RI, India Hold Joint Patrol in Malacca Strait
Indonesia and India have started a coordinated patrol in the Malacca Strait.
Fleet Command Unit for the Western Region (Dansatran Koarmabar) Leut Col Heribertus Yudho Warsono as the 18th India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol Task Force (Patkor Indindo) 2011, has received representatives of the Indian Navy in Belawan, North Sumatera, Monday.
The visit of the Indian Navy Ship (INS) Mahish L 15 and INS Bangaram T 65, under the command of Yasho Vijay Joshi marked the coordinated patrol.
Head of Dansatran Koarmabar Lt Col H Yudho Warsono said Indonesia and India have a long history of good neighborly relationship.
“The navies of the two countries have a joint sea security responsibility especially in the international waters of the Malacca Strait,” he said.
Yudho said the coordinated patrol of the Indonesian and Indian navies is expected to free the Malacca Strait from sea security threats such as piracy, smuggling, illegal logging, and pollution”. The 18th coordinated patrol of the Indonesian and Indian navies (Indindo) 2011 will last 30 days, and will be concluded at Port Blair in India.
In the operations, the Indonesian navy involved KRI Silas Papare-386 and maritime patrol aircraft P-850.(*)
News Source: ANTARA News
RI`s Military Contingent Secures Lebanon-Israel Meeting
The Indonesian Force Protection Company (Indo FPC)`s task force enjoyed another trust to secure a tripartite meeting of senior officers in conflict-plagued southern Lebanon on Thursday.
“Like in the previous months, the Indo FPC`s task force has received a trust from the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) to secure a tripartite meeting among Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL,” spokesman of the task force Nur Kholis said when contacted by an ANTARA correspondent in Cairo on Thursday.
The tripartite meeting brought together senior officers of the Lebanese Army Force (LAF) and the Israeli Defence Force as well as the UNIFIL supreme commander, Maj. Gen. Alberto Assarta Ceuvas.
The Indonesian escort team co-chaired by 1st Lt Andy Yuliazi and 1st Sgt Karsim carried out the trust in cooperation with the Force Commander Close Protection Team and the Sri Lanka Force Protection Team.
“One of the main tasks to secure the tripartite meeting is protecting it from any security disturbance and ensuring that the participants of the tripartite meeting feel secure,” he said.
The tripartite meeting is held every month to discuss latest issues surrounding security conditions in the Lebanon-Israel border.
He said the routine meeting was important to maintain peace stability in South Lebanon.
Nur Kholis said Israeli jet fighters made illegal flights over Lebanon`s sovereign territory almost everyday so that they angered Beirut.
News Source: ANTARA News
Pasukan TNI berprestasi di Lebanon
Sejak lama Indonesia selalu ikut serta dalam usaha menjaga perdamaian di kawasan konflik di seluruh dunia. Saat ini selain di Kongo dan Sudan, pasukan perdamaian TNI juga aktif berperan di Lebanon Selatan untuk menjaga stabilitas kawasan seusai perang singkat Israel – Hezbulloh beberapa tahun lalu.
Nah, di Lebanon pasukan perdamaian TNI dikenal dengan sebutan INDOBATT (Indonesian Battalion). Dipimpin oleh seorang periwira berpangkat Letnan Kolonel, pasukan Indobatt merupakan bagian dari pasukan perdamaian internasional (UNIFIL) yang berasal dari berbagai negara seperti India, China, Korea Selatan, Malaysia, Spanyol, Nepal, Jerman, Turki, Yunani dan lainnya.
Selain aktif menjalankan tugas rutin seperti patroli dan penyisiran ranjau di daerah operasi mereka, Indobatt tersohor dengan keramahtamahan dan pendekatan mereka yang aktif kepada penduduk sekitar. Contohnya, Indobatt sering melibatkan diri membantu panen gandum para penduduk, menyediakan mobil pintar (semacam perpustakaan keliling) bagi anak-anak Lebanon, memberikan kursus bahasa Inggris dan kursus komputer kepada anak sekolah dan masyarakat umum serta mengadakan pagelaran budaya. Selain itu, Indobatt juga tak jarang mengadakan temu-muka dengan ulama dan petinggi desa guna bertukar-pikiran dan meminta masukan-masukan mereka.
