RMAF Awaiting AWACS For Defensive Missions

26 Maret 2011

EMB 145 AEW&C : one of candidates for RMAF AEW&C (photo : Indiaforum)

ALOR SETAR: The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) wants to have the Airborne Warning and Control System (Awacs) at its disposal to ensure the sovereignty of the air space for maximum security.

Air Force chief Gen Rodzali Daud said although the ownership of Awacs involved huge expenditure, the air force needed to have full control of air surveillance for tactical and defensive missions.

"We had sought the asset in the 7MP (Seventh Malaysia Plan) and is still awaiting it in the 10MP,” he told reporters after presenting flight wings to 43 trainees who attended various courses at the Air Force College, Kepala Batas, here today.

He said the RMAF was currently equipped with the ground radar and land command in the country’s air surveillance system.

In addition, he said, ownership of assets such as Eurocopter (EC725) from 2013, and strategic transport aircraft, Airbus A400M in 2015 would enhance the integrity of the air force.

“However, the ownership will not completely replace old aircraft. Instead they will complement existing aircraft such as the Nuri,” he said.

“To replace the Nuri, the RMAF requires 27 E725 aircraft. However, only 12 aircraft will be delivered by 2014,” he added.

(Bernama)

Boeing to Upgrade Australia’s MHFCS

26 Maret 2011

Australia's High Frequency Communications System (photo : BDA)

Boeing Receives AUS$15.5M MHFCS Support Services Contract

BRISBANE, Queensland – Boeing [NYSE: BA] on March 11 received a $15.5 million Support Services Contract (SSC) from the Commonwealth of Australia for the Modernised High Frequency Communications System (MHFCS).

Under the SSC, Boeing will sustain and upgrade the operational capability of MHFCS, which the company also developed. The system is used to securely exchange information within the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for the command and control of deployed forces.

“SSC will provide the Australian Department of Defence with the specialised engineering support it needs to maintain this strategically important communications asset,” said Michael Aylward, head of the Electronic Systems Division for the Commonwealth of Australia’s Defence Material Organisation.

“SSC is a huge vote of confidence from the Commonwealth in Boeing’s ability to ensure MHFCS remains at the cutting edge of high frequency (HF) communications technology,” said Mike Scott, general manager of Network & Space Systems for Boeing Defence Australia. “We’ve worked very closely with the Commonwealth to ensure SSC will deliver maximum value and the most effective support to the ADF.”

Boeing received “project complete” status from the Commonwealth for MHFCS on June 16, 2010. The company delivered the system in two phases, identified as the core system and the final system.

The core system, delivered in 2004, replaced three ageing HF communications systems used by the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), with a single integrated system consisting of four HF radio stations and two purpose-built control centres.

The final system, which was introduced into ADF service on Sept. 24, 2009, provided greater levels of automation, performance and capability for ADF users, a back-up network management facility at Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, and Generic Mobile Upgrade Systems for land-and-sea and air platforms.

(Boeing)

Thailand Buy 200 Oplot MBTs

26 Maret 2011

KMDB Oplot main battle tank, the tank has 48 ton weight (photo : Manaxob)

New Ukraine tanks leave soldiers riled

The army's decision to buy a new batch of about 200 main battle tanks from Ukraine has upset soldiers who prefer South Korean vehicles.

"The troops who will have to operate the vehicles do not want the Ukraine-made tanks because they are equipped with an auto-loader that requires the tanks to stop moving when ammunition has been used up and new loading is necessary," said an army source.

"This feature could become a problem when fighting in a war. That's why operators prefer tanks with a manual ammunition-loading system."

An auto-loader is a mechanical aid that removes the need for personnel to load ammunition into weapons.

The army has resolved to replace its old US-made M41A3 tanks with about 200 new ones. Among the top choices were the K1 tank from South Korea and the T92 Oplot tank from Ukraine.

