Anyone knows the date for next year 80th, 2013 Malaysia Army Day open day at Dataran Merdeka?

This post has been edited by xtemujin: Dec 4 2012, 10:51 AM

Army pilots stage mutiny over chopper fears
By Ian McPhedran | 5 December 2012 Wednesday | 11:23AM

Tiger chopper pilots stage mutiny over safety fears
Mutiny follows aircrew being hit with cockpit fumes
Defence denies mutiny, says it has support of crew

DOZENS of Army pilots have conducted a mini-mutiny by going on "strike'' and refusing to fly new Tiger attack helicopters after aircrew were hit by cockpit fumes for the third time this year.

The latest emergency occurred at the Cultana military training area in South Australia on November 4 after earlier incidents in March and July. The fleet was not grounded after the third incident.

"The crew applied the standard procedure for smoke or fumes in the cockpit and landed safely at El Alamein Airfield,'' Defence told News Limited.

Pilots were angered by the decision not to suspend flying and aircrew from the Darwin-based 1st Aviation Regiment voted against flying, effectively a mutiny, until all safety concerns were addressed.

The emergency was isolated to the air conditioning unit of a single European built and Brisbane assembled Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH).

Tiger flying was "suspended'' in March and July this year due to cockpit fumes and since 2007 the aircraft has recorded 24 "fume incidents'' which is on a par with other military aircraft.

Defence refused to acknowledge that pilots had actually refused to fly and put the lack of flying down to "a prolonged period in the field and absence from home''.

It did acknowledge aircrew concerns and said a lull in activity was not unusual during "maintenance reset and administration catch-up on return to the unit''.

"Steps being taken by the Chain of Command to address 1st Aviation Regiment aircrew concerns have the full support of the aircrew,'' Defence said.

The army is still flying its Tiger training aircraft at Oakey in southern Queensland and other nations including Germany and France, that chalked up 4000 Tiger hours in Afghanistan, continue to operate the machines.

The Army's 22 Tigers (16 in Darwin) were built by European giant EADS and its subsidiary Eurocopter and assembled in Brisbane by Australian Aerospace at a cost of $2 billion.

A well-placed source said many military pilots were shocked that army pilots were allowed to vote not to fly effectively defying senior officers who judged the aircraft safe to operate.

"Usually you have to fight to stop military pilots from flying,'' a source said.

Defence confirmed that the 1st Aviation Regiment fleet had not flown since the incident at Cultana Training Area on November 4.

"There has been no scheduled operational flying of the ARH aircraft by the 1st Aviation Regiment in Darwin since the fumes incident at Cultana,'' it said.

During the emergency, the two-person crew of the tandem Tiger Helicopter had to open small weather windows inside the cramped cockpit as they conducted a sideslip manoeuvre to rapidly circulate air and dissipate the acrid fumes.

In the second incident in July, the window was jammed shut after not being checked during pre-flight inspections so the crew was forced to take the risky step of blowing the canopy off to ventilate the cockpit.

The source of the fumes in the first two incidents has been identified as a faulty capacitor in older models of a power module in the aircraft's multi-function display system.

It is understood a dud air conditioning unit was responsible for the Cultana event and it was isolated to a single aircraft - number 05 off the production line.

According to whistleblowers, safety concerns have prompted several pilots to commence discharge procedures.

In the past year, 22 helicopter pilots have left the army including two from the 1st Aviation Regiment.

Last September, the officer in command of the 1st Aviation Regiment's 162 Reconnaissance Squadron, Major Hayden Archibald, told News Limited that he would love to go to Afghanistan with the Tigers.

The Army was criticised during the inquiry into the death in Afghanistan of pilot Lieutenant Marcus Case where air force investigators highlighted examples of Army's inability to meet operational airworthiness regulations.

Unlike the Navy and RAAF the Army's operational airworthiness authority is non-pilot anmd Forces Commander Major General Mick Slater.

EUROCOPTER ARH "AUSSIE'' TIGER HELICOPTER

* Armed reconnaissance attack helicopter built from 80 per cent carbon fibre

* Two-person crew in tandem configuration equipped with helmet mounted sights

* Hellfire anti-armour missiles, 70mm rockets, 30mm cannon, armoured cabin

* Integrated laser sensors

* Cost about $70 million


http://www.news.com.au/business/worklife/a...r-1226530364627

This post has been edited by xtemujin: Dec 5 2012, 09:45 PM

Rafale charm offensive with Indian news crew.

