MoD Signs Customer Acceptance Test Certificate for First Batch of H145M Helicopters

19 Oktober 2026

Signing of the Customer Acceptance Test (CAT) certificate for the Royal Brunei Air Force’s H145M Batch 1 aircraft (photo: Brunei MoD)

Donauwörth, Federal Republic of Germany – The Ministry of Defence signed the Customer Acceptance Test (CAT) certificate for the first batch of Airbus H145M helicopters at Delivery Docks, Airbus Helicopters Deutschland (AHD), Donauwörth. The signing marks a significant milestone in the acquisition, with delivery of the batch to Brunei Darussalam scheduled for November 2026.

Upon arrival at AHD, the Ministry of Defence delegation, led by the Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, was welcomed by Stefan Thomé, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of AHD, together with Vincent Dubrule, Senior Vice President and Head of Region Asia Pacific, Airbus Helicopters, and Constance Pinsdorf, Vice President and Head of the H145M Programme.

Two Royal Brunei Air Force’s H145M aircraft at Airbus Helicopters Deutschland, Donauwörth, Germany (photo: Brunei MoD)

The ceremony commenced with welcoming remarks by Stefan Thomé, who reaffirmed AHD’s commitment to supporting the successful delivery of the H145M helicopters. The CAT certificate was subsequently signed on behalf of the Ministry of Defence by Yang Mulia 944 Major (Udara) Mohammad Hazwan bin Husny, Royal Brunei Air Force, as Deputy Head of the Integrated Project Team (IPT), while Constance Pinsdorf signed on behalf of AHD. The signing was witnessed by the Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II, and Stefan Thomé, the Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of AHD.

Also present were the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Yang Mulia Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan; the Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force, Yang Mulia Brigadier General (Udara) Haji Haszahaidi bin Haji Ahmad Daud; and officials from the Ministry of Defence and members of the IPT. Also present at the ceremony was Her Excellency Pengiran Hajah Krtini binti Pengiran Haji Mohd. Tahir, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam to the Federal Republic of Germany.

The ceremony continued with the signing of the Golden Book of Airbus and an exchange of commemorative gifts, followed by the recitation of Doa Selamat by Yang Mulia 1392 Captain Pengiran Muhammad Nur Hafizan bin Pengiran Haji Hasan.

The Ministry of Defence delegation visited the Airbus Helicopters Training Academy, where eight Royal Brunei Air Force personnel were undergoing the B1 Type Rating (Airframe) Batch 2 course in preparation for the H145M programme (photo: Brunei MoD)

After the signing ceremony, the Ministry of Defence delegation visited Airbus Helicopters’ Training Academy in Augsburg and Donauwörth, where four pilots from the Royal Brunei Air Force are currently undergoing training in Augsburg led by Yang Mulia 922 Major (Udara) Muhammad Adib bin Haji Hashim @ Haji Bakar, and eight aircraft technicians undergoing training in Donauwörth led by 15078 Warrant Officer 2 (Udara) Samsul bin Sablih. During the visit, the delegation was also welcomed and greeted by Mr Matthieu Louvot, the Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Helicopters.

Under the Support Helicopter Project, the contract for the acquisition of the Airbus H145M helicopters was signed on 30 April 2024 between the Ministry of Defence, on behalf of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and AHD for the delivery of six Airbus H145M helicopters to replace the Royal Brunei Air Force’s decommissioned Bolkow BO-105 helicopters.

The H145M helicopter is capable of performing multiple missions, including troop lift, reconnaissance, surveillance, close air support, special operations, and search and rescue operations.

(Brunei MoD)

Purchase of Five MH-60R Maritime Helicopters Confirmed

18 Oktober 2026

An agreement has been signed with the United States Government to purchase five MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters and associated systems and weapons (photo: US Navy)

The new helicopters, which will be operated by Royal New Zealand Navy aircrew and maintained by Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel, will be interoperable with Australia and partner defence forces and provide essential capabilities such as anti-surface and underwater warfare, search and rescue, transportation of personnel and supplies between ship and shore, and support maritime counter-terrorism operations.

They are also faster and can fly further from a ship which will increase the offensive and defensive capability and surveillance range of New Zealand’s frigates.

