Advances in wheel technology helps mitigate the mobility issue apparently, I'm not sure how. And wheeled APCs can mount heavier loads for cheaper costs. Can't be helped.

Indonesia to retire Ahmad Yani-class frigates from 2017

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Navy International
11 February 2016


The TNI-AL's Ahmad Yani-class guided missile frigate, KRI Abdul Halim Perdanakusuma. According to a schedule decided at the 2016 iteration of an annual naval technical and logistics work plan meeting, the class will be retired at a rate of one ship a year from 2017. Source: TNI-AL

Key Points

* Indonesia will start to decommission the Ahmad Yani class from 2017
* Retirement paves way for the induction of new SIGMA 10514 vessels

The Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Laut, or TNI-AL) is scheduled to decommission the first of its six Ahmad Yani-class frigates in 2017, a TNI-AL source told IHS Jane's on 10 February.

The schedule was decided at the 2016 iteration of an annual naval technical and logistics work plan meeting that took place in early January at the TNI-AL's Western Fleet (KOARMABAR) headquarters in Jakarta. "The Ahmad Yani class will be decommissioned at a rate of one ship a year from 2017 until 2022," the source said.

According to IHS Jane's Fighting Ships , the vessels were first commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) between August 1967 and May 1968 as the Van Speijk class. They were then transferred to the TNI-AL between 1986 and 1989.

Ahmad Yani-class vessels have an overall length of 113.4 m, an overall beam of 12.5 m, and a hull draught of 4.2 m. The platform displaces 2,880 tonnes at full load and can accommodate a crew of 180.

The vessel is armed with an Oto Melara 76 mm main gun as a primary weapon and four 12.7 mm machine guns for point defence. Submarine prosecution capability is facilitated by six 324 mm tubes that can deploy the Honeywell Mk 46 lightweight torpedo.

The TNI-AL, however, has not specified which of the six ships is slated to be decommissioned first in 2017.

Anybody here can give some details about USNS MILLINOCKET. would like to gain some infos as this ship was seen around waters quite sometimes

Confirmed: Indonesia Will Buy 10 Russian Su-35 Fighter Jets

A deal will be signed by Indonesia’s defense minister during his visit to Moscow in March.

By Franz-Stefan Gady
February 11, 2016

Indonesia has agreed to purchase 10 Russian Sukhoi Su-35S multirole fighter jets, according to Indonesian media reports. Indonesia’s Minister of Defense, General Ryamizard Ryacudu, will visit Moscow in March to sign the final agreement.

Already in September 2015, Gen. Ryamizard announced that a decision to purchase Russian jets had been made.  “A decision was made to decommission U.S. F-5 Tiger fighter jets and purchase Russian aircraft instead of them,” Indonesia news agency ANTARA quoted the defense minister as saying. “The purchase will be made gradually, depending on the financial possibilities of the country’s government,” he added.

In January 2016, Indonesia’s ambassador to Russia, Djauhari Oratmangun, still only told Russian media that “negotiations are ongoing. The Minister of Defense wants to visit Russia in April to continue the discussions.” Yet, the date appears now to have been pushed forward and negotiations concluded.

Originally, Indonesia was looking to purchase 16 Su-35S.  The Ministry of Defense has “agreed to buy a squadron of Su-35s,” Ryamizard said in September 2015. However, he clarified this week: “We will buy only ten.” The defense minister also said that the deal will include pilot training and knowledge transfers through a military exchange program.

A joint military-technical cooperation commission began talks in late in November 2015 in Jakarta to discuss details of the contract, including technological transfers. (Indonesian law stipulates that at least 35 percent of the aircraft’s technology needs to be transferred to the country as part of the defense deal.)

The Su-35S is a single-seat, twin-engine upgraded fourth-generation super-maneuverable multirole fighter powered by two AL-117S turbofan engines, and featuring fifth-generation aircraft technology, including “a sophisticated avionics suite based on a digital information management system, a cutting-edge radar with a long-range aerial target acquisition and increased multiple-target tracking/engagement capabilities, and enhanced thrust-vectoring engines,” IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly explains.

