Saturday, February 22, 2014

Mantan KASAD : Singapura Macam-Macam Kencingi Aja...!!!


Balikpapan, (IMP) -- Mantan Kepala Staf TNI Angkatan Darat (KASAD), Jenderal (Purn) Pramono Edhie Wibowo jadi salah seorang yang geram menyusul protes Singapura soal nama KRI Usman-Harun. Negara Singapura, menurut Pramono, dinilai tidak menampilkan sikap terpuji sebagai negara bertetangga yang semestinya saling menghormati urusan dalam negeri masing masing. "Singapura macam-macam, kita kencingi saja mereka," ajak Pramono, saat di Balikpapan, Jumat 21 Februari 2014. 

Pramono mengatakan, pemberian nama KRI Usman-Harun jadi kewenangan dalam negeri Indonesia. Pemerintah sudah menetapkan KKO Usman dan Harun menjadi pahlawan yang gugur saat melaksanakan tugas di medan perang. "Keduanya berangkat setelah mendapatkan surat perintah dari negara. Artinya mereka melaksanakan tugas negara dan bukan teroris," tegasnya.

Protes Singapura ini, menurut Edhie adalah suatu bentuk intervensi atas suatu negara lain yang berdaulat. Pemerintah Indonesia juga tidak terlalu emosional saat Singapura tidak kunjung memulangkan para koruptor BLBI yang diduga bersembunyi di negara itu. "Indonesia ubah nama KRI Usman-Harun, tapi kembalikan juga buronan BLBI," paparnya.

Edhie meminta pemerintah agar mengabaikan keberatan Singapura ini yang sudah dilayangkan ke Kementerian Luar Negeri Indonesia. Dalam hubungan dua negara bertetangga, dia berpendapat Indonesia punya nilai tawar yang lebih besar dibandingkan Singapura. 

"Mereka larang kapal Usman-Harun, Indonesia juga bisa melarang kapal mereka lewat di perairan Indonesia. Mereka tidak jual BBM lagi, kita juga tidak usah beli lagi dari mereka."

Namun, Edhie mengatakan, konflik Singapura-Indonesia harus diselesaikan secara beradab. Menurutnya masing masing negara harus belajar untuk saling menghormati urusan dalam negeri negara lain. "Diselesaikan secara diplomasi, meskipun saya mantan tentara, perang adalah pilihan terakhir," ujarnya.

Pramono Edhie Wibowo merupakan salah satu peserta konvensi capres Partai Demokrat. Dia merupakan capres yang akan mengklaim akan bertindak tegas saat menyikapi permasalahan dalam maupun luar negeri Indonesia.



Mantan Kepala Staf Angkatan Darat (KSAD) Jenderal TNI Purn Pramono Edhie Wibowo kembali membantah kabar pencekalan dirinya ke Amerika Serikat. Sebaliknya, saat berkunjung ke Hawaii, AS, beberapa waktu lalu, Pramono justru ditawari berbagai alat sistem persenjataan utama (alutsista) yang dimiliki militer Negeri Paman Sam itu. Kisah ini dia sampaikan saat berbincang di Hotel Gran Senyiur, Balikpapan, Kalimantan Timur, Jumat (21/2/2014) malam. 

Ia menuturkan, pada tahun 2012, ia diundang ke Pangkalan Komando Militer Amerika Serikat, US Asia Pacific Command (USPACOM), Hawaii, AS. Saat itu, katanya, dia disambut oleh para perwira tinggi AS, baik berbintang tiga maupun empat. 

Mantan Komandan Jenderal Kopassus itu mengatakan, para perwira tinggi AS menyebut kunjungan itu sebagai hal yang luar biasa. "Itu karena untuk pertama kalinya seorang jenderal bintang empat dari Indonesia datang ke Amerika," kata dia. 

Saat pertemuan, Pramono mengaku dirinya didatangi salah satu perwira bintang empat. Perwira itu mengatakan kepadanya bahwa ada dua utusan dari Washington yang hendak bertemu dengannya. "Saya kaget juga. Waduh jangan-jangan ini mau ngecek saya," ucap adik ipar Presiden SBY itu. 

