28 Juli 2012

Pesawat Super Tucano TNI AU saat take off (all photos : TNI AU)

Bertempat di fasilitas produksi Embraer di Gaveao Peixoto Sao Paulo Brazil, baru-baru ini telah dilaksanakan pemeriksaan pesawat Super Tucano TNI-AU nomor seri produksi 179 dan 180 oleh tim dari Kementerian Pertahanan RI/TNI-AU.

Tim pemeriksa yang dipimpin oleh Letkol Lek Alit Erbawa dengan anggota Letkol Tek Sianturi, Mayor Pnb James Yanes Singal dan Mayor Tek Yani Prasetyo melakukan pemeriksaan pesawat meliputi dokumen, pencocokan komponen pesawat, interior pesawat, pengecatan dan uji terbang.

Adapun uji terbang dilaksanakan baru-baru ini oleh test pilot Embraer, William, yang duduk di kursi depan disertai oleh Komandan Skadron Udara 21, Mayor Pnb James Yanes Singal yang duduk di kursi belakang.

Dalam uji terbang yang setiap sortinya memakan waktu sekitar dua jam, test pilot Embraer melakukan pemeriksaan terhadap berbagai sistem pesawat yang diamati oleh Mayor Pnb James.

Pemeriksaan di darat dimulai dari melihat kondisi fisik pesawat, pemeriksaan instrumen pesawat sebelum dan sesudah mesin dinyalakan dan pemeriksaan kendali pesawat selama taxy. Dalam uji terbang yang dilaksanakan hingga ketinggian 25.000 kaki, diperiksa beberapa sistem pesawat meliputi sistem bahan bakar, tekanan udara, auto pilot, mesin, navigasi, komunikasi, penembakan (simulasi) dan landing gear.

Selain itu diperiksa pula handling pesawat selama dilakukan berbagai maneuver.

Setelah bekerja selama tiga hari, tim pemeriksa menyatakan bahwa pesawat nomor seri produksi 179 dan 180 dalam kondisi baik. Dengan demikian, saat ini empat pesawat Super Tucano TNI-AU telah siap untuk diterbangkan ke Indonesia yang direncanakan akan dilakukan pada pertengahan bulan Agustus.

Super Tucano TT-3101, 3102, 3103 dan 3104 dengan cocor merah desain dari Almarhum Marsda TNI (Purn) F. Djoko Poerwoko akan segera memperkuat Skadron Udara 21 pada akhir bulan Agustus 2012.

(TNI AU)

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28 Juli 2012

Phase 1 is on semi-knocked down production while Phase 2 is on completely-knocked down production.  A proposal for a Phase 3 on research and development is already on the table although the focus is currently on the first two phases. (photo : ifeng)

China and Indonesia have started talks on the ambitious local production of C-705 anti-ship missiles as part of Indonesia’s efforts to achieve independence in weapons production.

The defense cooperation reflects strengthening ties between both countries amid heightening tension in the South China Sea involving China and a number of Indonesia’s ASEAN neighbors.

Defense Ministry chief spokesman Brig. Gen. Hartind Asrin said that the initial talks were conducted during the first China-Indonesia defense industry cooperation meeting held in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The ministry’s defense potential director general Pos M. Hutabarat hosted the Chinese delegation which was led by Liu Yunfeng, a deputy director general at the Chinese State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND).

“The meeting discussed various efforts to improve cooperation between the defense industries of both countries,” Hartind said on Thursday. “We’ve already prepared an area for the [missile] production site that faces the open sea for trials.”

Hartind said the C-705 had a range of 120 kilometers.

He said that the Indonesian Navy had successfully test-fired the C-705 missiles in the Sunda Strait.

“China has also offered to donate weapons systems that Indonesia might need,” he added.

A source said that Indonesia was expected to reply to Phase 1 of the missile proposal at the end of August and Phase 2 one month later. A contract is expected to be signed in 2013.

Phase 1 is on semi-knocked down production while Phase 2 is on completely-knocked down production.

A proposal for a Phase 3 on research and development is already on the table although the focus is currently on the first two phases.

Aside from the missile production, a number of Indonesian Army Special Force Command (Kopassus) members recently conducted the second “Sharp Knife” joint exercise with Chinese Special Forces operatives earlier this month in Jinan, Shandong, China.

China has also offered to train 10 pilots from the Indonesian Air Force to train using a Sukhoi simulator in China.

Commenting on the defense cooperation, defense expert Andi  Widjajanto said the industrial cooperation was solely to gain access to more advanced technology.

