Malaysian Navy Mulls Chinese Kit for Laksamana-Class Upgrades

29 April 2015

The CSTC stand at the LIMA 2015 exhibition, with a poster displaying systems similar to those the RMN may seek in a potential future upgrade of its Laksamana-class corvettes. (photo : Mrityunjoy Mazumdar)

A senior official from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has confirmed to IHS Jane's that the service is considering installing Chinese-made equipment on its Laksamana-class corvettes.

The RMN has proposed to the Malaysian government a service life extension programme (SLEP) for the four ships, which were commissioned between July 1997 and July 1999. The official declined, however, to give further details on systems being considered, adding only that all options are being considered (including weapons and combat systems).

IHS Jane's reported on 20 April that the RMN is looking to replace the ships' surface-to-surface missile launchers, fire-control radar, machine guns, combat management system, electronic support measures, and integrated bridge and platform management systems. Also being considered for upgrade are the corvettes' 105 mm chaff launchers and identification friend-or-foe interrogator.

A poster displayed at LIMA 2015 by CSOC, outlining some of the company's recent ship upgrade projects. (photo : Mrityunjoy Mazumdar)

Besides being armed with an Oto Melara 76/62 Super Rapid main gun and two Breda twin 40 mm cannons, the Laksamana-class vessels are fitted for Otomat anti-ship and Aspide surface-to-air missiles, according to IHS Jane's Fighting Ships . However the missile systems currently are non-operational.

The scope of any upgrade work will be determined by the available budget, under the five-year government funding allocations known as the Malaysia Plan. The RMN said in January that it had requested funding for 36 programmes under the 11th Malaysia Plan, which will cover the period 2016-20. The request, which includes plans to upgrade the Kedah- and Laksamana-class corvettes, would cost about MYR10.1 billion (USD2.79 billion).

(Jane's)

PAF to Acquire Rocket Motors, Warheads

29 April 2015

The procurement of rocket motors and warheads for the use of its attack aircraft and helicopters (photo : Peter Ho)

MANILA (PNA) -- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has allocated the sum of PhP38.12 million for the procurement of rocket motors and warheads for the use of its attack aircraft and helicopters.

Motors to be acquired are for the 2.75-inch rocket MK 66 models while the warheads are "WP" or white phosphorous which are generally used for marking or leading targets.

The latter rockets are unguided and used as more powerful supplements and/or replacements for guns in both air-to-air and air-to-ground applications.

Submission and opening of bids is on May 12 at 9 a.m. at the PAF Procurement Center Conference Room, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.

Prospective bidders should have an experience in similar project within the last five years. 

(PNA)

Model Tank Medium Pindad Dipamerkan di AVA Conference 2015

28 April 2015

Tank medium Pindad akan menggunakan kubah meriam 105mm CV-CT buatan CMI Belgia (photo : Defense Studies)

Ini Penampakan Desain 'Tank Leopard' Buatan PT Pindad

Jakarta -Industri pertahanan Indonesia saat ini belum mampu memproduksi kendaraan tempur lapis baja (armored vehicle) untuk kelas tank. Alhasil, TNI masih sangat tergantung terhadap pasokan tank impor. Hal ini sangat rawan bila sewaktu-waktu terkena 'embargo' dari negara produsen senjata.

Melihat fenomena ini, Kementerian Pertahanan RI menugaskan PT Pindad (Persero) mengembangkan dan membangun tank kelas medium atau medium tank secara mandiri sejak 2012. Tank rancangan Pindad kini memasuki tahap desain tank.

Dari model yang ditampilkan pada acara Armored Vehicle Asia (AVA) Conference 2015, canon atau turret dari medium tank karya Pindad tampak menyerupai Tank Leopard yang telah dibeli oleh TNI AD. Tank tersebut dikonsep memakai senjata canon kaliber 105 mili meter (mm).

"Ini medium tank. Dasarnya, TNI pada pasukan kaveleri butuh tank pendamping untuk Main Battle Tank dari Leopard. Pendampingnya harus kelas medium karena saat operasi, MBT butuh pendamping. Kebetulan TNI belum punya medium tank yang pakai canon kaliber 105mm. Sedangkan leopard kalibernya 120 mm," kata VP Product and Process Development Pindad Heru Puryanto kepada detikFinance pada sela acara Armored Vehicle Asia (AVA) Conference 2015 di Hotel Crowne, Jakarta, Selasa (28/4/2015).

Untuk pengembangan medium tank, Pindad mengandeng produsen tank asal Turki, FNSS. Kedua belah pihak akan memadukan rancangan tank masing-masing untuk diproduksi bersama.

