First Archer-Class Submarine Returns to Singapore

17 Agustus 2011

RSS Archer, which arrived from Sweden today, berthed at Changi Naval Base.(photo : Mindef)

The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN's) first Archer-class submarine, RSS Archer, arrived at Changi Naval Base (CNB) from Sweden earlier today. Chief of Navy, Rear-Admiral Ng Chee Peng, and other senior naval officers were present at CNB to witness its return.

Launched in Karlskrona, Sweden on 16 Jun 2009, RSS Archer is one of two ex-Royal Swedish Navy Vaastergotland-class submarines acquired by Singapore in 2005. RSS Archer has been comprehensively upgraded, refurbished and tropicalised to ensure its suitability for operations in local conditions. Crew members of RSS Archer have also undergone extensive training in Sweden since 2007 to acquire the skillsets needed to operate and maintain the submarine.

RSS Archer will join 171 Squadron, under the RSN's Fleet Command, to enhance the RSN's capability to secure the seaward defence of Singapore and protect our vital sea lines of communication.

(Mindef)

Asian F-16s Could Get AESA Radars

16 Agustus 2011

Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea are planning to upgrade their F-16s with AESA radar (photo : Raytheon)

TAIPEI, Taiwan — At least three Asian nations are planning to upgrade their Lockheed Martin F-16s with active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, possibly following the U.S. Air Force’s lead.

Taiwan is seeking U.S. government permission for an F-16 upgrade package that includes AESA radar, targeting pods and missiles. This AESA radar competition in Taiwan—and globally—is between Northrop Grumman’s Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) and the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR).

The U.S. government has said it will decide by Oct. 1 whether to sell Taiwan 66 F-16C/Ds and approve an upgrade to the island nation’s approximately 145 F-16A/Bs to bring them to C/D standard. The consensus among U.S. industry executives interviewed by Aviation Week is that the chances of a sale of new F-16s are remote, but the U.S. is likely to approve upgrades. But the extent to which the F-16s are upgraded depends on politics. Industry executives say there is broad support within the U.S. Defense Department to sell AESA radars to Taiwan, as long as some arrangement can be made to ensure the technology is kept away from China.

The executives say the hurdle Taiwan has to overcome is winning over the U.S. State Department, which is concerned about how to maintain good relations with China, particularly considering it is a large holder of U.S. treasury bonds. The U.S. is financially vulnerable at the moment, and its economy needs more exports.

If the State Department blocks Taiwan’s purchase of AESA radar, then that leaves the country with just one more option: buy a more recently developed mechanically scanned radar, such as Northrop Grumman’s APG-68(V)9. If this scenario occurs, then Northrop Grumman is likely to try and placate the Taiwanese by highlighting that with a mechanically scanned radar, Taiwan can make repairs in-country. With AESA radar, the units would have to be sent to the U.S. Also, Taiwan may have an opportunity to produce some parts locally for the APG-68(V)9. Israel, which has one of the world’s most advanced air forces, has mechanically scanned radars because of in-country maintenance support.

Aside from Taiwan, there are others in Asia examining AESA radar for F-16s, namely South Korea and Singapore, industry executives say. One says Singapore has a plan to keep its F-16s in service for at least another 20 years.

South Korea and Singapore’s interest in AESA radar may have intensified in recent months, now that it has become apparent the U.S. Air Force may be going down this path too. The U.S. Air Force Aeronautical Systems Center issued a request for information in late June asking companies about upgrading 300-600 F-16s, starting in 2017.

In addition to the AESA radar, Taiwan also appears to be in the market for targeting pods for its F-16s. At the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, Northrop Grumman promoted its Litening II and Lockheed Martin its Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod. Northrop Grumman’s pod is used by a number of F-16 operators, but Lockheed Martin is likely to highlight to the Taiwanese that its Sniper is on U.S. Air Force F-16s, in addition to those of other air forces.

About 700 Sniper systems have been sold and about 500 delivered so far, says a Lockheed Martin executive. The system is “plug and play,” so the pod recognizes the aircraft on which it is fitted and adjusts accordingly. Lockheed Martin has introduced software upgrades so the pod can be fitted to several other aircraft types such as Boeing F-15s, B-52s and AV-8B Harrier jets. This pod also is useful for reconnaissance purposes, so Lockheed Martin is working to have it capable of being fitted on transport aircraft such as its C-130.

(Aviation Week)

RAPBN 2012 : Anggaran Kementerian Pertahanan Melonjak

17 Agustus 2011

Pemerintah akan mempercepat modernisasi peralatan TNI (photo : Kodam Jaya)
Kementerian Pertahanan mendapatkan kenaikan anggaran paling besar dari 15 Kementerian dan Lembaga yang mengalami kenaikan pada tahun 2012. Kenaikan pada Kementerian Pertahanan sebesar Rp 16,9 triliun atau sebesar 35,7 persen dalam Rencana Anggaran Penerimaan dan Belanja Negara (RAPBN) 2012.

Demikian yang disampaikan Kepala Bapenas/ Menteri Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional, Armida Alisjahbana di Kantor Pusat Direktorat Jenderal Pajak (DJP) Kementerian Keuangan, Jakarta, Selasa (16/8/2011).

