Thai Navy signs contract with DSME for first of two multipurpose frigates

Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
08 August 2013
 
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) signed a contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) on 8 August to procure from the South Korean company the first of two multipurpose frigates.

The RTN said the contract is valued at THB14.6 billion (USD468 million) - Thailand's largest ever naval procurement deal - and calls on DSME to deliver the frigate, which is based on a modernised derivative of the Kwanggaeto Daewang (KDX-1) destroyer in service with the Republic of Korea Navy, by August 2018.

It also expects to sign a contract with DSME to procure a second frigate of the same design within the next few years, although this remains subject to government funding.

14 August 2013 Last updated at 05:38 GMT

Indian submarine hit by explosion at Mumbai port

At least 18 sailors are feared to be trapped on board an Indian submarine that caught fire after an explosion in a Mumbai dockyard, officials say.

The blast occurred shortly after midnight and it took fire-fighters several hours to douse the blaze.

Officials say the diesel-powered vessel was badly damaged and remains partly submerged at its berth.

Many sailors managed to jump to safety. Rescue teams are on scene and some of the injured were taken to hospital.

It is unclear exactly what caused the explosion on the INS Sindhurakshak but dramatic images on Indian television appear to show a large fireball illuminating the sky. Smoke from the blaze could be seen in many parts of the city.

A naval inquiry has been set up to look into the causes of the incident, but officials told the BBC they suspect it to be the result of an on-board error and not an act involving any outside agency.

Russian-built vessel

"There are some people who are trapped on board, we are in the process of trying to rescue them, we suspect it to be in the range of 18," Navy spokesman PVS Satish was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying.

"We will not give up until we get to them," he added.

Officials also told the AFP news agency that divers had been deployed when the flames were put out and that they were hunting for the men on board.

The INS Sindhurakshak is said to be one of the 10 Kilo-class submarines bought from Russia between 1986 and 2000. It is equipped with Russian Club-S cruise missile system.

The vessel, which is powered by diesel and electricity, returned from Russia last year after undergoing an upgrade and sea trials began last October, reports said.

In February 2010, a sailor on board the submarine was killed by a fire that broke out in the battery compartment while the submarine was docked at the Vishakhapatnam naval base - it was later that year that it was sent to Russia for the refit.

This explosion comes just days after India's navy launched its first home-built aircraft carrier, hailed by officials as a "crowning glory".

Last year, India bought a Russian Nerpa nuclear submarine for its navy on a 10-year lease from Russia at cost of nearly $1bn (£645m), making it part of a select group of nations to operate nuclear-powered submarines.

India and Russia are long-time allies and Russia supplies about 70% of India's military hardware.

Friday, 16 August, 2013 | 10:22 WIB

Indonesia to Purchase 8 Apache Longbow Choppers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Army Chief of Staff General Moeldoko confirmed that the Defense Ministry had already agreed the purchase of eight units of United States Apache Longbow Choppers.

The request had previously been rejected by the House of Representatives, saying the price was beyond expensive. "Both the House and the Defense Ministry have agreed on the purchase," the Army Chief of Staff said.

Moeldoko did not specifically mention the price of the eight notorious choppers, saying he had not noticed the technical matter. He said that the government will begin paying the U.S. by this year. The eight choppers will be sent to Indonesia starting 2018 to 2021.

The House Defense Commission, in regards to this purchase, said they eventually agreed to strengthen the Army despite the relatively expensive cost.

INDRA WIJAYA

August 12, 2013

Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $200,504,841 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive-firm target contract (N00019-11-C-0001) for the procurement of 354 each AIM-9X Block II All Up Round Tactical Low Rate Initial Production Lot 13 Missiles and Block II Active Optical Target Detectors for the U.S. Navy (92), U.S. Air Force (92), and the governments of Morocco (20), Malaysia (20), Kuwait (80); and Oman (50).

