One of canditates for MPA is Leonardo ATR 72 (photo : Italian Navy) KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is diligently pursuing the acquisition of three major assets to bolster its maritime surveillance capabilities. Newly-appointed RMAF chief General Datuk Seri Ackbal Abdul Samad said the assets comprised unmanned aircraft systems, maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and ground-based radars. “These are vital elements to shore up the air force which needs such requirements to meet the challenges ahead. “We are in the process of procuring the assets in due course under our ‘Capability Development 2055’ or ‘CAP 55’ programme (transformation plan on new procurement, enhancement and upgrading of assets by the year 2055),” he said in his maiden media briefing as the 19th RMAF chief at the RMAF Subang base near here. Ackbal, who turns 58 on Sept 4, succeeded General Tan Sri Affendi Buang, who was appointed the new armed forces chief on Thursday.
One of canditates for MALE UAV is General Atomic MQ-9B Sea Guardian (photo : Force India) The RMAF was reportedly seeking up to four MPAs, six medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and several ground-based radars. Among the MPAs the RMAF was believed to be considering were France’s Airbus C-295, the ATR 72 from Italy’s Leonardo, the United States’ Boeing P-8A Poseidon, Japan’s Kawasaki P-1 and CN-235 from Indonesian Aerospace. The MALE UAV contenders appeared to be from China’s Wing Loong II from AVIC, the US’ General Atomics MQ-9 Guardian, Turkish Aerospace’s Anka and Falco from Leonardo. It was also reported that the US would be furnishing Malaysia with 12 ScanEagle drones by 2022 through a maritime security initiative to boost the country’s reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities. It is learnt that the RMAF was also trying to procure Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), multi-role combat aircraft and ground-based missiles to replace its ageing assets.
One of canditates for ground-based radar is Lockheed Martin AN/TPS77 (photo : radar tutorial) These would ensure it stays relevant by shaping its war-fighting capabilities to deter and contain threats. Earlier, Affendi took the salute as the outgoing RMAF chief during a parade in his honour. He later presented Ackbal, who was previously RMAF deputy chief, with the rank of lieutenant-general, his promotional “four-star” rank and the baton of command. Affendi said the appointment of Ackbal and the impending appointment of RMAF education and training commander Lieutenant-General Datuk Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan were most appropriate for the country’s air force, given their experience and service records. Affendi, along with Ackbal and Asghar, are trained jet fighter pilots. (NST)
Teknologi Modifikasi Cuaca untuk mengalihkan hujan dari Jabodetabek (all photos : BPPT) Hujan yang terus mengguyur wilayah Jabodetabek membuat Jakarta dan kota di sekitarnya dilanda banjir. Untuk mengantisipasi banjir besar, BPPT akan melakukan modifikasi cuaca. Cegah banjir Jakarta dan sekitarnya berulang, pemerintah akan melakukan rekayasa cuaca. Caranya, dengan menebar garam ke awan-awan pada Jumat (3/1/2020). Sebanyak 6-8 ton NaCl diangkut empat penerbangan per hari yang digunakan dalam pelaksanaan operasi Teknologi Modifikasi Cuaca untuk mengurangi curah hujan di wilayah Jakarta dan sekitarnya.
Aplikasi Teknologi Modifikasi Cuaca (TMC), selanjutnya mulai dimanfaatkan dengan tujuan mampu mengurangi intensitas curah hujan di wilayah Jakarta.
"Pemanfaatan teknologi modifikasi cuaca untuk meminimalkan dampak bencana banjir di Jabodetabek dengan upayakan redistribusi curah hujan dengan mengurangi instensitas hujan yang turun" Hari Sabtu (4/1), tim Teknologi Modifikasi Cuaca (TMC) yang terdiri dari BPPT RI, TNI AU, BNPB Indonesia, BMKG melakukan penyemaian awan di wilayah barat dan utara Jabodetabek untuk mereduksi curah hujan yang tinggi.
Pada operasi hari Sabtu tim TMC membawa 6.400 kilogram bahan semai. Kami berharap dengan adanya kolaborasi dari lembaga lembaga pemerintah, banjir di Jabodetabek bisa diatasi.