Dalam hal adu jago dengan kontingen lain, Indobatt juga tak kalah berprestasi. Kontingen ini adalah langganan juara umum lomba menembak UNIFIL. Mereka juga berjaya dalam pertandingan badminton, voli, futsal dan semacamnya. Tak mengherankan memang, sebab Indobatt terdiri dari personil-personil terbaik yang dimiliki TNI. Hal ini juga bisa diartikan sebagai keseriusan TNI dalam menjalankan tugasnya di dunia internasional. Keseriusan ini juga dibuktikan ketika TNI mengirimkan salah satu kapal perang terbaik dan terbaru yang dimilikinya, yakni KRI Frans Kaisiepo, untuk bergabung dengan UNIFIL Maritime Task Force.
Yang tak kalah menarik adalah para personil TNI yang menjadi penjaga perdamaian tersebut rajin menuliskan dan mendokumentasikan kegiatan dan pengalaman mereka sehari-hari melalui situs ini. Didukung juga oleh akun Flickr ini.
Saya pribadi sangat salut dengan semangat yang dimiliki Indobatt. Semangat yang juga selayaknya (dan seharusnya) dimiliki oleh seluruh kesatuan TNI di dalam negeri.
Ditulis oleh Faisal Cahyadi
sumber foto: Pralangga.org
*Terima kasih untuk Mas Luigi Pralangga dan para peacekeaper Indonesia yang sedang bertugas di seluruh dunia.
Dan Monster Udara itu kini Dikerjakan
Indonesia dan Korsel sudah mendirikan pusat penelitian untuk studi awal pengembangan KF-X, pesawat tempur siluman yang akan diproduksi bersama antara Indonesia dan Korea Selatan, yang terletak di Daejeon, 160 km selatan Seoul. Sekitar 100 ahli dan peneliti dari Korea dan 30 dari Indonesia akan bekerja di tempat itu.
Ahli-ahli tersebut akan bersama melihat dan mengembangkan design pesawat dan teknologi dasar pesawat siluman tersebut. Proyek ini adalah proyek yang telah lama ditunggu oleh kedua Negara, terutama oleh pihak Korsel. Indonesia sendiri baru secara resmi mengumumkan akan ikut serta 20% dalam pembiayaan pembangunan pesawat tersebut pada 14 July lalu (antaranews.com).
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Pembuatan KFX akan melalui 3 tahap, yakni pengembangan teknologi yang akan memakan waktu 2 tahun, rekayasa dan perakitan, sebelum akhirnya diproduksi. Produksi akan mencapai 200 unit, dan Indonesia akan mendapatan 50 unit, cukup untuk membuat 3 skuadron pesawat tempur. Diperkirakan, KFX akan siap pada 2018.
Kredit: FlightGlobal.com
Stealthly Birds in the making
South Korea, Indonesia to establish KF-X research centre
By Greg Waldron
South Korea and Indonesia have established a research centre to study the proposed KF-X indigenous fighter aircraft.
The centre will be located in Daejeon, 160km (99 miles) south of Seoul, said South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
Approximately 100 Korean and 30 Indonesian researchers will work at the centre.
Korea Aerospace Industries and Indonesia’s National Defense Research Institute will both contribute personnel to the project, which will look at the design and other core technologies of the proposed stealth aircraft.
DAPA’s announcement indicates the long-discussed aircraft programme may finally be getting of the ground.
On 14 July, a story carried by Indonesia’s Antara official news agency said the country had confirmed it would participate in the programme, contributing 20% of the development costs.
Antara quoted the secretary general of Indonesia’s defence ministry, Erris Heriyanto, as saying development of the KF-X would take place in three stages: technological development over the next two years, engineering and manufacturing and finally production.
The two partners have agreed to produce 150-200 units, of which Indonesia would get 50.
These would be sufficient to equip three combat squadrons, he said.
An Indonesian source told Flightglobal that Jakarta expects KF-X to be ready by 2018.
Jakarta originally signed a memorandum of understanding to participate in KF-X at the 2010 Farnborough air show.
Seoul, apparently interested in reducing its share of the estimated $8 billion in development costs, has also spoken to Turkey. Ankara, however, announced plans for its own indigenous fighter in December 2010.
