26 Februari 2020
BRP Jose Rizal with Hanwha Naval Shield CMS (image : ANC247)
MANILA – The sixth sea acceptance trial of the Philippine Navy (PN)'s first-ever missile frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), was generally satisfactory.
"The 6th Sea Acceptance Trial (SAT) of BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) conducted in Ulsan, South Korea on 16-22 February 2020 was generally satisfactory according to the Frigate Acquisition Project, Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee headed by Rear Admiral Alberto B. Carlos," said PN public affairs office chief Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, in a message late Monday.
Roxas said the sixth sea trials focused on weapons and sensors, vessel performance, and integrated platform management system.
"To be more specific, it demonstrated the warfare and operational capabilities of the frigate," she added.
Roxas declined to give further details on the matter, adding that the data given above is "only releasable information" for the moment.
She added that the delivery date of the BRP Jose Rizal remains unchanged at "tentatively 3rd week of April 2020".
The ship's fifth sea trials, which involved the firing of its Oto Melara Super Rapid 76mm main gun, took place successfully last February 12.
The third and fourth sea trials took place in the third week of January and involved testing the communications and navigational equipment of the BRP Jose Rizal which also went successful.
The ship's first and second sea trials took place last November and December involved the vessel's general seaworthiness and propulsion and associated systems, including its radars, respectively.
BRP Jose Rizal has a maximum designed speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles.
The sea trials are the last phase of construction prior to the frigate’s delivery to the Philippines.
BRP Jose Rizal was launched at the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan May 23, 2019.
The contract for the BRP Jose Rizal and its sister ship, the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), is placed at PHP16 billion with another PHP2 billion for weapon systems and munitions.
These ships are capable of conducting anti-air warfare (AAW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and electronic warfare (EW) operations.
(PNA)
26 Februari 2020
Roket R-450 akan ditingkatkan daya jangkaunya menjadi 200 km bekerja sama dengan China (photo : Tempo)
Indonesia 'Paksa' Cina Ajari Bikin Roket
TEMPO.CO, Bogor - Indonesia menjalin kerja sama dengan Cina dalam pengembangan teknologi roket di tanah air. Sebuah kesepakatan sudah terjalin dan diteken pada akhir tahun lalu berupa transer teknologi yang diberikan Cina atas kompensasi izin perairan yang diberikan pemerintah Indonesia.
Kepala Pusat Teknologi Roket di Lembaga Penerbangan dan Antariksa Nasional (Lapan), Sutrisno, pada Jumat 21 Februari 2020. Saat itu Sutrisno baru saja menerima kunjungan Menteri Ristek Bambang Brodjonegoro dan jajaran pimpinan Lapan di kantornya di Rumpin, Kabupaten Bogor.
Sutrisno menerangkan, pemerintah Cina butuh masuk perairan Indonesia untuk kepentingan pelacakan trayek satelitnya. Sempat menawarkan kompensasi teknologi lain, Sutrisno mengungkapkan kalau Beijing akhirnya setuju memenuhi permintaan transfer teknologi roket selama lima tahun ke depan.
“Jadi ini bukan beli lisensi ya, tapi transfer teknologi lewat kerja sama antar negara,” katanya sambil menjelaskan pembelian lisensi bisa sangat mahal dan belum tentu ada negara yang bersedia untuk teknologi roket.
Adapun kerja sama transfer teknologi, dijelaskannya, berupa pemberian pelatihan, pengadaan material dan peralatan, melakukan desain manufaktur. Termasuk uji di bawah supervisi ahli roket Cina yang dilakukan di negeri itu maupun di Indonesia.
Menurut Sutrsino, kerja sama akan sangat bermanfaat bagi peneliti roket Indonesia yang disebutnya masih mengembangkan teknologi asal 1960-an. Indonesia sangat membutuhkan kerja sama atau tranfer teknologi dari negara lain yang selama ini tidak pernah didapat untuk pengembangan roket.
Sebagai ilustrasi, dia membandingkan, kemampuan roket diameter 450 mm milik Lapan yang masih berdaya jangkau kurang dari 100 kilometer. Sementara Cina janji mengajari membuat roket baru yang dua tingkat dengan diameter yang sama dan mampu terbang sampai 200 kilometer ke batas atmosfer.
