Fleet Size Hovers Around 300 Ships in New U.S. Navy Plan

Increased production of new Arleigh Burke-class destroyers is a key feature of the U.S. Navy's new 30-year shipbuilding plan. Flight IIA versions of the ships are to serve for 40 years. (MC3 Benjamin Crossley / U.S. Navy).

The U.S. Navy’s new 30-year shipbuilding plan for 2013 shows few unexpected changes, projecting a slightly smaller average fleet size and slightly reduced shipbuilding rate.The plan, sent this week to Congress, projects an average fleet size through 2042 of 298 ships, a drop of seven ships from last year’s 306-ship standard. The force is projected to rise from today’s 282-ship level to 300 ships by 2019.

Ten fewer ships are scheduled to be bought over the three-decade time span, reducing last year’s 276-ship 30-year total to 268, a drop from 9.2 ships per year to 8.9.

Many of the force reductions already have been announced, particularly new orders to decommission seven Aegis cruisers more than a decade before previously scheduled, a slowing in the rate of ballistic missile defense destroyer conversions and cancellation of plans to buy more than 10 small and cheap Joint High Speed Vessels. The amphibious fleet also is being reduced by one ship.

Other changes already announced were shifts in the aircraft carrier and littoral combat ship construction rates, and a decision to push back new ballistic missile submarine construction by two years.

The new plan covers the years 2013 to 2042, while last year’s documents covered 2012 to 2041.The 30-year plan is broken roughly into three major sections. Near term reflects the coming decade, defined by the Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP) of 2013-2017 and a second FYDP from 2018 to 2022.

The mid-term planning period covers 2023 to 2032, while far-term planning begins in 2033.For the near term, the service projects an annual shipbuilding budget of $15.1 billion in 2012 constant dollars, a baseline used throughout the plan.

The rate of spending rises to $19.5 billion a year in the mid-term, due largely to the SSBN(X) Ohio Replacement Program, the effort to replace existing Trident ballistic missile submarines.Average yearly expenditures fall to $15.9 billion per year for the far-term period.

Over the entire 30-year plan, the annual ship construction budget is projected at $16.8 billion per year, including Navy and National Defense Sealift Fund ships.For the most part, the annual shipbuilding rate drops across the plan, but a number of ships are simply delayed, or shifted to the right, rather than eliminated. Construction rates tend to pick up in the 2020s, then again fall below last year’s projections in the 2030s.Destroyer construction shows a jump, and from 2023 on out two or three ships a year are procured. Last year’s plan showed one or two ships a year, with three ships only in 2036.Construction of attack submarines jumps to three in 2020, falling to one per year in 2026, whereas last year the plan showed one per year for every year beginning in 2023.

Force level projections reflect the Navy’s decision to stretch the build time of new aircraft carriers from five to seven years, avoiding situations where the force, set by law at 11 ships, would temporarily rise to 12 flattops. Now, the John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), funded in 2013, will be delivered in 2022 rather than 2020, and the yet-to-be-named CVN 80, funded in 2018, will deliver in 2027.Overall, the carrier force drops to 10 ships beginning in 2040, where last year’s plan showed 11 into that decade.

The attack submarine force, projected last year to reach a low of 39 boats in 2030, now bottoms out at 43 subs in 2028. The level begins to rise again in 2032 and reaches 50 hulls in 2037. Last year’s plan projected only 45 submarines in service for most of the late 2030s.

The number of SSBN ballistic missile submarines drops from 14 boats to 13 boats in 2027. But whereas last year’s plan never fell below 12 ships for any given year, the new plan shows a force of 11 ships in 2029 and 10 in 2032, holding there until the number starts to rise in the early 2040s.

The plan for SSGN guided-missile submarines remains the same. Two ships are decommissioned in 2026, and the last two are gone by 2028. The Navy plans to replace the ships with a stretched version of SSN 774 Virginia-class attack submarines.

The number of large surface combatants — cruisers and destroyers — drops in the near term but surpasses earlier projections starting in the late 2020s. The force drops in 2014 to 78 ships, down from last year’s 85. The revised numbers remain from two to 10 ships below the old numbers until 2027, when the new plan begins to show more ships in service than under the old plan. The growth in the number of destroyers in service is sustained through the remainder of the plan, with an increase of as many as 11 ships a year.

The small surface combatant category, including littoral combat ships (LCS), frigates and minesweepers, now shows an all-LCS force in 2029, six years sooner than previously forecast.The annual amphibious ship force level is one or two ships below last year’s, returning to parity in the 2030s.

The plan provides few, if any, new details on construction plans in the current FYDP, as those are included in the Navy’s 2013 budget request submitted in February.

But the second FYDP, for the years 2018 to 2022, includes the most ambitious, complex and expensive new start of the plan, the SSBN(X) submarine. The Navy plans for 12 new ships to replace 14 existing submarines, with detail design to begin in 2017 and the lead ship to be funded in 2021 — a change already announced and two years later than last year’s schedule. The price tag for the first SSBNX is projected at $11.7 billion, including $4.5 billion in non-recurring engineering costs and $7.2 billion for the ship’s construction.

