ASIAN DEFENCE: Indonesia

Showing posts with label Indonesia. Show all posts

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Indonesia, Embraer sign Super Tucano contract

1:36 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Indonesia and Embraer have signed the final contract for eight EMB-314 Super Tucanos, clearing the way for deliveries to start in 2012.The deal was announced in November 2010 following a bidding contest involving several other types, including the Korea Aerospace Industries KT-1. Indonesia's air force operates 11 KT-1s as trainers.

Indonesian Military Studying US Offer of 24 F-16 A/B Fighter Jets

1:34 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Indonesian Military chief Adm. Agus Suhartono said he has been studying an offer of two squadrons of F-16 A/B Fighting Falcon fighter jets from the US.He said although it was a grant, he had to calculate the cost of maintaining the 24 aircraft. Indonesia-US ties were also a consideration, he said as quoted by Antara news agency.Budget concerns forced Indonesia to refuse an earlier US government offer of a newer model of Fighting Falcon, the F-16 C/D.

Indonesia Nears Decision on Lockheed F-16A/Bs, C-130B/H Upgrades

11:40 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

By Greg Waldron

Indonesia should make a decision on a mid-life upgrade for its Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs in 2011 or 2012, but could also buy an additional batch of six Block 50/52 fighters.If the upgrade takes place it will extend the service life of the Indonesian air force's current F-16s from 4,000 to 8,000 flight hours, and make them as capable as new-build models, says an industry source. An upgrade to all 10 aircraft is likely to cost around $150 million.In addition, Lockheed is pushing for Indonesia to purchase six more F-16s in the Block 50/52 configuration to give it a full squadron of 16 operational aircraft.Another option, albeit less likely, would be for the nation to replace its current F-16s with ex-US Air National Guard Block 50/52 airframes. However, these would have a remaining service life of only 1,500h each and be less compatible with the US Air Force's support system for the type.

Indonesian earmarks funds for utility helicopter deal

11:38 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

By Greg Waldron

Jakarta has earmarked $65 million for new medium utility helicopters, but the Indonesian defence ministry has yet to receive the funds.Previous reports have suggested that Indonesia's total requirement could be for 24 new utility helicopters; enough to be divided into two squadrons.Possible contenders for the requirement include AgustaWestland's AW139, the Eurocopter-promoted NH Industries NH90, and the Bell 412EP, put forward by the US manufacturer and IAe.

Embraer to sell Super Tucanos light attack turboprops to Indonesia

11:37 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Brazilian aviation giant Embraer announced Wednesday that it has won an international competition to supply eight Super Tucano light attack turboprops to the Indonesian Air Force.Embraer did not say how much the deal was worth; it also includes ground support stations and an integrated logistics package. Deliveries to Indonesia start in 2012.

"We are very pleased to have the Indonesian Air Force as the newest customer of Embraer Defense Systems," said Orlando Jose Ferreira Neto, Embraer executive vice president."The Super Tucano is a proven light attack and advanced trainer turboprop, flying currently in five air forces, and we are certain it will perfectly suit Indonesia's needs."

The Super Tucano lists at around 10 million dollars, according to local media.Embraer, the world's third-largest aircraft maker, in the third quarter of 2010 had earnings of 128 million dollars.

By Agence France-Presse

Indonesia set to continue buying arms from Russia

10:20 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Indonesia will continue its military-technical cooperation with Russia, the country's defense minister said.Purnomo Yusgiantoro spoke after an official transfer of three Russian-made Mi-35P combat helicopters to Indonesia."We will continue our military-technical cooperation with Russia," the minister said, noting the high quality and reliability of Russian-made military equipment.With the addition of the three Mi-35s, the fleet of Russian-made helicopters in service with the Indonesian Armed Forces now comprises five Mi-35 attack helicopters and six Mi-17V5 multipurpose helicopters.Under a $300 million contract, signed in 2007, Russia recently completed the delivery of three Su-30MK2 and three Su-27SKM fighters to Jakarta in addition to two Su-27SK and two Su-30MK fighters purchased in 2003.

