Batam shipbuilder cuts steel on Indonesian Navy's 122 m replenishment tanker

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
04 April 2017
  
Indonesian shipbuilder PT Batamec has begun work on a 122 m replenishment tanker on order for the Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL).

A first steel-cutting ceremony for the vessel, which was presided over by the TNI-AL's Assistant for Logistics to the Navy Chief, Rear Admiral Mulyadi, was held on 31 March at the company's premises in Tanjung Uncang, Batam.

According to specifications of the vessel provided by PT Bureau Veritas Indonesia, which is working with PT Batamec to issue a classification certificate for the project, the tanker has an overall length of 122 m, and can carry up to 5,500 metric tonnes of fuel for replenishment missions.

Airbus to enter co-operation discussions with Indonesia over A400M contract

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
04 April 2017


The Royal Malaysian Air Force's fourth A400M airframe, seen at LIMA 2017. Indonesia is entering discussions with Airbus DS over possible industrial collaborations for a TNI-AU contract. Source: IHS Markit/Ridzwan Rahmat

Key Points

* Airbus is entering discussions with Indonesia over possible industrial collaborations for an impending A400M contract
* The deal, which aims to transfer aerospace expertise to Indonesian industries, will likely include a number of state-owned aerospace companies

Airbus Defence and Space (DS) is entering further discussions with Jakarta over possible industrial co-operation for a contract to supply the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU) with the A400M Atlas multirole aircraft.

These discussions will also address, among other matters, "the number of aircraft to be encompassed in an eventual contract", the company has told Jane's .

Representing a consortium of Indonesian companies, including state-owned enterprises, Pelita Air Service signed a letter of intent with Airbus DS in late March 2017 to acquire an unspecified number of A400M airframes for the country. Jane's understands that the aircraft will be acquired in the transport and utility configurations and will be operated across the TNI-AU's Aviation Squadrons 31 and 32. The aircraft are expected to bolster the service's military airlift capabilities.

In January 2017, Jane's first reported - citing multiple sources from within the Indonesian government and defence industry - that Jakarta has approved a sum of USD2 billion for the acquisition of five A400M airframes. The funding was approved by the Indonesian House of Representatives' commission on defence, intelligence, and foreign affairs (Komisi I), with the condition that the final three airframes undergo final fit-out at state-owned PT Dirgantara's facilities in Bandung.

However, Airbus DS has not given any details on any Indonesian companies that are expected to play a part in the eventual contract, adding only that it has a long-standing industrial co-operation in the country.

According to technical specifications provided by Airbus DS, the A400M can accommodate a payload of up to 37 tonnes, with a volume of 340 m 3 , when configured for military airlift missions.

World News | Tue Apr 4, 2017 | 5:13am EDT

Thailand approves purchase of Chinese tanks to replace old U.S. model

The Thai cabinet on Tuesday approved the purchase of 10 Chinese tanks worth $58 million to replace an old U.S. model, a government spokesman said, the second of three planned purchases of 49 tanks from China.

Thailand ordered 28 tanks from China last year.

"These tanks will replace the M41 tanks, which are small and old," Sansern Kaewkamnerd told reporters.

Thailand has used the U.S. M41 light tanks since World War II, said Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.

Relations have been strengthening between China and the United States' oldest ally in Southeast Asia, particularly since ties with the United States cooled after a 2014 coup.

In January, the cabinet also approved 13.5 billion baht ($380 million) to buy a submarine from China and is considering buying three more.

why the stuff is in a video game forum tho?

mp.net is shut down

07 APR 2017 15:49

Medium Tank Akan Dipamerkan di Turki

BUMNTODAY.COM - Medium Tank akan turut ambil bagian dalam pameran alat sistem pertahanan di Turki pada Mei mendatang. Kendaraan lapis baja tersebut merupakan hasil kerja sama PT Pindad (Persero) dengan perusahaan asal Turki, FNSS.

"Saat kegiatan pameran pertahanan di Turki, akan memperlihatkan bentuk utuh dari medium tank yang selama ini dikerjakan oleh kedua negara," ungkap Direktur Bisnis Produk Hankam PT Pindad Widjajanto, Jumat (7/4/2017).

Sekilas spesifikasinya, Medium Tank memiliki berat 30-40 ton. Dimensi panjangnya 7 meter, lebar 3,2 meter dan tinggi 2,7 meter. Medium Tank mampu melaju hingga 70 km per jam dengan daya jelajah hingga 600 km. Kendaraan akan dilengkapi dengan meriam dengan kaliber 105 mm, yang diadopsi dari Cockerill Maintenance & Ingenierie SA Defense dari Belgia.

