KAI Aims to Set the Price of KF-X Fighter at $65 million

05 April 2021

KF-X fighter jet (photo : ROK Armed Forces)

KAI sets sights on Asia No. 1 in ‘new space’ era

KAI expressed a determination to reignite aircraft exports this year, which had been dealt a massive blow from the coronavirus outbreak.

“Last year, KAI was this close to exporting three Surion choppers to Indonesia, but the deal was called off due to COVID-19. Also, KAI was in a favorable situation to export Surion choppers and KT-1 basic training aircraft to the Philippines, but the country sliced defense budget amid the pandemic,” KAI CEO Ahn Hyun-ho said.

“This year, we are hoping to export two FA-50 advanced trainer jets to Thailand. Also, we are concentrating our efforts to export FA-50 jets to Columbia and Malaysia.”

The pandemic also almost crippled the company’s much-anticipated KF-X project.

“The KF-X program requires key components imported from Europe and the US. However, the pandemic triggered shutdowns in those regions, pushing back the project’s schedule by six months. ... we managed to put things back on track at the end of December. I can’t thank my staff and executives enough who slept at the office to solve this issue,” Ahn said.

KAI will hold a launching event of the 4.5-generation stealth fighter jet in the second week of this month, according to the CEO.

Starting 2028, KAI will begin the export of the KF-X aircraft based on its competitiveness in price.

“It takes about 100 billion won to 200 billion won to acquire one F-35 fighter jet. Lockheed Martin aims to bring down the price to $80 million per unit, but the maintenance costs are so high that even the US is considering to develop new 4.5 generation fighters or upgrade existing fighters,” said Ryu Kwang-su, head of aircraft program division.

“KAI aims to set the price of KF-X fighter at $65 million with minimized maintenance costs. Our analysis says that such price range will offer KF-X a competitive edge in the global export market.”

See full artcle KoreaHerald

Lapan Uji-coba LSU-02 VTOL Hybrid UAV

05 April 2021

Uji coba LSU-02 VTOL UAV (all photos : Pustekbang Lapan)

Pada tanggal 9 Februari sampai dengan 12 Februari 2021 telah dilaksanakan uji terbang LSU-02 VTOL Hybrid di Pamengpeuk.

Tahapan yang ditempuh antara lain :

a) asembly komponen airframe LSU-02 VTOL

b) penimbangan pesawat dengan komposisi berbeda

c) uji ketahanan (endurance) baterai VTOL dengan cara Hovering selama 2 menit 38 detik

d) uji terbang auto take-off and landing (Hovering)

e) integrasi kompartemen pada pesawat

f) pengujian dropping kompartemen, dan yang terakhir dilanjutkan kegiatan

g) training pengoperasian pesawat

Hasilnya sebagai berikut :

1) Platform pesawat basic LSU-02 VTOL telah dapat diterbangkan secara penuh (full flight profile) dengan kendali otomatis (autonomous mode)

2) Kapasitas penuh dari tangki bahan bakar pesawat adalah 3.8 liter, jadi estimasi (acuan kecepatan cruise 26 m/s) total endurance pesawat adalah 3 jam dan total range 280 km

3) Parameter diatas dapat dijadikan acuan untuk menentukan safety factor dari Endurance dan Range pesawat ketika sudah terpasang sistem kargo karena berat pesawat + sistem kargo adalah 20 kg sehingga jika diisi bahan bakar dengan kapasistas maksimum (3.8 ltr) maka berat nya menjadi 23 kg. Penambahan berat Take-Off Weight ini dengan memperhatikan beberapa hal yaitu terkait dengan kekuatan struktur sayap, kecepatan stall pesawat, dan konsumsi daya sistem VTOL serta kapasitas baterainya.

(Pustekbang Lapan)

Boeing Awarded Contract Modification to Build Two More P-8A Aircraft for RAAF and Nine for USN

05 April 2021

Currently RAAF operates 12 P-8A and will add two more with this order (photo : Aus DoD)

Boeing has secured a USD1.63 billion contract modification to manufacture 11 P-8A maritime multimission aircraft: nine for the US Navy (USN) and two for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The Pentagon announced on 31 March that work on the ‘Lot 12’ production aircraft is to be completed by September 2024.

The contract award comes after the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced on 30 December 2020 that the country had exercised the option to acquire two more P-8A to add to the 12 already in RAAF service.

“These additional aircraft will enhance the air force’s flexibility to support multiple operations and will play an important role in ensuring Australia’s maritime region is secure for generations to come,” said then-Defence Minister Linda Reynolds. She added that “the Poseidon is a proven capability that will conduct [a number of] tasks, including anti-submarine warfare; maritime and overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and support to search-and-rescue missions”.

A month earlier, on 28 February, the Pentagon had awarded Raytheon a USD32.8 million contract modification to exercise an option to procure 11 APY-10 radar system production kits for USN and RAAF P-8A Poseidons.

(Jane's)

Kapal Selam KRI Ardadedali-404 tiba di Natuna

05 April 2021

KRI Ardadedali 404 sandar di pangkalan Natuna (photos : Antara)

RIAU24.COM -  Kapal selam tempur yang diproduksi di galangan Daewoo Shipbulding and Marine Engineering Co, Ltd (DSME), Korea Selatan pada 2018 lalu, KRI Ardadedali tiba di Natuna.

Kapal selam bermesin diesel elektrik ini tiba di Pelabuhan Pangkalan TNI AL Ranai, Natuna, Kepulauan Riau, Minggu, 4 April 2021 dikutip dari sindonews.com,

Kapal selam ini dilengkapi peluncur torpedo 533 milimeter, serta memiliki peluru kendali anti kapal permukaan yang merupakan modernisasi armada kapal selam TNI AL.

