Progress CN-235 MPA Pesanan TNI

22 April 2018

CN-235 MPA kode produksi N63 pesanan TNI AU (photo : PTDI)

Pada tanggal 13 April Komandan Lanud Sultan Hasanuddin dan tim mengunjungi PTDI perihal acara Acceptance Test Flight & Penerimaan Pesawat Terbang CN235-220 MPA (N63). Delegasi TNI AU ini diterima oleh Direktur Niaga, Irzal Rinaldi.

Selanjutnya dilakukan acara serah terima Pesawat Terbang CN235-220 MPA (serial number N63) kepada Komandan Lanud, Sultan Hasanuddin dan Tim.

CN-235 MPA kode produksi N67 pesanan TNI AL (photo : PTDI)

Pada tanggal 16 April CN235-220 MPA serial number N67 untuk TNI AL telah dilakukan flight test yang pertama pada pagi ini dengan pilot uji, Capt. Esther Gayatri & Capt. Adi Budi. Penerbangan berlangsung dengan sukses.

PTDI akan terus berusaha memaksimalkan perannya sebagai industri strategis untuk dapat memperkuat alutsista militer dalam negeri, juga diharapkan bisa mendatangkan nilai tambah bagi perekonomian nasional.

(PTDI)

4 PAF OV-10 Attack Planes up for Repairs

22 April 2018

PAF OV-10 Bronco (photo : PAF)

MANILA — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is looking for suppliers of spare parts needed for the maintenance of four of its Rockwell OV-10 “Bronco” attack planes.

The budget for the project, as stated in the bid bulletin posted at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System website, is PHP52,753,000.

The spare parts are intended for the maintenance of OV-10 aircraft with tail numbers 136, 139, 145, and 402.

PAF OV-10 Bronco (photo : Rellie Manlapaz)

Submission and opening of bids is on April 26, 9 a.m. at the PAF Procurement Center Conference Room, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, PAF Bids and Awards Committee chair Brig. Gen. Ferynl Buca said in the same bid bulletin.

The OV-10s are the PAF’s premier ground attack aircraft. Around six to eight units are still in service as of this posting. 

(PTV)

TNI AU Studi Banding Network Centric Warfare RTAF

21 April 2018

Network Centric Warfare RTAF dikembangkan oleh Avia Satcom/Rohde & Schwartz (photo : fantom)

Hadiri Presentasi Network Centric Warfare RTAF KASAU Berharap TNI AU Makin Maju

TNI AU, Don Mueang,  Dispenau – Disela-sela kunjungannya ke Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), Kasau Marsekal TNI Yuyu Sutisna, S.E., M.M. berkesempatan mengikuti penjelasan tentang Network Centric Warfare (NCW) RTAF. Presentasi disampaikan langsung oleh Commander in Chief (C in C) RTAF Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Johm Rungswang di Headquarters (HQ), Don Mueang Air Force Base (AFB), Thailand, Jumat (20/4).

Kasau menyampaikan ucapan terima kasih dan kebanggaannya dapat mengikuti briefing dan penjelasan mengenai NCW RTAF.

“Saya berharap kunjungan ini makin mempererat hubungan persahabatan dan meningkatkan kerjasama TNI AU dan RTAF yang sudah berjalan dengan baik selama ini” kata Kasau.

Kasau menilai penjelasan NCW RTAF sangat penting bagi delegasi TNI AU. Kasau berharap informasi yang diperoleh akan meningkatkan pengetahuan dan pemahaman perwira TNI AU tentang RTAF dan NCW.

“Presentasi ini sangat penting bagi TNI AU dan saya berharap dapat menambah wawasan untuk kemajuan TNI AU” tambah Kasau.

Sementara C in C RTAF, AFMJohm Rungswang menyampaikan apresiasinya atas beberapa pertanyaan dari delegasi TNI AU.

Dalam kegiatan tersebut, Kasau didampingi oleh Irjenau, Koorsahli Kasau, para Asisten Kasau, Staf Khusus Kasau, Pangkohanudnas, Pangkoopsau l dan ll, Dankoharmatau, Gubernur AAU, Danseskoau, serta para Kepala Dinas di Mabesau dan Atud RI di Bangkok.