The second FYDP also will feature the start of the LSD(X) dock landing ship replacement program. The new ships will be delivered sooner than when the older LSDs are to be retired, a move the Navy says is “ahead of need,” but necessary to preserve the shipbuilding industrial base and reduce the risk associated with the decision to operate an amphibious force of only 32 ships, rather than the 38-ship force the Marines say they need.

At the lower end of the scale, the first two of five planned T-AGOS(X) ocean surveillance ship replacements and the first two of four planned T-ARS(X) salvage ship replacements also are to be purchased in the second FYDP.

Other details listed in the new plan include:

• Up to 33 Flight III DDG-51-class destroyers will be bought featuring the new Air Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), a replacement for the Aegis system’s SPY-1 series of phased-array sensors. Twenty of the ships will come in during the mid-term planning period, the last in 2030. Procurement of an “affordable follow-on, multi-mission” destroyer is to begin in 2031.

• Both versions of the littoral combat ship (LCS) will continue to be purchased through 2026, completing the initial, 55-ship inventory. The first follow-on LCS(X) replacement is to be bought beginning in 2030.

• Procurement of a Virginia-class replacement submarine design, tentatively designated SSN 774(X), is aiming for a 2033 start.

• Construction of Flight I LHA(R) amphibious assault ship replacements is to continue, with one ship being built every four years starting in 2024.

• The LSD(X) dock landing ship replacement program remains at a total of 10 ships, the last coming in 2032.

• Plans remain to build two replacement submarine tenders, with one each in 2023 and 2025.

• The two long-serving LCC command ships, in service since 1970 and 1971, will be replaced with new construction starting in 2032.

source= here

Philippine Navy Eyes Joint Maritime Exercises with Thai, Vietnamese Counterparts

29 Maret 2012

Naval Shipyard X46 or the Hai Long Shipbuilding Co. in Vietnam which is capable of building warships and military vessels (image : ttvnol)

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Navy plans to hold joint maritime exercises with its Vietnamese and Thai counterparts as part of efforts to strengthen ties with the navies of neighboring Asian countries, a military spokesman said.

Lieutenant Colonel Omar Tonsay disclosed this following the visit of a Philippine Navy delegation led by its chief, Vice Admiral Alexander Pama, to Vietnam on March 11-14 and Thailand on March 14-17.

The Philippine delegation toured the Naval Shipyard X46 or the Hai Long Shipbuilding Co. in Vietnam, which is equipped with state-of-the-art shipbuilding and repair facilities and which is capable of building warships and military vessels, Tonsay said.

“This visit is expected to provide opportunities for the conduct of joint maritime exercises in the West Philippine Sea (northeast of Vietnam) and other common maritime domains following proper diplomatic channels under guidance from the Department of National Defense,” Tonsay said.

“Sharing of shipbuilding expertise is clearly seen as one possible area for cooperation during this tour,” Tonsay added. The delegation, he said, suggested possible training for Philippine Navy personnel at the X46 shipyard.

Likewise, the leaders of the two navies discussed a proposal to establish a communication hotline between the operations centers of the Philippine Navy and the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) especially for search-and-rescue operations.

Pama and VPN’s commander in chief, Admiral Nguyen Van Hien, also signed the standard operating procedure regarding interactions among Philippine and Vietnamese navies’ personnel in the vicinity of Southeast Cay and the Northeast Cay Island, located between the two countries.

Nguyen offered to host the first “Navy to Navy Talks” with the Philippines in Vietnam in the last quarter of 2012, the Philippine Navy spokesman said.

“The visit paved the way for continued Staff to Staff Talks and exchange of visits between the Philippine Navy and VPN, which is hoped to sustain the active engagements of the Philippine Navy and the VPN and effectively address maritime security issues in common maritime domains,” Tonsay added.

In Thailand, Pama and other delegation members met with the Thai Ministry of Defense and held exploratory talks on avenues of cooperation for the Philippine Navy and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN). Joint maritime exercises and ship visits by the Thai Navy to the Philippines were also discussed.
Likewise, the RTN also committed to host Navy to Navy Talks to further discuss matters that will strengthen the bilateral activities of both navies.

(Inquirer)

2014, Indonesia Siapkan Roket 100 Kilometer

29 Maret 2012

Rencana pengembangan roket R-Han 122 (photo : Defense Studies)

BATURAJA, KOMPAS - Tahun 2014 ditargetkan Indonesia sudah mampu membuat sendiri roket berdaya jelajah di atas 100 kilometer. Roket tersebut merupakan proyek jangka panjang dan kolaborasi teknokrat dan birokrat.

"Ini sebuah perjalanan maraton kebangkitan industri pertahanan kita," kata Wakil Menteri Pertahanan Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Rabu (28/3), seusai menyaksikan uji coba R-Han 122 milimeter di Pusat Latihan Tempur TNI AD Baturaja, Sumatera Selatan.

Uji coba ini sudah mengalami perkembangan dibandingkan uji-uji sebelurnnya. Sebelumnya, November 2011, peluncuran roket dilakukan dari dudukan berupa karung. Saat ini, PT Pindad sudah membuat peluncur roket yang terdiri atas 16 tabung.

