15 Agustus 2009

Bentuk Kerjasama dan Bantuan Militer Amerika Serikat dengan Negara Lain (1)

15 Agustus 2009

Latihan Cobra Gold antara Amerika dan Thailand (photo : Thai Military)

A. PENGADAAN PERLENGKAPAN MILITER

FMF: Foreign Military Financing (Pendanaan bagi Militer Asing)

FMF menyediakan dana dan pinjaman bagi pemerintah asing untuk pembelian perlengkapan militer dan jasa terkait. FMF diatur oleh State Department (catatan: disebut juga Department of State adalah Departemen Luar Negeri Amerika Serikat yang dikepalai oleh seorang Secretary of State/State Secretary atau Sekretaris Negara) akan tetapi pelaksanaan hariannya dilakukan dengan pengawasan dari Defense Department (catatan: disebut juga Department of Defense, adalah Departemen Pertahanan Amerika Serikat).

FMS: Foreign Military Sales (Penjualan kepada Militer Asing)

Contoh FMS dengan Polandia (image : USEmbassy)

Melalui FMS, Defense Department melakukan penjualan senjata secara langsung kepada pemerintah negara asing. Ini berbeda dari DCS (penjualan antara pemerintah dengan korporasi) dan dari FMF (dimana dana dan pinjaman diberikan untuk membeli senjata melalui FMS maupun DCS).

DCS: Direct Commercial Sales (Penjualan Komersial Langsung)

Terdapat dua saluran utama melalui mana pemerintah negara asing dapat membeli peralatan militer dari Amerika Serikat: Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) dan Foreign Military Sales (FMS). DCS adalah transaksi antara pemerintah dengan korporasi (badan usaha swasta). FMS adalah transaksi antar pemerintah. (Pembelian melalui saluran-saluran tersebut dapat didanai dengan Foreign Military Financing yang menyediakan dana atau pinjaman untuk pembelian peralatan militer). State Department mengawasi pelaksanaan program DCS, yang didanai oleh Arms Export Control Act (Undang-undang Kontrol Ekspor Persenjataan). Undang-undang ini (sebagaimana juga Foreign Assistance Act atau Undang-undang Bantuan Luar Negeri) menyediakan kerangka hukum bagi penjualan persenjataan dan servis terkait melalui saluran korporasi, dalam bentuk peraturan mengenai cara mendapatkan ijin ekspor.

EDA: Excess Defense Articles (Surplus/Kelebihan Persediaan Peralatan Pertahanan)

Angkatan bersenjata Amerika Serikat dapat melakukan transfer EDA melalui Pasal 516 Foreign Assistance Act (Undang-undang Bantuan Luar Negeri). EDA terdiri atas beragam surplus atau kelebihan persediaan militer yang meliputi seragam sampai dengan pesawat terbang. Peralatan tersebut dapat diberikan atau dijual dengan potongan harga kepada negara-negara asing. Transaksi EDA dikoordinasikan oleh sejumlah badan dalam tubuh militer: Security Assistance Organizations (Organisasi-Organisasi Bantuan Keamanan), Defense Cooperation Agency (Badan Kerjasama Pertahanan dan Keamanan), dan para aparat angkatan bersejata.

Section 1206 (Pasal 1206)

Pasal 1206 National Defense Authorization Act (Undang-undang Otorisasi Pertahanan dan Keamanan Nasional) pada mulanya dibuat bagi Pentagon untuk mendanai pelatihan dan persediaan bagi angkatan bersenjata dan kepolisian di Irak dan Afganistan tanpa melibatkan State Department. Selanjutnya cakupan program tersebut diperluas, mengijinkan Pentagon untuk menggunakan sebesar beberapa ratus juta dollar setiap tahun untuk membantu militer di negara-negara lain dengan persetujuan dari State Department.

Pada akhir bulan Mei, sebuah koalisi menulis kepada Senat untuk menentang Building Global Partnership Act of 2007 (Undang-undang Pembangunan Kemitraan Sedunia tahun 2007), yang lahir dari Pasal 1206. Undang-undang tersebut memberikan kewenangan tetap kepada Department of Defense untuk menghabiskan sebesar US$750 juta setiap tahun untuk membantu pemerintah-pemerintah asing membangun angkatan bersenjata, kepolisian, dan aparat pengamanan dalam negeri.

