Pentagon Sees Singapore's Decision About Buying F-35s by Summer

Singapore interested in F-35B Short Take Off/Vertical Landing variant
(photo : Militaryphotos)

(IMP) -- Singapore has shown "tremendous interest" in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter developed by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and will likely decide by this summer whether to buy the new warplane, the Pentagon's F-35 program chief said on Wednesday.

Air Force Lieutenant General Christopher Bogdan told a subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee that he expected Singapore to decide by this summer whether to join the multinational fighter plane program.

He said he was also cautiously optimistic that South Korea could decide to buy the radar-evading F-35 in its 60-fighter competition, with a decision expected there in June.

(Reuters)

DSTO to Study Electromagnetic Effects on JSF

JSF F-35 (photo : armybase) 

JSF model to study electromagnetic effects

(IMP) -- The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, today unveiled a full-scale model of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) which DSTO will use to study the effects of electromagnetic compatibility and interference on the aircraft.

Called Iron Bird, the Australian-built model will be tested under simulated electromagnetic conditions during the acquisition and through-life sustainment of the JSF.

The study is a significant part of ensuring the protection of the JSF against electromagnetic environmental effects such as lightning and static discharge which can impair the performance and safety of aircraft.

The JSF is a fifth-generation aircraft with highly complex electronics, sophisticated software and a structural airframe made of composite materials. This exposes the aircraft to electromagnetic interference from both naturally occurring phenomena and man-made sources, including telecommunication transmissions and radar. The impact of these interferences needs to be well understood and appropriately managed.

DSTO has developed world-class expertise in the investigation of electromagnetic radiation impact on aircraft and is engaged directly with the United States JSF Joint Project Office to undertake this study using the Iron Bird model.

The data captured will help in providing potential reductions in the cost of owning the JSF fleet and enhancing the aircraft’s capability.

The DSTO test methods provide a rapid, cost-effective means of assessing and monitoring the JSF’s ability to withstand electromagnetic exposure and minimise any impact on its systems and performance. The research will support the verification for compliance and airworthiness certification for the JSF aircraft.

Australia’s first two F-35As are due to be delivered to a United States-based training facility during 2014‑15 when Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilot and maintainer training will commence on the aircraft.

The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is part of Australia's Department of Defence. DSTO's role is to ensure the expert, impartial and innovative application of science and technology to the defence of Australia and its national interests.

(DSTO)

Hadapi Korut, AS Kirim Jet Tempur Siluman F-22 ke Korsel

Pemimpin Korea Utara Kim Jong Un menggunakan teropong untuk melihat wilayah Selatan dari pos pengamatan militer di wilayah perbatasan Korut dan Korsel.

WASHINTON, (IMP) -- Amerika Serikat (AS) mengirimkan jet tempur siluman F-22 ke Korea Selatan (Korsel) untuk bergabung dalam latihan militer gabungan. Ini merupakan bagian dari komitmen AS melindungi Korea Selatan dalam menghadapi ancaman Korea Utara (Korut). F-22 Raptor anti-radar ini diterbangkan ke Pangkalan Udara Osan di Korea Selatan dari Jepang untuk ambil bagian dalam latihan bersama itu.

"(Korut) tidak akan memperoleh apa-apa dengan ancaman atau provokasi, yang hanya akan kian mengisolasi Korut dan merusak upaya-upaya internasional menjamin perdamaian dan stabilitas di Asia Timur Laut," kata komando militer AS seperti dikutip Reuters.

 jet tempur siluman F-22 Raptor

Memburuknya situasi di Semenanjung Korea memaksa Paus Fransiskus menyampaikan pesan damai dalam pesan Paskahnya yang menyeru solusi diplomatik dalam krisis di Semenanjung Korea. "Damai di Asia, terutama sekali di Semenanjung Korea. Akhirilah sengketa dan tumbuhkanlah semangat baru rekonsiliasi," kata Paus.

Kamis pekan lalu AS sudah mengirim pesawat pengebom siluman pengecoh radar B-2 Spirit ke Korsel. Militer AS tidak mengungkapkan berapa unit F-22 yang digelarkan ke Korea Selatan dari Pangkalan Udara Kadena di Okinawa itu. Namun menyebut pengiriman itu sebagai pergelaran biasa dari Armada Pasifik Barat yang biasa dilakukan AS sejak 2004.

Mengutip kantor berita Kyodo, juru bicara pemerintah Jepang Yoshihide Suga menyebutkan bahwa pangkalan-pangkalan militer AS di Jepang menjadi sasaran serangan Korut.