Ternyata, Pramono diundang untuk perjamuan bersama dengan Kongres AS dan Presiden Obama. Tak hanya itu, dua utusan itu juga menawarkan alutsista milik AS, yaitu heli serang Apache AH-64. Pramono mengatakan, Indonesia akhirnya menyanggupi pembelian delapan unit. Saat ini, delapan unit heli yang memakan biaya sekitar Rp 3 triliun tersebut sedang dalam proses pembuatan dan segera dikirim dan digunakan TNI-AD. 

Selain itu, Pramono juga mengaku ditawari heli Chinook CH-47 untuk keperluan logistik, termasuk dikerahkan pascabencana. Dia mengaku kagum dengan kecanggihan Chinnok yang digerakkan secara otomatis (otopilot). "Tapi, karena masalah anggaran, kita tidak membelinya," ucapnya. 

Pramono mengatakan, pembelian alutsista dari AS tak berarti Indonesia bergantung kepada negara itu. Apabila Indonesia kembali diembargo oleh AS, kata Pramono, Indonesia bisa membeli dari negara-negara saingan AS, seperti China dan Rusia.


Friday, February 14, 2014

Indonesian Air Force Draws Up Shopping List



(IMP) -- Boasting one of the fastest growing economies in the world is allowing Indonesia to invest much-needed funds in its military. After years of stagnation caused by the 1997 financial crisis, leading to most of Indonesia’s military acquisition programs being cancelled, the situation deteriorated further when the U.S. imposed an arms embargo in 1999 that lasted until 2005.

The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) entered into only one major acquisition program during that period, procuring Su-27 and Su-30 Flankers from Russia to bolster its aging fighter fleet. The TNI-AU had never ordered Russian aircraft after the failed communist coup in 1965 but it was left with no option after Western companies stuck to the arms embargo.

This deal led to a pair of Su-27SKs and two Su-30MKs being delivered to SkU 11 [Skadron Udara (SkU)–air squadron] at Hasanuddin, Sulawesi, in August/September 2003, followed by three Su-30MK2s in late-2008/early-2009 and a trio of Su-27SKM variants in 2010.

With military budgets set every five years, the armed forces are now drawing up a shopping list for 2015-19. Local industry, particularly PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), will play a major part in how this money is spent. The past 15 years has not been kind to the company; it was hit massively by the 1997 crisis. However, in July 2011, EADS-Airbus Military signed a strategic collaboration with PTDI to assist with revitalizing Indonesia’s national aerospace industry, mainly by growing PTDI’s manufacturing output. The two companies enjoy a long-standing manufacturing relationship, which goes back to the days of CASA and PTDI’s predecessor: IPTN.


While PTDI is an important supplier of the C212 and CN 235 light/medium transport and surveillance aircraft to Airbus Military, it also works closely with another EADS company, Eurocopter. In July 2011, Eurocopter signed a new teaming agreement with PTDI consisting of industrial cooperation as well as marketing Eurocopter products to the Indonesian government for use in the domestic market. The partnership between the two companies began 35 years ago, and has seen some 130 BO-105s, 11 SA330s and 20 AS332 Super Pumas built under license production at Bandung. An assembly line was set up for the Super Puma in 2008, integrating PTDI into Eurocopter’s global supply chain.

Some believe PTDI does not provide the military value for money, but nonetheless it will become a major benefactor from the 2015-19 budgets, even if the fighters will take much of the money as they did in the previous five years.


After the initial acquisition of nine Flankers, the Indonesian MOD signed a $470 million contract with JSC Rosoboronexport on Dec. 29, 2011, for six more Su-30MK2s, delivered in February, May and September 2013. A close source has told AIN that the Russian aircraft have been “troublesome,” with usual issues concerning spares.