(TNI AU)

Testing Times Ahead for Malaysian SOF Vehicles

21 April 2018

Special Operation Vehicle contenders (photo : Shephard)

The competition is hotting up for new special operations vehicles for special forces and airborne units of the Malaysian Army, with a quartet of companies exhibiting their designs at DSA 2018 in Kuala Lumpur in anticipation of trials later this year.

Three contenders came from Malaysian companies while the fourth heralded from the UAE.

One was the Special Operation Vehicle from Cendana Auto, with the project kicking off two years ago. The company displayed two SOF vehicle variants – a 1.8t light strike vehicle  (pictured bottom left) and a longer 2.2t utility vehicle suitable for carrying up to 12 troops.

Keith Bulman, the vehicle’s designer, said the universal chassis was custom-made for these vehicles and for the Malaysian climate and terrain. He described the advantages of the fit-for-purpose vehicle having a bespoke design for Malaysia.

Nimr Special Operation Vehicle (photo : Army Recognition)

These vehicles have a low centre of gravity, light weight employ a 2.8-litre Mercedes-Benz diesel engine and ZF transmission to obtain a maximum road speed of 170km/h. The radiator is laid flat to minimise the risk from gunfire, while the engine is mid-mounted.

Development is believed to be around 90% complete, although the latest body panels were not ready for installation in time for the exhibition in the Malaysian capital. The vehicle measures 4.95m long, 1.85m wide and 1.85m high

Cendana is also looking at export potential with other countries in Southeast Asia, such as the Philippines, also in the market for such a vehicle.

The prototypes were seen fitted with M10 and M08 light machine gun mounts from Danish company Rubtec.

Cendana Special Operation Vehicle (photo : Army Recognition)

Another SOF vehicle platform at DSA 2018 came from Kembara Suci (KSSB) (pictured top left), and again it was designed entirely with the Malaysian Army requirement in mind. This 4x4 Special Operation Vehicle’s kerb weight is 2,010kg, plus it possesses a payload capacity of 1,500kg.

Mohd Azfaruddin Fitri B. Mohamad Zaini, an engineer at KSSB, told Shephard that it uses a commercial chassis, 3.2-litre 197hp turbo-diesel engine and six-speed gearbox but he declined to state which company they were from.

Operated by a crew of four, it is suitable for utility, patrol and fast attack missions. The vehicle’s dimensions are listed as 5.362m long, 1.86m wide and 1.815m high.

The prototype was put together in rapid time and Zaini said the vehicle had already attracted interested from several Asian customers.

Kembara Suci Special Operation Vehicle (photo : Sina)

The third contender, again from a Malaysian company, was the GK-M1 from Weststar (pictured top left). The GK-M1 family of vehicles is derived from a 4x4 light tactical vehicle from the CTV Cho company in Thailand and is widely fielded by the Royal Thai Army.

The GKM1-SOV has been in development since 2012. Weighing 3t, it uses either a Toyota 2.5-litre or 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. It can carry five soldiers.

A Weststar spokesman noted that the Royal Brunei Land Forces had already tested the GKM1-SOV, with this being one of six vehicle contenders in a competition that is still waiting for a winner to be announced.

The fourth SOF vehicle platform on show came from Nimr in the UAE (pictured bottom right). Last November Nimr announced a tie-up with Malaysian firm DefTech acting as a marketing, sales and logistics partner and potentially a future assembly centre if regional vehicle sales are achieved.

GK-M1 Special Operation Vehicle (photo : Malaysian Defence)

Its Ajban Long Range Special Operations Vehicle (LRSOV) offering, one of which was displayed at the show in Malaysia, is designed for self-sufficient operations lasting up to ten days at a time. It can carry 4-5 soldiers. It has an under-slung capability by CH-47 helicopter and smoke grenade launchers mounted front and aft.

‘Southeast Asia is an important market for us.’ Nimr also had an Ajban 440A light armoured vehicle on display at DSA 2018,' Miles Chambers, Nimr’s senior international business development and sales manager, confirmed to Shephard.

It is unclear when exactly trials of the SOF vehicles will take place in conjunction with the Malaysian Army. Companies that Shephard spoke to provided dates varying from June to October 2018.

With two of the four contenders using commercially available chassis a key factor in deciding a winner may be robustness.