(flightglobal.com)
Submarines for Indonesia?
Indonesia sites astride one of the world’s most critical submarine chokepoints. A large share of global trade must pass through the critical Straits of Malacca, and the shallow littoral waters around the Indonesian archipelago. That makes for excellent submarine hunting grounds, but Indonesia has only 2 “Cakra Class”/ U209 submarines in its own fleet, relying instead on frigates, corvettes, and fast attack craft.
South Korea’s Daewoo, which has experience building U209s for South Korea, has been contracted for Cakra Class submarine upgrades. Even so, submarine pressure hulls have inflexible limits on their safe lifetime, due to repeated hydraulic squeezing from ascending and descending. The Indonesians have expressed serious interest in buying 3-6 replacement submarines since 2007, with French, German, Russian, South Korean, and even Turkish shipyards in the rumored mix. Other priorities have shoved the sub purchase aside, but a growing economy and continued interest continue to keep the prospect of a decision alive…
Broadly speaking, the Indonesians could consider 3-6 potential diesel-electric powered submarine designs, from 5 different countries reported to date. The biggest technical and political question is whether Indonesia wants an Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) addition that allows up to 3 weeks of submerged operation, at low speed. That makes disel-electric submarines harder to detect, but would provoke regional concerns from its neighbors. Indonesia may actually decide it prefers a conventional design that “shows the flag” on the surface more often, due to its location and need to maintain good relations. Time will tell.
Indonesia already operates a U209 variant, and could choose to simply buy more U209s with fully modern internal systems. That would be a cost effective option with low additional support costs.
HDW’s latest export product is the U214, with an AIP system. It is more advanced than the U209, and more expensive. Variants and related designs have been ordered by German & Italy (as the U212), Greece, South Korea, and Turkey.
Either one of HDW’s sub types could be manufactured by Germany, South Korea, or Turkey. Turkey is playing the Islamic card, and trying to get extra work for its shipyard. South Korea has an existing relationship with Indonesia’s submarine fleet, and can play the regional & support angles as well.
France’s DCNS has 3 relevant offerings. The most prominent is its Scorpene Class, which has been ordered by nearby Malaysia and by India. India is assembling its 6 submarines locally, but that has led to delays, and they would be an unproven shipyard for re-export purposes. The Scorpene can be delivered with or without AIP systems, just like its Agosta 90B predecessor that is being built for Pakistan in both configurations. To date, ordered Scorpenes have been the standard CM-2000 variant.
One unique option that DCNS could offer its its Andrasta Class pocket submarine. This small 855t design is optimized for littoral, shallow water environments like Indonesia, much like the used German U206 boats that Thailand is reportedly ordering. The Andrasta uses many Scorpene technologies, but trades shorter cruising range and 6 torpedo tubes that can only be loaded in dock, in exchange for more underwater stealth and lower cost. This would be the least regionally provocative choice, and might be the least expensive per boat, while giving Indonesia a potent threat within its home waters. The question is whether its capability set interests the Indonesians. Vietnam, with similar underwater terrain and frugal budgets, chose to buy Russian Kilo Class submarines instead.
On which topic, Russia has made a strong play of its own, and has begun supplying Indonesia with a variety of defense equipment in recent years. Most of that buy has been land vehicles and aircraft, but the Indonesian Navy did buy long-range supersonic P800/SS-N-26 missiles to equip some of its ships.
Indonesia appreciates Russia’s prices, and lack of interference with how their equipment is used. Russia’s Kilo/ Improved Kilo Class submarines are a good technical choice for India’s environment, and popular around the world; nearby countries who operate or have ordered these subs include India, Vietnam, and China.
July 23/11: The Turks say one thing about Indonesia’s submarine deal, the Koreans another. Only one can be right. South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo says:
“A [Indonesian] senior government official said Taufik Kiemas, the speaker of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly, told [South Korean] Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik on Wednesday morning that Daewoo is virtually certain to get the nod for the [US$1.08 billion submarine] project. “There still are some more processes to follow, but the deal will be struck, unless something comes up,” the official said.”
If either Turkey or South Korea land this deal, however, one thing is certain: the submarines in question will be from Germany’s HDW. Both the Turkish and Korean shipyards have experience building U209 vessels, and both have also signed deals to build new U214s, with Korea’s KSS-II program slightly ahead of Turkey’s.
