05 Juli 2013
LPD ship designed by DSME (photo : Navy Recognition)
Navy sets P4-b ship purchase
Four groups took part in Tuesday’s conference for the bidding of SSV, a P4-billion project of the Philippine Navy.
The prebidding held at the Department of National Defense saw groups such as Navantia of Spain, Daewoo of South Korea, Larsen and Toubro of India, and Austal of Australia each appearing keen to win the supply contracts.
Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo confirmed the pre-bidding procedure.
Austal Multi Role Vessel (image : Austal)
The procurement of two SSVs with a budget of P4 billion and two Maestrale frigates with a budget of P18 billion are among the 24 big-ticket items that President Benigno Aquino III wants to accomplish under the five-year military modernization program.
SSVs are multi-role vessels for search and rescue operations that can also be fitted with hospital facilities and a helipad. But the ship’s primary role is to transport a battalion of soldiers with armored vehicles.
On Wednesday, Manalo mentioned about the planned procurement of two brand new Maestrale frigates, and told defense reporters that they are now looking for a consultant to help the Navy identify technical specifications for the vessels.
“The Navy needs to hire a consultant because the frigates that we want to buy are too sophisticated, that’s part of diligence,” he said.
(Manila Standard Today)
04 Juli 2013
The Digger's basic combat ensemble from East Timor in 1999 that cost $3700 has morphed into a high-tech $27,700 outfit in Afghanistan today. (all photos : news.com)
THE value of an Australian combat soldier's personal kit has jumped from $3700 in 1999 to $27,700 in Afghanistan in 2013.
Never again will Australian troops be sent to war with inferior gear thanks to an organisation that acts on soldier feedback and cuts through the red tape to quickly procure the right stuff.
"Diggerworks'' was established in 2010 with a simple mission to stop soldiers complaining about inferior gear by purchasing and developing the best available.
The improvement has been dramatic and the Diggers' basic combat ensemble from East Timor in 1999 that cost $3700 has morphed into a high-tech $27,700 outfit in Afghanistan today.
The 1999 version included a large field pack, Somalia-era flak jacket, old style webbing and camouflage uniform and Vietnam era combat boots.
The 2013 outfit includes multicam uniform, ballistic glasses, tiered body armour, GPS, pelvic protection system, stretch pants, knee pads and high-tech fitted boots.
A collaboration between battle hardened soldiers, defence scientists and the purchasing body - the Defence Materiel Organisation, Diggerworks - has abandoned methods where quantity was king and price was paramount, and streamlined the link between feedback and production.
With a long history of crook boots, overweight body armour, inferior clothing and dodgy packs and pouches, the organisation had plenty to work on and in three short years it has made some big strides.
According to a recent progress report Diggerworks was established to ensure that "the individual components of the soldier combat system were most appropriate given current knowledge, current technology, the soldiers mission, and budgetary trade-offs.''
The report highlighted a long list of problems such as the 2010 purchase of 17,000 sets of inappropriate body armour and it includes solutions and positive projects to further enhance digger safety and comfort.
These include:
* Soldier Combat Ensemble
* Blast gauge system to measure the impact of explosions
* Pelvic protection system
* Ballistic helmets
* Individual water purification systems
* Gunshot detection system to identify the source of enemy fire
* Lightweight ballistic plate
* Improved pistol holster
* Vehicle lumbar support
* Cold weather ensemble
* Medic packs
Work on the soldier combat ensemble includes separate designs for mentoring troops and special forces operators and body armour designed specifically for female troops.
Diggerworks has trialled gunshot detection systems in Afghanistan including one attached to the weapon and two to the body of the soldier.
"These are lightweight items designed to detect and localise the source of incoming high velocity rounds,'' the report says.
(New.Com)
04 Juli 2013
Maestrale class frigate (photo : EUNavfor)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is set to buy two Maestrale-class frigates from Italy, a defense official said Wednesday, as the Asian nation races to upgrade its military amid mounting territorial disputes with China.