B. PELATIHAN MILITER

IMET: International Military and Education Training (Pelatihan Pendidikan Militer Internasional)

Program IMET diciptakan pada tahun 1976 dan menjadi saluran utama dengan mana Amerika Serikat melatih aparat militer asing. IMET diawasi oleh State Department dan diimplementasikan oleh Defense Department.

E-IMET: Expanded International Military Education and Training (Pelatihan Pendidikan Militer Internasional yang Diperluas Cakupannya)

E-IMET adalah sub-program dari IMET, merupakan program dari State Department yang diimplementasikan melalui Department of Defense.

Forces from the The Solomon Islands receive instruction on the FN FAL rifle from American Special Forces (photo : Special operation)

JCET: Joint Combined Exchange Training (Pelatihan Pertukaran Gabungan Terpadu)

Program JCET memberikan pelatihan personil militer asing melalui anggaran Special Operation Forces (Unit Operasi Khusus) dari Defense Department. Dinyatakan bahwa tujuan program tersebut adalah untuk melatih Special Operation Forces Amerika Serikat, dengan personil militer asing sebagai penerima sekunder.

CTFP: Regional Defense Counterterrorism Fellowship Program / Regional Defense Combating Terrorism Program (Program Kerekanan Pertahanan dan Keamanan untuk Kontra-Terorisme Regional / Program Memerangi Terorisme dan Pertahanan Regional)

Dana bantuan CTFP pertama kali disediakan di awal tahun 2002, setelah peristiwa 11 September serangan di Amerika Serikat, dan dijadikan permanen dalam National Defense Act (Undang-Undang Otorisasi Pertahanan Nasional ) tahun 2004 (Ini adalah peraturan hukum tahunan yang memuat kebijakan dan plafon/batas pengeluaran bagi Pentagon). Program ini diciptakan untuk menghindari larangan terhadap IMET, dan ditingkatkan menjadi sumber utama pelatihan militer seluruh dunia. Di tahun 2004, CTFP mendapatkan otorisasi untuk mendanai pelatihan klasifikasi “mematikan”. Di tahun 2006, sejumlah 2.845 aparat keamanan dan militer menerima pelatihan melalui program tersebut. Selama tahun 2007, Congress berhasil mendapatkan jumlah total US$20 juta bagi program CTFP. Defense Authorization Act tahun 2007, memberikan otorisasi bagi peningkatan dana bagi program tersebut (sampai sejumlah US$25 juta) dan secara resmi mengganti namanya menjadi Regional Defense Combating Terrorism Program (Program Pertahanan Regional Memerangi Terorisme).

Karena CTFP didanai melalui anggaran belanja militer (bukan anggaran belanja bagi bantuan luar negeri), program tersebut tidak perlu mengikuti standar hak asasi manusia yang lebih ketat sebagaimana dimandatkan oleh Congress bagi program-program bantuan internasional yang diselenggarakan oleh Department of State.

Regional Centers for Security Studies (Pusat Regional bagi Studi Pertahanan dan Keamanan)

Department of Defense mengelola 5 Regional Centers for Security Studies (Pusat Regional Studi Pertahanan dan Keamanan). Tujuan utamanya adalah untuk membangun hubungan antara perwira Amerika Serikat dengan perwira dari negara-negara lain. Kursus dan seminar diadakan di Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies/APCSS (Pusat Studi Hankam Asia Pasifik) di Hawai. APCSS dimulai di tahun 1995 dan ditujukan bagi para eksekutif militer, mempertemukan mereka dengan para pembuat kebijakan dan lain-lain pihak untuk membicarakan isu-isu regional dan strategi hankam. Salah satu kursus yang diberikan adalah Comprehensive Security Responses to Terrorism (Respon Terpadu Hankam atas Terorisme), yang bertujuan untuk “untuk jangka waktu panjang bersama-sama memerangi dukungan idiologis terorisme.” Kursus-kursus lainnya berfokuskan pada topik-topik keadaan darurat dan stabilitas regional.

Dana bagi Regional Centers sejumlah besar datang dari Defense Department dan sejumlah kecil didapatkan dari sumber-sumber lain, tergantung lokasi Regional Center dan programnya. Sejumlah 24 siswa dari Indonesia dilatih di Regional Centers pada tahun 2004, dan sejumlah 16 orang di tahun 2005. Untuk tahun 2008 Defense Security Cooperation Agency (Agensi Kerjasama Hankam)(yang melakukan pengelolaan sejak tahun 2006) mendesak “transformasi”, merubah orientasi “akademik” menjadi “penjangkauan” dan menyesuaikan program-program yang telah ada dengan agenda Global War on Terror. Tujuan “penjangkauan” ini dimaksudkan untuk “mendukung kehadiran fisik nyata” di setiap regio dimana sebuah Center berada.

