PH Navy's Fast-Attack Interdiction Craft Launches in Israel

29 Juni 2022

First two FAIC-M for PN (photos : AFP)

PH Navy's first 2 missile boats launched in Israel

MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN)'s first two fast-attack interdictor craft missiles (FAIC-M) were formally launched in Haifa, Israel last June 26.

Navy spokesperson Commander Benjo Negranza, in a statement Tuesday, said ranking PN officials and future crew members of the FAIC named BRP Lolinato To-Ong, graced the launch.

"Commodore Alfonso Torres Jr., Chairperson of the Pre-Delivery Inspection Team, and Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Chairperson of the Project Management Team of the FAIC Acquisition Project, led the PN delegates in witnessing the launch of the new ships held at the Israel Shipyards Limited port," he added.

Torres, in his speech, also stressed Israel’s key role in the success of the Navy’s multi-purpose assault craft (MPAC) program.

He added that Israel paved the way for the FAIC-M acquisition project which includes a complete transfer of technology.

Torres said this is a first of its kind in the country's defense cooperation history.

“This project enables the PN to make a 'leap-frog' approach in strengthening our littoral defense capability in the areas of warfare, sustainment, and technical knowledge,” he added.

Also present during the launch were Eyal Califf, Director of Israel’s Ministry of Defense’s Directorate for International Defense Cooperation (IMOD-SIBAT) for Asia and the Pacific, Sammy Katsav, Chairman of the Board of Israel Shipyards, Ltd., and Ran Tavor, Director of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.’s Naval Division.

The name of first two FAIC-M are BRP Nestor Acero (901) and BRP Lolinato To-ong (902) (photo : SeaWaves)

The launching is a prelude to the conduct of the pre-delivery inspection of these vessels from June 27 to 30.

The acquisition of the new craft is the latest in the PN's pursuit to become a modern and multi-capable naval force, responsible for protecting the maritime nation’s sovereignty. 

(PNA)

3 RAR conducted Exercise Kapyong Warrior

29 Juni 2022

A soldier from 3 RAR fires a Javelin FGM-148 direct fire, guided weapon system during Exercise Kapyong Warrior (photo : Aus DoD)

Soldiers flex lethal muscle

Clandestine, agile and lethal are the words to describe the soldiers executing live fire anti-armour stalks using direct fire support weapons (DFSW) during Exercise Kapyong Warrior.

Infantry soldiers of the 3rd Brigade’s 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR), conducted Exercise Kapyong Warrior at the Townsville field training area in June to develop battalion and company-level skills before conducting the brigade warfighter activity.   

Section commander Lance Corporal Ethan Moulden, who led his team through an anti-armour stalk to eliminate enemy targets, said their ability to move on foot in small teams was vital to maintaining a low profile within the battlespace while still being effective.

“Using our small teams on foot makes it harder for the enemy to identify, so we can clandestinely move in, find an area that's concealed and have an effect upon the enemy to achieve the mission,” LCpl Moulden  said.

“We can provide anything from harassment, all the way to completely destroying medium-armoured vehicles, and do this without having a very large footprint or signature for the enemy to pick up.”

Infiltrating an offensive firing position is no easy feat. With challenging terrain, weapons and ammunition, the sections are highly trained to execute physically demanding missions.

“The terrain is pretty undulating and the weight of small arms, body armour, helmet, and the 84mm itself, which weighs about 20 kilos, makes moving through undetected difficult, but we get it done,” LCpl Moulden said.

Firing one of two Javelin missiles, Private Jarrod Raines, from DFSW Platoon, had an even more explosive task to execute during his sections anti-armour stalk, which he described as a mixed sense of calm and adrenaline.

“We keep a low profile during infill, scanning for the high-value target, and once we’re happy with the position we wait silently for H-hour to be called over the radio,” Pte Raines said.

“It’s a great feeling. You get a rush when the missile leaves the tube, and when it hits the target there’s a lot of adrenaline. Then you just get out of there as quick as possible while the 84mm smoke covers our ex-fill route.”

Holding the ability to provide direct fire support, Pte Raines said the live-fire activities were a training highlight and an opportunity to display their skills.

“It was a fantastic experience and definitely a great feeling to get out and perform our job to a high standard,” he said.

“Live fire is a great opportunity to display our lethality on the battlefield and it just goes to show that we’re ready and we can do this anywhere.”

(Aus DoD)

TLDM Perlu Miliki 55 Buah Kapal Untuk Penuhi Keperluan Operasinya

29 Juni 2022

Armada TLDM (photo : MPA Barat)

Di bawah Pelan Transformasi 15 ke 5 Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM), angkatan itu perlu mempunyai sebanyak 55 buah kapal untuk memenuhi keperluan operasinya selaras dengan peranan dan tugasnya yang telah digariskan oleh kerajaan.

Panglima TLDM Laksamana Tan Sri Mohd Reza Mohd Sany berkata, bilangan kapal itu mungkin akan berubah bergantung kepada keadaan geo-strategik rantau itu yang dinamik.