The frigates, along with 12 FA-50 fighter aircraft, are the most significant items on the government’s P75-billion ($1.7-billion) military modernization budget over the next five years, Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said.
“We are modernizing not because we want to go to war with China,” he told a news conference.
He said the government had a sworn obligation to defend the “West Philippine Sea,” using the government’s preferred term for Philippine-claimed areas in the South China Sea.
“We are not saying that this is part of our preparations to assert our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. What we are saying is that we cannot just give them up.”
The frigates would add to two refurbished Hamilton-class cutters formerly used by the US Coast Guard that the Philippines acquired from its US ally to upgrade its ageing navy fleet, which includes some vessels that first saw action in World War II.
Manalo said the navy had already decided to acquire two new Maestrale-class frigates instead of buying used ones from the Italian navy, and had budgeted P18 billion for them.
The Philippines could be ready to tender by the end of the year, he added.
Meanwhile, the government had allotted P18.9 billion to acquire the fighter aircraft, which are built by South Korea, he added.
The modernization budget also provides for building or improving facilities to berth and provide maintenance to the vessels on the military’s shopping list, Manalo said.
President Benigno Aquino vowed Monday to rebuild the air force by 2016.
The Philippines, which has one of the weakest military forces in the region, retired the last of its US-designed F-5 fighters in 2005.
(Inquirer)
See Also :
Brand-new, not second-hand Maestrale
04 Juli 2013
In January 2012, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin together with the Defense Acquisition System (DAS) team met with Italian Defense Minister Giampaolo Di Paola to sign a 5-year agreement that was followed by an inspection of the combat-ready defense materiel the government intends to procure such as the Maestrale, a frigate still being used by the Italian Navy.
But, Manalo said, the idea to buy second-hand frigates was dropped after a series of further consultations. “Actually, I was with the Secretary of National Defense when we went to Italy to check the Italian package, the Maestrale. Our talks then was that if your intention is purchase any available frigate that you can immediately use without consideration of the cost, the Maestrale will do. But when we evaluated it, [we learned that] although the ship was still being used by the Italian Navy the ship is due for retirement. I think it is more than 20 years old already and its maintenance cost will be too high,” he said.
As a result, he added, “the senior leaders after evaluating the options decided that instead of buying second hand we might as well acquire brand-new [frigates].”
Also on the list of 24 are rocket launchers for the Philippine Army; radar system support facilities, close-air support, combat utility helicopters, flight simulator, and long range patrol aircraft for the Philippine Air Force; and helicopters, multipurpose attack craft, and base support for the Philippine Navy.
(InterAksyon)
04 Juli 2013
Galangan kapal selam akan diselesaikan di akhir tahun 2014, sehingga di awal tahun 2015 telah dapat dimulai pembangunan kapal selam di Indonesia (photo : usmessageboard)
Berbagai persiapan dilakukan untuk pembangunan kapal selam mulai tahun 2015. Selain pembangunan galangan kapal selam di PT PAL, Kementerian Pertahanan juga merangkul sektor swasta.
"Kami sudah ke Barata, mereka bisa menekuk baja yang tebal. Selain itu juga ada perusahaan baterai yang kami jajaki," kata Silmy Karim, juru bicara Komite Kebijakan Industri Pertahanan, Selasa (2/7).
Galangan kapal selam yang dibangun PT PAL itu membutuhkan anggaran sekitar Rp 1,5 triliun. Galangan tersebut diharapkan bisa selesai akhir 2014 sehingga tahun 2015 bisa digunakan untuk membuat kapal selam jenis 209. Selain itu sedang dijajaki juga penanaman modal dalam negeri.
Rencana pembangunan kapal selam oleh industri pertahanan Indonesia tersebut adalah bagian dari transfer teknologi pembelian tiga kapal selam dari Korea Selatan. Dua kapal selam akan dibangun di Korsel, sementara kapal selam ketiga diharapkan bisa dibangun di Indonesia.
