The Next Angsa Exercise Focuses on Information Warfare

29 September 2012

RMAF F/A-18D Hornet (photo : Airliners) 

BUTTERWORTH (Bernama) -  The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN)  will foucus on information warfare in the next Angsa (Air and Sea – Angkasa dan Samudera) Exercise, said RMN Deputy Chief Laksamana Madya Datok Mohammed Noordin Ali.

He said the field had never been fully explore by the Armed Forces, particularly in training their men on military cyber crimes to tackle such threats.

“Information warfare threatens the nation as the enemy can either send false information or misinformation and manipulate whatever information received, among other things, via cyberspace,” he said.

Mohammed Noordin was speaking to reporters after closing the Angsa exercise at the Butterworth Military Air Base here Friday.

Meanwhile at the same function, RMAF operations chief Lieutenant-General Datuk Sri Ackbal Abdul Samad proposed the Angsa Exercise time-frame be extended to ensure the readiness of every military officer.

(Bernama)

KRI Teluk Berau 354 Akhiri Masa Tugas

29 September 2012

KRI Teluk Berau landing ship tank (photo : Ivan Meshkov)

SURABAYA – Kapal perang TNI AL KRI Teluk Berau 354 mengakhiri masa pengabdiannya. Setelah berlayar 18 tahun, kapal perang buatan Jerman Timur tersebut dinyatakan purna.

Kemarin, pelepasan kapal berawak 70 prajurit dilakukan dengan upacara kemiliteran di Dermaga Koarmatim Ujung Surabaya. Menandai masa purna bakti kapal perang yang namanya diambil dari wilayah selatan kepala burung Papua, Kecamatan Berau, Kabupaten Sorong, Panglima Koarmatim Lakda TNI Agung Pramono menurunkan ular-ular perang yang terpasang di buritan kapal. ”Dengan penurunan ular-ular perang ini, maka kapal tersebut sudah tidak lagi menjadi bagian dari alutsista TNI AL,” katanya.

Agung Pramono menjelaskan, penghapusan KRI Teluk Berau dari bagian alutsista TNI AL murni karena pertimbangan teknis dan strategis. KRI Teluk Berau 354 sudah dianggap tua, perlu kapal pengganti yang lebih baik lagi. ”KRI Berau ini bergabung dengan jajaran TNI AL pada 22 April 1995. Sebelumnya, kapal ini adalah milik Jerman Timur yang dibuat tahun 1977 di galangan kapal VEB Penee Werft Wolgast,” tuturnya.

KRI Berau memiliki panjang 90,70 meter, lebar 11,12 meter, berat 1.900 ton. Kapal dengan jumlah ABK 70 orang ini memiliki kecepatan jelajah 18 knot. Sebagai kapal pendarat pasukan kapal ini dilengkapi dengan senjata kanon laras ganda kaliber 37mm, 1 meriam bofors 40/70 kaliber 40mm dan 2 kanon laras ganda 25mm.

(Seputar Indonesia)

SAAB Receives Order from Thailand for Upgrading the CMS on Two Frigates

29 September 2012

HTMS Taksin 422 and HTMS Naresuan FFG (photo : War-Sky, Militaryphotos)

Defence and security company Saab has received an order from the Royal Thai Navy for the upgrading of the Combat Systems on the frigates H.T.M.S. Naresuan and H.T.M.S Taksin. The order amounts to Baht 2520 million (approximately SEK 550 million).

The contract is a continuation of an on-going program contracted to Saab by the Royal Thai Navy in 2011. The contract adds additional sights and communications equipment to complete the combat suite on the two frigates.

“Saab will further strengthen its position as supplier to the Royal Thai Navy through the upgrade of the Combat System on the frigates H.T.M.S. Naresuan and H.T.M.S Taksin. Saab is now on the Navy's three major vessels and with data links to the Royal Thai Air Force's Gripen and Erieye, capabilities and resources can be used more efficiently,” says Gunilla Fransson, Head of Saab’s Business Area Security and Defence Solutions.

Saab is the main contractor to the Royal Thai Navy, and the order, apart from containing supply of Saab’s systems, also covers delivery of third party systems as well as responsibility for integration of all existing and new systems.

(Saab)

Boeing Sepakati Transfer of Technology kepada PT DI & Pindad

28 September 2012

Pembuatan pesawat angkut di pabrik Boeing di Everett, Washington (photo : Boeing/AP)

Boeing Transfer Teknologi ke PT DI & Pindad

JAKARTA - Melalui PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) dan PT Pindad, Boeing sepakat bekerjasama terkait teknologi dengan Indonesia. Nota kesepahaman (MoU) ini telah ditandatangani di acara Investment Day di Amerika Serikat (AS).

"Boeing berminat untuk memberikan alih teknologi, training, pendidikan, kerjasama pembangunan industri dirgantara," ujar Menteri Keuangan Agus Martowardojo, di Komisi XI DPR RI, Jakarta, Rabu (26/9/2012) malam.

Agus mengatakan, pemerintah optimistis akan berjalan dengan lancar dan sangat bermanfat bagi Indonesia. Pabrikan pesawat tersebut memiliki citra yang baik dalam kerjasama baik dengan pemerintah maupun swasta di Indonesia.

