really?? 

Q9. When will the EC-725 Cougar helicopter fleet will receive their self protection system , refueling probe and weapons ?

Answer. The primary role of the RMAF EC725 aircraft now is for SAR and utility. For the record, this aircraft has the capability to be upgraded for Combat SAR. The focus now is to reach full Operational Capability by the end of June. Increased in capacity depends on the government.

indonesia definitely are ready to invade another country if they have to 

Posted on May 30, 2014 08:58:44 PM

Four foreign firms eye P5.9-billion DND patrol aircraft project

At least four firms have expressed interest in joining the auction for the Department of National Defense’s (DND) P5.9-billion acquisition of two long-range patrol aircraft.

DND Public Affairs Service Chief Arsenio R. Andolong told BusinessWorld via telephone that, as of Friday -- the day of the project’s pre-bid conference -- four foreign companies have already bought bid documents, signifying their interest.

These included Canadian firm Field Aviation Ltd. and Israeli defense contractors Elbit Systems Ltd. and Elta Systems Ltd.

European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company -- Construcciones Aeronautics SA (EADS-CASA) Airbus, which earlier expressed interest in bidding for the DND’s P4.9-billion close air support aircraft acquisition project, also bought bid documents for the patrol aircraft project.

The project also entails supplying aircraft sensors and their integration with the DND’s systems.

The first stage of bidding is still scheduled for June 13 at the DND Bids and Awards Committee Conference room, DND building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

However, DND Public Affairs Service Chief Arsenio R. Andolong said that the agency might extend the bid deadline as requested by some bidders who were having trouble registering with the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS).

“We received requests to extend because may kaunting problems sa PhilGEPS... Mainly sa pagregister online (We received requests to extend because of a few problems with PhilGEPS... Mainly in registering online),” Mr Andolong said.

PhilGEPS is the online portal of the government that contains information on all its procurement processes and the awarding of contracts.

Under Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act, manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors are required to register with PhilGEPS before they participate in bidding activities under the Philippine government. -- Alden M. Monzon

DCNS Wins €1 Billion Gowind Corvettes Contract

Source : Our Bureau ~ Dated : Tuesday, June 3, 2014 @ 02:24 PM

DCNS has won a €1 billion contract from Egypt for the acquisition of four Gowind corvettes, according to La Tribune. This contract is yet to be confirmed.

DCNS has beaten off rival bids from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (Meko A200 corvettes) and the Dutch Damen Schelde group (Sigma corvette).

The contract covers two ships with another two on option, of which one would be built in France and the others in Egypt. The Gowind design selected by Egypt is the Gowind 2,400 tonne variant, fitted with DCNS’ own SETIS combat management system. The contract with DCNS does not include the ships’ armament, which will be provided by MBDA, and which La Tribune says will include MICA VL air-defense missiles and Exocet MM-40 anti-ship missiles.

At a six-ton gross vehicle weight the vehicle can carry 1.2 tons of payload over rough terrain in sand, rocky and rugged terrain. With custom 54 inch tires, ground clearance of 0.7 meters and an approach and departure angle of 90 degrees CombatGuard can handle vertical obstacles up to 0.80 meter high with ease. It can also ford water obstacles up to 1.5 meter deep. Photo: IMI

At Eurosatory the CombatGuard is displayed with the Bright Arrow remotely controlled weapon station coupled with the ‘Iron Fist’ active protection. The systems’ three RPS-10 radar sensors can be seen at the fore and aft sections. Photo: IMI

The monocoque capsule protected hull accommodates six fully equipped troops along with modern, advanced weapon systems. Locating the wheels on the capsule’s sides also enhances the capsule’s protection. The modular design enables the application of different level, including protection against advanced threats such as EFP, land mines and blast. Photo: IMI

Navy's armed AW-109Es to be delivered before year-end

MANILA, June 4 (PNA) -- The Philippine Navy (PN) on Wednesday announced that the two armed versions of its AgustaWestland AW-109Es are scheduled to be delivered before the end of 2014.

This was confirmed by Navy public affairs office chief Cmdr. Gregory Fabic in an interview with the PNA.

"They will be delivered before the end of the year," he stressed.

These versions will be armed with machine guns and air-to-ground rockets.

Three of the PN's AW-109Es, the unarmed version, was formally activated and tasked to join the fleet last May 21.

These aircraft were formally commissioned into service last Dec. 22.

The AW-109 "Power" helicopter is a three-ton class eight seat helicopter powered by two Pratt and Whitney PW206C engines.