“However, it will take a long time for us to be independent in the defense industry, perhaps after 2024. This is the reason Indonesia builds partnerships with many countries that possess modern military technologies,” he said. “This is also why we require partner countries to transfer their technologies to us in any agreement we sign with them.”

Andi added that there were two goals in terms of the partnership: to access advanced rocket technology, and to collaborate in upholding maritime security, which began when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed an agreement in March during a state visit to Beijing.

“I don’t believe it has anything to do with conflicts in the South China Sea,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, chairman of the House of Representatives’ Commission I on defense issues, Mahfudz Shiddiq, said such global partnerships in the defense industry were designed to develop Indonesia’s own industry.

“We have allocated Rp 150 trillion [US$15.8 billion] to modernize our weapons-defense system from 2010 to 2014. It would be wasteful paying such a huge amount to foreign defense industries without any attempt to improve our own,” he said.

“Therefore, we require partner countries to transfer their military technologies in the hope that they will gradually improve our own technologies.”

He added that the partnership with China was due to its advanced military technologies in fields such as rocketry. “This is not political, even though others might link the partnership to political issues, for example the South China Sea disputes,” Machfudz said.

Indonesia already cooperates on weapons production with several other countries including South Korea to build jet fighters and submarines, the Netherlands to build frigates and Spain to build medium transport aircraft.

(The JakartaPost)

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30 Juli 2012

Pesawat Super Tucano Indonesia dengan kode TT-3401 (photo : Embraer)


Pesawat Tucano Akan Diterbangkan


Pesawat tempur Super Tucano buatan Brazil dijadwalkan tiba di Indonesia akhir Agustus 2012. Kepala Dinas Penerangan TNI AU Marsekal Pertama (TNI AU) Azman Yunus, pekan lalu, mengatakan, pesawat diterbangkan langsung dari Brazilia ke Jawa.


"Akan dilakukan ferry (pengiriman dengan diterbangkan langsung) dari Brazil via Afrika ke Indonesia. Pangkalan Super Tucano nanti di Malang untuk menggantikan pesawat tempur OV-10 Bronco," ujarnya.


Super Tucano buatan Embraer itu, kata Azman, akan ikut dalam parade militer pada 5 Oktober 2012. Persiapan akhir pesawat ditinjau Sekretaris Jenderal Kementrian Pertahanan Marsekal Madya Errys Heryanto. (ONG)


(Kompas)

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27 Juli 2012

RAAF F/A-18 Classic Hornet with TNI AU Su-27SKM and Su-30MK2 (all photos : Aus DoD)

Up to 100 military aircraft will be in the Northern Territory from July 27 until August 17 as the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) hosts international partners for Exercise Pitch Black 12.

With 2200 participants coming from across Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, New Zealand and the United States, Exercise Pitch Black will be held from RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal.

Air Commander Australia, Air Vice Marshal Mel Hupfeld, said the biennial exercise would this year feature a mix of first-time and returning participants, making it the most advanced in the event’s 22-year history.

“For the first time at Exercise Pitch Black, Australia will be fielding the Super Hornet, Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, and KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport,” he said.

“The Indonesian Air Force will make its debut appearance at Exercise Pitch Black 12, and we’re very excited to see it attend with its Sukhoi Flanker fighter aircraft.

“Singapore has been a regular participant and will this year bring its F-15SG Eagle and Gulfstream G550 Conformal Airborne Early Warning aircraft,” AVM Hupfeld said.

Participants at Exercise Pitch Black 12 will utilise massive military training areas near Bradshaw and Delamere to practice offensive counter air and offensive air support operations with large formations of foreign aircraft.

“Regionally and geographically, the Northern Territory is ideally placed for exercise participants to bring together large formations of aircraft to conduct complex operations,” AVM Hupfeld said.

“Conducting Exercise Pitch Black 12 is a massive undertaking, not just for aircrews and maintainers but also for the planning that is involved.”

During Exercise Pitch Black 12, Air Force will conduct a handling display with an F/A-18 ‘Classic’ Hornet over Mindil Beach Markets on August 9. An Open Day at RAAF Base Darwin will be held on August 11 for the Darwin community.

“Air Force has a deep bond with the Northern Territory extending back to 1938, and holding these events is our way of extending a sincere thank you to the public for its support,” AVM Hupfeld said.

(Aus DoD)

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27 Juli 2012

Tank tempur utama Leopard 2 (photo : Militaryphotos)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Kementerian Pertahanan mengklaim bahwa proses pembelian Main Batle Tank (MBT) Leopard dari Jerman sebanyak 100 unit telah diselesaikan, bahkan pada Oktober 2012 nanti 15 unit tank sudah tiba di Indonesia.