The procurement of 200 Ukraine-made tanks will cost about 7 billion baht, said the source.

The US tanks have been in commission in four cavalry battalions since 1962, just prior to international involvement in the Vietnam War, said the source.

The new tanks will be stationed at the 4th Cavalry Battalion (Royal Guard) in Bangkok, 8th Cavalry Battalion in Nakhon Ratchasima, 9th Cavalry Battalion in Phitsanulok and 16th Cavalry Battalion in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

It is believed the army's procurement committee of high-ranking military officers chose the Ukrainian supplier over the South Korean one because of its connections with the supplier, said the source.

The supplier is the same one that supplied the controversial 96 Ukrainian-made BTR-3E1 armoured personnel carriers to the Royal Thai Armed Forces at a cost of almost 4 billion baht, the source said.

The tank procurement is part of the 10-year package of weapons purchases the government recently approved for the army.

The other choices proposed for consideration by the procurement committee included the Russian-made T-90 tank and the German-made Leopard 2 A4 tank. But the German tank was too expensive, said the source.

(Bangkok Post)

Philippine Navy Set Up Integrated Communication System

25 Maret 2011

Philippine Navy ships (photo : timawa)

The Philippine Navy has partnered with the country’s largest telecommunications company to set up an integrated communications system that will link the country’s naval forces.

The Philippine Navy is now using Philippine Long Distance Company’s Internet Protocol – Virtual Private Network (IP VPN) backbone for video conferencing, data and voice transmissions of its six naval groups stationed in different parts of the archipelago.

IP VPN is delivered using PLDT’s IP network infrastructure to provide a secure network that is more cost-efficient compared to traditional solutions.

“We hope to be one Navy with one network, for better service to our country,” said Lieutenant-Commander Marcos Y. Imperio, Commander of the Naval Communications Electronics and Information Systems Centre.

He added that with this system, naval forces will be able to transmit real-time information from the Flag Officer in Command down to the Naval Forces Commanders and troops.

Navy Acting spokesperson Lt Salvador Sambalilo told FutureGov Asia Pacific Magazine that it is a basic requirement for the Philippine Navy to interconnect all naval forces all over the country.

He adds naval troops must be able to communicate across the 7,107 islands of the country.

“The problem with the old system is that it only has limited bandwidth and with the increasing traffic problems in communication, we have to look for solution,” he said.

“So far, this integrated communications system is effective and has met all our requirements,” Sambalilo adds.

(Futuregov)

Aero Vodochody to Produce JAS-39 Pylons for Swedish and Thai Air Forces

25 Maret 2011

Pylons are used for weapon systems and are located at the bottom of aircraft wing. (photo : Aviationnews)

Czechs producing pylons for Gripen jets

ODOLENA VODA, Czech Republic, (UPI) -- The Czech company Aero Vodochody has been contracted by Saab Aeronautics of Sweden to produce pylons for Gripen fighters.
The pylons, for Gripens operated by Sweden and the Thai air force, are used for weapon systems attached to aircraft wings.

Aero Vodochody said the order for 54 pylons is a continuation of earlier pylon production for Saab and its JAS-39 Gripen. Production will take place from October this year until December 2012.
The monetary value of the deal wasn't disclosed.

Aero Vodochody is the largest aerospace manufacturer in the Czech Republic and cooperates in aerostructural projects with leading multinational aircraft companies such as Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Alenia Aeronautica, Sonaca, Latecoere, Spirit Aerosystems and EADS. It's been a partner of Saab Aerospace since 2008.

The Thai air force received six Gripen fighters from Saab in February and has six more on order.

(UPI)

Ballistic Plates for Combat Body Armour – Made in Australia

25 Maret 2011

The new body armour of the Australian army (photo : The Australian)

Ballistic plates for combat body armour to protect Australian troops can now be made in Australia thanks to the development of new manufacturing technology.

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Warren Snowdon and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced the new technology during a visit to the CSIRO in Melbourne today.