The spacious cabin is designed to be fitted with a number of modular equipment packages for quick and easy conversion between roles.

The aircraft’s safety features include a fully separated fuel system, dual hydraulic boost system, dual electrical systems and redundant lubrication and cooling systems for the main transmission and engines.

The AW-109 has established itself as the world’s best selling light-twin helicopter for maritime missions.

It's superior speed, capacity and productivity combined with reliability and ease of maintenance make it the most cost effective maritime helicopter in its class.

For shipboard operations, the aircraft has a reinforced-wheeled landing gear and deck mooring points as well as extensive corrosion protection measures.

The ability to operate from small ships in high sea state enables the AW-109 to perform its mission when many others helicopters would be confined to the ship’s hangar.

Over 550 AW-109 "Power" and AW-109 light utility helicopters have been ordered for commercial, parapublic and military applications by customers in almost 50 countries. (PNA)

Next batch of Leopard 2A4 for TNI-AD being tested in Germany

In total, Indonesia is committed to buying 103 vehicles, 10 of which are engineering and support vehicles. The remaining 93 are Leopard 2A4s, at least 61 of which will receive elements of the Rheinmetall 'Revolution' modular upgrade package. These upgraded MBTs have been renamed the Leopard RI, for Republic of Indonesia.

Of the total order, two Leopard 2A4s were delivered on 22 September 2013. The next delivery, slated for 11 September 2014, will consist of 21 Leopard RIs.

http://www.janes.com/article/38102/indones...mbt-acquisition

Pindad ready to produce Leopard 2A4 tank ammunition

Friday, June 6th, 2014 19:28 pm | 3,799 Views
Announcers: Sharif Abdullah

Bandung (ANTARA News) - The leap made Pindad, after President Director of PT Pindad, Sudirman Said, stated that the company's ability to create and build the Leopard 2A4 main tank ammunition.

"From the Joint military exercises in 2014, much to our responsibilities, one of which complement the latest ammunition for some perenjataan military, including a 120mm smoothbore cannon fodder for the Leopard tanks," said Said, in London on Friday. 

According to him, a 120mm smoothbore cannon fodder for Leopard, targeted its development can be done from late 2015. "So that we can meet the needs of the tank weaponry," he said.Leopard uses two variants of the main gun, the Rheinmetall 120 mm L44 or L55 smoothbore or without threaded along 5.28 meters and weighs 3.37 tons.

Non-threaded barrel of the cannon is "the answer" in the decade of the '70s over the T-72/80 tank series triumph of the Soviet Union that could be easily slaughtered Western tanks.

Non-threaded barrel of the cannon also has a kinetic energy larger than the threaded so elevating effects posed lethal ammunition.

In addition to conventional ammunition, cannon can accept various types of ammunition, Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot chant DM23, or Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot with M829 containing uranium explosive head.

Still no ammo Projectile Multi Purpose Anti-Tank based High Explosive Anti-Tank technology, made in Germany, berdesignasi NATO as DM12.

South Korea to give 'Pohang' class corvette to PHL –DND spokesperson

June 6, 2014 6:51 am

MANILA, June 5 — The South Korean government will be donating a corvette to the Philippines before the end of 2014, Department of National Defense spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez said on Thursday.

He added that the corvette will be one of South Korea's "Pohang" class and there is a big possibility that the ship will be handed to the Philippine Navy with all its weapons and sensor system intact.

The "Pohang" class corvette is a general purpose vessel operated by the Republic of Korean Navy.

They have served in a coastal defense role during the late Cold War and post Cold War period.

A total of 24 "Pohang" class vessels were built, all constructed in South Korea. Twenty-one vessels remain in service.

A "Pohang" class corvette weighs around 1,200 long tons and has a length of 289 feet and 8 inches.

It has a beam of 32 feet and 10 inches and a draft of nine feet and six inches.

The ship is powered by CODOG (combined diesel and gas propulsion system). "Pohang" corvettes have a maximum speed of 32 knots and a cruising speed of 15 knots.

It has a range of 4,000 nautical miles and a crew of 95 officers and enlisted personnel.

Sensors and processing systems include one AN/SQS-58 hull-mounted sonar.

The ships are armed with Harpoon and Exocet anti-ship missiles, a 76mm Oto Melara automatic cannon, a Breda 40mm twin cannons and two Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes (with 6 Mark 46 torpedoes) and 12 Mark 9 depth charges.