(republika)

Malaysian Prime Minister is Interested PAK FA

PAK FA fifth generation fighter (photo : RIA Novosti)

Langkawi (RIA Novosti) -- Malaysian Prime Minister was interested in the Russian fifth generation fighter T-50 (PAK FA), said Air Force Commander Viktor Bondarev at the air show LIMA -2013.

"Development Program for the PAK FA is underway. Yesterday met with Malaysian Prime Minister - he was very interested in the aircraft," - said the commander in chief.

Answering the question of when the PAK FA to be delivered to the Russian Army, Bondarev said: "As you know, these new machines are now actively being tested, and in 2016 the first aircraft expected to begin flowing to the troops."

Earlier this Airshow deputy director of "Rosoboronexport" Victor Komardin said Royal Malaysian Air Force would be inappropriate to adopt and buy a Russian fifth-generation fighter, but Moscow will continue to advance in this country modernized versions of the Su-30 MKM.

(RIA Novosti)

Singapore Poised To Announce Purchase Of 12 F-35Bs

F-35B is a short take-off and vertical-landing variant/STOVL aircraft 

(photo : marinetimes)

WASHINGTON, (DF/IMP) -- Singapore is expected to announce sometime in the next 10 days that it plans to buy its first squadron --12 planes -- of some 75 of Lockheed Martin's F-35Bs, further bolstering what had been the flagging fortunes of the world's most expensive conventional weapon system.

The fact that American allies in the Pacific are the ones committing to the controversial and over-budget aircraft is telling. If you want to understand the calculus driving these choices, first look at China, which to countries such as Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Australia is the primary long-term threat.

The Singaporeans are extremely shy about declaring their intentions in public, eager to offer few chances for China and Malaysia to react, but two sources familiar with the program confirmed the likely announcement. Given Singapore's tiny size its choice of which of the three F-35 versions to buy is not surprising. A plane that can take off almost vertically and can land vertically is able to operate from a much smaller footprint than, say the F-35A (the Air Force version) or F-16 Block 60s. And, given Singapore's geography, the F-35B makes great sense for its ability to operate closely with the US Marines -- as well as with F-35Cs operating from our aircraft carriers.

The Singaporeans decision will eventually leave China -- and Russia, still something of a Pacific power -- facing 50 to 100 Australian F-35As, 42 F-35As in Japan, 75Bs in Singapore and however many of the three versions built and fielded by the Untied States are regularly in the Pacific. Then consider the F-35, which offers the first true integrated global supply chain for a major weapon system and offers highly classified capabilities which America had previously not made available to allies.

But the underlying reason for the choice of Singapore and the other Pacific countries may be found in the conclusion of these countries about the F-35's effectiveness. One senior official from the region, who has access to the most sensitive classified information about the system, told me recently that the F-35 is "simply undefeatable." And this official said the aircraft is expected to maintain its dominance for at least one quarter of a century.

Read Full Version on AOL Defense

Singapore to Replace Challenger Class Submarines and in 'Final Stages' of Evaluating F-35

F-35 as a possible replacement for F-15SG and F-16C/D (photo : Shoot&Scoot)

SINGAPORE, (IMP) -- Singapore is in the final stages of evaluating the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as a possible replacement for its F-15 and F-16 planes, the defence minister said in remarks published Tuesday. 

Ng Eng Hen told parliament on Monday that the wealthy city-state was also looking to replace its submarine fleet as part of plans to further improve its military, already the best equipped in Southeast Asia. 

"Though the F-35 is still in development, we are nonetheless interested in the platform for our future needs," Ng said during a debate on the national budget. 

A recording of his remarks was posted Tuesday on a government website. 

"The F-35 will be the vanguard of next-generation fighter aircraft in operation," he added. 

Ng said Singapore's Boeing F-15 fighters "are nearing the end of their operational life" and its Lockheed Martin F-16s are at their mid-life mark. 

"For the longer term, the RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force) has identified the F-35 as a suitable aircraft to further modernise our fighter fleet. We are now in the final stages of evaluating the F-35," he said. 

The single-engine fighter, which has advanced software and stealth capability, is being developed under a programme led by the United States, with eight countries helping to fund the aircraft. 

Since the contract was awarded to US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin in 2001, the cost has skyrocketed and the project has been plagued with delays.

