27 Mei 2020
KD Gagah Samudera 271 traing ship (photo : MFH)
The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has also adopted mothership approach adopted by the Malaysian Coast Guard (officially known as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency or MMEA) as part of the maritime enforcement, anti illegal immigrants and human smuggling operations during the Movement Control Order (MCO) dubbed Ops Benteng.
KD Gagah Samudera, a Samudera class training ship was deployed to the Straits of Melaka to serve as mothership for various patrol boats operated by the coast guards as well as the Marine Police.
Similar to the coast guard, these smaller patrol boats will rely on the ship’s long range radar detection as well as inputs from the patrolling aircraft above.
Adopting mothership concept during Ops Benteng will provide deterrent to stop the entry of illegal immigrant into the country as there has been concern that these illegal immigrants were infected by the coronavirus from China and that they could cause a resurgence of infection at times when data is showing a steady decline in domestic infection cases.
Patrol boat oprated by Coast Guard (photo : MFH)
The operation also shows the flexibility of Samudera class training ship built jointly by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and Malaysia’s NGV Tech. While their main role is for training of naval cadets, recruits and young naval officers, their systems on board allow them to perform patrol duties as Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV).
All of the ships of the cf lass are equipped with a single MSI DS30M 30mm cannon and two M2HB Browning 12.7mm machine gun. The design of the ships features “fitted for but not with” concept similar to the Kedah class New Generation Patrol Vessel (NGPV) allowing the future installation of missiles and torpedo such as RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile(RAM) Surface to Air Missile (SAM) ,Exocet MM40 Block 2 Anti Ship Missile (AShM) and triple torpedo launcher. For the aviation facilities, both ship are able to accommodate one medium size helicopter for anti surface (ASuW) and anti submarine Warfare (ASW).
The RMN had high hopes for the South Korean design ships. In 2014, DSME receives contract worth RM1. 2 billion to build 6 Missile Surface Corvette (MSC) for the RMN. Utilising similar design of the Samudera class training ships, the MSC would augment the Kasturi and Laksamana class corvettes as well as replacing the Fast Attack Craft (Missile) boats.
6 Missile Surface Corvette (MSC) will be built for the RMN (photo : MFH)
The MSC will be equipped with Hyundai Wia K76L/62 76mm naval gun, two MSI DS30M 30mm gun, 4 units of Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM), two S&T Motiv K6 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun (HMG), torpedo launcher and Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) missile system.
Just like the Samudera class training ship, it has a heli deck that could receive a medium size helicopter. There are two cranes that could able to Deploy the ships’ Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB).
3 MSC will be built in South Korea while the rest will be built in Sijangkang, Selangor by NGV Tech. The first of the ship should be delivered to RMN by 2018.
NGV Tech was also supposedly build mini Dokdo class Landing Platform Dock (LPD) for the RMN but everything goes into disarray as NGV Tech enters into insolvency.
This caused significant delays of the completion and delivery into service of the two training ships.
(MFH)
27 Mei 2020
KAPA Tipe PTS-10 (depan) dan K-61 (belakang) milik Korps Marinir TNI AL (photo : Marinir)
Berdasarkan sumber yang layak dipercaya, Korps Marinir mendapatkan persetujuan anggaran untuk membeli 54 kendaraan KAPA atau senilai USD 398 juta. Item yang disepakati adalah pembelian 54 kendaraan transport amfibi beroda rantai/Tracked Amphibious Transpoter (TAT).
Saat ini Korps Marinir mengoperasikan 2 tipe KAPA (Kendaraan Amfibi Pengangkut Artileri) yaitu K-61 dan PTS-10 buatan Uni Sovyet. Di Korps Marinir kendaraan ini bertugas untuk mengangkut artileri (howitzer), kendaran truk ukuran sedang, dan prajurit infanteri
PTS-4 produksi Tranmash Rusia (image : Tranmash)
Saat ini setidaknya ada 2 produsen kendaraan transport amfibi beroda rantau (TAT) yaitu Tranmash di Omsk Rusia dengan kendaraan PTS-4 dan Excalibur Army di Praha Ceko dengan kendaraan KAPA.