Operasi Teknologi Modifikasi Cuaca, hari Sabtu (04/01) memasuki hari kedua pelaksanaan. Hingga kini pun telah dilakukan sebanyak 8 kali sorti penerbangan, utk menyemai awan berpotensi hujan, di luar wilayah Jabodetabek. Dikatakan Kepala BPPT RI Hammam Riza, Operasi TMC ini pun berfokus pada awan-awan yang diperkirakan masuk DKI, agar dapat disemai sebelum masuk ke wilayah DKI dan sekitarnya.
Operasi TMC dilakukan dengan menggunakan dua pesawat, CN 295 A-2901,dan CASA 212 A-2105, yg diterbangkan pukul 12 siang.
CN 295 membawa bahan semai 2.400 Kg, menuju Barat- Barat Daya Jabodetabek. Untuk CASA 212 membawa 800 Kg bahan semai, menuju Selatan Jabodetabek. Hasilnya alhamdulillah, hujan terjadi di area penyemaian, seperti di atas Selat Sunda, dan Kepulauan Seribu. (BPPT)
Yak-130 and Sukhoi Flanker family (photo : Aleksey Vlasov) It has been said that while the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is happy with its South Korean made KAI T-50i Golden Eagle Advanced Jet Trainer/ Lead-in Fighter Trainer (AJT/LIFT), there has been indication that the aircraft might not be able to address training needs of future pilots destined to fly its yet to be procured KNAAPO built Sukhoi Su-35 Super Flanker multi role combat aircraft (MRCA). The T-50i was developed based on the design of LockheedMartin F-16 Fighting Falcon hence it is a natural options for countries which operate the F-16 and its spin off variants including the soon to be developed KAI KF-X fifth generation fighter. Using Western made or Western inspired AJT/LIFT platform still works well with Russian jet operators. The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) uses the Aermacchi MB-339AM to train Mig-29 pilots while Alenia MB-339CM to train Su-30MKM pilots. Despite its vintage design that stems back to the development of MB-326 jet trainer, an obviously of late 1950’s design, the adoption of open architecture and flexibility of its cockpit design means that the Italian trainers could be used to train most of the pilots that flies 4.5 generation combat aircraft.
Su-35 is single seater, T-50i as LIFT platform doesn't match with Russian system (photo : Randommization) MB-339 and its further development, the Russo-Italian Yak/AEM-130 were conceived with the realisation that the cockpit layout should be as general as possible so that any pilots could transition from it into any sorts of aircraft. Despite both the Russians and the Italians parting ways which spawned the respective Irkutsk built Yakovlev Yak-130 (NATO Reporting Name: Mitten) and Leonardo M-346 Master, they still maintain the concept of open architecture which allows both of the aircraft to penetrate larger market. The Yak-130 is the leading contender in the RMAF Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project, followed closely by the M-346 and the FA-50. Yak-130 and its equivalent might soon becomes the region’s standard training platform after Myanmar and Laos proudly inducted the aircraft into their services. The Singaporean is the only operator of the M-346 in the region. These aircraft will butt heads with the T-50/FA-50 currently in service with Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. It will all now depends on whether Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia will eventually bought the Yaks afterall. (MFH)
Prototipe pesawat udara nirawak "Elang Hitam" akan dibuat empat pesawat (photo : Antara) Drone Buatan Indonesia Mampu Terbang Sejauh 250 Km dan Bawa Rudal 300 Kg BANDUNG - Pesawat udara nirawak (Puna) Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) bernama Elang Hitam atau Black Eagle yang dibuat oleh enam lembaga dan BUMN ini memiliki sejumlah kelebihan. Drone buatan anak bangsa yang rencananya mulai beroperasi pada 2024 mendatang ini mampu terbang sejauh 250 kilometer dengan membawa peluru kendali (rudal) seberat 300 kilogram. Direktur Utama PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) Elfien Goentoro mengatakan, pesawat nirawak ini mampu terbang dengan maximum endurance 30 jam dalam perhitungan maximum cruising speed 235 km/jam.Tak hanya itu, pesawat yang dikendalikan dari jarak jauh ini mampu terbang sejauh 250 km. Namun, pesawat ini hanya mampu membawa beban sekitar 300 kg. Beban ini rencananya bisa dipakai untuk kebutuhan militer seperti membawa misil atau rudal.