The agreement covers the purchase of helicopters which will be delivered from 2030, as well as spares, weapons and equipment. Funding has also been set aside for future infrastructure design costs and temporary infrastructure to house the aircraft at RNZAF Base Auckland in Whenuapai. 

Total investment for the project is $1,648 million capital and $110 million average annual operating funding over the next 10 years. 

Future investment decisions relating to this programme of work are expected to include infrastructure, training systems and complementary uncrewed aerial systems.

MH-60R Seahawk technical specifications

Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (a Lockheed Martin company)

Length: 19.76m

Max Speed: 333km/h (180kts)

Range: 963 km (520 nautical miles)

Cargo: In utility mode it can carry 1500+ kg

Crew: 3

Weapon systems: Mk 54 anti-submarine torpedo, AGM-114 Hellfire air-surface missiles, crew-served machine guns; Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS)

(NZDF)

Sinergi TNI AL dan ADF pada Pendaratan Amfibi Latgabma Keris Woomera 2026 di Situbondo

18 Oktober 2026

Operasi pendaratan amfibi Keris Woomera 2026 (all photos: TNI, Aus DoD)

Dalam rangka memperkuat sinergi dan kerja sama pertahanan antara Indonesia dan Australia, TNI Angkatan Laut (TNI AL) melaksanakan demonstrasi operasi pendaratan amfibi dalam Latihan Gabungan Bersama (Latgabma) Keris Woomera 2026 bersama dengan Angkatan Bersenjata Australia / Australian Defence Force (ADF) di Pantai Banongan, Situbondo, Jawa Timur, Kamis (15/10/2026).

Demonstrasi diawali dengan penyusupan unsur laut (surface insertion) dan kegiatan pengintaian yang melibatkan KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda-367, HMAS Choules, HMAS Stalwart, dan HMAS Perth. Selanjutnya, Detasemen Intai Amfibi (Denipam) Marinir, Satuan Komando Pasukan Katak (Satkopaska) TNI AL, bersama Maritime Tactical Operations (MTO) ADF melaksanakan pembersihan pantai (beach clearance) sebagai bagian dari tahapan persiapan pendaratan pasukan.

Operasi kemudian dilanjutkan dengan dukungan udara melalui misi Close Air Support (CAS) yang melibatkan dua pesawat Super Tucano EMB-314 TNI Angkatan Udara dan tiga pesawat PC-21 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Dengan dukungan tersebut, pasukan pendarat bergerak menggunakan kapal pendarat dan perahu karet untuk merebut dua sasaran tumpuan pantai.

Pelaksanaan demonstrasi pendaratan amfibi dalam Latgabma Keris Woomera 2026 menjadi sarana untuk meningkatkan profesionalisme prajurit, menguji kesiapan operasional, serta memperkuat interoperabilitas antara TNI dan ADF dalam melaksanakan operasi gabungan.

Partisipasi TNI Angkatan Laut dalam kegiatan tersebut juga mencerminkan komitmen untuk terus mempererat koordinasi dan kerja sama pertahanan dengan Australia. Melalui latihan bersama ini, kedua negara diharapkan semakin memperkuat diplomasi militer serta berkontribusi dalam menjaga stabilitas dan keamanan kawasan Indo-Pasifik, sesuai dengan perintah Kepala Staf Angkatan Laut (Kasal) Laksamana TNI Dr. Muhammad Ali.

Danlanal Banyuwangi hadiri demonstrasi pendaratan amfibi

Komandan Pangkalan TNI Angkatan Laut (Danlanal) Banyuwangi Letkol Laut (P) Wishnu Krestiawan, S.T., M.Tr.Opsla., menghadiri demonstrasi operasi pendaratan amfibi dalam Latihan Gabungan Bersama (Latgabma) Keris Woomera 2026 yang melibatkan Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) dan Angkatan Bersenjata Australia (Australian Defence Force/ADF) di Pantai Banongan, Situbondo, Jawa Timur, Kamis (15/10/2026). Kegiatan tersebut ditinjau langsung oleh Dirlat Kodiklat TNI Brigjen TNI Kamil Bahren Pasha, mewakili Dankodiklat TNI Letjen TNI Mohamad Naudi Nurdika, serta didampingi Commander Landing Force ADF Colonel Mark Tutton.