"Pada Oktober 2012, bertepatan HUT TNI, Anda sudah akan melihat 15 unit Tank Leopard," kata Kepala Pusat Komunikasi Publik Kemhan, Brigjen TNI Hartind Asrin menanggapi kekhawatiran DPR akan terganggunya pembelian tank Leopard akibat penolakan sebagian anggota parlemen Jerman, di Jakarta, Jumat.

Menurut dia, kedatangan tank berbobot 60 ton itu akan terus berdatangan dengan total 100 unit hingga 2014 mendatang. Penolakan sebagian anggota parlemen, terutama dari partai oposisi, tidak menggangu proses pembelian tank tersebut.

"Penolakan itu memang ada, namun hanya dalam diskusi kecil. Tapi, tidak membuat pembelian tank menjadi batal," jelas Hartind.

Sebanyak 15 tank yang akan di tahap pertama rencananya akan ditempatkan di wilayah Jawa. Namun, tak menutup kemungkinan tank yang datang kemudian akan dikirim ke daerah-daerah perbatasan.

"Kita sedang mempersiapkan kapal untuk mengangkutnya jika memang akan ditempatkan di sana," ujarnya.

Beberapa waktu lalu, laman "Spiegel Online" konsisten memberitakan bahwa anggota parlemen senior dari Partai Hijau Katja Keul menyatakan, Jerman tidak bisa menjual tank Leopard pada Indonesiamengingat masih banyaknya pelanggaran HAM yang terjadi.

Wakil Ketua Komisi I DPR RI Tubagus Hasanuddin juga pernah mengatakan penolakan parlemen Jerman itu harus disikapi hati-hati oleh pemerintah Indonesiamaupun Jerman.

"Saat ini DPR dalam posisi menunggu sikap pemerintah kedua negara," katanya.

(Antara)

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25 Juli 2012

The 2013 defence budget of Philippines include procurement of anti-ship missile (photo : Militaryphotos)

TSAMTO - The two governments of Southeast Asia - Indonesia and the Philippines - have announced significant increases in defense spending for 2013 fiscal year.

According to "Jane's Defence Industry," The Cabinet of Ministers of Indonesia announced an increase in the budget of the Ministry of National Defense to 76.54 trillion rupiah (8.1 billion dollars), which is 18% more than in FY 2012

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the PhilippinesJuly 19 on the allocation of the Ministry of National Defense 121.6 billion pesos (2.9 billion dollars) - an increase of 12.5% ​​compared to FY 2012

According to the Department's Budget and Management, the Philippines, the 47.2 billion pesos allocated to the article "internal security" and 2.1 billion pesos - the "territorial defense initiative."

Armed Forces of the Philippines in the arms procurement program (CUP-Capability Upgrade Programme) will also receive five billion pesos, which will be used to purchase critical equipment, boats and airplanes.

As part of the CUP in the next few years will be a series of acquisitions of military hardware. In particular : air-and sea-based missile system,  various types of helicopters, patrol aircraft, medium-sized military transport aircraft and combat-capable aircraft.

According to the President Benigno Aquino on July 23, the program has allocated more than the administration CUP 28 billion pesos. Projects worth another 75 billion pesos in the forwarded to the Parliament. These funds will be spent over the next five years.

In addition to the costs of the defense budget and the Department of Planning will provide Philippine Coast Guard (which reports to the Department of Transport and Communications) funds amounting to 1.8 billion pesos, a 62% increase compared to FY 2012

Ministry of Interior and Local Government allocated 120.8 billion Philippine pesos (an increase of 21%).

The Cabinet Office did not disclose Indonesiaexpenditure for the purchase of military hardware, though, as you know, they include fighter aircraft, transport aircraft, frigates, maritime patrol boats, helicopters, and several types of anti-aircraft missile systems.

Despite the increase in defense spending, accounting for a small percentage of the gross domestic product of Indonesiaallocates to defense about 0.8% of GDP, Philippines - about 1.1%. At the same time, both countries have in recent years have seen the compensation inadequate funding of defense spending from extrabudgetary sources.

(ArmsTrade)

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23 Juli 2012

Skywalker UAV (photo : Lapan)


REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut akan memanfaatkan pesawat intai tanpa awak (UAV) milik Lembaga Penerbangan dan Antariksa Nasional (LAPAN) untuk menjaga kedaulatan Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia.

Pemanfaatan teknologi penginderaan jauh itu ditandai dengan penandatanganan Piagam Kesepakatan Bersama yang dilakukan oleh Kepala Staf TNI Angkatan Laut (KSAL) Laksamana TNI Soeparno dan Kepala LAPAN Bambang S Tejasukmana, di bidang ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi kedirgantaraan, di Mabesal, Cilangkap, Jakarta Timur, Senin.

KSAL Laksamana TNI Soeparno, mengatakan, kerja sama yang dilakukannya itu ada jangka pendek dan jangka panjang. Jangka pendeknya, meningkatkan kapasitas atau kualitas SDM dengan cara pelatihan bersama, saling memberi, saling tukar informasi.

Sementara, jangka panjang memanfaatkan teknologi penginderaan jauh, seperti penggunaan satelit dan pesawat intai tanpa awak (UAV). "Kerja sama ini dapat membantu tugas TNI AL dalam menjaga kedaulatan negara, seperti pengawasan kapal-kapal yang melintas di perairan Indonesia. Pulau-pulau terluar juga akan diawasi," kata KSAL.

"Untuk pertama ini, kita akan coba lima tahun. Mungkin nanti ditambah lagi lima tahun. Mungkin setelah 10 tahun sudah tercapai apa yang kita inginkan," katanya seraya berharap melalui kerja sama ini pengamanan laut bisa lebih optimal.

Kepala LAPAN Bambang S Tejasukmana, mengatakan, teknis bantuan yang diberikan LAPAN kepada TNI AL, yakni pesawat intai tanpa awak (UAV) dan satelit sebagai penginderaan jauh untuk melakukan pengamatan di daerah laut.

Quadrotor UAV (photo : Lapan)


"Kita akan membangun satelit yang bisa dipakai angkatan laut, umumnya TNI. Kami mencoba membangun kemampuan LAPAN ini yang bisa mendukung kegiatan di TNI AL. Satelit yang akan dibangun membawa sensor sistem identifikasi otomatis," katanya

Menurut dia, tidak ada target pencapaian karena antariksa itu infrastruktur penting untuk pertahanan. "Jadi tidak terbatas. Proyeksi ini akan terus diulang limatahun dan diulang lagi sampai jelas bentuknya. Lima tahun ini kita lebih fokus ke penginderaan jauh, pemantauan pulau kecil, pemanfaatan satelit untuk kegiatan TNI AL," kata Bambang.

Ruang lingkup kerja sama itu, meliputi bidang penelitian, pengkajian, pengembangan, pemanfaatan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi (iptek) kedirgantaraan. Iptek kedirgantaraan itu sendiri mencakup, penginderaan jauh, sains dirgantara dan teknologi kedirgantaraan.

Selain itu, kedua instansi juga bekerja sama dalam bidang pertukaran ilmu pengetahuan, data, informasi, dan tenaga ahli serta peningkatan kapasitas sumber daya manusia.

(Republika)

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20 Juli 2012

Produksi pesawat di PT DI (photo : vivanews)

PT Dirgantara Indonesia Perlu Modal Rp 2 Triliun

BANDUNG, KOMPAS.com — PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) siap melakukan revitalisasi untuk mencapai kinerja terbaiknya. "Kami siap revitalisasi. Saat ini terjadi kesepakatan kontrak dengan berbagai pihak yang memberikan garansi kepada kami untuk meneruskan aktivitas perusahaan minimalnya hingga 2016. Nilainya mencapai Rp 8 triliun," kata Direktur Umum dan SDM PT DI, Sukatwikanto, di PT DI, Bandung, Rabu (18/7/2012).

Sukatwikanto mengatakan, sampai kini pihaknya membutuhkan dana bagi modal kerja yang nilainya Rp 2,06 triliun. Saat ini pemerintah baru menyetujui dana modal kerja bernilai Rp 1 triliun. Dana itu bagi restrukturisasi perusahaan.

"Dana modal kerja  Rp 2,06 triliun tersebut untuk pembelian sejumlah mesin baru agar meningkatkan kapasitas produksi. Jika kapasitas produksi bertambah, kami dapat memenuhi semua pemesanan sesuai kontrak," ujarnya.

Sukatwikanto menyatakan, pihaknya telah menerima pemesanan pembuatan komponen pesawat dari berbagai negara. Satu di antaranya bekerja sama dengan Airbus Military yang bermarkas besar di Madrid, Spanyol. "Bentuk kerja sama itu bukan merger. Ini kerja sama yang menguntungkan. Soalnya, kami dapat melebarkan pasar secara lebih luas lagi," katanya.

Dalam kerja sama itu, proses produksi CN 235 dan CN 295 tidak hanya berlangsung di Tanah Air, tetapi dapat juga dilakukan di Spanyol.

Adanya kerja sama dengan Airbus Military ini membuat PT DI bersiap membidik Amerika Selatan sebagai pasar baru. Menurut Sukatwikanto, Amerika Selatan merupakan pasar potensial untuk memasarkan CN-235 dan CN 295.

Dalam kerja sama PT DI-Airbus Military, kata Sukatwikanto, pihaknya tidak hanya membuat CN 235 dan CN 295, tetapi juga membuat komponen pesawat Airbus.

"Akan tetapi, sebaiknya harus ada perimbangan antara naiknya pemesanan dan ketersediaan serta kesiapan sumber daya manusia (SDM). Nah, rencana revitalisasi itu pun mencakup SDM," ujarnya.

Karena itu, PT DI siap melakukan perekrutan karyawan terampil hingga 2017. Pihaknya menargetkan jumlah rekrutan baru sebanyak 1.500 orang karyawan. Setiap tahunnya, PT DI siap merekrut sekitar 300 orang karyawan yang merupakan tenaga ahli engineering untuk mengganti tenaga yang pensiun.

(Kompas)

Baca Juga :

Merpati Beli 20 NC-212 400 PT DI

20 Juli 2012

JAKARTA :  PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines realisasikan pembelian 20 pesawat C-212 serie 400 (sering disebut Cassa) dari PT Dirgantara Indonesia. Namun, pendanaan menunggu penawaran dari pemerintah daerah yang akan menggunakan pesawat ini.

Direktur Utama Merpati Rudy Setyopurnomo mengatakan pihaknya akan membentuk pasar untuk pembiayaan ke-20 pesawat Cassa yang dibelinya dari PT Dirgantara Indonesia(PT DI). Pasar ini berasal dari pemerintah kabupaten maupun kecamatan di Indonesia. Sebab pesawat akan digunakan untuk penerbangan perintis di wilayah timur Indonesia dan Kalimantan.

“Kami sudah kerja sama dengan sejumlah pemerintah daerah, di antaranya Pemda Sampit, Kalimantan Tengah. Mereka ingin menggunakan pesawat Cassa dari PT DI ini,” kata Rudy saat penandatanganan nota kesepahaman antara PT Dirgantara Indonesia dan PT Nusantara Turbin dan Propulsi (NTP), di kantor Kemmeng BUMN, Jakarta, Kamis (19/7/2012).

Dalam acara penandatangan MoU ini turut menyaksikan Menneg BUMN Dahlan Iskan. Dari PT DI diwakili oleh Direktur Utama Budi Santoso dan Dirut PT NTP Supra Dekanto, sedangkan dari Merpati oleh Rudy Setyopurnomo.

Rudy menjelaskan pihaknya menargetkan tahun ini ada 4-5 unit pesawat pesanannya yang sudah dapat diterima dan selesai seluruhnya dalam 2 tahun ke depan. Namun, dia optimistis tidak perlu mengeluarkan dana sedikitpun untuk pembayarannya karena kerja sama dengan pemerintah daerah dan perusahaan pembiayaan.

Nantinya, imbuh Rudy, dengan Pemda yang turut dalam pembiayaan akan dibuat mekanisme bagi hasil ataupun mekanisme lainnya.  “Misalnya, pemda ingin membiayai pengadaan pesawat, itu kontribusinya 10% dari total biaya. Bagi hasilnya mereka mendapat porsi 10%. Atau ada pemda yang ingin menanggung biaya bahan bakar, kontribusi hingga 60%, pembagiannya sesuai dengan pengeluarannya,” kata Rudy.

Direktur Utama PT DI Budi Santoso mengatakan penandatangan MoU dengan Merpati ini untuk pembelian 20 pesawat Cassa serta untuk perawatan over haul pesawat MA-60 di PT NTP, anak usaha PT DI.

Untuk pembelian 20 Cassa ini, imbuh Budi, ditargetkan seluruh pesanan rampung dalam dua tahun kedepan. Pesawat yang dipesan berjenis Cassa 212-400 berkapasitas 28 tempat duduk dengan harga US$6,5 juta-US$7,5 juta per unit.(msb)

(Bisnis Indonesia)

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20 Juli 2012

Pesawat C-295 di Skadron 2 TNI AU (photo : Antara)

Empat penerbang TNI Angkatan Udara dari Skadron Udara 2 Lanud Halim Perdanakusuma, diantaranya Letkol Pnb Elistar Silaen Komandan Skadron Udara 2 Lanud Halim, Mayor Pnb Destianto, Mayor Pnb Trinanda dan Kapten Pnb Reza Fahlifie saat ini berada di Airbus Military,n Sevilla, Spanyol untuk menjalani Training dengan menggunakan pesawat C-295 selama kurang lebih tiga Bulan dari Bulan Juli sampai September 2012.

Selain Penerbang TNI Angkatan Udara dua penerbang Test Pilot dari PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) Ester Gayatri saleh dan Novirsta Mafriando Rusli serta satu Flight Test Engineer Heru Riadhi Soenardi juga melakukan training dengan menggunakan pesawat C-295 di Airbus Military, Sevilla, spanyol.

Pesawat C-295 buatan Airbus Military yang bekerja sama dengan PT DI direncanakan akan memperkuat jajaran TNI Angkatan Udara di Skadron Udara 2 Lanud Halim Perdanakusuma menggantikan operasional pesawat F-27 yang belum lama dinyatakan tidak boleh terbang lagi oleh Pemerintah.

(TNI AU)

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18 Juli 2012

This is the first time for Su-30MK2 take part in Pitch Black Exercise (photo : Kaskus Militer)


Indonesia Sending Top-Secret Aircraft for Role in War Games

INDONESIA is sending its front-line Sukhoi jet fighters to take part in Australia's largest air combat exercise later this month, signalling a new era of enhanced defence co-operation.

The Indonesian air force has never given the Australian Defence Force access to the Russian-made aircraft, which were built to compete with the United States' fourth generation jet fighters.

But four of the Sukhoi SU-30s will be flown to the Northern Territory to take part in Exercise Pitch Black 2012, which will include mock combat battles with Australian FA-18s in Australian and Indonesian airspace.

US jet fighters will take part in the exercise, which will run from July 27 to August 17 and will be commanded from Darwin and Tindal air bases.

John Farrell, a military analyst, said the decision to send the Sukhoi fighters to Australia would bring defence co-operation between the ADF and Indonesian military to an unprecedented level.

''Indonesia has never before been prepared to send its primary air defence asset to a foreign nation,'' Mr Farrell, who publishes the Australian & NZ Defender Magazine, said.

RAAF F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (photo : air attack)

''The fact they are sending them to Australia indicates that Canberra and Jakarta have looked up and seen much greater threats around them,'' he said, referring to China and India.

''The Sukhoi [SU-30s] are Indonesia's most secret air defence asset … this shows a lot of trust towards Australia a decade after relations between the two defence forces were in deep freeze over East Timor.''

The decision is also a vote of confidence in the defence relationship after Indonesia expressed concern over US marines operating from a joint facility in Darwin.

The Indonesian Air Force spokesman, Colonel Agung Sasongko Jati, confirmed to the Herald the plan to send jets to Australia for Pitch Black.

He said the air force had needed to train its pilots in flying the new aircraft before they could deploy them in the joint exercise.

Indonesia's air force has been on a buying spree recently with the next-generation Russian-built Sukhoi jets. It already operates 10 Sukhoi-27s and four Sukhoi-30MK2 jets, and recently announced a new order for six Sukhoi-30MK2 fighters.

A joint communique issued after the July 3 meeting between Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, said that ''co-operation between Australian and Indonesian defence forces goes from strength to strength'' and encouraged senior defence officials in both countries to ''review existing security co-operation''.

Australia and Indonesia are negotiating to establish a Defence Co-operation Arrangement.

(The Age)

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11 Juli 2012

LCR2020 coastal radar (photo : ITT Exelis)

Exelis and SNC demonstrate Vigilant Stare

ITT Exelis and Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) will demonstrate its new Vigilant Stare wide-area airborne surveillance (WAAS) system to several USagencies over the next two months, it has been revealed.

The two companies used the Farnborough International Airshow to formally launch the Vigilant Stare system, which is based on technology used on board the US Air Force's (USAF) 'Gorgon Stare' UAVs but is tailored for domestic security agency applications.

Speaking to Shephard at the air show, Sreekanth Danny Rajan, director of emerging/airborne solutions geospatial systems, said the concept behind Vigilant Stare was to provide a commercial-based, persistent WAAS capability through a range of acquisition options – system buy, lease, or data buy.

‘Our feeling is that there is a real gap in the market for this kind of capability. There are customers without the funding or time to build a complete programme but have a requirement for this kind of wide-area surveillance. So we decided to invest our own funds to develop a commercial capability,’ Rajan said.

Initial flight tests in the US on a Twin Otter aircraft have already demonstrated aspects of the capability, including sending sensor data from the aircraft to a handheld device on the ground, and the system is expected to reach an initial operational capability in August.

Aimed at providing coverage of city-sized areas, the nine-camera payload – which is based on the Night Owl system – simultaneously covers three tiers: 4km by 4km full field of regard; multiple sub-views of the full field of view; and best-resolution ‘tactical chip-outs’.

Meanwhile, ITT Exelis used the air show to highlight several developments in other business areas. The company plans to resume production of its AN/ALQ-136 radar jammer to offer the system to international users of the AH-64 Apache and other attack helicopters.

Recognising renewed demand for an RF jammer, the company has entered into discussion with several Apache operators and is confident of signing a contract for a number of systems in 2013.

The company is also pursuing several opportunities for its LCR 20-20 coastal radar, a version of which it is developing for Sweden, and is in advanced discussions with Indonesia, which is looking to sign a contract in the next 12 months.

(Shephard)

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11 Juli 2012

Empat pesawat EMB-314 akan datang Agustus, dua hingga empat pesawat akan datang akhir tahun, sisanya akan datang pada tahun 2013 (photo : TNI AU)

IndonesiaTunggu Pesawat Tempur Asal Brazil

TEMPO.CO , Jakarta: Kementerian Pertahanan Republik Indonesiasedang menunggu kedatangan pesawat tempur yang dipesan dari negeri samba Brazil, Super Tucano EMB-314, tahun ini. Rencananya usai Lebaran, pesawat tersebut tiba di Tanah Air.

"Rencananya sebelum Lebaran perwakilan pemerintah akan berangkat ke Braziluntuk megurusi pengiriman pesawat," kata Kepala Pusat Komunikasi Publik Kementerian Pertahanan, Brigadir Jenderal Hartind Asrin, saat dihubungi Tempo.

Namun, pengiriman pesawat tersebut akan dilakukan secara bertahap. Rencananya, untuk tahun ini baru akan dikirim enam unit pesawat dari satu skuadron atau 16 unit pesawat yang dipesan Indonesia.

"Kalau urusan pengiriman itu masalah teknis saja," tambahnya.

Rencananya, pesawat Super Tucano akan dioperasikan oleh Skadron Udara 21 untuk menggantikan peran OV-10 Bronco. Pesawat itu dinyatakan grounded atau tidak lagi dioperasikan oleh Markas Besar TNI Angkatan Udara pada 2009 setelah mengalami sejumlah kecelakaan.

Selain pesawat Super Tucano EMB-314, pemerintah juga tengah menanti kedatangan 24 pesawat hibah dari Amerika Serikat, F16. Namun kedatangan pesawat bekas negeri Paman Sam ini masih membutuhkan waktu cukup lama, pasalnya pesawat tersebut masih dalam proses up-grade.

Sebelumnya, Kementerian Pertahanan menyatakan sedang menunggu kedatangan dua dari enam pesawat jet tempur Sukhoi SU-30 MK2 pada November mendatang. Keenam pesawat itu akan dikirim secara berangsur oleh pabrikan di Rusia sebanyak tiga kali dalam jangka waktu tiga tahun.

Pembelian enam pesawat jet tempur ini diharapkan mampu menambah kekuatan dirgantara Indonesia. Keenam pesawat tersebut rencananya akan melengkapi 10 pesawat serupa yang telah dimiliki TNI AU, hingga genap menjadi satu skuadron. Skuadron Sukhoi ini rencananya akan di tempatkan di Pangkalan Udara Hasanuddin, Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan.

(Tempo)

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12 Juli 2012

Grob 120TP trainer aircraft (photo : Mepo's World Aircraft)

Grob Aircraft's 'Fab 4' to Climb Charts with G120TP

Grob Aircraft (H4/D5) co-chief executive and chief sales officer André Hiebeler evoked the spirit of The Beatles while launching a new marketing drive for the company's G120TP trainer at the Farnborough air show.

Describing his company and programme partners Esterline CMC Electronics, Martin-Baker and Rolls-Royce as "the fab four", Hiebeler says the turboprop-powered design is the perfect "ticket to ride" for the next generation of military pilots.

The G120TP programme is moving fast, with the first production example for Indonesia having recently been rolled out at Grob Aircraft's Tussenhausen-Mattsies site near Munich, Germanyunder an 18-aircraft deal. Rolls-Royce says it has delivered its first two production M250-B17F turboprop engines under the programme, with 12 more to follow by the end of this year.