VIDEO: NDTV's Vishnu Som Flies In The Rafale
8 December 2012 Saturday

http://livefist.blogspot.sg/2012/12/video-..._medium=twitter

This post has been edited by xtemujin: Dec 8 2012, 05:36 PM

Statement On Apache Win In Indian Parliament
10 December 2012 Monday

After formally announcing the CH-47F Chinook's victory in the Indian Air Force's heavy copter competition last week in Parliament, the Indian defence minister has now officially confirmed Boeing's AH-64D Apache Block III win as well. Here's the full statement in Parliament today:

Indian Air Force (IAF) is procuring Chinook Ch-47F heavy-lift helicopters and AH-64D Block-III Apache helicopters from Boeing Company of USA. In the two separate proposals initiated by Indian Air Force (IAF) for procurement of 15 Heavy Lift Helicopters and 22 Attack Helicopters, M/s Boeing of United States of America (USA) with Chinook CH-47F(I) and 'Apache' AH-64D respectively, has emerged as the L1 Vendor. The Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) cost for 15 Heavy Lift Helicopters and 22 Attack Helicopters is Rs.2468.41 Crores and Rs.3094.98 Crores respectively. However, final cost of the Contracts would depend upon outcome of the Contract negotiation with the L1 Vendor.

http://livefist.blogspot.sg/2012/12/statem..._medium=twitter

Militants battle Pakistani police after attacking airport
By Jibran Ahmad | 16 December 2012 Sunday | 7:20 pm

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Militants holed up in a half-built house in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar battled security forces on Sunday after taking part in an attack on a nearby airport the previous night, officials said.

All five of the militants who were holed up in two buildings under construction were killed by the afternoon, a provincial government and army official said.

The shoot-out erupted hours after an attack on Peshawar airport. The military declared the airport secure after killing five attackers who rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the outer wall of the airfield and battled guards after dark on Saturday.

The raid on the airport was the biggest assault on a high-profile military facility in Pakistan since gunmen stormed an air base in the province of Punjab in August, and underscored the resilience and reach of Pakistan's Taliban insurgents.

The Pakistani Taliban, who have been fighting for more than five years to overthrow the state, said they had sent 10 men to attack the airport.

"Five militants were hiding in an under-construction house near Peshawar airport," said Mian Iftikhar Hussain, a spokesman for the provincial government, on Sunday.

"All of them were suicide bombers. They had weapons and hand grenades."

One policeman was killed and two wounded in the clash on Sunday, he said.

During the Saturday night attack on the airport, three rockets slammed into a nearby residential area. Health and police officials said at least four civilians had been killed and 45 wounded in the flurry of blasts and gunshots.

Authorities sealed off the airport, which handles military and civilian traffic, during the attack and suspended flights.

The gritty streets of Peshawar, the gateway to the Khyber Pass and Afghanistan beyond, have often been shaken by bomb attacks and shootings, but residents said this was the first significant raid on the heavily guarded airport.

(Reporting By Jibran Ahmad; Editing by Robert Birsel)


http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/world...acking-airport/

World Air Forces 2013
By Tone Eye | 11 December 2012 Tuesday

The Ruag sponsored World Air Forces 2013 provides worldwide military fleet data compiled from the Flightglobal databases.

The report also includes global fleet analysis from the Flightglobal’s Insight team.

http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media...013-101015.aspx

This post has been edited by xtemujin: Dec 17 2012, 11:37 AM

Australia: Helicopter pilots fleeing army over pay
By Ian McPhedran | 12 December 2012 Wednesday | 12:00AM

SENIOR army helicopter pilots are flying the coop for better pay and conditions in the booming oil and gas industry.

The trend has emerged amid a string of near-disastrous cockpit-fume incidents in the army's new attack helicopters - the full extent of which can now be revealed.

Twenty-two pilots have left in the past year, including 12 majors, with the others being instructors or very experienced line pilots.

An insider said "at least eight more have effectively left" but were officially taking leave until it expired, while another 15 were in the process of "separation administration".

Many of these pilots will go to the oil and gas industry where companies will hire between 30 and 50 pilots for the expanding North West Shelf operation in 2013.

