25 Mei 2017
Navantia SAGE Automation Group will supply the next generation ‘Integrated Platform Management System’ for two Royal Australian Navy Auxiliary Oil Replenishment ships (photo : SAGE)
NSAG joint venture wins $2.8M contract to supply key naval technology
Adelaide-based company SAGE Automation together with Navantia Australia have today signed a $2.8 million contract to supply the control systems for two Royal Australian Navy Auxiliary Oil Replenishment ships, currently being built in Spain.
Under the deal, SAGE Automation will supply the enclosures and consoles for the next generation ‘Integrated Platform Management System’ (IPMS) – the system which provides ship wide control and monitoring of all electrically powered on-board units.
This is the third project of its kind delivered by the Navantia SAGE Automation Group (NSAG), a joint venture which brings IPMS intelligence to the Australian defence industry. This latest contract brings the number of Royal Australian Navy ships with IPMS to seven.
Minister for Defence Martin Hamilton-Smith together with the NSAG, announced the deal at SAGE Automation in Adelaide today.
“Contracts such as this with Navantia further strengthen our local capability in naval automation and monitoring and create a footprint for future Royal Australian Navy platforms,” he said.
“With $89 billion in naval shipbuilding work for South Australia, it is vitally important that our local defence industry provides a stable supply chain and has a flow of work to maintain capabilities, ready for when the Offshore Patrol Vessel program commences in 2018.”
SAGE Automation will manufacture the enclosures and consoles for IPMS at their Adelaide manufacturing facility before they are exported to Spain for installation on board the ships. When the ships return to Australia, NSAG will provide local support for the IPMS.
SAGE Automation CEO Adrian Fahey said NSAG’s experience and expertise will be critical to the future of naval shipbuilding in Australia.
“NSAG is built on a depth of experience and technical knowledge which will be vital to the success of shipbuilding in Australia,” Mr Fahey said.
“We have proven our capability on the Canberra Class Amphibious Assault Ships and the Hobart Class Destroyers.”
“Through the award of this contract NSAG is able to make a significant contribution to Australian shipbuilding industry and plan for future growth.”
Today’s news comes with the announcement of the Federal Government’s long-awaited $89 billion Naval Shipbuilding Plan last Tuesday, which includes $1.3 billion to upgrade facilities in SA and WA.
Defence Connect reported that the infrastructural upgrades at Adelaide's Osborne Naval Shipyard are expected to increase capacity for “high productivity construction’ of major surface combatants such as the future frigates, which are expected to begin construction in 2020.” The naval shipbuilding workforce is expected to reach 5,200 by the mid to late 2020s, with more than double this amount in supporting, maintaining and supply chain type-roles.
The infrastructural work at Osborne will begin in July.
Meanwhile at SAGE Automation, manufacturing of the IMPS components will begin in June and continue over the next 2 years.
(SAGE)
24 Mei 2017
BRP Davao del Sur (photo : Rappler)
Acquisition of additional strategic sealift vessels (SSVs) for the Philippine Navy (PN) will depend on the prevailing security environment in the future.
This was stressed by Department of National Defense (DND) public affairs office chief Arsenio Andolong when asked by the PNA on whether there plans to acquire additional SSVs for the Navy.
“At the moment, there are no plans to acquire a third SSV. Our modernization plan, which is based on the PN’s doctrine, only provides for two,” he added.
“Perhaps we will consider it in the future when our security environment will require it,” Andolong emphasized to the PNA.
As of this posting, the PN has two SSVs in its inventory, the BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and the BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) which is scheduled to be commissioned this coming May 31.
(Update)
24 Mei 2017
Next Generation - Armoured Recovery Vehicle (NG-ARV) (photo : Shephard)
The Singapore Army has rolled out a production prototype of the Next Generation - Armoured Recovery Vehicle (NG-ARV), as well as revealing a new Leopard 2SG sight.
The NG-ARV was developed by ST Kinetics, in parallel with the Next Generation - Armoured Fighting Vehicle that was unveiled in 2016. (Shephard)
Next Generation Armoured Fighting Vehicle expected to debut at Singapore Army Open House along with new ARV
On a less speculative note, one of the Next Generation AFV's stablemates goes on show at Army Open House (AOH) 2017. The vehicle is the Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) variant of the new, yet-to-be-named AFV family that was designed and built in Singapore by Singapore Technologies Kinetics.
Like the cannon-armed Infantry Fighting Vehicle variant, the ARV has an all-round camera function. This allows its crew of three armoured engineers to carry out recovery operations from within the vehicle under full armour protection with hatches closed.
Specifications are sparse. The new ARV is said to be 6.9 metres in length and is fitted with a front-oriented winch with a 25,000 kg capacity. The vehicle is so new it did not appear to have a MID numberplate.
See full article Kementah
24 Mei 2017
HMAS Adelaide rests on blocks within the Captain Cook graving dock. (photo : Aus DoD)
Canberra class amphibious assault ship HMAS Canberra has returned to sea to conduct trials off Sydney to test interim repairs made to the ship’s propulsion pods.
Meanwhile, sister ship HMAS Adelaide has entered the Captain Cook graving dock for a docking that includes a close inspection of its propulsion pods, defect rectification and maintenance.
A propulsion problem was identified aboard Canberra during helicopter flight trials.
Fairfax Media reported that “fundamental design flaws” could be behind the problems, following a briefing by Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, although this is still under investigation.