Joint Military Exercises and Other Activities (Latihan Militer Bersama dan Aktivitas Lainnya)

Indonesia ikut serta dalam berbagai latihan militer bersama dengan Amerika Serikat. United States Pacific Command Theatre Security Cooperation Program (Program Kerjasama Pertahanan Keamanan Komando Pasifik Amerika Serikat) telah menyelenggarakan 85 kegiatan di tahun 2004, dan di tahun 2005 Kedutaan Besar Amerika Serikat di Jakarta mengantisipasikan bahwa personil militer Indonesia akan mengambil bagian dalam 132 aktivitas bersama. Aktivitas itu akan berfokus pada “seminar kontra-terorisme untuk mendukung kerjasama dalam pertahanan keamanan dan pertukaran tenaga ahli.”

CARAT-latihan kesigapan dan kerjasama di laut (photo : Defenselink)

Personil angkatan bersenjata Indonesia juga telah ikutserta dalam program Cooperation Afloat and Readiness Training / CARAT(Pelatihan Kesigapan dan Kerjasama di Laut), yang adalah serangkaian pelatihan militer bilateral yang berskala regional. CARAT di tahun 1998 dibatalkan setelah Congress mempermasalahkan JCET. Letnan Kolonel Willem membantu koordinasi angkatan laut Indonesia dalam CARAT pada bulan Agustus 1999 dan kemudian mengunjungi Dili sebagai pejabat senior di kantor pusat militer KOREM darimana milisi pengacau Dili dioperasikan. Di dalam pelatihan CARAT pada tahun 2005, personil militer Indonesia mempelajari “keahlian yang secara langsung dapat diaplikasikan untuk memerangi ancaman terorisme di laut dan kejahatan trans-nasional di laut.” Menurut Angkatan Laut Amerika Serikat, di tahun 2006 sekitar 2000 personil dari Amerika Serikat dan Indonesia berpartisipasi dalam pelatihan CARAT dalam beberapa skenario “termasuk pencarian, penggeledahan dan penyitaan… demonstrasi, operasi amfibi, penyelaman dan penyelematan kapal, serta taktik perlindungan bagi armada kapal kecil.”

Latihan Garuda Shield (photo : Antara)

Di bulan April 2007, Mayor Jenderal Noer Muis dari Indonesia berpartisipasi dalam Garuda Shield (Perisai Garuda) tahun 2007 di Bogor, Jawa Barat. Garuda Shield merupakan pelatihan gabungan seukuran brigade yang dilakukan sejak tahun 1997.

Indonesia juga menjadi pengamat dalam program Cobra Gold sejak tahun 2000 dan ambil bagian untuk pertama kali di tahun 2006. Cobra Gold dilakukan sekali setahun, dan terutama dilakukan dengan Thailand. Di tahun 2006 dan 2007 Indonesia juga berpartisipasi dalam latihan pemeliharaan perdamaian Khaan Quest dengan Mongolia sebagai tuan rumah.

Di akhir bulan Maret 2007, satuan marinir dari Indonesia dan Amerika Serikat menandatangani kesepakatan untuk melakukan latihan militer bersama. Lebih dari 700 marinir dua negara tersebut mengambil bagian dalam Naval Engagement Activity / NEA(Aktivitas Keikutsertaan Angkatan Laut) yang pertama. Ini adalah latihan di dalam wilayah pelabuhan yang meliputi serangan amfibi, operasi susur sungai, hukum yang berlaku dalam konflik senjata, hukum yang berlaku dalam pertempuran, pertolongan dalam bencana, bantuan kemanusiaan, dan pembajakan.

Global Peace Operations Initiative (Inisiatif Operasi Perdamaian Global)

Global Peace Operations Initiative adalah program lima tahunan yang bersifat multilateral untuk melatih dan memperlengkapi sejumlah total 75.000 pasukan bagi misi pemeliharaan perdamaian sampai dengan tahun 2010. Program tersebut pertama kali diciptakan untuk Afrika pada tahun 2004 dan diperluas jangkauannya ke wilayah Asia Pasifik mulai tahun 2005.