It costs taxpayers more than $2 million to train a military pilot. A senior army pilot can earn up to $100,000 a year but will work often long and uncertain hours.

Pilots flying to offshore oil and gas platforms can earn twice that amount for far fewer hours.

The final straw for many of the pilots was the army's decision not to pay its pilots a $17,000-a-year "capability bonus" negotiated by RAAF pilots.

The exodus reflects the increasing shift of defence force engineers to the booming mine industry.

The lure of better pay has contrasted with increasing concerns over safety in the military.

Last week pilots allegedly refused to fly Tiger helicopters from the Darwin-based 1st Aviation Regiment.

Up to seven of the aircraft have had dangerous levels of fumes inside the cockpit.

The fumes displace oxygen and lead to impaired judgment similar to that caused by alcohol - while continued exposure can result in death.

One two-person crew overcome by fumes had no memory of landing their seven-tonne machine.

It also stated that the 24 fume incidents recorded by the Tiger fleet was par for the course with military aircraft.

"That is just laughable, it is significantly higher than other aircraft type as statistics from the Directorate of Defence Aviation and Air Safety show," a source said.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/helic...6-1226534832410

RI gets new Navy, Air Force chiefs
Bagus BT Saragih, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | 17 December 2012 Monday | 1:39 PM

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inaugurated Adm. Marsetyo as the new Navy chief of staff and Air Marshall Ida Bagus Putu Dunia as the new Air Force chief of staff in a ceremony at the State Palace on Monday.

Marsetyo replaces Adm. Soeparno, who will retire. Marsetyo was previously Soeparno's deputy.

Ida Bagus, who formerly served as head of the Military Education and Training Command, replaces Air Marshal Imam Sufaat.

A number of Cabinet members, including Indonesian Military Commander Adm. Agus Suharyanto, attended the ceremony.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/12...rce-chiefs.html

Raytheon to provide targeting ATFLIR pods to Malaysia under FMS
By Editorial | 20 December 2012 Thursday | 09:20 AM

PROJECT INFO

Project Name: NASC - Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) Pods - Malaysia

Project Status: Awarded

Project Type: Parent

Project Start Quarter: Q4 2012

Project End Quarter: Q3 2017

Project Value (USD): 25.7 Million

Project Sector: Vehicle and Aircraft Electronics

Project Description:

The US Naval Air Systems Command (NASC) has awarded a contract to Raytheon Company for six Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) pods in support of the F/A-18 C/D aircraft for the Government of Malaysia under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

The contract will be performed at McKinney, Texas; El Segundo, California; Midland, Ontario, Canada; and the Harlow, Essex, United Kingdom. It is estimated to be completed in July 2017.

The US$25.7 million firm-fixed-price delivery order was awarded in July 2017.

Project Location: McKinney, Texas; El Segundo, California, USA, North America; Midland, Ontario, Canada; and the Harlow, Essex, United Kingdom.

BIDDING COMPANIES

Tender Award Date: 19/12/2012

Awarded to: Raytheon Company

Bidding Companies: Raytheon Company.

http://www.strategicdefenceintelligence.co...ysia_under_fms/

Deal For 42 More Su-30MKIs Signed
By Shiv Aroor | 24 December 2012 Monday | 3:55 PM

HAL Statement: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a contract for 42 numbers of Su-30 MKI frontline Fighter Aircraft with the Ministry of Defence and Russian firm Rosoboronexport in New Delhi today. "HAL's total responsibility for this supersonic multirole aircraft has now gone up to 222. This will further boost our confidence and operations as we have already delivered 119 Su-30 aircraft to the Air Force. We will continue to contribute to the country's defence preparedness", says Dr. R. K. Tyagi, Chairman, HAL. The deal was inked by Dr. Tyagi on behalf of HAL with the Ministry of Defence. Mr. S. Subramanyan, Managing Director of HAL's MiG Complex signed the contract with Mr. A. A. Mikheev, Deputy General Director of Rosobornexport.

One hundred fifty seven Indian vendors are involved in providing 13,350 components of the aircraft while another 19,450 components are manufactured at HAL's Nasik and Koraput Divisions, adds Dr. Tyagi.

The Su-30 MKI project provides solid platform to indigenous manufacturing and technical competence creating hundreds of direct and indirect jobs. HAL's hand-holding with private entrepreneurs has also ensured creation of strong infrastructure and quality avionics products.

