PH to Get More Black Hawk Choppers as Initial Funds Released

06 Januari 2022

PAF S-70i helicopter (photo : Rappler)

MANILA – The Philippines will have more assets for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions as initial funding for the acquisition of 32 additional Polish-made S-70i "Black Hawk" combat utility helicopters were released on December 27.

"We are delighted with the release of the SARO (Special Allotment Release Order). We really need more helicopters, primarily for HADR missions," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday night when asked to comment on the initial budget release for the acquisition of the aircraft.

The S-70i units of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) are currently hard at work, transporting relief supplies and rescue personnel to areas battered by Typhoon Odette last month.

They have also been utilized to transport coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines in geographically isolated areas in the country.

The Department of Budget and Management on December 27 released a SARO to the defense department, amounting to PHP1.6 billion "to cover the initial funding requirement for the additional utility helicopters acquisition project of the Philippine Air Force under the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program."

Lorenzana earlier expressed hope that the contracts for the S-70is and six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) would be finalized and signed by this month.

He also said the government has allocated PHP62 billion for the acquisition of 32 "Black Hawk" combat utility helicopters for the PAF and six OPVs for the Philippine Navy.

The PAF earlier completed the acquisition of 16 "Black Hawk" helicopters from the Polish company PZL Mielec worth USD241 million (about PHP11.5 billion).

The first batch of six "Black Hawk" helicopters was delivered in November 2020, followed by the second batch of five in June that was formally accepted, turned over, and blessed in a simple ceremony on October 13.

The last batch of five choppers was delivered on November 8 and formally accepted by the PAF on December 3.

One unit of the initial six units delivered to the country crashed on June 24, 2021 while on a night-flying exercise.

(PNA)

Kasau Tinjau Skadron H225M RSAF

06 Januari 2022

Kasau bersama helikopter H225M RSAF (photo : TNI AU)

TNI AU. Singapura – Dispenau. Kepala Staf Angkatan Udara (Kasau) Marsekal TNI Fadjar Prasetyo, S.E., M.P.P., mengunjungi Sembawang Air Base, dan meninjau Skadron helikopter H225M RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force), di Sqn 125 RSAF Senin lalu (3/1/2022).

Kedatangan Kasau disambut langsung CAF RSAF, MG Kelving Khong dan jajar kehormatan prajurit RSAF.

Kasau yang didampingi Korsahli Kasau, Asintel Kasau, Askomlek Kasau dan Kadispenau, berkesempatan terbang di atas Singapura menggunakan helikopter H225M, helikopter terbaru yang dioperasikan RSAF. Helikopter take off dari Sembawang Air Base dengan rute SBAB – SAFTI – St. John Island – Paya Lebar AB – SAAB.

Helikopter H225M RSAF (photo : Flug Revue)

Kasau sangat terkesan selama penerbangan familiarisasi berkeliling Singapura dari udara. Kasau mengaku dapat melihat lebih dekat kondisi Singapura.

“Saya sangat terkesan dengan penerbangan ini, karena dapat mengenali Singapura lebih dekat,” ujar Kasau.

Selain pejabat TNI AU, penerbangan tersebut juga diikuti pejabat RSAF, Comd PC. Col Teo Soo Yeow dan Defence Atache Jakarta, Col Nicholas Lim.

Di kesempatan yang sama, CAF RSAF, M.G. Kelvin Khong menyampaikan merasa terhormat atas kunjungan Kasau, karena menjadi negara pertama yang dikunjungi Kasau dalam kegiatan bilateral visit sebagai Kepala Staf Angkatan Udara. Kedua pimpinan angkatan udara meyakini kegiatan bilateral visit ini akan memberi manfaat signifikan dalam hubungan kedua angkatan udara.

(TNI AU)

Riverine Fast Attack Craft of Myanmar Navy

06 Januari 2022

Riverine FAC of the Myanmar Navy (all photos : Myanmar Defence Review)

Riverine Fast Attack Craft is a patrol boat designed and built by the Myanmar Navy. The ship measures 18 metres long with a beam of 4.4 metres and a draught of just 0.8 metre. The ship is light weight, shallow draught, and its water jets allow it to operate at speeds of up to 50 kmh.