Medium Tank juga akan diperkenalkan pertama kali di Indonesia pada Hari Ulang Tahun (HUT) TNI pada 5 Oktober 2017.(rid)

Indonesian Marine Corps prepares to pull plug on further BTR-4 acquisitions

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
07 April 2017
 
Key Points

• The Indonesian Marine Corps is preparing a formal request to reallocate funds originally set aside for BTR-4 APCs
• Other platforms being considered include amphibious vehicles from Russia, Turkey, and South Korea


The Indonesian Marine Corps currently has a fleet of five BTR-4s, similar to the ones seen here in Ukrainian service. (UkrOboronProm)

The Indonesian Marine Corps (Korps Marinir: KORMAR) is preparing a formal letter of request to withdraw from further acquisitions of the BTR-4 8x8 amphibious wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs), sources within the service has confirmed with Jane's.

The letter will be submitted to the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, in accordance with the Indonesian House of Representatives procedures for the redistribution of defence spending allocations, so that the funds originally set aside for BTR-4s can be used to procure other APC types.

The house's commission on defence, intelligence, and foreign affairs (Komisi I) had previously approved a sum of USD95 million under the country's 2017 defence budget to replace the KORMAR's ageing BTR-50PK APCs with BTR-4s. This was in addition to the initial batch of five BTR-4 APCs ordered by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MoD) from Ukraine's defence industry holding group UkrOboronProm in February 2014. The vehicles were delivered in September 2016.

Since October that same year, the KORMAR's 2nd Marine Group's cavalry regiment has been conducting trials of the APC, including from its base at Cilandak, South Jakarta. Among issues that surfaced during the trials include claims from service personnel that the amphibious APC is trimmed excessively by the bow when operated at full speed in the water, KORMAR officials told Jane's in late-2016.

Propelled by two water-jets that are positioned on either side under the platform's hull rear, the BTR-4 can reach a top speed of 10 km/h in the water. The Indonesian vehicles have each been equipped with one ZTM-1 30 mm automatic cannon as a primary weapon, and one AGS-17 30 mm automatic grenade launcher.

Is it me or is the chassis way too high? Usually tanks have a lower chassis profile, to minimize exposure and make a smaller target profile.

This vehicle seems like they just dropped a high-caliber gun onto an IFV chassis.

I think it all depends on exactly how they are using this vehicle exactly. A frontline Medium tank? a heavily-armed IFV escort?

The second role you could probably get away with it, seeing most IFVs are also designed in the same mould.

If used in the first role, it would probably stand out too much though. MBTs could get away with it because of the low chassis minimizes exposure and the fact that the exposed turret is the most protected part of the MBT, but IMHO this design would show (unnecessarily) too much chassis for it to work effectively in this role.

MMWT brings new technologies and innovative fighting skills to the battlefield. MMWT direct-fire combat roles may include:

* Combat operations against medium and light armour, including; IFVs, APCs, reconnaissance vehicles, combat support vehicles, armoured engineering vehicles, artillery equipment, recovery vehicles and logistic suppor tvehicles.
* Fire support tasks against; dismounted infantry, logistic support sites and defensive positions.

For these roles, the MMWT combines an effective direct-fire weapon with a capable sighting system. This combination enables MMWT to achieve first round hits at battle at long ranges. The tank can fire both AP and HE ammunitions, as well can employ secondary weapons such as 50-cal or 7.62 mm MGs for medium-range area shoots and close-range self-defence.

Although medium tanks are seen as a no-match for heavy main battle tanks (MBTs) in the 60-70 tonnes range, utilizing its stealth and mobility, MMWT can be tasked against MBTs in specific scenarios, such as mobile screening operations, flank attacks, ambush attacks, emergency delaying operations and support of friendly MBTs.

i think its more like replacing their scorpions and going to places where their leopards mbt cant go?
azriel may have the answer

i think they just did a retrofit on the amx13 so its still pretty much in active service even in the near future 
not sure about the scorpions though.. so its more like a complement to the armor fleet?

US Mobile Protected Firepower surges forward

17th March 2017 - 12:24 by Stephen Miller in Washington D.C.

The US Army's MPF (Mobile Protected Firepower) programme has been confirmed and will be introduced into the Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT).