Completion of Maintenance Contract for F-111 Fleet

4 November 2009

All of the Royal Australian Air Force’s F-111 fighters have now undergone a deep maintenance cycle, allowing them to remain in service until replaced by the F/A-18F Super Hornet. (photo : Wikipedia)

Greg Combet, Acting Minister for Defence, today announced the completion of the deeper maintenance contract for the Air Force F-111 fleet.

“Since the F-111 was introduced it has flown over 160,000 hours. To help it achieve this Air Force and Defence Industry collectively completed over 300 routine deeper maintenance servicings that have included removal of wings, engines, undercarriage and other major components for overhaul or replacement,” said Mr Combet.

“The maintenance systems introduced with the F-111 aircraft have been a mainstay of Defence and industry’s high-tech support capabilities for well over 35 years.”

“Over that time, many engineers and technicians within the Air Force and industry have developed their skills and experience in support of the F-111. These skills will be also used in support of the Air Force’s newer platforms.”

“Aircraft A8-135, which was handed back to 82 Wing today, was the final F-111 to undergo deeper maintenance servicing and the completion of this program will ensure that the F-111 fleet remains fully capable until the Super Hornets come on-line.”

“Through its involvement with the F-111, Boeing has made a significant contribution to the aircraft’s legacy.”

Boeing Defence has undertaken the F-111 Deeper Maintenance Capability for the Air Force since August 2001.

A ceremony was held today at RAAF Amberley to mark the completion of the contract.


(Defense Aerospace)

Thailand Outlines Plan for Indigenous UAV Family

4 November 2009

One of the Thai's indigenous UAV (photo : thaiuavgroup)

Thailand's defence ministry is starting a programme to develop an unmanned air vehicle capability, with the goal of eventually establishing a dedicated air force squadron.

"Aerial reconnaissance plays the most important role in data collection for commander decisions, and has a major impact in a mission's success," it says. "To deploy aircraft, pilots and crew over dangerous conflict areas is a risky and costly operation. Modern and advanced UAV technology will help to reduce that risk and cost."

The ministry adds that "UAV procurement, together with research work, will help prepare for mission and personnel readiness. This will also help acquire the technology to help the Royal Thai Air Force to establish a UAV squadron."

There are three objectives to the UAV programme, the ministry says. The first is to buy and develop smaller UAVs and associated equipment. Next, it wants to begin research and development into medium and large UAVs. Finally, it aims to reduce its dependence on imports by having an indigenous capability.

Another Thai's indigeneous UAV (photo : thaiuavgroup)

Three categories of UAV are being sought. The smallest would have a range of less than 15km (8.1nm), a 4,000ft (1,220m) service ceiling and an operational speed of not more than 30kt (55km/h). Its payload would be around 5kg (11lb) and endurance 1.5h.

The medium UAV would have a range of up to 30km, fly at up to 5,000ft at a maximum speed of 50kt, and carry a payload of around 10kg. Endurance would be 2.5h.

To fly for up to 6h, the largest system would have a maximum range of 100km with a 25kg payload, the ministry says. The aircraft would have a service ceiling of 10,000ft and fly at up to 60kt, it adds.

(Flight International)

Cambodia Gives Big Boost to Military Budget by 23%

4 November 2009

One of Cambodia's patrol ship (photo : Military Phhotos)

PHNOM PENH, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Cambodia, one of Southeast Asia's poorest countries, plans to boost defense and security spending by 23 percent next year, its budget showed on Saturday, raising the prospect of a clash with the IMF.

Cambodia plans to spend $274 million on defense and security next year, up from $223 million this year, the budget showed. The total budget for calendar 2010 was $1.97 billion, which meant the military was allocated about 14 percent of total spending.

That compares with 1.7 percent spent on agriculture, the backbone of Cambodia's economy, and 0.7 percent on water resources. About 1.7 percent was set aside for rural development.

Military spending is a sensitive topic in Cambodia because of the millions of dollars of donor money flowing into the country, largely to social programmes.

"This big budget for defense is meant for preventative measures in response to international conflicts," said government spokesman Phay Siphan.

Siphan said the spending was unrelated to tensions with neighbouring Thailand over land surrounding a 900-year-old, cliff-top Hindu temple known as Preah Vihear. Skirmishes in the border area have killed seven troops in the past year.

Thailand is challenging a U.N. decision to make the temple a world heritage site under Cambodian jurisdiction. Cambodia was awarded the temple in a 1962 international court ruling that did not determine who owns 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) next to it.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) criticised Cambodia last year for its military spending, leading the Cambodian government to cut back its defense budget during a debate in parliament after questioning by the IMF.

"Donors will not be happy," Ou Vireak, head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said of the latest military budget.

He said Prime Minister Hun Sen was likely trying to whip up nationalist support by projecting an image of a strong military at a time of heightened tension with Thailand.

"By doing so, he is turning the country effectively into a military state," he said.


(Reuters)

NZ Deploys Two Ships on Mine Exercise

3 November 2009

HMNZS Manawanui (photo : NZ Navy)

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) is to deploy its dive tender HMNZS Manawanui and the principal survey vessel HMNZS Resolution on a mine exercise in the New Caledonia Lagoon from 5-20 November 2009.

The two navy ships along with the Navy Operational Diving Team and Navy Mine Countermeasure Team will participate in the exercise to search, locate, identify and dispose of ordnance located within the New Caledonian lagoon.

HMNZS Resolution (photo : Scoop)

The 911t, 43.6m-long HMNZS Manawanui has an operational range of over 5,000nm, and can carry a crew of 20 and move at a speed of 11kt.

As the RNZN principal survey ship, Resolution is used to survey and chart the waters in and around New Zealand and the Pacific.

The 2,262t, 68m-long ship can carry a crew of 44 at a cruising seed of 12kt.
Upon completion of the exercise, the ships and their supporting teams are expected to return Devonport Naval Base on 28 November 2009.

(Naval Technology)

Thai Army: Airship "Next to Useless" without Cameras

3 November 2009

Use of the airship (photo : trensupdates)

Surveillance Plan Grounded

Equipping the airship bought in the US for patrol and surveillance work in the lower South with a pair of state-of-the-art spy cameras will face further delays, the army says.

Spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd yesterday said deployment had been complicated by the US reluctance to supply the two high-resolution surveillance cameras for the plane-shaped balloon.

"High-definition security cameras are considered to be warfare equipment and can't be acquired without going through strict procedures," Col Sansern said.

"The US first needs to be confident that the cameras will not be misused or fall into the wrong hands when they arrive.

"Internal coordination between the manufacturer of the airship and the US administration is required before the endorsement for the export of the cameras.

"That should take some time. And I do not know how long it will take."

The army signed a contract for the purchase of the airship with Aria International Inc this year. The deal was announced on April 30.

RTA's airship (photo : Bangkok Post)

An army source yesterday said the army would consider terminating the purchase if the cameras could not be delivered.

The purchase contract requires the 350 million baht Aeros 40D airship to come equipped with a surveillance camera for use during the day and an infrared camera for night-time operations.

Col Sansern hoped the delivery of the cameras would not be blocked.
Army staff are being trained on how to control the airship.

The project, initiated by army chief Anupong Paojinda, was originally scheduled for launch last month.

The airship arrived in Thailand without the cameras three months ago.

"We can actually afford to wait because the construction of the airship hangar in Pattani has just started," Col Sansern said.

(Bangkok Post)

Tiga Sukhoi Tetap Dijadwalkan Tiba di Indonesia Akhir 2009

02 November 2009

Su-27 TNI-AU (photo : Fuerza Aerea)

Tiga Sukhoi Dijadwalkan Tiba di Indonesia Akhir 2009

Bandung, (Analisa)Tiga pesawat Sukhoi terakhir yang dipesan Indonesia dari Rusia, dijadwalkan tiba di Indonesia akhir 2009, kata Kepala Staf Angkatan Udara Marsekal TNI Subandrio di Bandung, Senin.

Dikonfirmasi Antara usai memimpin peringatan HUT ke-62 Korps Pasukan Khas TNI Angkatan Udara ia mengatakan, hingga kini tidak ada perubahan jadwal kedatangan terhadap tiga pesawat jet tempur buatan Rusia itu. "Tak ada perubahan. Bahkan info yang saya terima terakhir, hingga kini tidak ada masalah," kata Subandrio.

Pada 2003, Indonesia membeli empat pesawat Sukhoi jenis SU-30MK dan SU-27SK masing-masing dua unit. Selanjutnya, perusahaan Rusia penghasil pesawat tempur Sukhoi pada 21 Agustus 2007 mengumumkan penjualan enam pesawat tempur tersebut kepada Indonesia senilai sekitar 300 juta dollar AS (Rp 2,85 triliun).

Sebanyak enam pesawat Sukhoi itu terdiri atas tiga Sukhoi SU-30MK2 dan tiga SU-27SKM. Tiga unit jenis SU30MK2 telah tiba secara bertahap pada Oktober 2008 dan Januari 2009 sehingga kini TNI Angkatan Udara memiliki tujuh pesawat Sukhoi. Sedangkan tiga unit sisanya yakni jenis SU-27SKM direncanakan tiba di Indonesia pada akhir 2009. "Ya, mudah-mudahan tidak ada perubahan. Doakan saja," ucap Subandrio.

Tentang program 2010 menyusul kenaikan anggaran pertahanan sekitar Rp7 triliun, Kasau mengatakan, pihaknya hanya akan memprioritaskan pemeliharaan dan peningkatan kesiapan alat utama sistem senjata yang sudah ada. "Kalau mengadakan persenjataan dan peralatan baru dengan anggaran segitu mana cukup," ujarnya. (Ant)


(Analisa)

Sweden Set to Sail Ahead with Multirole Support Ship

2 November 2009

The vessel will have a multipurpose role as a replenishment, logistics, sealift and amphibious support missions (photo : Arsredovisning)

Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) expects to begin the project definition phase for a purpose-built combat support ship next year intended to enter service in 2015 to meet a range of afloat replenishment, logistics, sealift and amphibious support missions.

The requirement for the new multirole vessel – given the designation L10 – was first identified by the Royal Swedish Navy in late 2005/early 2006 following a capability gap analysis performed by the Naval Staff in the headquarters of the Swedish armed forces. This pinpointed shortfalls in afloat logistic support, limitations on the deployability of the amphibious battalion, and an inability to support helicopter operations in the maritime domain.

Work to draft an outline staff requirement began in 2007. Speaking at the MAST 2009 conference in Stockholm on 22 October, Commander Kjell-Ove Schramm, L10 requirements officer, said that following an initial analysis phase, "the decision was taken that the requirements were to be stated for a single type of vessel for fleet logistic support and replenishment as well as providing the amphibious lift and sea lift role".

He added: "The multirole ship solution ... enables us to maximise our sealift capability, which is generally needed for a short duration during the initial phases of an operation, and then shift to the logistic support role, supporting both naval units as well as potentially units ashore if needed."

(Jane's)