DND Junks P6.5-billion Missile Project for Territorial Defense with Israel

05 Agustus 2015

The SBMS acquisition project will be replaced by higher priority projects (photo : Kongsberg)

MANILA - The Department of National Defense (DND) has junked the Army’s P6.5-billion Shore-Based Missile System (SBMS), a government-to-government negotiated deal with Israel, and realigned this territorial external defense capability to purchase ballistic vests, helmets, and rifles, among others.

“The SBMS acquisition project will be replaced by higher priority projects that aim to provide support and protection for soldiers in the field due to the rising security situation in the WPS (West Philippine Sea) and the continuing terrorist acts by the enemies of the government of the Philippines,” according to a two-page letter from Patrick Velez, Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Installation, and Logistics (ASAIL), to Mr. Avi Felder, president of the Israel Military Industries (IMI).

In a letter dated 22 July 2015, a copy of which was obtained by InterAksyon.com, Velez clarified that the SBMS project is not shelved, its implementation only deferred from the 1st Horizon Project (2013-2017) to the 2nd Horizon Project (2018-2023).

But Malacanang has not yet confirmed if President Benigno Aquino has approved the DND decision.

Velez said the decision to use the P6.5 billion for personal protection of soldiers was a result of the 69th Senior Leaders Round-Table Discussion (SLRTD) on the Defense Acquisition System (DAS) on 10 June 2015.

Implications to foreign relations

Expectedly, the Israel Military Industries was shocked over the action of the DND and has been considering the filing of a diplomatic protest.

Aquino and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin earlier promised that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would achieve minimum credible external defense capability before their term ends in 2016.

On 18 December 2014, the DND’s Special Bids and Awards Committee 1 (SBAC1) declared the IMI as the Singled Calculated Responsive Bidder (SCRB) for the project.

The IMI had just been waiting for the issuance of the Notice of Award (NOA) when in May then Army chief and now Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hernando Irriberi sought the realignment of the project.

This after the local representative of IMI filed criminal and administrative charges against him before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged undue delay of the implementation of at least three ammunition projects worth P97.8 million.

Sources from the Ombudsman said the cases are due for resolution in connection with the supplier’s prayer for a six-month preventive suspension against Irriberi.

According to former National Security Adviser (NSA) and now Paranaque City Representative Roilo Golez, the SBMS project would have been a good move to jump-start Aquino’s promise of minimum credible external defense capability against the aggression of China in the WPS where it was reclaiming coral reefs into artificial islands as part of its expansionist policy in the region.

He slammed Irriberi for recommending in haste the realignment of the SBMS and urged the Commission on Appointments (CA) not to confirm him.

Implementation of the SBMS project, if not realigned, would have started this October and completed during the first half of 2016.

(InterAksyon)

Angkatan Udara Thailand akan Bentuk Dua Skuadron UAV

05 Agustus 2015

Pesawat patroli Arava AU Thailand (photo : EAF)

Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) berencana untuk membuat dua skuadron pesawat tanpa awak (UAV), skuadron UAV ini akan menjadi skuadron pertama di Thailand. Angkatan Udara saat ini menunggu persetujuan anggaran untuk mewujudkan hal tersebut

Panglima Angkatan Udara ACM Tritos Sonchaeng mengatakan skuadron akan berbasis di Wing 4 di Nakhon Sawan, yang saat ini dihuni empat skuadron yang terdiri dari latih jet tempur, F-16, dan pesawat patroli Arava.

Usulan itu muncul di tengah laporan Angkatan Udara yang akan menonaktifkan armada tiga pesawat patroli Arava dibeli dari Israel 36 tahun yang lalu.

Biasanya pesawat Arava perlu di-upgrade setiap tiga tahun. Berbicara tentang pesawat patroli Arava, ACM Tritos mengatakan mereka telah melayani angkatan udara dengan baik.

Skuadron 402 dan 404 akan berubah menjadi skuadron pesawat UAV.