Armida menjelaskan, Alat Utama Sistem Persenjataan (Alusista) menjadi alasan utama kenaikan belanja tersebut. Sebelumnya, Kementerian Pertahanan mendapatkan dana sebesar Rp47,5 triliun.

Kementerian lain yang juga tercatat mendapatkan kenaikan yang cukup signifikan yakni Kementerian Perhubungan sebesar Rp 26,8 triliun dengan kenaikan mencapai Rp 4,7 triliun atau sebesar 21,2 persen.

Berikut ini adalah daftar 15 Kementerian dan Lembaga yang mengalami kenaikan anggaran pada RAPBN 2012:

-Kementerian Pertahanan menjadi Rp64,4 triliun naik Rp16,9 triliun atau 35,7 persen.
-Kementerian PU menjadi Rp61,2 triliun naik Rp3,2 triliun atau 5,6 persen.
-Kemendiknas menjadi Rp57,8 triliun naik Rp2,2 triliun atau 3,9 persen.
-Kementerian Agama menjadi Rp37,3 triliun naik Rp5,2 triliun atau 16,3 persen.
-Kepolisian menjadi Rp34,4 triliun naik Rp4,6 triliun atau 15,6 persen.
-Kementerian Kesehatan menjadi Rp28,3 triliun naik Rp0,7 triliun atau 2,4 persen.
-Kementerian perhubungan menjadi Rp26,8 triliun naik Rp4,7 triliun atau 21,2 persen.
-Kementerian Keuangan menjadi Rp17,8 triliun naik Rp0,2 triliun atau 1,2 persen. -Kementerian Pertanian menjadi Rp17,8 triliun naik Rp1 triliun atau 6,2 persen.
-Kemendagri menjadi Rp17,1 triliun naik Rp2,3 triliun atau 15,8 persen.
-Kementerian ESDM menjadi Rp15,6 triliun naik Rp0,3 triliun atau 2,3 persen.
-Kementerian Kehutanan menjadi Rp6,1 triliun naik Rp0,1 triliun atau 1,6 persen.
-Kementrian Kelautan menjadi Rp5,9 triliun naik Rp1 triliun atau 19,6 persen.
-Kemenkumham menjadi Rp5,7 triliun naik Rp0,8 triliun atau 15,8 persen.
-Kemenlu menjadi Rp5,2 triliun turun Rp0,4 triliun atau tujuh persen.

Sementara itu Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono menyampaikan, naiknya anggaran tersebut dilakukan guna meningkatkan efektivitas dan efisiensi.

"Dalam upaya meningkatkan kualitas belanja kementerian dan lembaga, sekaligus meningkatkan manajemen pengelolaan keuangan negara, dalam tahun 2012 mendatang, kita juga akan menerapkan secara penuh penganggaran berbasis kinerja dan kerangka pengeluaran jangka menengah," katanya.

SBY juga menegaskan, pelaksanaan anggaran, mulai tahun ini akan terapkan kebijakan pemberian penghargaan dan pengenaan sanksi, atas pelaksanaan anggaran belanja kementerian dan lembaga tahun anggaran sebelumnya.

(Centro One)

Aerobatik Sukhoi Meriahkan HUT RI

Enam buah jet tempur Sukhoi melakukan atraksi "Flying Pass" saat Peringatan Detik-Detik Proklamasi Kemerdekaan Indonesia di Istana Merdeka, Jakarta, Rabu (17/8). Pada hari ini Bangsa Indonesia memperingati HUT kemerdekaan ke-66. (ANTARA/Widodo S. Jusuf/Koz/Spt/11)

17 Agustus 2011, Jakarta (Jurnas): Aksi aerobatik pesawat tempur Sukhoi memeriahkan puncak peringatan hari kemerdekan RI ke-66 di Istana Merdeka. Sebanyak 10 pesawat Sukhoi bermanuver di langit Jakarta usai bendera merah putih dikibarkan di halaman Istana Merdeka.

Kesepuluh pesawat tersebut diterbangkan dalam dua tim. Atraksi udara oleh TNI AU tersebut disambut meriah oleh para undangan yang menghadiri upacara hari kemerdekaan.

Tak hanya itu, para peserta upacara juga dihibur oleh alunan musik dan lagu dari orkestra Gita Bahana Nusantara 2011 yang dipimpin oleh dirigen Singgih Sanjaya. Orkestra ini terdiri dari 66 siswa dari 12 provinsi. Sedangkan tim paduan suaranya terdiri dari 128 siswa hasil audisi dari 33 provinsi.

Selain lagu-lagu perjuangan, orkestra juga menampilkan sebuah lagu yang diciptakan oleh Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Lagu berjudul 'Untuk Bumi Kita' itu dinyanyikan oleh penyanyi cilik asal Maluku Utara bernama Arjuna Pratama Djahir.

