FA-50PHs Need to be Equipped with Air-to-Air Missiles Soon

02 Desember 2015

F/A-50PH aircraft (photo : Frances Mangosing)

MANILA (PNA) --- To further enhance its capability, the brand-new South Korean-made FA-50PHs must be equipped with modern air-to-air missiles at the soonest possible time.

This was disclosed by Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson Col. Enrico Canaya who said the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) made jet planes must be armed with at least heat-seeking missiles to be effective in its proposed interception role.

"(Aside from 20mm cannons), the FA-50PHs must be armed with at least heat-seeking missiles," he said in Filipino.

As of this posting, President Benigno S. Aquino III has approved Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin's request to enter into a "Multi-Year Contract" for seven acquisition projects which include munitions for the FA-50PHs.

"PNoy (President Aquino) has approved the request of DND for SND to be authorized to enter into Multi-Year-Contract. The approval will pave the way for the acquisition of two frigates for the Philippine Navy; anti-submarine helicopters and amphibious assault vehicle for PN; long-range patrol aircraft, close-air support aircraft, munitions for FA-50 and air surveillance for the Philippine Air Force," Department of National Defense undersecretary for finance, munitions, materiel and modernization Fernando Manalo earlier said.

Payment from the seven projects will run from 2015 to 2018.

Granting of the MYC will allow to pursue the military modernization program beyond Aquino's term.

Total value of the seven projects is about Php44 billion.

(PNA)

Japan Submits Bid for Huge Australian Submarine Contract

01 Desember 2015

Japan concept for SEA 1000 (photo : adbr)

Japan on Monday submitted its bid for Australia’s multi-billion dollar submarine contract, a deal that France and Germany are also desperate to win.

Australia has solicited bids for a project worth up to 50 billion Australian dollars ($36 billion) to replace its current diesel-electric Collins-class submarines, with a Monday deadline to submit final proposals.

A Defense Ministry official in Tokyo said Japan’s proposal includes plans to build the submarines in Australia, which is keen to secure more jobs in connection with the project.

The Abe administration substantially relaxed regulations on arms exports in April 2014. Winning the Australian sub deal would provide major impetus to Japan’s plans to export defense equipment to countries such as India and the Philippines.

Australia plans to spend some AU$20 billion to build as many as 12 submarines to replace its aging fleet.

The government-led Japanese team with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. has proposed the world’s first lithium ion battery-powered submarines against Germany’s plan to enlarge its export model and France’s nuclear subs.

Rival bidders DCNS SA of France and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems GmbH of Germany have also offered to build the submarines in Australia and generate jobs.

The Defense Ministry official said Japan is “confident” its proposal will win, without disclosing further details, including proposed expenses and the construction period.

During a visit to Australia in November, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said picking Japan could help ensure maritime security in the Asia-Pacific, alluding to the importance of regional allies such as the U.S., Japan and Australia working together in the face of China’s growing military might.

For Australia, cooperating with Japan on a defense project risks angering China, its biggest trading partner.

The tender process has been politically sensitive, with Canberra keen to maximize Australian industry involvement and jobs. There are fears that an off-the-shelf purchase would kill off the domestic shipbuilding industry.

(The Japan Times)

Coast Guard Vessel 8005 was Launched in Da Nang

01 Desember 2015

Vietnamese Coast Guard Vessel 8005 (DN 2000 class) (photo : chinhphu, datviet)

On 30/11, the feast of the Coast Guard Vessel 8005 took place in the city of Da Nang in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc; Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Cung, Vice Minister of Defense.

8005 Coast Guard ship advanced design, modern, 2nd ship in a series of versatile DN2000 Song Thu by the Corporation under the Directorate of Defense Industry, the Ministry of Defence building.

8005 ships fully meet international standards by the Dutch Damen Group transfer was completed after 12 months.

The main task of 8005 is to patrol and protect sovereignty over sea and islands, law enforcement on the waters and the continental shelf; search and rescue operations in waters of Vietnam and international, pull the rescue ship in distress ...