Sjafrie menilai, terjadi kemajuan yang signifikan walaupun harus ada pengembangan kualitas. Rencana berikutnya adalah mengadakan transfer teknologi untuk perbaikan. "Targetnya, jarak tempuhnya tahun 2014 sudah tiga digit dan akan menggunakan seluruh kemampuan multilaunch rocket system," ujarnya.

Saat ini R-Han 122 yang berkaliber 122 millimeter itu memiliki jarak tempuh 14 kilometer. Roket ini diproduksi bersama oleh Kementerian Pertahanan serta Kementerian Riset dan Teknologi.
PT Dahana membuat bahan peledaknya, PT Krakatau Steel membuat baja untuk nozzle dan merakitnya, sementara PT Dirgantara Indonesia memproduksi berbagai komponen seperti selongsong dan sirip.

PT Pindad membuat hulu ledak (warhead) dan memodifikasi mobil untuk peluncur 16 tabung yang bisa berputar 360 derajat.

"Uji coba hari ini penting karena berarti kita sudah membuktikan bahwa konsep kita sudah benar, tinggal memperbaiki saja," kata Direktur Utarna PT Pindad Adik A Soedarsono.

Roket dalam strategi militer sangat penting dalam penangkalan dan penolakan.

Komandan Pusat Kesenjataan Artileri Medan Kodiklat TNI AD Brigjen Aryadi Patmanegara menjelaskan, kalau sudah bisa diproduksi di dalam negeri, akan sangat efisien. Sebab, seperti roket yang dibeli Singapura dan Malaysia, dengan jangkauan 43 kilometer dan 40 kilometer, harga seluruh sistemnya, termasuk 18 kendaraan peluncur, mencapai Rp 3 triliun. (EDN)

(Kompas)

DSTO Demonstrates Vision Technology for ADF Vehicles

29 Maret 2012

Desert Owl on display at the Puckapunyal Army training facility (photo : DSTO)

Computerised vision technology, designed to enhance ADF vehicle situation awareness has been demonstrated at the Puckapunyal Army training facility in Victoria.

Desert Owl is being developed by computer vision and software firm Sentient, as part of the

Defence Capability and Technology Demonstrator Program (CTD), managed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation.

The system analyses Full Motion Video imagery from EO/IR sensors to perform Mobile Target Indication from mobile ground vehicles to identify potential targets and threats.

Alan Hinge, CTD Program director, says that Desert Owl is designed with two distinct technology components, ‘to provide advanced vehicle awareness.’

“A component known as Panoptes provides automated target detection from a stationary, sweeping camera. In Greek mythology, Panoptes was a giant with 100 eyes,” Hinge says.

Vinod Puri, DSTO’s Chief Technology Officer, Land Operations Division, said, "This technology can detect and track moving targets down to a few pixels in size – cueing operators to small or slow moving and hard to see targets, in difficult terrain. It can also detect stationary objects that may have moved since the camera was first directed at that location.”

A separate Ground Change Detection component can identify variations in a landscape, between successive camera transits through an area.

“With this component,” explains Hinge, “Desert Owl records imagery of the environment. On subsequent transits, the system compares live imagery of the road ahead with this recorded imagery and identifies visual changes, including disturbances to the ground surface, additional, moved or removed objects.”

Desert Owl, currently in the sixth of nine Technology Readiness Levels, could be applied to any ADF land vehicle.

The CTD Program was established to improve priority Defence capabilities. It provides Australian and New Zealand industry and research organisations an opportunity to demonstrate technology and allows Defence to assess its potential and associated risks.

(DSTO)

Beechcraft T-6C Military Trainer Demo Tours to New Zealand Air Force

28 Maret 2012

Beechcraft T-6C Military Trainer (photo : Hawker Beechcraft)

SHANGHAI – Hawker Beechcraft Defense Company (HBDC) today announced it has kicked off a two-week demonstration tour in New Zealand with its T-6C Texan II military trainer. The tour began this week at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF) 75th Anniversary Air Show at RNZAF Base Ohakea, near Palmerston North.

“This is a great opportunity for us to show the world’s most versatile and capable integrated pilot training system to a broad range of interested prospects from New Zealand and the Pacific Region,” said Russ Bartlett, HBDC vice president, Business Development. “Our presence at the 75th Anniversary Air Show is excellent exposure of the robust capability, affordability and sustainability of the T-6C, which has already completed more than 15,700 miles on its journey to New Zealand.”

The T-6C was flown from HBDC’s headquarters in Wichita, Kan., to RNZAF Base Ohakea – a distance of 15,733 miles – in a total elapsed time of nearly 65 flight hours. The trip included stops in Canada, Greenland, Iceland, England, Italy, Greece, Egypt, UAE, India, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia.

During the RNZAF 75th Anniversary Air Show, HBDC’s aerobatic demonstration team will perform single-ship, low-altitude aerobatics in a standard equipped T-6C military trainer. The team will also participate in the Warbirds Over Wanaka Air Show on the South Island the following week.