The designed of the ship is believed to be inspired by the Super Dvora Mk3 and CB-90.

The Riverine Fast Attack Craft is specifically designed to meet the requirements of the riverine operations of the Myanmar Navy and it incorporated a number of innovative technologies. 

The water jets allow the ship to operate at high speed in shallow waters and it can execute extremely sharp turns at high speed, decelerate from top speed to a full stop in a short distance.

The ship also uses the glass cockpit system which displays all the information in the multi‐function touchscreen displays. 

The superstructure of the ship is covered with armour plates for better protection and the ship also carries 14 fully armed infantry squad inside the protected hull.

The ship is equipped with locally developed 14.5 mm RCWS (remote controlled weapon station) with the day/night electro optical device.

Apart from the fully stabilized 14.5 mm RCWS, the ship is also equipped with three 7.62 mm medium machine guns. However these 7.62 mm machine guns are interchangeable with other weapon system s such as .5 caliber machine guns, grenade launchers and even the infantry mortars.

Myanmar Navy intended to mass-produce the Riverine Fast Attack Craft and the Naval Dockyard can built 2-4 hips every years.

(MDR)

Production of Indigenous Thai Rifle Seen Delayed

05 Januari 2022

The Operators of Royal Thai Army (RTA), Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) were fire testing for domestic MOD963 rifles and MOD963AR carbines at 9th Infantry Division, Fort Surasi, Kanchanaburi Province in 5 November 2021 (all photos : AAG)

Weapon Production Center (WPC), Defense Industry and Energy Center (DIEC), Ministry of Defense of Thailand Announced the median price to procure of Machines in testing production line for domestic Rifles 5.56mm duration 1 year in 2022.

The problem of the MOD 963 20" rifle and the MOD 963 AR 14.5" assault rifle, caliber 5.56x45mm NATO, which are based on the NARAC556 family of rifles developed by the Thai NRC company that the Thai Ministry of Defense ordered, were revealed as continuously until the end of this year.

Both the problem of delays in the production of 16", 20", 16" and 14.5" barrel length prototypes that were delivered during June 2020-February 2021 and 25 MOD963 rifles and MOD963AR assault rifles delivered from February-September 2021.

For a period of 16 months, NRC was able to produce only 41 firearms delivered, and 17 defects and malfunctions were reported. National Defense Industry and Military Energy Center, NESDB will try to produce guns by itself, should be able to solve this problem.

(AAG)

PAL Siap Wujudkan Kapal Selam Whole Local Production Melalui PMN 2021

05 Januari 2021

PAL siap untuk mewujudkan whole local production kapal selam (photos : PAL)

Dilaksanakannya penyerahan Penyertaan Modal Negara (PMN) APBN TA 2021 oleh Kemenkeu kepada PT PAL Indonesia (Persero) pada Kamis (30/12) sebesar Rp1,28 triliun menjadi dorongan untuk melakukan peningkatan pada kemampuan produksi, SDM, dan fasilitas.

Pengelolaan PMN 2021 akan difokuskan pada perwujudan cita-cita pembangunan kapal selam yang sebelumnya berfokus ke Joint Section menjadi Whole Local Production. Dengan fasilitas produksi kapal selam yang meningkat, diharapkan dapat menimalisir ketergantungan akan industri alutsista luar negeri.

Dituturkan oleh Dirut PT PAL Indonesia (Persero), Bapak Kaharuddin Djenod, adapun peningkatan kemampuan produksi yang dimaksud ialah fasilitas-fasilitas yang akan dilengkapi, di antaranya pembangunan Ship Lift, Glassfiber Reinforced Plastic (GRP) Shop, Painting Shop, Blasting Shop, Torpedo Shop, dll.