Elang Hitam versi militer (graphic : BPPT) "Tetapi untuk tahap awal bukan untuk kombatan. Tetapi bisa dipakai untuk kebutuhan pengawasan dari udara seperti ancaman daerah perbatasan, terorisme, penyelundupan, pembajakan, serta pencurian sumber daya alam seperti illegal logging dan illegal fishing," jelas dia, Senin (30/12/2019).
Pesawat ini memiliki lebar 16 meter, panjang 8,65 meter, dan tinggi 2,6 meter. Saat take off, pesawat bisa mengunakan landasan sepanjang 700 meter. Sedangkan saat mendarat (landing) bisa pada landasan sepanjang 500 meter. Kemampuan ini hampir mirip dengan pesawat N212 buatan PTDI yang dibuat untuk bandara perintis. Menurut Kepala BPPT Hammam Riza, pesawat nirawak ini diperlukan untuk membantu menjaga kedaulatan NKRI dari udara yang sangat efisien dan dapat mengurangi potensi kehilangan jiwa karena dioperasikan tanpa pilot.
Misssion system UAV Elang Hitam (photo : Angkasa Review) Dengan kemandirian ini, diharapkan PUNA MALE buatan Indonesia dapat mengisi kebutuhan skadron TNI AU dalam mengawasi wilayah NKRI melalui udara. Selain itu, dapat menumbuhkembangkan industri dalam negeri yang sesuai dengan mandat Undang-Undang No.16 Tahun 2012 tentang Industri Pertahanan. "Produk ini diharapkan mengisi kebutuhan impor nasional. Sehingga menjadi negara mandiri dan kompetitif," imbuh dia. (SindoNews)
BPPT-PT DI buat tiga lagi prototipe pesawat nirawak MALE hingga 2024 Bandung (ANTARA) - Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi (BPPT) dan PT Dirgantara Indonesia serta institusi lain yang tergabung dalam Konsorsium Pesawat Terbang Tanpa Awak (PTTA MALE) akan membuat tambahan tiga prototipe pesawat udara nir awak (PUNA) atau drone tipe medium altitude long endurance (MALE) yakni PM-2, PM-3 dan PM-4 pada periode 2020-2024. "Kita akan buat tiga lagi prototipe PUNA MALE dalam periode 2020-2024," kata Direktur Utama PT Dirgantara Indonesia Elfien Goentoro di dalam acara Roll Out PUNA atau drone tipe MALE di PT DI Bandung, Jawa Barat, Senin.
Ground Control Station UAV Elang Hitam (photo : Angkasa Review)
Konsorsium itu beranggotakan BPPT, Kementerian Pertahanan dan TNI Angkatan Udara sebagai pengguna, Institut Teknologi Bandung sebagai mitra perguruan tinggi, PT DI sebagai mitra industri pembuatan pesawat, PT LEN Persero yang mengembangkan sistem kendali dan muatan, serta Lembaga Penerbangan dan Antariksa Nasional. Prototipe PM-1 telah diluncurkan di PT DI pada Senin (30/12) yang mampu terbang terus menerus selama 24 jam dan ditargetkan bisa terbang perdana pada 2020.
"Drone ini targetnya adalah bisa take off dan landing sekitar 700 meter dengan ketinggian sekitar 20.000 kaki dengan kecepatan maksimum 235 km/jam," ujarnya.
"Untuk PM-4 itu targetnya dilengkapi sertifikatnya pada tahun 2024 untuk sudah berupa pesawat drone yang sudah bisa kombatan," tuturnya.