MLU pesawat F-16 RTAF oleh TAI (photo : TAF)
 Sebuah sumber mengatakan bahwa Angkatan Udara akan mengerahkan UAV setelah pesawat Arava dipensiunkan. 

Menurut sumber tersebut, RTAF saat ini memiliki beberapa UAV dalam pelayanan tetapi jumlah yang tepat tidak diketahui. Beberapa UAV dibeli dari luar negeri dan beberapa lagi dikembangkan secara lokal oleh Angkatan Udara.

Upgrade Pesawat F-16

Sementara itu, RTAF telah menerima izin dari kabinet untuk melanjutkan modernisasi pesawat yang dikenal sebagai mid-live upgrade (MLU), dari batch terakhir pesawat F-16 senilai 9 miliar baht. Sejauh ini enam F-16 jet telah ditingkatkan kemampuannya dan enam lagi masih berlangsung.

Skema MLU dirancang untuk meningkatkan rentang hidup jet 'selama 20 tahun lagi dan dijadwalkan akan selesai pada 2017. RTAF memiliki 18 pesawat tempur F-16. ACM Tritos mengatakan RTAF telah meminta Thai Aviation Industries Co, dan Lockheed Martin untuk melakukan modernisasi pesawat F-16.

(Bangkok Post)

Tony Abbott to Reveal Defence Plans: $89bn in Ships, Submarines

05 Agustus 2015

New frigate will replace six Adelaide class and Anzac class FFG (all photos : Aus DoD)

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has confirmed construction of new offshore patrol vessels will start in 2018 and new frigates in 2020 under a $40 billion plan for continuous shipbuilding in Australia.

A restructured surface naval shipbuilding industry could be competitive and provide the best possible ships at the best possible price, he said.

From 2020 onwards there will be build-up to about 2500 workers employed continuously in surface naval shipbuilding and most of them will be in Adelaide, he told reporters in the South Australian capital this afternoon.

“The frigates are coming as the first prize and one way or another the subs will be coming as a further prize,” Mr Abbott had told ABC radio earlier, ahead of the formal announcement.

“You shouldn’t assume that the subs won’t happen here.”

The submarine contract is subject to a competitive evaluation process being contested by Japanese, French and German shipbuilders who will be required to outline local involvement in any tenders. The prime minister conceded Australian shipbuilders would not be able to avoid entirely the so-called “valley of death” — the gap between the end of existing contracts and the start of new ones — with jobs in the sector likely to halve from 2000 to 1000 over the next few years.

But it should rebuild to about 2500 ongoing positions by 2020. “This is the best possible outcome for service shipbuilding in Australia,” Mr Abbott said.

Independent SA senator Nick Xenophon conceded it was better to have the warships built in his state than not, but he was still critical of the announcement.

“You need critical mass in the industry and that would also need to involve building the submarines as promised,” he told ABC radio.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said there was no question both the warships and the submarines should be built in Australia. “Mr Abbott views these multi-billion dollar, multi-thousand job contracts as political prizes aimed at just saving his own job,” he told reporters outside Victorian-based shipbuilder BAE Systems today.

The Abbott government’s plans for a major defence announcement were revealed by The Australian on Monday.

Labor Premier Jay Weatherill said the commitment put South Australia in a better position to attract submarine building in the state.

“The logic associated with this particular decision can be applied to the submarine building contract,’’ he said. “Any criticisms about the way in which the submarine building project has occurred in the past, all relate to the stop start nature of the build program, not the skills and capabilities of our workers but the way in which we’ve gone about in the procurement and we believe we have a strong case in for advancing future subs being built in this state.’’

Mr Weatherill said wrong decisions were likely to have had “catastrophic consequences” for the Liberals in South Australia and people saw the common sense of a 30-year continuous build.

“I think this is a good decision and a win for South Australia. But we also have lots of things we want to speak to the Commonwealth about.”

