Joint Task Force Karagatan Patrols the Philippine Rise

25 Juni 2023

FA-50 and BRP Conrado Yap PS-39 patrols in the Philippine Rise (photos : NFNL)

SAN FERNANDO CITY, la UNION – The AFP's Northern Luzon Command, through Joint Task Force Karagatan conducts joint patrol at the Philippine Rise in pursuit of national objectives to secure the country's maritime domain. 

On June 21, 2023, Joint Task Force Karagatan synchronized the deployment of BRP Conrado Yap (PS39), PN C-90 aircraft, and PAF FA50 on the Philippine Rise. The aircrafts flew by while the gallant sailors on board the Navy warship were conducting the flag-raising ceremony. 

This activity is part of a series of activities by Northern Luzon Comand in celebration of the 125th Philippine Independence Day and the 6th commemoration of the Philippine Rise.

As a precursor to this event, LTGEN Fernyl Buca PAF, Commander of NOLCOM, presided over a ceremony on June 12, 2023, at Naval Operating Base Subic, Zambales, which sent-off PS39 and BRP Waray (LC288) to patrol the maritime areas of NOLCOM's Joint Operational Area (JOA), which encompasses the Bajo de Masinloc, the northernmost group of islands in the country, and Philippine Rise. 

The Joint Maritime Activities are manifestations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' resolve to defend territorial integrity.  Furthermore, it also highlights the intent of Commander, Joint Task Force Karagatan, Commo Francisco Tagamolila Jr's to assert our sovereignty over our maritime domain as we unite together to celebrate our Independence Day.

(AFP)

Royal Australian Navy Decommissions HMAS Shepparton and HMAS Benalla

25 Juni 2023

HMA Ships Benalla and HMAS Shepparton survey ship (photo : Aus DoD)

End of an era for inseparable friends

Remotely controlled unmanned vessels with autopilot capabilities will replace two naval ships, with the decommissioning of HMA Ships Benalla and Shepparton.

They make way for robots, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence that will form Navy’s new optimised hydrographic survey capability.

The ships were based at HMAS Cairns, operated as pairs and collected data to help chart Australia’s northern coastline for more than 30 years.

Commanding Officer Benalla Lieutenant Commander Michael Casey said the survey ships had sailed the same distance it would take to go to the moon and back four times.

“Old stuff is built to last. I treated Benalla with the respect I would with an old car,” Lieutenant Commander Casey said.

“Surveying is exploring what we can’t see underneath, we would find things never seen before, such as wrecks, shoals and subsurface obstructions.

“It’s sad to see them go; these ships have served for over 33 years with distinction and have been home to hundreds of sailors.”

They operated using highly sophisticated sonars to map the sea around Australia and the South Pacific Ocean.

The Australian Hydrographic Office created charts with the data, enabling vessels to navigate safety.

The HMA Ships Shepparton (II) and Benalla (II) are designed for hydrographic survey operations in the shallow waters of northern Australia with twin hulls (catamaran hull) (photo : Aus DoD)

The vessels operated with a maximum of 22 personnel and minimum of 14, who will now go into more deployable survey teams, which operate the autonomous and robotic systems.

Shepparton was the “lady of the fleet”, being the oldest commissioned ship in service. HMAS Anzac will now take on the honour.

Commanding Officer Shepparton Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Stevenson said turning up to work each day with a motivated and exceptional team made it worthwhile.

“Having a small crew was difficult and required everyone to do their job with minimal supervision. It doesn’t leave much redundancy, it’s like a rugby team, everyone has to work together to win,” he said.

It is expected that the next Navy military survey vessel will be built in Henderson, Western Australia, later in the decade.

The transition to the Hydrographic Industry Partnership Program began nearly two years ago, part of a $150 million investment.

The Defence Strategic Review accelerated the decommissioning.

(Aus DoD)

Ambisi RI Geber Pesawat Amphibi N219, Butuh Uang Segini!

24 Juni 2023

Pesawat N219 versi amfibi (image : BPPT)

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Kementerian PPN/Bappenas mengungkapkan, negara akan mengalokasikan Rp 210 miliar untuk pembuatan atau prototyping hingga sertifikasi internasional pesawat amphibi N219.

