26 Maret 2015
UH-1 Huey of the PAF (photo : Timawa)
MANILA (PNA) -- For failing to deliver the 21 UH-I "Huey" combat utility helicopters on the stipulated time, the Department of National Defense (DND) issued a notice of partial termination to suppliers Rice Aircraft Services Inc. and Eagle Copters Ltd. on Wednesday.
The two companies earlier formed a joint venture to supply 21 UH-I helicopters to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) for PhP1,263,600,000.
"In compliance with Section 88, Rule XXII of the IRR of Republic Act No. 9184 (Philippine Procurement Law), the contract agreement between the DND/AFP and the Joint Venture of Rice Aircraft Services Inc. and Eagle Copters Ltd. for the supply and delivery of 21 UH-I helicopters for the PAF with corresponding contract price of PhP1,263,600,000 shall be partially terminated for exceeding the ten percent maximum liquidated damages," the DND order signed by Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.
The letter was sent to Robert Rice Jr., the representative of the joint venture.
"Liquidated damages" refers to "at least equal to the one-tenth of the one percent of the cost of the underperformed portion of every day of delay."
And once the "cumulative amount of the liquidated damages reaches 10 percent of the amount of the contract, the procuring entity shall rescind the contract without prejudice to the other courses of action and remedies open to it," DND said.
It added that maximum liquidated damages was reached last Jan. 31.
“You failed to comply with the agreed schedule of requirement of the contract agreement, which provides that the delivery should be within 180 calendar days upon opening of the Letter of Credit… The deadline for the delivery for the contract is on 23 September 2014,” the DND stressed.
It added that eight out of the 21 choppers were only delivered as of Wednesday.
Rice and its joint venture partner were given seven days to respond to the termination letter.
(PNA)
26 Maret 2015
Panglima Komando Sektor Pertahanan Udara Nasional I (Pangkosekhanudnas I) berjabat tangan dengan pilot Prancis setelah penerbangan pesawat tempur Dassault Rafale di Bandara Halim Perdanakusumah, Jakarta (photo : AFP, Merdeka)
Selama lebih kurang sepuluh menit pesawat tempur terbaru Angkatan Udara Perancis (Armee De L’Air)Dassault Rafale nomor ekor 104-1R, yang diawaki pilot Kapten Benoit “Tao” Planche, terbang membelah langit Halim Perdanakusuma, melakukan manuver udara, Rabu (25/3).
Penampilan penerbang Rafale berusia 38 tahun dan beribukan wanita keturunan Vietnam ini memukau ribuan pasang mata di base ops Halim dan masyarakat sekitarnya yang menyaksikan aksi terbang degan “High Performance Aerobatic”, termasuk para pejabat Kemhan, PTDI, TNI dan TNI AU.
Diantara pejabat TNI AU tampak Asrena Kasau Marsda TNI Mawardi, S.E, Aslog Kasau Marsda TNI Nurullah, Pangkoopsau I Marsda TNI Agus Dwi Putranto, Waasops Marsma TNI Yuyu Sutisna dan Kadispenau Marsma TNI Hadi Tjahjanto.
Beberapa maneuver yang dilakukan adalah take off-barell roll, square dance-half cuban height, splits S, inverted turn, roll-loop, touch and go, slow pass-slow loop, roll-inverted flight-rool, show of force, barell roll in-dumble, clover leaf dan splits S-fullstop. Manuver terakhir pesawat menanjak posisi terbalik mengeluarkan roda pendarat dan langsung mendarat pesawat Nampak mudah sekali dikendalikan oleh penerbang ber call sign Tao ini.
Manuver diperagakan dari ketinggian 100 feet hingga ketinggian 3000 feet, dengan kecepatan dari 100 knot hingga kecepatan 0,95 mach dengan membuat gaya gravitasi hingga +10G/-3G.
Mencoba Rafale
Pada pagi harinya pukul 9.30 Panglima Komando Sektor Pertahanan Udara Nasional I (Pangkosekhanudnas I) Marsma TNI Fahru Zaini Isnanto, SH. MDS., juga ikut mencoba kehandalan pesawatDassault Rafale Nomor 104-1C (Back Seater) tandem dengan Pilot Uji Dassault yaitu Letkol (Purn) Sebastian Dupont dalam serangkaian manuver udara di atas Pelabuhan Ratu Jawa Barat.
Selama 45 menit penerbangan, Pangkosekhanudnas I mendapat kesempatan mengendalikan pesawat tersebut dalam berbagai manuver dari ketinggian 25000 feet hingga 100 feet, diantaranya simulasi mauver dogfight, air to air serta air to ground dan low level flight pada ketinggian 100 feet di atas laut Pelabuhan Ratu.