Su-30 MKI is a two-seater, highly manoeuvrable, supersonic, multirole aircraft for day and night operations in all weather conditions. The aircraft is fitted with two turbojet AL-31FP engines and is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics from Russian, Western and indigenous sources.

The project has enabled HAL to master niche technologies of aircraft building and absorb new technologies in manufacturing areas like machining, forming, welding, assembly, testing and aircraft system checks. The aircraft airframes are made at Nasik, engines at Koraput, accessories at Hyderabad (communication and navigation), hydraulic, pneumatic and fuel aggregates and instruments at Lucknow and avionic displays and INGPS at Korwa. Overhauling and repairs of Su-30 MKI have already commenced in the dedicated lines set up at Nasik.

http://livefist.blogspot.sg/2012/12/deal-f..._medium=twitter

F-35: Still on Asia’s Radar?
By Trefor Moss | 27 December 2012 Thursday

Several Asian countries are interested in the American F-35 JSF. But Canada’s U-turn on buying the jet won’t encourage Asian partners to sign up any time soon. Will the program survive?

http://thediplomat.com/2012/12/27/asia-eye...arily/?all=true

---

Added on December 28, 2012, 12:15 am2013 LIMA Programme.

http://navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/.../lima-2013.html


This post has been edited by xtemujin: Dec 28 2012, 12:15 AM

Happy 2013 to all the Lowyat crew.

The hurdle of Malaysia's general election has to be passed before the RMAF MMRCA selection can even begin.

Cheers.

Contract for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Rafale
A year on, deal with Dasault not in sight
By KV Prasad | Tribune News Service | 5 January 2013 Saturday

Contrary to expectations of an early push towards finalising the contract for the 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for the Indian Air Force, the deal will not be signed before the current financial year comes to an end in March this year.

The IAF is keen that the negotiations are concluded and the way is paved to finalise the multi-billion dollar deal with the French manufacturer Dasault Aviation for its Rafale ominrole fighter plane.

Sources in the Ministry of Defence told The Tribune that there was no possibility that the contract can be signed in the current financial year. While the negotiations started after Dassault was declared the lowest bidder in January 2012, indications are that the discussions between the Contract Negotiation Committee and the French company is far from over.

Dassault Aviation Chief Executive Officer Charles Edelstenne, scheduled to demit office next week, told a French Parliamentary panel last month that while there was “relative optimism” over the progress of talks. He acknowledged the negotiations were tough. “We are deep in talks at the moment. It’s a complicated country, the negotiations are tough, but there is a desire to wrap up on both sides,” Edelstenne told the panel.

The contract envisages that of the 126 aircraft, 18 will be in fly-away condition while the rest will be license produced by the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) that will do the final assembly. Reports indicate that among the points of discussion was a suggestion by the French manufacturer that it be allowed decide on the quantum of work to be done by the HAL and private enterprise in India, to cater to the 50 per cent offset clause in the deal.

However, last week a news agency reported that the Ministry of Defence insisted that the HAL remain the lead integrator since any deviation in the tender floated in 2007 would require it be taken back to the Defence Acquisition Council for approval.

In the meantime, the Defence Ministry received a jolt in the form of Rs 10,000 crore cut from the Rs.79,578 crore capital expenditure in the 2012-13 annual budget, putting a question mark on many acquisitions that the three services — Army, Navy and IAF — were planning. The Ministry of Finance intimated the Defence Ministry of the budget cut which comes at a time when the tri-services were seeking to accelerate modernisation programme.

Depending on the progress of negotiations and sorting out issues including re-evaluating the controversy on the process leading to the declaration of the lowest bidder, the government will be left with a narrow window to sign the deal before preparations for the 2014 General Election set-in.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130106/main5.htm

From Alert5

Katsuhiko Tokunaga Photography Workshop in Singapore

Date: 5 March 2013 Tuesday
Time: 1930 to 2230H
Location: ITE College Central & HQ - AMK Campus
Ang Mo Kio Singapore 567720
Admission: Free
Number of places available: 100 persons

Click "Going" to attend the talk in FB.

http://www.facebook.com/events/460034410721120/

Katsuhiko Tokunaga
Aviation photography (Japan)

http://nps.nikonimaging.com/members/katsuhiko_tokunaga/

This post has been edited by xtemujin: Jan 9 2013, 02:58 PM

India selects the A330 MRTT
By Australianaviation.com.au | 10 January 2013 Thursday | 4:44 pm

The Indian government has formally announced the selection of the Airbus Military A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) as the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) new tanker aircraft.