Hal tersebut disampaikan langsung oleh Deputi Bidang Ekonomi Kementerian PPN/Bappenas Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti saat melakukan rapat kerja dengan Komisi XI DPR, Senin (19/6/2023).

Amalia menjelaskan, anggaran bidang Deputi Bidang Ekonomi Kementerian PPN/Bappenas tahun depan mencapai Rp 246,8 miliar, dimana 85% atau sebesar Rp 210 akan dialokasikan untuk pembuatan hingga sertifikasi internasional pesawat amphibi N219.

"Pagu indikatif Rp 246,8 miliar, dan Rp 210 miliar akan fokus untuk pengembangan N219 dan ini merupakan yang akan dihibahkan ke Institute Teknologi Bandung (ITB) bekerjasama dengan PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI)," jelas Amalia.

Anggaran pengembangan pesawat amphibi N219 yang sebesar Rp 210 miliar tersebut, kata Amalia diperuntukan dari prototyping hingga sertifikasi berstandar internasional, sehingga nantinya bisa dikomersialisasi.

Adanya pengembangan pesawat amphibi N219 buatan PT DI ini, kata Amalia sekaligus pilot project atau proyek pertama kolaborasi antara pemerintah, akademisi, dan dunia usaha.

"Ini adalah pilot project untuk mengkonkretkan kolaborasi triple helix antara pemerintah, akademisi, dan dunia usaha," ujar Amalia lagi.

Proses pembuatan pesawat N219 ini, kata Amalia saat ini masih dalam pembuatan floating kit, sehingga nanti dapat diintegrasikan dengan N219.

Sebelumnya, sertifikasi pesawat amphibi N219 sebenarnya sudah dilakukan, namun hanya berstandar nasional. Saat ini pemerintah pun tengah melakukan pembuatan hingga sertifikasi internasional dari The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) agar bisa dikomersialkan.

"Nanti kalau dikomersialisasi jadi komersial, sehingga bisa menjadi jembatan udara yang menghubungkan tempat terkecil ke tempat yang lain (di Indonesia), sekaligus membangkitkan industri kedirgantaraan Indonesia," jelas Amalia.

Pesawat N219 versi angkut (photo : PTDI)

Pun kata Amalia pemerintah daerah pun membutuhkan pesawat amphibi N219 tersebut, sehingga mereka bisa dengan leluasa menarik para turis mancanegara, untuk bisa memberikan pundi devisa negara.

Terlebih, pesawat amphibi N219 ini, kata Amalia tidak membutuhkan bandara besar, sehingga cost yang dikeluarkan pemerintah daerah juga akan efisien.

"Daerah membutuhkan itu. Sekaligus kalau pakai amphibi, tidak perlu membangun bandara yang mahal, cukup dengan water based port," ujarnya.

Melansir laman resmi pemerintah indonesia.go.id, pesawat amphibi N219 merupakan pesawat besutan PT Dirgantara Indonesia. Pesawat ini dapat melakukan lepas landas dan pendaratan di permukaan air.

Setelah mendapatkan sertifikasi dari FAA dan bisa dikomersilkan, pesawat N219 ini mampu dimanfaatkan untuk berbagai sektor, seperti layanan pariwisata, layanan perjalanan dinas pemerintahan, oil and gas company, layanan kesehatan masyarakat, SAR dan penanggulangan bencana, dan pengawasan wilayah maritim.

Berbagai wilayah di Indonesia pun cukup berpotensi untuk menggunakan pesawat ini, seperti Danau Toba, Pulau Bawah Kepri, Pulau Derawan Kaltim, Raja Ampat, Wakatobi, dan Pulau Moyo.

Potensi pasar yang besar juga terlihat khususnya di Asia Pasifik. Kini, ada 150 unit pesawat aktif dan 45% dari total populasi tersebut telah memasuki masa aging.

Pesawat ini memiliki kecepatan hingga 296 km per jam pada ketinggian maksimal 10.000 kaki. Dengan beban 1560 kg, pesawat mampu menempuh jarak hingga 231 km.

Take-off untuk ketinggian 35 kaki dari darat membutuhkan jarak 500 meter, sedangkan dari air, ia membutuhkan jarak hingga 1.400 meter. Kemudian untuk landing dari ketinggian 50 kaki, ia membutuhkan jarak 590 meter untuk di darat, dan 760 meter untuk di laut.