"Sebelumnya Boeing ada kerjasama pembelian pesawat dengan Lion yang nilainya sampai USD20 miliar," tambahnya.

Agus mengatakan, dengan ditandatanganinya perjanjian kerjsama tersebut. Dalam waktu dekat realisasinya sudah bisa dijalankan

Isi Kesepakatan Boeing dan PT Pindad Soal Pesawat

Pabrikan pesawat asal Amerika Serikat, Boeing, sepakat bekerja sama soal alih teknologi kepada Indonesia melalui PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) dan PT Pindad.

PT Dirgantara Indonesia adalah perusahaan industri pesawat terbang di Indonesia, sedangkan PT Pindad adalah perusahaan industri manufaktur Indonesia yang bergerak dalam bidang produk produk militer dan produk komersial .

Kesepakatan kerja sama alih teknologi antara Boeing, PT DI, dan PT Pindad tertuang dalam Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) yang telah ditandatangani pada acara Investment Day di Amerika Serikat pekan lalu.

“Boeing berminat untuk memberikan alih teknologi, training, pendidikan, dan kerja sama pembangunan industri dirgantara,” ujar Menteri Keuangan Agus Martowardojo di Gedung DPR RI, Jakarta, Rabu malam 26 September 2012.

Realisasi dari kerja sama itu akan dijalankan dalam waktu dekat. Pemerintah Indonesia optimis kerja sama ini akan berjalan lancar dan bermanfat bagi Indonesia. Apalagi Boeing memiliki citra baik dalam membangun kerja sama, baik dengan pemerintah maupun pihak swasta di Indonesia.

Menkeu menjelaskan, sebelumnya Boeing juga melakukan kerja sama dalam pembelian pesawat dengan Lion Air yang bernilai US$ 20 miliar.

(VivaNews)

Alert Over Ageing Hornets as Structural Fatigue Hits Fleet

28 September 2012

RAAF F/A-18 Classic Hornet (photo : Townsville Bulletin)

THE Royal Australian Air Force has been warned to scale back the use of its ageing fleet of F/A-18 "classic" Hornet fighters to avert structural fatigue concerns.

The 71 fighter jets, brought into service in the mid-1980s, may need to keep flying beyond 2020 because of delays in acquiring the new Joint Strike Fighter, the Australian National Audit Office said yesterday.

It warned to expect a big increase in annual maintenance costs of the old Hornet fleet from $118 million since 2001 to $170m today, with costs expected to blow out to $214m a year by 2018. The report found all but nine of the Hornet fleet had "experienced structure fatigue above that expected for the airframe hours".

The ANAO's upkeep concerns are directed at the "classic" Hornets and not the newer fleet of 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets delivered to RAAF Amberley between 2010 and last year.

"The key risks to the F/A-18 fleets' fulfilment of their operational requirements until their replacement by the F-35A Lightning (JSF) revolve around Defence's ability to maintain the present levels of Hornet sustainment and structural-integrity management," the report said.

Keeping the old Hornet fleet flying beyond 2020 would incur an extensive increase in sustainment costs, ANAO said.

It "may well require the fleet to undergo an expanded, and hence more costly, safety-by-inspection regime, structural modifications program and capability upgrades".

The government has indicated it will buy 100 new Lockheed Martin-built F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, to replace the Hornet fleet in a deal worth $13.2 billion.

So far, it has committed to buy only two JSFs and in May announced plans to defer for two years the next acquisition of 12 of the stealthy, multi-role strike aircraft.

The audit report noted problems with the JSF program, including that it was progressing "more slowly and at greater cost than first estimated".

"At the time of the audit, almost 80 per cent of the F-35 test and evaluation program was yet to be completed, so significant F-35 key performance parameters had not been fully validated," the report warned.

Latest 2012 price estimates for individual JSF war planes were $US131.4m ($126.2m), projected to fall slightly next year and reach $US83.4m in 2019 when aircraft production is scheduled to increase.

RAAF's first two JSFs are scheduled for delivery in 2014 and will remain in the US for flight tests and evaluation.

Australia is one of nine partner nations involved in the JSF program, which has delivered more than $300m in contracts to Australian aerospace suppliers.

To bridge a looming capability gap following the retirement of the 1970s vintage F-111 fighter-bombers, the Howard government ordered 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets -- themselves due to be replaced by the F-35 (JSF) Lightnings by 2025.

On a plus note, the ANAO said recent initiatives to improve performance of the JSF program "are starting to show results".

(TheAustralian)

VN Develops S-75M3 Simulation Software

28 September 2012

Practitioners in the Institute of Air Defence-Air Force has developed simulation software works missile complex S-75M3. (photo : BaoDatViet)

Meet the needs of visual materials for teaching, training, technical subjects S-75M3, the students of the Institute of Air Defense - Air Force has developed a software model simulation functioning missile combination.

The authors have used Powerpoint software to simulate the operation the radio SNR-75V3 control function; using Macromedia Flash and PowerPoint 2003 to simulate the reduced functional activity of the air defense missile complex S-75M3.