Announcement that South Korea will be giving a "Pohang" class corvette to the Philippines came in the wake of reports that the former will be also donating an LCU (landing craft utility) to the Navy. (PNA)

SCS/PFN

IOMAX offers Archangel light attack turboprop to the Philippines

Gareth Jennings, Mooresville, North Carolina - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
04 June 2014

   
Artist's concept of the IOMAX Archangel ISR and light strike aircraft modified with a bubble canopy, ejection seats, and speed fairings. The aircraft is currently being offered to the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (pictured). Source: IOMAX

IOMAX has offered its Archangel Block 3 Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA) to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) as a replacement for its ageing Rockwell OV-10 Bronco counterinsurgency fleet, IHS Jane's was told on 2 June.

The US defence company has submitted a bid to the Philippine government, in which it is pitching the Archangel as a replacement for the PAF's nine remaining OV-10s, which were acquired second-hand in the 1990s, IOMAX CEO Ron Howard disclosed during a visit to the company's North Carolina headquarters.

"IOMAX has previously done signals intelligence in Southeast Asia, and so we know the region. The Philippine mission is very well suited to the Archangel," he said.

The Philippine requirement was formally launched in mid-May, when the Department of National Defense (DND) issued tender documents to acquire six close air support aircraft and an accompanying logistics support package for PHP4.968 billion (USD114 million).

In its documents, the DND noted that the selected bidder must have had prior experience of such programmes over the previous decade, and that the selected platform should already be in service with the armed forces of the country of origin or by the military of at least two other countries.

Although the Archangel BPA is regarded by some (the US Department of Defense included) as being an essentially new platform, it is in fact the third iteration (hence the Block 3 designation) of the Block 1 and Block 2 AT-802 that IOMAX developed and supplied to the United Arab Emirates (and which it still supports). Also, with the Block 1 also now in service with Jordan, the Archangel does fit the criteria for selection as laid down by the DND.

While the DND did not publically disclose aircraft specifications, IHS Jane's understands that they have been written up with the Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano in mind, with requirements that it be equipped with retractable undercarriage and ejector seats, among other things.

The Archangel currently features neither of these, but Howard told IHS Jane's that IOMAX has done studies with Martin-Baker on the feasibility of replacing the current crash-resistant seating and roll-cage with twin ejection-seats and bubble canopy, and that this is perfectly doable (the United Arab Emirates is also said to be interested in the canopy for a potential follow-on order of aircraft, but not the ejection-seats). As for retractable undercarriage, Howard said the mission did not require it, and the weight penalties and rough field limitations would outweigh any benefits over the current fixed undercarriage, and so this would not be offered.

As retractable undercarriage is not being offered as an option, Howard said the company's designers were looking at a number of aerodynamic improvements to the Archangel that would help it close the speed gap from its current 180 kt cruise speed to bring it closer to the 220 kt of platforms such as the Super Tucano.

From spinner to tail, these enhancements include the option of an enhanced propeller with a scimitar-style composite blade; a sleeker nose profile; angling the exhaust rearwards to provide about 200 lb of additional thrust; speed fairings on the main undercarriage and wheel struts; remodelled wing roots and tips; blending the rear of the cockpit to the tail section to reduce buffeting and drag; remodelled tail and stabiliser roots and tips; and a more generally cleaned-up fuselage, with as few protruding parts as possible. According to IOMAX's chief scientist, Ray Nielson, who is leading this improvement effort, these modifications should increase the aircraft's cruise speed to about 210 kt.

Even so, Howard was keen to note that speed is not everything, and that rival platforms had sacrificed much in terms of payload and range/endurance in order to go faster. With a typical mission profile of 175 kt outbound to a range of 1,350 n miles, six hours on station, and 175 kt inbound to base, and all with a maximum gross take-off weight of 6,715 kg, the Archangel can cover more of the Philippine's area of operations with a greater weapon load than any of its competitors. At just USD8 million per aircraft (without options), the Archangel is also cheaper than many of its rivals ( IHS Jane's All the World's Aircraft gives the Super Tucano a unit price of USD12-13 million).

With the DND's tender documents now released, all bids must be submitted by 11 June, with the selected platform expected to be with the PAF 18 months after contract signature. Besides the Archangel and Super Tucano, other platforms expected to compete include the Beechcraft AT-6 Texan II, and perhaps even the Pilatus PC-21.

Indonesian Navy to receive indigenously built LSTs by October

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Navy International
04 June 2014
   
Two landing ship tanks (LSTs) under construction by state-owned shipbuilder PT Dok Kodja Bahari are on track for delivery to the Indonesian Navy (Tentera Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL) by October 2014, State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan said on 3 June.

