03 Juli 2013
Mk-54 Lighweight torpedoes (photo US Navy)
WASHINGTON – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on July 1, 2013 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of up to 100 MK 54 All-Up-Round Torpedoes and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $83 million.
The Government of Australia has requested a possible sale of 100 MK 54 All-Up-Round Torpedoes, 13 MK 54 Exercise Sections, 13 MK 54 Exercise Fuel Tanks, 5 Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes, support and test equipment for Maintenance Facility upgrade to MK 695 Mod 1 capability, spare and repair parts, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.
Australia is an important ally in the Western Pacific that contributes significantly to ensuring peace and stability in the region. Australia’s efforts in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations have made a significant impact on regional, political and economic stability and have served U.S. national security interests.
Mk-54 Torpedo (image : Raytheon)
Australia will use the MK 54 torpedo on its MH-60R helicopters and intends to use the torpedo on a planned purchase of the P-8A Increment 2 Maritime Patrol and Response aircraft. Australia, which currently has MK 54 torpedoes in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional torpedoes into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Keyport, Washington. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Australia.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.
(DSCA)
02 Juli 2013
The modernization program for PAF include : lead-in fighters, long-range patrol aircraft, close air support aircraft, light lift fixed-wing aircraft, medium lift aircraft, attack helicopters, combat utility helicopters, air defense radar and flight simulators (photo : Timawa)
CLARK, Pampanga, Philippines – Soon there will be no more jokes about the Philippine Air Force (PAF) being all air and no force.
President Aquino vowed yesterday to modernize the PAF through the purchase of new and modern aircraft from a P75-billion fund before he steps down from office in 2016.
Fokker F-27 of the PAF (photo : TK)
Aquino blamed past government leaders for neglecting the armed forces “as they got drunk on the trappings of power.”
He underscored the need for the PAF to be fully modernized for the government to be able “to defend our territory and make Filipinos feel more secure against foreign intruders, or those who try to shock and pressure them.”
Fokker F-28 of the PAF (photo : Timawa)
In his keynote address during the PAF’s 66th anniversary here, the President said that in the first 19 months of his administration, he had allocated P28 billion for the modernization of the armed forces, nearly equal the P33-billion combined allocations from the three previous administrations.
“Be assured that before I step down from office, our skies will teem with new and modern equipment such as lead-in fighters, long-range patrol aircraft, close air support aircraft, light lift fixed-wing aircraft, medium lift aircraft, attack helicopters, combat utility helicopters, air defense radar and flight simulators,” Aquino said.
Bell 412 of the PAF (photo : Rentmeister)
In January, Malacañang announced that the government would buy 12 South Korean FA-50 fighter jets to be used for “training, interdiction and disaster response.”
The Philippines, a former US colony, retired the last of its US-designed F-5 fighters in 2005 and lacks air defense.
Sikorsky S-70A of the PAF (photo : Rentmeister)
The President said the passage of the AFP Modernization Law has allowed the government to allocate P75 billion in the next five years for the upgrade of equipment and other related requirements of the armed forces.
“We cannot forever rely on repair and rehabilitation of equipment. Every time an air force plane flies, it’s not only the success of the mission that relies on the aircraft but also the lives of our pilots,” he added.
Sikorsky S-76 VIP helicopter (photo : Rogier Westerhuis)
The President nevertheless lauded the air force’s capability to repair and rehabilitate its existing aircraft.
He cited in particular the 140th Maintenance Wing which has earned ISO certification for its capability to repair and rehabilitate old military airplanes, including a C-130 Hercules, two N-22 Nomads, one F-27 Fokker, one Cessna 210, one MG-520 attack helicopter, and one UH-1H helicopter.
Bell 205 of the PAF (photo : PAF)
The Air Force, for its part, expressed readiness to defend the country’s territory even as it admitted that such task poses a huge challenge.
Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino de la Cruz said the challenge lies in the vast waters and air space of the Philippines as an archipelagic nation.
(PhilStar)
02 Juli 2013
Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly AM MP today announced the final keel block for the future destroyer, Hobart, has been successfully lifted into place by the AWD Alliance in Adelaide. Consolidation of the entire hull will be complete in early 2014 and will be followed by fit-out and testing of the ships’ systems before sea trials are undertaken. (photo : Aus DoD)
Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly AM MP today announced the final keel block for the future destroyer, Hobart, has been successfully lifted into place by the AWD Alliance in Adelaide.
Dr Kelly said the final keel block is the 18th of 31 blocks to be joined into what is rapidly becoming the recognisable structure of the Hobart.
