28 Maret 2024

Fincantieri: Contract Signed for the Supply of Two PPAs to Indonesia

28 Maret 2024

The order is worth 1.18 billion euro and confirms the Group's growth strategy in the Defence market (photo: Italian Navy)

Fincantieri and the Indonesian Ministry of Defence have signed a 1.18-billion-euro contract, within the framework of collaborative relations initiated by the Italian Ministry of Defence, for the supply of two PPA Units. PPA is a highly flexible ship with an outstanding technological standard. It has the capacity to serve multiple functions, ranging from patrol with sea rescue capacity to Civil Protection operations and first line fighting vessel.

The contract was signed by Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, and by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, in the presence of Dario Deste, General Manager of the Naval Vessels Division.

The ships subject to the order - originally destined for the Italian Navy - are currently under construction and fitting at the Integrated Shipyard in Riva Trigoso-Muggiano.

The interest of the Indonesian Ministry of Defence in PPA Units stems from the Maritime Campaign in the Far East of the Francesco Morosini, the second ship of the Italian Navy's PPA class, which also stopped over in Indonesia in July 2023. The transaction can catalyze additional synergies in the operational, industrial, and technological fields between the two countries. The Units will be able to support Indonesia in protecting national interests and contribute to the stability of the delicate Indo-Pacific strategic quadrant.

As part of the transaction, Fincantieri will act as the prime contractor towards the Indonesian Ministry of Defence and will specifically coordinate the other industrial partners, including Leonardo, for the customization of the ships' combat system and the provision of related logistic services. The parties will define the relevant agreements in compliance with the applicable legislation, including that relating to transactions between related parties.

The effectiveness of the contract is subject to the necessary authorizations from the competent authorities.

Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, said: “This contract is a milestone for the development of a strategic partnership between our Group and Indonesia. We view this as the first of many significant collaborative opportunities with the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, following a long-term partnership approach thanks to the structural support of our institutions, starting with the Ministry of Defence and the Italian Navy. Southeast Asia is a region of central geopolitical importance where Fincantieri aims to strengthen its presence, as defined in the Business Plan”.

Vessel’s characteristics of the PPA Unit

The vessel is capable of operating high-speed vessels such as RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) up to 11 meters long, with launching through lateral cranes or a hauling ramp located at the far stern.

•  143 meters long overall

•  Speed more than 32 knots according to vessel configuration and operational conditions

•  Crew of about 170 persons

•  Equipped with a combined diesel, a gas turbine plant (CODAG) and an electric propulsion system

•  Capacity to supply drinking water to land

(Fincantieri)

Construction Begins on New Boeing MQ-28 Production Facility in Queensland

28 Maret 2024

Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat loyal wingman (photo: Boeing)

BRISBANE --- Construction will begin on Boeing’s [NYSE: BA] new production facility in Toowoomba, Queensland, to support the manufacture of Australia’s first military combat aircraft designed and developed in over 50 years – the MQ-28 Ghost Bat.

The 9,000 square-metre facility at the Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct is expected to be operational in the next three years. The company’s latest investment in Australia will bring new aerospace skillsets and technologies, such as advanced composites manufacturing and robotics to Queensland.

“Boeing Australia is investing to bring this innovative, uncrewed capability to market in the timeframe that supports our customers’ future needs,” said Amy List, managing director, Boeing Defence Australia. “The MQ-28 is designed to transform air combat and provide affordable mass for Australia and our allies.”

“We’re partnering with the Queensland Government and Wagner Corporation to build Boeing’s first final assembly facility outside of North America – which is indicative of our global focus and a continued commitment to a sustainable and robust Australian aerospace industry.”

Boeing's new MQ-28 Production Facility to be constructed in Toowoomba, Queensland (image: Boeing)

Wagner Corporation will develop and manage construction of the facility at their Toowoomba precinct using sustainable construction methods, and work with Boeing to incorporate renewable technologies and human-centric design.

The MQ-28 production facility will include aerospace manufacturing capabilities, including carbon fibre composites manufacture, along with advanced robotic assembly for major components, and final assembly and test capabilities. 

About Boeing Australia
After more than 97 years, Boeing Australia is the leading aerospace company in the region. Our 4,800 employees work across the broadest aerospace portfolio in Australia, including advanced manufacturing, defence, services, and research and development. We have a thriving Australian supply chain supporting our operations, and we're proud to partner with great organisations that support veterans, STEM and the communities we live and work in.


