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Kolej Tentera Udara Lahirkan Juruterbang Berkaliber

14 Juni 2012

Pesawat Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Tentara Udara Diraja Malaysia. Kolej Tentera Udara (KTU) saat ini mengoperasikan 36 buah pesawat Pilatus PC-7dan 8 buah pesawat Pilatus PC-7 Mk II buatan Pilatus Aircraft, Swizerland sebagai pesawat latih dasar dan juga mengoperasikan 20 pesawat MD3-160 Aerotiga buatan SME Aviation Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia hasil lisensi dari MDC Max Dätwyler AG, Jerman sebagai pesawat latih mula (photo : Airliners)

Pemeriksaan rapi ke atas pesawat cukup diberi penelitian bagi mengelakkan sebarang masalah teknikal.

USAHA melahirkan juruterbang berkualiti termasuk tahan lasak dari segi fizikal dan mental, berketrampilan serta bersemangat juang tinggi bukan mudah apatah lagi dalam persekitaran yang mencabar pada hari ini.

Tidak dinafikan ramai lebih cenderung menerbangkan pesawat komersial yang menjanjikan pendapatan lebih lumayan berbanding menyarung uniform Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM) untuk berada di barisan hadapan mempertahankan negara.

Usaha melahirkan juruterbang berkaliber untuk mengawasi ruang udara Malaysia telah lama digalas Kolej Tentera Udara (KTU) sejak awal penubuhannya pada 1963.

Sehingga kini, KTU masih diberikan peranan untuk melatih dan melahirkan juruterbang yang mencukupi bagi memenuhi keperluan operasi mengikut kehendak TUDM.

Dalam usaha menjayakan misi itu, KTU di Kepala Batas yang terletak kira-kira 12 kilometer dari Alor Setar dengan berkeluasan 65 hektar persegi menempatkan semua unit latihan di satu tempat yang sesuai dengan suasana latihan dan mempunyai kelengkapan serta kemudahan mencukupi.

Secara amnya, KTU adalah institusi latihan untuk melatih pegawai tentera hasil kerjasama dengan Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) bagi graduan berkelulusan diploma.

Namun tahun ini sangat bersejarah apabila graduan di peringkat ijazah yang berkelayakan dari Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) di Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur akan ditawarkan untuk menjalani latihan di KTU.

Program berkembar dengan universiti tempatan itu sejajar dengan usaha TUDM untuk memantapkan profesionalisme juruterbang dengan melahirkan juruterbang yang berkemahiran.

Apatah lagi dengan tahap profesionalisme bidang ketenteraan yang meningkat dan mementingkan pencapaian akademik, adalah penting untuk memastikan pasukan tentera hebat dalam bidang taktikal serta strategi ketenteraan.

Di KTU, TUDM menggariskan misi utamanya untuk mengeluarkan pegawai dan krew udara yang dipupuk dengan sikap yang positif, dibekalkan dengan ilmu pengetahuan dan kemahiran asas bagi melaksanakan tugas serta tanggungjawab melalui penggunaan modul atau pelaksanaan kurikulum yang bersesuaian.

Sejak awal kelahirannya, KTU mengalami beberapa perubahan termasuk konsep pemusatan beberapa unit latihan seperti Pusat Latihan Pegawai (PLP), Pusat Latihan Terbang 1 (Pulatibang 1) dan Pusat Latihan Terbang 2 (Pulatibang 2) di lokasi sama sejajar dengan matlamat TUDM menjadikan KTU sebaga pusat pengajian aeroangkasa.

Setiap pelatih yang juga merupakan pegawai kadet perlu menjalani latihan selama tiga tahun di KTU bagi melayakkan mereka menerima sayap penerbangan bagi latihan Kursus Asas Penerbangan di Pulatibang 1 dan Helikopter di Pulatibang 2.

Dalam tempoh tersebut, bagi menyesuaikan diri dengan kehidupan ketenteraan para pelatih terlebih dahulu menjalani latihan ketenteraan mengikut jadual ditetapkan.

Dalam fasa itu, mereka dilatih membina ketahanan mental dan didedahkan kepada pengetahuan asas ketenteraan sebagai persediaan sebelum menjalani latihan penerbangan di KTU.

Menurut Pegawai Pemerintah Pulatibang 1, Leftenan Kolonel Ghazali Yayah, KTU tidak akan berkompromi dengan kualiti dalam usaha melahirkan juruterbang yang berkaliber.