June 30/11: A Turkish Ministry of Defense official tells Today’s Zaman that a deal with Indonesia for 2 U209 submarines is “very close.” If the expected deal between the two states is signed, Turkey’s Savunma Teknolojileri Muhendislik ve Ticaret A.S. (STM) would partner with HDW to build them in the Golcuk shipyard.
Dec 9/09: The Jakarta Post reports that Indonesia’s submarine buy is at least 4 years away from a contract, given the government’s needs and priorities. Navy Chief of Staff Vice Adm. Agus Suhartono is quoted:
“We will choose a country that can provide us with a product at a competitive price and offers better transfer of technology options,” he said. “The tender process will be open using a credit export financing scheme.” Each submarine is estimated to cost around Rp 3.5 trillion (US$371.85 million).”
July 7/09: The Korea Times is more direct, in “Indonesian Redtape Torpedoes Sub Sale Bid”:
“Three more companies from Russia, Germany and France competed for the deal. But sources said the Indonesian Navy demanded unacceptable terms so Daewoo and the German and French firms dropped out. Only the Russian firm remained, forcing Indonesia to instigate a second round of bidding…. Russia is considered its major competitor, since it is backed by well-established political ties with Indonesia and an offer of a $1-billion loan. In another negative sign, the incumbent Indonesian defense minister is said to be pro-Russian.
In the end, the second bid is likely to be a duel between Korea and Russia, according to informed officials, with the other two bidding countries skeptical about Jakarta’s request on price cuts… Daewoo is planning to enter the second round of bidding for the subs, hoping to take advantage of ties cultivated since the establishment of its Indonesian unit in 1976.”
Feb 9/09: Yusron Ihza, Indonesia’s deputy speaker of the House of Representatives’ Commission I on political, security and foreign affairs, confirms the country’s interest in 3 Improved Kilo Class submarines, but offers no details concerning funding. Antara News quotes him:
“There’s always been a plan to purchase submarines and I’ve surveyed a few submarine workshops in Moscow, Russia. This submarine will display our naval strength and allow us to be ready for any armed conflicts…. It’s not necessary to own many submarines since they are expensive, just three state of the art units will suffice to safeguard the integrity of our waters,” Ihza said…. My colleagues and I at the House have fought for an increase in defense spending, yet unfortunately this isn’t possible now….”
Indeed, only 1/3 of the proposed defense budget was approved. Jakarta Post.
Confirmation of Building Flying Monster
By Greg Waldron
Indonesia has confirmed it will be a partner in Seoul’s developmental KF-X programme, as it eyes boosting its nascent military aviation sector.
The secretary general of Indonesia’s defence ministry, Erris Heriyanto, said Indonesia will bear 20% of development costs. His comments appeared on the website of Antara, Indonesia’s official news agency.
Erris said development of the KF-X would take place in three stages: technological development over the next two years; engineering and manufacturing, and finally production. The two sides have agreed to produce 150-200 units, of which Indonesia would get 50. These would be sufficient to equip three combat squadrons, he said.
A potential price tag of around $8 billion for the programme has caused successive South Korean governments to balk at giving the project the go-ahead. The involvement of other countries could reduce costs for Seoul. The Indonesian announcement could prompt it to put its full weight behind the aircraft, with an official announcement about KF-X possible at the Seoul air show in October.
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Jakarta’s involvement with the KF-X programme was first announced in July 2010 at the Farnborough air show, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries. At the Indo Defence show in November 2010, however, Enes Park, executive vice-president at Korea Aerospace Industries, said Indonesia’s involvement was yet to be confirmed. He added that South Korea was in talks with other countries at the time.
Seoul has held discussions with Turkey about KF-X participation, but it is difficult to gauge Ankara’s level of interest in the project. In December 2010 Ankara announced plans for a “Turkish-type fighter” that could be developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries. If developed, this would be available for service by 2023, and replace Turkey’s McDonnell Douglas F-4s and Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 30s.
An Indonesian industry source confirmed that the nation will send staff from government-owned airframer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) and the Indonesian air force to South Korea to assist in the programme.