The announcement followed a lengthy selection process which included flight demonstrations in India by an A330 MRTT during which the aircraft refuelled multiple types of IAF fighters and operated from the high-altitude IAF base at Leh. Airbus Military says “detailed negotiations will now begin which it is expected will lead to the award of a final production contract for an envisaged six aircraft in 2013.”

Airbus Military CEO Domingo Ureña Raso said: “We are grateful for the confidence shown in our company by the Government of India and the Indian Air Force, and we appreciate the detailed and fair appraisal of the competing products which they have conducted. This has been a long and tough competition and we are honoured to have been selected.”

A total of 28 A330 MRTTs have now been ordered by Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the UK.

http://australianaviation.com.au/2013/01/i...-the-a330-mrtt/

Have to pass through the Malaysian General Election first.

The 2013 LIMA, Malaysia, List of Attending Aircraft has been updated.

Looks like the JUPITER AEROBATIC TEAM, TNI AU will be the aerobatic team display.

From Dzirhan tweet, the A400M is still tentative.

http://www.lima.com.my/liveDemo.html

This post has been edited by xtemujin: Jan 14 2013, 10:40 PM

This will be the first showcase of the RMAF EC725 to the Malaysian general public.

I'm not too sure if the RSAF is sending the F16C or F16D.

Do catch the RAAF E-7A WEDGETAIL AEWC, Tophat.

2011 MAR Australia International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exposition, Avalon Airshow, Australia

This post has been edited by xtemujin: Jan 14 2013, 10:49 PM

AgustaWestland Wins First Wildcat Export Deal With South Korea
By Sangwon Yoon and Robert Wall | 15 January 2013 Tuesday

Finmeccanica SpA (FNC)’s AgustaWestland has won a first export order for the AW159 Wildcat after South Korea said it would buy eight of the helicopters to strengthen its navy’s ability to combat ships and submarines.

South Korea will receive four Wildcats in 2015 and four more in 2016 under a 589 billion won ($560 million) deal, the government’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration said in a statement. A team of United Technologies Corp. (UTX)’s Sikorsky helicopter arm and Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT), offering the MH-60R used by the U.S. Navy, was the losing bidder, DAPA said.

AgustaWestland and its U.S. rival are battling over one of the hot markets for military exports as countries from Europe to Asia look for ways to improve their ability to protect vital sea lanes. South Korea has had several naval standoffs with North Korea in recent years, driving interest in strengthening its defenses.

“The maritime helicopter will be able to carry out a variety of missions,” DAPA spokesman Baek Youn Hyeong told reporters in Seoul. “It expands our capabilities against suspicious enemy ships and submarines,” and can be used for anti-terrorism operations, he said.

U.S. bidders in South Korea often have an advantage because of the close military alliance between the countries. In terms of interoperability, often a deciding factor in South Korean competitions, the MH-60R scored better than the Wildcat, said Kim Seung Bok, director of maritime aircraft. However, the Wildcat offer was more compelling overall, he said.

Operational Suitability
The AW159 came out ahead on cost, operational suitability and other contractual elements, Baek said. Negotiating industrial and technology returns that AgustaWestland will deliver to South Korea delayed the contract announcement, he said.

AgustaWestland was the incumbent in South Korea, which has already bought 25 Lynx helicopters, an earlier model. The Wildcat will provide greater range and lift capability than the model now in service, Kim said. The helicopter is powered by two LHTEC CTS 800 engines built by a joint venture of Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc (RR/) and Honeywell International Inc. (HON)

The commitment is a boost for the Italian helicopter maker after the MH-60R ousted the Lynx in Denmark last year. The MH- 60R also won a deal in Australia.

The U.K. is lead customer for the Wildcat, with plans to field 34 for the army and 28 for the Royal Navy. The first Wildcats were delivered to the British military last year.

The AW159 and MH-60R are squaring off in several other markets, particularly the Middle East where Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are considering purchases. Malaysia also may add a maritime helicopter purchase to its next defense plan.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-01-1...ith-south-korea

US Fighters Join Japan's F-15s Over The Disputed East China Sea Islands

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/us-f-18-fig...1#ixzz2I3FnJ348