"Kita berharap dapat melahirkan juruterbang angkatan tentera yang mantap dan tinggi semangat juang di mana apabila mereka menggalas tugas di barisan hadapan pertahanan negara ia dilakukan dengan penuh patriotik dan tanpa rasa gentar.

"Oleh demikian selain penerapan ilmu penerbangan, kemahiran dalam mengoptimumkan pengunaan aset latihan dalam penerbangan, pelatih juga dididik dengan jati diri yang tinggi," katanya.

Katanya, pelatih yang diterima masuk ke KTU terlebih dahulu akan menerima latihan di PLP sebelum diserapkan untuk menjalani latihan penerbangan di Pulatibang 1 dan Pulatibang 2 selama 18 bulan.

Pesawat MD3-160 Aerotiga buatan SME Aviation Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia (photo : Janner88)

Tambah beliau, visi Pulatibang 1 di KTU antaranya untuk menjadi pusat latihan penerbangan terunggul di rantau Asia apabila mampu melahirkan juruterbang berkaliber sehingga mencapai tahap profesionalisme tinggi.

"Modul pembelajaran dan kokurikulum di Pulatibang 1 antaranya memerlukan setiap pelatih menguasai bidang akademik dan ketenteraan kerana mereka bakal menerbangkan sebuah pesawat pejuang untuk mempertahankan negara.

"Hanya pelatih yang kental dan mantap ilmunya akan melepasi fasa itu seterusnya menerima sayap penerbangan masing-masing," jelasnya.

Selain latihan ketenteraan dan pembelajaran di kelas dalam usaha memahami selok belok mengendalikan pesawat, Ghazali berkata, pelatih juga perlu mengambil kursus lanjutan membabitkan praktikal menerbangkan pesawat menggunakan Pilatus PC-7.

"Jumlah jam penerbangan yang ditetapkan adalah sekurang-kurangnya 160 jam secara solo atau bersama jurulatih.

"Penggunaan aset-aset latihan di Pulatibang penting dalam melahirkan juruterbang yang berkualiti," ujarnya.

Pada ketika ini terdapat kira-kira 100 pelatih yang menjalani latihan di Pulatibang 1 dengan 27 jurulatih yang berpengalaman.

Sementara itu Pulatibang 2 yang beroperasi di KTU sejak 1995 pula menjalankan kursus penerbangan asas helikopter dan kursus ilmu penerbangan asas bagi kuartermaster udara dan pramugari TUDM.

Menurut Pegawai Pemerintah Pulatibang 2, Leftenan Kolonel Ramli Mohd. Abd. Jabar, peranan yang dimainkan oleh juruterbang terbabit dalam pasukan TUDM tidak kurang pentingnya.

"Usaha KTU adalah untuk melahirkan juruterbang helikopter dan kuartermaster atau pramugari yang berpengetahuan serta memiliki kemahiran tinggi, berdisiplin termasuklah berakhlak terpuji.

"Pelatih juga akan menjalani latihan penerbangan selama 86 jam bagi melayakkan mereka memperoleh sayap penerbangan," katanya.

Menurut Ramli, teknologi dalam bidang penerbangan turut berubah mengikut peredaran masa, namun pelatih di KTU dilatih dengan kemahiran tinggi agar mereka mampu mengemudi apa juga pesawat yang ditugaskan setelah berkhidmat dengan TUDM kelak.

Tambah Ramli, selain melatih pegawai kadet untuk TUDM, KTU juga memberi latihan asas tersebut kepada pasukan ATM lain dan agensi kerajaan.

(Utusan)

Parts Row Delays Delivery of 6 Saab Aircraft

09 Juni 2012

RTAF’s Saab Gripen fighter aircraft (photo : TAF)

The delivery of six more Saab aircraft from

Sweden

has been delayed, a Royal Thai Air Force source said yesterday.

The delivery of the six Saab 340 AEW airborne early warning aircraft was set for last Tuesday at Don Muang military air base with the ceremony to welcome them scheduled for last Wednesday at Wing 7 in Surat Thani.

But this has now been put off because an American parts supplier has refused to sell some key products to the Swedish manufacturer for reasons that are unclear, said the source.

The Saab 340 AEW is used to control the Gripen fighter fleet.

"Certain key items of the jet parts and the radar system produced by the USfirm have not been granted permission to be sold to other countries," said the source. "And that has resulted in a delay in [the Swedish company's] assembling of the aircraft which I really have no idea when will be completed.