“Yang roket Cina itu untuk meng-improve roket 450 kita...dan akan ada pengalaman dan hal baru. serta memantapkan apa yang sudah kita lakukan selama ini,” kata Sutrisno.
Roket berdaya jangkau 200 kilometer disebutnya bisa digunakan sebagai roket sonda untuk mempelajari karakter di lapisan atmosfer. Harapannya kemampuan nanti bisa dikembangkan untuk roket sonda 300 kilometer dan seterusnya hingga bisa membuat roket peluncur satelit sesuai roadmap teknologi roket yang sudah dibuat tiga tahun lalu untuk 25 tahun ke depan.
(Tempo)
26 Februari 2020
RTAF White Paper 2020 (image RTAF)
Thai air force issues exhaustive list of aircraft requirements for 2020s
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has outlined an ambitious plan for buying new fighters, tactical transports, and other assets in the coming decade.
The RTAF’s White Paper 2020 features an impressive wish-list, stressing that while the service’s legacy types are well maintained, sustainment and spare parts availability is a challenge.
SAAB Gripen C 701st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Wing 7 Surat Thani (photo : AAG)
Another theme of the report is Bangkok’s ambition to build more indigenous capability in defence aerospace, particularly in areas such as MRO and components.
Fighter acquisition involve replacing the RTAF’s fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16s serving with its 102 and 103 Sqns, which it lists as two separate requirements.
Royal Thai Air Force's Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50TH (photo : AAG)
To replace 102 Sqn’s F-16A/B Block 15s, it hopes to obtain funding for six new jets in fiscal year 2023-2026, and another six in 2025-2028. For 103 Sqn’s F-16A/B Block 15s, it hopes to obtain funding for six new jets in 2028-2031, and six more in 2030-2033. Overall, the procurement of 24 new fighters will run from 2023-2033.
The F-16 replacement programme calls for a degree of technology transfer and the ability to support aircraft locally.
Royal Thai Air Force's Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules 601st Squadron, Wing 6 Don Mueang (photo : AAG)
The RTAF would also like budget to obtain an additional Saab Gripen C/D in fiscal years 2023-2025. The air force has 11 Gripens in its inventory after losing one during an air show crash in 2017. In keeping with the indigenous capability theme, the RTAF wants to boost its ability to perform logistics support for its existing Gripen fleet.
In addtion, the air force also hopes to obtain 12 light attack aircraft to replace its Aero Vodochody L-39s, which are increasingly difficult to service. As for lead in trainers, the RTAF wants two additional Korea Aerospace Industries T-50THs that would add to the 12 examples already procured.
Royal Thai Air Force's SAAB 340 AEW (Airborne Early Warning Radar) Erieye 702nd Squadron, Wing 7 Surat Thani (photo : ball.kittidej)
On the cards for upgrading are two Saab 340 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft, which the country wants to see transformed into assets capable of performing the more complex airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) mission.
“[The] SAAB 340 AEW has been in service for a long time, resulting in several mission limitations,” says the White Paper. In addition, the Erieye’s radar’s international airworthiness certificate will expire in 2021. The air force is asking for Bt4.5 billion ($142 million) between 2021-2024 for the work.
RTAF U1-M Tactical UAS (Unmanned Aerial System), 404th Squadron, Wing 4 Takhli with two Thales's Freefall Lightweight Multirole Missiles (FFLMM) underwings (photo : AAG)
Another major programme involves obtaining 12 new tactical transport to replace the RTAF’s fleet of C-130Hs, with budget requested from 2022-2029, as well as replacements for a pair of Saab 340Bs used as transports.
Also in the transport category, the RTAF hopes to obtain a new VVIP aircraft to transport the country’s royal family, as well as a replacement for a VIP configured ACJ319, and a three new VVIP helicopters.
Royal Thai Air Force CT-4E Airtrainer (photo : AAG)
The RTAF will decommission its Pilatus PC-9 basic trainers in 2023 and hopes to replace them with 12 new aircraft. It also wants to obtain a replacement for its Pacific Aerospace CT-4E basic trainers.