PTS-4 telah dipakai secara resmi oleh Marinir Rusia sejak tahun 2013, sebagai pengganti kendaraan PTS dan PTS-2 yang sudah menua. Kendaraan dengan bobot 30 ton ini mampu membawa payload 12 ton ketika di darat dan 18 ton saat berenang.
KAPA produksi Excalibur Army (photo : Excalibur Army)
Perusahaan Ceko Excalibur Army juga membuat kendaraan TAT dengan nama KAPA, belum ada keterangan apapun akan kendaraan ini selain foto di atas, namun jika menilik dari jumlah rodanya, KAPA dan PTS-4 sama-sama menggunakan 7 roda rantai yang menjejak tanah, artinya bobot kedua kendaraan ini tidak jauh berbeda.
Dengan kebutuhan 54 kendaraan yang akan diakuisisi hingga tahun 2024, jika dibagi dalam 3 Pasukan Marinir (Pasmar) maka setiap Pasmar akan mendapatkan jatah yang sama yaitu 18 unit kendaraan transport amfibi beroda rantai ini. Jumlah 54 unit ini pun juga melampaui kebutuhan MEF yang telah direvisi pada tahun 2016 yaitu 40 unit.
(Defense Studies)
27 Mei 2020
Australia's new fighter jets could be delayed after a US company foreshadowed a "slowdown" in production (photo : newcastleairport)
A parliamentary committee has been told a key milestone on the Future Submarine program has been pushed back, and the eventual cost of building the new fleet could reach $90 billion.
Meanwhile, Australia's next batch of Joint Strike Fighter aircraft could also be delayed after US defence company Lockheed Martin foreshadowed a production slowdown for three months due to the coronavirus impact.
"In response to COVID-19 F-35 supplier delays, Lockheed Martin is taking proactive measures to mitigate impacts and position the program for the fastest possible recovery," a company spokesperson told the ABC.
"The corporation is tapering its production rate over a three-month period, temporarily adjusting the work schedules for the F-35 production workforce in Fort Worth, Texas, and continuing to accelerate payments to small and vulnerable suppliers".
Australia is due to accept another 15 F-35s in 2021, as part of a $17 billion deal to eventually acquire 72 Joint Strike Fighters.
"A small number of Australian aircraft could potentially be delayed in the region of one to two months," the Defence Department told the ABC.
The department insisted that Australia's "full operational capability planned for 2023 is not expected to be impacted", despite the production delays in the United States.
Defence officials appearing before a parliamentary committee also warned the COVID-19 pandemic could further delay Australia's troubled $90 billion future submarine program.
A Preliminary Design Review originally due to be completed March 2020 is now expected to be finished in January 2021, despite a Systems Requirements Review also being months overdue.
The review of the submarine design has been pushed back to January 2021 (image : Naval Group)
The Defence Department's general manager of submarines, Greg Sammut, told the hearing that despite the impact of the coronavirus, he is relatively confident already missed deadlines can still be recovered.
"If I was to take into account the impact of COVID-19 and how that might play, and not to appear naive about the depth of that impact, we maintain a medium level of confidence that we can recover schedule by January 2021," Mr Sammut said.
The expected cost of building 12 new French-designed submarines has also blown out by a further $10 billion on top of the already expanded $80 billion price tag.
Defence and naval heads overseeing the project pointed to foreign exchange rates and inflation for the now estimated $89.7 billion cost to taxpayers.
Tony Dalton, the Defence Department's deputy secretary in charge of national shipbuilding, told the inquiry the future submarine project was exposed to the euro, US dollar and British pound.
"It could go higher or it could go lower depending on foreign exchange rate variations … I don't have a crystal ball," he said.
Following the hearings, Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick expressed scepticism that Defence would be able to catch up on delays.
"At every step they have been late but promised to make up time," Mr Patrick told the ABC.