The 117 m LSTs were ordered under a 2012 programme to replace the TNI-AL's ageing US and South Korean-built boats for amphibious operations. The vessels are powered by two 3,970 HP engines and can attain a maximum range of 6,240 n miles with a top speed of 16 kt.

Ishan told reporters that the shipbuilder is currently awaiting the arrival of equipment and sensors from South Korea, Germany, and the Netherlands that will be installed on the vessels.

Russian T-50 PAK FA fighter prototype catches fire

Nicholas de Larrinaga, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
09 June 2014

A prototype Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA fifth-generation fighter aircraft caught fire on 10 June following landing, according to Sukhoi.


The fifth flying Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA prototype (side number '055') caught fire on 10 June after landing, heavily damaging the aircraft. (UAC)The fifth flying Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA prototype (side number '055') caught fire on 10 June after landing, heavily damaging the aircraft. (UAC)

"While the plane was landing, smoke above the right air intake was observed, then a local fire broke out," Sukhoi stated. The incident occurred at the Zhukovsky test centre, near Moscow, where the T-50 prototypes have been conducting flight trials.

The aircraft involved in the incident is the fifth flying prototype, aircraft T-50-5 (side number '055'), which was delivered for tests at Zhukovsky in November 2013.

According to Sukhoi, the pilot was uninjured and the company has already set up a commission to investigate the cause of the incident.

Beyond defense modernization

Evan A. Laksmana, New York | Opinion | Wed, June 11 2014, 9:42 AM

As the presidential race heats up, contenders are putting forth their visions, including their defense policy agendas.

In the absence of a specific and solid vision from former general Prabowo Subianto, the propositions of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo are the best we have — and worth examining further.

According to his 41-page action plan, he has four main defense priorities.

First, continue supporting the professionalism of the Indonesian Military (TNI) by improving soldiers’ welfare and its main weapons systems by increasing the defense budget to 1.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) within five years.

Second, seek defense independence by reducing foreign technological imports, strengthening the domestic defense industry and diversifying Indonesia’s defense partnerships.

Third, complete the military’s Minimum Essential Force (MEF) blueprint and build it so that it eventually becomes a respectable maritime force in East Asia.

Finally, place defense policy as an integral part of a comprehensive and resilient national security system that reorders various defense, internal security, public safety and human security functions managed by the National Security Council (DKN).

The DKN has been among the centerpieces of Indonesia’s post-authoritarian security reform — but its creation has thus far been fraught by difficulties in passing the national security bill.

A regional maritime power vision, meanwhile, hinges on the first two priorities — perhaps better encapsulated by “defense modernization”.

Indeed, Indonesia has been in a decade-long drive to obtain state-of-the-art weaponry, including, among others, more than 100 main battle tanks, several attack submarines and corvettes, a few squadrons of multi-role fighters and ground-attack aircraft, as well as dozens of new infantry fighting vehicles.

Indonesia’s next president, however, should look beyond “defense modernization” and consider instead a well-rounded “defense transformation” agenda.

Firstly, transformation is not only about increasing the defense budget. It is about strategically spending it.

While Indonesia’s defense budget has more than tripled in the past decade, it has never constituted more than 1 percent of GDP; a comparatively small proportion for a nation of 250 million spread over 17,000 islands. Thus, Jokowi’s “1.5 percent of GDP” goal is a step in the right direction.

But around two-thirds of the budget has traditionally been for personnel-related costs rather than for acquisition and research and development (R&D).

According to IHS Jane’s projections, personnel spending between 2010 and 2017 will, on average, be around US$4.79 billion annually, while procurement and R&D spending will average $1.45 billion and $150 million, respectively. This ratio is unsustainable if becoming a regional maritime force is a serious goal.

Secondly, assuming that defense autarchy could be achieved — though many studies have told us otherwise — how we reinvigorate the domestic defense industrial base while integrating it with the broader national economy and the underdeveloped human capital, technological know-how and basic infrastructure, remains a question mark.

This is particularly the case when the 2012 Defense Industry Law’s technological offset, countertrade and joint venture policies relating to foreign arms deals have been criticized for their lofty and vague benchmarks as well as for failing to account for a lack of transparency in procurement procedures. Transparency International’s Government Defense Anti-Corruption Index lists Indonesia as a “very high risk” country.

Thirdly, while diversifying defense partners is intuitively appealing — especially given the disastrous arms embargo of the 1990s — our arms spree over the past two decades has gradually become supplier-driven rather than capabilities-driven.