"Di pihak Indonesia ditunjuk Pindad. Turki ditunjuk FNSS. Sekarang masuk pembahasan finalisasi. Konsep dari Pindad bisa dipakai dan bisa berubah," jelasnya.

Di pasar medium tank, produk rancangan Pindad memiliki pesaing dengan Tank K21 buatan Korea Selatan, Tulpar buatan Turki, dan BMP3F buatan Rusia. Pindad menargetkan produk medium tank made in Bandung bisa selesai mulai 2017.

"3 tahun ke depan selesai purwarupa. Tahapannya, tahun pertama (2015) finalisasi desain, tahun kedua produksi, tahun ketiga dilakukan test," ujarnya.

Untuk pengembangan sistem senjata, Pindad membuka peluang BUMN RI seperti PT Inti dan PT LEN sedangkan PT Krakatau Steel Tbk diharapkan mampu memasok baja untuk medium tank dengan ketebalan baja 16 mm. Meski demikian, Pindad tetap akan mengadeng produsen senjata dunia untuk memasok turret karena industri pertahanan lokal belum mampu memproduksi.

Heru mengaku banyak manfaat yang diperoleh Indonesia dengan mengembangkan tank secara mandiri di dalam negeri.

"Intinya kembangkan di dalam bisa mengurangi ketergantungan dari luar. Saat jalan sendiri, kita bisa mandiri karena setiap bisa embargo," tuturnya.

(Detik)

Cabinet Mulls Buying Subs

28 April 2015

Budget for acquisition of submarines is 36 billion baht (photo : RTN Submarine Squadron)

The navy's plan to buy submarines has been proposed to the cabinet for consideration, according to navy commander Kraisorn Jansuwanit. 

The matter is now in the hands of the Secretariat of the Cabinet, and it should be forwarded to the cabinet soon, Adm Kraisorn said. 

The navy has set up a committee to decide which country will manufacture the submarines for Thailand, he said. The panel is chaired by Adm Narongpol na Bangchang, assistant navy chief.  

The navy chief said the panel will look at systems, maintenance and training for the submarines. 

The move comes after some people in the navy raised concerns over a reported proposal to purchase Chinese submarines. 

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said before he visited China earlier this month that he would discuss a plan to buy two submarines for 36 billion baht with his Chinese counterpart during his visit. 

However, several navy sources said the Chinese submarines may not be reliable. 

Yesterday, Adm Kraisorn said he had visited China to inspect Yuan-class submarines, which have Russian-made parts. 

The navy chief indicated that the submarine procurement might take five to six years, when they take into account the construction of the vessels and the training of personnel. However, he insisted if... 

Adm Kraisorn said Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have had submarines for several years, and he considers submarines to be a strategic means to develop the armed forces. It is the duty of the navy to propose the project to the government, he said, adding that the navy is ready to give an explanation about the project for transparency.

The panel will look at submarines from several countries and make a decision within three months, the source said. It will visit South Korea, China, Russia, Germany, and Sweden to look at their submarines.

(Bangkok Post)

DPR Janji Naikkan Anggaran Alutsista TNI Hingga Rp 200 T

28 April 2015

Dengan anggaran pertahanan Rp 200 T artinya naik dua kali lipat dari anggaran yang ada sekarang (photo : fallenpx)

Merdeka.com - Komisi I Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat ( DPR) telah mencanangkan target untuk meningkatkan anggaran pengadaan Alat Utama Sistem Pertahanan (Alutsista) TNI sebesar Rp 200 triliun. Janji tersebut disampaikan langsung oleh Wakil Ketua Komisi I DPR Ahmad Hanafi Rais.

"Ini komitmen kami dan sudah direncanakan dalam rapat dengan anggota DPR-RI, maksudnya tidak lain untuk mendukung TNI menjadi lebih baik, profesional dan kuat, terutama dari segi kelengkapan peralatan alutsistanya," kata Ahmad Hanafi Rais di Mataram, Senin (28/4), seperti dilansir Antara.

Hal tersebut diungkapkan langsung oleh Hanafi dalam pertemuan yang digelar di Markas Komando Resor Militer (Makorem) 162/Wira Bhakti, turut hadir Pangdam IX Udayana, Mayor Jenderal TNI Torri Djohar Banguntoro.

Menurut putra Amien Rais ini, dukungan pengadaan alutsista di tubuh TNI sangat dibutuhkan dan penting bagi menjaga pertahanan dan keamanan teritorial Negara Indonesia. Dana ini akan dimasukkan dalam APBN dan diberikan secara bertahap selama lima tahun mendatang.

Saat ini, pemerintah telah menyiapkan anggaran untuk pengadaan alutsista senilai Rp 102 Triliun, angka ini meningkat dibanding tahun sebelumnya yang mencapai Rp 83 Triliun.

