Philippine Navy to Acquire Two More Hamilton Class

24 Mei 2011

Hamilton Class (photo : Coast Guard)

AFP to acquire 2 more modern seacraft from US

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is seriously considering the acquisition of two more modern large Hamilton-class patrol crafts to shore up its naval defense capabilities and aptly defend the country’s 200-mile exclusive zone from foreign intruders, particularly in the disputed Spratly group of islands in the South China Sea.

The AFP spokesman, Commodore Juan Miguel Rodriguez, disclosed yesterday that the plan had already been discussed by top military officials even as formal communications have yet to be made to the President and as well as to the US government, which is offering the Hamiltons to the world market.

“I’m sure that it has already been discussed. The United States is offering the Hamiltons there in the world market,” Rodriguez said.

As far as Malacanang is concerned, Rodriguez expressed confidence that the President would give his support to the plan of the AFP.

He added that while the AFP has to compete with other interested bidders, the Philippines would most likely get it has already acquired the first Hamilton that the US Navy has put on sale.

“There is a bigger chance that they would be given to us,” Rodriguez said.

Maintenance wise, Rodriguez explained that it become much stronger and economical when the Navy have two or three of them.

“Because if you have different ships you have logistical nightmare in terms of supplies, etcetera. So the commonality of spares will dictate by pure logic that if you did three or four ships, it’s best if you hav the same types,” he added.

Rodriguez also pointed out that the Philippine-US relations would also be a factor in the acquisition of additional Hamiltons, saying that “as mutual defense treaty partners, I would believe that hey would give a preference to their treaty partners.”

The first Hamilton has already been turned over by the US Coast Guard to the Philippine representatives in simple ceremonies held at Coast Guard Island, Alameda, California last May 13 and would be due for arrival on August.

A step towards the Vessel’s commissioning here in the country, the official name of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton was changed Friday to “Ex-Hamilton” with Philippine Ambassador to the

Transfer cost was pegged at P450M, while operational cost for two years is estimated at P120 million.

Funding will come from the Department of Energy (DOE) considering that the vessel is projected to be employed for the security of oil platforms and oil explorations activities in Palawan and Sulu Sea.

The Filipino crew of the first Hamilton has by far been on training since February this year in the U.S which will last until June 30 prior to installation of a Coast Watch System equipment in July.

“We will continue to modernize your Armed Forces. The addition of the vessel to the Navy’s inventory will definitely boost our capability to protect our Exclusive Economic Zone and improve our border patrol capability”, AFP chief of staff Gen. Eduardo SL Oban Jr. said.

(Manila Times)

PAF's 4 Attack Choppers Due for Delivery in November

23 Mei 2011

By November this year, the Philippine Air Force will take into service four brand new Sokol medium transport helicopters from Poland (photo : Jetphotos)

MANILA, Philippines - Four of the seven combat utility helicopters (CUH) worth P3.2 billion are due for delivery to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on November this year, Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. announced Thursday.

The acquisition project was started during the previous administration as part of the Armed Forces’ modernization program to boost the aerial capability in support of the internal security operations (ISO).

The first delivery is worth P2,875,864,625.18 and supplied by Swidnik based in Poland.

Also due for delivery completion is the acquisition of 18 SF260 trainer planes worth P621,671,409.60 supplied by the Italian Aermacchi company; the upgrade completion of the MD520 MG units worth P240,000,000 and the delivery of aerial camera worth P50,985,000.

For the Navy, due for upgrade completion is one unit of British-made Peacock under the Jacinto Class Patrol Vessel project worth P353,650,000.

South Korea is also expected to deliver the Chamsuri (PKM) class gunboat worth P279,971,196 and also the delivery of the Landing Craft Utility worth P178,930,000, the configuration of Radio 20W worth P231,000,163, truck 2 ¼ ton troop carrier, and truck 1 ¼ ton troop carrier.

For the Army, the service is expecting the delivery completion of a night fighting system worth P341,497,215.50 and CMO Audio/Visual System worth P37,889,316.

“What I can say is for 2011 we will be able to enhance our capability particularly in patrolling our territorial waters,” Oban said.

On top of these deliveries, the Navy is also expecting the arrival of one unit of US Coast Guard Hamilton-class cutter by August. The vessel is worth around P1.2 to P1.5 billion.

Hamilton vessels have been phased out from the inventory of the US Coast guard.