Kepala Pusat Komunikasi Publik Kementrian Pertahanan Sisriadi mengatakan, sampai saat ini kontrak untuk ketiga kapal selam itu sudah ditandatangani. Namun, keinginan Indonesia untuk secara utuh membuat kapal selam di Indonesia masih dalam proses.
"Di antaranya, Korsel ingin memastikan dulu fasilitas pembangunan di sini, makanya kita buat galangannya,"ujarnya.
Sisriadi mengatakan, pembangunan kapal selam itu tidak bisa ditangani sendiri oleh PT PAL. Oleh karena itu, Kementerian Pertahanan ingin menggandeng pihak-pihak lain. Dengan demikian, bisa diharapkan memperkuat industri-industri dan BUMN terkait. Yang penting, prinsip kemandirian dalam pembangunan kekuatan pertahanan, baik jangka menengah maupun panjang bisa dilakukan.
"Kalau galangan sudah jadi, kita kan bisa bikin kapal selam lagi. Soalnya, kita butuh 12 kapal selam. Yang ada sekarang itu dibikin tahun 1980," kata Silmy.
Menurut dia, selain persiapan fisik, Indonesia juga telah mengirimkan orang-orang untuk belajar di Korsel yang tengah membangun kapal selam untuk Indonesia. Total ada 200 teknisi dan akademisi serta pengguna dari TNI Angkatan Laut yang telah disetujui untuk dikirim. "Yang penting, kita bisa bersiap untuk membangun kapal selam sendiri yang selesai tahun 2018," katanya.
Silmy mengakui, prosesnya memang tidak serta merta mulus. Namun, dia optimistis, Korsel terbuka untuk berbagai pengaturan lebih lanjut dalam kerja sama ini. Kerja sama Indonesia dan Korsel sangat luas, tidak hanya di bidang kapal selam, tetapi juga di bidang militer dan perdagangan.
(Kompas)
03 Juli 2013
Australia's first MH-60R Seahawk Romeo aircraft, complete with RAN kangaroo roundel aircraft markings, conducts its initial test flight at Sikorsky's production facility in Stratford, Connecticut, USA. (photo : Aus DoD)
Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly AM MP today announced the first of 24 MH-60R Seahawk Romeo helicopters has successfully completed its first test flight.
The initial test flight occurred at Sikorsky’s Production Facility, Connecticut USA on 26 June 2013. It passed a range of tests including controllability, engine performance, vibration analysis and navigation as well as the ‘Contractor Flight Acceptance’ phase.
“The Federal Government has invested over $3 billion in acquiring 24 MH-60R Seahawk Romeo helicopters, representing a sizeable commitment toward Australia’s ongoing air combat capability,” Dr Kelly said.
“The MH-60R Seahawk Romeo will replace the 16 Seahawk ‘Classic’ helicopters and will introduce an air-to-surface strike capability.
“The US Navy and its industry partners have worked hard to accelerate the Romeo acquisition program and this first flight occurred only two years after contract signature, some six months ahead of the original schedule approved by Government in 2011.”
The acquisition of 24 Seahawk Romeos allows the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to provide at least eight helicopters embarked at any one time with Australia’s Anzac Class frigates and the new Hobart Class air warfare destroyers, with the remainder based at HMAS Albatross in Nowra.
Commodore Vince Di Pietro, Commander of the Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, said the flight is exciting news for the Navy.
“The RAN will very shortly be flying the most capable Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface helicopter in the world and it will be a quantum increase to our current helicopter force – both in numbers and capability,” CDRE Di Pietro said.
The first helicopter is now being prepared for transit to Lockheed Martin’s facility in Owego, New York, where it will be fitted with its highly capable mission systems and sensors.
A further three Australian helicopters are currently in various stages of assembly with the first two planned to be handed over to the RAN in December 2013.
Aircrew and maintainers from 725 Squadron have already commenced training with the United States Navy at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, USA while they await the arrival of their own aircraft in 2014.