Simulation products can fully control the station's operation as well as a combination of missiles, to ensure highly vivid visual, can be used as a reference and learning for students in the learning process at the school.

(BaoDatViet)

Army in New Bid to Get its Airship Flying

28 September 2012

The airship has been unable to fly since its delivery about two years ago. (photo : chorcharsinging)

The army has agreed to pay 50 million baht more to an American airship producer to make its 350-million-baht airship fly for the first time since its procurement.

An army source said the army signed a contract with Aria International Inc on Sept 20 to make the surveillance airship stay up in the air.

The company was originally hired to provide the airship, which has not flown since its arrival in the country.

Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered the contract because he does not want the airship to rest in its hangar in Pattani province any longer.

The contractor is confident it can make the airship fly by November.

The airship has been unable to fly since its delivery about two years ago. The army formally accepted the airship in July last year. Since then it has had to pay for its maintenance.

The army has paid 200,000-300,000 baht a month to refill the airship with helium, to help the airship keep its shape and avoid leaks. The army has paid about 25 million baht altogether for refills in the past year.

The airship was ordered during the tenure of former army chief Anupong Paochinda who hoped it would help deter threats in the three southern border provinces. However, it was criticised for being unsuitable for security missions in the far South, as it could be shot down with ease.

Poor storage caused multiple leaks, and the supplier repaired it once. The cameras of the airship and their video streaming system are also out of order.

(BangkokPost)

Pembangunan Mako Divisi III Marinir di Sorong Dimulai

28 September 2012

Divisi III Marinir di Sorong akan memudahkan pergeseran pasukan di wilayah timur (photo : kabarindonesia)

15 Ribu Marinir Ditempatkan di Sorong

SORONG – Dalam pengembangan korps Marinir TNI-AL, di Sorong nantinya akan menjadi Divisi III Marinir yang diperkuat sekitar 15-an ribu personil untuk mendukung keamanan dan pertahanan di komando wilayah laut timur yang direncanakan berada di Sorong. Divisi III Marinir nantinya dipimpin panglima berpangkat bintang dua yang disebut Pangkowilatim. Demikian dikatakan Danlanal Sorong, Kolonel Laut (P) Irvansyah kepada wartawan usai meletakkan batu pertama pembangunan markas komando (Mako) Divisi III Mariniri di Km 16 Sorong, Rabu (26/9).

Selain pembangunan markas komando, di kompleks Km 16 ini lanjut Danlanal, juga akan dibangun barak-barak mariner, perumahan untuk anggota dan fasilitas penunjang lainnya. Pembangunan Mako Divisi III Marinir ini diestimasikan rampung tahun 2013 mendatang, dan secara bertahap akan mulai dilakukan pergeseran pasukan hingga nantinya mencapai 15 ribuan personil.

“Saat pembangunan selesai sesuai jadwal tahun 2013 nanti, secara bertahap akan ada pergesaran pasukan. Tahap awal mungkin satu bataliyon dulu atau sekitar 1000-an personil,” terang Danlanal sembari mengatakan, saat ini personil Marinir yang ditempatkan di Sorong sekitar 60-an personil yang bertugas untuk pengamanan asset.

Ditanyai mengenai pembinaan personil untuk menghindari gesekan antar sesama aparat seperti yang terjadi baru-baru ini di salah satu tempat hiburan malam, Danlanal menegaskan jika pembinaan personil menjadi perhatian utama pihaknya di Lanal Sorong, dengan terus menerus melakukan pembinaan terhadap anggotanya, baik itu dari Satuan Tugas (Satgas) Mariniri yang saat ini masih dibawah komando Lanal Sorong, maupun terhadap anggota TNI-AL lainnya yang bertugas di Lanal Sorong.

”Untuk pembinaan, saat ini kan Satgas pengamanan aset di-BKO-kan di Lanal Sorong, kita lakukan pembinaan sama seperti anggota lainnya, baik itu mengenai penekanan kedisiplinan, penindakan pelanggaran, termasuk kesejahteraan juga kita perhatikan,” tandasnya.

Acara peletakan batu pertama pembangunan gedung Mako Divisi III Marinir ini dilakukan oleh Wali Kota Sorong, Drs.Ec Lamberthus Jitmau, disaksikan tamu undangan yang kemudian dilanjutkan pemotongan tumpeng oleh Danlanal Sorong. (ans)

(JPNN)

BAE Systems Awarded Contract to Develop Model for Integration of JSF in Australia

27 September 2012

A F-35 with weapons in flight (photo : Lockheed Martin)

Richmond, Australia - BAE Systems Australia has been awarded a contract from the New Air Combat Capability (NACC) Program to develop an operational model to integrate the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) into the Australian Defence Environment.

  

Under the nine month contract BAE Systems will work closely with the Australian Defence Force and NACC to develop a model that outlines all requirements for JSF operations and sustainment including maintenance, supply, training needs and fleet asset management.

Director Aerospace John Monaghan said: “This contract will play a critical role in ensuring that Defence, industry and our ADF men and women are ready and prepared for a smooth transition when the JSF comes into service.