(Shephard)

Saab Receives Order for Australian OPV Situational Awareness System

21 April 2018

EOS 500 electro-optical fire control director (photo : Saab)

Saab has received a contract from Luerssen Australia for the Situational Awareness System (SAS) for the Royal Australian Navy’s new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV). The contract is expected to run over the 12 year OPV shipbuilding programme, which will see the delivery of 12 new ships. 

In addition to the SAS, which is based on Saab Australia’s 9LV Combat Management System, the OPV will be fitted with Saab’s EOS 500 (electro-optical fire control director).

“Saab Australia is pleased to receive this order from Luerssen Australia. This is also an important step towards system commonality for the Navy, with 9LV installed, or contracted for delivery, across four classes of ship.” says Andy Keough, Managing Director for Saab Australia.

“The development work being undertaken by Saab in Australia will also support export opportunities and position us well for future maritime projects.”

Saab Australia will carry out the majority of the work in its Adelaide facilities, which will create and sustain up to 50 jobs. Local Australian companies will be contracted to fabricate selected components of the SAS including command consoles and computer cabinets, providing a high level of Australian industry participation and sovereign capability. The contract is received within the business area Surveillance.

(Saab)

Thales Shows Rapid Ranger Configuration of Starstreak of TDM

21 April 2018

Starstreak Rapid Ranger configuration (photo : Shephard)

Thales, in conjunction with local partner Global Komited (a Weststar subsidiary), exhibited a Starstreak very short-range air defence system mounted on a URO Vamtac 4x4 vehicle at the DSA 2018 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.

The system, in the Rapid Ranger configuration, is currently being delivered to the Malaysian Armed Forces. Shephard understands that six such Rapid Ranger systems were ordered. Each has four ready-to-launch missiles, plus additional Starstreak missiles are stored in the rear of the Vamtac.

A crew of three operates the Rapid Ranger – the commander, driver and missile operator. While the Rapid Ranger can operate autonomously, it can also be cued from a vehicle-mounted Thales Ground Master 200 radar installed on a 7m mast. The radar will be delivered ‘soon’ to complete the programme.

Malaysia also acquired the Lightweight Multiple Launcher - Next Generation (LML-NG), which features three Starstreak missiles ready to launch, as part of its 2015 order worth approximately $130 million.

Starstreak LML on tactical vehicle configuration (photo : Malaysian Defence)

Thomas Pistre, Malaysia country director for Thales, explained that Starstreak is a joint procurement between the Malaysian Army and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), and he said the programme is ‘completely on track’.

Pistre said Thales had been present in Malaysia for 40 years and had a significant installed base, including a joint venture with Sapura that focuses on communications. Indeed, all new communication systems for the Malaysian Army are being supplied by Sapura, which also exports to places like Indonesia and Timor-Leste.

On the six new 3,100t Littoral Combat Ships being built by Boustead for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Thales will supply the SMART-S Mk2 surveillance radar, SATCOM link, Vigile electronic support measures and CAPTAS-2 sonar.

On the RMN’s six Kedah-class New Generation Patrol Vessels that were commissioned from 2006-10, Thales provided the Sceptre-X electronic support measures suite and communications.

The RMAF has been operating a single Ground Master 400 radar in Kuching, Sarawak for a couple of years, but Pistre believes Malaysia will need more radars in the future.

Damocles targeting pods are fitted on RMAF Su-30MKM fighters, and last week trials for laser-guided rockets on Hawk and F/A-18 aircraft were completed. New FZ220 composite launchers will be installed on the army’s awaited MD 530G scout helicopters.

Three Fulmar X UAVs are now operational on those New Generation Patrol Craft already handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) while a fourth is in transit and two more are awaited. 

Starstreak Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML) (photo : Malaysian Defence)

Pistre said the Fulmar X is invaluable for catching illegal fishermen, which poach 3 billion ringgits’ worth of fish annually. These unseen UAVs can catch offenders red-handed, and legal issues of using such imagery in court prosecutions are now being worked through.

At the moment it appears that the MMEA’s three new offshore patrol vessels will not be equipped with UAVs.

Additionally, Thales has a significant input into the AV8 armoured vehicle programme. The company’s AS 4000 fire control solution will also accompany the recently announced acquisition of LG1 105mm towed howitzers from Nexter.

