27 Mei 2013
Pesawat CN-295 (photo : Burmarrad)
Jakarta, (Antara Sumbar) - Menteri Pertahanan Vietnam, Jenderal Phung Quang Thanh, mengatakan bahwa Vietnam memerlukan pesawat sejenis CN 295 sesuai kebutuhannya setelah mempelajari seluk-beluk pesawat jenis itu yang diprodduksi PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI).
Siaran pers KBRI Hanoi yang diterima Antara di Jakarta, Senin, menyebutkan Menhan Vietnam juga mengatakan pihaknya berencana mengirim delegasi Angkatan Udara Vietnam ke Indonesia untuk mempelajari industri penerbangan Indonesia dan menanyakan hal-hal yang lebih rinci mengenai pesawat CN 295 ketika Wamenhan RI Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin melakukan kunjungan kehormatan kepada Menhan Jenderal Thanh.
Menhan Jenderal Thanh pada kesempatan itu juga mengatakan dia menghargai hubungan baik kedua negara, khususnya antara kedua militernya.
Wamenhan RI yang didampingi Dirut PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) Budi Santoso dan sejumlah pejabat Kementerian Pertahanan dan badan usaha milik negara itu melakukan kunjungan tiga hari ke Vietnam dalam rangka Road Show ke enam negara ASEAN untuk memperkenalkan pesawat CN 295.
Sjafrie beserta rombongan mendarat dengan menggunakan pesawat jenis itu di Ho Chi Minh City dari Bandar Seri Begawan pada 25 Mei dan meneruskan perjalanan ke Hanoi pada 26 Mei.
PT DI mengadakan Air Show pesawat CN 295 dan "Joy Flight" selama lebih kurang 45 menit pada Senin (27/5). Turut dalam program Joy Flight tersebut adalah wakil Panglima AU Vietnam beserta jajarannya, Dubes RI untuk Vietnam Mayerfas, Dubes Spanyol Fernando Curcio Ruigomez, Atase Pertahanan RI Kolonel Susilo Adi Purwantoro dan direksi PT DI.
Pada pertemuan terpisah, Wakil Panglima AU Vietnam Mayor Jenderal Nguyen Kim Khach mengatakan bahwa Vietnam telah menjajaki untuk memiliki pesawat sejenis CN 295. Dia mengatakan dirinya telah mencoba pesawat tersebut di Spanyol.
Dengan dirakitnya pesawat CN 295 di Indonesia, akan lebih baik bagi Vietnam mengingat pelayanan purna jual dapat dilakukan oleh Indonesia, yang berjarak lebih dekat dengan Vietnam, katanya.
Wamenhan RI menyambut baik rencana kunjungan delegasi Vietnam ke Indonesia guna melihat dari dekat produdksi pesawat PT DI dan industri pertahanan Indonesia lain.
(Antara)
27 Mei 2013
PT Pal also offers SSV concept to Philippines Navy (all photos : Defense Studies)
MANILA, Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) is now rushing the procurement of big-ticket items, including the acquisition of two naval vessels to improve the country’s territorial defense.
In line with this, DND planners held a pre-procurement conference yesterday for the acquisition of two service support vessels (SSVs) worth P2 billion each for an outlay of P4 billion.
“We are rushing our procurement of big-ticket items for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),” said Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo, whose office is directly in charge of the acquisition of military hardware.
Defense sources said that Japan, Singapore, South Korea, France, and Italy have expressed interest in supplying the country with two SSVs that are multi-role vessels which could serve as a Navy platform for search and rescue operations during disasters since the ships could be fitted with hospital facilities and a helipad, aside from its primary role as a transport vessel capable of transporting one battalion of troops with armored vehicles.
“It’s a mission capable ship, though a little smaller than the MRV (multi-role vessel),” the source said.
He said the pre-bidding conference would be held soon for the procurement of the two vessels with several defense contractors expected to participate.
On top of this, the DND is also in the final phase of its procurement of a squadron of T50 trainer jets from South Korea through a government-to-government deal.
South Korea is also being eyed to supply the country with two brand new missile-firing frigates instead of the two Maestrale warships being offered by the Italian government.
The AFP has lagged behind its neighbors in terms of military assets and equipment due to neglect by the past administrations.
However, with the recent developments in the region, the Aquino government is prioritizing the acquisition of military hardware for the AFP to rebuild a credible defense capability to secure the country’s territory.
China’s aggressive posture in its territorial claims in disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea had prompted the AFP to speed up procurement plans for new military hardware.
(PhilStar)
27 Mei 2013
Dua Su-30MK2 dengan nomor TS-3008 dan TS-3009 telah menjalani test flight dengan sukses (photo : Okezone)
Test Flight dua Pesawat Tempur Sukhoi SU-30 MK2 yang dilaksanakan selama satu hari , Senin (27/5) dengan Pilot Alexander dan Sergey, yang sebelumnya menjalani perakitan di Skadron Teknik 044 oleh Tim Teknisi dari Rusia yang dibantu Teknisi dari Skadron Teknik 044 berjalan lancar dan sukses.