(Interaksyion)

Training to be Pilots in RSAF

23 Mei 2011

Like a giant upward catapult, the Ejection Seat Trainer (EST) propels pilots skywards at 4Gs to help them master the correct posture for ejection. (photo : Cyberpioneer)

Extreme speed and altitude does strange things to the human body, as I found out during a visit to the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Aeromedical Centre (ARMC) and Flight Simulation Centre (FSC) recently.

While this would not worry land-lubbers like me, they are real everyday concerns to RSAF pilots. For example, pilots turning at speed while executing aggressive airborne manoeuvres are subject to extreme gravitational forces. These G-forces make them prone to blacking-out due to what aeromedical experts call "gravity-induced loss of consciousness" (GLOC).

To combat GLOC, pilots are taught to execute the Anti-G Straining Manoeuvre, which requires the pilot to tense muscles and take short breaths to prevent blood in the head and torso from flowing into the body's lower extremities, in order to maintain consciousness.

This is where the Human Training Centrifuge (HTC) housed in the ARMC comes in: it replicates the G-forces which a fighter pilot has to endure in a safe and controlled environment. Sitting in a circular structure, the HTC is anchored on one end to the floor. From that anchor, which is also its turning axis, a 7.5m arm extends outwards before ending in a gondola where a pilot undergoing training would sit.

The machine takes just a few seconds to hit 9Gs and that is the magic number when it comes to flying fighter aircraft as it is also the maximum amount of G-force which most pilots will ever encounter. All RSAF fighter pilots are required to return to the HTC once every three years to experience 9Gs for a maximum of 15 seconds, in order to continue flying. In comparison, a roller-coaster generates 4Gs at most.

The advanced Spatial Disorientation Trainer trains pilots to trust their aircraft instruments rather than rely on their own senses during flight. (photo : Cyberpioneer)

For an idea of how that feels, imagine a weight nine times your own body weight acting on every inch of your body. "At 9Gs, every movement becomes significantly more strenuous because the pilot has to fight the weight acting on him and still control the aircraft," said Major (MAJ) (Dr) Timothy Teoh from the ARMC.

In addition, the lack of oxygen at extreme altitudes can turn pilots, otherwise known for their sharp reflexes, into clumsy clods. As part of their once-in-three-years refresher, the pilots experience dulled reflexes and cognitive ability when exposed to atmospheric conditions replicating those at 25,000 ft (7,620m) in the ARMC's hypobaric chamber. Simple arithmetic usually solved in mere seconds are met with puzzled looks on the pilots' faces under these conditions, and a child's hand-clapping game becomes a farce as pilots miss each other's hands by a mile.

Though these symptoms are amusing to watch, hypoxia's effects on pilots are insidious. "The untrained person would not even know it when he or she is suffering the effects of hypoxia," said MAJ (Dr) Teoh.

The HTC is designed to let pilots experience the massive G-Forces they have to endure during aggressive aerial manoeuvres in a safe yet realistic environment. (photo : Cyberpioneer)

Luckily, there are physical sensations which hint at the onset of hypoxia; such as numbness and light-headedness. "Every individual reacts to hypoxia differently, which is why it is important for the pilots to come to the Hypobaric Chamber and learn to recognise the onset of hypoxia," said MAJ (Dr) Teoh. The pilots also go through the latest safety drills at the same time.

Imagine having to turn when your every inch of your body is convinced that the turn will lead to a crash. This is where RSAF fighter pilots exercise supreme discipline, controlling their aircraft based on what their in-flight instruments indicate, rather than what their own senses tell them.

The Advanced Spatial Disorientation Trainer is what the RSAF uses to remind its pilots to trust their instruments. It is a full-motion flight simulator to create actual in-flight conditions, training aircrew in procedures and techniques that enable them to recognise and address problems of spatial disorientation.

The interior of the Hypobaric Chamber at the ARMC allows pilots to recognise the symptoms of hypoxia which can impair judgement and reduce psycho-motor coordination. (photo : Cyberpioneer)

Like the HTC and Hypobaric Chamber, RSAF fighter pilots are required to re-visit the Spatial Disorientation Trainer once every three years to keep themselves up to date with the latest training doctrines.