Earlier Defence force chiefs and South Australian Liberal MPs filed into the Abbott government’s Cabinet room in Adelaide for a confidential briefing on the government’s shipbuilding plans.


Among the Defence establishment attending briefings by the Prime Minister and Defence Minister Kevin Andrews are Chief of the Defence Force Mark Binskin and Navy Chief Tim Barrett.

Speakership hopeful Andrew Southcott, Matt Williams and Simon Birmingham had also arrived at the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting. Assistant infrastructure minister Jamie Briggs is absent from the deliberations, instead attending functions in his electorate of Mayo.

Key Points in New Shipbuilding Plan

* Construction of Future Frigates will start in 2020 in Adelaide, three years earlier than scheduled under the 2012 Defence Capability Plan.

* They will replace the navy’s eight Anzac frigates, constructed in Melbourne between 1994 and 2004.

* The new vessels will be larger than the 3600-tonne Anzacs and designed with a strong emphasis on anti-submarine warfare.

* Construction of new offshore patrol vessels will start in 2018, two years earlier than scheduled.

* They will replace 14 Armidale patrol boats, mine warfare vessels, survey and hydrographic ships with a single class of about 20 ships. The government hasn’t said where they’ll be built - but likely Melbourne.

* The new patrol boats will be much larger than the 300-tonne Armidale class vessels, made of steel and able to carry a helicopter.

* Full details will be outlined in the new Defence White Paper. The government says the two projects will cost $39 billion.

* Selection of designs for both vessels will be conducted through a competitive evaluation process, not a tender, starting in October.

* Both will be produced through a process of continuous construction, turning out new vessels about every two years. * The government says starting earlier will save about 1000 shipyard jobs. When both projects are in full swing, there will be about 2500 enduring jobs.

(The Australian)

The Weststar Group Appointed As The Main Contractor For MINDEF VSHORAD Procurement

03 Agustus 2015

Westar GK-M1 with the Thales Starstreak platform (photo : Malaysian Defence)

Kuala Lumpur -: The Weststar Group is pleased to announce that it has been recently appointed as the main contractor for Ministry of Defence Malaysia, (MINDEF) procurement of the latest state-of-the-art STARStreak Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) system from Thales Air Defense Limited UK.

The system is a leading VSHORAD system available in the market today, therefore providing MINDEF enhanced capability to protect key national assets against both established and emerging threats.

Witnessing the contract handover at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) were Malaysian Defense Minister YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and United Kingdom Minister of State for Defence Procurement, Philip Dunne.

The Weststar Group Managing Director, Tan Sri Syed Azman said, “The deal involves MINDEF upgrading their existing missile defense system by capitalizing on the trade-in opportunity for the previous Starburst missiles with the much-improved Starstreak missiles. This has enabled MINDEF to realize substantial savings in the process.”

MINDEF is delighted with the procurement of the system, as it will be a key part of augmenting the capabilities of the nation’s air defense forces as a whole. The system is being procured in part of a trade-in program of the decommissioned Starburst missiles. The delivery of the integrated air defense system will come in a complete package that includes an air surveillance/engagement radar as well as a command and control system.

THALES has produced the fastest new generation very short-range air defense missiles that can accelerate to a peak velocity of Mach 3. These missiles boast the ability to fly a kilometer within a second. Furthermore, with the assistance of a laser beam, the operator controls all three of the dart-missiles simultaneously. As a result, the laser beam guide increases positive target and reduces the risk of collateral damage.

The STARStreak system has been designed to provide detection, threat evaluation, weapon allocation and engagement of a range of threats including fixed-wing, helicopters, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.


The Malaysian defense industry will benefit through the offset program offered by THALES. Among the benefits to be reaped is the transfer of technology in hardware and software applications that correlate to the system as well as in other related fields. In addition, THALES has also offered training packages for the operator and technicians to ensure smooth operation over the life cycle of the system.