Pelaksanaan test flight dua Pesawat Tempur Sukhoi pesawat tempur SU-30 MK2 buatan KNAAPO (Komsomolsk-na Amure Aircraft Production Association) Rusia, pesanan pemerintah Indonesia buatan Rusia yang tiba di Lanud Sultan Hasanuddin beberapa hari yang lalu, diawali dengan pelaksanaan briefing penerbangan yang dihadiri Kadisops Kolonel Pnb Widyargo Ikoputra.S.E mewakili Komandan Lanud Sultan Hasanuddin Marsma TNI Barhim, Pilot Test Flight dari Rusia, Pejabat Skadron Udara 11 serta Petugas PLLU dan Meteo Lanud Sultan Hasanuddin.
Test Flight pesawat tempur canggih yang kurang lebih dua jam dimulai pada pukul 09.00 Wita dilaksanakan di atas udara Lanud Sultan Hasanuddin dan sekitarnya dengan melaksanakan berbagai manuver diudara tersebut disaksikan langsung oleh Para Kepala Dinas serta Pejabat Staf Lanud Sultan Hasanuddin berjalan lancar dan sukses.
(TNI AU)
27 Mei 2013
First batch of RAN personnel recently completed their MH-60R NATOPS Evaluations at NAS Mayport, Florida.(all photos : RAN)
Another DMO MH-60R milestone
A milestone has been achieved by the AIR 9000 Phase 8 Project Office, with members of the Integrated Test Team (ITT) being the first Australians to complete their initial MH-60R (Romeo) qualifications.
LCDR Simon Lam (Aerosystems Qualified AvWO and MH-60R T&E Manager), LCDR Joshua Carey (USNTPS Qualified Test Pilot and MH-60R Test Pilot) and LEUT Timothy Clerke (Flight Test Engineer) form the MH-60R test team embedded into the DMO to support the introduction of the MH-60R. LCDR Lam and LCDR Carey recently completed their MH-60R NATOPS Evaluations with HSM 40 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Mayport, Florida.
The pair commenced their training with other aircrew from NUSQN 725 in early March. After a significantly compressed 9 weeks of accelerated study, computer based learning, simulators and flights they completed their final NATOPS Evaluation on 15 May 2013. The NATOPS check consisted of an open and closed book examination, oral examination, a simulator evaluation and a flight evaluation. The examinations and evaluations focused on ensuring LCDR Lam and LCDR Carey had a comprehensive understanding of the aircraft systems, HSM-40 SOP’s, United States (US) Airways and all Emergency actions in event of an aircraft malfunction. The process was designed to ensure they met the standards required to safely operate the MH-60R and also operate within US airspace. This now means they are the first Australians qualified on MH-60R as part of AIR 9000 Phase 8.
Both LCDR Lam and LCDR Carey have a S-70B-2, (Bravo), flight test background and agree that whilst a derivative of Seahawk family, the MH-60R is a far cry from the Bravo they have previously flown.
For LCDR Lam, the highlight of training has been exposure to the MH-60R modern digital cockpit and the new advanced mission systems focused on the Battle space.
“New systems such as data fusion, ISAR radar and Link 16 will enhance aircrew and ultimately the ship’s Operations Room’s situational awareness. Significantly, the re-introduction of the dipping sonar to Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations will provide a new and improved capability to the RAN."
For LCDR Carey, the highlight of training has been the interaction with the United States Navy (USN) flying instructors and the opportunity to participate in USN flying training again.
“Every single US instructor has been 100% invested in achieving our aim of being qualified. As always, I have been impressed with the professionalism, dedication and pure aviation skill that I have witnessed throughout my training.”
Both Lam and Carey were impressed with the rate in which their training progressed. The pair had up to four simulator or flight events scheduled per week, with their simulator events scheduled anywhere from 0700 until midnight. This was as a result of the Squadron’s training program of seven days per week, from 7am through until midnight which resulted in up to 20 training flights being available per day.
With NATOPS behind them, the steep learning curve does not stop. The team have a few more weeks to absorb the aircraft’s mission and weapon systems before relocating to Patuxent River in Maryland, south of Washington DC, the heartland of the US Navy’s Test community. They will join USN Test Squadron HX 21 to support testing of the Australian configured MH-60R, with the unified aim to deliver the first Australian aircraft in December this year.
Their achievement of a NATOPs qualification is a significant milestone in the ultimate delivery of the MH-60R back to Australia and will go a long way to ensuring there is an integral systems and airframe knowledge at a Flight Test level embedded in the RAN.
(RAN)
27 Mei 2013
KFX 4.5 gen fighter (image : naver)
LEIDEN, Netherlands (UPI) -- With South Korea edging closer to deciding on a contractor for its $7.3 billion KF-X fighter program, a European competitor is dangling a new carrot to its bid.