After the OV-10 Broncos were withdrawn from use several years ago, the TNI-AU (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara–Indonesian Air Force) was left with no close-air-support aircraft until eight Embraer Super Tucanos were ordered in November 2010. The first four were handed over to SkU 21 at Abdulrachmen Saleh (Mulang) during the third quarter of 2012 following a ceremony in Brazil on Aug. 6, 2012. A contract for a second batch of eight aircraft was announced on July 10, 2012, with deliveries expected in 2014.

In May 2011, the TNI-AU ordered 16 Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50Is in a $400 million deal, with the first two being delivered on Sept. 11, 2013. All 16 were to have been delivered by the end of 2013, but delays meant that only 10 had been delivered by then and the rest should have arrived before the Singapore show started. The T-50Is, fitted with gun and weapons pylons, will eventually replace the Hawk Mk 53s of SkU 15. Six have been delivered in the colors of Elang Biru, the TNI-AU’s jet aerobatic team.


A $750 million FMS deal to acquire 24 upgraded F-16 Block 32IDs was agreed with the U.S. government in November 2011. The contract comprises 19 single-seaters and five dual-seaters, with the first four aircraft due in mid-2014, followed by four every three months. Work on the jets is under way at Ogden Air Logistics Center, Utah, where a TNI-AU Project Office comprising six people has been set up. The aircraft will be delivered initially to SkU 16, based at Madiun-Iswahyudi, until the infrastructure at Pekanbaru is ready. Their arrival will allow the aging fleet of six F-16As and three F-16B Block 15s to go through a Falcon Up upgrade. The F-16s have suffered spares shortages in recent years, but these issues have not been limited to F-16s.

The fleet of 33 multi-role Hawk 109/209s delivered to SkU 1 at Pontiniak and SkU 12 at Pekanbaru in the mid-’90s has been hit particularly hard, especially with issues stemming from the Adour Mk 871 engines.


The fleet of 11 F-5s that was upgraded by SABCA (now Belgian Aerospace) in the late-1990s was grounded twice during 2013. Even if spares problems are resolved, the veteran fighter will soldier on only until 2018, so funds are likely to be earmarked for a replacement in the 2015-19 budget. One solution was the new K-FX (Korean fighter) program the Indonesians were jointly developing with Korea. However, in late 2012 the South Korean government put an 18-month hold on this $8 billion project that should have led to 50 K-FXs being delivered to the TNI-AU and 200 to the ROKAF. A first batch of five was scheduled for delivery to Indonesia in 2020, but the project is more likely to be cancelled. As a result, the money is being spent overhauling nine C-130Hs acquired free of charge from the Royal Australian Air Force and buying six CASA 295s for a special-mission fit.

There is speculation the TNI-AU could now acquire former USAF F-15s to replace the F-5s, while RFIs have also been sent to Saab (Gripen), Dassault (Rafale) and Eurofighter.



With some 17,000 islands making up the world’s largest archipelago, Indonesia needs to maintain a modern airborne maritime surveillance fleet in a bid to confront increasing threats from pirates, smugglers and terrorists. This led the TNI-AU to order another much needed CASA CN 235 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) in 2012, with a Telephonics system and Star Safire HDI FLIR turret. Delivery is expected in 2015. The order comes six years after the first and only MPA was delivered to SkU 5 at Makassar.


An initial requirement for three MPAs led to a contract being signed with Thales in 1996, but a single aircraft was delivered, with an AMASCOS 200 system, and the other two remained as basic transport aircraft with SkU 5. With obsolescence now creeping in, PTDI has been contracted to replace the Thales Oceanmaster radar with Telephonics’ AN/APS 143C(V)3 maritime radar.


There is also an urgent requirement for a SIGINT platform, which could be purchased during the next five-year budget plan, in 2015-19. It is likely one of the CASA 212s serving the TNI-AU will be upgraded with new systems. The three aging Boeing 737-200 Surveiller Side-Looking Airborne Modular Multi-mission Radar (SLAMMR) aircraft are in desperate need of replacement, and speculation is the TNI-AU will go for an increased number of CN 235-220s with SIGINT systems on board to replace them.


