37 tank Rusia segera perkuat Marinir TNI AL

Tank BMP-3F buatan Rusia 

Batam, (IMS) -- 37 unit tank BMP-3F asal Rusia untuk Korps Marinir akan tiba tahun ini selain kapal perang buatan dalam dan luar negeri.

"Marinir sudah mendapatkan 17 unit tank BMP-3F dan akhir tahun ini akan ditambah lagi 37 unit. Tahun depan, sejumlah pesanan alat utama sistem senjata (alutsista) akan terus datang lagi," kata Kepala Staf Angkatan Laut Laksamana TNI Marsetio.

Marsetio mengemukakan hal itu usai peletakan batu pertama Pembangunan Batalyon Marinir 10 di Pulau Setokok Kota Batam, Rabu.

"....akan datang secara bertahap, baik itu kapal perang, pesawat, helikopter maupun tank," kata Marsetio. 

Ia mengatakan, Markas Besar TNI AL telah memesan sejumlah peralatan tempur dari industri strategis di dalam dan luar negeri, antara lain tiga kapal selam dari Korea Selatan, empat "LST" (Landing Ship Tank) dari PAL, KRC (Kapal Cepat Rudal) dari Palindo Marine Batam dan kapal fregat dari Inggris.

"Selain itu, masih ada kapal hidrografi, 11 helikopter antikapal selam, dan kapal latih Kadet AAL pengganti KRI Dewaruci," papar Marsetio.

(Antara)

Philippines to Receive Riverine Patrol Boats from US

The Silver Ship’s new 40 feet Riverine Patrol Boats can hit speeds of 40 knots. 

(all photos : Militaryphotos)

(IMS) -- The Philippine Navy (PN) is set to receive six riverine patrol boats (RPBs) from the United States in August under a US Navy (USN) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract.

A Silver Ships riverine patrol boat (RPB) on trial in the United States.1513348A Silver Ships riverine patrol boat (RPB) on trial in the United States. (Silver Ships)

According to an official at manufacturer Silver Ships, a contract was signed with the USN in September 2011 and the boats were completed a year later. However, delivery was delayed until early May this year due to "non-availability of marine transport".

Although the boats are capable of open-water operations, they will be used primarily in shallow waters. They have a length of 40 ft, a beam of 10 ft 8 inches and a draft of less than two feet.

The boats feature a centre console configuration and a bow ramp to permit egress of embarked troops during beaching operations. They have three weapon mounts - two forward and one aft - for machine guns and grenade launchers as well as ballistic protection.

Powered by two Hamilton HJ-292 waterjets, each driven by a Yanmar 6LY2A-STP diesel producing 440 hp, top speed is 40 kt. Fully loaded, range is greater than 250 n miles at a cruising speed of more than 30 kt.

Besides Silver Ships, fellow US boatbuilder Willard Marine is supplying unspecified numbers of 7 m Sea Force 730 outboard rigged-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) to the PN under an FMS programme.

In other news, the PN announced in March it was looking to buy three more multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC) to add to its fleet of six vessels. "This acquisition is under our mid-term development plan for 2014-2017," said PN spokesperson Lieutenant Commander Gregory Fabic.

The MPACs are similar to the CB-90 Combat Boat. The first three were constructed by Lung Teh Shipbuilding in Taiwan, while the following three were built locally to a revised design by Propmech Corporation, based in Subic Bay. The PN is hoping to later acquire 42 MPACs but funding remains an issue.

(Jane's)

OSI Maritime Systems Signs Contract to Deliver Integrated Navigation Systems to DSME for Indonesian Navy Type 209 SSK Program

OSI Maritime Systems ECPINS-W (photo : OSI)

(IMS) -- OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) is pleased to announce the signing of a contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), South Korea.

As part of the program, DSME will build three Type 209 diesel submarines (SSK) for the Indonesian Navy. Under the terms of the agreement, OSI will deliver three Integrating Navigation and Tactical Systems, including ECPINS-W Sub software.

ECPINS-W Sub is the most advanced navigation software in the world specifically designed for the unique requirements of subsurface navigation.

(Maritime Executive)

$15M Air Warfare Destroyer ‘Fit Out’ Contract

Australian AWD (image : RAN)

(IMS) -- Australian engineering company Taylor Bros has been awarded a $15 million contract for the installation and fit-out of the living spaces for the three Air Warfare Destroyers that are under construction at Techport Australia, SA.

Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance CEO Rod Equid said the contract demonstrates how the project is continuing to offer economic benefits by providing valuable work for businesses in the supply chain.

“The awarding of work to fit-out the living spaces within the ships shows progress on the project as the Alliance moves into the consolidation and integration phase. Consolidation of the first destroyer is well advanced and fabrication work is also underway on ships two and three,” Mr Equid said.

“Taylor Bros is an icon in Tasmania’s shipbuilding industry and are delivering a range of accommodation products to the project including cabin modules, on-board furniture and galley, pantry, refrigerated spaces and laundry equipment for all three ships."

“This latest contract will put Taylor Bros’ to work within the interior compartments of the ship to fit and install the accommodation equipment in order to create comfortable spaces for our future sailors to live and work.”

The contract will create jobs for up to 20 new fit-out specialists in South Australia with assistance provided by Taylor Bros Hobart facility. This adds to more than 2500 people working directly on the project including engineers, naval architects, project managers, welders, electricians, designers and support staff. 

Taylor Bros Director Phillip Taylor welcomed today’s announcement saying this contract will provide another avenue of opportunity outside of Tasmania which is extremely important to the long term prosperity of the company.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us working in the Naval Defence industry at a time where local projects are scarce. It will ensure we have ongoing involvement with the AWD Project through to the final acceptance by the Commonwealth in 2019,” Mr Taylor said.

The contract with Taylor Bros, signed by ASC on behalf of the AWD Alliance, includes fitting out the sleeping quarters, sanitary spaces and mess and living rooms for junior and senior sailors and officers.

Work will begin on installing the prefabricated officers’ accommodation and Chief Petty Officers’ cabins leading into the cool and cold rooms, galley and pantries. Further work installing the laundry, junior sailors and medical compartments will continue once the ship is in the water. Other service compartments they will work on include the sick bay, examination and treatment rooms, supply storerooms and scullery for all ships. 

The AWDs are being built by the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance, made up of the Commonwealth Government’s Defence Materiel Organisation, lead shipbuilder ASC and Mission Systems Integrator Raytheon Australia. The three world-class warships are to be delivered to Navy between 2016 and 2019.

(Aus AWD)

New Navy Choppers to be Delivered December

AW109 Power, naval helicopter (photo : firenews)

FORT SAN FELIPE, Cavite City. (IMS) -- The Navy is expected to receive this December three new helicopters that are seen to boost its maritime security capabilities.

Navy chief Vice Adm. Jose Luis Alano said the three helicopters would constitute the first batch of air assets to be delivered by the supplier AugustaWestland S.P.A.

The government is acquiring a total five AW 109 Power helicopters from the Anglo-Italian firm for P1.3 billion.

“We are looking at the acquisition of naval helicopters. The initial batch will be arriving by December this year,” Alano said on the sidelines of the Navy’s anniversary celebration here.

“The helicopters (were acquired through) the proper procurement process,” he added.

In its website, AugustaWestland described the AW 109 as “a versatile aircraft that offers the highest level of benefits for government and military markets, combining optimum performance with cost-effectiveness.”

The helicopters can be used for maritime security, search and rescue and surface surveillance, among other operations.

The government and AugustaWestland signed the contract for the acquisition of the helicopters last December.

In a recent statement, Vincenzo Alaimo, AgustaWestland’s head of regional sales for Southeast Asia, said the AW 109 would “provide the Philippine Navy with an enhanced maritime operational capability.”

Meanwhile, Alano said they are looking forward to the arrival of a warship they acquired from United States (US) this August.

Alano said the acquisition of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz would provide them with the added capability to enforce Philippine maritime laws.

Officials previously expected the ship to arrive last January but the schedule was pushed back due to the need for repairs and personnel training. The government spent more than P600 million to acquire the vessel.

BRP Alcaraz was acquired from the US Coast Guard and was largely used for law enforcement, drug and migrant interdiction and search and rescue.

BRP Alcaraz can accommodate up to 180 personnel and was named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a Navy officer who commanded a patrol boat during World War II.

It is the second vessel acquired by the Philippines from the US, the first one being BRP Gregorio del Pilar, which was commissioned in December 2011.

(PhilStar)