(CNBC)

Indonesian Troops Have Completed Training on Bushmasters

24 Juni 2023

Soldiers from the Indonesian National Armed Forces Peacekeeping Centre conduct training on the Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle in Darwin (all photos : Aus DoD)

Bushmaster training reinforces ties

Twenty-five soldiers from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Peacekeeping Centre proudly stood on parade at the Gary Holmes Centre at 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR), after completing comprehensive training on the Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle (PMV).

Originally announced in 2021, the Parliament of Indonesia formally accepted the gift of 15 Bushmaster PMVs in April.

Within a matter of weeks, TNI soldiers touched down in Darwin to begin a comprehensive training package on the patrol vehicles covering basic operation, challenging 4x4 operations, vehicle maintenance and communications equipment, provided by Thales Digital Systems.

Major Matt Breckenridge, seconded to the TNI Peacekeeping Centre, was in Darwin overseeing the Bushmaster training.

In the driver portion, students started in the vehicle simulator where they covered basic PMV operation before moving onto the real thing and into the training area to tackle complicated terrain and water crossings.

The TNI soldiers then covered off on maintenance and basic servicing of the Bushmaster.

Interpreters provided translation, as TNI students were selected for their mechanical proficiency rather than their ability to speak English. This meant the training was able to tackle more in-depth and skilled maintenance issues.

“The purpose was to give these soldiers the skills they need to safely operate and maintain the vehicles and associated communications equipment in austere environments,” Major Breckenridge said.

“The Bushmaster is particularly well suited to missions where there is an increased risk of ambush, mines or improvised explosive devices, which are common to the mission areas where TNI conduct peacekeeping operations.”

Major Breckenridge noted the TNI were the seventh largest contributor to global peacekeeping operations in terms of personnel and equipment, with more than 2500 members deployed at any one time.

Two of the PMVs used in the training were already sporting their internationally recognisable United Nations livery, which Major Breckenridge said was an important reminder of the work they were doing.

“We’re very proud to be able to support them in developing that peacekeeping capability,” he said.

There was also a vital integration piece to the training, in keeping with the Defence Strategic Review’s emphasis on Indo-Pacific partnerships.

The TNI soldiers got the chance to experience the Top End, while building relationships with their hosts at 5RAR.

Major Breckenridge even took the TNI contingent fishing, where they hauled in a very respectable catch.

“The more exposure we can give TNI and Australian soldiers to working with each other, the better we understand one another and work together,” he said.

(Aus DoD)

Thailand Turns to Pakistan to Check China’s ‘Reversed Engineered’ Submarines

24 Juni 2023

People’s Liberation Army’s Navy (PLAN) Yuan-class submarine (photo : USNI)

(CTN News) – The Thai government appears to be warming to the idea of settling for Chinese engines to power the Yuan-class submarine it ordered from China after Germany refused to provide its engine.

According to the Nikkei Asia journal, unnamed sources in the Thai Defence Ministry confirmed that officials from the Thai Navy and their Chinese counterparts would meet again later this month to negotiate the submarine contract.

According to the sources, Thailand also inquired with Pakistan about the condition of its fleet of Chinese-made submarines in anticipation of the Chinese replacement. China may be able to equip Thailand with engines identical to those on eight Pakistani Yuan-class submarines.

In 2015, Pakistan and Beijing agreed to sell eight Yuan-class submarines to Pakistan. The plan called for China and Pakistan to construct four submarines each. As part of its growing role as a major player in Asia’s military supply chain, China has also donated submarines to Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The Song and Yuan-class attack submarines account for most of China’s conventional submarine force, and their propulsion is provided by German-made MTU 396 SE84 series diesel engines.

Despite the EU arms embargo, MTU sold China over a hundred of its engines for destroyers and submarines between 1993 and 2020, as the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported.

China has made numerous efforts over the past year to save the contract, including offering assurances and concessions. Adm. Choengchai Chomchoengpaet, commander of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), announced in April that the Thai government would accept the alternative propulsion technology if it is secure, and China compensated Thailand for the delay in delivery of the vessel.

The engine’s security is one of three factors we must consider. Second, the Thai Navy needs the Chinese Navy to guarantee this engine. BenarNews reports that he also demanded reimbursement for the time lost while waiting for the replacement engine. These factors will determine whether the contract is continued or terminated.