“This particular block will house flotation and stabilisation equipment for the Hobart and will now be consolidated into the existing ship structure to complete the keel,” Dr Kelly said.
“The keel is the main structural element stretching along the centre line of the bottom of a ship from the bow to the stern.
“The keel blocks will contain part of the Vertical Launch System, the diesel and gas turbine main engine rooms, auxiliary engine rooms, ballast tanks, propeller shafts and sonar equipment.”
Each destroyer will have six Vertical Launch System modules containing eight cells which are able to store and launch missiles.
“There are a total of 48 cells in each ship, with each cell able to be armed with either a single Standard Missile 2, or four Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles.
“The Hobart Class destroyers will provide the Royal Australian Navy with the most capable warships they have ever operated, with a sophisticated range of both offensive and defensive weapons.”
Dr Kelly said the AWD project is the most complex naval ship construction program ever undertaken in Australia.
“This milestone demonstrates the ongoing progress and quality of work being undertaken by the national shipbuilding industry across the country,” Dr Kelly said.
Consolidation of the entire hull will be complete in early 2014 and will be followed by fit-out and testing of the ships’ systems before sea trials are undertaken.
The AWD Alliance is made up of the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) representing the Australian Government, ASC as the lead shipbuilder and Raytheon Australia as the mission systems integrator.
(Aus DoD)
02 Juli 2013
C-295 ASW (photo : Airbus Military)
(DVO)-To enhance maritime patrol and submarine hunting in the South China Sea, Vietnam is planning to equip the modern submarine hunting aircraft.
According Learn defense market (Market Intelligence Defense), Navy Vietnam are looking to buy a navy patrol plane new, but Vietnam is still not satisfied with the proposed P-3C Orion from the U.S., except when an embargo decreed Vietnam weapons for the U.S. government to be implemented.
Currently Vietnam Ministry of Defense is considering a number of naval patrol aircraft modernization, which includes Airbus Military C-295 (Europe), the Lockheed P-3 Orion Marin (America) and the type of PX Japan. However, like the U.S., Vietnam can only buy aircraft patrolling the Tokyo Japanese export policy change to their weapons.
Aircraft Kawasaki XP-1 submarine hunting by Japanese manufacturing (PX aircraft renamed XP-1). On 28/9/2007, XP-1 prototype first flew successfully. 3/2010, Kawasaki has delivered 4 the XP-1 for the Japanese Ministry of Defense test. XP-1 is designed to perform multiple tasks including maritime patrol, reconnaissance, hunting submarines, surface ships and combat search and rescue. XP-1 38m long, wingspan of 35.4 m, 12.1 m high, maximum takeoff weight of 79.7 tons.
According to the initial information, XP-1 is equipped with avionics systems ultra modern including phased array radar system electronically Toshiba HPS-206; detection system from novelty; detection system the infrared signal. With this system allows XP-1 detects all targets on the sea and under the sea.
P-3C Orion (photo : jetwash)
XP-1 was designed in the body cavity and 8 wing pylons carrying a total of 9 tons of weapons including anti-ship missiles AGM-84 Harpoon, ASM-1C, AGM-65, anti-submarine torpedoes MK-46 , Type 97, torpedoes, bombs. XP-1 equipped with four jet turbine blades push F7-10 allows a maximum speed of 996km / h, range 8,000 km and service ceiling 13.520m.
Besides hunting ground plane PX, the leading candidate is known for the choice of Vietnam's P-3 Orion. Aircraft P-3 Orion submarine hunter capable of carrying a variety of weapons for a variety of different tasks both at sea and on the total weight of 9 tons with anti-ship missiles such as the AGM-84H / K Harpoon, AGM- 84E SLAM, missiles, AGM-65F Maverick on land, Mk-46 torpedoes, Mk-50, Mk-54.
A standard operational squadron P-3C Orion aircraft with 11 people, including three pilots, two flight officers naval surveillance, flight 2 technicians, 3 officers operating equipment and an engineer reconnaissance general technicians. The task is mainly anti-submarine, equipped with P-3C many modern reconnaissance equipment such as sonar DIFAR, detection equipment from the unusual (MAD) ... The information collected will be transferred to a central computer, which will analyze, store, send or commanders to operate automatic weapons on the plane.
Vietnam Info interested in aircraft P-3 Orion submarine hunter was the program director of naval patrols of Lockheed Martin, Mr. Clay Fearnow confirmation. While Lockheed Martin representatives spoke about Vietnam is looking forward to the attention of his P-3 Orion, then the representative of Airbus Military, said Vietnam was also considering buying aircraft variant C -295 of their anti-submarine patrols, but then the plan has been delayed for a long time. However, the relationship of defense cooperation between Vietnam and the European companies are also quite cozy, typical Coast Guard forces have ordered 3 patrol aircraft CASA C-212's and Airbus are considering buy 3 transport aircraft C-295 of Indonesia.