HMAS Adelaide will miss Exercise Talisman Sabre 2017 but Canberra could still take part, according to the report.
(ADBR)
24 Mei 2017
U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius handed over six 45-foot Metal Shark patrol boats to the Vietnam Coast Guard in Quang Nam Province on May 22. (photo : US Embassy)
U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius on Monday handed over six 45-foot Metal Shark patrol boats to the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) in Quang Nam, Region II, marking another important step in the expanding security cooperation between the two countries, according to the US Embassy.
Delivering these patrol vessels represents deepening cooperation in the areas maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, and maritime humanitarian assistance operations within Vietnam’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
These patrols boats will assist VCG Region II in intercostal patrols and law enforcement in smuggling, illicit trafficking, piracy and armed robbery against ships, and illegal fishing.
Immediately after the transfer, VCG will begin to train on and operate the vessels, making them fully operational.
“Vietnam’s future prosperity depends upon a stable and peaceful maritime environment. The United States and the rest of the international community also benefit from regional stability, which is why we are here today, and it is why we are very pleased to be working together with the Vietnam Coast Guard,” said Ambassador Osius at the handover ceremony.
The U.S. Embassy, through its Office of Defense Cooperation, coordinates U.S.-Vietnam security cooperation activities on behalf of U.S. Pacific Command to advance common defense goals and interests.
This cooperation, as agreed upon in the September 2011 Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation, includes security assistance and educational exchanges between the U.S. and Vietnamese militaries.
(VietNamNet)
23 Mei 2017
Three brand new MPAC (photo : Tankler)
MANILA - The country's first three multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC), with provisions for missile armament, was formally turned over and commissioned into the Philippine Fleet during short ceremonies at the Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point, Cavite City Monday.
These MPACs are the Mark III models and are considerably more advance that the six Mark I and IIs currently in the inventory.
Capt. Lued Lincuna, Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson, said the MPACs, which has the hull number BA-488, BA-489, and BA-491, were all commissioned and quickly send-off to Davao City by Philippine Fleet commander Rear Admiral Gaudencio Collado after ceremonies at the Capt. Moya Boat Landing around 8 a.m. Monday.
These boats will be participate in the 119th founding anniversary of the PN which will be held in May 31 at Sasa Wharf, Davao City, he added.
The PN spokesperson said that the MPACs will form the 3rd Boat Attack Division of the Philippine Fleet's Littoral Combat Force.
These MPACs were constructed by Subic Bay-based Propmech Corporation.
They will be armed with the Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd's Spike ER (extended range) in anti-ship mode.
It is capable of penetrating 1,000 mm (39 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor and has a maximum range of five miles.
PN flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado said installations of the missile systems will follow shortly.
"(The MPACs) are only the platforms; installation of the missiles will follow," he said to the PNA.
These three MPACs are worth PHP270 million which was sourced from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act Trust Fund of 2000.
The contract includes mission essential equipment.
Mission essential equipment includes day/night electronic navigation systems, communication suites, safety-of-life-at-sea, propulsion system and seamanship and ship-handling gears.
(PNA)
23 Mei 2017
Pelatihan radio DDF 550 Korps Marinir (all photos : Portal Komando)
Dispen Kormar (Jakarta) . Setelah menjalani pelatihan selama tujuh hari, 29 orang prajurit Korps Marinir perwakilan dari Batalyon Komunikasi dan Peperangan Elektronika (Yonkomelk) Jakarta dan Surabaya serta perwakilan dari Dinas Komunikasi dan Peperangan Elektronika (Diskomlek) Korps Marinir siap mengoperasikan alat komunikasi generasi terbaru Digital Direction Finding (DDF) tipe 550.
Dalam pelatihan sebagai salah satu media Transfer of Technology (TOT) yang digelar di markas Yonkomlek-2 Marinir Jakarta tersebut, peserta pelatihan secara umum telah memahami dan siap untuk mengoperasikan alat tersebut di medan operasi terutama untuk mengantisipasi dan menghadapi model peperangan elektronika atau electronic warfare sebagai salah satu ciri peperangan masa depan. Pelatihan dimulai pada Senin (15/5/2017) lalu dan berakhir pada Selasa (23/5) siang ini.
Radio DDF 550 Korps Marinir didesain sesuai standard militer. Mobilisasinya di lapangan diintegrasikan dengan kendaraan Toyota Hilux yang didesain dengan tambahan beberapa perangkat, fitur dan spare part pendukung yang telah teruji unggul di sejumlah medan operasi baik di pegunungan, pemukiman penduduk maupun di wilayah perkotaan.
Radio ini mampu memfinding (mencari) kedudukan dan frekfensi radio musuh dengan tepat dan akurat dalam jarak tertentu, apalagi dengan tambahan radio 1550 potable yang dikemas dalam bentuk manpack, sehingga dapat mendukung operasional radio DDF 550 secara maksimal.
Pelatihan alat komunikasi generasi terbaru DDF 550 Korps Marinir diselenggarakan olel Diskomlekal didukung teknisi yang didatangkan langsung dari Jerman dan sejumlah teknisi Rohde&Schwarz Indonesia. Hadir dalam acara penutupan latihan Kasubdispernika Diskomlekal Letkol Laut (E) Dominggus, Kasubdisrenhar Diskomlek Kormar Letkol Mar Hadi Santoso , S.E. dan Kasirenhar Diskomlek Kormar Mayor Marinir Mugni.
(Marinir)
