Senegalese CN235 arrives home

Written by Guy Martin - 6th Apr 2021


A Senegalese CN235 MPA.

The Senegalese Air Force’s newest CN235 has arrived home after flying from the PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) factory in Indonesia.

The aircraft arrived in Dakar on 30 March after stopovers in India, Qatar, Sudan, Chad and Niger. It was welcomed by the Chief of Staff of the Senegalese Air Force, Air Brigadier General Papa Souleymane Sarr, and the Indonesian Ambassador to Senegal, Dindin Wahyudin.

“This cooperation shows the strong relationship between Indonesia and Senegal, which has been built since the Asia-Africa Conference 65 years ago,” said Ambassador Dindin.

With ten crew on board, the aircraft spent 12 days flying from PTDI’s base in Bandung to Dakar after being handed over on 19 March. It was due to be delivered last year but this was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Indonesia Window.

For the maritime patrol role, the CN235-220 is equipped with a 360 degree search radar with a range of up to 200 nautical miles, Automatic Identification System (AIS) and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor for day/night operations.

The aircraft (AX-2348, expected to become 6W-TTD) performed its maiden flight in December last year. Senegal will be receiving another CN235 (expected to become 6W-TTE). In May 2020 the Indonesian Embassy in Senegal announced that the Senegalese government had agreed to purchase a CN235 configured for maritime patrol. It was acquired through AD Trade Belgium and is expected to be delivered sometime in 2021.

The most recent acquisition will bring Senegal’s order tally to five CN235s (two second hand and three new, and of those three new, two in maritime patrol and one in transport configuration).

Indonesia still involved?

South Korea unveils KF-X fighter prototype, renamed KF-21 Boramae

POSTED ON FRIDAY, 09 APRIL 2021 15:26

South Korea has officially unveiled a prototype of its indigenously-built KF-X fighter during a ceremony held at the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) manufacturing plant in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province.


The fighter jet, previously known as "KF-X fighter" was officially  presented as “KF-21 Boramae"  (Picture source: Cheong Wa Dae)

The fighter jet, previously known as "KF-X fighter" was officially  presented as “KF-21 Boramae".  

Speaking at the roll-out ceremony, President Moon Jae-in said that the combat jet will go into full-fledged production as soon as it completes ground and air tests. "We plan to deploy 40 jets by 2028 and a total of 120 by 2032," the president added.

KF-21 Boramae fighter will change the defenses of Korea and Indonesia

By Boyko Nikolov on April 10, 2021

SEOUL, (BM) – South Korea’s long-awaited 4++ generation multi-role fighter is ready. The prototype of the KF-21 Boramae fighter was presented at an official ceremony at the headquarters of the Korean company Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sachon, South Gyeongsang Province.


Photo credit: AFP

On April 9, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said: “A new era in self-defense has come, and we have set a historical milestone in the progress of our aviation industry. I also express sincere gratitude to the Indonesian government for having trust in Korea’s capability and become a partner in this co-development project. Until the development is complete and the two countries are ready for mass production to make forays into third-country markets, Korea and Indonesia will work together.”

KF-21 Boramae is a vital project for the South Korean industry. Several tests, both on the ground and in the air, are expected over the next 24 months. KF-21 Boramae will become a primary weapon of the South Korean Air Force. After testing and launching series production, the KF-21 Boramae will fly next to the F-15, F-16, and F-35 and should gradually become a leading fighter, following the future updates it will receive.

South Korea will develop a single-seater and two-seater version of its next-generation twin-engine fighter.

The role of Indonesia

Cooperation between South Korea and Indonesia in the development of KF-21 Boramae is essential for both industries. The good relations between the countries will allow them to have a modern next-generation fighter in the future.

Indonesia is investing approximately $ 1.5 billion, representing 20% ​​of the total investment in the project. Jakarta expects to receive in return 50 KF-21 Boramae fighters, as well as technology transfer. It seems that in the foreseeable future, the star of Indonesia will rise in the sky of the military aircraft manufacturers.


Photo credit: AFP

What is KF-21 Boramae for the South Korean economy?

According to preliminary information, South Korea should receive about 40 KF-21 by 2028 and another 120 by 2032. After completing the tests in the next at least two years, South Korea becomes the eighth country in the world to develop a fighter from the next generation at the local level.

But the fighter is not just good news for the Korean defense. 719 South Korean companies participated in this project. Thirty thousand parts, or 65% of the fighter, are manufactured in South Korea. It expects that in the coming years, the KF-21 fighter will significantly change the country’s economy. According to preliminary information from the Program Administration, the percentage of parts produced in South Korea will increase.

In recent years, the KF-21 has created 12,000 jobs and expects to do another 100,000 new jobs once it goes into mass production. The fighter intends to add about $ 5.4 billion to the country in the coming years.