According to MAJ (Dr) Teoh, pilots eject from their aircraft at speeds generating about 12Gs. In order to do so safely, they must adopt a tucked-in posture, keeping their spine straight. To learn to do that, the Ejection Seat Trainer (EST) is the machine to go to. Although it only generates about 4G, its realistic set-up means pilots can practice their ejection postures safely.

"The intention of the EST is to train our pilot on the correct posture to adopt if they should ever need to eject. That's also why we only program the simulator to do 4Gs," said MAJ (Dr) Teoh. Unlike the other three simulators, the EST is a yearly requirement for fighter pilots.
The FSC also features the Operational Flight Trainer (OFT), a dual-seat cockpit simulator equipped with an exact replica of the cockpit of the F-16D fighter aircraft.

I took my seat at the front and behind me was Captain (CPT) Quek Kwan Yi, a flight instructor from 140 Squadron. While he took control of the aircraft during its take-off, he soon handed the controls to me.

Cyberpioneer journalist Hong Tat trying his hand in the F-16C/D fighter aircraft Operational flight Trainer. It wasn't easy, as he found out. (Cyberpioneer)

Very quickly, I realised that the controls were more sensitive than I thought they would be: an imperceptible nudge to the left on the stick translated to a full left turn by the aircraft. A few more yanks at trying to rectify my error later, I found myself flying upside-down. I suspect CPT Quek was chuckling at the back at my ineptitude but I was too pre-occupied with levelling the aircraft to bother.
After a bumpy landing, we went to the nearby Instructor Operating Station where I learnt that the OFT is an ultra-realistic simulator system which can generate up to 200 enemy forces for tactical scenarios to test the pilot's reactivity and adaptability to unpredictable situations.

I was feeling good about myself until the instructor, who had been generating the scenario which I was flying in a few minutes earlier, casually mentioned that I was flying in a zero wind-speed environment - one of the easiest scenarios to fly in.

Ego properly deflated, I am convinced that flying should be left to people who didn’t have two left feet like me. If you think you can do better, visit the RSAF Open House 2011 at Paya Lebar Air Base from 28 to 29 May, where you'll be able to catch a ride in the OFT!

(Cyberpioneer)

Indonesia Tawarkan Senapan Pindad ke Laos dan Kamboja

23 Mei 2011

Senapan SS-2 buatan Pindad (photo : Kaskus Militer)

RI Jualan Senapan Pindad ke Laos dan Kamboja

TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta - Pemerintah terus menawarkan persenjataan buatan dalam negeri ke negara-negara ASEAN. Menteri Pertahanan Purnomo Yusgiantoro mengatakan salah satu jenis senjata yang saat ini ditawarkan adalah SS2 atau Senapan Serbu 2 yang diproduksi oleh PT. Pindad. "Tapi belum ada keputusan jadi beli atau tidak," katanya di Jakarta, Minggu 22 Mei 2011.

Beberapa negara yang tertarik untuk membeli adalah Laos dan Kamboja. Selain itu pemerintah juga menawarkan senjata ini kepada Brunei Darussalam, meski negara di pulau Borneo itu belum menyampaikan minatnya. Jenis senjata lain yang ditawarkan adalah pelempar granat dengan fitur night vision.

Senjata SS2 mulai diproduksi oleh PT. Pindad pada 2006 menggantikan seri sebelumnya SS1. Senjata yang memiliki kaliber 5,56x45 milimeter ini memiliki panjang 930 milimeter dan panjang laras 460 milimeter. SS2 mampu menembakkan 700 butir peluru per menit dengan kecepatan 710 meter per detik. Salah satu pasukan TNI yang menggunakan senjata ini adalah Komando Pasukan Katak, Angkatan Laut.

(Tempo Interaktif)

Wildcat Pushing for South-East Asia Upgrades

22 Mei 2011

Royal Thai Navy's Super Lynx 300 ASW helicopter (photo : USNavy)

UKTI Defence & Security Organisation (DSO) is 'in discussions' with various South-East Asian militaries to upgrade their Lynx helicopters for the maritime environment, according to a senior official.

Speaking to Shephard at the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) in Singapore, Keith Smith, UKTI DSO Regional Director East described how a number of Lynx-operating nations were 'seriously' considering such upgrades particularly in the realm of anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

Referring to the 33 AgustaWestland Lynx helicopters currently being operated in the region, Smith said: 'There is the potential to re-role these helicopters for different uses and quite a few Lynx operators in the region are seriously looking at the evolution of Lynx and Wildcat and ASW.

'Merlin ASW is a capable and very attractive, new generation, six-ton military helicopter and Wildcat is unique in that it will be used by the [British] army and [Royal] navy and all will be “marinised”,' he continued.

Existing Lynx users in the region include the Republic of Korea Navy which has 12 Super Lynx Mk 99 and 13 Super Lynx Mk 99A aircraft; the Royal Malaysian Navy which has six Super Lynx Mk 100s; and the Royal Thai Navy with two Super Lynx 300s.

'Discussions are ongoing but I cannot comment further,' Smith added. 'The UK is committed to 62 airframes so potentially, it would be very attractive for other nations to piggy back on the back of that.

'All potential deals are bespoke. Economics and throughlife costs savings are common throughout. I see a scenario where quite a small number of platforms generate a long term pattern of benefit for the local economy. To be able to maintain and operate [helicopter assets] under their own steam, there has to be a certain degree of technology transfer,' he said.

(Shephard)

Purnomo: RI-Korsel Sudah Teken MoU Barter Pesawat

22 Mei 2011

Pesawat CN-235 Angkatan Udara Korea Selatan (photo : Airliners)

JAKARTA: Menhan Purnomo Yusgiantoro mengatakan Indonesia dan Korsel sudah meneken kesepakatan barter pembelian pesawat latih tempur T-50 milik Korsel dengan CN-235 milik PT Dirgantara untuk kepentingan pengadaan alutsista kedua negara.

"Yang meneken [nota kesepahaman] saya kok. Kalau jumlah barter pembeliannya akan dikaji secara teknis," katanya menanggapi bantahan pihak Korsel soal kesepakatan itu di Jakarta, hari ini.

Dia menambahkan bahwa rencana kontrak bisnis pesawat dengan pola barter itu telah dibahas di sela-sela pertemuan antarmenhan se-Asean di Bali pada pekan ini.

Menurut dia, tim dari kedua negara akan menindaklanjuti untuk melakukan pembahasan secara teknis atas kapasitas pembelian yang akan dilakukan oleh masing-masing negara.

Sebelumnya, TNI Angkatan Udara menyatakan segera membeli satu skuadron pesawat T50 Golden Eagle dari Korea Selatan pada tahun depan, untuk meningkatkan kemampuan para penerbang matra udara.

Kepala Staf Angkatan Udara Marsekal TNI Imam Sufaat mengatakan pengadaan pesawat tersebut merupakan salah satu program pengembangan kekuatan TNI Angkatan Udara hingga 2024 berdasarkan kekuatan dasar minimum (minimum essential force).

Pesawat T-50 Angkatan Udara Korea Selatan (photo : Scramble)

"Kebijakan dari Presiden [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono] untuk mempercepat pemenuhan kebutuhan alutsista, khususnya untuk mengganti pesawat-pesawat berusia di atas 30 tahun," ujarnya belum lama ini.

Pesawat latih T50 Golden Eagle rencananya menggantikan Hawk 53 MK buatan Inggris yang segera dipensiunkan. Selain T50, TNI Angkatan Udara juga akan membeli pesawat Super Tucano untuk menggantikan OV-10 Bronco.

Menurut Imam, pengadaan pesawat tersebut sudah masuk dalam anggaran Kementerian Pertahanan.

"Proses pengadaan T50 sudah ditetapkan oleh Kemhan. Proses pengadaan sudah dimulai," tuturnya.

Untuk membeli satu skuadron T50, pemerintah harus menyiapkan biaya US$400 juta. Pesawat tersebut rencananya mulai dikirim ke Indonesia pada 2012.

"Normalnya sebenarnya 18 bulan, tapi kami minta perusahaannya untuk mempercepat," kata Imam.

Kasau menambahkan bahwa pesawat T50 cocok untuk latihan pilot pesawat Sukhoi dan memiliki kemampuan mirip F 16.

Militer Korea Selatan juga sudah membeli CN-235 buatan PT DI untuk kebutuhan operasional militer dengan jumlah pesanan pesawat buatan PT DI itu mencapai belasan unit.(er)

(Bisnis Indonesia)

Malaysia akan Operasikan Dua Kapal Selam di Perbatasan

21 Mei 2011

2 kapal selam Malaysia dalam sebuah latihan (photo : bigdogdotcom)

JAKARTA--MICOM: Angkatan Laut Kerajaan Malaysia (RMN) mulai mengoperasikan Kapal selam KD Tunku Abdul Rahman dan KD Tun Abdul Razak di perairan perbatasannya pada tahun ini.

Demikian disampaikan Menteri Pertahanan Malaysia Ahmad Zahid Hamidi saat ditemui di Hotel Shangri-La, Jakarta, Jumat (20/5)

"KD Tunku Abdul Rahman dan KD Tun Abdul Razak sudah beroperasi pada tahun ini. Mereka bertugas mengawasi wilayah perairan," ujar Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Sebelumnya diberitakan, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman adalah kapal selam Malaysia pertama yang dibeli dari Prancis pada 2007. Tahun 2010, kapal itu dikabarkan sempat mengalami kerusakan teknis. Meski begitu, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi mengatakan KD Tunku Abdul Rahman kini siap beroperasi di perairan Malaysia. Begitu pula kapal KD Tun Abdul Razak yang diboyong dari Prancis pada 2010.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi sendiri mengelak saat ditanya apakah kedua kapal selam itu secara spesifik ditugaskan memantau blok Ambalat. Ia hanya mengatakan kedua kapal selam akan berpatroli di wilayah perairan Malaysia. Selain itu, Ahmad menambahkan pemerintah RI juga akan segera merakit kapal selam.

"Indonesia juga mau bikin kapal selam," tutur dia.

Juru bicara Kementerian Pertahanan (Kemenhan) RI Brigjen Hartind Asrin menyatakan Pemerintah tidak tinggal diam untuk menjaga perbatasan RI-Malaysia tersebut. Akhir tahun ini, Kemenhan berencana memesan dua kapal selam dari pihak asing. Hartind mengatakan salah satu kapal selam itu akan dirakit di PT PAL Indonesia.

"Sementara kita belum bisa bilang dari negara mana, nanti ribut sama pabrikannya. Soalnya persaingan ketat, kita ingin kapal selam generasi terakhir yang spesifikasinya bagus untuk menjaga perbatasan. Prosesnya hampir final, nanti kita kabari lagi," cetusnya.

Menanggapi itu, Guru Besar Hukum Internasional Universitas Indonesia (UI) Hikmahanto Juwana mempertanyakan langkah yang diambil Malaysia dengan mengoperasikan dua kapal selam. Hikmahanto mencatat, kapal selam tidak lazim digunakan dalam patroli perbatasan. Kapal selam lebih sering dipakai untuk melumpuhkan kekuatan maritim lawan di dalam perang antarnegara. Pengoperasian kapal selam pun terkesan ingin memata-matai daerah perbatasan secara diam-diam.

"Tetapi yang kita mau, karena blok Ambalat ini masih sengketa, janganlah status quo atau quo vadis itu dirusak," tukasnya.

Hal itu ditimpali pakar pertahanan UI Andi Widjajanto. Menurut dia, perencanaan strategis (renstra) Malaysia pada tahap kedua yang mencakup gelaran kekuatan maritim memang berpusat di Kalimantan Utara. Hampir bisa dipastikan kapal selam itu akan beroperasi di perairan Filipina, Laut China Selatan, Laut Sulawesi, dan blok Ambalat.

"Daerah itu ideal untuk menggelar kapal selam karena itu laut dalam. Hampir bisa dipastikan, 90%, manuver-manuver itu akan ada juga di blok Ambalat," ucap Andi.

Ia menambahkan, tindakan penambahan kekuatan kapal selam Malaysia sebenarnya merupakan reaksi dari rencana Indonesia membeli empat kapal selam pada zaman kepemimpinan Megawati Soekarnoputri. Dalam realitanya, Indonesia batal membeli kapal selam dan diganti dengan perakitan domestik di PT PAL Indonesia.

"Indonesia harus merealisasikan pembelian empat kapal selam itu, karena kalau hanya di PT PAL tidak akan cukup. Indonesia juga harus meminta kepada Malaysia untuk tidak melakukan gelaran kapal selam di perbatasan yang memprovokasi. Malaysia bisa meniru Indonesia yang menggelar kapal selam di daerah dalam seperti di Laut Jawa. Malaysia dapat menggelar kapal selam di semenanjung mereka supaya tidak memprovokasi," pungkasnya. (SZ/OL-3)

(Media Indonesia)