28 Oktober 2018
C-17 Globemaster III with 77.500 tonnes payload (photo : Aleksi Hamalainen)
WASHINGTON — As part of the Air Force’s push to boost its number of operational squadrons to 386 total, and the service may need additional C-17s, the head of Air Mobility Command said Friday.
The service’s expansion plan, which was named “The Air Force We Need” and unveiled this September, called for one airlift squadron and 14 tanker squadrons to be added by 2030.
At the time, service leaders from Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson to AMC Commander Gen. Maryanne Miller, said more work would need to be done in order to determine the mix of aircraft needed to get to the 386 squadron goal, which is 74 more than the service has now.
But now, AMC has a better idea of what it could require, Miller told reporters during an Oct. 26 roundtable.
The analysis from “The Air Force We Need” supports adding three new C-17 Globemaster III squadrons and cutting two C-130 Hercules squadrons from the airlift inventory, she said. That would bring the total number of airlift squadrons up to 54, an increase of one squadron.
C-17 at night (photo : Aaron Pultz)
But Boeing’s C-17 production line in Long Beach, California is dead, with the company having manufactured the final Globemaster in 2015. Increasing the number of C-17s could entail restarting the production line — an expensive proposition for any aircraft — but Miller said the Air Force had not yet begun discussing the possibility with Boeing.
"Those are the details that we have not looked at,” Miller said.
“That will be the next discussion as we proceed, talking with Congress and working with Congress, because the same would apply for the tanker fleet,” she said. “An additional 14 squadrons by 2030 — what would be the path to get there? Something we’re looking at, but again, this is just the initial stages of talking with Congress and getting this concept out there."
It’s unclear what other options would exist to increase the number of C-17 squadrons aside from restarting the production line. The U.S. Air Force currently operates 222 C-17s, but began retiring some of the oldest Globemaster IIIs in 2012. It may be possible that those C-17s could be taken out of storage and revitalized.
C-17 with KC-46 tanker (photo : USAF)
A spokeswoman for Boeing had no comment.
Miller stressed that discussions about the makeup of the future airlift fleet are still in the beginning stages, and will be informed not only by Congress but also by an ongoing AMC study.
That Mobility Capabilities Requirements Study is slated to be delivered to Capitol Hill in a couple of months, and may have different recommendations than the “Air Force We Need” analysis on how many airlift squadrons are needed, and of what aircraft models.
“The two studies took slightly different approaches to that,” she said. “The results of each of those studies will be reviewed and I think there will be a combination somewhere in there to try to validate the results of those studies put together.”
(DefenseNews)
28 Oktober 2018
HMAS Launceston wraps up drill with KDB Darulaman and KDB Berkat (photo : Royal Brunei Navy)
MUARA – The 18th series of Exercise PENGUIN, a bilateral exercise conducted biennially between the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), concluded with a closing ceremony that took place at the Multi-National Convention Center (MNCC) today. This year, the RBN hosted the Exercise in Brunei Darussalam from 18 to 22 October 2018 where KDB DARULAMAN and KDB BERKAT of RBN exercised together with the HMAS LAUNCESTON.
Present as the Guest of Honour was Captain Zil Husam bin Haji Abd Rahman, RBN, Fleet Commander of the RBN. Also present were Commander Rasman bin Puteh, RBN, Acting Commanding Officer KDB DARULAMAN of RBN, also the Commander Task Group (CTG) for Exercise PENGUIN and Lieutenant Commander James Brewster, RAN, Commanding Officer of HMAS LAUNCESTON also the Deputy Commander Task Group (DCTG), and Lieutenant Commander Ade Roddiane bin Haji Mohammad Rosdi, RBN, Acting Commanding Officer of KDB BERKAT.
The closing ceremony included a Post-Exercise Debrief, where Commander Rasman bin Puteh, RBN delivered a summarised report on the Exercise. This was followed by a report signing and an exchange of mementos between the CTG and the DCTG and between the ships’ Commanding Officers. The closing ceremony concluded with a remark by the DCTG who emphasised the importance of strengthening the bilateral relationship and mutual understanding between both navies.
Exercise PENGUIN aims to enhance the professionalism and interoperability of both navies by sharing knowledge and experiences and through combined training and various sea evolutions.
This Exercise also included a sport interaction to win the Penguin Cup through friendly matches of volleyball, beach soccer, and tug of war. The RAN won in the overall matches and was presented with the Penguin Cup trophy by the Fleet Commander of RBN during the closing ceremony.
(Bru Mindef)
27 Oktober 2018
Bell UH-1 JGSDF (photo : hangarspace)
One of the two Tarlac-class landing platform docks of the Philippine Navy will be sailing to Japan before the year ends to pick up Huey helicopter spare parts for the Philippine Air Force.
“Ano ‘yun, iti turn-over na sa atin kasi paubos na ‘yung Huey nila eh,” a source told Manila Bulletin. “Ang request lang nila is gumawa tayo ng facility to store it properly.”
These Huey spare parts from Japan will help PAF Huey helicopters to be on flying condition.
The Philippine Navy earlier revealed that one of the Tarlac-class landing platform docks will sail to Japan for the said mission.
“If the mission to Japan will push through this November, this will be the very first time that a PN-commissioned vessel will be calling on one of the ports in Japan,” Philippine Navy spokesperson Commander Jonathan Zata said.
In June, the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) under Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) announced that the request of Philippines for transfer of Bell UH-1H helicopters spare parts was approved.
ATLA said in a statement that at the sidelines of Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 2 the Japanese MOD informed Philippines’ Department of National Defense of the decision.
ATLA said the helicopter spare parts will be transferred free of charge.
In early May, Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief Lieutenant General Galileo Kintanar said the spare parts from Japan are enough to keep around 80 Hueys flying until 2020.
(Mintfo)
27 Oktober 2018
Pesawat N219 Nurtanio (photo : TribunJabar)
Meski belum lulus tahap sertifikasi, jumlah pesanan pesawat N219 PT DI capai ratusan
KONTAN.CO.ID - JAKARTA. Pesawat jenis N219 besutan PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) tengah naik daun. Terbukti, banyak pihak yang memesan pesawat ini. Padahal, N219 belum lulus tahap sertifikasi kelayakan produksi.
Irzal Rinaldi, Direktur Niaga PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) mengatakan berdasarkan data terakhir, saat ini, pesanan yang berpotensi untuk diproses kurang lebih 120 unit.
"Data terakhir kalau tidak salah Juni lalu sebanyak 100 unit dan baru-baru ini kami mendapat pesanan kembali dari Aviastar sebanyak 20 unit, " ujarnya saat dihubungi Kontan. co. id.
Menurutnya, pesawat jenis N219 ini banyak di pesan oleh perusahaan maskapai untuk penerbangan ke daerah-daerah terpencil.
"Untuk daerah-daerah terpencil biasanya seperti daerah Kalimantan," ujarnya.
Ditanya soal potensi pendapatan yang bisa diperoleh perusahaan, Irzal enggan buka-bukaan hanya saja ia mengatakan harga per unit N219 sekitar US$5,8 juta - US$6 juta.
Sementara untuk pembuatannya, kata Irzal, akan dimulai pada awal tahun depan khususnya untuk pembuatan komponen-komponen yang tidak memerlukan sertifikasi.
"Sertifikasi layak produksi itu targetnya sekitar bulan April-Mei tahun depan, tapi awal tahun kita sudah bisa proses pembuatan untuk komponen-komponen yang tidak perlu sertifikasi," ujarnya.
Ke depannya, pembuatan unit pesawat akan dilakukan secara bertahap dimana untuk tahun pertama sebanyak 6 unit, kemudian tahun kedua 16 unit, dan akan stabil pada tahun ketiga sebanyak 36 unit.
(Kontan)
27 Oktober 2018
OPV 85 rancangan PT PAL (image : PAL)
STRATEGI 2019: PAL Utamakan Bisnis Militer
Bisnis.com, JAKARTA -- PT PAL Indonesia (Persero) memperkirakan pesanan kapal dari militer masih menjadi prioritas utama bisnis perusahaan pada 2019.
Budiman Saleh, Direktur Utama PAL menuturkan pihaknya tengah mengincar beberapa kontrak baru. Diharapkan penetapan perusahaan sebagai penyedia kapal bagi alat utama sistem senjata (Alutsista) ditetapkan pada akhir 2018 ini.
"Pada 2018 ini bisa secure mendapatkan kontrak-kontrak Alutsista. beberapa kontrak diperoleh di akhir tahun ini," kata Budiman, Kamis (25/10/2018).
Dia menuturkan, selain kontrak kapal untuk militer, pihaknya mendapatkan kontrak membangun kapal niaga. Perusahaan juga mendapatkan overhaul kapal permukaan dan kapal selam, serta proyek kelistrikan.
"Pada 2018 ini repair overhaul sudah mulai untuk pekerjaan di luar negeri," katanya.