“Our team will work to define the processes and information that will be required to ensure that the aircraft achieves its maximum operational effectiveness in any deployed environment.”

The company has leveraged its global experience and appointed an employee from the UK JSF team to lead the project. F-35 Tech Specialist Dave Harrison has more than 10 years experience with the aircraft and played a pivotal role working with the British Joint Combat Air Project to support the integration of the aircraft into the UK defence force.

The project also requires plans for follow-on phases that will support the continued integration of the aircraft through to achievement of its Initial Operating Capability in 2019/20.

(BAE Systems Australia)

Vietnam to Improve Russian Helicopter Equipped with U.S. Rocket

27 September 2012

Mi-24 of the Vietnam People's Air Force (photo : toquoctrongtoi)

(ĐVO) The improvement in order to meet the requirements for helicopters Mi-24 weapons crackdown on the remnants of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia,

Mi-24 attack helicopter developed by the Soviet Union and put into use in the early 1970s. This is the helicopter gunships "one of a kind" has been equipped with heavy duty weapons fire support to the ground, destroy armored tanks, and, military passenger compartment contain up to 8 soldiers.

The late 1970s, Soviet aid a small number of Mi-24 attack helicopters for the Vietnam People's Air Force. In 1980, the Air Vietnam Air Force squadron officially established the first Mi-24 helicopters of the 916th Regiment.

Mi-24 of the Vietnam People's Air Force (photo : Hoangsa)

The Mi-24 that you aid to Vietnam under the Mi-24A variant - the first generation of the helicopter. Mi-24A compared to the Mi-24D and the modern variant the main difference is in the type of cabin.

Mi-24A cockpit 3 with control arms in front of officers, pilots and navigators in parallel in the back seat. Variations Mi-24 or later to use style cockpit "double bubble" with the arms in front of officers and pilots behind.

Body thick armored Mi-24A aircraft can withstand the force of impact from the bullets of 12.7 mm. Mi-24A equipped with two turbine engines Isotov axis TV3-117 allows a top speed of 335km / h, range 450km, ceiling 4.500m.

Weapons, Mi-24 mounted 12.7 mm machine guns in the nose and 4 rocket launchers clusters (8-16 tubes) with 4 anti-tank guided missiles, AT-2 on three pylons located in the 2 small wings body.

Mi-24 of the Vietnam People's Air Force (photo : xairforces)

Mi-24A fleet Vietnam People's Air Force during a trip sorties mopping up the remnants of the Khmer Rouge. 

In the years used Mi-24A and assist our troops fire mopping up the remnants of the Khmer Rouge (*). Aeronautical engineer officers in Vietnam, there are small improvements to U.S. rocket bullet style helicopter Russia serves battlefield.

As the number of rocket fire U.S. military aid to South Vietnam so much, we can leverage to bring the means to fight the Soviet Union (Russia).

But, to solve this problem is not simple, because the rockets of the Soviet Union against the United States is not the same size, can not arbitrarily put American rocket bullet cluster Soviet rocket launchers. If used rocket launchers cluster America, bottom to hook into the bracket on the Mi-24 does not fit. Moreover this launch pad clusters can not be used more than once.

Mi-24 of the Vietnam People's Air Force (photo : jetphotos)

Under these circumstances, the young staff weapons Vietnamese airlines have found a special plan to put American rocket to equip helicopter Mi-24.

"We take rocket tubes of reconnaissance aircraft U-17 is used to fire rockets smoke goals. Then, we use two belt bundled into a cluster (8-16 tubes), on a long-term appropriate size hook to hook into bracket helicopters Mi-24, to ensure balance.

With this, secured a U.S. rocket launch on a Russian helicopter, can be reused many times, "Colonel Nguyen Kim Khoi-air weapons officer (Air Defense Air Force) directly involved improvement in the work to American-made rockets to shoot on Mi-24 helicopter of the Soviet Union shared.

The process of testing the use of cluster homemade catapult was a great success and make sure all the technical requirements involved combat.

(BaoDatViet)

PT DI Rawat Helikopter Kepresidenan Skuadron Udara 45

27 September 2012

Helikopter NAS-332 Skadron Udara 45 (photo : Pralangga)

Bandung (ANTARA News) – Kesiapan operasionalisasi helikopter kepresidenan di Skuadron Udara 45 harus berada selalu dalam keadaan prima. Mereka memiliki sejumlah helikopter NAS-332 Super Puma berkelir abu-abu dan putih. Untuk merawat itu, dipercayakan kepada PT Dirgantara Indonesia. 

”Kami selalu menjadikan helikopter-helikopter milik Sekretariat Negara itu  berkondisi seperti baru guna menjamin tingkat keselamatan setinggi-tingginya," kata Joko Budi Rustanto, Kepala Divisi Sales Marketing, Jasa Perawatan Pesawat (Aircraft Services) PT DI kepada media di Bandung, Rabu.

Budi mengemukakan, helikopter-helikopter angkut menengah itu ditujukan untuk "orang sangat penting" alias VIP yang khusus dalam terminologi Indonesia dinamakan VVIP (walau di dunia internasional, istilah itu tidak dikenal).