The source said Indonesia expects the KF-X to be ready by 2018. If it moves forward, Indonesian media reports said the southeast Asian nation could enjoy 20% of revenues from sales beyond Indonesia and South Korea.
Participation in the KF-X programme would be of great benefit to Indonesia’s aerospace sector, which has limited experience with advanced combat aircraft.
Indonesia also recently signed up to acquire 16 KAI T/A-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainers. The aircraft will be completed and tested in South Korea, before being broken down and shipped to Indonesia where PTDI will re-assemble them with KAI assistance.
(Flightglobal.com)
Tokens of Friendship
The Malaysian military has expressed interest in purchasing Indonesian armored vehicles during a meeting here Tuesday between the new Malaysian chief, Gen. Dato’ Sri Zulkifeli Bin Mohd Zin, and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
“They didn’t specifically discuss weaponry, but touched on the issue of 6×6 armored vehicles. Malaysia wants to purchase them,” Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Agus Suhartono said after the meeting at the presidential office in Jakarta.
Malaysia, Agus said, wanted to purchase 6×6 armored vehicles produced by Indonesian state-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad, which are also used by the TNI.
Zulkifeli paid Yudhoyono a visit regarding his recent appointment as the new Malaysian military chief, tribunnews.com reported.
Source: The Jakarta Post
Joint-muscles
Eurocopter, PT. Dirgantara Indonesia Renew Agreement
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Witnessed by French Prime Minister François Fillon in Jakarta, Eurocopter and PT. Dirgantara Indonesia (also known as Indonesian Aerospace) signed today a new teaming framework agreement, to continue the successful partnership which consists of industrial co-operation as well as marketing of Eurocopter products to Indonesian governmental entities.
The first teaming framework agreement was signed between Eurocopter and PT. Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) back in 2006. The renewal of the partnership will see a continuation of the joint effort for a further five years, as representatives from both organizations put pen to paper in a signing ceremony today in Jakarta, in the presence of French Prime Minister, François Fillon, who was on an official visit in Indonesia.
Signing for PTDI is its President Director, Budi Santoso. Henri Stell, Eurocopter Deputy Vice President Sales and Customer Relations (Asia Pacific), was present to sign on behalf of Dominique Maudet, Eurocopter Executive Vice-President Global Business & Services.
The partnership between Eurocopter and PTDI began some 35 years ago – when Eurocopter was then known as Aérospatiale and MBB; and PTDI known as Nurtanio – with the licensed production of 123 BO105, 11 Puma SA330 and 19 Super Puma AS332 helicopters. The partnership was further strengthened in 2008 when the two companies set up an assembly line for the Super Puma MK helicopter airframes in Bandung, Indonesia, thereby successfully integrating PTDI into Eurocopter’s global supply chain.
The agreement renewal signalled bigger things to come for both parties. Henri Stell pointed out that “both Eurocopter and PTDI can capitalize on each other’s strengths – PTDI’s strong local insights, network and solid infrastructure; and Eurocopter’s global strategy and network coupled with having the world’s widest helicopter product range – to secure upcoming local procurement programmemes and grow the business together.”
Agreeing with Henri Stell, PTDI President Director Budi Santoso noted that “Indonesia has been viewed as one of the most dynamic helicopter markets in Southeast Asia not only due to its vast land area and island archipelago, but also to the fact that there are many ageing helicopter fleets that would need replacement in the coming years.” He added, “Together with Eurocopter, our synergy will ensure that we are in a good position to bid for these contracts when the opportunities arise.”
(Shephard)
RI trains special forces with US, China
Indonesia training its special forces with counterparts from the United States and China, the government says.
“In terms of defense cooperation, [...] Indonesia, namely the defense minister, has played an important role in its globalization…” Deputy Defense Minister Lieut. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said in Jakarta on Thursday.
Both training programs are conducted in West Java and are scheduled to run for one month, Sjafrie added.
“At the same time, Indonesia is also the representative of ASEAN [...] and can connect ASEAN with China and the United States,” he said.
China and Indonesia would complete policy and Navy-to-Navy talks before conducting any training programs together, Sjafrie said.
“The Navy-to-Navy talks are needed for maritime security,” he said, adding that the focus would be on the Molucca Strait.