Section 1004 Counter Drug Assistance (Pasal 1004 Bantuan untuk Kontra Obat-Obat Terlarang)

Pasal 1004 dari National Defense Authorization Act (Undang-undang Otorisasi Hankam Nasional) mengalokasikan dana bagi upaya-upaya anti-narkotika, pengalihan senjata klasifikasi “tidak mematikan”, konstruksi, dan bentuk-bentuk bantuan lainnya. Program tersebut terkenal sebagai sumber utama bantuan militer ke Amerika Latin, namun juga digunakan bagi negara-negara di regio selain Amerika Latin. Pasal 1004 didanai melalui Defense Department. Sebagaimana program-program lainnya seperti contohnya IMET, program ini pun kurang pembatasannya. Sampai tahun 2001 Congress tidak mewajibkan dana-dana Pasal 1004 untuk diakuntasikan, dan dalam kurun waktu 2003 sampai dengan 2005 tidak mewajibkan pelaporan. Defense Authorization Act tahun 2006 mensyaratkan kewajiban pelaporan, akan tetapi laporan yang ada hanya meliputi informasi dana yang diberikan untuk upaya konstruksi.

Beberapa pihak mengatakan bahwa Pasal 1004 digunakan untuk menghindari pembatasan bantuan militer bagi negara-negara dengan catatan hak asasi manusia yang bermasalah.


(Diedit dari tulisan Noam C – "Military Assistance to Indonesia ....")

14 Agustus 2009

Boeing ABL Successfully Against Target Missile

14 Agustus 2009

Boeing Airborne Laser (photo : MDA)

Boeing Airborne Laser Team Completes 1st Airborne Test Against Instrumented Target

California -- The Boeing Company industry teammates and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency on Aug. 10 successfully completed the Airborne Laser's (ABL) first in-flight test against an instrumented target missile, achieving a historic milestone.

During the test, the modified Boeing 747-400F aircraft took off from Edwards Air Force Base and used its infrared sensors to find a target missile launched from San Nicholas Island, Calif. The Boeing-developed battle management system aboard ABL then issued engagement and target location instructions to the beam control/fire control system, which acquired the target and fired its two solid-state illuminator lasers to track the target and measure atmospheric conditions. ABL then fired a surrogate high-energy laser at the target, simulating a missile intercept. Instrumentation on the target verified that the surrogate high-energy laser hit the target.


Airborne Laser turret (photo : Defense Update)

"This test demonstrates that the Airborne Laser can fully engage an in-flight missile with its battle management and beam control/fire control systems," said Michael Rinn, Boeing vice president and ABL program director. "Pointing and focusing a laser beam on a target that is rocketing skyward at thousands of miles per hour is no easy task, but the Airborne Laser is uniquely able to do the job."

The test follows ABL's engagement of two un-instrumented missiles in early June, which allowed the team to fine-tune the engagement sequence.

The laser plane is intended by the Missile Defence Agency to play its ray on the fuel-packed rocket stacks of enemy ICBMs as they boost upwards from enemy launch sites. (image : Regmedia)

ABL will now undergo flight tests in which the aircraft will fire its high-energy laser, first into an onboard calorimeter, then through its beam control/fire control system. The ABL team then will test the entire weapon system against in-flight missiles, culminating with ABL's first high-energy laser intercept test against a ballistic missile later this year.

ABL would deter potential adversaries and provide speed-of-light capability to destroy all classes of ballistic missiles in their boost phase of flight. Eliminating missiles in their boost phase would reduce the number of shots required by other elements of the layered ballistic missile defense system.

Boeing ABL cutaway (image : Boeing)

"ABL's revolutionary speed, mobility, precision and lethality would make it a great asset to America's warfighters," Rinn added.

Boeing is the prime contractor and overall systems integrator for ABL, and provides the modified aircraft and battle management system. Northrop Grumman supplies the high-energy laser, and Lockheed Martin provides the beam control/fire control system.

(Boeing)

RNZAF P-3K Upgrade Progresses

14 Agustus 2009

New Zealand's P-3K Orion (photo : RNZAF)

The first upgraded P-3K2 Orion (NZ 4204) for the Royal New Zealand Air Force made its initial test flight at contractor L-3 Integrated Systems' facility in Greenville, Texas after a three-year modification programme.

The air force’s fleet of six aircraft will all receive a brand-new ‘glass’ cockpit with multi-functional displays and upgrades to their surveillance, reconnaissance, navigation and communication systems. This is the second time the six 40-year old aircraft have received a major modification, being upgraded from existing P-3B airframes during the 1980s.