Challenger class submarines consist of four submarines : RSS Challenger (ex-HMS Sjöbjörnen), RSS Conqueror (ex-HMS Sjölejonet), RSS Centurion (ex-HMS Sjöormen), RSS Chieftain (ex-HMS Sjöhunden), the submarine has 50m in length and max displacement 1.500 tons submerged (photo : Lucian Teo)

In the latest glitch, the US military last month suspended all test flights over potential engine problems after a crack was discovered on a turbine blade in one F-35 engine. 

However, the Pentagon's director of the F-35 programme, Lieutenant General Christopher Bogdan, dismissed any talk of foreign customers backing out. 

Singapore's defence ministry "will have to be satisfied that this state-of-art multi-role fighter meets our long-term needs, is on track to be operationally capable, and most importantly, is a cost-effective platform," Ng said. 

He said Singapore was also aiming to replace its ageing Challenger class submarines which it acquired as refurbished units from Sweden in the 1990s.

(FinancialTimes)

Cacat Produksi, Pentagon Kandangkan F-35

Jet tempur F-35

Washington, (IMP) -- Pentagon memutuskan mengandangkan seluruh jet tempur F-35 setelah pemeriksaan rutin menemukan retak di pisau turbin dalam mesin salah satu pesawat. Putusan ini datang di saat Pentagon menghadapi masalah pelik berupa pemotongan anggaran yang secara otomatis yang bisa memperlambat pembelian pesawat baru. 

Tiga versi dari jet itu- untuk Angkatan Udara, Angkatan Laut, dan Marinir - dikandangkan sementara untuk penyelidikan lebih lanjut. 

Lockheed Martin, yang membuat pesawat berteknologi canggih itu, mengatakan 64 dari jenis jet yang sama harus diperiksa. Pentagon menghabiskan sebanyak US$ 396 milliar untuk membeli 2.456 hingga akhir 2030. Tetapi program, yang paling mahal dalam sejarah militer, telah beberapa kali tersandung pembengkakan biaya dan penundaan. 

Berdasar laporan departemen terkait di Pentagon, cacat produksi ditemukan pada Selasa saat pemeriksaan rutin. Retak terjadi pada pesawat uji di Edwards Air Force Base di California. Komponen yang bermasalah telah dikirim ke sebuah pabrik di Connecticut, di mana produsen mesin, Pratt & Whitney, akan memeriksanya dan mencari penyebab masalah ini.

Matthew C. Bates, juru bicara Pratt & Whitney, mengatakan F-35 yang lain dalam kondisi baik sejauh ini. Namun penanggung jawab program F-35 Pentagon memutuskan untuk menghentikan penerbangan sebagai tindakan pencegahan sampai penyelidikan selesai dan penyebab retak itu ditemukan. 

Masalah turbin, pertama kali dilaporkan oleh Politico Pro, yang muncul berbarengan dengan upaya Pentagon membujuk Kongres untuk membatalkan pemotongan anggaran. Menurut rencana, anggaran militer AS akan disunat sekitar US 500 miliar selama 10 tahun ke depan. 

(NEW YORK TIMES/ IMP)

Harga F-35 Melonjak, Australia Resah

(Artileri/IMP) -- Harga pesawat tempur siluman generasi kelima F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) yang semakin tinggi menimbulkan kekhawatiran serius bagi Australia. Menurut pihak berwenang AS, Angkatan Udara Australia baru bisa mengakuisi F-35 dengan harga sekitar 90 juta dolar AS per unit. Sejumlah politisi pun bertanya-tanya apakah Angkatan Udara Australia mampu untuk membeli 100 pesawat buatan Lockheed Martin AS ini.

Australia pada awalnya memang berniat membeli hingga 100 F-35 JSF, pesawat yang secara resmi dikenal sebagai F-35 Lightning II, untuk menggantikan dua jenis pesawat tempur buatan AS yaitu McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet yang sudah berumur dan armada pesawat bomber (pembom) General Dynamics F-111 yang sudah pensiun.

F-35 Lightning II

Letnan Jenderal Chris Bogdan dari Angkatan Udara AS yang juga sebagai eksekutif utama di Kantor Program JSF Pentagon, sudah bertemu dengan para pejabat pertahanan Australia pada saat "Avalon Australian International Air Show" di Melbourne, Victoria, guna membahas menjelaskan tingginya harga F-35 ini. 

Bogdan mengakui bahwa program JSF telah menemui berbagai masalah, hal inilah yang menyebabkan berbagai penundaan dan kenaikan harga. Bogdan juga mengatakan bahwa bila Australia ingin mengakuisisi sebuah F-35, setidaknya harus mengeluarkan biaya antara 90 juta hingga 92 juta dolar AS.