Vietnam Gets Fifth Submarine from Russia

Another one of Hanoi’s six Kilo-class subs arrives.

By Prashanth Parameswaran
February 10, 2016

Last week, the fifth of six Kilo-class submarines that Vietnam bought from Russia arrived in the Southeast Asian state, local media outlets reported.

According to Thanh Nien News, the HQ-186, delivered by Dutch-registered cargo ship Rolldock Star, arrived at Cam Ranh Bay in Khanh Hoa province last Tuesday evening. The submarine laid at anchor near Cam Ranh Port and was scheduled to arrive at the port thereafter.

As I reported for The Diplomat last year, the HQ-186 underwent a trial run in the Baltic Sea on June 8 and was expected to arrive in early 2016. The fourth submarine, codenamed HQ-185 Da Nang, arrived at Cam Ranh Port back in July (See: “Vietnam Gets Fourth Submarine From Russia Amid South China Sea Tensions”).

As I noted then, the submarines are part of a deal Vietnam reached with Russia’s Admiralty Shipyards for six Project 636 Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines for $2 billion back in 2009. Under the agreement, signed during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Moscow that year, Russia agreed to provide the submarines, train Vietnamese crews, and supply necessary spare parts.

The latest delivery comes amidst simmering disputes in the South China Sea, where both Vietnam and China are claimants alongside the Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Last year, Vietnamese officials said that the first Kilo-class submarine had begun patrolling the South China Sea.

The sixth and final submarine, named HQ-187 Ba Ria-Vung Tau, is expected to arrive in Vietnam in mid-2016. Russia officially launched HQ 187 in September last year in a ceremony attended by the commander of the Russian navy Admiral Viktor Chirkov and his Vietnamese counterpart Rear Admiral Pham Hoai Nam. The two had also reportedly discussed strengthening security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.

As I reported earlier, the Kilo-class submarines are considered to be one of the quietest diesel submarines in the world, and are designed for anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface-ship warfare. Several analysts, including Carlyle Thayer at The Diplomat, have explored how Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) may use them to counter Chinese naval capabilities in the South China Sea.

Haha you're a Navy man, and you ask us landlubbers about a naval ship?

Friday, 12 February, 2016 | 08:54 WIB

Indonesia to Start Producing IFX Jet Fighters in 2020

TEMPO.CO, Bandung - State aircraft company, PT Dirgantara Indonesia, will start producing jet fighters "Indonesian Fighter Xperiment (IFX)" in 2020, its President Director, Budi Santoso, said.

"We will begin producing them in 2020 and continue for the next 20 years," he said here on Thursday.

The aircraft will be produced to meet the Indonesian militarys need for two squadrons of jet fighters and will be sold abroad as well, Budi added.

He said the second phase of cooperation contracts between the Indonesian Defense Ministry and the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and between PT Dirgantara Indonesia and Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) was signed last January on the basis of starting the production of the planes prototype.

The prototype of the Korean Fighter Xperiment/Indonesian Fighter Xperiment will be produced in South Korea and Indonesia starting this year and until 2019, he said.

He said the prototype of the jet fighters will be produced in South Korea and the rest will be assembled in Indonesia.

The production of the planes will involve numerous Indonesian scientists and technicians for each unit, Budi said.

He added that 300 Indonesians will study and research the production of the KF-X/IF-X jet fighters.

Flip side is tyres are worn down much more rapidly than steel tracks, especially on rough terrain. Run-flat tyres do help if a tyre does burst, but these are for emergencies only to help the vehicle maintain balance and doesn't totally replace a burst tyre.

Also why is no-one thinking of developing some sort of armor to at least partially shield the (VERY EXPOSED) tyres from bullets and shrapnel?  I find it absurd that even battle tanks have skirt armor to shield their steel tracks while nearly all wheeled APC/IFVs have tyres naked and exposed for the enemy to shoot at? If I was trying to destroy/disable an armored wheeled vehicle my first instinct is to try and take out the tyres.

I do get one of the reasons is for ease of replacing damaged tyres, but can they at least make sure the tyres are somewhat protected from damage in the first place?

Flip side is tyres are worn down much more rapidly than steel tracks, especially on rough terrain. Run-flat tyres do help if a tyre does burst, but these are for emergencies only to help the vehicle maintain balance and doesn't totally replace a burst tyre.

Also why is no-one thinking of developing some sort of armor to at least partially shield the (VERY EXPOSED) tyres from bullets and shrapnel?  I find it absurd that even battle tanks have skirt armor to shield their steel tracks while nearly all wheeled APC/IFVs have tyres naked and exposed for the enemy to shoot at? If I was trying to destroy/disable an armored wheeled vehicle my first instinct is to try and take out the tyres.

I do get one of the reasons is for ease of replacing damaged tyres, but can they at least make sure the tyres are somewhat protected from damage in the first place?

Open source bro.....sometimes more credible & if combined with our sources will be even better. Just want to know under which command she is now, etc

Dunno. Maybe to plate the tyres to resist above small-arms is too heavy. Or maybe the tires are already able to tahan fire. According to some reports even IEDs which immobilised tanks and Bradleys by destroying their tracks could not stop the Stryker which ran on 8 flat tires back to base.

A run-flat tire is a pneumatic vehicle tire that is designed to resist the effects of deflation when punctured, and to enable the vehicle to continue to be driven at reduced speeds (under 3 mph (4.8 km/h)), and for limited distances (up to 10 mi (16 km), depending on the type of tire).

A run-flat tire is a pneumatic vehicle tire that is designed to resist the effects of deflation when punctured, and to enable the vehicle to continue to be driven at reduced speeds (under 3 mph (4.8 km/h)), and for limited distances (up to 10 mi (16 km), depending on the type of tire).

Open source bro.....sometimes more credible & if combined with our sources will be even better. Just want to know under which command she is now, etc

Malaysia To Receive Two MD-530G Light Attack Scout Helicopters End Of Year

KUCHING, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will receive two MD-530G Light Attack Scout Helicopters from McDonnell Douglas at the end of the year.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the latest assets proved the government was serious in strengthening defence in the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) area.

"We have done the best possible in terms of preparation and planning in Sabah. We have two modified oil rigs and we have received the ship Bunga Emas 5 belonging to the Malaysia International Shipping Corporation Bhd (MISC) for sea basing...all these for strengthening defence in ESScom," he said.

He told this to the media after a gathering with Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel at Kem Penrissen here, Thursday.

Also present were Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Wira Mohd Johari Baharum, Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Abd Rahim Mohd Radzi, MAF chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin and Army chief General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor.

Commenting further, Hishammuddin said, in addition, the ministry had mobilised the 8x8 armoured cars to Tawau, mobilised Hawk fighter jets to Labuan while Sabah would have a new battalion.

"What we have stationed in Sabah also encompass security in Sarawak and Brunei because His Highness (Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei) had presented us with four Blackhawk helicopters. These Blackhawks are going to be armed with Gatling guns and missiles," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Simple,so the wheels could turn properly and because we dont want to

The tyres are harder than you think and extra armour would mean extra weight.meaning we couldn't go 90km/h on the road.

The wheels are easily replaceable and we would be back in the fight in less than an hour if the wheels are hit.anything that can could destroy the wheels beyond repair could penetrate the main armour anyway so we accept it as part of life.
When the last time you heard about her bro?last i know she's with the 7th fleet

Test bed vessel. But surprising to see in asian water especially given their short range

Of course unless u talking abour mid sea refueling

Transiting to & frm singapore maybe...

Normally US Navy like to post their ships movt in internet if not for ops. But I malas nak cari.... So thats why I asked from here 1st

Maybe someone here can verify... Because she has been around in our waters quite sometimes since dec 15. Maybe on transit only but it is just for our records.