Meski memiliki kontrak pembangun sejumlah kapal baru maupun perawatan, Budiman tidak bersedia menyebutkan pendapatan yang berhasil dibukukan perusahaan. Dia hanya bersedia menyebutkan pihaknya sudah menyiapkan modal kerja yang cukup untuk merampungkan setiap pekerjaan.
"Estimasi 2018 dan 2019 plus minus sama. Jumlahnya belum dihitung," katanya.
Seperti diketahui, saat ini pemerintah telah menyusun rencana strategis minimum essential force. Pada tahap kedua yakni 2015-2019, militer menetapkan dapat memenuhi 72% persenjataan minimal baik untuk angkatan laut, angkatan darat maupun angkatan udara. Badan usaha strategis seperti PAL ditetapkan menjadi ujung tombak penyedia peralatan tempur itu.
Panglima TNI Marsekal Hadi Tjahyanto yang di antaranya menyebutkan rencana strategis TNI pada 2018 telah mencapai 61,9% target Minimum Essential Force (MEF) dan diharapkan pada akhir 2019 tercapai 72%.
"Untuk urusan Alutsista, pada akhir 2019 akan berdatangan rudal Startreak TNI AD, kapal selam TNI AL, serta pesawat tempur Sukhoi 35 TNI AU," ujarnya.
(Bisnis)
27 Oktober 2018
Tank medium Pindad (photo : mili savunma)
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Menteri Pertahanan Ryamizard Ryacudu mengatakan bahwa industri pertahanan Indonesia saat ini sudah semakin kuat. Hal itu ditandai dengan rampungnya proyek medium tank oleh PT Pindad.
"Kami berusaha mewujudkan kemandirian pertahanan yang didukung alutsista TNI, yakni dengan selesai pembangunan medium tank bekerja sama dengan Turki dan akan segera diproduksi masal," ujar Ryamizard di Gedung III Sekretariat Negara, Jakarta, Kamis (25/10/2018).
Medium tank merupakan hasil rancangan Pindad bersama FNSS Turki. Tank Medium Pindad ini memiliki bobot tempur 32 ton, daya engine 711 HP dilengkapi transmisi otomatis, kecepatan maksimal 70 km/jam.
Medium tank menampung tiga orang kru yang terdiri dari komandan, penembak, dan pengemudi, serta memiliki senjata utama turret kaliber 105 mm yang memiliki daya hancur besar.
Indikator penguatan industri pertahanan lainnya, yakni operasionalisasi dua unit kapal selam di TNI Angkatan Laut oleh PT PAL. Sementara, kapal selam ketiga sedang dalam tahap akhir penyambungan oleh PT PAL.
"Pertahanan negara Indonesia saat ini ada pada urutan ke 10," ujar Ryamizard.
Industri pertahanan Indonesia juga sudah menuai keuntungan. Hal itu ditandai dengan catatan ekspor yang senilai 280,5 juta dollar Amerika Serikat.
(Kompas)
27 Oktober 2018
Royal Australian Navy officers and sailors of 822X Squadron on parade during the commissioning ceremony at HMAS Albatross. (photo : RAN)
Today’s commissioning ceremony at HMAS Albatross marked a major milestone in the Royal Australian Navy’s capability to operate unmanned aerial systems in the maritime domain.
The ceremony marked the formal transition of the Naval Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit (NUASU) to 822X Squadron making it the fourth operational Squadron in the RAN Fleet Air Arm.
Over the past decade, modern militaries have embraced the strategic and tactical advantages offered by operating unmanned platforms which are typically used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
The Squadron will operate the Insitu ScanEagle, a small, long-endurance, low-altitude aircraft and the Schiebel S-100 Camcopter, which can carry payloads such as electro-optics and infrared sensors.
Chief of Navy Australia, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, said this was a significant moment for the Navy and the Fleet Air Arm.
“In the near future unmanned systems will be deployed to every operational theatre,” Vice Admiral Noonan said.
“Autonomous systems are growing in importance and 822X Squadron will realise the full potential that these technologies present.”
Commanding Officer 822X Squadron, Commander Michael Rainey said the Squadron has a big job ahead of them.
“We will be working with the Fleet and other ADF units to use this technology to enhance our unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) capability.”
“While there are no people in the airframe, present levels of autonomy in UAS necessitates the well trained professionals on parade today to safely and effectively operate the system”
“By necessity, we already think differently to manned aircraft Squadrons, because at 822X Squadron, each person that fixes the system also operates the system.” Commander Rainey said.
This is the first time the Squadron number 822 will be used by a Navy Squadron. The X indicates the developmental nature of the Squadron. The motto of 822X Squadron is ‘See the Enemy’.
(RAN)