In other areas, the RTAF wants to replace older Bell 412s with new assets, obtain an armed UAV, and obtain four aircraft to replace its Basler BT-67s, an updated version of the Douglas DC-3 that is used for transport and cloud seeding work.
(FlightGlobal)
25 Februari 2020
Kendaraan tempur Kobra TNI AD (photo : BMPD)
100kpj – Kendaraan tempur pengangkut pasukan jenis Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) Kobra 8x8, yang dipesan Kementerian pertahanan (Kemhan) Republik Indonesia sebanyak 22 unit telah sampai di pelabuhan Tanjung Priok, awal bulan Februari 2020. Ranpur ini nantinya akan digunakan untuk menunjang tugas dari Batalyon Infantri Mekanis (Yonifmek) TNI AD
Sebetulnya kontrak penandatanganan Kobra 8x8 IFV ini telah dilakukan satu tahun yang lalu alias pada tahun 2019, antara PT Pindad dengan Kemhan Indonesia, nilai kontrak pengadaan ranpur ini mencapai 80 juta Dolar AS untuk 22 unit.
PT Pindad telah bekerja sama dengan Excalibur Army yang merupakan perusahaan asal Ceko untuk membuat kendaraan tempur Kobra, karena Excalibur Army memberikan kemudahan produksi panser buatannya dengan memberikan Transfer of Technology (ToT) kepada Pindad, sehingga Pindad dapat meracik speksifikasi khusus yang disesuaikan dengan kebutuhan Yonifmek TNI AD.
Seperti dilansir dari Airspace Review, Kobra mendapatkan proteksi tambahan berupa add-on passive armour buatan Rafael, Israel. Lapisan ini mampu menahan laju munisi SMB kaliber 14,5 mm. Bagian bawah lambung Kobra dilapisi SSAB ARMOX 500 yang sanggup bertahan dari ranjau darat dan IED.
Pada bagian depan Kobra telah menerapkan perisai pemecah gelombang air/ombak. Lalu bagian palka pengemudi juga telah dipasangi sistem penglihatan malam CDND-1 buatan Meopta Ceko. Selain itu, Kobra akan dilengkapi dengan kubah tempur tanpa awak UT30 Mk II buatan Elbit Systems yang akan disediakan oleh Ares (Elbit Systems Brazil). Senjatanya menggunakan kanon kaliber 30 mm Bushmaster Mk.44 buatan Northrop Grumman dengan senjata sekunder berupa SMS 7,62 mm buatan Pindad.
Ranpur Kobra dioperasikan oleh tiga orang yakni komandan, pengemudi, dan juru senjata. Kabin belakangnya dapat menampung delapan pasukan bersenjata lengkap dengan muatan bawaannya mencapai 8,5 ton.
Kobra dilengkapi perisai pemecah gelombang air/ombak (photo : Indomiliter)
Kobra memiliki panjang 7,5 m, lebar 2,67 m dan tinggi 2,1 m. Bobot tempurnya mencapai 17,6 ton, namun dengan tambahan add-on armor menjadi 22 ton. Untuk melindungi tentara yang berada di dalam kendaraan tempur tersebut, Kobra mendapatkan proteksi tambahan berupa add-on passive armour buatan Rafael, Israel.
Pada bagian dapur pacu, Kobra menggunakan mesin diesel Cummins EURO III berdaya 455 hp. Kobra dapat melata di jalan datar keras mencapai 105 km/jam dan berenang di air 10 km/jam dengan jangkauan operasi sejauh 700 km.
(100kpj)
25 Februari 2020
Der Pilar class patrol vessel (photo : dvids)
Navy patrol vessels to get weapons upgrade
MANILA — Plans to install heavier weapons on the three Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels of the Philippine Navy (PN) are in place, its chief said Friday.
"That will come later. Right now the (ongoing) del Pilar-class upgrade will involve the installation of (a) sonar (system), installation of (a) combat management system, and the installation of (an) air-search radar," Navy flag-officer-in-command, Rear Adm. Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, said in an interview.