The T-6C aerobatic team debuted in 2011 at the Avalon Air Show in Victoria, Australia. The team’s 2012 tour schedule will include performances at air shows such as Farnborough International Air Show, the Royal International Air Tattoo, the Atlantic Canada International Air Show and the Canada International Air Show. Its tour will also include U.S. demonstrations at Andrews (Md.) and McConnell (Kan.) Air Force Bases; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (Calif.); Naval Air Station Pensacola (Fla.); as well as air shows in Oshkosh, Wis.; Columbia, Mo.; Fort Worth, Texas; Atlanta, Ga.; and Houston, Texas.

“Performing aerobatics in the T-6C is something that flows naturally from the typical training syllabus for the airplane because it is such a capable and versatile aircraft,” Bartlett said. “It allows us to demonstrate the aircraft’s handling and superior performance in a dramatic fashion.”

In addition to the hard-point wings, the T-6C features an integrated glass cockpit and the advanced Esterline CMC Cockpit 4000 avionics suite that greatly expands advanced training opportunities.

The systems are integrated with a Hands-On Throttle and Stick, providing the student pilot and instructor with a simpler interface to the digital cockpit. The CMC Cockpit 4000 avionics suite is the first in its class to incorporate a fully integrated and FAA-certified dual FMS/GPS navigation suite that meets the navigation performance standards required for current worldwide airspace equipment. The open architecture design of the Cockpit 4000 provides the flexibility to expand capabilities and continuously meet current and future training needs.

Deliveries of the T-6 began in 2000 after the aircraft was initially selected to fill the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System role for the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy. Since then, additional military programs worldwide, including NATO Flying Training Canada, the Hellenic Air Force of Greece, the Israeli Air Force, the Iraqi Air Force, the Royal Moroccan Air Force and our newest customer, the Mexican Air Force, have chosen the T-6 as their primary trainer. To date, the company has delivered more than 740 T-6 aircraft.

(HawkerBeechcraft)

Puluhan Roket Produksi Indonesia Berhasil Diujicobakan

28 Maret 2012

Roket R-Han 122 yang diujicoba telah dipasang di atas platform truk GAZ-63 (eks BM-14) dan truk Perkasa (all photos : Audrey)

Baturaja, Sumsel (ANTARA News) - Sebanyak 50 Roket R-Han 122 produksi Indonesia, berhasil diujicobakan dengan ditembakkan ke sasaran di udara, di Pusat Latihan Tempur TNI AD Baturaja, Kabupaten Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU), Sumatera Selatan, Rabu.

Deputi Menristek Bidang Produktivitas dan Relevansi Riset Iptek, Budi Teguh Raharjo sempat menunjukkan contoh roket R-Han 122 itu, kepada Wakil Menteri Pertahanan, Letjen TNI Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, sebelum melakukan uji coba roket tersebut.

Sebanyak 50 buah Roket R-Han 122 diujicobakan sebagai hasil pengembangan konsorsium dari Kementerian Riset dan Teknologi dan komunitas iptek serta industri strategis, guna mendukung kemandirian roket 2014 bagi Kementerian Pertahanan.

Roket R-Han 122 memiliki kecepatan maksimum 1,8 mach dan jarak tembak hingga 15 km.

Selain Wakil Menhan Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, sejumlah pejabat Pemptov Sumsel dan Pemkab OKU, beberapa petinggi TNI, antara lain Pangdam II/Sriwijaya Mayor Jenderal TNI Nugroho Widyotomo dan Komandan Kodiklat TNI AD Letnan Jenderal TNI Gatot Numantyo ikut pula saat menyaksikan uji coba roket R-Han 122.

Usai peluncuran, Wamenhan juga berkesempatan melakukan pengecekan pada mobil peluncur roket, untuk selanjutnya akan terus dikembangkan sebagai bagian program kemandirian penyediaan alat utama sistem pertahanan (alutsista) nasional.

Menurut Kepala Biro Hukum dan Humas Kemenristek, Anny Sulaswatty, Roket R-Han 122 itu merupakan produksi hasil kerja sama anak bangsa Indonesia, diwujudkan melalui penelitian bersama PT Pindad, PT Dirgantara Indonesia, dan PT Dahana, didukung penuh Kemenristek.

Ujicoba dan demo penembakan Roket R-Han 122 itu menandai keberhasilan bangsa Indonesia untuk menuju kemandirian produksi roket nasional di masa depan.

(Antara)

Cocos Islands Airfield Not Ready for Spy Drones, Says Stephen Smith

28 Maret 2012

Gobal Hawk - high altitude longrange endurance HALE UAV (photo : DefenseIndustryDaily)

THE Cocos Islands' airfield would require a $75 million-$100 million upgrade before the territory could be used as a base for US drones, says Defence Minister Stephen Smith.

Amid heightened Chinese sensitivities over Australian-US military ties, Mr Smith played down the short-term prospects of using the Cocos Islands - a remote group of coral atolls and islands in the Indian Ocean - as a staging point for US spy flights.

Pentagon planners are considering basing Global Hawk drones and manned surveillance aircraft from the Cocos Islands - about 2750km northwest of Perth - to carry out patrols far out over the northern oceans.

Mr Smith said he and his US counterparts had agreed a “substantial infrastructure upgrade” was required before the Cocos Islands could be considered for use as a joint US-Australian base.

