at the RTN’s Mahidol Dockyard, with construction commencing in the final quarter of 2009.

Thailand increasingly finds itself surrounded by submarines from the likes of Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam, and this has prompted renewed Thai interest in submarines. Such an acquisition plan has lain dormant since 1996 when the idea of acquiring two to three diesel-electric submarines was scuttled. Surrounded by submarines, an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability becomes increasingly significant - the RTN already operates six S-70B-7 Seahawk helicopters, and on 22 September the government approved an upgrade of their ASW capability. The first phase of this two-year Foreign Military Sales (FMS) package will see three naval helicopters equipped with L3 Communications’ AN/ASN-15 Navigational Computer Sets and Dipping Sonar buoys. The US also approved the sale of six MH-60S helicopters, so the RTN will take delivery of the first two in 2010 for the SAR role.

Thailand’s place in the future

Thailand has been raising its profile in international security missions, with
around 800 UN peacekeepers flying to Darfur in mid-2009. The kingdom maintains close military links with the USA, and it engages in two major bilateral exercises each year - Cobra Gold and CARAT. Thailand has proven to be a willing supporter of the US Global War on Terror, and probably as a result of sending troops to Iraq, it was granted “major non-NATO ally” status in 2003. This engenders greater monetary. support in equipment and training. However, there is no likelihood of U.S. troops getting involved with counterinsurgency support on the ground as they do in the Philippines.

A novel plan has been mooted to build a canal across the Kra Isthmus as an alternative to the Malacca Strait chokepoint. China has already offered to help fund and construct such a $20-30 billion canal, which would substantially reduce shipping times. A Thai canal would certainly enhance Thailand’s role as a logistical hub, but at this point it remains a mere notion. In the meantime, Thailand has enough to do in establishingstability within its own borders.

(Asian Military Review)