National scene: Navy to purchase more training planes

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Tue, April 21 2015, 6:59 AM

The Navy plans to acquire additional training airplanes to improve the skills of its pilots.

Navy chief of staff Admiral Ade Supandi handed over on Monday four Bonanza G-36 training airplanes to the Navy air base in Surabaya. The new training planes are worth Rp 59 billion (US$4.5 million).

“We hope to meet our quota [for training airplanes] by having 12 single- and six double-engine training airplanes, respectively,” Ade said.

The Navy currently has eight single-engine training planes.

Ade said the airplanes would help Navy pilots detect threats.

The Navy plans to procure 11 anti-submarine helicopters, eight anti-ship helicopters and four cargo helicopters.

Captain Wales and a fellow pilot prepare a Tiger helicopter for flight

Posted Sun at 1:46am

Prince Harry (L) has flown a helicopter and met wounded soldiers during his time in the Northern Territory with the ADF.

Published: Tuesday April 21, 2015 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Tuesday April 21, 2015 MYT 7:01:58 AM

Nation’s first forward sea base on schedule in Sabah

by jastin ahmad tarmizi

KUALA LUMPUR: The first forward operating base at sea, converted from a decommissioned oil platform, will be in place along Sabah’s east coast by early next month.

According to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, it will be the first such base aimed at giving security forces a decisive advantage in protecting the coastline there.

“It took a few months for us to upgrade and it will be positioned early next month.

“Besides oil platforms, we also have vessels that we have identified as mobile forward bases,” he told reporters after delivering a talk on Malaysia’s Defence and Security Policies at the Armed Forces Defence College here yesterday.

Hishammuddin said work was ongoing in Johor to turn the vessels into mobile forward bases to be positioned in Sabah.

The bases are part of the Sea Basing concept, which involves the placement of naval vessels and personnel as well as a small naval base offshore to intercept unknown ships or intruders far from the country’s coastlines.

“This is a new approach and if it is a success, we can not only add more mobile forward bases but also share our experiences with neighbouring countries who are facing the same threats,” said Hishammuddin.

He said the forward bases would also accommodate unmanned aerial vehicles, armed helicopters and patrol boats.

On the proposal to decommission the Royal Malaysia Air Force’s MiG 29N fighter aircraft, Hishammuddin said the replacement chosen would be subject to three conditions.

“It depends on our ability to fund the assets. Whatever assets we acquire also depends on the threats we face and how we can convince the people that the assets are needed by the armed forces,” he said.

Hishammuddin added that the decision to purchase replacements would be announced under the 11th Malaysia Plan.

The RMAF has 16 Russian-made MiG 29N jet fighters, which are used for air interdiction operations.

Bernama reported that French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation had offered its Rafale aircraft, while British multinational BAE Systems had offered the Eurofighter Typhoon and Boeing its F/A-18E Super Hornet to replace the MiG aircraft.

Rheinmetall Passes Acceptance Test For Indonesian Leopard 2 Simulators

Source : Our Bureau ~ Dated : Wednesday, April 22, 2015 @ 11:27 AMViews : 40 A- A A+

Rheinmetall announced today that it has successfully passed acceptance tests for Leopard 2 simulators for the Indonesian Army.

Rheinmetall has produced driving simulator and gunnery simulator systems for training Indonesian Leopard 2 tank personnel. The order is worth several million euros.

The Leopard Gunnery Skills Trainer (LGST) and Driver Training Simulator (DTS) are specifically designed for training Leopard 2A4 tank crews, and will primarily be used for sharpening the gunnery and combat skills of commanders, gunners and drivers.

Rheinmetall simulation products combine game engine in regard to visualization with training outcomes its simulators assure.

During March 2015 a delegation of Indonesia conducted the factory acceptance test (FAT) at Rheinmetall and both simulators passed them successfully. The delivery and installation of simulators will begin soon to complete the project in time.

This contract and its rapid progress explain once again the global trust placed in Rheinmetall’s simulation technology and main battle tank expertise.

mp.net is gonna close soon(may 1)

damn i gonna miss that place

23 April 2015, Last update at 16:21:00 GMT
 
Thai Navy Petitions Govt to Buy Submarines

BANGKOK — The Royal Thai Navy has formally submitted a request to the government to buy submarines for its submarine division, which has lacked a single vessel for the last 64 years.