The remainder of the fleet will be upgraded at the Safe Air facility at Blenheim Airport, Marlborough in New Zealand from August 26. The P-3K2 will be operated by 5 Squadron, based at Auckland.

(Air Force Monthly)

Lockheed Martin Begins Testing on Australia’s First Aegis Weapon System

14 Agustus 2009
The AEGIS ship (photo : Defense Industry Daily)

MOORESTOWN, NJ, - The Aegis Weapon System destined for Australia’s first Air Warfare Destroyer began a four month testing program today at Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]’s Aegis Production Test Center.

When testing concludes, the full Aegis Weapon System will be ready for installation in HMAS Hobart, the first of three Australian Air Warfare Destroyers under contract.

Lockheed Martin’s Production Test Center replicates a ship’s superstructure and allows for the first integration of all the subsystems of the Aegis Weapon System, including the SPY-1D(V) radar, illuminators, all computing hardware, and the cabling that will be used in the final ship installation. In its Production Test Center, Lockheed Martin conducts testing concurrently with each subsystem’s installation, as well as with the entire completed Aegis Weapon System, in order to ensure the system is ready for the rigors of sea before it ever leaves land.

“This land-based testing process is critical to the exacting reliability that Aegis continually delivers, and will deliver for the Australian Navy,” said Orlando Carvalho, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Surface/Sea-Based Missile Defense Systems line of business.

Upon completion of the testing, the Aegis Weapon System will be shipped to ASC Shipyard in Adelaide, Australia, when the shipyard is ready to install the system. The Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyer will be the most advanced and complex warships ever built in Australia and will introduce the Aegis Weapon System to the Royal Australian Navy.

The Aegis Weapon System is the world’s premier proven naval defense system. Its precision S-band SPY-1 radar and missile system seamlessly integrate with its own command and control. Its ability to detect, track and engage targets ranging from sea-skimming cruise missiles to ballistic missiles in space is unmatched.

The 91 Aegis-equipped ships currently in service around the globe have more than 1,100 years of at-sea operational experience and have launched more than 3,500 missiles in tests and real-world operations. In addition to the U.S. and Australia, Aegis is the maritime weapon system of choice for Japan, Norway, South Korea and Spain.

13 Agustus 2009

Irkut Corporation Finalizes SU-30МКМ Delivery to RMAF

13 Agustus 2009

Irkut has delivered 14 of the 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighters ordered by Malaysia in 2003, and will shortly deliver the final four. (photo : Defense Aerospace)

Irkut Corporation is due to complete Su-30MKM deliveries to the Royal Malaysian Air Force. First two Su-30MKM from the last batch have been already handed over to the customer; the remaining four fighters are expected to arrive in …[date missing—Ed.]


The contract for 18 Su-30MKM multifunctional fighters for RMAF was signed during the official visit of Vladimir Putin, then President of Russia, to Malaysia in August 2003.

After thorough examination RMAF selected Su-30MKM thus preferring it to US F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter. According to local mass media the decision of Malaysian leadership was largely influenced by India’s successful operation of Su-30MKI.

Su-30МКМ («multi-role, commercial, Malaysian») is the latest version of the renowned super-maneuverable Su-30МКI fighter created for India. The aircraft has the same aerodynamically perfect airframe, state-of-the-art engine with the Thrust Vector Control (TVC) and the most advanced digital fly-by-wire system.

The MKM version differs from the MKI by the onboard avionics suite composition tailored to accommodate the customer’s needs.

The fighter is fitted with the modern phased antenna array radar which enables simultaneous tracking 15 targets and attacking 4 targets. Su-30MKM avionics suite includes electronic warfare (EW) system and optic-location system with the laser rangefinder supplied by Russia’s leading manufacturers. Also certain Western-made avionics were integrated onboard the fighter: Head-up display (HUD) navigational forward-looking IR system NAVFLIR, Laser Designation Pod (LDP Damocles) and some others.

Integration of all the avionics systems was carried out with active participation of Su-30MKM Project Team consisting of RMAF officers and based in Moscow.

Presentation of Su-30МКМ took place on the 24th May of 2007 at Irkutsk Aviation plant – Irkut Corporation key production facility. In his interview to Malaysian national agency Bernama Chief of RMAF Gen Datuk Seri Azizan Ariffin defined that day as a "historical date". According to Chief of RMAF, Malaysia acquired from Russia "the most sophisticated multi-role aircraft in Southeast Asia". In December 2007 two Su-30МКМ took part in display flights at the 8th International air and naval show LIMA (Langkawi) generating a lot of public interest.