Cocos Island - small island in Hindian Ocean (image : GoogleMaps)

“My memory of the costing of that was somewhere between $75-$100 million. No-one is proposing that occur in the first instance or in the near future,” he said.

Mr Smith said the priorities for the deepened Australian-US military relationship were the deployment of US Marines in Darwin and the bedding down of arrangements for US use of Australian air and naval bases.

HMAS Stirling, in Perth, is reportedly being eyed by the US for use by aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines.

An initial 250 marines will arrive in Darwin in coming days - the first of 2500 to eventually be deployed in the Northern Territory.

Mr Smith said rotational arrangements for the force were being finalised between Australian and US officials.

The Greens said the Cocos Islands must not be used as a base for US drones.

“Surveillance may sound innocent enough to some, but the role of this base will be to make it even easier for the US military to strike and kill at will,” Greens defence spokesman Scott Ludlum said.

“If the past 40 years has taught us anything, it's that we must be wary of being complicit in these misadventures.

He said US attack drones had caused large numbers of civilian deaths.

“Are their spy drones any more reliable in identifying targets?”

(The Australian)

Kementrian Pertahanan dan DPR Bahas Shopping List hingga 2014 yang Dibiayai Pinjaman

28 Maret 2012

Marinir diusulkan untuk mendapatkan tambahan kendaraan 8x8 BTR-80A sebanyak 14 unit sehingga menjadi total 26 unit dan tank BMP-3F sebanyak 37 unit sehingga total menjadi 54 unit (photo : Kaskus Militer)

Ketua HLC dan Komisi I DPR Bahas Rencana Modernisasi Alutsista Melalui APP 2010-2014

Jakarta, DMC – Wakil Menteri Pertahanan dalam hal ini selaku Ketua High Level Comitte (HLC), Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, bersama anggota Komisi I DPR RI, Senin (26/3) di Ged. DPR, Jakarta membahas rencana Modernisasi Alutsista dalam rangka kebutuhan TNI 2014 dengan menggunakan Alokasi Pinjaman Pemerintah (APP) atau Pinjaman Luar Negeri (PLN).

Ketua HLC pada kesempatan Raker tersebut mengatakan hingga tahun 2014 didalam proyeksi Minimum Esential Force khususnya modernisasi untuk Alutsista bergerak, Kemhan dan TNI ingin melengkapi postur kekuatan pertahanan di setiap Angkatan.

Sehubungan dengan hal tersebut, Kemhan juga memiliki rencana kebutuhan belanja (shopping list) alutsista bergerak prioritas hingga tahun 2014 akan mempergunakan pinjaman pemerintah dari luar negeri.

Lebih lanjut Wamenhan menjelaskan, untuk Mabes TNI hingga 2014 memerlukan kendaraan taktis dan kendaraan angkut amunisi 5 ton dengan jumlah besar yang menurut jumlah pagu mencapai 110 juta Dolar.

Sementara untuk Angkatan Darat, terdapat empat prioritas yang ingin dicapai, diantaranya Helikopter serang dan serbu termasuk persenjataan sebanyak 24 Unit, kendaraan tempur Main Battle Tank (MBT) jenis Leopard 2A6 sebanyak 44 Unit, ME Armed 155 Howitzer, Rudal MLRS dan Rudal Arhanud.

TNI AL mengusulkan untuk membeli tiga kapal multi-role light frigates ex Nakhoda Ragam class (photo : Deadmans Handle)

Sedangkan untuk proyeksi kebutuhan modernisasi Alutsista untuk Angkatan Laut, Kapal Pemukul dengan jenis Klas Korvet, Kapal Pendukung, pesawat Udara jenis CN-235 MPA dan Helikopter AKS, Tank Amfibi BMP-3F serta Panser Ambfibi BTR 80 A. untuk penawaran baru yakni 3 kapal Selam dan 2 Unit PKR namun bisa dikirim setelah tahun 2014 dan 3 unit Fregat (MRLF) namun juga masih dalam proses pengusulan anggaran.

Untuk Angkatan Udara, Shoping list ini tertuju kepada pengadaan SU-30 MK2 dan dukungannya, pengadaan pesawat angkut CN-295 sebagai pengganti pesawat F-27. Ditambah lagi pengadaan Helikopter Full Combat SAR Mission, pengadaan pesawat latih sebagai pengganti AS-202 & T-34C. Totalitas pagu yang di butuhkan untuk bisa memenuhi kebutuhan khusus untuk alutsista bergerak pioritas mencapai 3,741 juta Dollar.

Berkaitan dengan hal tersebut, Ketua Komisi I DPR RI, Mahfudz Siddiq, pada akhir raker itu mengatakan, Komisi I DPR RI mendukung daftar pengadaan Alutsista TNI TA. 2010-2014 yang sumber pembiayaannya di alokasikan dari Alokasi Pinjaman Pemerintah (APP) Kemhan/TNI TA. 2010-2014.

Namun demikian Komisi I DPR RI memberikan beberapa saran, antara lain agar dapat mengupayakan dilakukannya amandemen terhadap daftar State Loan Agreement Tahun 2007 antara Pemerintah RI dengan Pemerintah Federasi Rusia, sehingga pengadaan 6 unit Sukhoi Su-30 MK2 dapat menggunakan skema pembiayaan State Credit.

Memperhitungkan dengan cermat kondisi dan spesifikasi, dislokasi serta proyeksi biaya pemeliharaan dan perawatan dalam pengadaan MBT Leopard 2A6. Memperhatikan dengan serius dampak penggunaan pesawat intai tanpa awak (UAV) terhadap kerahasiaan pertahanan dan keamanan RI. Memastikan kelayakan pembelian 3 unit kapal perang kelas Fregat (MRLF) oleh TNI AL.

Dikatakan Mahfudz Siddiq, Komisi I DPR RI mendesak Kemhan/TNI untuk terus melakukan pembenahan terhadap sistem adminstrasi dalam pengadaan Alutsista TNI. Menurut dirinya Komisi I DPR RI akan menyelesaikan pembahasan terkait permohonan pencabutan dana bertanda bintang untuk pengadaan barang/jasa melalui PHLN/KE, sebelum penutupan Masa Persidangan III Tahun Sidang 2011 – 2012.

Forum Raker pembahasan tentang rencana modernisasi alutsista ini juga dihadiri oleh Para Kepala Staf Angkatan, Sekjen Kemhan dan sejumlah pejabat di jajaran Kemhan dan TNI. (MAW/SR).

(DMC)

Vietnam Conducts Live Fire Exercise with Su-22M4

27 Maret 2012

The swing wing aircraft Su-22M4 fires rocket to destroy the target. (photo : BaoDatViet)

Recently, at the shooting range TB3, the fighter unit - Su-22M4 striker/bomber, UH-1/Mi-8 transport/armed helicopter of 370 Division conducted live-fire exercises.

In two days 23-24/3, shot at the National School Region 3 (TB3), 370th Air Division held a practice test used missile, rocket and bomb from fighter and helicopter.

The exercise is an opportunity to evaluate the possibility of training for combat readiness of the 370th Division and represent experience and additional training options in next time as well as training organizations to participate in sea shooting practice as planned in 2012.

Su-22MK4 of the Vietnam People's Air Force (photo : Jetphotos)

On behalf of the General Staff to participate in directing the training and testing is Major General Nguyen Duc Kidney, Director General Military Training. Representatives of the Air Defense Command - Air Force Major General Nguyen Van Tho, Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff.

In the dazzling sunshine of the Southwest, Division commanding officers and 370 officers and soldiers of the two pilots of the 917th Helicopter Regiment and the 937th Fighter Group at headquarters, on the icy ground and flight the air was working hard, serious, highly effective training.

Before 7am, the Mi-8 crew and UH-1 (917th Regiment) and the fighter squadrons - Su-22M4 bomber (Regiment 937) was waiting in the ready command.

Mi-8 Hip of the Vietnam (photo : Jetphotos)

After about 20 minutes from the airport to the south, the border sorties team practice all tactical air forces, such as coil, low flying mountainous terrain advantage then suddenly plummeted increase the height of the target than fire rocket, missiles and bombs. Just about 5 minutes there is another round of air strikes on ground targets.

Through the vision system and listen to the commanding officer on the bridge reported, people are glad to see young pilots to shoot, very accurate throw. Naked eye, after a series of thundering explosions beams, we also recognize the right column of smoke up a red flag area, the white flag of the target.

In particular, during a practice flight shot, bombed on this land, boldly division first assigned to some young pilots (the youngest born in 1984) and use the UH-1 helicopter improved weapon control system.

UH-1 Huey of the Vietnam (photo : Jetphotos)

The fighter pilot - a bomb made Su-22M4 aircraft fire when all of the complicated and difficult than a normal shot.

After two days of training, Colonel Tran Ngoc Dong, Division Chief Division 370 Air Force, said the units involved in fire tests are reached or excellent. There are many young pilots (pilots born in 1984) shows good bravery and technical level.

After the training tests, even though faculty comments sum up the results, but the comrades Military Training Director General Command and Deputy Commander, Chief of Air Defense - Air Force are satisfied and that the pilots were required to complete a good strategy and techniques to ensure absolute safety.

(BaoDatViet)

Super Cobra Akan Jaga Perbatasan RI-Malaysia

27 Maret 2012

Helikopter serang Bell AH-1W Cobra (photo : Airliners)

Balikpapan (ANTARA News) - Selain akan dijaga dengan tank-tank Leopard 2A6, perbatasan Indonesia-Malaysia juga bakal dilengkapi satu skuadron heli tempur Bell AH-1W Super Cobra, kata Panglima Komando Daerah Militer (Pangdam) VI Mulawarman, Mayor Jenderal TNI Subekti.

"Kami akan tempatkan di Berau dan Nunukan," ujarnya di Balikpapan, Kalimantan Timur, Selasa.

Saat ini Kodam VI Mulawarman sedang menyiapkan basis bagi skuadron heli tersebut. "Kami gunakan anggaran antara Rp17 miliar hingga Rp19 miliar untuk persiapan pangkalan skuadron heli tempur tersebut," katanya.