16 CN-295 have been acquired (photo : peter tonna)

The TNI-AU relies predominantly on PTDI for its medium-to-small airlift needs. Five CN 235s operate with SkU 2 at Halim, replacing five Fokker 27s grounded in 2012 after a fatal accident. They work alongside three CASA 295s of 10 on order. There is a keen interest in acquiring special-mission systems for an additional six CASA 295s, with Texas-based ATK offering their palletized gunship system.


There are currently two tactical airlift squadrons in the TNI-AU: SkU 31 at Halim-Perdanakusuma operates a mix of C-130H-30s, L100-30s and C-130H; while SKU 32 at Abdulrachman Saleh flies 10 C-130B/Hs, including two KC-130Bs tankers that represent the TNI-AU’s sole air-to-air refueling capability. With close links to Airbus Military it is likely they will be replaced by two A330MRTT hose/drogue and boom aircraft.


As a result of acquiring the nine ex-RAAF C-130s, a third C-130 unit, SkU 33 will stand up at Makassar. There is a real need to provide support to the Sukhois and this should be the solution, with tactical needs in the region also being covered. It is not clear whether the new C-130s will actually be SkU 32 assets, or if they will be split among all the units.


12 EC-135 will equipped TNI AU (photo : saxonair)

Helicopter training takes place at Kalijati with SkU 7 on 50-year-old Bell 47G Soloys. These stalwarts are used by newly qualified pilots fresh from Yogyakarta for basic helicopter training. Their short-term future is secure because the unit’s EC120 Colibris are also being used to cover SAR detachments. Longer term, 12 EC135s on order will replace the operational role of the EC120, allowing it to revert to the training role for which it was acquired, and easing the Soloys into retirement.


SkU 6 at Atang Senjaya near Bogor flies four of 18 Super Pumas ordered in 2000. Another three NAS332L1s with SkU 45 at Halim are being used in the VIP role alongside two Eurocopter-built AS332L2s. Also based at Atang Senjaya is SkU 8, which flies a handful of NSA330 Pumas. Six EC725s have been ordered for the Special Forces role and should be delivered in 2014-15 to a new unit, SkU 9 at Kalijati. It is not clear if they are taking up the slack that the Super Pumas failed to deliver.



Pilot training is carried out at Yogyakarta with SkU 101, instructing students on the AS202 Bravos, flying 120 hours on elementary training. However, the Bravo’s days are expected to end within the next few years, as the TNI-AU ordered 18 Grob G120TPs in 2012. The first batch of 10 aircraft was delivered in 2013, and a further batch of eight are to arrive in 2014. Modernization of the Flying Training Academy got under way in 2003 when SkU 102 took delivery of 16 KT-1T Woongbees for instructor training. Longer term there is also a need for a basic trainer replacement.

The next five-year budget, for 2015-2019, will be set in mid-2014 and projects such as airborne early warning and control (AEW&C), tankers, new fighters, SIGINT aircraft as well as new weaponry are all under review. It is unlikely the Russians will figure highly in any future acquisition.


Freire Shipyard Set for April the Start of Construction of the Ship of the Indonesian Navy


(IMP) -- Accolade of the Republic of Indonesia to the Vigo shipyard Freire. Defense Minister of Indonesia, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, moved this week in Madrid to support naval factory for the construction of what will be the new ship of its navy, a sailing ship of 110 meters in length to replace the veteran and KRI Dewaruci that Freire was awarded last June. Yusgiantoro, accompanied by the Ambassador of Indonesia in Spain and Spanish representatives of the Defense Ministry, Wednesday visited the Airbus factory in Seville and later held a meeting with the leaders of the Vigo shipyard, who made a presentation of the company and the ship. Freire sources confirmed to this newspaper that the financing scheme of the contract, valued at 70 million dollars (51.4 million euros to change yesterday) is already closed and the entry into force of the agreement is scheduled for "late March or early April. "

Shipbuilding Paulino Freire (Freire Shipyard) had imposed a naval factories worldwide (Damen, Icon Yachts, Bumar, Gondán, etc..) In the open by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense international competition with a sailboat 110 meters long for 12 wide and 6 deep. The ship, with rigging Bricbarca type, have 3,350 square meters of sail and serve as a platform for training naval capacity to accommodate 200 people on board, of which 120 are cadets in training. The building will provide 346,000 hours of work in the factory for a period of 22-24 months, employing an average of 300 people.