Untuk diketahui, kapal selam ini merupakan salah satu dari tiga kapal selam yang dipesan Indonesia dari Korea Selatan. Pembuatannya dilakukan oleh di galangan DSME dan satu lainnya di PT PAL Surabaya.

Nama Ardadedali diambil dari salah satu nama senjata panah yang dimiliki oleh salah satu tokoh wayang di Mahabharata, Arjuna.

(Riau24)

The S-70B ASW Helicopter of RTN Fired the Mk 46 Light Torpedo for the First Time

05 April 2021

The torpedo running right on the  underwater target (designed by LCDR Sarut Puangragsa) at a depth of 25 meters and  at 500 yards from the position at which the torpedo was loosed (all photos : RTN)

Annual Navy Training 2021 on 2 April 2021 by HTMS Chakri Naruebet CVH-911 who returned from training in the Andaman Sea at the end of March. Sailing to the Gulf of Thailand in early April  has acted as an operating base for a S-70B anti submarine helicopter.

One Sikorsky S-70B (SH-60B) Seahawk mounted with Light Torpedo Anti Submarine Mk 46 Mod 5 with a corvette HTMS Rattanakosin FS-441 as a control ship for Anti-Submarine Warfare, in which S-70B Seahawk fired a light torpedo Mk 46 with a real warhead (Live Warhead) destroying underwater targets for the first time.

The Royal Thai Navy has shown a picture of a training that has led the S-70B with a light torpedo Mk 46 for the first time in the Guardian Sea 2016 combination exercise between the Royal Thai Navy and the US Navy, but as a trainee.

Practice which in the submarine warfare, a helicopter carrier or a frigate with a landing the aft of the ship will serve as a flight base for  pick-up and drop-off anti submarine helicopter. The control ship will serve to detect underwater targets from a distance and give orders. The helicopter flew towards the target as a torpedo-shooting system to destroy the target.

The Royal Thai Navy has ordered a more modern US anti-submarine Mk 54 torpedo supplying, but it still does not appear to be installed with S-70B.

(AAG)

Tingkatkan Profesionalisme Para Fighter, Lanud Iswahjudi Gelar Terbang Malam

04 April 2021

Latihan terbang malam fighter Lanud Iswahjudi (photos : TNI AU)

TNI AU - Tingkatkan profesionalisme dan kesiapsiagaan para penerbangnya, Lanud Iswahjudi laksanakan latihan terbang malam, Rabu (31/3/21).

Para Fighter dari Skadron Udara 3 dengan pesawat F-16 Fighting Falcon, Skadron Udara 14 dengan pesawat Sukhoi Su 27/30 dan Skadron Udara 15, dengan pesawat T-50i Golden Eagle menghiasi malam di seputar area latihan aerodrome Lanud Iswahjudi untuk meningkatkan kemampuan terbangnya selama dua pekan ke depan.

Selama pelaksanaan Latihan terbang malam Komandan Lanud Iswahjudi Marsma TNI M. Untung Suropati, SE, menekankan kepada para penerbang dan pendukung penerbangan, untuk melakukan check and re-check sebelum pelaksanaan latihan. “Laksanakan latihan sesuai dengan prosedur dan utamakan keselamatan terbang dan kerja, mengingat intensitas hujan di Lanud Iswahjudi masih sering terjadi,” tegas Danlanud Iswahjudi.

Melalui Latihan ini, selain meningkatkan kemampuan para fighter, juga untuk meningkatkan kesiapan pesawat juga ground crew-nya, guna mengantisipasi kemungkinan terjadinya ancaman, gangguan serta pelanggaran wilayah udara Indonesia oleh pihak lain yang mungkin saja terjadi pada waktu siang maupun malam hari.

(TNI AU)

HMAS Pirie Decommissions in Darwin

04 Maret 2021

HMAS Pirie arrives in Darwin for the final time (photo : Aus DoD)

The Royal Australian Navy decommissioned Armidale Class Patrol Boat HMAS Pirie on Friday after 15 years of service.

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, AO, RAN addressed the ceremony at HMAS Coonawarra Darwin and recognised the valuable contribution made by the men and women who have served in Pirie.

“HMAS Pirie and her Ship’s Company have lived up to the ship’s motto “mark of quality.” They have served the people of Australia, protecting our nation’s borders and offshore maritime interests with dedication and professionalism,” Vice Admiral Noonan said.

“Today, we reflect on their contribution and look to our future.

“Pirie is the first of two Armidale Class patrol boats to be decommissioned this year as we transition to our 12 Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels.

“While there is a nostalgia in farewelling one of our workhorses, it is an exciting time to serve, as Navy undergoes the most significant recapitalisation of the fleet.

“The new Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels will provide a significant increase in capability and enhance our capacity to patrol our maritime territory and near region.”

HMAS Pirie Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Sean Dalton said it had been a privilege bringing Pirie and her crew home for the last time.

“Pirie has sailed more than 426,000 nautical miles in her lifetime, travelling from as far east as Samoa, west to the Cocos Keeling Islands, south to the Bass Strait, and as far north as Qingdao, China,” Lieutenant Commander Dalton said.

Throughout her commission, Pirie conducted intercept and control of both foreign fishing vessels and suspected irregular entry vessels, along with regularly providing support to the civil community. She has also taken part in diplomatic, ceremonial and commemorative events with Australia’s regional partners.

(Aus DoD)