So, TNI preffer 6x6 than 8x8?
I thought they will move to 8x8 when Pindad get license to build Pandur 8x8

No more detail pictures on this anoa 3?
It looks taller and bigger. Is it amphibious already?

So when the KFX maiden flight will begin? i cant wait for it.

2021-04-11 14:49

Korean FA-50 competes with Pakistan-China developed jet in Malaysia

By Kang Seung-woo

The FA-50, the nation's first domestically developed light attack aircraft, is competing against the Pakistani-Chinese jointly manufactured JF-17 fighter for the Malaysian Air Force's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program, under which Kuala Lumpur seeks to purchase 18 jets to replace its aging MiG-29 fleet, according to sources, Sunday.

"Despite interest from a diverse group of manufacturers, the FA-50 and JF-17 are the finalists," the source said.

The FA-50 is a variant of the T-50 supersonic trainer jet, manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).

Since its first deployment in October 2013, 60 FA-50s are operated by the Korean Air Force. In addition, the FA-50 has been exported to Iraq, the Philippines and Thailand.

Initially, France's Rafale, the multinational Eurofighter and the United States' F-18 were put forward for the Malaysian program, but the project has been downsized to purchasing light attack aircraft due to budget issues, giving a fighting chance to India's Tejas, Italy's M346 and Russia's Y-130.

Should the KAI win the deal, it would be a huge compensation for its failed exports to Argentina.

Despite interest from Buenos Aires, the KAI, which uses several British-made parts in the FA-50, was unable to close a deal for the sale of eight aircraft due to an arms embargo imposed by the British government on the South American country.

However, the FA-50 is reportedly behind the JF-17 in the race as the latter possesses a better mid-range weapons capacity which is a requirement of the Malaysian Air Force.

13 APRIL 2021

Indonesia receives first batch of Chinese-made AR-2 missiles for its CH-4 UAVs

by Ridzwan Rahmat

The Indonesian military has received its first batch of Chinese-made AR-2 air-to-surface, precision-guided missiles.


A CH-5 UAV at Airshow China 2016, fitted with four AR-1 (blue) and four AR-2 (white) missiles. The Indonesian Air Force test-fired the AR-1 missiles from its CH-4 UAVs in 2019, and recently took delivery of an initial batch of of AR-2s. (Janes/Kelvin Wong)

Information and images provided to Janes indicate that the weapons, which will be deployed on the Indonesian Air Force’s (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU’s) CH-4 medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), arrived at the service’s main ammunition depot on the Iswahyudi Air Force Base on 8 April.

These images also indicate that the missiles, which were packed in crates of two projectiles each, were delivered in a shipping container that also included an undisclosed number of pylons and rail launchers.

The AR-2 relies on its inertial guidance system for mid-course updates and on its semi-active laser (SAL) seeker for terminal homing. The weapon can carry a 5 kg armour-piercing warhead and has a maximum range of about 8 km.

The TNI-AU currently operates a fleet of six CH-4 UAVs, the first two of which made their public debut in October 2019. The CH-4 variant supplied to Indonesia has an operating radius of between 1,500 km and 2,000 km and can be operated via satellite link.

The TNI-AU’s CH-4s were also seen armed with the larger AR-1 missiles during a 2019 exercise in East Java, Indonesia.

20 APRIL 2021

Indonesia engages German, Turkish firms to customise frigate design

by Ridzwan Rahmat

Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL has engaged German naval consultancy, MTG Marinetechnik, and Turkish engineering firm FIGES AS, to customise the design of a new frigate class that it will be constructing for the Indonesian Navy.


PT PAL has engaged consultants to customise a derivative of Denmark’s Iver Huitfeldt frigate, of which the first-of-class is seen here, for Indonesian Navy requirements. (Guy Toremans)

According to a statement released by the defence ministry on 31 March, the frigate design is one that has been offered by Babcock, which implies that the design consultancy services pertain to the Indonesian Navy’s (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL’s) follow-on Martadinata-class frigates. As Janes reported in March 2021, the Arrowhead 140 concept from a consortium led by Babcock is one of the candidates that Indonesia is considering as follow-on ships to the Martadinata class.

However, Janes has since verified with a source close to the process that Marinetechnik and FIGES are instead assisting PT PAL with the TNI-AL’s contract for a variant of the Iver Huitfeldt class, the contract for which was signed in April 2020.

The Iver Huitfeldt class displaces 6,600 tonnes at full load, and is powered by four MTU 20V 8000 M70 diesel engines in a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) configuration, giving it a top speed of about 28 kt. Weapons on the vessel include a 76 mm Oto Melara gun in the forward section, a 35 mm Millennium Gun close-in weapon system (CIWS) in the aft section, and vertical launching system (VLS) modules for anti-air and surface missiles amidships.

Janes understands that Marinetechnik and FIGES are customising a derivative design of the class for TNI-AL requirements, and will be recommending a suite of sensors, weapons, and other combat systems for the frigate.