Navy Base in Cebu Due for Upgrade to Handle Bigger Ships

12 Juli 2018

Total displacement for PN's SSV reach to 11.000 tonnes (photo : US Navy)

MANILA -- The government has allocated PHP1 billion for the upgrading and other improvements of Naval Base Rafael Ramos in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu to make it accessible to the present and future frigates that will be acquired by the Philippine Navy (PN).

In an interview Monday, PN spokesperson Cmdr. Jonathan Zata said the bidding process for the project started last week.

"Kaya naman in-undertake yang project na ‘yan, although matagal na ‘yan kung tutuusin (The project was undertaken, although it was long overdue), (it) is intended for our frigates. We're expecting our frigates to be here by 2020, para na s’yang, meron na tayong pier or wharf na madidikitan para sa bagong frigates natin (so that we will have a pier or wharf for our new frigates)," he added.

The improvements eyed for Naval Base Rafael Ramos include dredging, primary and secondary roads, drainage systems, proposed slope protections, a 152 meter by 12 meter wharf, a 105 meter by 165 meter beaching ramp, and 225 meter by 20 meter berthing area among others.

The PN is expecting the delivery of the first of 2,500 gross-ton two-missile-armed frigates from Hyundai Heavy Industries by 2020 with the second scheduled to be delivered by 2021.

These ships are expected to augment the three 3,200 gross-ton Del Pilar-class frigates (formerly the US Hamilton-class cutters) now in PN service.

Other large ships in the PN inventory are the two strategic sealift vessels, the 7,000-gross ton BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602).

Zata said there is a pressing need for the PN to improve the above-mentioned naval base as its frigates and other large ships in the fleet have no home port to speak of.

At present, these large Navy ships are anchoring off Subic Bay and Pier 13, Manila South Harbor.

Once these upgrades are completed, the PN spokesperson said Naval Base Rafael Ramos will be the first-ever facility capable of handling large vessels. 

(PNA)

TNI AU Akan Kirim Pilot dan Teknisi Su-35 ke Rusia

12 Juli 2018

Pesawat tempur Su-35 (photo : TASS)

Madiunpos.com, MAGETAN – TNI Angkatan Udara akan mengirim pilot dan teknisi ke Rusia untuk mempelajari hardware dan software pesawat tempur Sukhoi Su-35. Pengiriman pilot dan teknisi ini sebagai persiapan kedatangan pesawat tempur tersebut di Lanud Iswahjudi.

Hal itu disampaikan Sekdis Dinas Aeronautika Angkatan Udara (Disaeroau), Kolonel Tek Bambang Triono, saat meninjau kesiapan Lanud Iswahjudi terutama bidang personel, operasi, dan logistik sebelum kedatangan pesawat tempur Sukhoi Su-35, Selasa (10/7/2018).

Kolonel Tek Bambang Triono menuturkan pihaknya segera mengirim para pilot dan teknisi untuk alih teknologi terkait hardware dan software Sukhoi Su-35 ke Rusia. Alih teknologi ini penting dilakukan sebelum delapan unit pesawat tempur itu tiba di Lanud Iswahjudi.

Dia menuturkan secara bertahap pesawat tempur Sukhoi Su-35 akan tiba di Indonesia mulai bulan Agustus 2019. "Kami berharap pada tahun 2019. Kami sudah mempunyai delapan pesawat Sukhoi Su-35 full combat," kata dia dalam siaran pers dari Lanud Iswahjudi, Rabu (11/7/2018).

Bambang menyampaikan pembelian pesawat tempur Sukhoi Su-35 ini untuk menggantikan pesawat F-5. Selain itu, pesawat tempur ini juga untuk meningkatkan pertahanan dan keamanan nasional.

Kesepakatan imbal beli pesawat Sukhoi Su-35 ini sudah diteken oleh Indonesia dan Rusia sejak 10 Agustus 2017 lalu. Pada saat itu, kesepakatan pemerintah Rusia akan membeli lebih dari satu komoditas ekspor  milik Indonesia. Berbagai pilihan komoditas ekspor itu seperti CPO dan turunannya, mesin, kopi dan turunannya, kakao dan turunannya, tekstil, teh, alas kaki, ikan olahan, furnitur, kopra, plastik dan turunannya, kertas, rempah-rempah, produk industri pertahanan, dan produk lainnya.

Kedatangan Kolonel Tek Bambang Triono disambut Danlanud Iswahjudi, Marsma TNI Samsul Rizal. Setelah menerima paparan dari Disaeroau kemudian dilanjutkan dengan peninjauan tempat yang nantinya digunakan sebagai hanggar pesawat tempur Sukhoi Su-35.