Pesawat F-16 EMLU Kedelapan Lakukan Uji Terbang

28 Maret 2024

Pesawat F-16 A/B nomor TS-1611 melakukan uji terbang setelah menjalani EMLU (photo: Blackphoenix DT) 

Blackphoenix Development Team, tim fotografi dan techical development Skadron Udara 3 Iswahjudi dalam laman resminya kemarin melakukan upload penerbangan perdana dari pesawat F-16 A/B nomor registrasi TS-1611 hasil program EMLU (Enhanced Mid-Life Update) pada 10  pesawat F-16A/B yang dimiliki TNI AU.

Livery pesawat tempur belum diubah, nantinya setelah selesai semua pengujian, bodi pesawat akan diubah warnanya menjadi abu-abu, menyusul seperti tujuh pesawat F-16A/B EMLU sebelumnya.

Setelah selesainya program EMLU maka pesawat-pesawat ini siap untuk dipersenjatai dengan senjata-senjata modern dan mematikan seperti AMRAAM, AIM-9 X, Laser JDAM, Air to Ground Missile AGM-65 D/G dan juga siap dipasang Advanced Targeting Pod.

Dengan telah selesainya delapan pesawat F-16A/B yang menjalani program EMLU kini tinggal tersisa dua pesawat F-16A/B yang belum menjalani program tersebut yakni pesawat dengan nomor registrasi TS-1603 dan TS-1608.

(Defense Studies)

Naval Group Gandeng PT PAL Bangun Kapal Selam Scorpene

28 Maret 2024

Naval Group saat menjelaskan produk Kapal Selam Scorpene dalam sebuah acara di Jakarta, beberapa waktu lalu (photo: ISDS)

JAKARTA - Pemerintah Indonesia terus menambah koleksi alat utama sistem senjata (alutsista) untuk memperkuat pertahanan di Tanah Air. Dalam waktu dekat, pemerintah akan membeli dua kapal selam Scorpene untuk menambah jumlah kapal selam dalam menjaga perairan Nusantara. 

Rencana teken kontrak pembelian dua kapal selam asal Prancis tersebut akan dilakukan oleh PT PAL dan Naval Group. ‘’PT PAL digandeng Naval Group untuk menjadi partner whole local production kapal selam Scorpene,’’ kata Senior Executive Vice President (SEVP) Transformation Management PT PAL, Satriyo Bintoro di acara Buka Puasa di Jakarta Pusat, Kamis (21/3/2024). 

Satriyo Bintoro mengungkapkan pihaknya siap untuk ikut membangun kapal selam baru tersebut. Menurut dia, PT PAL sudah memiliki kelengkapan sarana dan prasarana untuk pembuatan kapal selam tersebut. Ditambah lagi, sambung Satriyo Bintoro, PT PAL mempunyai para teknisi yang andal dan telah berpengalaman dalam membuat kapal selam. 

Para pimpinan PT Naval Group terkesan dengan kemampuan setelah melakukan kunjungan dan melihat fasilitas-fasilitas PT PAL di Kota Surabaya, Jawa Timur, beberapa waktu lalu. Menurut Satriyo Bintoro, sebanyak 93 persen fasilitas di PT PAL bisa digunakan untuk membangun kapal selam Scorpene. ‘’Kita hanya butuh tambahan fasilitas produksi untuk tujuh komponen. Jadi secara keseluruhan sudah siap. Makanya PT Naval percaya dengan PT PAL untuk jadi partner lokal pembuatan Scorpene,’’ ungkap Satriyo Bintoro yang menjabat Ketua Proyek Frigat Merah Putih ini.

Riset baterai Li-Ion Batteries (LIB) untuk kapal selam Belanda oleh Naval Group bersama TNO dari Belanda yang diunggah pada X (twitter) tanggal 26 Maret 2024 (image: Naval Group)

Kapal selam Scorpene ini memang salah satu paling bagus di dunia. Apalagi, Naval Group bahkan memperbaharui proposal kapal selam jenis Scorpene untuk Indonesia akan menggunakan full lithitum-ion batteries (LIB). Dengan demikian, kapal selam jenis Scorpene Evolved ini akan memiliki endurance paling lama dibanding varian Scorpene sebelumnya. Berdasar berbagai informasi, Scorpene Evolved mampu menyelam selama 80 hari, 78 di antaranya dalam posisi menyelam, dengan jangkauan operasional lebih dari 8.000 mil laut, memiliki lower indiscretion rate, dan mampu mempertahankan kecepatan tertinggi lebih lama. Kapasitas ini dimiliki karena LIB bisa menyimpan dan menyalurkan lebih banyak energi dengan waktu pengisian lebih singkat dibandingkan baterai timbal-asam (lead-acid batteries). 

Lebih jauh, Satriyo Bintoro menjelaskan untuk pengerjaannya, tenaga kerja yang dibutuhkan untuk membuat kapal selam Scorpene cukup besar. Bahkan, diperkirakan jumlah tenaga kerja yang nanti akan menangani kapal selam Scorpene lebih besar dibandingkan saat PT PAL membuat kapal selam KRI Alugoro (405) dari Korea Selatan. ‘’Jumlah teknisi untuk mengerjakan Scorpene bisa jadi dua kali lipat daripada saat merakit kapal selam Alugoro yang digarap di galangan PT PAL,’’ jelasnya sambil menyebut panjang kapal selam Scorpene nanti sekitar 70 meter. 

Soal target penyelesaian pengerjaan kapal selam buatan Prancis tersbut akan memakan waktu enam hingga tujuh tahun. Pengerjaan kapal akan dimulai begitu kontrak nanti efektif ditandatangani kedua belah pihak. ‘’Soal akhirnya pemerintah memutuskan untuk membeli kapal selam selam Scorpene, Satriyo Bintoro mengungkapkan murni diputuskan oleh pihak pengguna, yakni Kementerian Pertahanan dan TNI AL. 

Sebelumnya, sudah dilakukan penandatanganan nota kesepahaman (MoU) pembangunan dua unit kapal selam Scorpene oleh Dirut PT PAL Kaharuddin Djenod dan CEO Naval Group Pierre-Eric Pommellet di kantor Kementerian Pertahanan pada 10 Februari 2022. Acara tersebut kala itu disaksikan oleh Menteri Pertahanan Prabowo Subianto dan Menteri Angkatan Bersenjata Prancis Florence Parly. 

Awalnya, Indonesia memiliki lima kapal selam aktif. Yaitu KRI Cakra-401, KRI Nanggala-402, KRI Nagapasa-403, KRI Ardadedali-404, dan KRI Alugoro-405. Namun, tenggelamnya KRI Nanggala-402 beberapa waktu lalu membuat jumlah kapal selam aktif yang dimiliki Indonesia saat ini menjadi empat buah. Kepala Staf TNI Angkatan Laut (KSAL) Laksamana Muhammad Ali pada akhir tahun lalu pernah menyebut untuk menjaga perairan Indonesia yang sangat luas, Indonesia idealnya membutuhkan 12 kapal selam. Hanya saja, TNI AL tetap mempertimbangkan kesiapan anggaran dari pemerintah.

(SindoNews)

27 Maret 2024

Two Tugboats for Philippine Navy Already Completed and Undergoing Sea Trials

27 Maret 2024

Two new tugboat for Philippine Navy (photos: MaxDefense)

Based on the information shared by MaxDefense's contributors, it appears that both the Harbor and Oceangoing Tugboats ordered by the Philippine Navy from Josefa Slipway are already completed and undergoing sea trials.


The tugboats were built by Josefa Slipway in Sual, Pangasinan, and are based on the internationally successful RAmparts 3000W oceangoing tugboat and RAmparts 2700 harbor tugboat design.

The Philippine Navy aims to acquire more of both designs once they find the performance and build quality of both tugboats to be beyond expectations.

Myanmar Melengkapi Fregat Kelas Kyan Sit Thar Kedua dengan Radar Buatan India

27 Maret 2024

UMS Sin Phyu Shin, terlihat di sini saat tiba di Visakhapatnam, India dan dilengkapi dengan radar Revathi (photo: Kemhan India)

Myanmar telah melengkapi kapal fregat berpeluru kendali kelas Kyan Sit Thar kedua yaitu UMS Sin Phyu Shin, dengan radar pengawasan udara/air surveillance radar 3D Revathi buatan India.

Janes sekarang dapat mengonfirmasi bahwa radar tersebut telah sepenuhnya terintegrasi pada tahun 2023, dan sebagian validasi kemampuannya dilakukan pada latihan angkatan laut multilateral ‘Milan’ di Visakhapatnam, India. Latihan berlangsung pada tanggal 19 hingga 27 Februari 2024.

Gambar Sin Phyu Shin tiba di Visakhapatnam untuk latihan tersebut dirilis oleh Angkatan Laut India pada 19 Februari, dan gambar tersebut menggambarkan fregat dengan sensor baru pada tumpuan di atas superstruktur buritannya.

Sensor yang sebelumnya ditemukan pada posisi ini adalah radar pencarian permukaan Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) RAWL-02.

Janes sejak itu memverifikasi bahwa BEL dikontrak untuk menggantikan radar Revathi sebagai bagian dari upayanya untuk meningkatkan kemampuan pertahanan udara fregat itu.

Radar Revathi mampu melakukan pelacakan beberapa target dan memiliki fasilitas identifikasi teman-atau-lawan/identification friend-or-foe (IFF) terintegrasi. Ia diyakini memiliki jangkauan maksimum sekitar 180 km, dengan cakupan ketinggian hingga 18.000 m.

Sin Phyu Shin adalah fregat buatan Galangan Kapal Angkatan Laut Myanmar yang ditugaskan oleh Angkatan Laut Myanmar pada bulan Desember 2015. Kelas tersebut tampaknya sebagian besar mengambil desain dari satu-satunya fregat kelas Aung Zeya di negara tersebut.

RTAF has Revealed a Set of Images from the AT-6TH Wolverine Training Flight in the United States

27 Maret 2024

The AT-6TH Pilot Training Course at Textron Aviation Defense in Wichita, Kansas. They are flying AT-6TH numbered 41103, which the Royal Thai Air Force has purchased and will be delivered to 411 Squadron, Wing 41 by the end of this year (all photos: RTAF)

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) released the first set of images of its Beechcraft AT-6TH Wolverine attack and training aircraft during a training flight in the United States on its online social media on March 25, 2024.

The set of images shows the attack and training aircraft, AT-6TH, number "41103", US registration "N2790B", conducting flight training during a pilot training course at Textron Aviation Defense Company in Wichita, Kansas, taking place on 12 February - 15 May 2024.

The AT-6 attack and attack aircraft pilot training course for 8 pilots of Squadron 411, Wing 41 Chiang Mai, who are the first generation pilots, includes training on Close Air Support (CAS) as a light attack aircraft.


A set of images shows the AT-6TH 41103 installed with a camera detection system electro-optic/infrared(EO/IR) WESCAM MX-15Di inside the fuselage airframe in the middle of the bottom of the machine It provides search, detection, tracking, and targeting capabilities.

The images also show the installation of a 500lbs GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb, a 7-round LAU-131/A pod for a Hydra 70 air-to-surface missile, an M156 White phosphorus (WP) warhead and FN HMP-400 air machine gun pod, size .50cal, bullet capacity 400 rounds.

Before that, on March 11, 2024, Wing Commander Prathon Chinawat, Commander of Wing 41 announced to the Thai media about his readiness to bring the AT-6TH into service with Squadron 411, Wing 41, with the first 2 aircraft expected to be transported to Thailand in June 2024.


The Royal Thai Air Force has signed a contract to supply 8 AT-6TH attack and training aircraft amount 4,314,039,980.80 baht ($143 million) on 14 November 2021 by Squadron 411 will receive the full amount 8 aircraft within the year 2024.

AT-6TH is based on the AT-6E Wolverine light attack aircraft, it also shares basics with the training aircraft Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II (T-6C) of the Flying School Kamphaeng Saen, Royal Thai Air Force that has been given in full 12 aircraft already in the year 2023.

The procurement of attack and training aircraft for the AT-6TH also includes the transfer of technology to Thailand as well as aircraft training and the T-6TH assembled in Thailand by Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) Thailand.


Textron sent its AT-6E light attack aircraft, US registration N610AT, to Kamphaeng Saen Flight School in Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand for use in testing the integration of various systems since November 2022.

The Royal Thai Air Force originally looked to procure 4 attacks and training aircraft AT-6TH, Phase 2, for a total of 12 machines. However, in the latest RTAF White Paper 2024 published on 29 February 2024, 2024 does not specify the procurement of an additional AT-6TH with only the acquisition of one squadron of new attack aircraft,  12-14 replacements for the fighter aircraft F-5E/F TH Super Tigris and attack aircraft type Alpha Jet A TH only.

(AAG)