Tiga NAS-332 Super Puma bernomor registrasi H-3203, H-3205 dan H-3206, helikopter kepresidenan, dirawat di fasilitas pemeliharaan PT Dirgantara Indonesia itu.

Dukungan perwakilan teknis juga disediakan PT DI untuk pekerjaan di luar Bandung, seperti halnya bilamana pekerjaan perawatan dilakukan di Pangkalan Udara Utama TNI AU Halim Perdanakusuma (Skadron Udara 45) dan Pangkalan Udara Atang Senjaya, Bogor (Skuadron Teknik 024).

Penyerahan material suku cadang biasanya dilaksanakan dalam tiga tahapan untuk  kontrak kerjasama dengan Setneg  yang memiliki nilai strategis karena setiap tahun selalu diperbaharui.

Selain melakukan perawatan, PT DI juga diminta melakukan modifikasi berupa penambahan peralatan peringatan tabrakan TCAD (Traffic/Collision Alerting Device) guna meningkatkan keselamatan penerbangan.

Pemasangan TCAS (Traffic/Collision Avoidance System) wajib pada semua pesawat sipil yang dioperasikan di Indonesia berdasarkan ketentuan Ditjen Penerbangan Sipil Kementerian Perhubungan, merujuk kepada peraturan Peraturan Keselamatan Penerbangan Sipil (Civil Aviation Safety Regulation)  Internasional part 135 dan 25.

Selain itu, PT DI saat ini berencana menambah kapasitas dan kompetensi untuk mendapatkan sertifikasi agar dapat melakukan perawatan dua NAS-332 L2 (helikopter versi NAS-332 VVIP yang didatangkan Sekretariat Negara dari Aerospatiale, Perancis, kini bagian dari Eurocopter).

Potensi project yang akan dilakukan oleh ACS PTDI sampai Desember 2012 adalah termasuk perawatan rutin helikopter Pusat Penerbangan TNI AD  (tujuh unit BO-105, tiga unit Bell-205, dua unit Bell-412).

Termasuk pula perawatan rutin satu unit C212-200 dan satu unit AS-332 milik TWA (Trans Wisata Airline) serta modifikasi untuk pemasangan FDR (Flight Data Recorder) pada tiga unit pesawat C212-200 milik Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi (BPPT).

(Antara)

Malyshev Plant to Produce Tanks for Thailand by Year End

26 September 2012

T-84 Oplot Main Battle Tank (photo : Militaryphotos)

KYIV/UKRINFORM/. The Kharkiv-based Malyshev Plant announced plans to produce by the end of the year the first batch of five Oplot tanks for the Thai Army. Overall, under the contract the Ukrainian company will make 49 tanks worth over USD 200 million, Volodymyr Mazin, a representative of the Ukroboronprom SE's director general, told UKRINFORM on Friday.

"Under the contract with Thailand, this year we produce five Oplot tanks. "The contract is designed for 2 years. We must do, they take, and the shipment will be later, for example, in January," he said.

A reminder that Ukraine's state-controlled arms exporter Ukrspecexport signed the contract with Thailand for the supply of 49 Kharkiv tanks in September 2011.

(Ukrinform)

Tank Leopard Akan Tiba di Indonesia Mulai November

26 September 2012

Tank Leopard 2A4 dan versi yang telah di-upgrade (photo : Militaryphotos)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Sebagian tank tempur utama (Main Battle Tank/MBT) Leopard dan tank tempur medium Marder dari Jerman dijadwalkan tiba di Indonesia pada awal November 2012 dengan pengiriman dilakukan melalui angkutan udara dan laut.

"Leopard akan dikirim bersama dengan Marder pada awal November 2012 nanti. Sekarang Kepala Staf TNI Angkatan Darat (KSAD) sedang di sana dan akan pulang tanggal 30 September 2012," kata Kepala Pusat Komunikasi Publik Kementerian Pertahanan Mayjen TNI Hartind Asrin di Makodiv-1 Kostrad, Cilodong, Depok, Jawa Barat, Selasa.

Pengiriman tahap pertama ini, lanjut dia, akan datang sekitar 15 unit tank berbobot 60 ton itu, sementara untuk tank Marder belum diketahui berapa yang akan datang.

Staf Ahli Menhan bidang keamanan itu mengatakan, dipersiapkan dua unit pesawat yang akan digunakan khusus mengangkut tank-tank tersebut. "Tapi nanti kombinasi pengirimannya, ada yg melalui pesawat, ada juga melalui kapal," kata Hartind.

Pengiriman ini molor dari rencana semula pada Oktober 2012 mendatang karena terkendala administrasi. Pada November mendatang, tank-tank tersebut akan ditunjukkan kepada publik.

Sebelumnya, Wakil Menteri Pertahanan Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin menuturkan, pemerintah membeli tank Leopard sebanyak 103 unit, tank Marder sejumlah 50 unit dan membeli 10 tank pendukung.

Finalisasi penandatanganan kontrak diharapkan bisa dilakukan akhir September 2012. "Pihak Rheinmetall (produsen) akan berada di Indonesia untuk finalisasi penandatanganan kontrak yang akan dilaksanakan pada minggu ke empat September 2012," katanya.