(Bernama)

Tiga Pangkalan Udara Naik ke Tipe A

04 Agustus 2015

Lanud Roesmin Nurjadin Pekanbaru, Lanud Supadio Pontianak dan Lanud Suryadarma Kalijati naik kelas ke Tipe A (photo : Kaskus Militer)

Berikut 10 Pangkalan Udara TNI-AU Terkuat di Indonesia, Riau Salahsatunya 

PEKANBARU, GORIAU.COM - Pangkalan Udara (Lanud) TNI-AU Roesmin Nurjadin (RSN) Pekanbaru, Riau, akhirnya resmi naik menjadi tipe A. Dengan begitu, RSN menjadi satu-satunya Pangkalan Udara TNI-AU bertipe A di wilayah Sumatera.

Kepala Penerangan (Kapen) Lanud RSN, Kapten Sus Rizwar, Senin (3/8/2015) mengatakan, peresmian menjadi tipe A (sebelumnya tipe B,red) juga diiringi dengan pergantian jabatan Komandan Lanud RSN, yang sebelumnya ditempati Kolonel Pnb M Khairil Lubis.

"Digantikan oleh Kolonel Pnb Henri Alfiandi yang sebelumnya bertugas di Staf Pengamanan TNI-AU (Spamau), dan Serah Terima Jabatan (Sertijab) dilaksanakan pagi ini di Main Aphrone Base Ops Lanud RSN," katanya.

Dengan kenaikan status ini, Lanud RSN menjadi satu-satunya Pangkalan Udara di Sumatera yang sudah bertipe A. Selain RSN, ada dua Lanud lainnya yang turut naik, diantaranya Lanud Supadio Pontianak dan Lanud Suryadarma Kalijati. Artinya sudah 10 Pangkalan Udara di Indonesia yang telah bertipe A, dengan kekuatan tempur yang memadai.

"Diantaranya Lanud Halim, Lanud Atang Sanjaya Bogor, Lanud Iswahyudi Madiun, Lanud Adisucipto Jogjakarta, Lanud Abdurrahman Soleh Malang, dan Lanud Sultan Hasanuddin Makassar. Ditambah tiga yang baru naik termasuk Lanud RSN," ucapnya.

"Semua ini untuk memaksimalkan pengamanan udara di wilayah NKRI. Dengan kekuatan Alutsista seperti pesawat tempur Hawk dan F-16 yang sudah ada di Lanud RSN," tukas Kapten Sus Rizwar. (had).

(Go Riau)

PN Plans to Purchase Submarines from South Korea or Japan over the Next Five Years

04 Agustus 2015

Korean made submarine (photo : US Navy)


Philippines to buy submarines and advanced missile systems for the first time

Manila: For the first time, the Philippines will buy electric and diesel-run submarines, including advanced missile systems, as listed in its $22.11 billion (998 billion pesos or Dh83.166 billion) modernisation plan that was approved in July, to ensure its strength against China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia which have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, sources said.

“The Philippine Navy will buy several submarines and missile systems in the next five years from private manufacturing firms either from South Korea or Japan,” a military source who requested anonymity told Gulf News.

“The ambitious purchase was scheduled after the Philippine economy grew, received good ratings from rating agencies, and allowed borrowing for expensive war materials, but the Philippines could not yet match China’s 26 submarines,” said the same source.

In 2013, the Philippine Navy bought two 1.400 tonne Incheon-class frigates (also called Future Frigate experimental or FFX), manufactured by South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries and STX Offshore and Shipbuilding for $400 million (18 billion pesos or Dh1.5 billion); two strategic sealift vessels or floating command centres which can transport three helicopters per vessel, soldiers, and supplies at sea, from Indonesia’s PT PAL (Persero) for $85.7 million (3.86 billion pesos or Dh321.6 million). The new frigates and sealift vessels will arrive in the Philippines at the end of 2015 or early 2016, President Benigno Aquino announced recently.