(ABC)
26 Mei 2020
For the first time Chaiseri successfully sold light vehicles which are smaller than First Win II or First Win E as well (photo : AAG)
Directorate of Transportation, Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) announced winner of competition for two Light Armored Vehicles is Thailand's company Chaisaeri Metal and Rubber.
As previously announced, mid-price, Thai Chaiseri Company is the winner of the light armored vehicle procurement project. 2 North vehicles, Panus Assembly Co Ltd., Thailand, which is a competition between manufacturers and the maintenance of private military vehicles in the Thai security industry is a demonstration of the promotion of weapons supply in the country according to the policy 'Procurement and Development' Purchase and Development (P&D) of the Royal Thai Air Force.
It is understood that the two light armored vehicles will be provided for evaluation purposes for Armored Car Regiment Department of Special Operations Armored security vehicle company, Special Operations Regiment, Security Force Command which currently has two armored car companies The PTO is stationed with the Cadillac Gage V-150 Commando 4x4, equipped with an M2 .50cal heavy machine gun and 12 MG3 7.62mm co-axes and 12 Rheinmetall Condor 4x4 Germany with 20mm machine guns and 7.62 co-axes. mm in the amount of 18 vehicles.
At the International Defense and Security 2019 Firearms Exhibition held at Impact Exhibition Center, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand, between 18-21 November 2019 Thai Chaiseri Company has unveiled its products for covering vehicles. The new First Win 4x4 family of tire covers, including the First Win ATV (Armored Tacticle Vehicle) 4x4 tactical tire armored vehicle, similar to the V-150 4x4 and Condor 4x4 armored vehicles.
The First Win ATV tire armored vehicle and the First Win AWAV (Armored Wheel Amphibious Vehicle) amphibious vehicle are new models, with significant changes being made to move the engine room from the front of the car to the back of the car. And adjusted the front armor of the car to be rounded.
The First Win ARV (Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle) 4x4 armored cruiser is equipped with a remote turret with an M2 .50cal heavy machine gun (probably the IMI WAVE 200 Israeli model) and a camera detection device. Electro-Optronic At the roof of the back of the car for a surveillance mission
The First Win AIFV (Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle) 4x4 tire is equipped with a remote turret with an M2 .50cal heavy machine gun and an Mk19 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Can replace the V-150 and Condor armored vehicles.
Latest Air Command Headquarters Yothin Thai Air Force has conducted a test of the modified V-150 MOD 4x4 armored vehicle by Chaiseri Thai which should be different from the project for the purchase of 2 light armored vehicles
(AAG)
26 Mei 2020
Armada of the Philipine Navy (photo : Philippine Navy)
Navy Plans 50-Ship Maritime Force To Strengthen Claims On Disputed Seas
According to a Philippine Navy source, “we are not competing with anyone” but only trying to “regain some respect from other countries in the region, show the flag and protect our own interests in the South China Sea.”
The Philippines plans to spend an initial P75 billion to build a 50-ship maritime force, including short-range missile-capable smaller and faster vessels to protect the country’s security interests in the disputed South China Sea, a senior naval commander said.
About 100 other support vessels and more than 30 fixed-wing and rotary aircraft are also being considered in the Philippine Navy’s force mix that could cost the government more than P100 billion in the long term.
“These are modest upgrades to build a credible force to catch up with other neighbors in Southeast Asia,” a flag officer, who requested anonymity, said.
“We are not competing with anyone. We are only trying to regain some respect from other countries in the region, show the flag and protect our own interests in the South China Sea,” he stressed.
The South China Sea is being claimed in whole or in part by China, the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague awarded the Philippines sovereign rights over several features within its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. The PCA also invalidated China’s “nine-dash-line” claim over nearly the entire sea.
But China, which has built artificial islands in the South China Sea, including those claimed by the Philippines and other countries, has refused to recognize the arbitral ruling.
The Navy flag officer disclosed that at least four big-ticket items are in the pipeline under the military modernization program’s second horizon until 2023, to buy two corvettes, six offshore patrol vessels, two landing platform docks and eight fast attack interdiction craft.