(PAL)

Halter Marine (siter company of ST Engineering) is Awarded the Second Polar Security Cutter for the USCG

05 Januari 2022

Polar Security Cutter for the USCG (image : STEngg)

Pascagoula, MS – Halter Marine, Inc. (VT Halter Marine), a company of ST Engineering North America, has been awarded the second Polar Security Cutter (PSC) by the U.S. Department of the Navy.

The U.S. Department of the Navy has awarded Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Mississippi, as the prime contractor a fixed-price incentive-firm contract for a second U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) PSC (formerly the Heavy Polar Icebreaker). Initial efforts under this option will target the purchase of long lead-time materials, specifically the generator sets, necessary to support production while ensuring commonality across the first two PSCs.  The PSC program is a multiple year Department of Homeland Security Level 1 investment and a USCG major system initiative to acquire up to three multi-mission PSCs to recapitalize the USCG’s fleet of Polar Security Cutters.

The Polar Security Cutter will fill a current, definitive need for the Coast Guard statutory mission, of Polar Icebreaking, and meet other mission needs in the higher latitudes vital to the economic vitality, scientific inquiry and national interests of the United States.

Polar Security Cutter for the USCG (photo : Chris Cavas)

Halter Marine is teamed with Technology Associates, Inc., (TAI), as the ship designer. The ship design is based on a German ”Polarstern II” design. The Halter Marine and TAI teams, along with other suppliers, are finalizing the PSC design.

These vessels are 460 feet in length with a beam of 88 feet overall, a full load displacement of approximately 22,900 long tons at delivery. The propulsion will be diesel electric at over 45,200 horse power and readily capable of continuously breaking ice between six to eight feet thick. The vessel will accommodate 186 personnel comfortably for an extended endurance of 90 days.

In addition to TAI, Halter Marine has teamed with ABB/Trident Marine for its Azipod propulsion system, Raytheon for command and control systems integration, Caterpillar for the main engines, Jamestown Metal Marine for joiner package, and Bronswerk for the HVAC system.

“By building the second Polar Security Cutter, Halter Marine will continue its mission in delivering a national priority to the United States Coast Guard. Our talented workforce here at Halter Marine is proud to be part of such an important endeavor,” said Bob Merchent, President and Chief Executive Officer of Halter Marine.

(STEngg)

KF-21 and Stingray-X Official Introduction as Fighter-UCAV Combined Operation

05 Januari 2022

KF-21 and Stingray-X (image : DAPA)

The military has formalized a plan to combine the operation of a domestic fighter KF-21 and a domestic unmanned stealth fighter, the Stingray-X.

The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 23rd that this was explained in the business promotion plan for next year, which was reported in writing to President Moon Jae-in on the 20th.

 

The Ministry of National Defense said, "The name of the KF-21 was decided in the sense that it is a Korean fighter that will protect the Korean Peninsula in the 21st century." We are also working on introducing it,” he explained.

Stingray-X (local named : Kaori-X) will be operated alongside KF-21 Boramae in a similar manner as "Loyal Wingman" being developed by Boeing Australia (images : DAPA)

“The domestic stealth unmanned fighter is being developed by the National Defense Science Research Institute under the name of ‘Stingray-X’. It uses AI (artificial intelligence) to penetrate the enemy air defense network on its own, or strike the radar, and engage in a dogfight with an advanced unmanned system. "The dream and hope of a Korean-style unmanned stealth fighter based on the KF-21 platform to protect Korean airspace is approaching reality," he said.

The Ministry of National Defense also said, “The KF-21 is expected to make a big mark in the Korean aviation industry. The 21st was an opportunity to give hope that ‘it can be done’ to our lives exhausted by COVID-19. We expect to have collateral economic effects through exports in the future.”

A newly developed long-range air-to-ground missile is mounted on the KF-21.

The Ministry of National Defense introduced that "long-range air-to-ground missiles are being developed with the goal of having superior stealth performance and longer range than similar missiles in advanced countries."

The Ministry of National Defense continued, "As a next-generation weapon system with precision strike capability against key strategic objectives, it is expected to be operated by the KF-21 in the future." Its superior performance and low cost compared to Taurus will be a green light for exports.”

(NewSis)