As a result, the TNI has been operating 173 different medium and advanced weapon platforms imported from 17 different countries by 2006. This entails significant costs in terms of long-term maintenance and personnel training — not to mention the more than occasional operational readiness and interoperability problems.

Fourthly, the absence of coherent, long-term capabilities planning and a tri-service institutional structure and culture means that arms modernization has been reduced to a shopping list for individual services.

The blueprint for the MEF lists each service’s required platforms without considering associated integration, maintenance and training costs — or the need for long-term platform alignment and standardization plans. Further, total procurement spending is to be divided almost evenly between the Army, Navy and Air Force until 2024; despite the three services’ different operational readiness, capability requirements and imbalanced force sizes, as well as Indonesia’s predominantly maritime geostrategic position.

Finally, transformation requires a focus on more elementary challenges: personnel management, military education and training, and organizational structure.

The launch of the Indonesian Defense University in 2009, offering graduate-level education to both civilians and military personnel, is a step in the right direction — as is the recent prioritization of education and training by TNI leaders

However, a review of the TNI’s education curricula suggests that non-military (mostly sociopolitical) courses continue to make up a significant proportion of available classes, though to a lesser extent than under the New Order. Thus, we need to accelerate ongoing efforts to revamp the TNI’s operational doctrines as the lynchpin of educational reform.

Meanwhile, even though overseas education and training opportunities have expanded, messy personnel policies have created promotional logjams as the number of available posts shrunk while the officer corps grew from around 46,000 in 2004 to more than 52,000 in 2009. Consequently, tours of duty and area have become shorter while higher educational qualifications potentially drag career prospects.

More importantly, the TNI’s current Order of Battle still reflects the New Order organizational structure. Too many personnel are allocated to “territorial” postings rather than combat commands and posts. This structure needs to be revamped. A leaner tri-service command oriented more toward the changing external strategic environment and less toward internal security and staffed with better-educated officers, can capitalize on advanced technology to compensate for reductions in territorial personnel.

The bottom line is that defense transformation is not about fulfilling material needs. It is about institutional and paradigmatic shifts on how the military views and structures itself, educates and trains its members, as well as how it equips itself and plans to fight.

Bunga Mas 5 Can Serve As Platform For Sea Basing - RMN Chief

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) auxiliary ship, Bunga Mas 5 (BM 5) can be used as a sea basing platform in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

RMN chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said this was due to the capability of BM 5 which he described as mobile, effective and easy to handle.

"BM 5 can be tasked as a platform for stationing RMN assets for interceptive action.

"There is a helicopter on BM 5 which can act as a force multiplier, provide greater distant control, wider surveillance and faster interception," he told reporters after receiving a courtesy call from US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Harry B. Harris JR here today.

Nevertheless, he agreed with the decision of the government to station disused oil rigs as observation platforms in the long term.

Abdul Aziz said the oil rigs would have intercepting boats and personnel for surveillance and boat handling duties.

Prior to this, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein had said sea basing was the stationing of military assets in the middle of the sea, capable of providing quick responses when tackling intrusions in the waters off Sabah.

Petronas had also previously given its commitment to provide oil rigs with the implementation of the system.

Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz said Harris' visit to Malaysia was to strengthen bilateral ties between the United States Navy and RMN.

-- BERNAMA

F16 squadron gradual delivery to Pekanbaru

Tuesday, June 10, 2014 14:47 pm | 3732 Views

Pekanbaru (ANTARA News) - Commander of the Air Field (Danlanud) Indonesian Air Force Roesmin Nurjamin Pekanbaru states, F16 fighter Squadron 16 units will come gradually to the area.

"June or July F16 four units will arrive in Madiun, then in October came again four units and is expected in November or December, the first four units will be based in Pekanbaru," said Col. Pilot Danlanud Roesmin Nurjamin Kahiril Lubis in Pekanbaru on Tuesday.

Furthermore, he said, four second unit also will come early next year and by the end of 2015 there will be 16 units based in the "City of the Sorcerer", the nickname of the city of Pekanbaru.

Currently, he added, Roesmin Noerjamin was the process to make the cornerstone of type B to type A and its development is currently being built aircraft hangars and shelters.

Then when the four planes arrived first came to Pekanbaru, he added, there will be a reception at the same process persmian plane.

"Usually the process is done with the opening reception," he said.

Bring Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 25 former Iraq War, which is planned to be increased capacity (upgrade) to block 52 +.

Although a grant from the United States, the government is to pay for the upgrade with a total of about 400 million U.S. dollars to wear foreign military sales payment scheme.