(Aus DoD)
03 Juli 2013
Naresuan class FFG (image : Thales)
BAE Systems has been awarded a contract to provide Mk 25 Mod 0 Quad Pack canisters for Raytheon's RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) as part of the combat systems upgrade for the Royal Thai Navy's (RTN's) two Naresuan-class (Type 25T) frigates.
The upgrade is part of a USD40,327,024 contract for the US Navy and Thailand announced on 1 July. The price breakdown was not released.
The contract announcement follows an August 2012 notification by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency that outlined a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Thailand of nine ESSM all-up rounds and associated equipment (including three Mk 25 Quad Pack canisters and four Mk 783 shipping containers), parts, training, and logistical support at an estimated cost of USD18 million.
(Jane's)
03 Juli 2013
JAS-39 Gripen (photo : SaabGroup)
MANILA, (PNA) -– Swedish-made supersonic Gripen plane is emerging as the next generation of jet fighter aircraft being considered by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) for its long-overdue modernization program.
A random interview conducted by Philippines News Agency on Tuesday indicated that PAF pilots prefer the Gripen jet-fighters to other types (of fighter planes) because of its lower cost, yet armed with sophisticated latest stand-off long-range anti-ship weapons and air-to-air missiles.
These are highly accurate weapons that can be unleashed even if the target is 80 kilometers away.
The air-to-air missiles can be fired beyond visual range of the pilot.
Gripen has a top speed of 1,552 miles per hour.
Gripen jet-fighter plane in flight the PAF is eyeing to acquire for its modernization. (Photo courtesy of SAAB)
Representatives from Gripen were in Manila last month to participate in the annual PAF symposium held at the Mall of Asia in suburban Pasay City. They said they would be happy to sell to the Philippines the multi-role Gripen fighter jets.
Gripen is manufactured by SAAB.
In its brochure distributed to the press, SAAB says that Gripen is cost-effective, new generation multi-role aircraft in the market.
The multi-role Gripen fighter aircraft costs US$ 60 million apiece while other similar planes cost as much as US$ 80 each or more.
Thailand has already purchased 12 Gripen jet-fighters while Malaysia is planning to buy the aircraft.
Aside from Sweden Air Force which bought over 200 Gripens, other countries that have Gripen in their arsenals are South Africa 26, Hungary 14, Czech Republic 14.
The United Kingdom also bought some Gripen planes but there was no mention as to the number of units it acquired from Sweden.
Gripen can take-off and land in short runways, cost-effective, tailor-made and top-of-the-line aircraft comparable to the world’s best.
“Gripen represents the ultimate in operational efficiency capable of fulfilling a range of roles, either alone or as part of a wider defense network,” SAAB said.
It also says that Gripen is “the world’s most agile fighter for close combat.
SAAB has incorporated a state-of-the art weapon system as Gripen has look-down/shoot-down capability in air combat in engaging aircraft, missiles, and even the smallest, low-flying targets.
Gripen is also difficult to match in any air combat situation.
The government is also considering the acquisition of the Korean-made jet-trainer plane that can also be used as an interim fighter aircraft.
It may be recalled that shortly after World War II up to the ‘70s, PAF was second to none in Southeast Asia in terms of air power.
But PAF has degenerated into weakling Air Force after it had phased out its fighter aircraft such as the F-86 Sabre jets, F-8 Crusaders and the F-5 “Freedom Fighters” without any replacement to date, exposing Philippine airspace unguarded since 2005 when the last of the F-5 jets were retired for good without replacement.
As a consequence intruding foreign aircraft enter Philippine airspace without being intercepted.
Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz, PAF commanding general, has been calling for the modernization of the Air Force to meet the security needs of the country.
Seeing the predicament of the Air Force, President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday vowed to provide the PAF with jet fighters, radars and other modern equipment before he steps down from office in 2016.
“I assure you that before I step down from office, our skies will be guarded by modern air assets,” the President said in a speech during the 66th PAF anniversary at Clark in Pampanga.
The President said the amount of P75 billion has been appropriated for the implementation of the New Modernization Act of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the next five years.
(PNA)