Dalam temuramah dengan majalah pertahanan berbahasa Inggeris tempatan, Asian Defence Journal (ADJ) keluaran May-Jun tahun ini, beliau juga memaklumkan bilangan jenis-jenis kapal perang yang dirancang dimiliki oleh TLDM dibawah pelan transformasi itu.

“Mengikut Pelan Transformasi 15 ke 5 TLDM,  ia dijangka akan memiliki 12 buah kapal Littoral Combat Ship (LCS),  tiga buah kapal Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS), 18 buah kapal Littoral Mission Ship (LMS), 18 buah kapal Patrol Vessel (PV) dan empat buah kapal selam menjelang tahun 2050,” kata beliau dalam temuramah itu.

Nampak gaya,impian untuk melihat TLDM menambah bilangan kapal selam dimilikinya daripada dua buah kepada empat buah akan hanya direalisasikan menjelang tahun 2050 atau 28 tahun daripada sekarang.

Program 15 to 5 TLDM (image : RMN)

Kapal-kapal selam kelas-Perdana Menteri daripada jenis “Scorpene”, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman dan KD Tun Abdul Razak akan terus digunakan secara optima oleh TLDM untuk mengawal kepentingan bawah permukaan negara.

“Belum ada rezeki untuk ada adik” bagi kedua-dua kapal selam negara yang ditauliahkan ke dalam perkhidmatan TLDM pada 2009.

Dalam temuramah dengan majalah pertahanan itu,  Panglima TLDM juga ditanya mengenai keperluan kapal MRSS yang menurutnya untuk melaksanakan operasi amfibia dan Humanitarian and Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR).

Menurut beliau,  TLDM mengakui tentang keperluan serta kepentingan terhadap kapal itu dan akan memulakan usaha untuk memperolehinya pada tahun 2024.

“Pada ketika ini TLDM telah menerima beberapa cadangan daripada pelbagai syarikat asing untuk dilakukan kajian lanjut,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Mohd Reza juga ditanya tentang masa depan helikopter Super Lynx dan Fennec yang telah pun berkhidmat dengan TLDM selama 15 tahun.

“TLDM merancang untuk memperolehi helikopter anti peperangan kapal selam (ASW)/peperangan anti permukaan (ASuW) yang akan menggantikan helikopter Super Lynx Mk100 pada masa depan,” kata beliau sambil menambah bahawa kajian terhadap calon-calon yang akan menggantikan helikopter Super Lynx itu sedang berjalan.

Mengenai helikopter Fennec, helikopter itu digunakan sebagai platform latihan dan akan terus digunakan oleh TLDM untuk tempoh beberapa tahun lagi. 

(DSA)

Brigif 1 Marinir Operasikan Radar Kelvin Hughes Kombinasi dengan Security Drone

29 Juni 2022

Kombinasi radar Kelvin Hughes dengan drone (photos : PasMar1)

Dalam rangka latihan TW II Brigif 1 Marinir Tahun 2022, Petarung Brigif 1 Marinir melaksanakan taktik pengoperasian Radar Kelvin Hughes Security di daerah latihan Jampang Tengah, Sukabumi Jawa Barat, Jumat 24/06/22.

Adapun fungsi Radar Kelvin Hughes Security adalah untuk mendeteksi pergerakan musuh dan kedudukan pasukan sendiri, deteksi gerakan kendaraan musuh dan klasifikasi ancaman musuh, sebagai alat kontrol sistem komunikasi sendiri dan sebagai menejemen situasi di medan tempur, selain itu juga berfungsi untuk mengamankan daerah latihan dari intercept radar musuh.

Radar Kelvin Hughes juga di-combine dengan security drone untuk analisa evaluasi intelijen dimedan depan pertempuran.

Radar Kelvin Hughes ini dioperasikan oleh lima awak terbaik, yang dipimpin satu orang Danru, satu operator, dua pengamanan dan satu juru mudi.

Sebagai ground surveillance radar, Kelvin Hughes Security dapat melacak keberadaan orang pada jarak 5km dan kendaraan pada jarak 15km (images : Kelvin Hughes)

Hal tersebut menindak lanjuti perintah harian (Kasal) Laksamana TNI Yudo Margono, S.E, M.M, tentang membangun sumber daya yang unggul dan profesional serta tangguh menghadapi ancaman.

Dalam kesempatan tersebut Danbrigif 1 Marinir Kolonel Marinir Freddy Ardianzah menyampaikan, "Fungsikan Radar Kelvin Hughes ini sebaik mungkin agar membantu pasukan di medan pertempuran yang sebenarnya dan jadikan radar ini sebagai urat nadi pertempuran," ucapnya.

(Pasmar1)

Significant Progress of RNZAF Poseidon's Hangar

28 Juni 2022

The RNZAF P-8A hangar (photos : NZDAF)

P-8A Poseidon: Raising  the Roof at Te Whare Toroa

A 500 tonne roof has been lifted into place 33 metres above the ground at Base Ohakea, a very visual sign of progress being made on the $250 million infrastructure build to support the P-8A Poseidons.