(Antara)

China's First Aircraft Carrier Commissioned

25 September 2012

China's first aircraft carrier was delivered and commissioned to the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on Sept. 25, 2012. The carrier, with the name "Liaoning" and hull number 16, was officially handed over to the Navy at a ceremony held in a naval base of northeast China's Dalian Port. (photo : AC Studio)

DALIAN (Xinhua) -- China's first aircraft carrier was delivered and commissioned to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Tuesday after years of refitting and sea trials.

Overseen by President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, the carrier was officially handed over by the navy's main contractor, the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, at a ceremony held at a naval base in northeast China's city of Dalian.

President Hu, also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), endorsed a PLA flag and naming certificate to the naval unit that received the carrier.

The carrier, formerly known as the Soviet ship Varyag, was renamed Liaoning and underwent years of refitting efforts to install engines, weapons, as well as a year-long sea trial.

The ceremony made China the tenth country around the world and the last among the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to have an aircraft carrier in active service.

Premier Wen said in reading off a congratulatory letter sent from top central authorities that China's first aircraft carrier in active service will "be of great and far-reaching significance in inspiring patriotism, national spirit and driving national defense technologies."

"It will also be of great significance in enhancing national defense power and the country's comprehensive strength," Premier Wen said.

"China's development of an aircraft carrier was an important strategic decision made by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission," Wen said.

"The delivery and commission of the first carrier is a milestone in the PLA's history and embodies a major achievement of China's weaponry and equipment development, as well as its national defense modernization," he said.

Liaoning - China's first aircraft carrier (photo : msnbc)

After the commission ceremony, President Hu boarded the Liaoning, which was in full dress, and inspected the Navy's honor guard.

President Hu gave his firm appreciation for the construction of the Liaoning and ordered the Navy and relevant research institutes to keep up their good work.

The president and premier later came to the carrier's flight deck and some cabins where they talked with sailors, and scientists and engineers who developed the carrier.

According to the CMC, after being commissioned to the Navy, the Liaoning will continue to serve for scientific research purposes, as well as military training.

"The PLA's General Armament Department, the Navy and all comrades participating in the carrier program should make new contributions in promoting China's weaponry construction and safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity," Wen said.

"The country and people appreciate all participants in the aircraft carrier program," Wen said.

Hu and Wen were accompanied by CMC Vice Chairmen Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, as well as State Council Secretary-General Ma Kai, director of the PLA's General Armament Department Chang Wanquan and Navy Commander Wu Shengli.

China announced its aircraft carrier program in July 2011, when the carrier was berthed in Dalian for refitting. Dalian is located at the south end of Liaoning province.

(Xinhua)

Kobangdikal Operasikan Simulator Baru

25 September 2012

Naval Air Surface Subsurface Firing System simulator (photo : Data Dinamika)

Simulator Baru, Kobangdikal Gembleng Instruktur dan Operator

Tidak bisa dipungkiri bahwa Alutsista TNI AL yang Heavy Material dan Heavy Technologi,  Kobangdikal melalui Puslatlekdalsen senantiasa meningkatakan profesionalisme dan kemampuan instruktur dan operator yang dimiliki dengan menyelenggarakan berbagai pelatihan alat simulator baru.

Untuk meningkatkan profesionalisme dan kemampuan prajurit di bidang alut sista, personil Puslatlekdalsen laksanakan pelatihan pengoperasian pesawat simulator baru di gedung Fatahilah Bumimoro Kobangdikal 

“Keberadaan alat simulator kapal yang ada di Puslatlekdalsen haruslah diawaki oleh personil  yang  benar-benar berkualitas dan kompeten, sehingga bisa menularkan ilmunya pada peserta didik secara benar,” terang Komandan Kobangdikal Laksda TNI Djoko Teguh Wahojo dalam amanat pada pembukaan pelatihan Naval Air Surface Subsurface Firing System yang dibacakan Komandan Puslatlekdalsen Kolonel Laut (P) Cakra Aria Wibawa di gedung Fatahilah, Kesatrian Bumimoro Kobangdikal, Selasa, (25/9).

Sebanyak 60 orang Perwira, Bintara, Tamtama dan Pegawai Negeri sipil (PNS) dari Pusat Latihan Elektronika dan Pengendalian Senjata (Puslatlekdalsen) Kobangdikal mengikuti pelatihan Naval Air Surface Firing Systim (pengoperasian prosedur penembakan anti udara), Naval Subsurface Firing Systim (pengoperasian prosedur penembakan senjata bawah air) dan Naval Surface Firing system (Pengoperasian prosedur penembakan Senjata Permukaan).

Menurut Dankobangdikal, Pelatihan yang diperuntukan bagi instruktur, operator dan Maintenece peralatan simulator itu, akan berlangsung selama tiga minggu kedepan.