Pistre also mentioned Malaysia’s plan to buy new maritime patrol aircraft, for which it believes the AMASCOS mission system is an ideal solution. Pundits believe the ATR 72 and Airbus C295 are currently the top contenders for this requirement.

The company’s AMASCOS mission system is presently installed on just one RMAF King Air B200T aircraft, but there are plans to migrate it onto another legacy aircraft platform possessing a longer range.

Finally, Thales Australia exhibited its Bushmaster MR6 at DSA 2018 as well. The vehicle is making its way home to Australia after participating in trials in the UK for the Multi-Role Vehicle Protected programme.

(Shephard)

Senegal Berniat Membeli Kapal Tanker, Kapal Kargo dan Kapal Patroli dari PT PAL

21 April 2018

Kapal angkatan laut 60m yang difungsikan oleh TNI AL sebagai Kapal Cepat Rudal (photo : TLDM)

Senegal pesan kapal tanker dan kargo dari Indonesia

London (ANTARA News) - Setelah membeli pesawat dan kereta dari Indonesia, Senegal akan membeli kapal tanker dan kargo seberat 18.500 ton dan berminat membeli dua kapal patroli ukuran 60 meter untuk mengawasi wilayah pesisirnya sepanjang 700 km.

Hal itu disampaikan Menteri Urusan Pengembangan Jaringan Perkeretaapian Nasional Senegal, Abdou Ndene Sall, mewakili Pemerintah Senegal dalam kunjungannya ke PT. PAL dan Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) di Bali pekan lalu.

Pensosbud KBRI Doha, Dimas Prihadi dalam keterangan kepada Antara London, Jumat menyebutkan bahwa keinginan pemerintah Senegal membeli kapal tanker dari Indonesia di konfirmasi oleh Direktur Utama PT. PAL Indonesia, Budiman Saleh yang mengatakan Senegal akan membeli kapal tanker dan kargo seberat 18.500 ton.

Selain itu, Senegal juga berminat membeli dua kapal patroli ukuran 60 meter untuk mengawasi wilayah pesisirnya sepanjang 700 km.

Menurut Budiman Saleh, Senegal juga berniat akan membeli beberapa kapal lainnya dari PT. PAL, antara lain kapal VIP 50 penumpang untuk presiden, kapal feri 250 penumpang untuk transportasi ke Pulau Goree dan kapal feri cepat kapasitas 500 dan 2000 penumpang untuk transportasi ke Provinsi Ziguinchor dan wilayah sekitarnya dengan spesifikasi kelas ekonomi, bisnis dan first class.

Dubes RI di Dakar, Mansyur Pangeran, mengatakan saat ini kapal yang digunakan untuk mengangkut penumpang dari Dakar ke Ziguinchor adalah kapal dari Korea Selatan.

"Kami harap Indonesia dapat segera merealisasikan kerja sama ini untuk memenuhi kebutuhan transportasi laut di Senegal karena antara Indonesia dan Senegal sudah pernah ada ikatan sejarah di bidang ini," kata Dubes Mansyur Pangeran.

Dikatakannya proses pembelian kapal ini sudah dimulai sejak tahun 2017 dan instansi menangani yaitu Conseil d`Administration du Conseil S n galais des Chargeurs (COSEC) pun sudah melakukan kunjungan ke PT. PAL, kebutuhan kapal di Senegal sangat besar.

Menurut Dubes Mansyur, Indonesia dan Senegal memiliki ikatan historis ketika kapal Senegalle Joola" dengan trayek Dakar - Ziguinchor tenggelam dan digantikan kapal feri Wilis yang disewa dari Indonesia (Pelni) lengkap dengan kapten kapal dan awaknya.

"Ikatan historis ini membuktikan komitmen yang tinggi dari Pemerintah Indonesia untuk membina kerja sama dengan Senegal,"ujarnya.

Budiman menyambut baik minat Senegal, dan perusahaannya akan menyampaikan proposal dengan spesifikasinya untuk mendapatkan tanggapan resmi dari Senegal. Budiman juga menawarkan kapal tunda atau tug boat dan meminta agar Menteri Ndene Sall dapat menyampaikan kepada pihak terkait di Senegal.

(Antara)