Marsma TNI Fahru Zaini Isnanto, SH. MDS., mengatakan, bahwa pesawat ini sangat lincah, canggih dan cukup handal dalam berbagai manuver, memiliki tempat duduk sangat nyaman seperti pesawat F-16 “Saya sempat manuver hingga 8.5G”, ujarnya.
Sementara sebeumnya pada Selasa kemarin, tiga penerbang tempur TNI AU yaitu dua penerbang F-5E Tiger yaitu Mayor Pnb M. Yunus “Bradox” dan Mayor Pnb Abdul “Phoenix” Haris dari Skadron Udara 14 serta seorang penerang F-16 C/D Mayor Pnb Agus “Wolverine” Dwi dari Skadron Udara 3 juga ikut terbang menjajal kehebatan dengan pesawat tempur Rafale.
Ketiga penerbang dari Laud Iswahyudi Madiun ini menyebutkan betapa lincah dan modern dan canggihnya system sensor pesawat tempur generasi 4.5 ini. Sistem sensor terpadu memungkinkan pesawat menangkap sasaran udara dan darat dengan radar, mengidentifikasi kawan dan lawan (Identification Friend and Foe) secara langsung dan menampilkan identifikasi visual dengan sensor kamera infra merah jarak jauh untuk memastikan itu sasaran yang tepat atau tidak dan memilih menembakkan rudal jarak sedang atau jarak dekat.
Demikan pula untuk penembakan darat dan laut bisa mengunci sasaan pada jarak 50 km, memilih sasaran yang tepat dan memilih penembakan senjata bom pintar JDAM pada jarak 30 km atau menembakkan rudal exocet untu menghancurkan sasaran Laut.
Kedatangan pesawat tempur modern ini sangat baik agar kita semua bisa membandingkan kecangihan aneka pesawat yang ditawarkan untuk mengantika pesawat tempur F-5 Tiger II kita yang sudah waktunya beristirahat. Banyak pilihan yang menarik namun keputusan pesawat jenis apa yang akan dipilih tetap berada ditangan pemerintah RI untuk memperkuat Kekuatan Dirgantara Nasional sesuai dengan kebutuhan, tantangan masa depan dan kepentingan nasional Indonesia.
(TNI AU)
26 Maret 2015
GRSE negotiating small frigates with Philippines (photo : Indian Navy)
After making India's first warship for export, the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) is negotiating for delivery of two light frigates to the Philippines, an official said here on Monday.
The GRSE-built offshore patrol vessel (OPV) CGS Barracuda was commissioned by the National Coast Guard of Mauritius earlier in the month at Port Louis Harbour during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"The success of Barracuda has generated a lot of interest in the GRSE among foreign countries. Right now we are doing a technical negotiation for two light frigates for Philippines," GRSE chairman and managing director Rear Admiral A.K. Verma (retd) said here.
"The price bids are being finalised. Our competitors are Europeans and (South) Korean firms, so it's a big challenge for us. But if we get it, it will be a very big achievement both for the GRSE and the country," said Verma.
Verma was speaking during the launch of a GRSE-built Landing Craft Utility (LCU) for the Indian Navy.
Verma said the defence miniratna PSU was in competition with six foreign ship yards including Navantia, Spain; STX France; and Hyundai, Daewoo, and STX from Korea.
The GRSE which delivered India's first indigenously-built stealth Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette, INS Kamorta, to the Indian Navy is working on 15 more ships.
"The INS Kamorta was the 93rd ship that we built and delivered. No other shipyard in the country has this recognition. Currently we are working on orders of 15 more ships for the navy," said Verma.
(Business Standard)
25 Maret 2015
JF-17 Thunder (photo : Weimeng)
Though four Chinese civilians were killed by bombs dropped by MiG-29 fighters of the Myanmar Air Force, sources from Pakistan's Ministry of Defense said that a contract had been signed for Islamabad to sell the JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter, also known as the FC-1 Xiaolong, which was jointly developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, to Naypyidaw, Islamabad's Capital Television reported on March 18.
The report said various countries including Nigeria, Bangladesh, Tajikistan and Myanmar had shown great interest in purchasing the fighter from Pakistan because its price is much cheaper than other fighter jets of the same class such as the F-16 and the Eurofighter. Myanmar demonstrated its interest in the fighter back in June 2014, according to the the Myanmar Times.
Myanmar also wants to build a production line with the assistance of China and Pakistan to build the fighter for itself. Thanks to previous cooperation with China, Myanmar already has experience in producing Chinese aircraft such as the J-7 fighter or Q-5 attacker.
The purchase of the Thunder has not yet been confirmed by government officials in Mayamar. Pakistan is pushing hard to sell the fighter to foreign markets but none of the countries mentioned above has yet made a decision.