Mendengar janji itu, Pangdam IX Udayana, Mayor Jenderal TNI Torry Djohar Banguntoro terkait hal tersebut menyampaikan bentuk apresiasinya kepada pemerintah. Namun, hal tersebut tidak terlepas untuk menjaga kewibawaan Bangsa dan Negara Indonesia di tingkat nasional maupun di dunia internasional.

"Sebenarnya ini tidak lain untuk menjaga keutuhan wilayah NKRI maupun upaya dalam mempertahankan kedaulatan negara," ucapnya.

(Merdeka)

Cambodia ‘Can’t Afford’ to Buy Indo Weapons

28 April 2015

Anoa in desert camo (photo : shilka)

A government spokesman yesterday poured cold water on an offer by Indonesia to sell Cambodia weapons, citing budget constraints and the Kingdom’s preference for peace.

The proposal by Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was discussed with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Jakarta.

Widodo suggested that Cambodia could buy weaponry and uniforms as a follow-up to previous training programs run by Indonesia for Cambodian soldiers, the Indonesian Embassy confirmed.

Acknowledging the friendly ties between the countries, government spokesman Phay Siphan said Cambodia wouldn’t buy weapons because “we don’t have any money” to do so.

“The money in the national budget is to develop the military’s integration and soldiers’ well-being,” he said, adding that Cambodia didn’t need “weapons of mass destruction”.

“We use diplomatic channels and peaceful means to solve traditional conflict.”

According to statistics from Australia’s Department of Defence, Cambodia’s defence spending increased from about $100 million in 2008 to $277 million last year.

The report noted Cambodia relied heavily on China for military aid to buy weapons, citing the 2013 purchase of 12 Z-9 helicopters, financed by a large Chinese loan.

Jon Grevatt, Asia-Pacific industry reporter for defence analyst IHS Jane’s, said Cambodia would struggle to afford anything other than small arms and ammunition unless Indonesia provided it as military aid, which was “unlikely”.

(PhnomPenhPost)

Philippine will Install Xanatos Coast Watch System

27 April 2015

Xanatos coat watch sytem (all photos : Xanatos Marine)

Zambales taps Canadian firm vs intrusion in disputed seas

SUBIC, Zambales—The province that is staring Chinese aggression in the face has secured help from a Canadian surveillance firm to keep track of the intrusion of foreign vessels and other marine activities in the West Philippine Sea.

Backed by a March 23 provincial board resolution, the Zambales government has commissioned Xanatos Marine Ltd. to put up a system that would monitor in real time all vessels which enter the province’s territorial waters, Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said on Thursday.

Using the surveillance system, Zambales can “prevent foreign fishermen from illegally entering our territorial waters,” he said. “We will show them that they can’t just bully us,” he said.

Xanatos’ Provincial Coast Watch System was initially offered to Zambales as an initiative to protect the coastal waters of Zambales from waste dumping into the sea, Ebdane said.

“We’ve been receiving reports that there are many foreign vessels that dump human waste into our territorial waters. That’s the reason we are seeking the help of this Canadian company,” he said.

Xanatos is a Vancouver-based technology company which describes its product in its website as an automatic identification system that collates information about any vessel’s position, course and speed using a transponder system.

The company first offered its system to the Department of Transportation and Communication in 2012, to combat smuggling, piracy and terrorism and to help in search and rescue operations.

But the provincial board cited the benefits of the surveillance system for local fishing communities that have been harassed while fishing at Bajo de Masinloc, also referred to as Scarborough Shoal.

The Scarborough Shoal is an “ancient territory of the province of Zambales [that] has become one of the flash points of territorial dispute between the Philippines and China,” the board resolution said.

Recently, 80 fishermen from Zambales, Pangasinan and Bataan provinces were driven off Scarborough Shoal by water cannons fired by patrolling Chinese Coast Guard vessels.

The shoal, which is some 230 kilometers from Masinloc town, Zambales, serves as a mid-sea refuge for fishing boats during stormy weather. It is considered a free zone for local fishermen until the Chinese began patrolling the West Philippine Sea.

Ebdane said the Xanatos system would be integrated with the monitoring system of the Philippine Coast Guard. The system would also help Zambales keep track of vessels that would need to pay tariff when they dock to transact business in the province, he said.

“We want to identify every ship that enters our territory and get information about its purpose. If a vessel is not authorized to be here, then it will be questioned,” he said.

Masinloc Mayor Desiree Edora said the system can bring back fishermen to the shoal. “Our fishermen have been afraid to return to the shoal. They would rather stay within the municipal waters of Masinloc,” Edora said.

She said a 127-hectare fishing sanctuary in the island village of San Salvador has become an alternative fishing ground for local fishermen.

(Inquirer)