Demonstrasi diawali dengan penyisipan unsur laut (surface insertion) dan pengintaian menggunakan KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda-367, HMAS Choules, HMAS Stalwart, dan HMAS Perth. Selanjutnya, Denipam (Taifib) Marinir, Satuan Komando Pasukan Katak (Satkopaska), bersama Maritime Tactical Operations (MTO) ADF melaksanakan pembersihan pantai (beach clearance). Operasi kemudian dilanjutkan dengan dukungan udara melalui misi Close Air Support (CAS) yang melibatkan dua pesawat Super Tucano EMB-314 TNI AU dan tiga pesawat PC-21 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Dengan dukungan tersebut, pasukan pendarat bergerak menggunakan kapal pendarat dan perahu karet untuk merebut dua sasaran tumpuan pantai.

Pelaksanaan Latgabma Keris Woomera 2026 menjadi sarana untuk meningkatkan profesionalisme prajurit serta memperkuat interoperabilitas TNI dan ADF dalam melaksanakan operasi gabungan. Kehadiran Danlanal Banyuwangi dalam kegiatan tersebut juga menjadi bagian dari upaya mempererat koordinasi dan kerja sama pertahanan, sekaligus mendukung diplomasi militer Indonesia dalam menjaga stabilitas keamanan kawasan Indo-Pasifik.

(TNI AL)

GMF Terima A-1316 sebagai Proyek CWBR Kelima untuk Modernisasi Armada C-130

18 Oktober 2026

Pesawat C-130 Hercules A-1316 (photo: GMF)

Tangerang — Komitmen PT Garuda Maintenance Facility Aero Asia Tbk (GMF) dalam mendukung modernisasi armada C-130 Kementerian Pertahanan terus berlanjut. GMF menerima pesawat C-130 Hercules dengan tail number A-1316 untuk menjalani perawatan Center Wing Box Replacement (CWBR). Pesawat tersebut berangkat dari Lanud Abdurrachman Saleh, Malang, dan tiba di GMF pada Selasa (15/09) untuk kemudian diserahterimakan melalui penandatanganan Berita Acara oleh Production Division Head SBU Defense Industry GMF, Imam Solikhin, dan Pengelola Pengadaan Barang/Jasa (PPBJ) Madya Pus Alpalhan Baloghan Kemhan, Kolonel Kal. Ronny Syah Faiza, M.Han.

Kedatangan A-1316 menjadi proyek CWBR C-130 kelima yang ditangani GMF dari total delapan pesawat yang telah direncanakan. Dengan masuknya A-1316, saat ini terdapat empat pesawat C-130 yang tengah menjalani berbagai pekerjaan perawatan di Hanggar 4 GMF.

Pesawat C-130 Hercules A-1316 (photo: Moh Bagusov2)

Dalam acara serah terima, Kasatgas Modernisasi C-130, Marsma TNI Arif Djoko Nugroho, S.T., mengapresiasi kontribusi GMF dalam menjaga kesiapan skuadron melalui program modernisasi C-130. Berbekal pengalaman dalam menangani proyek CWBR sebelumnya, ia berharap pengerjaan A-1316 dapat diselesaikan tepat waktu. Menyambut hal tersebut, GMF menegaskan komitmen untuk terus mendukung kesiapan pesawat di masing-masing skuadron, sekaligus meningkatkan kualitas pekerjaan dan memperpendek lead time.

Keberlanjutan proyek CWBR C-130 menjadi bagian dari kontribusi GMF dalam memperkuat kemandirian industri pertahanan nasional. Pelaksanaannya juga mencerminkan sinergi antara GMF, Kementerian Pertahanan RI, dan TNI Angkatan Udara dalam mengoptimalkan kemampuan industri dalam negeri untuk mendukung pemeliharaan dan modernisasi alutsista.

(GMF)

RAN Conducts Dual Replenishment At Sea (RAS) During a Regional Presence Deployment 2026

17 Oktober 2026

RAS from HMAS Stalwart to HMAS Perth and HMAS Choules (photos: Aus DoD)

HMAS Stalwart conducts a dual replenishment at sea with HMAS Perth and HMAS Choules, during a Regional Presence Deployment 2026.

The Royal Australian Navy is undertaking an Indo-Pacific Regional Presence Deployment throughout South and Southeast Asia.

During the deployment, HMAS Stalwart is conducting training, exercises and other engagements with Australia's regional partners.

Regional Presence Deployments demonstrate Australia's commitment to, and engagement with, the region, supporting long-term security and prosperity; preserving a rules-based order; enhancing cooperation; and developing capability and interoperability.

(Aus DoD)

Puspenerbal Pandu Latihan Shipboard Operation Helikopter Caracal TNI AU di KRI Sriwijaya-100

17 Oktober 2026

Latihan Shipboard Operation bagi penerbang helikopter Caracal TNI AU (photos: Puspenerbal)

TNI AL - Puspenerbal - Dalam rangka meningkatkan kemampuan serta profesionalisme penerbang helikopter pada operasi di atas kapal perang, Instruktur Penerbang dari Pusat Penerbangan TNI Angkatan Laut (Puspenerbal) memandu latihan Shipboard Operation bagi penerbang helikopter Caracal TNI Angkatan Udara (TNI AU) di KRI Sriwijaya-100, Jumat (16/10).

Kegiatan yang dipimpin langsung oleh Komandan Komando Latihan Penerbangan Angkatan Laut (Dankolat Penerbal), Kolonel Laut (P) Rai Terianom ini dirancang untuk membekali dan memperdalam pemahaman serta keterampilan para penerbang TNI AU dalam menghadapi tantangan operasional di lingkungan maritim.

Sebelum terjun langsung melaksanakan praktik pendaratan dan lepas landas di geladak KRI Sriwijaya, para peserta terlebih dahulu dibekali dengan materi teori dan latihan simulasi (dry run). Sesi materi teori disampaikan oleh Kapten Laut (P) M. Yudhie Andika bersama Kapten Laut (P/W) Virnanda. Selanjutnya, para peserta menjalani latihan simulasi di Helideck Simulator Puspenerbal Juanda untuk memahami secara mendalam prosedur operasional standar (SOP), teknik pendaratan, serta faktor keselamatan (safety guidelines) di atas kapal.

Memasuki tahap praktik lapangan, materi Shipboard Operation diberikan secara intensif oleh tim instruktur berpengalaman, antara lain Kolonel Laut (P) Rai Terianom, Letkol Laut (P) Rachmat Fetaro Hia, Mayor Laut (P) Desly, dan Kapten Laut (P) Riffan Ringga.

Melalui latihan kolaboratif ini, para penerbang tidak hanya ditempa untuk menguasai karakteristik unik geladak kapal dan teknik take-off/landing di laut lepas, tetapi juga mengasah koordinasi mutlak antara awak helikopter dan personel kapal perang.

Diharapkan, terlaksananya latihan Shipboard Operation ini dapat memperkuat kesiapan operasional serta meningkatkan interoperabilitas sinergis antara TNI AU dan TNI AL dalam mendukung berbagai misi dan operasi udara maritim di wilayah perairan Indonesia.

(Puspenerbal)

Australia's Defense Spending will Rise to About 3% of GDP

17 Oktober 2026

The Royal Australian Navy Fleet (photo: RAN)

MOSCOW — RIA Novosti. Australia's defense spending, calculated using NATO methodology, will increase to approximately 3% of GDP by 2033-2034, according to a report from the country's Ministry of Finance.

The NATO methodology indicator includes not only direct defense spending but also other public investments in defense, including funding for the intelligence community, infrastructure, military operations, and housing for military personnel.

"This funding will be the largest amount of defence spending in Australia's history and the highest share of GDP since the end of the Cold War," the document says.

At the same time, expenditures directly within the defense portfolio, according to the forecast, will increase from 2.1% of GDP in the 2025-2026 financial year (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026) to 2.5% of GDP in 2033-2034 (July 1, 2033 to June 30, 2034).

The report's authors attribute the increase in spending to the increasingly complex global strategic environment.

(RIA Novosti)