With a volume of 2,400 tons of water relaxation, CSB 8005 vessel operating range of 5,000 nautical miles, while operating continuously at sea 40 days and nights. The vessel is closed within 12 months and is expected after three months will conduct handover (previously it took 18 months to close the vessel finished CSB 8002) to force Vietnam Coast Guard launched.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the events continue this important new development marks of force Vietnam Coast Guard and the defense industry in Vietnam.

Shipbuilding program, procurement of equipment for the police force and marine fishery control by the Government tasked the Defense Ministry, the ministries concerned made to meet the requirements of promoting economic development in the sea associated with enhanced protection sacred island sovereignty of the country in the new situation, capacity building for law enforcement forces on marine function of Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister stressed.

Also in 8005 Vessel ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister direct the Coast Guard to constantly improve the quality of training, exercise and combat plans; coordination with navies hold a pivotal role in the sea; synergistically with other forces and people throughout the country in the protection of maritime sovereignty and islands, the continental shelf and protect national interests, protect fishermen at sea and maritime economic interests; master responses, flexible handling situations happen at sea; managing and maintaining security at sea in accordance with law of Vietnam and international.

Besides, serious marine police maintain law enforcement at sea and perform other tasks such good crime prevention, prevention of smuggling and drug trafficking at sea, search and rescue, rescue ; steering management, effective use, saving budget resources for shipbuilding projects under the Resolution of the National Assembly as well as the project of strengthening equipment, vehicles and vessels for the Coast Guard ...

With the direct leadership, fierce heads the Defense Ministry and the inspection and strict supervision of the Coast Guard Command, the deployment of shipbuilding projects under this program are guaranteed on schedule , quality, savings, reduce costs; compliance with regulations on management of construction investment and management rules of military shipbuilding.

(BaoDatViet)

TKMS Submits Bid to Build Future Submarines

01 Desember 2015

TKMS has submitted its proposal for SEA 1000 (photo : adbr)

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has submitted its offer under the SEA 1000 competitive evaluation process, as Germany competes with France and Japan to be selected as the international partner for the Future Submarine program.

A joint TKMS team of some 200 submarine experts from Australia and Germany joined forces for the effort known as Project Endeavour.

“We are very proud of our submission, which we delivered to the government today in Canberra,” said Dr John White, chairman of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Australia. “Our engineers from Australia and Germany have combined to put all their experience and know-how to offer Australia a regionally superior submarine fleet tailored to the specific requirements of the Royal Australian Navy.”

Dr White stated that the response addresses the needs of Defence, and meets all fiscal, technical and capacity requirements.

“If successful, we will introduce new digital shipyard technologies to Australia that will revolutionise the way ships are built in the future,” he said. “After going through this intense process, ThyssenKrupp is totally confident that Australia has both the capacity and the capabilities to construct and deliver a new generation of submarines.”

The federal government announced in February that Defence would undertake the competitive evaluation process to assess which country is best placed to partner with Australia to develop the Future Submarine.

“The [Future] Submarine can be a core part of a viable national shipbuilding industry that brings local economic benefits and creates long-term employment for skilled workers,” Dr White continued.

“We were impressed by the specific skills and the technical, engineering and manufacturing knowledge of the over 500 potential Australian suppliers we engaged with during our national industry consultation process. This experience confirmed our confidence that Australia has the required capabilities to build submarines and [Future] Frigates here.

“We intend to utilise the local shipbuilding capacity to develop Australia as a regional hub to service our submarine and surface ship maintenance needs for the Asia Pacific region; this is effectively helping to create a new export industry for the country.”

(ADBR)

Len Kirim Radio VHF LenVDR10-MP untuk Seluruh Batalyon TNI

01 Desember 2015

Radio VHF manpack LenVDR10-MP (photo : Len, Dislitbangad)

Antarajabar.com - PT Len Industri (Persero) mengirimkan 734 unit alat komunikasi Radio VHF Manpack tipe LenVDR10-MP berikut perlengkapannya untuk TNI Angkatan Darat yang siap dioperasikan ke semua batalyon di Indonesia dari Aceh hingga Papua.