Elang Hitam MALE UAV (graphic : Sindo) Deputi Bidang Teknologi Industri Rancang Bangun dan Rekayasa BPPT Wahyu Widodo Pandoe mengatakan mesin akan dipasang pada prototipe PM-1 dalam waktu sepekan ke depan. Wahyu menuturkan prototipe kedua PUNA MALE dikembangkan untuk mendapatkan sertifikasi pada 2020. PUNA MALE ketiga atau PM-3 dikembangkan untuk uji statis atau kekuatan struktur pesawat yang kemungkinan diuji di Serpong. Sementara PUNA MALE keempat atau PM-4 untuk mendapatkan sertifikat tipe dari Kementerian Pertahanan RI. Sertifikat tipe adalah tanda bukti terpenuhinya persyaratan kelaikudaraan sesuai peraturan penerbangan sipil. Prototipe PUNA MALE keempat akan mampu mengakomodasi misi kombatan dengan membawa sekitar 300 kg muatan, misalnya diperlengkapi dengan rudal. PUNA MALE kedua akan diipasang radar apertur sintetis dan kamera yang sifatnya bukan kombatan tapi lebih mengarah untuk mendukung kegiatan intelijen, pengawasan, pengintaian dan penargetan. Sementara PM-4 akan terbang dengan dilengkapi peralatan alutsista. "Kita mau supaya satu pesawat tapi bisa mengangkut berbagai macam misi," ujarnya. (Antara)
AIM-120C7 AMRAAM (photo : almrsal) Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $768,283,907 non-competitive fixed-price incentive (firm) contract for Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Production Lot 33. This contract provides for the production of the AMRAAM missiles, captive air training missiles, guidance sections, AMRAAM telemetry system, spares and other production engineering support hardware. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, with an expected completion date of Feb. 28, 2023. This contract involves unclassified foreign military sales to Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey and United Kingdom, which accounts for 47% of the contract value. Fiscal 2018 Air Force and Navy procurement funds in the amount of $21,606,031; fiscal 2019 Air Force and Navy procurement funds in the amount of $356,753,259; fiscal 2020 Navy procurement funds in the amount of $4,212,839; fiscal 2019 Air Force research and development funds in the amount of $7,343,150; fiscal 2020 Air Force and Navy research and development funds in the amount of $10,295,601; fiscal 2020 Air Force operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $1,404,956; and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $366,668,071 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Dominance Division Contracting Office, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA8675-20-C-0033). (US DoD)
JF-17 Block 3 (all photos : Sina) The first images of the JF-17 Block 3 ‘4+ generation’ fighter were unveiled on December 28th, with a prototype shown taxiing on a factory runway in China before taking its first flight. The fighter represents the fourth variant of the JF-17, a fighter jointly developed by China and Pakistan from the early 2000s which saw its first flight in august 2003. The JF-17 was designed exclusively for export and does not serve in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, although over 100 of the older JF-17 Block 1 and Block 2 variants are currently in service in the Pakistani Air Force with smaller numbers having been sold to Myanmar and Nigeria. There has been considerable speculation among analysts regarding the Block 3 variant’s capabilities, with the design balancing the need to maintain low production and operational costs with the importance of maximising performance by integrating next generation technologies - many of which are extremely costly. The new fighter's most outstanding feature appears to be its elongated nose, which is intended to house an active electronically scanned array radar that is not only more sophisticated but also considerably larger than the radars on prior JF-17 variants. AESA radars are not only considerably more powerful than the passive radars on older JF-17 variants, but they also leave a lower radar signature and are less prone to jamming. The fighters are expected to deploy a number of newer munition types including PL-15 air to air missiles, which a large and powerful AESA radar is critical to guiding against faraway targets. The PL-15 was developed to equip China's own AESA radar equipped next generation fighters, including the J-10C, J-16 and J-20. The next generation missile retains an engagement range of up to 200km, allowing it to comfortably outrange missiles such as the R-77 and MICA used by Indian MiG-29 and Rafale fighters.
The JF-17 Block 3 is expected to be considerably more costly than prior variants, but its next generation capabilities have the potential to make it far more successful on the export market. Other than a new radar and next generation avionics and electronic warfare systems, other features of the JF-17 Block 3 design such as its rumoured infra red tracking system, new engine and high composite airframe all have yet to be confirmed. The fighter's new air inlets, however, indicate that a new engine has been installed - possibly an enhanced derivative of the RD-33MK which powers the Russian MiG-35. The Sino-Pakistani fighter is expected to improve on the already considerable range of its predecessor, and may also be compatible with new classes of cruise missile to replace the YJ-12. Paired with its considerable range, this could make the JF-17 Block 3 a formidable maritime strike fighter. The evolution of the JF-17 Block 3 program, and the date of its expected entry into service, remain uncertain, as does the scale of production in both China and Pakistan. (MilitaryWatchMagz)
One of canditates for MPA is Leonardo ATR 72 (photo : Italian Navy)
One of canditates for MALE UAV is General Atomic MQ-9B Sea Guardian (photo : Force India)
One of canditates for ground-based radar is Lockheed Martin AN/TPS77 (photo : radar tutorial)