Admiral Kraisorn Chansuvanich, commander of the Thai navy, said he hopes the cabinet will deliberate on the request soon, because submarines are needed to bolster Thailand’s armed forces.


Then-Navy chief Admiral Narong Pipattanasai observes the remains of Thailand's last submarine during a visit to the headquarters of the Navy's submarine division on 7 July 2014 [Photo: Thai Navy website]

"Neighboring countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore have had submarines in their arsenals for many years," ADM Kraisorn said. "Now that I am here, I think it is a part of the strategy to improve our armed forces. It's my duty to submit the request to the government for consideration. Whether the government will approve it or not is up to them."

He added that the navy does not have any preference for where the submarines are manufactured, as long as they fit Thailand's needs. ADM Kraisorn also urged the government to approve the submarine purchases soon, as acquiring the ships will be a lengthy process.

"Even if the government approved the purchase today, we won’t be able to acquire them instantly, because time will be needed to build the ships and send our personnel to receive training and improve their expertise for one to two years. So, it will take at least five or six years before submarines can enter our service. If we do not start now, we have to wait for a long time," ADM Kraisorn explained.

According to ADM Kraisorn, a number of countries are willing to sell submarines to Thailand, such as South Korea, China, Russia, Germany, and Sweden.


The headquarters of the Royal Thai Navy's submarine division in Chonburi province [Photo: Thai Navy wesbite].

The last of Thai Navy's submarines were decommissioned in 1951 following an attempted coup d'etat launched by Navy officers that year. The Navy had similarly tried and failed to overthrow the government two years earlier.

Following the failed coup d'etat of 1951, the government moved to dismantle the Navy's influence in the armed force, stripping it of submarines, a marine force, and war planes. The Navy headquarters in Bangkok were also shut down for several years. The Navy's marine force was restored in 1955 on the advice of the United States military, who trained the corps.

Watch Out, China: Asia's Dangerous Submarine Race Heats Up

Zachary Keck
April 23, 2015

Thailand is the latest country in maritime Asia seeking to build up its submarine force.

According to local media reports, the Thai Royal Navy has formally submitted a proposal to the cabinet asking it to fund a submarine program.

Admiral Kraisorn Chansuvanich, the commander of the Thai Navy, explained the rationale behind his service’s desire to acquire submarines.

"Neighboring countries like Vietnam, Malaydsia, Indonesia, and Singapore have had submarines in their arsenals for many years,” Kraisorn said, according to Khaosad, a local Thai newspaper. "Now that I am here, I think it is a part of the strategy to improve our armed forces. It's my duty to submit the request to the government for consideration. Whether the government will approve it or not is up to them."

In the proposal, Kraisorn also stressed the urgency of the request, noting that even after it has been approved it will take some time before Thailand will actually be able to acquire the subs.

"Even if the government approved the purchase today, we won’t be able to acquire them instantly, because time will be needed to build the ships and send our personnel to receive training and improve their expertise for one to two years. So, it will take at least five or six years before submarines can enter our service,” Kraisorn said, according to the Khaosad report.

The navy’s proposal was not unexpected. Back in January of this year, the Bangkok Post reported, citing an unnamed official in the defense ministry, that the navy would ask to procure two to three submarines in the new defense budget.

“The navy has been vetting submarines from various countries including South Korea, China, Russia and France. South Korea's U209 model is said to be the least expensive at 11 billion baht apiece [roughly $338.7 billion].” The same report said that Thailand’s defense minister backed the proposal in principle.

Thailand has lacked a working submarine since 1951. However, the military has repeatedly tried to persuade the government to purchase subs, and many believe that the military coup in Thailand last year made it more likely that the navy would finally win this support.

Thailand’s purchase of submarines would be consistent with the general trend in the region. Indeed, maritime Asia seems to be locked into something of a submarine arms race as of late, with a number of countries expanding their undersea fleets.

As I’ve noted elsewhere, the three countries that line the Malacca Strait— Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia— have all acquired formidable submarine fleets. Indonesia, in particular, has ambitious plans to acquire at least ten submarines by 2024, and ultimately may amass a fleet of between 14-16 vessels.

Vietnam, too, has been hard at work strengthening its submarine force. Most notably, it is purchasing six Project 636M Kilo-class submarines from Russia for $2.6 billion. It has already taken possession of at least three of these boats.