"Jadi alhamdulillah 734 unit Radio Manpack tipe LenVDR10-MP dan kita akan deliver bertahap. Hari ini sekitar 400 unit dan sisa sekian unit dikirim pada hari Rabu mendatang (2/12), sekaligus mulai pengetesan," kata Direktur Utama PT Len Industri (Persero) Abraham Mose, di Bandung, Senin.

Pihaknya mengaku bangga bisa diberikan kesempatan pertama kalinya oleh TNI AD untuk membuat alat komunikasi radio VHF tersebut karena selama ini untuk memenuhi kebutuhan alat komunikasi itu, TNI AD masih mengimpor dari Perancis.

Ia menuturkan pengerjaan kontrak pembuatan alat komunikasi Radio VHF LendVRDR10-MP itu membutuhkan waktu yang cukup singkat yakni sekitar tujuh bulan darii Mei hingga November 2015.

"Namun ada sedikit masalah dikontruksinya. Ini waktu yang relatif singkat, tapi alhamdulillah kita bisa komit dan untuk kami diberikan kesempatan sehingga hari ini bisa mengirimkan 734 unit secara bertahap," kata dia.

Seluruh software, brainware, desain/kontruksi dari alat komunikasi Radio VHF LenVDR10-MP tersebut dibuat di dalam negeri.

"Memang untuk komponen, ini problem nasional kalau bicara produk elektronik dari luar karena industrinya belum ada di Indonesia. Kurang lebih (50 persen komponen impor) dan nilai kontraknya relatif masih kecil yakni Rp66 miliar," ujar dia.

Proses produksi radio udah menggunakan mesin Surface Mount Technology atau SMT yakni teknologi terkini yang digunakan untuk memasang komponen elektronik ke permukaan PCB.

Dengan adanya teknologi SMT, peralatan atau gadget elektronik saat ini sudah dapat didesain dengan ukuran yang lebih kecil karena mesin SMT memiliki kemampuan yang dapat memasangkan chip yang berukuran kecil hingga 0,4 mm x 0,2 mm (Chip SMD resistor 0402) dengan kecepatan sangat tinggi.

Selain itu, dalam kontrak juga terdapat ToT (Transfer of Technology) antara PT Len dengan TNI di mana Len akan melakukan transfer teknologi kepada Bengkel Pusat Perhubungan TNI AD, di bawah koordinasi Direktor Perhubungan Darat yakni tempat pemeliharaan semua perangkat komunikasi di TNI AD.

Berkomunikasi Tanpa Terlacak

Lebih Lanjut Abraham Mose mengatakan alkom Radio VHF LenVDR10-MP tersebut memiliki beberapa kelebihan seperti sistem komunikasi digitalnya didesain dan dibuat sendiri algoritmanya oleh Len dan diperkuat dengan sistem kemanan baik dari segi transec (transceiver security) dan comsec (communication security) yang telah dikembangkan sejak lama oleh para teknisi Len.

Ia menambahkan dari segi transec, LenVDR10-MP sudah menerapkan teknologi hopping 100 hop/second, artinya dalam satu detik komunikasi terjadi perubahan frekuensi 100 kali.
"Iya itu (berkomunikasi tanpa terlacak) karena hoppingnya 100 hop per second jadi 100 kali hop dalam satu detik. Sedangkan dari segi comsec LenVDR10-MP ini telah menggunakan enkripsi daya berbasis AES 128," kata dia.

Sementara itu, Wakil Direktur Perhubungan TNI AD Kolonel Chb Sonny W Pondaag menambahkan pihaknya menyampaikan rasa terima kasih karena bisa bekerjasama dengan PT Len Industri (Persero) dalam pembuatan alat komunikasi Radio VHF LenVDR10-MP tersebut.

