TNI-AL Tender Ulang Pengadaan Kapal Selam

21 April 2010

KRI Cakra 401 (photo : Kaskus Militer)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - TNI Angkatan Laut menender ulang pengadaan dua kapal baru dan prosesnya sekarang sudah dimulai dengan sejumlah perusahaan telah mengajukan penawaran.

Ketika dikonfirmasi ANTARA di Jakarta, Rabu, Kepala Staf Angkatan Laut Laksamana TNI Agus Suhartono mengatakan, karena rencana pengadaan sebelumnya belum disetujui maka pihaknya melakukan tender ulang terhadap pengadaan dua kapal selam tersebut.

"Ya sudah dimulai, dan pesertanya bisa dari pemain-pemain lama atau baru. Kami tidak tahu, yang jelas kami lakukan tender ulang karena kapal selam ini memang sangat kami butuhkan," katanya, usai menghadiri Forum Strategi TNI Angkatan Laut 2010.

Pengadaan dua unit kapal selam itu dibiayai fasilitas Kredit Ekspor (KE) senilai 700 juta dollar Amerika Serikat, yang diperoleh dari fasilitas pinjaman luar negeri di Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Negara (APBN) tahun 2004-2009. "Kami sudah tentukan spesifikasi teknisnya, serta kemampuan dan efek penggentar yang lebih dari yang dimiliki negara tetangga, kata Kasal.

Pada tender pertama,d ari empat negara produsen kapal selam yang mengajukan tawaran produk mereka, seperti Jerman, Perancis, Korea Selatan, dan Rusia, TNI Angkatan Laut telah menetapkan dua negara produsen sesuai kebutuhan yaitu Korea Selatan dan Rusia.

Rencananya, dari dua pilihan itu akan diuji kembali mana spesifikasi kapal selam yang sesuai dengan kebutuhan TNI Angkatan Laut.

(Antara)

Malaysia Wants Attack Helicopter

21 April 2010

Sikorsky S-70/AH-60 Battle Hawk - attack helicopter that can be used for multiple roles (photo : Global Security)

Malaysia Publicly Agrees to Buy 12 EC725s, Also Wants Attack Helicopters

Malaysia has publicly agreed to buy 12 Eurocopter EC725 combat search and rescue helicopters and is in the early stages of looking for attack helicopters.

At this week's Defence Services Asia (DSA) show in Kuala Lumpur, the country's defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi signed a letter-of-acceptance for 12 EC725s for delivery in 2012 and 2013.

He told local news media that the plan is to sign the final contract when his country's prime minister Najib Abdul Razak returns from overseas later this week. Najib is in Tokyo meeting with Japanese leaders.

Malaysia's air force is also trying to have a requirement for attack helicopters included in the country's next five-year plan, say industry sources.

At DSA, Eurocopter had a scale model of its Eurocopter EC665 attack helicopter on display next to a scale model of the EC725.

Sikorsky was promoting its S-70 attack helicopter at the show and highlighting how this helicopter has interior kits so it can be used for multiple roles. For example, it can be re-configured to be a VIP transport, medivac, reconnaissance team insertion or troop movement helicopter.

Sikorsky was also promoting its upgrade package for the Nuri helicopter that includes new rotor blades and a new avionics system from

Rockwell Collins that includes four flat-panel digital displays. The original Nuri helicopters have an analogue system.

The EC725 will replace some of the air force's 20

Sikorsky S-61 Nuri helicopters, the first of which the country received in 1968.

Malaysia originally planned to phase out all the Nuri helicopters but budget constraints mean it plans to retain and upgrade at least 15 of the Nuri helicopters, say industry sources.

At DSA, Finmeccanica's Selex Galileo unit was also pitching to get its systems included in the Nuri upgrade programme.

Selex Galileo was also promoting its airborne tactical observation and surveillance (ATOS) system to meet Malaysia's requirement for maritime patrol aircraft.

The air force is seeking to buy four maritime patrol aircraft with Selex Galileo's sister company Alenia Aeronautica in the running with its ATR 42MP aircraft. But Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) is understood to be the front-runner in the competition with its CN-235. If IAe wins the contract, Selex Galileo could still be contracted to provide the systems because, for example, the ATOS system is on board Ecuador's CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft.

(Flight International)

Deftech Unveils AV-8 Local 8x8

21 April 2010

Deftech AV-88 8x8 (photo : KLSR)

Deftech to Showcase Local AV-8

PETALING JAYA: DRB-HICOM Bhd’s defence arm, DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech), will showcase the AV-8, an armoured-wheeled vehicle, at the Defence Services Asia 2010 exhibition from April 19 to 22.

Deftech said in a statement that it would take up 1,700 sq m at the Putra World Trade Centre together with subsidiary Defence Services Sdn Bhd.

It said the AV-8 represented “a record of sorts and a first” in the Malaysian defence industry as the entire development process and maintenance throughout the life cycle of a minimum 20 years was local.

ACV-300 Adnan (photo : Cari)

The armoured-wheeled vehicle was the result of the support and cooperation of the Defence Ministry, army and the Malaysian Defence Industry Council, it added.

The company will also showcase the ACV 300 Adnan armoured command vehicle, the AV-4 armoured-wheeled vehicle, the PT-91M Pendekar main battle tank and the police version Modenas ATV.

Deftech said it would continue to pursue smart partnerships and develop expertise and technology know-how through technology transfer, system integration, development and commissioning from foreign partners.

(The Star)

See Also :

Malaysia Puts Interest in Part-South African Fighting Vehicle Proposal

AV-8 8x8 fighting vehicle (photo : Militaryphotos)

South Africa’s State-owned defence industrial group Denel is part of a consortium that was given a Letter of Intent (LoI) by the Malaysian armed forces on Tuesday regarding new 8 x 8 armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs).

The consortium is led by Malaysian company Deftech and, in addition to Denel, includes FNSS of Turkey, which is a joint venture (JV) between the Turkish Nurol group and BAE Systems Land Systems & Armaments (a US subsidiary of the BAE Systems group) and Sapura Thales Electronics (STE), a JV between Malaysia’s Sapura group and Thales Communications of France. Denel, FNSS, and STE are all officially technology partners in the programme, as Malaysia will require local production of whatever systems are chosen.

The LoI shows strong interest in the AFV being offered by the consortium, but is not a contract. There is, as yet, no certainty about when Malaysia will decide to place a contract nor for the number of vehicles the country will acquire.

Nevertheless, Denel sees the LoI as good news because “it shows that they are very confident in our capabilities,” Denel group communication manager Sinah Phochana told Engineering News Online.

The Deftech consortium is offering Malaysia a combination of a vehicle designed by FNSS and a turret and associated weapons systems designed by Denel, which would also act as the systems integrator for the programme, with STE providing communications systems.

The turret would be similar with Badger (photo : Militaryphotos)

“The turret would be similar to that for the Badger,” she said. The Badger is the South African Army’s next generation infantry fighting vehicle, being developed under Project Hoefyster, and is based on the 8 x 8 Patria AMV AFV from Finland, which will be fitted with a turret designed and manufactured by Denel subsidiary Denel Land Systems (DLS).

Should the Malaysian LoI be followed by a firm contract, DLS will not be the only part of the South African group to benefit, as the AFV design being offered to the South East Asian country incorporates Ingwe antitank missiles, a product of Denel Dynamics. Another Denel company, PMP, could benefit from orders for ammunition.

The LoI was presented to Deftech at the Defence Services Asia 2010 exposition in Kuala Lumpur and Deftech, in turn, handed over LoIs to its partner companies.

(Engineering News)

MBDA Successfully Tests Revolutionary Gelled Propellant Propulsion Technology

20 April 2010

Bayern Chemie as a subsidiary of MBDA Missile System has task for development of a propulsion system using gelled propellants for a mission dependant thrust variability (photo : bayern chemie)

Bayern-Chemie Successfully Carries Out Two Gel Demonstrator Test Flights

As secure and easy to handle as solid propulsion, this unique technology from Bayern-Chemie permits modulating thrust to maximize weapon endurance.

As secure and easy to handle as solid propulsion, this unique technology from Bayern-Chemie permits modulating thrust to maximize weapon endurance.

Bayern-Chemie, a fully owned (100%) subsidiary of MBDA Deutschland, successfully carried out two gel demonstrator test flights at the German Armed Forces Test Range in Meppen in December 2009. Following several years of intensive R&D, the results of these flights prove that all functions of this gelled propellant propulsion technology have reached the TRL 6 (Technology Readiness Level 6). Essentially, the gel feeding system and the thrust modulation device worked as predicted during the relevant flight phases.

Propulsion systems using gelled propellants combine the advantages of systems using solid propellants (readiness for immediate use, safe and easy handling) with the advantages of systems using liquid propellants (variable thrust). Whilst in the missile fuel tank, the gelled propellant behaves like a solid propellant therefore damage to the missile's mechanical structure will not result in the propellant leaking. In addition, vapour pressure is very low, hence eliminating the "fireball" risk.

On being injected into the combustor, the propellant looses its gelled structure and transforms into a liquid. Propellant feed is carried out using a solid gas generator or pressurized gas.

The benefits of this propulsion technology are the variability of thrust for mission adapted thrust profiles, the very high degree of insensitivity (no reaction at fast and slow cook-off), low smoke and low signature, an environmentally friendly propellant and exhaust gas (green propellant) and easy handling regarding the logistics chain.

Gelled propulsion technology is now ready for use within certain applications. The first candidates will be reusable start boosters as used in drones, cruise missiles and aircraft. The full advantages of gelled propellant propulsion systems will be realised when they are integrated within air-to-ground or surface-to-surface missiles.

The development of this technology was funded by the German BWB (the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement) and carried out by Bayern-Chemie in close cooperation with the BWB's various institutes and departments.