Japanese XP1 (photo : robin117)
Before Vietnam information can be equipped aircraft plot P-3 Orion submarine hunter has been the subject for many foreign newspapers comment. According to Eastern China's leading source of Web site Jane's Defense Weeklycho said: "Regardless of using P-3 Orion to defend its sovereignty over the South China Sea to the defense, the aircraft hunting ground will bring to Vietnam Men leap "from no to yes".
Oriental Report comment further: "For nature is an important strategic diplomatic Vietnam, patrol aircraft P-3C submarine hunting the old one can improve relations with the U.S., on the other hand can be the potential value - owns advanced electronic systems of the U.S., and may also defending the South China Sea ... ".
Meanwhile, under the title "Vietnam plans to buy U.S. weapons," Voice of Russia, said: "Vietnam is expected to suggest the U.S. government through an agreement to provide patrol aircraft Navy's P-3 Orion Lockheed Martin, a senior official of the company said. "
Content article said Speaking at the exhibition LAAD Defense and Security 2013 took place in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the program director of naval patrols of Lockheed Martin, Mr. Clay Fearnow said: " Vietnam Navy has expressed great interest in the P-3 aircraft and the U.S. government to support the new agreement are progressing. " He stressed Fearnow, if the contract was signed, the company Lockheed Martin for Vietnam will be selected P-3C aircraft last, because these are aircraft equipped with advanced technology nhat.P-3C Orion is not only capable of hunting submarines but also destroy targets both on water and on land targets ... "
Thus, if the presence of the P-3C Orion U.S. production by the South China Sea became a reality will certainly change the geopolitical and regional military addresses.
(DatViet)
02 Juli 2013
Pesawat Super Tucano Skadron Udara 21 (photo : Viva)
Untuk merencanakan hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan alutsista yang baru maupun yang mengalami pergantian pada saat alutsista tiba dan diserahkan, perlu memikirkan pemeliharaan. Baik itu dari segi pembinaan personel maupun dari segi pembinaan materiel. Demikian penjelasan Wakil Menteri Pertahanan RI Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, saat meninjau Skadron Udara 21 Wing 2 Lanud Abd Saleh, Jum’at, (28/6).
Oleh karena itu dalam skema anggaran 2014 untuk merencanakan 2015 hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan alutsista TNI AU yang baru maupun yang mengalami pergantian itu sudah masuk di dalam kerangka perencanaan anggaran. hal ini perlu menjadi pemikiran karena di dalam perencanaan ada hal yang menjadi bagian perlu dipersiapkan dari sekarang dan koordinasi yang tepat agar tidak terjadi gab dari kesiapan kita. Lanjut Wamenhan. Intinya bahwa Optimalisasi dan modernisasi ini harus diikuti dengan pembinaan pemeliharaan baik personil maupun perawatan materiel, ini adalah esensi yang perlu menjadi perhatian kita sehingga tidak seperti kembang api sudah mengadakan kemudian kuncup lagi tidak bisa memelihara alutsista yang ada.
Dijelaskan Wamenhan, secara bertahap pesawat Super Tucano akan digenapkan sebanyak 16 unit . Saat ini sudah ada 4 pesawat Super Tucano selanjutnya Bulan Agustus mendatang akan dikirim kembali 4 unit Super Tucano 8 unit berikutnya akan dikirim tahun 2014 dan diperkirakan terakhir bulan September 2014 Skadron Udara 21 sudah memiliki 16 unit pesawat Super Tucano.
Untuk memenuhi tugas yang dibebankan bagi Pesawat Super Tucano kedepan akan diupayakan sistem perawatan personil yang meliputi Penerbang dan Crew pesawat, hal tersebut disampaikan Wamenhan dihadapan para penerbang dan crew Skadron Udara 21 yang disaksikan langsung oleh Dirjen Renhan Kemhan Marsda TNI F.H.B. Sulistyo, Kabaranahan Kemhan Laksda TNI Ir. Rachmad Lubis, Komandan Lanud Abd Saleh Marsma TNI Gutomo, S. IP beserta para pejabat lainnya.
Wamenhan mengatakan, bahwa alutsista yang diawaki para penerbang bernilai miliaran rupiah, sedangkan tanggung jawab untuk pelaksanaan tugas para Penerbang dan Crew sangat berat dan berisiko tinggi, dengan alasan tersebut maka perawatan personil perlu dibenahi ulang, sehingga kedepan TNI AU benar-benar dapat melaksanakan tugas yang diemban secara maksimal.
Komandan berharap melalui kunjungan kerja ini dapat diperoleh berbagai masukan yang berharga, sehingga kedepan Lanud Abd Saleh mampu mengemban tugas dengan lebih baik lagi dan optimal, sesuai dengan tugas pokok Lanud Abd Saleh yaitu sebagai satuan pelaksana Koopsau II yang bertugas menyiapkan dan melaksanakan pembinaan maupun pengoperasian seluruh satuan dalam jajarannya, potensi dirgantara serta menyelenggarakan dukungan operasi bagi satuan lainnya dalam rangka melaksanakan tugas operasi udara TNI Angkatan Udara.
Setelah mengunjungi Skadron Udara 21, Wamenhan mengunjungi UNM, sedangkan rombongan meninjau Skadron Udara 32 Wing 2 Lanud Abd Saleh dan Satuan Pemeliharaan (Sathar) 31 Depo Har 30. Sebelum meninggalkan Lanud Abd, rombongan melakukan sholat jum’at bersama di Masjid Baiturrachman Lanud Abd Saleh.
(TNI AU)
01 Juli 2013
RAAF C-130H Hercules (photo : Jubes474)
Kevin Rudd set to give planes and boats to Indonesia in visit this week
Kevin Rudd will take a kitbag of goodies to Indonesia this week as he seeks more help from that county to curb the boat flow.
The secondhand C-130 Hercules planes that Indonesia was going to buy at “mates rates” will now be a gift, and there will be patrol boats (customs not naval) thrown in. There could also be developmental aid.
The whole package could cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
The decision to make a gift of the planes and provide the boats was taken before last week’s leadership change, in preparation for Julia Gillard making this trip.
Rudd will be in Jakarta and Bogor on Thursday and Friday for the third Indonesia-Australia Leaders' Meeting. The discussions will be broad but being seen to be able to do something to combat the boat inflow is vital as Rudd moves towards the election.
The patrol boats will assist with border protection but the free gift of the C-130s, which are transport planes, is about putting the Indonesians in a mood to be helpful generally on the border issue.
The trip plays to Rudd’s strengths. He’s naturally at home on the foreign stage and has a good relationship with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Gillard’s experience with Indonesia was mixed. The suspension of the live cattle trade caused great tension in the relationship. Rudd, foreign minister at the time, distanced himself by letting it be known he hadn’t been consulted; he later got involved in negotiations to sort things out. On the other hand, the regular leadership dialogue with Indonesia started (in late 2011) under Gillard.
While Rudd will be striving to come out of these talks with an impression that he has momentum in tackling people smuggling, previous experience indicates what’s said doesn’t always match what’s done on the issue.
Read full article The Conversation
01 Juli 2013
Su-30K fighter jet (photo : Militaryphotos)
(DVO) - 18 Su-30K fighter jets that India returned to Russia, probably will not be sold to Vietnam, but instead is Ethiopia.
Deputy Group Director arms exporter Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheyev said that Russia is negotiating supply 18 Su-30K fighters to Ethiopia.
Number 18 multipurpose fighters were returned to India to replace the Russian fighter Su-30MKI is newer.
"We are in consultation with Ethiopia for the supply of the fighter. They have proposed a variant to modernize, enhance combat capability as well as the specification and provide additional tactics the rocket - to - land / sea more advanced, "said Mikheyev said.
The Rosoboronexport officials also stressed that, at present, four Su-30K first being repaired at a local aircraft factory.
"Just got the proposal from customers and financial resources, we are ready to upgrade and modernize all 18 Su-30K aircraft within 4-6 months," he said Mikheyev.
Complete 18 Su-30K aircraft the IAF was not used in 10 years time, then returned to Russia. This aircraft was delivered to some 558 factories in Belarus to repair and upgrade, before being sold to 3rd party without giving back to Russia to avoid import taxes.
Each has been much speculation about the fate of 18 Su-30K and its destination. There has been news that Belarus wants to buy the whole lot and that Russian planes do not extend credit to them (Belarus) to purchase the Group's Irkut aircraft, then, a few other sources revealed that customer Nan is Vietnam after Vietnam military mission sent to check out a few planes.
Since then, no further information about the fate of this 18 Su-30K. However, the recent disclosure of personally Rosoboronexport Deputy Director General that Vietnam will not be a customer of 18 Su-30K aircraft, may be negotiated by the two parties, but does not meet requirements of each other, or maybe, Vietnam will not buy old planes instead is buying new aircraft Su-30 at a point!
(DatViet)