Indonesia Three Russian Mi-35P Combat Helicopters From Russia

5:14 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Indonesia will continue its military-technical cooperation with Russia, the country's defense minister said on Wednesday.Purnomo Yusgiantoro spoke after an official transfer of three Russian-made Mi-35P combat helicopters to Indonesia."We will continue our military-technical cooperation with Russia," the minister said, noting the high quality and reliability of Russian-made military equipment.With the addition of the three Mi-35s, the fleet of Russian-made helicopters in service with the Indonesian Armed Forces now comprises five Mi-35 attack helicopters and six Mi-17V5 multipurpose helicopters.

Indonesia Plans 80 Sukhoi Flankers and Lockheed Martin F-16s

2:02 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Indonesia intends to acquire 180 Sukhoi Flankers and also to buy Lockheed Martin F-16s, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro says, setting out plans for a massive expansion of the Southeast Asian country’s air combat force.If Indonesia is serious about buying 180 Flankers, then Canberra will almost certainly fund the Royal Australian Air Force’s plan for 100 Lockheed Martin F-35s, says Andrew Davies, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Until now, there was a significant chance that Australia would buy fewer F-35s.The Sukhoi fleet will be built up by 2024, with 18 aircraft in each of 10 squadrons, Purnomo says. F-16s will replace BAE Systems Hawks, the government’s Antara news agency says in a report carrying Purnomo’s statement.

Indonesia receives three Sukhoi SU 27 SKM in Makassar

12:15 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Indonesia’s Minister of Defense Purnomo Yusgiantoro (right), flanked by Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Alexander Ivanov (middle) and Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Hamid Awaluddin, pose for journalists while sitting on the cockpit of the newly engineered Sukhoi SU 27 SKM at the Sultan Hasanuddin Air Base on Monday.Rosoboronexport of Russia officially handed over three Sukhoi warplanes to Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, who delivered the airplanes to the Indonesian Air Force at that Sultan Hasanuddin airport in Makassar on Monday.

Russia delivers three Mi-35M Hind helicopters to Indonesia

6:26 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Russia has delivered three Mi-35M Hind assault helicopters to Indonesia, a military source said on Thursday.Russia signed an agreement with Indonesia in September 2007 to provide a $1 billion credit line to the Southeast Asian country for Russian weapons purchases. Indonesia planned to buy ten Mi-17 transport helicopters, five Mi-35Ms, six Sukhoi fighters and two Kilo-class submarines financed by the credit.

Indonesia to buy six more Sukhoi fighters from Russia

2:59 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

Indonesia's Air Force chief of staff Marshal Imam Sufaat said on Friday his country planned to buy six more Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia, the Jakarta Post reported.He said the purchase would be on the Defense Ministry's long-term agenda, but was not sure when the plan would be implemented."The existing squadron of Sukhois remains insufficient to give a deterrent effect given our vast territory," Imam told the Antara news agency.

Sukhoi to send three new supervisors to Indonesia

8:22 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The Russian Sukhoi fighter jet manufacturer will send more personnel to Makassar to replace the three warranty team technicians who allegedly died from alcohol poisoning.The Sukhoi warranty team will stay in Makassar for a year to ensure that the Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets are ready for operations.

Russia delays delivery of two Su-27SKM fighter jets to Indonesia

4:12 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Russia will deliver two of its contracted Su fighter jets to Indonesia on Thursday, which is two days later comparing to the previously announced date, a source close to negotiations said.Russia's An-124 transport plane was to deliver two Su-27SKM planes to the air base in the city of Makassar in Indonesia's South Sulawesi province on Tuesday.The source said that the delivery was postponed due to technical reasons but Russia would meet the earlier announced deadline and the last contracted Su-27SKM plane will be delivered to the same base on September 16.
Read More

Indonesian Air Force is Expecting 3 Su-27 SKM Fighters in September

9:23 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The Air Force is expecting the arrival of three new Russian fighter jets Sukhoi SU-27SKM on early September.Air Force chief of staff Vice Marshall Imam Sufaat told Antara news agency that two of the jets would arrive in early September and another in the third week of the month.Imam said that the jets would arrive in Hasanuddin Air Force Base in Makassar, South Sulawesi to be assembled and tested there.

French defense chief to meet Purnomo for likely arms sales talks

9:37 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

French Defense Minister Hervé Morin is slated to meet his Indonesian counterpart Wednesday morning and may discuss arms or military equipment sales as Jakarta looks to upgrade the Indonesian Military (TNI)."The French minister will submit to his Indonesian counterpart a draft agreement on cooperation in the field of defense that may be signed later this year," it said.

A number of foreign defense ministers appear to have approached the Indonesian government to try sell their arms or military equipment as it is upgrading its military. Pakistan Defense Minister Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar, who came to Jakarta last Wednesday, offered his Indonesian counterpart the latest jet fighter called the JF-17.US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates also came to Jakarta last Thursday. He met Yudhoyono and Indonesia's ministers during his whirlwind visit here.This month Indonesia and South Korea signed an MoU, stipulating joint development of FSX jet fighters, higher in class than the F-16.

Pakistan offers JF-17 jet fighters to Indonesian Air Force

12:08 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Dicky Christanto

Pakistan Defense Minister Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar offers his Indonesian counterpart the latest jet fighter called the JF-17 during his visit to Jakarta on Wednesday.Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro responded to the offer, saying that further discussion would be conducted in October.“We will see it first before we decide if we have an interest in purchasing the aircraft,” Purnomo said.Purnomo said he learned there had been 500 JF-17 jet fighters produced; 350 are allocated for Pakistan and the remaining 150 are for China.

Indonesia and South Korea to Sign MoU on Joint-Development of a KFX Fighter Jet

10:43 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Indonesia and South Korea are getting ready to sign an MoU on the joint-development of a KFX fighter jet program (dubbed Boramae) later this year, following a letter of intent in March 2009 on Indonesian participation in a KFX study. When enacted, the MOU will provide a breakthrough for both countries in terms of bilateral defense collaboration and aircraft technology indigenization.

The defense community and members of parliament believe that the cooperation will help the revitalization of the Indonesian defense industry. MPs urged the government to conduct a feasibility test before embarking on a US$2 billion venture that spans across an eight-year period. It is expected from the collaboration that five prototypes will be built before 2020.

Approximately 200+ aircraft will be manufactured for both the Indonesian and Korean Air Force. Surely there is a sense of pride creeping into every Indonesian’s minds knowing that the biggest Muslim country in the world is going to carry on an indigenize a fighter jet program, debunking the myth that only technologically advanced countries can achieve this.

Indonesian Air Force KT-1B South Korean Basic Trainer Crashes

1:43 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

It was supposed to have been a joyous flight, but it ended disastrously. An Indonesian Air Force KT-1B exercise plane participating in a “Terbang Gembira” (“Joy Flight”) activity crashed and burned on Thursday afternoon at the eastern tip of Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport. The pilot, Lt. Col. Ramot Sinaga, and his passenger, Udayana Regional Military Commander Maj. Gen. Rachmad Budianto, both managed to eject from the cockpit safely. Rachmad, who was named the regional armed forces chief three months ago, suffered light injuries to his legs.

Indonesia and South Korean are Gearing up to sign MoU for KFX project

12:22 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

Planned cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea to start a joint project on jet fighter production received strong support from a lawmaker and researcher here but they warned that it will need to undergo feasibility studies. “The joint cooperation is good for Indonesia because it will help us revitalize our defense industry. Initiated during a visit to Indonesia by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak last year, both countries are now gearing up to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the fighter production, which will be called “KFX project”.This team would be tasked with building five prototypes of the aircraft before 2020. After achieving the break even point target of 200 units, the aircraft will be ready for mass production.

Indonesian Air Force to buy 4 UAVs

1:05 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Indonesian Air Force chief of staff Marshal Imam Sufa'at said the Indonesian Military planned to buy four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for border surveillance."The four UAVs, among others, will be stationed at Suryadarma Air Force Base in Subang, West Java and Supadio Air Force Base in Pontianak, West Kalimantan," Imam said.

He said the country had never operated any UAVs but that they would be strategic additions to the military's air force fleet.The aircraft could be used to monitor illegal activities that occur in border areas, such as illegal logging and fishing.Apart from the UAVs, the air force also plans to develop a radar plant in Merauke, Papua, which is expected to be operational in November. - JP