"I'm not sure if this is a game or not because the Royal Thai Air Force chose the Gripen from Swedenover the F series aircraft from the United States. The latter might not be happy with that," said the source.

Air force commander Itthaporn Subha-wong travelled to Sweden late last month to discuss the delivery with Saab but to no avail, said the source.

Previously, the air force bought a total of 12 Gripen fighter jets from Swedenalong with two Saab 340 AEW aircraft and one Saab 340 transport aircraft for a total of 34 billion baht.

The first batch of aircraft of six Gripen fighter jets, one Saab 340 AEW and one Saab 340 has been delivered and commissioned at Wing 7.

The second batch of another six Gripen jets and one more Saab 340 AEW aircraft are awaiting delivery.

(Bangkok Post)

Vietnam Fighter Get More New Missiles

08 Juni 2012

Russiacontinues to hand over to the Vietnam Air Force a large number of variant air to ground missile Kh-25/25M equip the MiG-21 fighters, Su-22 and Su-27. (photo : Martin Rosenkranz)

According to the latest report of the Tactical Missile Corporation (KTRV), the company has transferred to the Vietnam People's Air Force large number of variants advanced missile Kh-25 (without specifying specific number) to equip the fighters perform ground attack missions, and anti-radar ocean surface.

KTRV report of said variations Kh-25M missile new transfer to the Vietnam Air Force include: laser-guided missile semi-active Kh-25 ML, anti-missile detection and passive radar Kh-25MP / MPU and radio-guided missile Kh-25MR.

Besides Vietnam, the same missiles were transferred to Russiafor patrons such as India, Algeria and Turkmenistan.

The report also reiterated, in 2009, KTRV was transferred to Vietnam 17 anti-ship missiles Kh-35 UranE (3M24E) with a value of 767 million rubles in 2010 and has continued to transfer additional 16 missiles of this type ( 656 million rubles) with eight training missiles worth 72 million rubles 3M24EMB.

According to information from suppliers, the Kh-25ML missiles, Kh-25MR Kh-25MP/MPU and will be equipped for combat aircraft Su-22, MiG-21 and Su-27 in Vietnam People's Army.

The addition of this new missile capability enhances air strikes on land and sea surface of the aircraft are stationed at the air base north along the coast and to consolidate more power protection defense, especially the sovereignty of Vietnam's sea islands.

Su-22M4 carries two KH-25 missile (photo : ttvnol)

Technical Specification

Kh-25/25M (identified as AS-10 Kerry NATO) is not rocket - to - earth light by the Soviet / Russian development. The missile is produced in many variations through a series of modules of different navigation system and achieve a range of 10 km.

Designed by Zvezda-Strela, Kh-25 was designed based on laser-guided missiles Kh-23 (AS-7 Kerry). Until now, the new variant of the Kh-25 missiles continue to be widely used and constantly modernized.

Variations Kh-25MP/MPU missiles (AS-12 Kegler) anti-radar, including Kh-25MPU upgrade features improved anti-radar optimized to excel, including X-band radar air defense . Kh-25MP/MPU guided by passive radar homing head and can be added both inertial guidance system to attack the target, even if no radar target signal (off).

While the Kh-25MP has a maximum cruise speed of 850 m / s (about Mach 2.5), maximum range 60 km (the average height) and 25 km (low altitude), the minimum range 3 km and error (CEP) is 5 meters, it is an upgrade to the Kh-25MPU greater weight, up to 320 kg and the maximum range reduced to 40 km.

Kh-25ML is a tactical guided missiles, guided by the semi-active laser homing, specialized attack tactical targets are small. The missile can be launched directly from an air or free dive angle -40 degrees.

The missile is integrated a target device detonated on impact and one bullet, so be sure to destroy all the targets hidden obstacles (concrete, armored vehicles and the like ) and reduced pan angle by hitting a surface barrier.

Kh-25ML release maximum speed is 870 m / s, range 10 km, using two types of warheads and detonate attack is frequently explosive, warhead detonated a small hole on obstacles to cross-flow heat and destroy targets behind, and the type of explosive warheads will penetrate through obstacles then explodes target.

Kh-25ML Air Force is quite common to use the export and it is designed in accordance with the adjustment of foreign aircraft. Variations include the Kh-25ML/Kh-25MUL for combat training,

Guided missile Kh-25MR radio professionals to perform the ground, sea and mostly fitted on Su-22 aircraft in Vietnam. To launch the missile, aircraft will be fitted with radio pod shot lead Delta-NG in the wings or nose.

Russiahas also developed variations that modify Kh-25MS/MSE missiles and Kh-35 missiles guided by satellites. However, Vietnam did not purchase these missiles lack of such a navigation system.

Russiaand

Vietnam

are also working to create variants with long-range missile complex based anti-ship missiles Kh-35 Uran, striving to create an anti-ship missile generation are placed on ships and on land.

(BaoDatViet)

Sixth Wedgetail Aircraft Arrives

04 Juni 2012

The sixth Wedgetail for RAAF (photo : Aus DoD)

The sixth and final Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft has been delivered and is now at its home base RAAF Williamtown.

The delivery of the sixth aircraft is a significant milestone for this important project, which delivers a world-class air battle management capability.

Wedgetail will provide Defence with an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability comprising of six aircraft and associated supplies and support.

Each of the aircraft is fitted with a highly advanced multipurpose radar system, which provides our Defence forces with greater situational awareness.

The Wedgetail aircraft will be a critical part for Australia’s Air Defence System and will enhance surveillance, air defence, fleet support and force coordination operations.

The delivery of the sixth aircraft reflects the combined efforts of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and contracted suppliers including Boeing.

The Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft will be operated by No. 2 Squadron from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle.

(Aus DoD)

Helicopter Pilot Training with New Aircraft

31 Mei 201

EC 120 aircraft at Vung Tau airport (all photos : tuoitre)

TTO - Morning 22-5, at the airport Vung Tau, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Training Center Helicopter Corporation of

Vietnam

(Ministry of Defense) held the opening ceremony helicopter pilot training in 2012.

Accordingly, in this course has more than 10 young pilots of the military forces will be trained.

At the ceremony, Colonel Nguyen Van Vinh, director of the center, said this tag will use the center by the company aircraft Eurocopter EC 120 (France) production to train pilots. This type of small aircraft, only one engine. Saving the third training costs, reduce flight hours.

Meanwhile, former major aircraft used to train every hour to spend U.S. $ 3500-3800.

More importantly, the use of EC 120 aircraft will take the initiative to train human resources for mission pilots flying commercial, professional fields.

The aircraft is also consistent with the major aircraft systems Eurocopper existing pilot corporations should be advantages to moving aircraft.

Speaking at the ceremony, Major-General Ha Tien Dung, general director of Vietnam Helicopter Company, the center and asked the pilots are trained to study, training not only to domestic flights but also to integration of pilot proficiency international, can work independently, self-control in all situations.

On behalf of the pilots are trained in this course, sergeant Do Xuan Hoang will confirm the students, teachers overcome difficulties, serious study to master modern means, conquering the sky, available ready to receive and fulfill the tasks assigned by superior.

Since its inception (February 8-2004) to date, the training center has opened dozens of pilot training, perform 2300 hours of flight safety.

After the ceremony, the pilots were using EC 120 transport aircraft flying demonstration leaders, visiting three turns around Vung Tau sky and landed safely.

(Tuoitre)

RSAF Welcomes Inauguration of Heron 1 UAV

24 Mei 2012

The Heron 1 UAV (above) will replace the Searcher-class UAV that has been in service since 1994. (photo : Sing Mindef)

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) enhanced the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of the 3rd Generation Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as it inaugurated the Heron 1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) into 119 Squadron (SQN) on 23 May.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, who officiated at the inauguration ceremony at Murai Camp, pointed out that the SAF's vision for UAVs started as early as the 70s, quoting Singapore's first Defence Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee: "For our kind of terrain, we must have Remotely Piloted Vehicles. We must see the enemy without being seen."

"The UAVs have realised the vision of SAF’s founding pioneers but only through continued investments to develop this capability," he added. "As a result, the SAF today is an advanced user of UAVs... (which) are used routinely in exercises as well as in operations."

Highlighting the importance of the UAV in transforming the SAF into a modern and effective fighting force, Dr Ng noted that the Heron 1 UAV will "provide our commanders, planners and soldiers on the ground (with) better situational awareness to make timely and informed decisions to engage the adversary decisively and complete their missions effectively".

Featuring state-of-the-art avionics, detection capabilities and communication systems, the Heron 1 UAV will replace the Searcher-class UAV that has been in service since 1994.

Compared to its predecessor, which has a maximum operating altitude of 10,000 feet, the Heron 1 UAV can fly twice as high at 20,000 feet. It has a flight endurance of over 24 hours, more than three times that of the Searcher UAV (eight hours). Furthermore, the Heron 1 UAV has a maximum operating range of 200km, double that of the Searcher-class.

The advanced UAV is also equipped with an Automatic Take Off and Landing (ATOL) system, which allows a desired flight route to be scheduled prior to launch, and is able to return to a pre-designated recovery point at the end of its mission. This enhances the timeliness in which information is disseminated, as UAV operators can focus on collecting and processing information instead of flight operations.

Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Kenneth Won, Commanding Officer of 119 SQN, was proud of his squadron's achievements in being the first UAV squadron to operate the Heron 1.

"It's not always been smooth-sailing; there have been a lot of challenges along the way but we've achieved a key milestone in bringing in this new capability. More importantly, we have built a team in which the operational and logistics crew are strongly integrated."

The Heron 1 UAV (right) will replace the Searcher-class UAV (left) that has been in service since 1994. (photo : Sing Mindef)

He noted that the Heron 1 UAV's advanced surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities will provide the RSAF with "sharper eyes" in the skies, which will be an important component in the complex battle environment of the future.

Officer Commanding of 119 SQN and UAV Pilot Major (MAJ) Low Jun Horng commented on how the improved systems of the Heron 1 UAV have made it more mission-effective: "The Heron 1 provides us with an enhanced situational awareness of the battlefield as it has better detection capability and three times the flight endurance of the Searcher UAV... It also gives us the ability to see things in colour as compared to the monochrome video system of the Searcher UAV. This allows us to detect targets that could not have been detected previously with the Searcher."

Paying tribute to the personnel of 119 SQN, Dr Ng said: "The advanced surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of the Heron 1 UAV are, however, only as effective as the people who operate and maintain them. I would like therefore to commend all of you, the men and women of 119 Squadron, who have worked tirelessly in the last year to ready the Heron 1 UAV systems to support the SAF's operations."

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National Development Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Chief of Air Force Major-General Ng Chee Meng and senior officers from the SAF were also present at the ceremony.

(Sing Mindef)

Lockheed Martin Ready for RAAF F-35 Training

21 Mei 2012

Despite delays to the project in last week’s budget, Lockheed Martin stands ready to stand up the Australian training contingent for the F-35 JSF. (photo : simhq)

Lockheed Martin stands ready to stand up the Australian training contingent for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter despite delays to the project in last week’s budget, the company has said.

Speaking to a media tour of the company’s Global Training and Logistics business unit in Orlando, Florida Lockheed Martin’s F-35 International Training Program’s manager Eric Christner said the pilot and maintainer training site at Eglin Air Force Base was being stood up in line with the needs of the services taking F-35 aircraft.

“It’s really a [New Air Combat Capability office] decision how they want to go forward. Initially, pilots will be trained in the US, either at Eglin [Air Force Base], or the Pilot Training Centre which will be set up at a second site. Maintainers will be trained at Eglin,” Mr Christner said.

“There really hasn’t been much feedback yet as to how the plans will be effected.”

Lockheed Martin has recently delivered an Australian sustainment plan for the F-35 program and a response was due from government in the coming months. Developed in conjunction with the RAAF, Mr Christner said the plan outlined the standing up of training facilities in Williamtown and Tindall, including schedule and contracting arrangements.

Mr Christner said the company was unsure of how the budgetary delays would impact on the sustainment plan, but expected a request for update from government after the plan’s delivery.

Mr Christner said the 13 services requiring training for the F-35 – including US services and partner nations – represented a significant challenge for the development of a training solution.

“If you look at our core syllabus, about 70 per cent of the syllabus is common to those 13 services. Of the remaining 30 per cent, 15 per cent is minor differences in nomenclature – different services doing the same task but with different wording to describe them. The remaining 15 per cent are due to the three variants of the aircraft,” Mr Christner said.

“We’re very happy with the amount of commonality we were able to derive from this design. Those common systems make the training package more cost effective in development and provide for affordability during the life-cycle.”

The F-35 Integrated Training System makes use of synthetic and advanced simulation systems as well as the platforms themselves. The system also includes operational and deployed training components allowing for on-demand training and mission rehearsal.

In the development of the system, Lockheed Martin worked with partner nations to develop a baseline for pilot and maintainer students prior to undertaking training for the F-35. While the baseline would require recommendations for existing in-country training systems, Mr Christner said that most partner nations had higher existing standards than the United States.

“Many partner nations take university graduates for training in maintainer and pilot roles, while the United States takes people with a high school education. While the assessment included recommendations for some services, in most cases this wasn’t required and focused on a common understanding of student prerequisites.”

(AustralianAviation)

President Mulls Buying Brand New Jets

17 Mei 2012

One of candidates of brand new jets for Philippines Airforce is F/A-50 from South Korea (photo : bemil.chosun)

MANILA (AFP) — The Philippines is looking at arming itself for the first time with dedicated fighter jets made outside of the United States, President Benigno Aquino said Wednesday amid a territorial dispute with

China

The Philippineslast month requested aircraft, patrol boats and radar systems from its US military ally to help it achieve what the government said would be a “minimum credible defense.”

Aquino said that his government had asked to buy secondhand F-16s from the United States, but their maintenance costs could end up being too high because of their age.

"We might end up spending $400 million or $800 million per squadron, and we were thinking of getting two squadrons," he said in an interview with Manila's Bombo Radio.

“We do have an alternative, and — this is a surprise — it seems we have the capacity to buy brand-new, but not from America," Aquino said, without mentioning the aircraft model.

"These are manufactured by another progressive country that I won't name at this point."

Aquino noted that Manilahad retired its last fighter jet, a Korean War-vintage F-5, in 2005. It does continue to fly S211 trainer jets made by the Italian firm Marchetti, which are sometimes used as ground attack aircraft against various insurgencies.

But along with the F-5, the Philippineshad previously relied on obsolete US hand-me-downs including the T-33 and the P-51 Mustang as dedicated attack fighters, and the country now has no effective air defences.

It is engaged in a tense maritime standoff with China over the disputed Scarborough Shoal and surrounding waters in the South China Sea. Both nations have stationed vessels there for over a month to assert their sovereignty.

(Manila Bulletin)

Canberra Defends C-27J Decision after Airbus Protests

15 Mei 2012

Airbus Military C-295 medium airlifter (photo : Benurs)

Australia has defended its decision to acquire the L-3 Communications/Alenia C-27J tactical airlifter following a press release by Airbus Military expressing dissatisfaction with the decision.

In a point-by-point statement on the department of defence web site, minister for defence Stephen Smith dismissed Airbus Military's contention that there was no "competition" to fill the AIR 8000 Phase 2 requirement for 10 battlefield airlifters.

"A competitive down select to the C-27J was made following an exhaustive assessment by the [department of defence], defence materiel organisation, and air force of information provided by the manufacturers of the aircraft, including Airbus Military and the C-295."

Smith's comments followed a release by Airbus Military on 11 May, one day after Canberra announced the A$1.4 billion ($1.4 billion) purchase of the C-27J through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mechanism. His comments were made in a reply to questions by a local journalist related to the Airbus Military statement. Smith's office did not reply to similar questions posed by Flightglobal.

Airbus Military says that the C-27J decision was arrived at through the air force's "own desktop assessments".

"When compared to other projects with similar size price tags that go through an arduous process of tender responses and deep investigation of all areas concerning ownership and capability, this effort falls short of a full evaluation process," said Airbus Military.

Smith also dismissed Airbus Military's claim that the C-27J cost A$1 billion more than a similar C-295 purchase. He says Airbus Military's comments about pricing included only the cost of the aircraft, failing to consider additional costs such as modifications, spares, training, technical data and management fees.

"Airbus would be aware of these essential programme costs being included in defence projects through its own experience with the KC-30A multi-role tanker transport [MRTT] aircraft project."

In Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) service, the A330 MRTT is designated the KC-30A. In its release, Airbus Military cited a price of A$400 million for 10 C-295s. For its part, L-3, the prime contractor for the C-27J buy, says the cost of the aircraft alone costs $300 million, while the entire contract awarded to L-3 would be $600 million, which would include logistics, spares, and training.

Australia's C-27Js will be based at RAAF Richmond. The first delivery is expected in 2015, with initial operating capability planned for the end of 2016.

(FlightGlobal)

Pakistan Tawarkan Lagi Pesawat Tempur JF-17 Thunder

14 Mei 2012

Pesawat JF-17 Thunder Angkatan Udara Pakistan (photo : fast-air)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - "Pakistan baru-baru ini menawarkan pesawat tempur jenis JF-17 Thunder kepada Angkatan Udara Indonesia," kata Duta Besar Pakistan untuk Indonesia, Sanaullah, di Jakarta, Senin.

"JF-17 Thunder merupakan pesawat multidimensional yang fasilitasnya hampir sama dengan generasi terbaru F-16 buatan Amerika Serikat. Pesawat ini bisa diandalkan dan harganya lebih murah," katanya.

Dia menjelaskan Kepala Satuan Angkatan Udara Indonesia, Marsekal TNI Imam Sufaat, telah mengunjungi Pakistan untuk melihat pesawat JF-17 Thunder.

Dalam kunjungan tersebut, kata Sanaullah, kepala satuan angkatan udara Indonesia menyatakan terkesan dengan pesawat buatan perusahaan Pakistan Aeronautical Complex bekerjasama dengan Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation dari China tersebut.

"Saat ini kami menunggu kunjungan Menteri Pertahanan, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, ke Pakistan untuk melihat JF-17 Thunder buatan kami," katanya.

Pesawat tempur JF-17 Thunder merupakan pesawat multidimensional berbadan ringan, berfungsi di segala cuaca dan memiliki kemampuan tempur sangat baik di udara. (A051)

(Antara)

Australia’s Military Satcom Ties With U.S. Have ‘Pitfalls’

12 Mei 2012

WGS -Wideband Global SATCOM (photo : Avionics Intelligence)

Singapore– The U.S.’s increasing presence in

Australia

and the Asia-Pacific region has implications for military satellite communications, says the Australian Defense Department ’s satellite capability project officer, Sqdn. Leader Daniel Howarth.

“It will mean more challenges,” as the U.S. will increasingly be using bandwidth from its Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellites covering the region , he notes. The U.S., however, has given assurances that Australia will have guaranteed access to the WGS network, Howarth says. But he also explains that the U.S. controls the WGS network, so Australia faces a challenge of ensuring that the U.S. sticks to its commitment and gives Australiathe access it needs.

Howarth says WGS is useful to Australia because it provides global coverage as well as the ability to focus on the country’s territory and the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Australia’s military currently uses commercial satellite Optus C1 for wideband coverage. “Having only a single satellite has created operational issues” for the military, says Howarth. Australia’s military forces in Afghanistan, for example, were unable to use C1 because the satellite provides coverage only of Australia, he says. This means Australian forces had to use commercial satellite communication providers, he adds.

Howarth was speaking at the MilSatCom conference in Singapore on May 9. One of the conference delegates asked Howarth whether the Australian military will be using the new satellites that the country is launching.

Two satellites are expected to provide the country ’s population with a national broadband network (NBN). Howarth says the military will have no payload on these satellites.

It is “a missed opportunity,” says Howarth, adding that “to put a military payload on that satellite” would have given Australia its own military satellite capability, rather than relying on spacecraft controlled by overseas parties. Howarth in this instance was expressing his own personal view and not necessarily that of Australia’s department of defense. Howarth says there was no push within the department to have a military payload on an NBN satellite.

(Aviation Week)

Jet Tempur Sukhoi Bisa Didatangkan Desember Ini

12 Mei 2012

Rusia dua minggu yang lalu secara resmi telah menolak permohonan Indonesia agar skema pembayaran pembelian 6 Sukhoi ini menggunakan fasilitas state credit, dengan penolakan ini maka Indonesia harus mencari kredit komersial untuk pembiayaannya. (photo : TNI AU)

Pengiriman dua dari enam unit Su-30 Mk2 itu bisa dilakukan bila kontrak pembelian tersebut bisa segera disetujui Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR)

Indonesia

Perwakilan JSC Rosoboronexport atau pengekspor alat militer dari Rusia yang ada di Indonesiamengutarakan mereka siap melakukan pengiriman jet tempur Sukhoi Su-30 Mk2 ke Indonesia, Desember nanti.

Pengiriman dua dari enam unit Su-30 Mk2 itu bisa dilakukan bila kontrak pembelian tersebut bisa segera disetujui Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) Indonesia.

“Bila kontrak itu disetujui dan bisa langsung berlaku bulan Mei ini, maka kami bisa mengirim dua pesawat pertama pada bulan Desember sesuai jadwal yang ada di kontrak,” kata Kepala Perwakilan Rosoboronexport di Indonesia, Vadim Varaksin.

Hal tersebut diutarakan Varaksin usai penandatangan kontrak pembelian 37 tank amfibi buatan Rusia, BMP-3F Seri 2, di Kementerian Pertahanan, hari ini.

Varaksin mengatakan, pihak Rusia telah melakukan semua prosedur internal yang tertuang dalam kontrak pengadaan pesawat jet tempur Sukhoi Su-30 Mk2 pesanan Indonesia. Kontrak tersebut ditandatangani oleh perwakilan kedua negara pada Desember 2011.

Kontrak senilai 470 juta dollar Amerika tersebut tinggal menunggu persetujuan DPR sehingga bisa segera mulai berlaku bulan ini.

Kepala Badan Sarana Pertahanan Kemhan, Mayjen TNI Ediwan Prabowo, yang mewakili pemerintah Indonesia dalam penandatanganan kontrak pembelian tank amfibi, mengatakan bahwa pembelian pesawat tempur jet Sukhoi tetap menggunakan fasilitas kredit komersial.

Ediwan menambahkan bahwa penggunaan fasilitas kredit komersial untuk pembelian Sukhoi tetap digunakan karena perjanjian antara pemerintah kedua negara tidak menyatakan bahwa pembelian jet tempur Sukhoi didukung oleh kredit negara atau state credit pemerintah Rusia.

“Kita sudah coba ajukan permohonan, bisa atau tidak pakai state credit, dan sudah dijawab kira-kira dua minggu lalu, memang tidak bisa,” ujar Ediwan.

Mengenai proses pembayarannya, Ediwan mengatakan bahwa masih harus melalui beberapa mekanisme yang cukup panjang.

“Masih ada beberapa mekanisme di Kementerian Keuangan, kita inginnya cepat, tapi juga perlu persetujuan DPR. Kalau saya ingin secepatnya agar barang-barang bisa produksi dan dikirim ke Indonesia pada waktunya,” papar Ediwan.

(Berita Satu)

Deeper Maintenance for the RAAF Classic Hornet Fleet

04 Mei 2012

RAAF F/A-18 Classic Hornet (photo : zone five)

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced the release of a Request for Tender (RFT) for the deeper maintenance of the F/A-18 Classic Hornet fleet.

“The F/A-18 Hornet is a very capable multi-role fighter which can undertake a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions including air combat, close air support of ground troops, and interdiction of enemy supply lines,” Mr Clare said.

“This contract will provide all deeper maintenance requirements for the 55 single-seat and 16 dual-seat aircraft and associated systems.

“This includes operational fight trainers, computer‑based training systems, maintenance training systems and Classic Hornet unique ground support and test equipment.”

The RFT closes in July 2012 with the new contract expected to take effect from April 2013.

(Aus DoD)

Australia Delays Fighter Jet Project to Save Money

03 Mei 2012

Australia will delay its purchase of 12 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter by two years (photo : Lockheed Martin)

SYDNEY: Australia said Thursday its purchase of 12 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) jets would be delayed by two years to save money in an aggressive drive to return the budget to surplus.

The move is a blow to defence contractor Lockheed Martin, which has struggled to keep costs under control, with each plane's price tag doubling in real terms over the past decade.

The government announces its budget next week and the delay on delivery will provide a Aus$1.6 billion (RM4.9 billion) boost to the bottom line.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said he spoke to his US counterpart Leon Panetta Thursday morning and assured him the decision would not affect the US-Australia alliance.

"That effectively mirrors the decision which Secretary of State Panetta made with respect to over 150 Joint Strike Fighters proposed to be ordered by the United States," Smith told reporters.

"We are now essentially on the same timetable for the delivery of our first batch of joint strike fighters as the United States is."

Australia is contractually obliged to purchase two JSF jets, which have already been delivered in the United States for testing and training.

Further cost savings will be made with the cancellation of a project to acquire self-propelled howitzers, Smith added.

But the government said it would push ahead with the acquisition of 12 advanced new submarines to replace the Navy's ageing Collins fleet.

It announced Aus$214 million in funding towards detailed design and analysis for the future project.

"This will be the largest Defence capability project the Commonwealth has embarked upon," said Smith. Reports said that overall the submarine project was expected to cost around Aus$40 billion.

In announcing the decisions, Prime Minister Julia Gillard guaranteed that overseas defence operations would not be impacted by spending cuts in the May 8 budget and there would be no reduction in military numbers.

"The budget will protect the men and women on the front line," she said.

Mining-powered Australia was the only advanced economy to weather the global downturn without entering recession, and returning the budget into the black is seen as another key test of the struggling government's economic management.

(AFP/MMail)

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