Super Cobra adalah helikopter buatan Bell, Amerika Serikat (AS), dan pengembangan dari Huey Cobra yang berjaya di perang Vietnam. Persenjataannya senapan mesin Gatling 20 mm, roket Hydra, rudal Sidewinder untuk pertempuran udara, dan rudal penghancur tank Hellfire.

"Super Cobra ini adalah pilihan utama. Namun demikian, kami punya pilihan lain yang lebih bersahabat dengan keuangan, yaitu heli serbaguna Agusta Westland," ujar mantan Asisten Perencanaan (Asrena) Kepala Staf TNI Angkatan Darat (Kasad) tersebut.

Heli tempur buatan Bell itu senilai sekira 11,3 juta dolar AS (setara Rp96 miliar) per unit. Untuk komplet satu skuadron dengan 16 pesawat, maka pemerintah RI menyediakan tidak kurang dari Rp1,53 triliun. Harga tersebut belum termasuk persenjataannya.

Super Cobra berkemampuan jelajah hingga 510 km pada kecepatan maksimum 277 km per jam, kecepatan menanjak 8,2 meter per detik, dan bisa mengambang di udara pada ketinggian 3.720 meter.

Dengan berpangkalan di Nunukan yang berbatasan langsung dengan Malaysia, maka SuperCobra hanya perlu beberapa menit untuk sampai di perbatasan dan menyelesaikan misinya.

Adapun helikopter Agusta Westland nilainya lebih murah. Heli tempur Agusta Westland AW 109LUH harganya 9 juta dolar AS (setara Rp76,5 miliar) per unit, atau total Rp1,22 triliun untuk satu skuadron.

Selanjutnya, Kodam Mulawarman akan dilengkapi tiga batalyon gabungan infanteri dan artileri yang memiliki persenjataan anti tank yang dapat membidik tank dari jarak 6 km, serta sistem peluncur roket serentak (multiple launch rocket system/MLRS) Astros II buatan Brazil.

"Dengan amunisi roket aslinya, jarak tembaknya bisa mencapai 300 km, atau 70 km dengan amunisi roket lain," jelas Subekti.

Bersama satuan tank Leopard, maka seluruh persenjataan dan personel baru ini akan tersedia secara bertahap mulai 2012. Menurut dia, akan sangat berdampak pada perimbangan kekuatan dengan negara-negara tetangga Indonesia, terutama yang berbatasan langsung di Kalimantan.

"Saat ini kita memang tidak memiliki musuh yang eksplisit, yang nyata. Tapi, setiap hari kita dilecehkan di perbatasan dengan adanya patok yang digeser-geser," demikian Pangdam VI Mulawarman, Mayjen TNI Subekti. (T.KR-NVA)

(Antara)

Quickstep Expects to Secure Long Term Agreements to Manufacture Group 2 and Group 3 JSF Parts

27 Maret 2012

Quickstep has completed the first production parts for the F-35 JSF (photo : JSF)

Quickstep Completes First Production Parts for Joint Strike Fighter

Perth – Quickstep Holdings Limited (ASX Ticker: QHL), an Australian-based advanced composites manufacturer, is pleased to announce it has completed the first production parts for the international F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (“JSF”) program under the Purchase Order secured by Quickstep in July 2011.

The parts have been presented for acceptance to Northrop Grumman weeks ahead of the schedule agreed with Northrop Grumman in 2009.The parts, assembled access panels for the F-35 aircraft, represent the first “flying” Group 1 parts manufactured by Quickstep for the JSF program. Quickstep initially expects to manufacture approximately one completed part per week and will gradually ramp up in quantity.

Quickstep’s Managing Director, Mr Philippe Odouard, said the commencement of commercial JSF production was a very significant event for the Company and demonstrates that Quickstep has successfully completed the very challenging development, contract negotiation and industrialisation phase and has moved into the production and revenue phase.

“This represents the start of Quickstep’s first major production contract for the international defence industry – a core part of the Company’s growth strategy,” Mr Odouard said.

“With serial production now underway we will be making regular shipments of Group 1 JSF parts to Northrop Grumman and receiving regular cash flow, with the intention of ramping up production over the next 12 months.”

Quickstep recently received its second Purchase Order for Group 1 parts covering manufacturing and delivery throughout 2013. While details of Purchase Orders will continue to remain confidential, the 2013 Purchase Order represents a 3 fold increase in JSF part deliveries compared to 2012 quantities and Quickstep’s production ramp up will be completed to meet this timetable.

“To date, Quickstep has met, and in many cases outperformed, all JSF delivery deadlines agreed with Northrop Grumman – a record of which we can be justifiably proud,” Mr Odouard said.

Quickstep expects to secure Long Term Agreements to manufacture Group 2 and Group 3 JSF parts during 2012, which would increase the number and types of JSF parts the Company, will manufacture.

(QuickStep)

India boosts its defence budget of 17 percent for the coming year

India on Friday, March 16, 2012 boosted military spending by 17 per cent to $40 billion for the coming year as it seeks to counter China’s rapid military build-up and its traditional rival Pakistan. The government, engaged in a massive programme to upgrade the country’s ageing military hardware, increased defence spending to 1.93 trillion rupees ($40 billion) for the financial year to March 31, 2013.