The del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels are armed with a 76-mm. Oto Melara automatic cannon, 25-mm. and 20-mm. light cannons, and .50-caliber machineguns.
Bacordo added that a sonar system would be useless if it is not augmented with a weapon system capable of prosecuting hostile submarine contacts.
"If you put on a sonar (system), what will (you use to prosecute) a submarine (contact)," he added.
Bacordo was referring to the del Pilar-class upgrade program bagged by South Korean defense manufacturer Hanwha Systems Co., Ltd. and has a contract price of PHP1,304,200,000.
This seeks to beef up the three ships' electronic capabilities and make them more capable of patrolling and conducting inter-agency operations in the country's territorial waters.
(PNA)
25 Februari 2020
SSE-750K turbojet engine (photo : AVING)
According to Military Review magazine and official government notice, South Korea is in the process of negotiating the export of SSE-750K turbojet engine to Vietnam for its indigenous anti-ship missile program.
Vietnam has been showing interest in acquiring rocket engine for some time but has not found a willing provider. It is unknown at this time whether Vietnam is pursuing development of brand new anti-ship missile or if they intend on further developing the KCT-15 (licensed Kh-35) anti-ship missile.
The SSE-750K turbojet engine completed development in 2015 concurrently with the SSM-750K Sea Dragon tactical land attack missile.
The acquisition of South Korean SSE-750K turbojet engines is believed this could of been for further development of the KCT-15 (Vietnamese Kh-35) anti-ship missile (photo : QPVN)
The SSM-750K Sea Dragon is based on the SSM-700K C-Star anti-ship missile, which was originally equipped with SS-760K turbojet engine. All newly-produced C-Star missiles since 2017 have been equipped with SSE-750K.
The primary difference between the new SSE-750K and older SS-760K engines is the level of localization of critical components. The SS-760K used several foreign-sourced components while SSE-750K uses domestic counterparts, thus lowering cost and improving competitiveness in the export market.
(ROK Armed Forces)
25 Februari 2020
Pesawat Sukhoi Su-30 ketika mendarat di lanud El Tari Kupang (photo : Antara)
Kupang (ANTARA) - Pangkalan Udara El Tari di Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur, kini telah menjadi pangkalan udara TNI AU tipe A, dipimpin seorang perwira tinggi dengan pangkat bintang satu.
Komandan Pangkalan Udara TNI AU El Tari, Kolonel Penerbang Agus Setiawan ketika ditemui wartawan usai mengikuti kegiatan pembukaan pelatihan pertolongan pada ketinggian di Kantor Pencarian dan Pertolongan Kelas A Kupang, Jumat (21/2/2020), mengatakan, peningkatan status Pangkalan Udara TNI AU El Tari sudah ditetapkan dalam keputusan presiden.
"Peraturan Presiden sudah ada dan status Pangkalan Udara TNI AU El Tari di Kupang naik menjadi tipe A. Komandannya nanti dipimpin seorang marsekal pertama," kata Setiawan.
Ia mengatakan, berbarengan dengan peningkatan status itu, maka akan diikuti dengan penambahan personil dan fasilitas dukungan operasi. Pangkalan udara tipe A memiliki organisasi yang lebih besar ketimbang yang tipe B, di antaranya terdapat beberapa skuadron udara dan skuadron teknik serta depo pemeliharaan, hingga detasemen satuan Pasukan Khas TNI AU dan satuan Polisi Militer TNI AU.
Pangkalan Udara TNI AU El Tari mengambil nama Gubernur NTT (saat itu), Elijas Tari (kelahiran Pulau Sabu, 18 April 1926 dan wafat di Kupang, 29 April 1978), dengan masa jabatan pada 12 Juli 1966 hingga wafat.
Kawasan Pangkalan Udara TNI AU El Tari hingga kini dikenal dengan nama Penfui dan secara administratif pemerintahan adalah Kecamatan Penfui di Kupang.
Adapun landas pacu Pangkalan Udara TNI AU El Tari dipergunakan bersama dengan Bandar Udara Internasional El Tari untuk kepentingan penerbangan sipil dan komersial.
(Antara)