(Deagel)

Contracts And Agreements Worth RM10 Billion Signed At DSA 2010

20 April 2010

Thales 120mm mortar 2R2M based on ACV-S tracked vehicle (photo : Militaryphotos)

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- A total of 20 agreements worth RM10.355 billion were signed by the Defence Ministry and other related agencies with 11 companies, five of them foreign, in conjunction with the Defence Services Asia (DSA) Exhibition 2010 here on Tuesday.

The agreements included eight contracts, five memorandums of understanding (MoUs), three letters of acceptance (LOAs) and four letters of intent (LOIs).

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said so far this was the biggest number of agreements signed through DSA even though some of the participating companies were stranded here due to cancellation of flights to Europe.

"The signings also involved other related agencies and ministries," he told reporter after witnessing the signing of agreements at the exhibition which was held at the Putra World Trade Centre.

The contracts signed were for the supply of Scorpene-type submarine navigation safety, combat system, sensors and periscope simulator for the Royal Malaysian Navy worth RM128.5 million; supply and delivery of mortar 120mm 2R2M for the Malaysian Armed Forces worth RM60 million; supply of articles, services and technical assistance for the SU-30MKM (Sukhoi) aircraft worth RM100 million; and supply and delivery of rounds 90mm HE-T and rounds 90mm HEA-T worth RM19.2 million.

Agreements were also signed for the supply and delivery of rounds 12.7mm Mixed Belt 4 BIT for the armed forces worth RM12 million; supply and delivery of 105mm HE Fuzed for the armed forces worth RM10.3 million; supply and delivery of mortar bomb 60mm for the armed forces worth RM4.98 million; and supply, delivery and commissioning of maritime assault rifle complete with accessories for the navy worth RM6.9 million.

The LOAs were for supply and delivery of utility helicopters with search and rescue worth RM1.6 billion, supply of in-service maintenance and support for armed forces worth RM86.4 million, and suppy and delivery of modular steel bridge.

The LOIs were for the supply of armoured personal carrier 8x8, supply of small arm bullets, supply and delivery of spares and maintenance of main battle tank PT-91M and its variant, and supply and delivery of gun-towed vehicle for the Malaysian Army.

The MoUs were signed between MFDM Holdings and Royal Brunei Technical Services, between International Islamic University Malaysia and Havelsan Electronic Turkey, between Composite Technologies Research Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Advanced Technologies and Engineering, between Ujud Sentosa Sdn Bhd and Irkut Corporation Rusian, and between AMP Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd and US-based Techno-Science Inc.

The four-day DSA is Asia's largest defence and security exhibition and one of the most prestigious defence exhibitions in the world that showcased the most comprehensive range of cutting-edge technology for the army, navy, air force as well as the security and homeland enforcement agencies.

(Bernama)

Eurocopter Receives Letter Of Acceptance From Defence Ministry

20 April 2010

EC-725 CSAR version (photo : air-rescuetek)

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- Eurocopter has received a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from the Defence Ministry for the supply 12 EC725 helicopters for search and rescue (SAR) missions.

Eurocopter Senior Executive Vice President Philippe Harache said the helicopters, to be operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force, are scheduled for initial delivery in 2012, followed by the remainder of this fleet over a period of two years.

Eurocopter received the LOA this morning from Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, he said.

Eurocopter is working together with the government to finalise the contract, including the terms and conditions, he told reporters on the sidelines of Defence Services Asia 2010 here Tuesday.

Eurocopter is a subsidiary of EADS and the world's leading helicopter manufacturer.

"It's a global contract package, which by the way, still has to be signed.

"This morning, the minister said that the Cabinet meeting this Friday should definitely confirm what has been announced today, and detailing the various aspects of this contract," he said.

Harache said the new EC725 will complement and eventually replace the Royal Malaysian Air Force's ageing Sikorsky S-61 helicopter fleet, known as Nuri.

He said the EC725 fleet will allow RMAF to perform its utility and search and rescue missions, day and night in all weather conditions.

Malaysia has joined a growing list of government customers for the EC725, which includes Brazil (acquiring 50 EC725s), Mexico (with six helicopters on order) and France (currently operating a fleet of 19 EC725s).

As an upgraded version of the internationally successful Eurocopter Cougar family, the twin-engine EC725 is a medium-lift helicopter in the 11-metric tonne category and is fitted with a five-blade main rotor.

(Bernama)

Confirmed: Czech Made VERA-E Is In Malaysia Now

20 April 2010

VERA-E in Malaysian Armed Forces camouflage and local terrain was shown in a publication at DSA 2010. (photo : KLSR)

Kuala Lumpur, KLS: Source at DSA 2010 confirmed that Czech VERA-E Mobile Long-range Passive Surveillance System is already in Malaysia now.

Previously, Malaysia had signed a MOU with OMNIPOL which is only exporter of VERA-E on August 7th, 2007 at Malaysian Ministry of Defense.

But, top rank officers of MINDEF denied it due to the sensitiveness of importing VERA-E system. VERA-E is reported to be able to detect stealth aircraft.

(KLSReview)