This contract was one of the topics discussed during the visit to Spain this week of Indonesia's defense minister, who attended the sixth delivery of transport aircraft C-295 Airbus plant in Seville European aircraft manufacturer. Sources confirmed to FARO Freire Yusgiantoro supported the project and appreciated the fact that it was a family business that had been awarded the contract. At the meeting with the Minister President of Freire, Jesus Freire, and the commercial director of the company, Guillermo Freire, who were invited to a dinner at the home of the Ambassador of Indonesia in Spain participated, which was also attended responsible Spanish Government and Airbus.

After closing the financing, the same sources said that the entry into force of the contract is scheduled for "late March or early April," after that rip off the works. Also planned for that month contract signing of the new research vessel that Freire was awarded last December to the Institute for Scientific Studies of Kuwait (Kuwait Institute for Science Research), valued at 30 million euros. This vessel will have 54.8 meters in length and its construction will be after the Indonesian sailboat. The entry into force of both contracts will allow Vigo factory resume construction activity, since after the departure of the RRS Discovery has been doing work processing and ship repair.


Tujuh Kapal Pesanan TNI AL Diserahkan PT Lundin


Banyuwangi, (IMP) -- 7 pesanan alat utama sistem senjata (alutsista) berupa 4 unit kapal jenis Combat Boat Type X-8 Catamaran dan 3 unit Speed Boat jenis rigid inflatable boat (RIB) buatan PT Lundin Industry Invest di Banyuwangi telah rampung dikerjakan dan distribusikan ke beberapa wilayah Indonesia.

7 Kapal andalan ini diangkut oleh KRI Banjarmasin 592 bersandar di dermaga Tanjung Wangi, Kecamatan Kalipuro sejak, Rabu (5/2/2014) lalu.

Combat Boat Type X-8 Catamaran merupakan Alutsista yang memiliki spesifikasi bottom dua buah lunas dengan dua mesin Marine Diesel VGT 400 PK bertenaga 220 HP buatan Swedia serta dilengkapi dengan alat navigasi dan komunikasi modern.

Sementara Speed Boat jenis rigid inflatable boat (RIB) adalah sekoci cepat yang bisa menempuh kecepatan mencapai 100 kilometer per jam dan daya jelajah hingga 250 mil laut.

(photo : Kaskus Militer)

"Kapal ini akan di kirimkan ke Pangkalan Angkatan Laut (Lanal) Kepulauan Natuna, Tanjung Balai Asahan di Sumatera Utara, Lanal Ranai di Kepulauan Riau, dan Lanal Tarempa di Batam," ujar Palaksa KRI Banjarmasin 592 Mayor (P) Mohammad Nizarudin saat diwawancarai Jatimupdate.com, Jumat (7/2/2014).

Menurut Mohammad Nizarudin, kapal-kapal ini akan diperuntukan untuk memperkuat peraian diwilayah barat.

"Untuk didistribusikan ke pulau pulau luar bagian barat, memperkuat keamanan wilayah laut. Kita akan berangkat hari ini menuju tjuan kita," tandasnya.

Sekedar diketahui, kontrak pembelian dan kerja sama PT Lundin-TNI AL dimulai tahun 2007. TNI AL memesan 10 kapal RIB dan 12 kapal Catamaran secara bertahap. Selain itu keduanya sepakat bekerja sama dalam rangka penelitian dan pengembangan rekayasa kapal patroli cepat, peningkatan kemampuan sumber daya manusia, dan pembangunan fasilitas galangan untuk pembangunan kapal patroli.

Sementara Pendiri PT Lundin Industry Invest, Lizza Lundin enggan memberikan keterangan perihal pemesanan alutsista TNI AL tersebut. Pihak PT Lundin terkesan lebih tertutup pasca tragedi terbakarnya KRI Klewang.


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