It is widely reported that the Philippine Navy is manned by three US-made refurbished frigates: BRP Tagbanua; BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, but Japan’s defence ministry said the Philippine Navy has 80 warships; China, 892; Malaysia, 208; and Vietnam, 94.

The Philippine Coast Guard also bought 10 40-metre-long multi-purpose response vessels (MRRV) from Japan in late 2013 for $184 million (8.09 billion pesos or Dh674.6 million), in a loan forged with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2014. They will augment the Coast Guard’s 19 rescue vessels, when they arrive in the Philippines at the end of 2015, sources said.

The Coast Guard secured a $20 million (900 million pesos or Dh75 million) loan from the United States’ Defence Threat Reduction Agency (it has a maritime security project with the US’ Weapons for Mass Destruction Proliferation Prevention Programme) for three aerial surveillance radars, two surface sensors and three surveillance planes for the Philippine Coast Guard National Coast Watch Centre in northern Luzon and southwest Philippines.

Recently, the Philippine Air Force bought 12 new FA-50 fighter-trainers made by Korea Aerospace Industries. six Close Air Support Aircraft; seven of 13 AW-109 helicopters; and six of eight Bell-412 combat utility helicopters made by Korea Aerospace Industries. The two fighters will arrive in December 2015 or early 2016, and the rest in 2017.

Japan’s defence ministry said the Philippines has a total of 26 combat aircraft, compared with China’s 2,582 combat aircraft.

The Philippine government also allotted $22 million (1 billion pesos or Dh83.33 million) for the development of three new naval bases that will protect its 36,000 kilometre coastline facing the South China Sea.

In 1995, Congress approved an $8.08 billion (364 billion pesos or Dh30.3 billion) military modernisation plan for 15 years. But only 10 per cent of the approved budget was secured by a loan 15 years later, in 2010, the budget department said.

China, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim the whole of the South China Sea and several parts of the oil-rich Spratly Archipelago. Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines claim their respective exclusive economic zones in the South China Sea and parts of the Spratly Archipelago.

(GulfNews)

Australian Company to Provide Parts for Initial Production of the Triton Unmanned Aircraft System

01 Agustus 2015

Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton UAS )photo : Northrop Grumman)

CANBERRA, Australia – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has awarded the first Australian supplier contract for the U.S. Navy's MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) initial production lot to Ferra Engineering.

Brisbane-based Ferra Engineering will manufacture mechanical sub-assemblies for the first four Triton air vehicles including structural components.

"At Northrop Grumman it's very important to not only develop our own capabilities, but to develop and foster capabilities in local supply chains," said Ian Irving, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Australia. "This is a great opportunity for quality-focused Australian companies to be involved in the production and sustainment of one of the U.S. Navy's and Royal Australian Air Force's key capabilities for many years to come."

"This contract, and the opportunities we expect will be available in follow-on production lots, highlight Northrop Grumman's commitment to Australian industry," added Irving.

Northrop Grumman's engagement with Ferra Engineering, and its advanced capabilities, was facilitated through the Australian Department of Defence's Global Supply Chain program. Under the Global Supply Chain initiative, international companies such as Northrop Grumman can assess Australian industry and provide them the opportunity to compete for business around the world on a value-for-money basis.

Australian companies have also received requests from Northrop Grumman for quotations to potentially provide components for follow-on production. These industry opportunities include cables, complex machined and composite assemblies, as well as special tooling and test equipment. 

In March 2014, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced the Australian Government's intent to purchase the Triton UAS for high-altitude, long-endurance surveillance missions. Triton can fly missions for 24 hours at altitudes of more than 55,000 feet to cover vast areas of ocean and coastal regions. Its unique sensor suite provides a continuous on-station presence in a 360-degree field of view for some of the most demanding surveillance missions.

About Ferra Engineering

Ferra Engineering is based in Brisbane, Queensland and specialises in the design, manufacture, assembly and test of aerospace structures and sub-systems on a variety of military and civil aerospace and defense programs. Please visit www.ferra.com.au for more information.

(Northrop Grumman)