Indian army soldiers during a military parade in New Delhi.

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The G6 155mm self-propelled howitzer of South Africa a standard in the long-range artillery system

Twenty five years after it astonished the global defence community, South Africa’s G6 self-propelled Gun-Howitzer still sets the standards against which all long-distance artillery are being measured. “The G6 was ahead of its time when it was first launched in 1987,” says Stephan Burger, the CEO of Denel Land Systems.

G6 Rhino 155mm self-propelled howitzer of South-African army

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1st battalion of the 4th Air Defense Brigade of Chinese army equipped with HQ16A missile system

The HQ16A anti-aircraft air defense missile system enters in service with the 1st battalion, 4th Air Defense Brigade, 38th Army Group of the Chinese Armed Forces.

View of HQ-16A air defence missile system in Air Defence Brigade of Chinese Armed Forces
(Source Internet)

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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: First Flight For Last Raptor

Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: First Flight For Last Raptor
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 16, 2012: The final Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor took to the skies for its first test flight here yesterday with company test pilot, Bret Luedke at the controls. Raptor 4195 has a May delivery date and will join other F-22s in the U.S. Air Force’s 3rd Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. 

The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence roles.Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is the prime contractor and is responsible for the majority of the airframe, weapon systems and final assembly of the F-22. Program partner Boeing Defense, Space & Security provides the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.

The aircraft was variously designated F-22 and F/A-22 during the years prior to formally entering USAF service in December 2005 as the F-22A. Despite a protracted and costly development period, the United States Air Force considers the F-22 a critical component of US tactical air power, and claims that the aircraft is unmatched by any known or projected fighter, while Lockheed Martin claims that the Raptor's combination of stealth, speed, agility, precision and situational awareness, combined with air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities, makes it the best overall fighter in the world today. Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, former Chief of the Australian Defence Force, said in 2004 that the "F-22 will be the most outstanding fighter plane ever built."

The high cost of the aircraft, a lack of clear air-to-air combat missions because of delays in the Russian and Chinese fifth-generation fighter programs, a US ban on Raptor exports, and the ongoing development of the planned cheaper and more versatile F-35 resulted in calls to end F-22 production. In April 2009 the US Department of Defense proposed to cease placing new orders, subject to Congressional approval, for a final procurement tally of 187 operational aircraft. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 lacked funding for further F-22 production. The final F-22 rolled off the assembly line on 13 December 2011 during a ceremony at Dobbins Air Reserve Base.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS 

Navy Looks to Bolster Capabilities in Persian Gulf

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 16, 2012 – The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global choke point and the U.S. Navy is ensuring it has all the capabilities needed for this transit point to remain open, Navy Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, chief of naval operations, said today.

The admiral told the Defense Writers’ Group that the Navy is beefing up capabilities in the Persian Gulf, through which much of the world’s oil flows.

On one side of the strait are U.S. allies Oman and the United Arab Emirates. On the other side is Iran, whose leaders have threatened to shut down the strategic body of water.

Greenert spoke with Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, commander of U.S. Central Command, soon after he became CNO in September 2010. Mattis said there were capabilities he needed more of, the admiral recalled.

Greenert went to the region and assessed what the Navy needed “to set the theater.” He was aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis as it exited the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.

“I got a good look at the situation,” the admiral said. “A lot of the Iranian navy was out there … not really threatening, but being vigilant, and I thought through that.”

He met with Central Command and Navy leaders and laid out what more is needed in the region.

Greenert said he will double the number of mine warfare assets in the region, including mine sweepers -- going from four ships to eight -- and anti-mine aircraft in the form of four more CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters.

The admiral also wants to increase the readiness of the forces in the region. “If I have four out there, how many are ready to go on any given day?” he said. “I wanted to make sure we are good on that and it includes spare parts, maintenance and contractor support.”

Greenert said the Navy also is sending more underwater unmanned autonomous mine neutralization units to the region. “They are effective, they work well and our British partners know how to use them as well,” he said.

For ships sailing through the strait, the Navy is providing more infrared and electro-optical capabilities. “We want to make sure that all the ships that deploy have the same configuration on board and the crews are proficient,” the admiral said.

Navy forces need more short-range defenses in the region, Greenert said. It is a constrained area, he noted, and while carrier battle groups have excellent long-range defenses, they need something more. “It’s like being in an alley with a rifle, and maybe what you need is a sawed-off shotgun,” he said.

The Navy is looking at placing Mark 38 Gatling guns aboard the escorts or the carriers themselves, the admiral said.

“We have five patrol craft. They are 200-foot vessels that are armed with small arms. There are relatively short-range missiles out there -- roughly four miles -- and they are pretty effective according to special operations command,” he said. “I want to look and see if they are compatible with our [patrol craft] … so they are a more effective, more lethal vessel.”

There are five patrol craft in the United States, three more coming back to the Navy from the Coast Guard and five in the Persian Gulf, Greenert said

“I want to move toward upgrading the PCs in the United States with Gatling guns and put them in Bahrain, ultimately, and we’ll have 10 [in the Gulf],” the admiral said.

Within a year, most of the capabilities will be in place in region, he said.