The feat of engineering represents just half of the roof of the new building Te Whare Toroa, which will include two hangers, maintenance and support facilities, warehousing for spare parts, and a mission support centre.

“Seeing the images of the roof be lifted into place over a six hour period shows the immense scale of this build. We are pleased to have achieved this milestone, and are on track with the build and looking forward to the arrival of the first aircraft later this year,” Sarah Minson, Director Air Domain at Manatū Kaupapa Waonga New Zealand Ministry of Defence.

The infrastructure build is a three year project and a significant investment for the region with the main contractors Hawkins and Fulton Hogan, and their 25 subcontractors, having an average of 250 workers on site each day.

“Having the roof raised on the hangar is an exciting milestone for all involved in the P8 team. It’s a visual indication that we have a number of major milestones ahead culminating in the arrival of our first P-8A in December,” Wing Commander Mark Whiteside said.

“It will also be the first real chance for the wider Air Force and Ohakea community to visually see the size and scale of the investment being made into the base.” 

The P-8A’s are on schedule to replace the P-3K2 Orions from 2023 and the three year infrastructure build is on track for completion by the end of 2023.

This project is a significant investment to strengthen Aotearoa’s maritime surveillance capability. The P-8A Poseidons will be able to undertake search and rescue operations throughout the Pacific and south to Antarctica, protection of the southern ocean, humanitarian and disaster relief in Pacific and Aotearoa, as well as protection of fishing resources in New Zealand’s large exclusive zone (EEZ) and in remote areas such as the southern ocean and around Pacific Island nations.

(NZDF)

KSME Signed Contract for 6 Offshore Patrol Vessels in the Philippines

28 Juni 2022

OPV for Philippine Navy (image : KSME)

Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (the parent company of Hyundai Heavy Industries) has succeeded in winning an order for six OPVs in the Philippines worth a total of 744.9 billion won.

Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (KSME) announced on the 27th that it had signed a contract with the Philippine Ministry of National Defense for the construction of six 2400-ton Offshore Patrol Vessels at the Ministry of National Defense in Manila, Philippines.

The signing ceremony was attended by key figures from the Philippine Ministry of National Defense and Navy, including Vice Chairman Ga Sam-hyeon of Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering;

The Offshore Patrol Vessels (named, Wonhae) ordered this time has a displacement of 2400 tons, a length of 94.4 meters, a width of 14.3 meters, a maximum speed of 22 knots (about 41 km/h), and a cruising speed of 15 knots (about 28 km/h). will be delivered by year. In particular, this ship has a range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,190 km), which allows it to operate for a long time.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Heavy Industries also signed a lifecycle support (MRO) business contract for two Philippine frigates delivered in February last year and in May 2020. In the future, Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to be reborn as a 'global top-class ship solution partner' that encompasses ship design, construction, and life cycle management services.

See full article FNNews

RSAF Concludes Participation in Large-Scale Air Combat Exercise

28 Juni 2022

A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15SG at Exercise Red Flag Alaska, hosted by the United States Air Force (USAF) earlier this month (photos : RSAF)

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has concluded its participation in Exercise Red Flag – Alaska, a United States Air Force (USAF)-hosted exercise at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, United States. Held from 9 to 25 June 2022 (SG Time), 10 RSAF F-15SG fighter aircraft and over 140 RSAF personnel from Peace Carvin V (PC V) Detachment were deployed to participate in this large-scale air-to-air combat exercise.

    

This edition of Exercise Red Flag – Alaska involved more than 70 aircraft, including the USAF’s F-18, F-16, EA-18G and A-10 fighter aircraft. The USAF and RSAF worked closely on integrated missions in realistic threat and simulated combat scenarios, and honed their combat readiness and sharpened operational competencies.

Highlighting the significance of the RSAF’s participation in Exercise Red Flag – Alaska, LTC Shewan Goh, the RSAF PC V Detachment Commander, said, “Exercise Red Flag – Alaska is an important opportunity for RSAF personnel to train and sharpen our operational competencies. The mission scenarios, involving advanced tactics and electronic warfare, were realistic and challenging. Our airmen and women were able to benchmark their skills with the USAF, and worked together closely to achieve our mission objectives. We are thankful to the USAF for being generous hosts, and look forward to future opportunities to train together.”

              

Lieutenant Colonel Christopher McGoffin, Director of Operations of the 18th Aggressors Squadron, United States Air Force said, “To have other forces exercise with us enhances our joint interoperability. Through Exercise Red Flag, we are able to provide a strenuous and realistic combat scenario to test their abilities. The RSAF have brought great capability to the fight and displayed exceptional tactics and competencies during the exercise. It is also important for us to continue to hone how we operate together, and strengthen our relationships at the professional and personal level through such exercises.”

The RSAF has been participating in Exercise Red Flag – Alaska (previously called Exercise Cope Thunder) since 1984. The exercise underscores the excellent and long-standing defence relationship between Singapore and the United States. It enhances the professionalism and coordination amongst the participating forces, and provides the RSAF an opportunity to benchmark itself against other leading air forces.

(Sing Mindef)