(SoloPos)

Thai Army Tests Firing of the ATMM 120mm Mortar

11 Juli 2018

Firing test of Autonomous Truck Mounted Mortar (all photos : Division of Military Technology)

On 4 July Royal Thai Army Infantry Center at Artillery Firing Range, Artillery Center, Fort Phaholyothin (Phahonyothin), Lopburi Province held firing test of 120mm ATMM.

The 120mm Autonomous Truck Mounted Mortar-ATMM operated by the Royal Thai Air Force Training Center at the Royal Thai Artillery Training Ground Khao Phlun Army Artillery Center in Lopburi province.

It is a milestone in the development of the project. Weapon Production Center Defense Industry and Energy Center, Ministry of Defense together with Elbit Systems Land and C4I, Israel, the series will feature shooting tests and demonstrations of at least two ATMM 120mm rubber bombs, together with surveillance and pointing systems. Forward Observer and Company Fire Direction Center.

ATM's rubber wheel is based on the 120mm Elbit Soltam SPEAR launch platform mounted on the truck. Automatic fire detection system (automatic coordinates and direction) and automatic fire control and firing system.

Engine mounted on military trucks. TATA 715c 4x4 size 2.5tons of India with engine power 155HP. Tank capacity 200liter. Operating range 350km. Top speed on road 80km/h. Top speed on terrain 30km/h.

The military says the TATA is a military truck used by the Indian Army. which has the capacity and durability to meet the needs of civilian trucks such as Isuzu or Hino can not meet this demand.

Shotgun firing axle rubber ATMM 120mm with shot angle 800-1511mils 800mils left shank 800mils right shank 800mils, distance shot 5.6km, distance shot with 120 seconds shooting rate 10 shots per minute with 4 gunner.

It will produce the 9th Infantry Regiment Heavy Bomb Regiment and 1 Infantry Training Center for 10 training systems, including the company's automatic fire control and firing 4 system, and arrow 1 system, total 5 systems.


The ATMM prototypes have been tested successfully in Israel and have already delivered four systems, all of which will be delivered to users in the future.

ATMM 120mm is a joint development project between Israel and Thailand. The second project is the development of a self propelled howitzer. The ATMG: Autonomous Truck Mounted Gun 155mm six systems for Thailand Army Corps Artillery, and six systems was ordered by Thai Marines that was created in Thailand by technology transfer from the Elbit company Israel.

(AAG)

IBD Unveils SMART PROTech Active Armour Solution

11 Juli 2018

Computer-generated image showing an MBT with passive kit (blue) and SMART PROTech protection (red). (image : IBD Deisenroth Engineering)

IBD Deisenroth Engineering (IBD) has disclosed development of a new active armour solution designed to protect main battle tanks and medium to heavy armoured fighting platforms against tandem warhead threats.

Modern anti-tank weapons – anti-tank rockets (ATRs) and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) – show penetration capabilities in the range of about 300 mm to 1400 mm rolled homogeneous armour (RHA). These high levels make it impossible to protect passive armour-equipped medium fighting platforms against these threat types. Even main battle tanks (MBTs) are difficult to protect in the upper range.

In addition, since MBTs must also be protected against large calibre kinetic energy (KE) rounds (120 mm/125 mm ammunition), the design of a polyvalent technology integrating efficient protection against both threat types, at an acceptable weight, has reached its limit, Michael Rust, Head of Marketing & Sales at IBD explained.

At present, two technologies have been designed to counter shaped-charge threats: Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA), an increasingly acceptable solution applied to medium and heavy combat platforms where the impact of a threat on an ERA module triggers an explosive charge expelling steel plates to defeat the shaped charge jet; and Active Protection Systems (APS), which are designed in various configurations to defeat the threat before it hits the vehicle. Early warning sensors are distributed around the platform to detect and track an incoming threat, and a countermeasure is subsequently launched from a launcher or directly from the hull to destroy the warhead.

Both of the technologies have their disadvantages, said Rust. “Tandem Shaped Charges have been specifically developed to defeat ERA protection. A pre-charge triggers the ERA module, the following main charge hits an empty area and can easily penetrate the hull. ERA also has a high areal density. APS are more complex; all components – sensors, controllers, software, launchers, countermeasures (CMs), and power supply – require thorough integration with the platform, and harmonisation with the passive protection system,” he added.