In addition, this modification provides for the procurement of 178 Block II Captive Air Training Missiles for the U.S. Navy (58), U.S. Air Force (58), and the governments of Morocco (10), Malaysia (8), Kuwait (20), and Oman (24); nine Special Air Training Missiles for the U.S. Navy (7) and the government of Saudi Arabia (2); 147 All Up Round Containers for the U.S. Navy (43), U.S. Air Force (39), and the governments of Saudi Arabia (1), Morocco (9), Malaysia (8), Kuwait (28), and Oman (19); 19 Guidance Unit Containers for the governments of Malaysia (6), Kuwait (6) and Oman (7); three Spare Propulsion Steering Sections for the U.S. Navy (1), U.S. Air Force (1) and the government of Morocco (1); one Spare Missile Tube Assembly for the government of Morocco; three Spare Advanced Optical Target Detectors for the U.S. Navy (1) and U.S. Air Force (2); 20 Spare Tactical Guidance Units for the U.S. Navy (4), U.S. Air Force (4), and the governments of Morocco (2), Malaysia (2), Kuwait (2) and Oman (6); one Spare Inertial Measuring Unit for the government of Switzerland; and 26 Spare Captive Air Training Missile Guidance Units for the U.S. Navy (4), U.S. Air Force (8), and the governments of Morocco (4), Malaysia (4), Kuwait (2) and Oman (4).

Serious? at that price, fuuuu

longbow and not the new apache guardian?

U.S. Army AH-64E Is Now the ‘Guardian’

Less than three months after U.S. Army representatives announced that the former “Apache Block III” attack helicopter would be re-designated as the AH-64 “Echo,” the service has officially tied a nickname to the alpha-numeric designation.

http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories...s-now-guardian/

Dsca confirm the deal?

Jum'at, 16 Agustus 2013 | 17:53 WIB

Indonesia-Amerika Susun Kontrak Jual-Beli Apache

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Kementerian Pertahanan membenarkan kepastian pembelian delapan unit helikopter serang canggih AH-64-D Apache Longbow dari Amerika Serikat. Saat ini Indonesia dan Amerika Serikat sedang menyusun kontrak jual-beli helikopter ini.

"Sedang dalam pembicaraan intensif oleh kedua negara," kata Kepala Badan Sarana Pertahanan, Laksamana Muda Rachmad Lubis, saat dihubungi Tempo, Jumat, 16 Agustus 2013.

Materi pembicaraan kontrak, dia melanjutkan, antara lain harga kedelapan helikopter dan skema pembayaran. Termasuk soal pembayaran uang muka sebagai tanda jadi jual-beli.

Soal berapa biaya yang dikeluarkan pemerintah untuk membeli delapan unit Apache, Rachmad memilih bungkam. Begitu pula soal uang muka yang sudah disiapkan pemerintah. "Prinsip uang muka dibayarkan setelah kontrak berlaku efektif," kata dia.

Kemarin, Kepala Staf Angkatan Darat Jenderal Moeldoko mememastikan pembelian delapan unit helikopter Apache Longbow dari Amerika Serikat. Sesuai rencana, kedelapan helikopter akan diterima Indonesia secara bertahap mulai tahun 2018 hingga 2021.

Komisi Pertahanan DPR akhirnya merestui pembelian helikopter ini. Padahal sebelumnya, DPR bersikukuh menolak pembelian dengan alasan harga Apache yang terlalu mahal.

Wakil Komisi Pertahanan Tubagus Hasanuddin, salah satu anggota dewan yang sebelumnya menolak Apache, mengatakan parlemen akan membicarakan pengajuan anggaran ini pada rapat Rancangan Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Negara tahun 2014. "Harganya sekitar Rp 3,1 triliun, nanti kami alokasikan," kata dia.

INDRA WIJAYA

Friday, 16 August, 2013 | 18:32 WIB

Playing Defense in the State Budget

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government has allocated Rp 83,4 trillion (around US$8,05 billion) in the 2014 State Budget for the Defense Ministry. The number is the largest allocation compared to budgets allocated for other ministries.

In addition to the Defense Ministry, there are five other ministries that receive more than Rp 30 trillion (around US$2,89 billion) budget allocation, including the Education and Culture Ministry, Public Work Ministry, Religious Affair Ministry, Health Ministry, and Transportation Ministry. Moreover, the Indonesia Police Force also received an astonishing budget allocation of Rp 39,2 trillion (around US$3,78 billion).

President SBY mentioned in a statement that the government is attempting to allocate 20 percent of the total state budget for the education sector, in accordance with the Constitution.

ANGGA SUKMA WIJAYA

Lockheed Martin to provide 'eyes of the Apache' to Korea under terms of $223 million contract

By  Leada Gore | lgore@al.com
on August 13, 2013 at 2:24 PM, updated August 13, 2013 at 2:33 PM

Lockheed Martin will equip the Republic of Korea's AH-64E Apache helicopters with an advanced electro-optical fire control system under the terms of a $223 million contract announced by the company this week.