EADS, based in the Netherlands and part of the consortium that builds the Eurofighter Typhoon, says if the aircraft is chosen to replace South Korea's antiquated F-4 and F-5 fleets, it will invest $2 billion "and its technology in the KF-X to help Korea to become a fighter jet producer."
The announcement follows that of Eurofighter, which promised to assemble 53 of 60 aircraft to be produced in South Korea. It's estimated the local assembly would lead to creation of 50,000 jobs.
EADS has also said it would build a maintenance repair and overhaul facility for the aircraft in South Korea and an aerospace software center.
"If Korea chooses Eurofighter as its next generation fighter jet and EADS invests more than 2 trillion KRW [$2 billion] in the KF-X program, it will bring bigger economic effect than the SURION and Korea will be the fifth country [that] produces Eurofighter, high-level fighter jets," EADS said.
"It will also create strong political and military ties with Europe."
SURION is a Korean utility helicopter developed by Korea Aerospace Industries with technology obtained from Eurocopter, an EADS subsidiary headquartered in France.
"The SURION raised Korea to the 11th helicopter manufacturer in the world," EADS said, and created 25,000 jobs.
In its news release, EADS emphasized its business ties to the country. KAI, it noted, has supplied parts for Airbus aircraft since 1998.
Airbus, located in France, is another EADS subsidiary.
Other competitors for the KF-X contract are U.S. companies Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Lockheed is offering its F-35 Lightning II fighter while Boeing is offering its F-15 Silent Eagle.
A news report from Seoul says the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration expects to make a final decision on a contractor next June.
"The price negotiations have been completed and we don't plan to have another round of negotiations," DAPA spokesman Baek Yoon-hyeong told a news briefing. "We plan to conduct the auction within June."
Meanwhile, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency reports the South Korean government has requested possible procurement of weapons in support of a "potential Direct Commercial Sale" of F-15 SE aircraft.
The package, if approved by Congress and if it goes through, would include associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support.
The deal would be worth $823 million.
Among items requested: Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, Joint Directed Attack Munition Tail Kits, small diameter bombs, general purpose bombs, AIM-9X-2 (Blk II) tactical missiles, containers, missile support and test equipment, provisioning, spare and repair parts.
"The proposed sale will provide the ROK with aircraft weapons for the F-15SE," the agency said. "These aircraft and weapons will provide the ROK with a credible defense capability to deter aggression in the region and ensure interoperability with U.S. forces."
(UPI)
25 Mei 2013
Three patrol boats with hull number 228, 229 and 230 equipped with Denel GI-2 20mm naval gun (all photos : Marsun)
The Royal Thai Navy took delivery of three new patrol boats to guard the coastline and provide security for the royal family.
Navy commander Adm. Surasak Runroengrom accepted the vessels from shipbuilder Marsun Co. May 16 at the Sattahip Naval Base’s Laem Thien Pier. The boats then were handed over to Coast Guard Squadron commander Rear Adm. Surapol Khuptaphan.
The patrol boats replace three older vessels operating in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea, guarding against drug traders, smugglers and illegal fishing fleets. They are also tasked with providing security for the royal family.
Marsun spent 26 months building the three boats, which measure 21.4 meters long and 5.6 meters wide. They have a top speed of 30 knots, range of 350 nautical miles and can operate continuously 24 hours.
The nine-person crew has three weapons at their disposal: a 20mm gun on the bow, half-inch machine gun on the stern and an 81mm grenade launcher.
25 Mei 2013
Missile container consist of eight SSM (all photos : Philippine Embassy for USA)
The BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16), the country’s second Hamilton-class cutter due to arrive this August, is a far more potent weapon platform than her sister ship, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15), a Department of National Defense (DND) official who asked not to be named bared yesterday.
“Her weapons system is heavier and sophisticated than those of the BRP Gregorio del Pilar,” he said.
However, the DND officer declined to specify these weapon systems and stressed that such items cannot be divulged due to matters of national security.
He made this announcement when asked if there is truth to reports that a Harpoon anti-ship missile system was installed as part of BRP Ramon Alcaraz’s armament fit.
At present, the Filipino warship is believed to be carrying a 76mm Oto Melara automatic cannon, two 25 Bushmaster guns and assorted machine guns.
In contrast, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, which arrived in the country in December 2011, is only armed with the 76mm Oto Melara automatic cannon, making it prudent to install additional 20mm automatic cannons as her secondary weapons.
BRP Ramon Alcaraz is presently carrying out sea trials off the waters of South Carolina in the United States.
She is expected to depart for the Philippines by first week of June.
The ship is “fully mission capable” on her arrival.
Maritime observers said this development speaks well of the PN efforts to modernize and boost its power projection capabilities.
“With the arrival of our Hamilton-class cutters, which are being converted to frigates, the PN has started its first step in developing its blue-water capability or the ability to detect or engage intruders in the high seas,” they said.
(TribunNews)