"Dan alkom radion ini sudah diuji coba di medan hutan karet, dan sudah cukup bagus dan membanggakan dan karena seperti yang dilaporkan tadi hoppingnya 100 hopping per detiknya," kata Sonny.

(Antara)

Air Force Revealed 927th Fighter Regiment Equipped with Su-30MK2

30 November 2015

927th Air Force Regiment (Lam Son squadron) will be the third unit equipped with the modern fighter Su-30MK2 (photo : Soha)

In reportage titled "Lam son ... tame 'cobra' " published by the People's Army issued on 21/10/2015 revealed that Third Air Force Regiment of Vietnam was equipped Su-30MK2 aircraft.

Accordingly: "Since 2014, the Air Force Lam son squadron, ie 927th Air Force Regiment (371st Air Force Division) has maneuver force to 923rd Air Force Regiment (also under Division 371), trained to do Su-30MK2 aircraft owners ... ".

Thus it is possible that the pilot conversion learner modern fighter regiment 927 was deployed from 2014.

927th Air Force Regiment (Lam son squadron) stationed at the Kép airport (VVKP), task force protecting the airspace north of the country.

The previous year, the regiment was operating the MiG-21, so the conversion training for pilots are put on top.

923rd Air Force Regiment, which is operating the Su-30MK2 fighter was chosen to ensure that the Lam son squadron can "take a shortcut to head", ready to absorb and master the modern fighter.

So far, the pilots of Regiment 927 has been chosen fly Su-30MK2 trained by the foreign experts.

Pilots have accumulated a large number of flight hours as: Colonel pilot Nguyen Van Thien, chief Regiment 927 with 400 flying hours on Su-30MK2 ; Captain Le Hoai Nam with 120 flight hours.

Besides the pilots' technical team, who play a key role helping each takeoff flight safety are also conversion training. Currently the technical personnel of the Regiment 927 was employed, independent activities and effective exploitation of Su-30MK2.

In addition to human factors, infrastructure facilities are stationed at the regiment was also completed with the upgrading of Kép airport runways, pilot houses, etc.

Thus, with the upcoming Vietnam will receive 12 Su-30MK2 enough (bringing the total number of aircraft of this type to the number 36), the Regiment 927 will be able to receive and operate.

Colonel Nguyen Van Thien pilot said, "... are willing to absorb and master Su-30MK2 to be on equipment".

(Soha)

Thailand Menerima Kiriman 2 Helikopter M-17V5

30 November 2015

Kedatangan dua helikopter Mi-17V5 Angkatan Darat Thailand (all photos : GSAB) 

Pada kamis 26 November 2015 lalu dengan menumpang pesawat angkut raksasa Antonov An-124 di bandara U Tapao Thailand sekitar 100 km selatan Bangkok telah datang kiriman dua helikopter Mi-17V5 dengan nomor ekor 76404 dan 76405 dari Rusia.

Kiriman 2 helikopter ini merupakan pesanan Angkatan Darat Thailand yang kontraknya dilakukan pada bulan Juli 2014 lalu, dimana penandatanganan pesanan 2 helikopter Mi-17V5 ini dilakukan di Moscow, Rusia.

Kedua helikopter angkut sedang Mi-17V5 ini akan bertugas ke dalam kesatuan General Aviation Support Battalion (GSAB) untuk mendukung mobilitas Divisi Infantri ke-4 Angkatan Darat Thailand.

Kesatuan GSAB dengan call sign Goliath (GLA) bermarkas di Sa Pran Nak, provonsi Lopburi, Thailand Tengah.

Sebelumnya GSAB telah menerima kiriman tiga helikopter Mi-17V5 pada tahun 2011, dengan demikian GSAB akan mengoperasikan lima helikopter jenis ini. 

General Support Aviation Battalion Angkatan Darat Thailand saat ini mengoperasikan tiga jenis helikopter yaitu Bell UH-1H, Boeing CH-47D Chinook, dan Mil Mi-17V5.

(Defense Studies)