“We have started the process of procurement and have identified specific supplies under government-to-government deals, which are faster because we need to play catch-up with the rest. We belong to a few countries that do not have missile-capable ships as well as anti-submarine warfare, mine sweeping and anti-air capability,” the officer said.
The Navy’s force mix plan will address these deficiencies, the flag officer says, adding that the acquisition will allow the Navy to retire its legacy ships, many of which are World War II-era vessels donated by the United States at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.
The rest of the surface combat vessels will be acquired in the third horizon until 2028, excluding electric-diesel submarines that are very expensive.
“We have not abandoned the plan to acquire two to four submarines, but it will take time to train people who will man these vessels as well as build a base suitable for these sub-surface vessels,” the flag officer said, adding that they are looking at the experiences of Southeast Asian countries that operate submarines such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore.
FF-151 BRP Antonio Luna and FF-150 BRP Jose Rizal (photo : PN)
The Navy has been constantly reviewing its force mix plan after President Duterte approved in 2018 a revised modernization plan under the second horizon.
The country planned to spend about P150 billion for a 15-year modernization plan in the mid-1990s after the US was kicked out of its two large overseas bases in the Philippines.
In the 1970s and 1980s during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, the country had relied heavily on the US security umbrella for its external defense, while Philippine security forces focused on internal security threats posed by Maoist-led guerrillas and Muslim separatist rebels in the south.
But the first modernization plan failed because there were not enough funds. Congress allocated only P50 billion and it was not until the presidency of Benigno Aquino III that funding for the modernization increased to P25 billion a year, up from P5 billion a year under former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
During the Aquino administration, the revised three-phased, 15-year modernization program worth P300 billion was passed.
In 2018, Duterte approved a revised acquisition program, giving priority to the Navy and Philippine Air Force in the procurement of brand-new equipment.
On Saturday, May 23, the Navy’s first-ever modern warship, a missile-capable, semi-stealth frigate was delivered to Manila from a South Korean shipyard. The second frigate will be delivered in October 2020.
The contract for the construction of two light frigates was signed by the Philippines with Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in October 2016.
Four more frigates will be acquired until 2028 under the Navy’s force-mix plan. The frigates will be armed with anti-air missiles and will be primarily an anti-air platform, but they also have ship-to-ship missiles.
Twelve missile-capable corvettes will be acquired for anti-submarine warfare. Two corvettes worth P28 billion are planned to be procured until 2023. A South Korean shipyard, which built the frigates, will be awarded the contracts.
At least 18 offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) will be acquired for exclusive economic zone (EEZ) patrols. Six are planned initially for P30 billion and will be awarded to an Australian shipyard. Six more are planned until 2028 to join six existing vessels – three former Hamilton-class cutters from the US donated in 2011 and three former Peacock-class corvettes from the British Royal Navy stationed in Hong Kong, bought in 1997.
Eight Fast Attack Interdiction Craft armed with short-range missiles from Israel will also be acquired, but procurement of 40 of these ships will be spread out through 2028. The Navy has allocated P10 billion for the eight missile craft.
Acquisition of 42 smaller Multi-Purpose Attack Craft from Taiwan is also planned. There are already 12 operating in the Navy; three are fitted with Israeli missiles, the first-ever missile gunboats in the Philippines.
Two more strategic sealift vessels are also planned and will be awarded to an Indonesian supplier, which already delivered two ships – the BRP Davao del Sur and BRP Tarlac. The two ships will cost P5.5 billion.
The Navy also plans to build an aviation force with 34 planes and helicopters, including vertical takeoff and landing drones, designed for surveillance and anti-submarine warfare. Shore-to-ship and shore-to-air missile batteries are also planned.
The Philippine Marines, which is part of the Navy, has a different set of weapons upgrade plan, including amphibious assault vehicles, rotary aircraft, drones, mortars and assault rifles.
See full article One News
26 Mei 2020
Banjarmasin class terdiri dari 2 kapal yaitu KRI Banjarmasin 592 dan KRI Banda Aceh 593 (photo : MO Roy)
KRI Banjarmasin 592, Kapal Perang Buatan RI Bikin Menepuk Dada
VIVA – Mengulik tentang alat utama sistem senjata atau alutsista milik TNI Angkatan Laut tidak akan habis dalam satu hari saja. Karena TNI AL memiliki berbagai macam jenis kapal yang memiliki fungsi beragam.
Nah edisi alutsista milik TNI AL yang akan dibahas VIVA Militer Minggu 24 Mei 2020 kali ini adalah Kapal Perang Republik Indonesia (KRI) Banjarmasin 592. Dilansir dari akun Instagram resmi milik Kolinlamil, ternyata KRI Banjarmasin 592 adalah kapal perang buatan lokal atau buatan anak bangsa.
Kapal yang diproduksi oleh PT PAL Indonesia ini memakan waktu pengerjaan selama 36 bulan dan pembuatannya sendiri berada di Surabaya. Kapal ini berjenis Landing Platform Dock atau LPD.
Meski buatan dalam negeri, kapal ini juga dilengkapi dengan teknologi yang canggih lho. KRI Banjarmasin 592 memiliki teknologi desain semi siluman, jadi selain untuk bertempur, kapal ini juga bisa digunakan untuk misi kemanusiaan.
Kapal ini mampu mengangkut 5 buah helikopter : 3 di dek heli, dan 2 di hanggar (photo : PAL)
Kapal dengan slogan Amun Mundur Kada atau pantang menyerah ini ternyata sudah bertugas sejak Maret 2011. Meski sudah berusia 9 tahun, kapal ini masih gagah untuk menjaga laut Indonesia daerah pulau Kalimantan.
KRI Banjarmasin 592 memiliki kemampuan berlayar selama 30 hari tanpa berhenti. Selain itu kapal ini dirancang untuk membawa pasukan ke zona perang melalui laut. Tidak hanya itu, kapal perang ini juga dirancang untuk membawa kekuatan udara terbatas atau helikopter.
Untuk daya angkut yang dimiliki KRI Banjarmasin 592 ini juga terbilang banyak, karena mampu mengangkut 344 personel, 5 unit helikopter berjenis Mi-2 atau Bel-412, dan 20 kendaraan tempur berat berupa tank.
Kapal ini dilengkapi persenjataan berupa 3 unit meriam howitzer, 2 unit LCVP (Landing Craft Vechile Personal), serta juga dilengkapi dengan rumah sakit darurat.
(Viva)
25 Mei 2020
2 LPD will be built at Zaliv shipyard, Kerch, Crimea, Russia (image : bastion-karpenko)
MOSCOW/TASS /. The Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the Kerch shipyard Zaliv for the construction of the first two Russian universal landing ships (UDC) for a total amount of about 100 billion rubles. This was reported by TASS a source in the military-industrial complex.
“The contract has been signed, its total cost is about 100 billion rubles. The laying of the ships should take place in the coming weeks,” the source said.
TASS does not have official confirmation of contract information. The press service of the Zaliv plant told TASS that the company was technically ready to build helicopter carriers in the interests of the Russian Navy, but noted that they did not have information about the deal and the timing of laying the ships.
Design of the ship looks different from the previous pictures or miniatures (photo : bmpd)
As TASS sources in the shipbuilding industry reported earlier, the displacement of ships of a new class for the Russian fleet will be 25 thousand tons, with a maximum length of about 220 meters. One Russian UDC will carry more than 20 heavy helicopters on board, will receive a docking chamber for landing boats and will be able to transport up to 900 marines.
Universal landing ships, also called helicopter carriers, are capable of carrying a group of heavy helicopters for various purposes, transporting from several hundred to 1 thousand marines; they are equipped with a dock for boats, transport armored vehicles. Ships of this class were previously in the Russian Federation, and before that they were not built in the USSR.
(TASS)