According to the Commander at the time, the Chief of the Chinese Navy and the country’s Defence Minister had agreed to back the certification of the CHD620, which was built in China by China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Co (CSOC), as was agreed upon in 2022.

See full article ChiangRaiTimes

Pesawat C-130J Kedua TNI AU Dalam Pengiriman

23 Juni 2023

Pesawat C-130J kedua TNI AU dengan nomor A-1340 (photo : Lockheed Martin)

Sudah di Perjalanan, C-130J Super Hercules A-1340 TNI AU Akan Mendarat di Lanud Halim Pada 28 Juni 2023

MYLESAT.COM – Lima hari dari sekarang, pesawat kedua Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules A-1340 pesanan Pemerintah Indonesia, akan mendarat di tanah air. Pesawat direncanakan akan mendarat di Lanud Halim Perdanakusuma pada 28 Juni 2023 sekitar pukul 14.24 WIB.

Berdasarkan informasi yang  mylesat.com terima, A-1340 sudah meninggalkan Amerika Serikat pada 22 Juni 2023. Pesawat lepas landas pada pukul 09.00 LT (20.00 WIB) dari Dobbins ARB di Marietta pada 22 Juni menuju Sandiego. 

Rute selanjutnya adalah Sandiego - Honolulu - Kwajalien - Guam - Jakarta.

A-1340 rencananya akan berangkat dari Guam pada 09.00 LT (07.00 WIB) dan mendarat di Lanud Halim Perdanakusuma pada pukul 14.24 WIB.

Rute terakhir ke Jakarta ini akan menjadi penerbangan terlama ferry flight C-130J-30 Super Hercules A-1340. Penerbangan akan berlangsung selama 8 jam 24 menit.

Pengiriman pesawat kedua ini dilaksanakan sepenuhnya oleh penerbang dan kru dari Lockheed Martin.

Pemerintah Indonesia melalui Kementerian Pertahanan telah memesan lima unit pesawat C-130J-30 Super Hercules dari Lockheed Martin di AS.

Pesawat pertama, A-1339, mendarat di Lanud Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta pada Senin 6 Maret 2023. Selanjutnya pesawat berikutnya akan dikirim secara berkala pada Juni, Juli, dan Oktober 2023. Sementara pesawat Super Hercules terakhir akan dikirim pada Januari 2024.

See full article MyLesat

TNI AU–Rolls-Royce Gelar Koordinasi Teknis Engine Upgrade Pesawat C-130 Hercules

23 Juni 2023

Engine T56 pesawat C-130 Hercules (image : dynatechintl)

TNI AU. TNI AU dan PT. Rolls-Royce menggelar kegiatan Technical Coordination Program (TCP) Engine Upgrade Program pesawat C-130 Hercules TA. 2023 di Gedung Hercules Klub Eksekutif Persada, Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta Timur, Selasa (20/6/2023).

TCP dibuka oleh Waaslog Kasau Marsma TNI Oki Yanuar, S.T., mewakili Asisten Logistik (Aslog) Kasau Marsda TNI M. Khairil Lubis, diikuti sebanyak 35 peserta.

Dalam sambutanya Aslog Kasau mengatakan, kegiatan TCP ini bertujuan untuk memberikan gambaran dan pengetahuan tentang program upgrade engine T56 pesawat C-130 Hercules oleh Rolls-Royce sebagai manufaktur engine T56.

Engine upgrade program merupakan penyempurnaan engine T56 series 3.0 menjadi series 3.5 dengan melaksanakan penyempurnaan fungsi kompresor dan turbine dari engine.

Aslog Kasau berharap kepada seluruh peserta dan jajaran Logistik TNI AU dapat memberikan gambaran tentang manfaat program upgrade engine T56, sehingga mampu melaksanakan mitigasi dan menyiapkan alutsista TNI AU secara maksimal.

Turut hadir pada kegiatan TCP, para pejabat di lingkungan Slogau, International Program Manager T56 Engine, Rolls-Royce Corporation Mr. Jaime Vazquez, Vice President ASEAN, Rolls-Royce Defence Mr. Janakiraman Ramakhishnan, dan Direktur Utama PT. Rolls-Royce Bapak Dian Firmansyah.

(TNI AU)