"Anda mungkin sering mendengar Lockheed Martin yang menyebutkan harga sebuah F-35 adalah 65 juta - 67 juta dolar AS. Tapi itu adalah perkiraan harga pada tahun 2003 atau 2004. Harga sekarang adalah harga kapan Anda membelinya," kata Bodgan, seperti yang dilaporkan The Australian.

Menyinggung mengenai semua armada F-35 Angkatan Udara AS yang dikandangkan setelah ditemukannya celah pada pisau turbin mesin, Bogdan mengatakan "hal ini bukan hal yang aneh dalam suatu program pembangunan, karena bisa saja terjadi. Jangan terkejut bila di masa depan kita akan menemukan hal-hal lain yang salah dengan F-35 yang akan mengakibatkan kita mengandangkan kembali seluruh F-35."

Setelah peristiwa pengandangan seluruh F-35, mantan Menteri Pertahanan Australia Joel Fitzgibbon mengkritik komandan Angkatan Udara Australia yang terlalu terobsesi dengan F-35 dengan mengatakan "I think there is an almost obsession with the JSF within the uniformed ranks. This is their brand new toy."

Untuk saat ini, pabrikan mesin untuk F-35 Pratt and Whitney mengklaim sudah mengetahui penyebab retaknya pisau turbin pada mesin dan F-35 dinyatakan boleh kembali terbang.

(Artileri/Lockheed Martin)

AS Melarang Terbang Seluruh Armada F-35

Pesawat tempur masa depan F-35 Ligthning II (jsf.mil)

WASHINGTON DC, (IMP) -- Pentagon melarang terbang seluruh armada pesawat tempur generasi terbaru F-35 Lightning II yang telah dioperasikan setelah ditemukan retakan pada bilah-bilah turbin mesin jetnya. Pesawat berteknologi siluman tersebut akan dilarang terbang sampai ditemukan akar masalah terbaru tersebut.

Keputusan pelarangan terbang 51 unit F-35 tersebut diambil Pentagon, Jumat (22/2/2013) waktu AS. "Masih terlalu dini untuk mengetahui dampak keseluruhan penemuan masalah ini, tetapi untuk berjaga-jaga, seluruh operasi F-35 dihentikan sampai penyelidikan telah tuntas dan penyebab retaknya bilah-bilah mesin ini bisa dipahami sepenuhnya," tutur Kyra Hawn, juru bicara program Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) yang mengembangkan F-35 sejak awal.

Retakan pada bilah turbin jet tempur generasi kelima tersebut ditemukan pada salah satu pesawat varian F-35A di Pangkalan Udara Edwards, California. Mesin yang retak sudah dikirim ke fasilitas produksi mesin Pratt&Whitney di Connecticut untuk diselidiki.

Saat ini Departemen Pertahanan AS telah mengoperasikan 51 pesawat dari tiga varian, yakni F-35A, F-35B, dan F-35C. Semua masih dalam tahap uji coba operasional, belum dikerahkan ke medan pertempuran yang sesungguhnya.

Pesawat F-35 digadang-gadang sebagai pesawat masa depan tulang punggung kekuatan udara Angkatan Bersenjata AS. Varian F-35A dirancang untuk menggantikan pesawat F-16 yang tinggal landas dan mendarat di landasan biasa dan selama ini menjadi andalan Angkatan Udara AS (USAF).

Sementara F-35B adalah pesawat yang dirancang tinggal landas dari landasan pendek dan mendarat secara vertikal (STOVL). Varian ini akan menggantikan armada pesawat AV-8B Harrier II yang selama ini menjadi andalan Korps Marinir AS (USMC).

Varian ketiga F-35C adalah pesawat yang dirancang untuk tinggal landas dan mendarat di atas geladak kapal induk. Pesawat ini diplot untuk menggantikan jet-jet tempur F/A-18 yang jadi andalan Angkatan Laut AS (US Navy) saat ini.

Pentagon berencana membeli 2.443 unit pesawat canggih tersebut dalam beberapa tahun mendatang. Beberapa negara sekutu utama AS juga turut serta dalam JSF dan akan membeli pesawat tersebut.

Namun, proyek JSF dirundung masalah sejak awal, yang membuat biaya pengembangan pesawat itu membengkak hingga hampir 400 miliar dollar AS, dan pada gilirannya membuat harga per unit pesawat sangat mahal. Beberapa negara sudah mengurangi atau bahkan sudah mempertimbangkan untuk membatalkan sementara pesanan mereka.

(Kompas)