“Body armour is one of the most important elements of a soldier’s personal protection. It offers protection from ballistic threats like small-arms fire and fragments from improvised explosive devices,” Mr Snowdon said.

“The ballistic plate inserted into body armour is made from an advanced ceramic material that is incredibly strong for its weight. The stronger and lighter the ballistic plate, the better protection it provides to our soldiers.”

New technology to manufacture the ballistic plates has been developed through a partnership between:
· The Defence Materials Technology Centre;
· Australian Defence Apparel (ADA);
· The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); and
· The Victorian Centre for Advanced Materials Manufacturing (VCAMM).

Australian Defence Apparel will soon be able to manufacture the ballistic plates at their factory in Bendigo.

Mr Clare said that most ballistic plates used by the ADF are currently imported from the United States.

“Manufacturing these plates in Australia has big advantages. It will allow for new technology to be prototyped quickly and for product development to occur in Australia,” Mr Clare said.

“Thanks to the hard work of the scientists, engineers and Australian Defence Industry here we now have a world-leading product that can be produced here in Australia.”

The Defence Materials Technology Centre is a not-for-profit company jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government’s ‘Defence Future Capability Technology Centre’ program, the Victorian Government, and industry and research body participants.

The Centre brings together defence industry, universities and government research agencies to develop new materials and manufacturing technologies that will enhance Australia’s defence capability.

(Australian DoD)

Sejumlah Negara Menjajaki Kemungkinan Pembelian dengan Kredit Ekspor Persenjataan

25 Maret 2011


Filipina tengah merundingkan kemungkinan pembelian tiga LPD Makassar class dari Indonesia (photo : sby591)

Kredit Ekspor Persenjataan

Jakarta, Kompas - Sejumlah negara tetangga, seperti Papua Niugini, Filipina, dan Brunei, menjajaki kemungkinan pembelian persenjataan serta memperoleh kredit ekspor dari Pemerintah Republik Indonesia.

Menteri Pertahanan Purnomo Yusgiantoro yang ditemui di Jakarta, Kamis (24/3), menjelaskan, pihaknya telah mendapatkan banyak permintaan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan persenjataan dari sejumlah negara tetangga dalam Jakarta International Defense Dialogue (JIDD).

Timor Leste

”Timor Leste sudah mendapat kredit ekspor 40 juta dollar AS untuk pembelian dua kapal patroli cepat (fast patrol boat/FPB), ternyata sejumlah negara juga mempertanyakan kemungkinan mendapat fasilitas serupa,” ujar Purnomo.

FPB yang dibuat PT PAL Surabaya itu memiliki dimensi panjang dari 15 meter, 30 meter, 40 meter, hingga 60 meter.

Papua Niugini


Seusai pertemuan dengan delegasi Papua Niugini, negara tetangga tersebut ingin mengunjungi PT Pindad dan PT Dirgantara Indonesia. Mereka telah mengoperasikan sejumlah pesawat CASA-Nurtanio (CN) buatan Indonesia.


Filipina


Pemerintah Filipina menyiapkan dana 100 juta dollar AS (sekitar Rp 900 miliar) untuk membeli tiga kapal landing platform dock (LPD) bagi angkatan lautnya. ”Kita sedang merundingkan spesifikasi LPD yang sesuai dengan anggaran yang dimiliki Filipina,” kata Purnomo.

Brunei

Selain itu, lanjut Purnomo, pemerintah Brunei juga berminat untuk membeli senapan serbu varian dua (SS-V2) buatan PT Pindad. Menurut dia, Pemerintah Brunei baru menyadari Indonesia telah memproduksi senjata jenis tersebut, yang merupakan produk Indonesia yang berbasis dari senapan Fabrique Nationale Belgia. Militer Brunei juga mengoperasikan perahu karet untuk satuan taktis yang dibuat di Bogor, Jawa Barat. (ONG)

(Kompas)