JSF Model ‘Iron Bird’ Commissioned to Study Electromagnetic Effects

'Iron Bird' a full-scale model of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (photo : DSTO)

A full-scale model of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter unveiled today will be used by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) to study the effects of electromagnetic compatibility and interference on the aircraft.

Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston said the Australian-built model, known as Iron Bird, would be tested under simulated electromagnetic conditions during the acquisition and through-life sustainment of the JSF.

“The United States Joint Strike Fighter Program Office asked the DSTO to undertake this research, based on its world class expertise in investigating electromagnetic environmental effects,” Senator Johnston said.

During a visit to the DSTO laboratory in Adelaide, Senator Johnston said the testing by the DSTO will ensure the JSF is protected against electromagnetic environmental effects such as those caused by lightning and broadcast transmissions which can impair the performance and safety of aircraft.

The JSF is a fifth-generation aircraft with highly complex electronics, sophisticated software and a structural airframe made of composite materials to ensure stealth. These features expose the aircraft to electromagnetic interference from both naturally occurring phenomena and man-made sources, including telecommunication transmissions, radar and lightning strikes.

“The impact of these interferences needs to be well understood and appropriately managed,” Senator Johnston said.

“The data captured during DSTO testing will help in providing potential reductions in the cost of owning the JSF fleet and enhancing the aircraft’s capability.”

The DSTO test methods provide a rapid, cost-effective means of assessing and monitoring the JSF’s ability to withstand electromagnetic exposure and minimise any impact on its systems and performance.

Senator Johnston said DSTO’s research would support the verification for compliance and airworthiness certification for the JSF aircraft.

The Australian Government recently committed to buying an additional 58 JSF aircraft, bringing the fleet total to 72. Australia’s first two F-35As are due to be delivered to a United States-based training facility during 2014‑15 when Royal Australian Air Force pilot and maintainer training will begin on the aircraft.

Senator Johnston said because Australia had entered the program at the development phase, Australian companies have gained $357.6 million in production orders with only about 2-3 per cent of the production F-35A aircraft manufactured.

About 30 Australian companies are directly involved in doing business with JSF primes, with many more Australian companies as sub-contractors.

(Aus DoD)

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ASC has Fixed the Problems of Maintaining Collins Submarines

ASC managing director Steve Ludlam in front of the tail of a Collins Class submarine at Techport in Adelaide. (photo : Adelaide Now)

PROBLEMS with the Collins submarine maintenance program run by ASC have been fixed, the Federal Government says.

Following the Coles review which identified the problems, the ASC “has done exceptionally well in recovering productivity levels”, Defence Minister David Johnston said.

“(John Coles) said to me that the transformation he has observed over the past two and a half years has been remarkable,” Senator Johnston told the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

“I want to say here in Adelaide that that is down to (ASC chief executive) Steve Ludlam and his team.

“We have recovered the situation with submarines.

“Save for the fire on HMAS Waller we would have three submarines in the water ready to be tasked.

“That is a massive, massive improvement for us.

“So the news on that side is actually very good.”

In February, a fire broke out on HMAS Waller while it was on the surface in the seas off WA. There were no casualties.

Earlier this year Senator Johnston said that in the period between October 2009 and February 2010, none of the six Collins boats were available for service.

The review by UK expert John Coles was commissioned in 2011 and reported in November 2012.

Senator Johnston said the air warfare destroyer building program needed to improve before he could take any future ship-building proposals to Cabinet.

He defended blocking Australian companies from bidding to build two supply ships, saying the ships were too large for Australian capability and that time was too short.

Only South Korean and Spanish shipyards have been invited to tender.

Australia had had to ask Spain and New Zealand to help with supply ships because of the lack of Royal Australian Navy vessels, he said.

This included the need to refuel and provision at sea naval vessels being used in the Sovereign Borders operation.

“This is unacceptable,” he said.

“We have a time constraint, we must get on with the job, we need two large replenishment ships as soon as possible.”

Originally published as Collins submarine problems fixed.

(AdelaideNow)

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SKIPI Kapal Anti Ilegal Fishing Produksi Indonesia

Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan (KKP) menganggarkan dana ratusan miliar rupiah untuk pengadaan kapal canggih berukuran besar atau Sistem Kapal Inspeksi Perikanan Indonesia atau SKIPI. Kapal ini akan difungsikan untuk memberantas praktik pencurian ikan (illegal fishing) di perairan laut Indonesia.

KKP telah memesan 4 buah kapal SKIPI dari salah satu produsen kapal laut di dalam negeri, PT Daya Radar Utama. Proses pemesanan sudah berlangsung sejak tahun 2013 dengan nilai kontrak satu kapal mencapai Rp 140 miliar atau totalnya Rp 560 miliar.

"Kita bangun 4 kapal SKIPI. Satu kapal nilainya Rp 140 miliar," kata Dirjen Pengawasan Sumber Daya Kelautan dan Perikanan (PSDKP) KKP Syahrin Abdurrahman saat ditemui di ruang kerjanya, di Gedung Minabahari III, Kantor Pusat KKP, Gambir, Jakarta Pusat, Selasa (8/07/2014).

Kapal SKIPI ini termasuk kapal besar dengan panjang 60 meter. Kapal ini mayoritas dibuat dengan bahan baku baja asli yang kuat dan tahan lama. Teknologi yang digunakan pun cukup canggih, kapal dilengkapi sonar dan penginderaan jarak jauh serta mesin handal buatan MTU Jerman.

"Kita lihat ya spesifikasinya. Satu kapal SKIPI ini nilainya sama seperti kita bangun GMB (Gedung Mina Bahari) IV. Spesifikasinya hebat. Bahkan banyak orang menganggap mesin yang digunakan paling hebat, kita pakai MTU Jerman ini paling hebat. Kita panggil pakar ITS (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember) Mesin MTU itu digeber 10 jam nonstop masih meringis-ringis," paparnya.

Kapal ini nantinya akan disebar kedua wilayah perairan Indonesia yaitu bagian Timur dan Barat Perairan Indonesia. Wilayah operasi mencakup spot zona ekonomi eksklusif (ZEE) Indonesia yang rawan tindakan illegal fishing.

Daerah-daerah itu mencakup Laut Arafura dan Utara Laut Sulawesi (Timur Indonesia) dan Barat Natura serta Laut China Selatan terutama segitiga emas antara Indonesia, Malaysia dan Thailand.

"Intinya kita harus lebih pintar. Kalau kita lebih rapi, kecil kemungkinan terjadi pelanggaran di laut," cetusnya.

Spesifikasi Kapal SKIPI

Empat kapal SKIPI ini mampu tahan berlayar hingga 14 hari karena memiliki ukuran tangki bahan bakar yang lebih besar. Daya bertahan ("endurance") itu jauh lebih tinggi dari 27 kapal patroli pengawas yang kini dioperasikan Ditjen PSDKP yang hanya mampu bertahan dua hari sebelum harus mengisi ulang bahan bakar.

Dengan daya tahan yang cukup lama, empat kapal SKIPI ini diharapkan dapat melakukan patroli semaksimal mungkin dan menjaga potensi perikanan di Wilayah Pengelolaan Perikanan (WPP) daerah Timur dan Barat Indonesia.

"Rencananya dua ditempatkan di wilayah Timur (Stasiun Tual) dan Barat (Stasiun Batam atau Pontianak)," ujar Direktur Kapal Pengawas Direktorat Jenderal Pengawasan Sumber Daya Kelautan dan Perikanan (PSDKP) Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan (KKP) Budi Halomuan.

Kemudian, jarak pantauan radarnya bisa mencapai 120 mil laut (1 mil : 1,8 kilometer), dibandingkan kapal patroli biasa yang hanya 36 mil laut. Kapal yang didesain ini memiliki kecepatan 26 knot.

Posturnya pun lebih gagah dengan panjang 60 meter, dibandingkan kapal patroli biasa yang berukuran 42 meter.

"Akan terdapat ruang laboratorium yang lebih luas dan juga ruang tahanan (untuk nelayan ilegal yang ditangkap)," ujar dia.

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Rusia Berhasil Uji Coba Rudal S-500

Rusia berhasil melakukan uji peluncuran rudal pencegat jarak jauh yang akan menjadi bagian dari sistem rudal pertahanan udara baru generasi kelima "S-500," kantor berita Rusia ITAR-TASS melaporkan Senin, 7 Juni 2014.
 
ITAR-TASS mengutip pernyataan seorang sumber anonim di Kompleks Industri dan Pertahanan Rusia, mengatakan bahwa peluncuran dilakukan pada akhir Juni.
 
"Semua tujuan dan tugas yang ditetapkan dalam even ini terpenuhi sepenuhnya," kata sumber anonim seperti dikutip ITAR-TASS.
 
Sebagai bagian dari program modernisasi pertahanan Rusia yang sudah didanai sampai tahun 2020, gabungan perusahaan pertahanan Rusia, Almaz-Antey, saat ini sedang mengembangkan sistem rudal pertahanan udara generasi baru S-500.

S-500 dikembangkan untuk melampaui kemampuan sistem rudal pertahan udara S-400 Triumph (rival dari sistem pertahanan rudal AS "RAS-3" - model terbaru dari sistem rudal pertahanan udara Patriot) yang saat ini sudah digunakan militer Rusia. S-500 sendiri bukanlah merupakan upgrade dari S-400, dan S-500 akan disebarkan bersama S-400.

Dengan perkiraan jangkauan deteksi 600 km, sistem rudal permukaan ke udara ini dirancang untuk mendeteksi dan mencegat sepuluh target aerodinamis dan rudal balistik antarbenua secara simultan yang terbang dengan kecepatan tujuh kilometer perdetik di ketinggian berapapun (beberapa laporan menyebutkan hingga 400 km). Selain itu S-500 juga dirancang untuk mencegat rudal jelajah hipersonik, dan sebagai senjata pertahanan dari pesawat airborne early warning and control, airborne warning and control system, dan jamming.

Sebelumnya, seorang pejabat tinggi di Kementerian Pertahan Rusia mengatakan bahwa S-500 akan mulai diproduksi selambat-lambatnya tahun depan, dan pada laporan lain disebutkan bahwa S-500 akan mulai disebarkan pasukan pertahanan udara Rusia mulai tahun 2017.

Sumber : Artileri

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Singapore Buys MBT Merkava Mk 4 ?

Merkava Mk IV MBT (photo : Military Today)

Source IntelligenceOnline.com reports that Singapore will be the first foreign buyer of major Israeli tanks series Merkava. According to these reports, Singapore signed a contract for the purchase of 50 tanks Merkava Mk 4 new construction. According to the resource, the transaction amount reaches $ 500 million 

Earlier, at the beginning of June 2014, the Israeli newspaper "Yediot Ahronot", citing a source in the Israeli Defense Ministry announced the signing of export agency of the Ministry of Defence Shibata first export contract for the Merkava Mk 4 tanks, without naming the customer and saying only that it is a country, "related long-term relationships with Israel in the field of security. "Also does not provide any details, except that the amount of the contract is "several hundred million dollars." 

Merkava tanks series produced in the Israeli public a tank factory in Tel Hashomer in 1979, however, despite the considerable interest shown in him at different times by different potential foreign customers, never exported. This let low rates of production of tanks Merkava, their high cost, as well as export restrictions by both the U.S. (acting supplier significant portion of the tank units and systems and provide partial funding for the program of the issue), and most of the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Now, for reasons mainly economic plan, Israel's Defense Ministry has issued export permits Merkava Mk 4. 

Singapore since 2007 acquired are considered 182 Leopard 2A4 tanks from the German Bundeswehr presence (part of them for use on parts and conversion into special machines), and is currently carrying out a program of modernization.