(WantChinaTimes)
25 Maret 2015
MV-22 Osprey (photo : Military Aircraft)
Bell Helicopter sees a chance that Japan will buy more MV-22 Ospreys than the 17 budgeted for the coming financial year.
Australia is also a prospective customer for the tiltrotor aircraft, a product of Bell and Boeing, says Richard Harris, Bell’s vice president for international military sales.
Japan plans to order the Osprey to strengthen its ability to move soldiers and equipment to remote islands that may be invaded or threatened with invasion. While Ospreys, able to fly faster and farther than helicopters, should make a great difference for that objective, 17 may not be enough, Harris says, speaking at Malaysia’s Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition.
Japan is preparing to launch a program, UH-X, for about 150 two-engine helicopters that could contribute to reinforcement of outlying islands. But the intended aircraft, of 5-6 metric tons (11,000-13,000 lb.) gross weight, will be more limited than the Osprey in payload, range and speed.
The outlying islands that Japan is worried about are never officially identified, but are obviously the Senkakus, which China claims under the name Diaoyu Islands.
Australia does not have missions of that sort, but industry officials note that MV-22s would bolster the effectiveness of the country’s special forces, which are repeatedly a key part of its contribution to operations in conjunction with allies.
Boeing promoted the Osprey at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon near Melbourne last month.
A suitable number of Ospreys for such a role would be 10, Harris says.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute, a think tank in Canberra, questions whether Australia can justify buying Ospreys when it has Boeing CH-47 Chinooks in service and Alenia Aermacchi C-27 Spartan light airlifters on order.
(Aviation Week)
25 Maret 2015
Gozar air station (photo : delahyde)
MANILA, Philippines - The Defense Department will upgrade the Gozar Air Station in Mindoro Occidental in line with its effort to boost the Philippines’s territorial defense capabilities.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the air station would be refitted and equipped with radars through the military’s upgrade program.
“We give primacy to the enhancement of our capability to monitor and secure our territory. Gozar Air Station will play a major role as we shift our focus from internal security operations to territorial defense,” the defense chief said in a statement.
Gazmin visited the facility last March 21 and was welcomed by local officials led by Lubang Island Mayor Juan Sanchez.
Aside from Gozar, the government is also considering installing radars in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte and Salakot in Palawan. Gazmin and other security officials visited the Salakot Air Station on Tuesday to inspect the facility.
The Philippines is upgrading its territorial defense capabilities amid the aggressive expansion of China, which has been occupying disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Security officials have repeatedly claimed that the military’s modernization program has nothing to do with the territorial dispute and is not directed against any country.
Gozar Air Station was named after Lt. Jose “Pepe” Gozar, who served as instructor in the Flying School at Zablan Air Field until the outbreak of World War II. The facility became operational in 1961.
Earlier, The STAR reported that the Philippines would acquire three air search radars from Israel to enhance its monitoring activities in the West Philippine Sea.
The radars will be acquired from state-run Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. – Elta for P2.6 billion. Defense officials have signed an implementation arrangement that would pave way to the purchase.
Officials said the radars could also be used for civil aviation because the country derives income from aircraft flying within its airspace.
(PhilStar)
24 Maret 2015
Caesar self propelled howitzer (photo : Militaryphotos)
Land: the face of new competition
Nexter has seen its growing importance vis-à-vis prospects, such as Denmark, Australia and Qatar. The other major argument is that an armored car is not just a platform but first a combat system. This involves maintaining a technological edge vis-à-vis the competition and control of advanced technologies, such as vectronics or those providing firepower. Another comparative advantage: the quality of maintenance in operational condition (MCO) and service, which, for example, the default of Russian origin platforms. Or the ability to diversify its activities, particularly in the ammunition or artillery sector.
Thus, even if the ticket market is low, with 86 industrial, including a growing number from emerging countries, only five or six figure reference are as combining all of these benefits with legitimacy-related history (250 years of existence for Nexter). What explain the fact that the French group now boasts 50% of its export sales and had already made, in February, 20% of its forecasts for 2015.
Another significant figure: since 2010, Nexter has doubled the number of CIEEMG. And the prospects look good, especially in Vietnam, which, despite Russian pressure, would finally chose Caesar. This would be a first order of 18 systems with a total target of 108.
In Qatar, negotiations would take place for the purchase of an unspecified number of Caesar despite the prior purchase of PzH2000 German. An artillery system already chosen by Lebanon and Indonesia, which have ordered 36 additional systems. In terms of the VBCI, Denmark's decision is expected in May.
Nexter will, however, meet its main weakness: its deficit critical size, facing giants such as General Dynamics and Rheinmetall. This will be done if the negotiations lead to Kant with KMW. An imperative, therefore, that should, however, not be completed before September.
(TTU)