Su-30MK multirole fighter is one of the most popular combat aircraft in the world. It’s the first serially produced combat aircraft to sport super-maneuverability and the first export fighter equipped with phased antenna array onboard radar.

Irkut Corporation successfully fulfills contracts for the delivery of Su-30MK-type fighters to India, Algeria and Malaysia, along with technical kits for Su-30MKI license production by India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. All in all around 300 SU-30MK-type aircraft have been ordered with nearly 150 already delivered. There are certain perspectives to increase order-book. Overhauling Su-30MKI is being set up in India.

Negotiations on IAF’s Su-30MKIs upgrade are underway. In particular it is planned to equip them with BrahMos Indo-Russian anti-ship missiles to create unprecedented weapons suite in the world.


(Defense Aerospace)

SLEP for Kasturi Class Corvettes

13 Agustus 2009

KD Kasturi (photo : ForumMarine)

Boustead Unit Gets RM 703.823 Million Contract From Defence Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR -- Boustead Holdings Bhd has been awarded a contract worth RM703.823 million from the Defence Ministry to undertake the Service Life Extension Programme of Kasturi Class Corvettes.

The contract, received by its subsidiary Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd, is for an implementation period of 53 months, it said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia here today.

Boustead Holdings said the contract will not have a material effect on earnings for the financial year ending December 31, 2009, but will contribute positively to the future earnings of the group.

(Bernama)

See Also :

Boustead Naval Shipyard Awarded SLEP Contract

The comparison of old to new Kasturi class ship after the SLEP been carried out. (image : KLSReview)

Kuala Lumpur, KLS: Malaysia's government officially awarded contract to Boustead Naval Shipyard to carry out Ship Life Extension Program on two Kasturi class ships.

Boustead Naval Shipyard announced this news yesterday that this contract worth RM 703.823220mil, and the company bound to complete the program within 53 months.

Despite of BNS secured the contract just recently, the shipyard has already begun the initial work several months ago, including disintegrated weapon system and paint.

BNS is likely to start the SLEP very soon, but French Thales company also gained a contract to provide electronic system for two Kasturi class ships so as to extend their life for another ten years.

The Royal Malaysian Navy planned to upgrade their anti-submarine and anti-surface capability. For instances, installing TACTICOS CMS, DA-08 radar, MAV navigation radar, Thales Nederland’s Mirador-IR, two Eurotorp B515 torpedo launchers, A244S Whitehead torpedoes, DR3000S electronic support system, Link Y MK 2.5, TERMA SKWS, 8xMM40 Block II missiles,and ATLAS Electronik’s DSQS-24C sonar system.

Moreover, BNS will remove the 100mm main gun and replace with the Bofors 57mm rear gun; and the Anti Submarine Rocket Launchers replace with two Eurotorp B515 torpedo launchers. The two aft 30mm anti-aircraft guns will also be improved.

KD Kasturi and KD Lekir were launched respectively on May 14th, 1983 and August 15, 1984, in Germany. They are already reaching 26 year old now, and they are the RMN’s Strike Flotilla.

(KLSReview)

CEA-FAR Trials Success

13 Aug 2009

HMAS Perth - All Anzac frigates will undergo the anti-ship missile defence program, including the addition of CEA Technologies' phased array radar, provided sea trials on the first ship are successful. (photo : Australian Defence)

The Government has agreed to put all of the Anzac ships through the anti-ship missile defence (ASMD) program, subject to the successful outcome of sea trials on the first ship.

The ASMD program involves a comprehensive upgrade of the Anzac frigates, including the addition of innovative phased array radar technology designed and built by Australian company, CEA Technologies.

The Government has announced that it is committed to completing the development and trials of this highly innovative Australian-designed technology at a cost of $158 million.

This is the first lightweight application of such technology and, if successful, will deliver an enhanced search and track and target illumination capability in the maritime environment.

In a very encouraging outcome for the development of this high-technology system, the prototype radar has performed beyond expectations throughout the testing and evaluation process.

Over the last 12 months, the practical demonstration of the CEA-FAR phased array radar technology has provided confidence that the new acquisition strategy will maximise the integrity and maturity of the system before beginning the first ship installation in 2010.

The first Anzac ship to undergo the upgrade is HMAS Perth which is scheduled to complete sea trials in July 2011.

(Australian Defence)