Lockheed will equip the Apaches with Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor, known as M-TADS/PNVS, systems. South Korea becomes to 12th international customer to purchase the new M-TADS/PNVS-equipped Apache attack helicopters. The contract includes 36 fire-control systems and spares with production continuing through 2018.

"We are very proud and happy to further our relationship with the Republic of Korea by adding them to our growing list of U.S. allies flying and operating this exceptionally capable aircraft," said Lt. Col. Shawn Powell, U.S. Army Product Manager for the Apache International Sales Program, Apache Attack Helicopters Project Office at Redstone Arsenal. "Multiple systems come together on this platform to make the AH-64E Apache the most advanced and powerful attack helicopter in the world. They made a great choice."

Fielded in 2005, M-TADS/PNVS is known as the eyes of the Apache. It is designed to provide pilots with long-range, precision engagement and pilotage capabilities for flying during the day, night and adverse weather.

"M-TADS/PNVS will provide the Republic of Korea Army with unmatched capabilities and performance," said Mike Taylor, director of Apache international and support programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "Lockheed Martin looks forward to this partnership with the Republic of Korea Army to produce and field our modernized targeting and pilotage system for South Korea's formidable new AH-64E Apache attack helicopter fleet."

some more these chinese tanks are light weight... probably around 40T since they look like relics from the cold war era... a 65T tank would need even bigger and more vulnerable pontoons... I'm sure we have our artillery and MLRS targeted around the causeway

the way i see right now sgpore, indo, vietnamese, thai all have better/superior navy than us, until we acquire the LCS in 2017

but we do have superior airforce compare to other SEA and on par with sgpore

Indonesian defence budget increases 9%

Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
18 August 2013
 
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced on 16 August a 2014 defence budget of IDR83.4 trillion (USD7.91 billion), a 9% increase over the previous year.

In his annual budget speech, Yudhoyono said the allocation, which is equal to about 0.9% of GDP, would be directed towards the modernisation of both the country's armed forces and Indonesia's defence industrial base.

"The goal is to accelerate the development of the minimum essential force [MEF] and the national defence industry," he said. "We will ensure that our weapons technologies are not lagging behind other countries, including our neighbours."

The MEF programme is a long-term project introduced by Yudhoyono in 2005 that aims to establish the scale and nature of military capabilities Indonesia should be able to deploy in response to a strategic threat.

Indonesia ready to receive Leopard tanks

Wed, August 21 2013 16:24 | 103 Views

Pasuruan, E Java (ANTARA News) - The 8th Cavalry Battalion (Yonkav) of the Indonesian Army Strategic Command (Kostrad) in Pasuruan of E Java is ready to receive Germany`s Leopard Main Battle Tank (MBT) to reinforce Indonesia`s defence capability.

"We are ready to receive the Leopard MBT. We have constructed the Leopard special garage base," said Commander of the 8th Cavalry Battalion of Kostrad Lieutenant Colonel Otto Sollu on Wednesday.

He added that the 8th Cavalry Battalion has prepared a garage for at least 20 units of the tank for the 2012 programme.

The battalion is also preparing a garage to accommodate 13 units of the Leopard tank for the 2013 programme.

The battalion has trained several soldiers of Yonkav 8 to control Leopard skilfully.

"We have trained at least 494 personnel, and they are able to operate the Leopard, including 46 vehicle commanders, 46 tank drivers, 27 shooters, and 41 munitions loaders. Several Commissioned Officers as well as Privates will be learning German too," Sollu explained.

The 8th Cavalry Battalion is one of the battle assistant units in the Kostrad line-up, under the command of the 2nd Infantry Division of Indonesia Army.

The 8th Cavalry Battalion is reinforced by 53 units of the defence armoured tank "Scorpion" and a number of Stormer APC tanks.

Indonesia will add 103 units of the Leopard tank gradually; it had signed a contract in 2012.

Previously, Deputy Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said Indonesia will purchase at least 103 units of the Leopard tank, 50 units of the Marder tank and ten support tanks from Germany.

Russia Sells Vietnam 12 Sukhoi Fighters: Report

Aug. 21, 2013 - 08:10AM  | 
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE  |

MOSCOW — Russia has signed an agreement to sell Vietnam a dozen Sukhoi-30 multirole combat aircraft for more than $600 million (450 million euros), Russian news agency Interfax reported Tuesday.

The fighters, which can travel twice the speed of sound, will be delivered in 2014 and 2015 under the deal signed last week, according to a military-diplomatic source cited by Interfax.

The purchase is the third by Vietnam of Sukhoi fighters.

i cant imagine M1A2 will colored like that when they participate the biathlon