Hadir dalam kegiatan tersebut, Wakil Komandan Puslatlekdalsen Letkol Laut (P) Ari Widiatmoko, para Kepala Departemen (Kadep) dan perwira staf dijajaran Puslatlekdalsen serta para instruktur

Dari jumlah 60 peserta tersebut terdiri  15 orang diantaranya adalah perwira pertama dengan pangkat Lettu  hingga Kapten, 32 orang Bintara, 12 orang tamtama dan satu orang Pegawai Negeri sipil (PNS).

Puslatlekdalsen sebagai salah satu Komando Pelaksana Kobangdikal, bertugas menyelenggarakan Latihsn Praktek dibidang elektronika kendali senjata yang meliputi alat indra, kendali senjata, alat navigasi, komunikasi dan alat kendali permesinan serta menyiapkan, menyelenggarakan dan mengevaluasi hasil latihan aplikasi taktik operasi laut.

Naval Air Surface Subsurface Firing System lanjut, merupakan simulator yang digunakan kapal corvet kelas Sigma untuk peperangan bawah air, permukaan maupun udara. Sistim ini menyediakan semua fasilitas kepada tim Koamando dalam penembakan diantaranya TPO SUT, MK 46, A-244 S untuk senjata Bawah Air, Harpoon, Exsoset, Meriam  120 MM, Meriam 76 MM, Yakont C 802 untuk senjata permukaan  dan Strellla untuk senjata udara.

Mengingat singkatnya waktu pelatihan, Komandan Kobangdikal berharap peserta pelatihan untuk senantiasa belajar dengan sungguh-sungguh  agar mampu menjadi instruktur bagi siswa Kobangdikal, operator dan maintenence yang handal sehingga proses belar mengajar dapat berjalan dengan baik,” pintanya.

(Kobangdikal)

LHD Begins Final Leg of Journey to Australia

25 September 2012

LHD01 is being transported to Australia (photo : heavyliftspecialist)

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the hull of the first of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) new amphibious ships has begun the final leg of its journey to Australia.

Mr Clare said the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) 01 hull has rounded the Cape of Good Hope and is expected to arrive in Melbourne in the next few weeks.

The LHD hull left Ferrol, Spain in August and is being transported by the Heavy Lift Ship, Blue Marlin. The hull was built in the Navantia shipyard in Spain.

“The Blue Marlin is making good progress and we expect the LHD to arrive in Melbourne by mid October,” Mr Clare said.

The Canberra Class LHDs are bigger than Australia’s last aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. When completed they will be more than 230 metres long, 27.5 metres high and weigh around 27,500 tonnes.

Each ship can carry a combined arms battle group of more than 1100 personnel, 100 armoured vehicles and 12 helicopters and features a 40-bed hospital.

“From Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, the LHD will then travel to the Williamstown dockyard for consolidation of the superstructure and installation of the combat and communications and navigation systems,” Mr Clare said.

The vessel is scheduled to be delivered to the RAN in early 2014.

(Aus DoD)

TNI Kembali Akan Lakukan Uji Coba Rudal Yakhont

25 September 2012

Ujicoba penembakan rudal Yakhont pada April 2011 (photo : Keprifoto)

TNI AL Laksanakan Uji Coba Rudal dan Torpedo

TNI Angkatan Laut akan menggelar latihan perang laut secara besar-besaran dalam Armada Jaya XXXI/2012 di perairan Indonesia Kawasan Timur pada tanggal 25 September sampai 22 Oktober 2012. Latihan kali ini akan diikuti dengan pelaksanaan uji coba penembakan senjata strategis yang dimiliki TNI Angkatan Laut seperti rudal Yakhont, rudal Exocet MM 40, rudal C-802 serta penembakan Torpedo SUT (Surface and Underwater Target) dari Kapal Selam dan Kapal Atas Air dengan sasaran Kapal Permukaan.

Demikian diungkapkan Kepala Staf Angkatan Laut (Kasal) Laksamana TNI Soeparno dalam sambutannya yang dibacakan Wakasal Laksamana Madya TNI Marsetio, M.M. pada Upacara Pembukaan Geladi Posko Latihan Armada Jaya XXXI/12 tahun 2012, Selasa (25/9/2012) di Sekolah Staf dan Komando Angkatan Laut (Seskoal), Cipulir, Jakarta Selatan.

Lebih lanjut Kasal mengatakan, Latihan Armada Jaya merupakan latihan puncak TNI Angkatan Laut pada siklus latihan tahunan, yang bertujuan mengukur kesiapan operasi, dari hasil pembinaan kekuatan dan kemampuan seluruh komponen Sistem Senjata Armada Terpadu yang dilaksanakan Kotama dan Satuan Kerja di Jajaran TNI Angkatan Laut, sekaligus guna mendukung peningkatan kesiagaan operasi TNI, dalam rangka mengantisipasi serta menghadapi kemungkinan timbulnya ancaman yang dapat mengganggu kedaulatan Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia.

“Pelaksanaan uji coba penembakan senjata strategis yang dimiliki TNI Angkatan Laut merupakan kesempatan yang sangat baik, disamping untuk menguji kehandalan senjata peluru kendali dan torpedo yang kita miliki, juga merupakan ajang pengukuran penguasaan prosedur dan mekanisme proses penembakan oleh para pengawaknya serta menjadi bukti nyata tingkat profesionalisme prajurit TNI Angkatan Laut,” tegas Kasal.