Sumber: Jurnas

KRI Dewa Ruci Bersandar di Batam

17 Agustus 2011, Batam (KOMPAS): Kapal Republik Indonesia (KRI) Dewa Ruci yang membawa 82 taruna Akademi Angkatan Laut (AAL) tiba di dermaga Pelabuhan Batu Ampar, Batam, Kepulauan Riau, pukul 08.00, Rabu (17/8/2011). Kedatangan KRI Dewa Ruci dari Bangkok, Thailand, itu disambut sejumlah kapal patroli Pangkalan Angkatan Laut Batam, dan kelompok nelayan di perairan Batam.

KRI Dewa Ruci berangkat dari Bangkok sejak 13 Agustus. KRI Dewa Ruci melakukan pelayaran di Asia dari Surabaya dengan rute Bitung, Sulut, Filipina, China, Thailand, Batam, dan kembali ke Surabaya.

Setiba di dermaga, para taruna, awak buah kapal, perwira, dan Komandan KRI Dewa Ruci Letkol Haris Bima diterima dan disambut antara lain oleh Komandan Pangkalan TNI Angkatan Laut (Lanal) Batam Kolonel Iwan Isnurwanto, pejabat terkait, dan masyarakat setempat.

Selanjutnya, para taruna yang sudah siap dengan seragam dan pakaian khusus akan mengikuti upacara Kemerdekaan ke-66 RI di kantor Wali Kota Batam, dan menampilkan atraksi drum band.

Sumber: KOMPAS

Korsel Kembangkan Rudal Anti-Kapal Supersonik

Rudal Yakhont ditembakan dari kapal perang TNI AL. Rudal yang dikembangkan Korsel ukurannya lebih kecil dari Yakhont. (Foto: KOMPAS)

17 Agustus 2011, Seoul (Berita HanKam): Korea Selatan mengembangkan rudal jelajah supersonik yang dapat digunakan menyerang kapal induk, kapal perusak tercanggih.

Rudal dikembangkan oleh Agency for Defense Development (DAPA) diharapkan selesai dalam tiga hingga empat tahun.

Rudal lebih kecil dari rudal buatan Rusia Yakhont, dapat mencapai kecepatan hingga 2,5 March dengan jarak jelajah 250-300 km.

Angkatan Laut Korsel telah mengoperasikan rudal anti-kapal Haesung dengan jarak jelajah 150 km dan rudal buatan Amerika Serikat Harpoon dengan jarak yang sama. Kedua rudal tersebut dapat diintersep oleh rudal anti-pesawat jarak pendek atau senapan mesin karena kecepatannya kurang dari kecepatan suara.

Rudal yang dikembangkan sulit diintersep karena terbang pada kecepatan suara dan hanya beberapa meter diatas permukaan. Rusia telah mengembangkan beberapa varian sebagai respon kekuatan kapal induk Amerika Serikat.

Rudal Korsel yang tengah dikembangkan dapat juga menghacurkan sasaran di darat, termasuk unit pertahanan pantai dan artileri jarak jauh Korea Utara.

Pengembangan rudal ini tidak sekedar menghadapi ancaman Korut, tetapi juga menghadapi kekuatan angkatan laut negara tetangga Korsel lainnya.

Sumber: Chosun Ilbo

Falcon HTV-2

SOURCE : DARPA

 

DARPA’s Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2) program began in 2003 as a research and development effort to increase the technical knowledge base and advance critical technologies to make long-duration hypersonic flight a reality.

DARPA’s Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2) program is a multiyear research and development effort to increase the technical knowledge base and advance critical technologies to make long-duration hypersonic flight a reality.
Data from the program informs policy, acquisition, and operations decisions for future Department of Defense Conventional Prompt Global Strike programs. Hypersonic data is collected through extensive modeling and simulation, wind-tunnel testing and two experimental flight tests. The ultimate goal is a capability that can reach anywhere in the world in less than an hour.
Falcon HTV-2 is an unmanned, rocket-launched, maneuverable aircraft that glides through the Earth’s atmosphere at incredibly fast speeds—Mach 20 (approximately 13,000 miles per hour).  At HTV-2 speeds, flight time between New York City and Los Angeles would be less than 12 minutes. The HTV-2 vehicle is a “data truck” with numerous sensors that collect data in an uncertain operating envelope.
Mastery of three key technical challenges stands between the DoD and long-duration hypersonic flight: Aerodynamics; Aerothermal effects; and critical guidance, navigation and control.
HTV-2 flew its maiden flight on 22 Apr 2010, collecting nine minutes of unique flight data, including 139 seconds of Mach 22 to Mach 17 aerodynamic data.
Flight one achieved many “firsts”:

• Deployed largest number of sea, land, air and space data collection assets in support of hypersonic flight test
• Maintained Global Positioning System (GPS) signals while traveling 3.6 miles per second
• Validated two-way communication with the vehicle
• Verified effective use of the Reaction Control System (RCS)

The second and final planned flight test is scheduled for August 2011. First flight lessons learned, high-speed wind tunnel testing and computer simulations were used to improve aerodynamic models and to optimize the vehicle design and trajectory for flight two.

The goal of the second flight is to validate current assumptions and increase technical understanding of the hypersonic flight regime. More than 20 test assets will collect continuous flight data to achieve this goal.
Experience HTV-2's planned second-flight mission profile by clicking on the phases of flight depicted below: