Drones armed with laser weapons could be just a couple years away, says a California company behind the Predator and Reaper attack UAVs. General Atomics hopes to test a solid-state laser mounted on an Avenger drone by 2017.

The San Diego-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has already delivered a 150-kilowatt high-energy liquid laser (HEL) to the Pentagon, for testing at the White Sands missile range in New Mexico. They are now studying a solid-state version of the weapon.

“We’re funded right now to develop a laser module compatible with the aircraft and study putting it on the Avenger,” Michael Perry, a vice president at GA-ASI, told Defense One.

Laser weapons are a good deal more complicated than Hellfire missiles, however, with dust, debris or clouds possibly interfering with the weapon. Current tests at White Sands aim to show that the GA-ASI laser can function under weather conditions faced by the drones.

“Before you spend any money on a laser, you better darn well show that you can acquire, ID, and track the objects of interest so that you could put a laser on them,” said Perry. “You have to be able to compensate for aero-optic distortion.”

The other challenge is powering the weapon. A 150-kilowatt laser is too heavy to mount on the existing MQ-1 Predators, and even the MQ-9 Reapers. Engineers are hoping the Predator-C 'Avenger', with a 3000-pound payload capacity, will be powerful enough to house the weapon.

The company has already designed a charging system for the laser, enabling the drone to get five or six shots off before needing to recharge from the drone’s power systems. If there is enough time between the shots, Perry said, the recharging will be seamless.

china reported Viscount Melbourne ship do green activity like Trees in Luconia reef.....
seem some start make hot news in china.
china news
http://www.nhjd.net/article-1154-1.html

tarak paham.. in plain english please?

Aside from the jet intakes and outlet, doesn't this thing just look like an extremely adorable mini F16 ?

FA-50 much same like F-16

too long, the Yak reminds me of my childhood toys 

Indonesia to Buy New Submarines from Russia

Officials remain bullish about purchase in spite of budget cuts.

By Prashanth Parameswaran
September 25, 2015

The Indonesian Navy revealed earlier this week that it plans to purchase two new submarines to augment its fleet.

Navy spokesman Comr. Muhammad Zainuddin told The Jakarta Post that it had opted to procure two Kilo-class submarines from Russia as part of the strategic planning for the next few years. The submarine procurement plan was also confirmed by Indonesian defense minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, who noted that it was consistent with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s plan to buy new weapons systems instead of second-hand items.

The choice of Russian submarines is far from surprising. The Russian government has repeatedly approached the Indonesian government to offer Kilo-class Type 636 submarines as part of a broader effort to broaden their defense relationship. In January, Russia’s ambassador to Indonesia MY Galuzin made a similar pitch when he met with Ryacudu.

Zainuddin’s comments come weeks after news that the Indonesian government under Jokowi would cut the country’s defense budget for next year amid economic woes despite earlier conditional pledges – including from Jokowi himself – to increase it (See: “Will Indonesia Double its Military Budget in 2016?”).

As I reported then, while some had worried about the implications for Indonesia’s ongoing military modernization, including Jokowi’s own “global maritime fulcrum” vision, defense officials and legislators had suggested that key purchases – including submarines – would not be impacted (See: “Why is Indonesia Set to Cut its Military Budget for 2016?”).

When asked about these concerns following an address to the U.S.-Indonesia Society (USINDO) earlier this month, Indonesia’s Speaker of the House of Representatives Setya Novanto told The Diplomat that officials were in the process of ensuring that “priority purchases” – including submarines, helicopters and planes – would not be affected. Zainuddin seemed to echo this sentiment, noting that the purchase plan for submarines was still on the table despite the budget cuts and was awaiting further discussion with the Defense Ministry.

Indonesia currently has only two German-built Type-209 submarines, which is woefully inadequate for the world’s largest archipelagic state. It is also a far cry from the 1960s and 1970s, when Jakarta operated one of the most powerful submarine forces in the Asia-Pacific, with 12 Whiskey-class submarines purchased from the Soviet Union. Those submarines were gradually decommissioned, the last in 1990.

If successfully procured, the two Russian submarines, in addition to three South Korean submarines ordered back in 2012 that are expected to arrive around April 2017, would give Indonesia a total of seven submarines. But with the two Type-209s expected to be decommissioned by 2020, Indonesia would still be far short of the 12 submarines that Indonesian defense officials – including former navy chief Admiral Marsetio – have said that the country needs to police its waters, as Zainuddin himself reiterated.

But that would still constitute an advance for Jakarta in Southeast Asia’s ongoing submarine race amid concerns about its capabilities (See: “Between Aspirations and Reality: Indonesian Foreign Policy After the 2014 Elections”). Within the subregion, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam already have submarines, while Thailand and the Philippines are eyeing the capability as well as part of their broader military modernization ambitions (See: “Is China’s New Submarine Deal with Thailand Now in Peril?”).