Latihan akan dilaksanakan mulai dari Laut Jawa hingga puncaknya operasi amfibi berupa pendaratan Pasukan Pendarat Marinir di Sangatta, Kalimantan Timur. Seluruh kesenjataan TNI AL yang tergabung dalam SSAT yaitu kapal perang, pesawat udara, Marinir dan Pangkalan akan digelar pada latihan kali ini. Tidak kurang dari 35 kapal perang TNI AL dari berbagai jenis (Kapal Selam, Perusak Kawal Rudal, Kapal Cepat Rudal, Perusak Kawal, Angkut Tank, Buru Ranjau, Kapal Tanker dan Kapal Bantu Tunda) akan dikerahkan dan 10 di antaranya akan menembakkan peluru kendali. Latihan puncak yang melibatkan kurang lebih 5.500 personel ini juga mengerahkan 6 pesawat udara, 1 Batalyon Tim Pendarat Marinir beserta 93 kendaraan tempur Pasukan Pendarat.

Latihan Armada Jaya XXXI/12 dilaksanakan dua tahap, yaitu tahap persiapan dan tahap pelaksanaan. Tahap persiapan dilaksanakan kegiatan Geladi Posko tanggal 25 September sampai 2 Oktober 2012 di Seskoal. Sedangkan tahap pelaksanaan dilaksanakan kegiatan Geladi Lapangan atau Manuver Lapangan tanggal 9 sampai 22 Oktober 2012 di Laut Jawa dan Pantai Sangatta.

Sementara pada bagian lain Kasal menyampaikan bahwa pada tahun 2012 ini, sesuai dengan siklus Latihan TNI, akan dilaksakanan Latihan Gabungan TNI, sehingga Latihan Armada Jaya ini dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai latihan parsial guna menyongsong Latgab TNI 2012. “Untuk itu laksanakan latihan ini secara sungguh-sungguh dan serius sesuai dengan pentahapan latihan, ikuti proses perencanaan dan pemecahan masalah serta pengambilan keputusan sesuai dengan skenario latihan yang sudah disiapkan oleh komando latihan, pahami dan ikuti berbagai prosedur sesuai standar operasi yang sudah ditetapkan, cermati kehandalan berbagai piranti lunak pendukung guna memberikan masukan penyempurnaannya, kembangkan kreatifitas dan inovasi untuk mendapatkan ide-ide lebih meningkatkan efektifitas dan efisiensi dalam penggunaan kekuatan dan kemampuan TNI AL pada khususnya, serta TNI pada umumnya,” tegas Kasal.

Latihan Armada Jaya merupakan latihan puncak TNI AL dan dilaksanakan setiap tahun di wilayah yang berbeda, bahkan diusahakan seluruh pantai yang ada di Indonesia pernah dijadikan sebagai daerah latihan. Dengan menggelar latihan di daerah tersebut akan menjadi salah satu referensi bagi TNI AL, jika sewaktu-waktu dibutuhkan operasi sebenarnya. Armada Jaya XXXI/2012 merupakan yang ketiga kalinya dilaksanakan di Sangatta, yang pertama pada tahun 2005. Sedangkan tahun 2007 latihan terbesar TNI AL dilaksanakan di Kaimana, Papua serta tahun 2008 di Pantai Banongan dan tahun 2009 di Pantai Banyuwangi, Situbondo Jawa Timur.

Kesuksesan latihan ini merupakan salah satu indikator bahwa TNI AL siap mempertahankan kedaulatan dan keutuhan NKRI dari setiap ancaman di manapun dan kapanpun.

(TNI AL)

Three LCH of the RAN will be Decomissioned in December

25 September 2012

Heavy Landing Craft (LCH) : HMAS Betano L-130, HMAS Balikpapan L-126, HMAS Wewak L-133 (photo : Aus DoD)

Goodbye to LCH as amphibious capability grows

HMA Ships  Balikpapan, Betano and Wewak  will  be  decommissioned  in December after almost four decades of service.

While the ships continue to provide excellent service, Navy will transition from the existing Fleet as its new amphibious capabilities grow.

CN  VADM  Ray  Griggs  said  in  a signal to all Navy personnel that the decommissioning of  Balik papan, Betano and Wewak would be followed by the paying off of HMA Ships Brunei, Labuan and Tarakan by the end of 2014.

“Many of us have had the privilege of serving in a shoebox,” he said.

“I congratulate all personnel both, uniformed and civilian, who have operated and maintained these wonderful amphibious work horses for almost four decades.

“Their operational service record is virtually unparalleled and, unfortunately, mostly unheralded.”

Commander Australian Amphibious Task Group CAPT Ray Leggatt said their operational record, particularly during the past 20 years covering operations in Bougainville, East Timor and Solomon Islands, had been outstanding.

“Their performance has been exemplary as indicated by the granting of a meritorious unit citation for the LCH group for operations in East Timor during the INTERFET intervention during 1999-2000,” he said.

“They have laid a great foundation as we transition from the existing Fleet and grow our new amphibious capabilities.”

(Navy News)