(BMPD)

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Navy Launches Submarine Squadron

The headquarters building of Royal Thai Navy’s Submarine Squadron (photo : TAF)

The Royal Thai Navy’s Submarine Squadron was officially launched at Sattahip naval base in Chon Buri province yesterday. Navy chief ADM Narong Pipattanasai presided over the ceremony. 

The squadron also has a training centre for a submarine command team, which is intended to compile knowledge on submarine operations. The centre, which is equipped with a German-made submarine simulator, provides navy personnel with training, such as how to operate the sonar system. 

The submarine simulator is also linked to the anti-submarine simulator currently operated by the navy’s Fleet Training Command. 

The navy has also sent 18 navy officers to receive training in submarine technology in Germany and another 10 officers to South Korea to attend a training course on international diesel submarines.

The squadron underscores the Royal Thai Navy’s push to get submarines added to its fleet. The navy has pressed governments for years to buy submarines to help navy ships protect the Gulf of Thailand. 

In 2010, then navy commander Kamthorn Phumhiran approved a plan to set up the squadron, with expectations of having second-hand submarines from Germany. But it never passed the planning stage. 

In 2012, then navy chief Surasak Rounroengrom approved guidelines for equipping navy personnel with training on submarines, which led to navy personnel studying submarines with the help of countries who have had them for a long time. 

"Although the navy has not had submarines for 62 years, submarines are still important as a strategic and irreplaceable tool to make up for the geographical limitations of Thailand,’’ the navy said in an article to promote the underwater craft.

(Bangkok Post)

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Pindad Eyes Commercial Success

Sudirman Said, the newly-installed president director of state weapons manufacturer Pindad, is planning to expand the company’s commercial activities to prevent over-reliance on military contracts.

In an interview with the Jakarta Globe, Sudirman said that around 15 percent to 20 percent of Pindad’s revenue comes from sales of commercial, or non-military, products. However, he explained, “if commercial products can contribute around 30 percent to our revenue then our cash flow will be more balanced.”

Sudirman said that the biggest challenge for Pindad was capital. Most of its orders are paid through the state budget, which means bills would be paid only after the budget was approved. In the mean time, the company must incur debts to cover its expenses.

Pindad secured contracts worth Rp 1.8 trillion ($150 million) in 2013. It has secured Rp 1.2 trillion worth of contracts so far this year, out of the targeted Rp 2 trillion.

Aside from producing military equipment and vehicles like the Anoa armored personnel carrier and the SS2 assault rifle, Pindad also sells commercial equipment like power generators, commercial explosives, and other products used for railway systems and ship manufacturing.

“We just signed a memorandum of understanding with [state utility firm] Perusahaan Listrik Negara for revitalization and maintenance of power generators,” Sudirman said.

The room for growth in commercial products looks to be quite substantial, driven mostly by the nation’s strong emphasis on infrastructure development, said Sudirman.

Producing and marketing commercial products would have the added advantage of instilling “confidence” in Pindad’s engineers, according to Sudirman. “But, our core business and competence will remain producing weapons for the military,” he added.

An accountant by education, the director spent most of his professional live as an executive with Indika Group, an energy-focused conglomerate.

He also worked for state energy firm Pertamina for two years and was involved in several programs of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI).

He has been Pindad CEO for a month.

Sudirman stressed his belief that Pindad is strong enough in terms of production and engineering capabilities.

“What I can bring is a touch of corporate management — commercial aspects of an enterprise,” he said. “While in terms of production, engineering and research and development, I trust the people at Pindad,” he added. “Pindad has never failed the TNI.”

Still, the company is lacking specific budget allocation for research and development, another area that Sudirman looks to improve.

“We used to develop new products by taking an old machine and upgrading it. While this proves the expertise of our engineers, things must change,” he said.

Pindad and the government must also think about the company’s future, Sudirman said.

“Financially, Pindad is very healthy. But we don’t want to be merely surviving, we have to improve and expand.”

Source : JakartaGlobe

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