"We've done ground vibration testing, and expect first flight next week," says Hiebeler. "The first six aircraft are to be delivered in November and December - ahead of schedule." The remainder will be handed over by the third quarter of 2013, he adds.

Grob Aircraft had intended to announce two new deals for the G120TP before or during the show, but last-minute issues have delayed both from being concluded. "It's a learning curve," Hiebeler says of doing business in one of the expected customer nations, citing unanticipated "tax and customs issues". However, he believes "we can work it out", with both deals likely to be concluded within the next one or two months.

In all, the German manufacturer has commenced promotional campaigns with the two-seat G120TP in 23 countries, with Hiebeler anticipating further contracts to be signed within the next year to 15 months. Potential customers are being offered a standard aircraft design with a range of equipment options, including Martin-Baker's new lightweight Mk17 ejection seat - unveiled at the show - and the Esterline CMC Electronics Cockpit 4000 suite of avionics.

Noting that the G120TP's versatility will enable air forces to cover a broad range of training requirements with the type, Hiebeler concludes: "Wherever you're going, start with us."

(FlightGlobal)

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14 Juli 2012

Pesawat CN-235 oleh PT. Dirgantara Indonesia juga dikembangkan sebagai pesawat patroli maritim (photo : tudm)

Militer Filipina dan Pakistan Kunjungi PT Dirgantara Indonesia

BANDUNG, KOMPAS.com  - Pihak militer Filipina dan Pakistan secara terpisah mengunjungi perusahaan dirgantara nasional, PT Dirgantara Indonesia,  Kamis (12/7/2012). Mereka mengungkapkan minatnya untuk membeli pesawat terbang untuk memperkuat armada yang sudah ada.

Informasi tersebut dirilis oleh Humas PT DI pada Jumat (13/7/2012). Awalnya, militer Pakistan datang pada pukul 10.30 kemudian rombongan dari Filipina ditemani pejabat Kementerian Pertahanan Indonesia tiba pada pukul 15.30.

Militer Pakistan diwakili oleh Chief of Naval Staff Pakistan Army, Admiral Asif Sandila, yang datang bersama rombongan. Ditemui oleh Direktur Utama PT DI, Budi Santoso,

Menurut Budi, kunjungan tersebut diharapkan berakhir dengan komitmen Pakistan untuk kembali memesan pesawat CN235 buatan PT DI. Pakistan hingga kini sudah mengoperasikan empat unit pesawat CN235, tiga unit untuk transportasi militer dan satu unit untuk tamu VIP.

Rombongan berikutnya adalah petinggi militer dari Filipina, dipimpin oleh Pio Lorenzo F Batino dari Under Secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs and Department of National Defence. Dalam kunjungannya, Pio menyatakan keinginan pemerintahan Filipina untuk memesan dua unit pesawat CN235 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft).

Berdasarkan catatan PT DI, negara yang sudah mengoperasikan pesawat jenis ini adalah Korea Selatan dan Turki. TNI AU sudah mengoperasikannya juga, sementara TNI AL masih menunggu pembuatan lima unit pesawat CN235 MPA dirampungkan.

(Kompas)

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17 Juli 2012

Kendaraan pendarat Royal Thai Marines (photo : Thai Marine)


Pesawaran, Lampung (ANTARA News) - Korps Marinir TNI AL akan menggelar latihan gabungan bersama marinir Kerajaan Thailand di Pantai Caligi Kabupaten Pesawaran Provinsi Lampung.

"Korps marinir merencanakan latihan gabungan bersama Kerajaan Thailand yang dimulai dari datangnya tim peninjau dari anggota marinir Kerajaan Thailand," kata Komandan Korps Marinir Mayjen (Mar) Alfan Baharudin saat meninjau latihan pendaratan pasukan marinir, di Pesawaran, Selasa.

Ia mengatakan, tim peninjau datang ke sini untuk melihat kesiapan Korps Marinir TNI AL untuk mengikuti latihan gabungan. Markas Besar TNI kemungkinan segera merencanakan persiapan latihan gabungan tersebut.

Kendaraan pendarat Marinir TNI (photo : Media Indonesia)


"Ini baru sekali terjadi Kerajaan Thailand mengirimkan tim pemantau pada latihan pendaratan sejak tahun 1978 lalu," katanya.

Dalam latihan itu pendaratan itu, Korps Marinir menurunkan 1.735 personel, dan peralatan tempur dalam sesi latihan pendaratan amfibi oleh Batalyon Tim Pendarat (BTP) Pasukan Marinir (Pasmar) II.

(A054)

(Antara)

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