(Jane's)

Menteri Luhut Minta Tingkatkan Produksi Amunisi, Pindad Bangun Pabrik Baru

11 Juli 2018

Amunisi buatan Pindad (photo : Kumparan)

Menteri Koordinator Bidang Kemaritiman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, meminta PT Pindad (Persero) untuk meningkatkan kemampuan memproduksi amunisi dan propelan. "Jadi Pak Menko maunya dikurangi impor, jadi kemampuan dalam negeri ditambah," kata Direktur Utama Pindad, Abraham Mose seusai rapat di Kantor Kemenko Kemaritiman, Jakarta, Selasa (10/7).

Abraham menjelaskan, untuk memenuhi permintaan Luhut, perusahaan BUMN itu harus bisa mandiri dalam produksi amunisi dan propelan (bahan peledak pendorong peluru). Saat ini kebutuhan amunisi dan propelan masih harus dipenuhi dari impor.

"Untuk mandiri di amunisi berarti kita harus menambah kapasitas amunisi kita melalui investasi. Beliau (Luhut) minta segera Pindad memberikan proposal untuk pembangunan penambahan (pabrik) amunisi dan propelan," katanya seperti dikutip dari Antara.

Abraham mengatakan pihaknya diberi waktu dua minggu, untuk menyiapkan proposal kebutuhan investasi untuk pembangunan pabrik baru tersebut. Kendati demikian, ia belum dapat menyebut nilai investasi yang dibutuhkan untuk penambahan fasilitas produksi tersebut.

Abraham menjelaskan, saat ini kapasitas produksi amunisi Pindad mencapai sekitar 197 juta butir per tahun. Pada 2019 mendatang diharapkan bisa meningkat hingga 300 juta butir per tahun.

Ada pun produksi propelan diharapkan bisa meningkat menjadi 600-800 ton untuk mendukung produksi amunisi.

"Tadi belum sampai bicara kekurangan dana tapi (diminta) buatlah proposal untuk kapasitas misalnya 200 juta butir per tahun untuk munisi dan proplan bisa sampai 600 hingga 800 ton," tutup Abraham.

(Kumparan)

Proponent for Batch 4 Assault Crafts Now in Post-Qualification Phase

11 Juli 2018

MPAC Mk III (photo : Wiki)

MANILA -- The proponent for Batch 4 of the Multi-Purpose Assault Craft (MPAC) project is now undergoing the post-qualification phase, Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Friday.

"(The proponent for) Batch 4 of the MPACs are now subject to post-qualification. (These MPACs) have (almost) the same specifications (as the Batch 3) and will be armed each with the (Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd) Spike-ER (surface-to-surface missiles)," Andolong noted.

This project will consist of three boats, Andolong disclosed.

Batch 3 MPACs, which consists of three boats, were constructed by the Subic-based Propmech Corporation and activated on May 22, 2017.

All of the above-mentioned MPACs are being fitted with the Spike-ER launchers and missiles as of this posting.

Once these Batch 4 MPACs are constructed and activated, the Philippine Navy (PN) will be operating a force of 12 MPACs, with six of the vessels armed with the Israeli-made missile system.

The latter is the first missile system acquired by the PN and is capable of penetrating 1,000 mm (39 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor and has a range of eight kilometers.

(PNA)

Kiriman SPH M-109 Datang Lagi di Tanjung Priok

11 Juli 2018

Kedatangan howitzer M-109A4 BE di pelabuhan Tanjung Priok, Jakarta (all photos : IPC terminal, IMF)

Pada tanggal 9 Juli 2018 di pelabuhan Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, kapal kargo MV Hoegh Chiba berbendera Norwegia tiba dengan membawa sejumlah alutsista untuk TNI AD.

Adapun kali ini alutsista yang datang adalah jenis artileri swagerak beroda rantai (self propelled howitzer) jenis M-109 dengan rincian 18 unit M-109 A4 BE, 4 unit kendaraan command post dan 1 unit mobile crane (ARV).

Kendaraan yang didatangkan dari kota Antwerp, Belgia, ini akan melengkapi kiriman 18 SPH M-109 A4 BE yang telah datang sebelumnya pada tahun 2017. Sebagaimana diketahui, TNI AD membeli sejumlah howitzer swagerak second hand dari Belgia setelah sebelumnya menjalani proses upgrade terlebih dahulu.

Dengan kedatangan 36 unit SPH M-109 beserta kendaraan pendukungnya, maka TNI AD dapat membentuk 2 batalyon artileri swagerak kaliber 155mm.

(Defense Studies)