That being said, specifics still remain unclear. Zainuddin reportedly said that Indonesia had yet to decide which type would be purchased. He also declined to provide further information on how the purchase would be financed in the wake of the economic slowdown, which is an important consideration. Russian media reports also noted that no date or deadline was specified for the signing of a potential contract.

OCEA Prepares Delivery of the Second Indonesian Oceanographic Vessel

25 September 2015


KRI Spica 934 oceanographic vessel (all photos : Mer et Marine)

Floated by OCEA at Les Sables d'Olonne on August 3, the second Oceanographic vessel for the Indonesian Navy is completing its tests, while the manufacturer was training his crew which arrived in France last month.



As part of this sea trial test, the KRI Spica rebounded yesterday to Brest, and then return for its delivery. Expected in October departs to Indonesia and normally will arrive by November.



The OCEA 190 SC-WB type vessel has 60.1 meters long and 11.5 meters wide. This is the sistership of KRI Rigel, floated by OCEA in March and up to Jakarta on May 14 after traveling 8,300 miles.

Singapore, US Conclude Bilateral Military Exercise



September 23, Singapore and the United States concluded a military exercise codenamed Valiant Mark.

Valiant Mark is an annual bilateral exercise held between the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). According to a statement by the USMC, the exercise is meant to enhance U.S. and Singaporean forces’ combined combat readiness through live fire and urban terrain training as well as amphibious operations familiarization. Building relationships and exchanging tactics allows both militaries to prepare for future joint combat operations and ensure smoother collaboration to accomplish missions.

Last year, Valiant Mark 14.1 was held in January 2014 in Singapore while Valiant Mark 14.2 was held in the United States in Camp Pendleton in December. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Valiant Mark 14.2 featured the demonstration of three non-lethal weapons systems. These included the Active Denial System – a weapon that uses millimeter wave technology to produce an almost intolerable heating sensation – along with the Mini Distributed Sound and Light Array System and the Persistent Ground Surveillance System.

This year’s exercise, which took place from 7 to 23 September, included a series of live-fire exercises and professional sharing on weapons systems. About 200 personnel from the 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade and the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment took part in the exercise. The highlight was a battalion amphibious operation, where troops from the SAF and USMC demonstrated their ship-to-shore capabilities.

Commanding Officer of the SAF’s exercise troops Lieutenant Colonel Fan Mun Poh and Executive Officer of the USMC’s exercise troops Major Samuel Cunningham, co-officiated at the closing ceremony at Jurong Camp this morning to mark the end of the exercise.

“Singapore and the US share excellent and long-standing bilateral defense relations,” a statement from Singapore’s Ministry of Defense (MINDEF) read.

“The two militaries interact extensively through bilateral and multilateral exercises, professional exchanges and the cross-attendance of courses. These regular interactions have enhanced the interoperability between the two armed forces and help foster mutual understanding among their personnel,” it added.

http://thediplomat.com/2015/09/singapore-u...itary-exercise/

Thai military acquires two new Airbus helicopters

Submitted by TNA on Tue, 09/08/2015 - 11:51

BANGKOK, September 8 (TNA) - The Royal Thai Armed Forces have acquired two EC155 B1 Airbus helicopters, totally worth 1.2 billion baht, for their operations.

Presiding over a ceremony to receive the two EC155 B1 Airbus helicopters in Bangkok on Tuesday, Thai Supreme Commander General Worapong Sa-nganetra said they will be used in rescue mission, while their main duties are to help conduct aerial surveys.

General Worapong told journalists that the two EC155 B1 Airbus helicopters should help boost the Royal Thai Armed Forces’ capacities and there is no need to buy more similar helicopters.

Manufactured by France’s Airbus Helicopter, the EC155 B1 Airbus helicopters are high end 5-tonne twin-engine choppers with a five-bladed, low-vibration- level Spheriflex rotor head each.

Their outstanding functionality and users' friendliness allow pilots to fully concentrate on their mission during all flight phases over the full flight envelope, showcasing their excellent hover stability and smooth high-speed flights.

Other cutting edge technologies include Terrain Awareness Display, Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System and satellite phone.

The EC155 B1 helicoppers are equipped with two Turbomeca Arriel 2C2 turbine engines, which are fitted with Full Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADEC) for fully automated One Engine Inoperative (OEI) safety. (TNA)

Sudah versi 18

tahniah

lapor diri dulu

The military is looking into reports that the gunmen who abducted three Westerners and a Filipino woman from Samal Island in Davao del Norte province on Monday night are from Sulu province, a senior military officer said on Thursday.

Around 800 policemen and elite Army troops, backed by the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard, were pressing the search for the gunmen, who may have taken their victims to Sulu.

The abductors are believed to be a group from Sulu, according to Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, Eastern Mindanao Command chief.