The article got updated with the following:

To achieve the ASW upgrade, the RMN is proposing to equip the four vessels with torpedo launchers, towed array and hull-mounted sonars, and equipment to support the operation of an ASW helicopter, the official told the annual OPVs & Corvettes Asia Pacific conference in Singapore.

The other two vessels-in-class will be upgraded for anti-surface warfare (ASuW) operations. The RMN has said that it plans to equip the ships with an organic helicopter and surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles.

However, the service declined to give further details on systems being considered for both the ASW and ASuW upgrades. "We have given our recommendations on the type of equipment that the vessels need, but approval will depend on funding and other requirements from the headquarters," said the official.

According to IHS Jane's Fighting Ships , the Kedah-class is currently armed with an Otobreda 76 mm main gun, one 30 mm gun, and two 12.7 mm machine guns. The RMN has not indicated which ships will be upgraded for the ASW and ASuW roles.

Leopard 2 RI will look nearly identical with Leopard 2SG, but with improved internals....with the addition of AMAP modules, the armor protection will be doubled compared to the basic Leopard 2A4 design

Published: Monday, 27 April 2015 07:30
 
First two prototypes of Turkish-Indonesian medium tank should be unveiled in 2015

During the Turkish arms exhibition IDEF'13, Turkey and Indonesia agreed to jointly develop medium tanks. Under the deal, Ankara-based, privately owned armored vehicles maker FNSS Defence Systems had to work with Indonesia’s state-owned arms maker, PT Pindad. On April 16, 2015, PT Pindad announced two prototypes for 2015.

   
CGI image of the Turkish-Indonesian Medium Tank
     
During a work visit of Indonesian parliamentarians to PT Pindad (Persero) regarding PT Pindad (Persero) cooperation with Turkey for the medium tank, Major General TNI (Purn.) Supiadin Aries Saputra representing his group said: “This visit was held to gather information and its specifics regarding the development of defense cooperation between Pindad and Turkey, as well as the response from Ministry of Defense and TNI to support the implementation of the cooperation”.

The President Director of PT Pindad (Persero) Silmy Karim, in response to the regarding matter, said that this joint project of Indonesia-Turkey regarding the medium tank had been initiated since long ago, though Pindad analytical skill continued. “This cooperation has been initiated since long ago by the Government, in fact the signing has been done since year 2013. In manufacturing and testing Pindad is ready. Although, there are some technologies that still need the assistance from partners such as turret and firing control system, navigation system, and self-defense system. We want to make a medium tank with the perfection on the mobility, fire power, and survivability,” he added.

The schedule to processing project had been made. If nothing went wrong, in 2015, one unit of prototype will be made in Indonesia and another one in Turkey. The communication has been maintained intensively between Ministry of defense of Indonesia and SavunmaSanayiiMustesarligi (SSM), Ministry of Defense of Turkey. “For the progress of B2B, some of workers of Pindad have been sent to learn the welding technique of aluminum armored that is used as the raw material of the medium tank,” said President Director of Pindad Silmy Karim. He also admitted he felt optimistic that this project would run well in the future. “We are optimistic that medium tank program will run well because the industrial technology capacity of Indonesia and Turkey are good enough,” he closed.

how many tons the tank weight?

Earlier design suggest the hmg on rcws, still there?

Defense Ministry Establishes Financial Accountability Forum

By Robertus Wardi on 06:11 pm Apr 28, 2015



Jakarta. The Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday it had established a National Accountability Forum to improve budgetary transparency and financial accountability among Indonesia’s key defense bodies.

“This forum is intended to increase transparency and accountability in the way we make use of the budget and write financial reports,” said Lt. Gen. Ediwan Prabowo, secretary general of the Ministry of Defense.

Along with the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), National Intelligence Agency (BIN) and National Encryption Body (Lemsaneg) will be part of the forum.

The government announced in November last year that it was committed to boosting defense spending up to 1.5 percent of Indonesia’s state budget, almost double the current level.

Defense spending currently represents 0.8 percent of the total state budget — about Rp 83 trillion ($6.4 billion).

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has previously said increased spending was needed not only to revamp weaponry and military equipment, but additionally to improve the welfare of soldiers and police officers.