Skip to main content

Third RAAF F-35 Makes First Flight

05 Desember 2017 A35-003 takes off from Fort Worth. (photo : AustralianAviationCarl Richards) The Royal Australian Air Force’s third F-35A Lightning II, A35-003, has completed its first flight. Photographer Carl Richards captured these images of A35-003 taking off on its first flight, from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, on December 1. The aircraft is due to be delivered to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona in early 2018 to be used for pilot and maintainer training, before being permanently relocated to Australia in 2020. A35-003, known to its manufacturer Lockheed Martin as AU-3, had its RAAF markings, including its 3 Squadron tail flashes, applied in early November, the final phase of the aircraft’s production process. 3 Squadron is due to become the first RAAF F-35 operational unit. ( AustralianAviation )

PT Palindo Launches 110 m OPV for Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency

25 November 2017


Indonesia has launched a 110 m offshore patrol vessel for the country’s maritime security co-ordination agency. Platform will be the largest ship to be operated by the service, signalling Indonesia’s intention to have a stronger presence in the country’s waters (photo : Bakamla)

Indonesian shipbuilder PT Palindo Marine has launched a 110 m offshore patrol vessel (OPV) destined for the country's maritime security co-ordination agency (Badan Koordinasi Keamanan Laut, or BAKAMLA).

The ship will be the largest yet to be operated by the service, and was ordered by the Indonesian government in 2015 with the aim of improving BAKAMLA’s constabulary, and search and rescue (SAR) capabilities, especially in the country's exclusive economic zones (EEZs).

“The launch of this 110 m ship is a historical event for Indonesia. And never again will we be looked down upon by other nations,” said BAKAMLA Chief Vice Admiral Ari Soedewo, in a message read out by Commodore Eko Santoso, who represented him at the launch ceremony on 21 November in Batam.

The vessel, which will be known in service as KN Tanjung Datu with pennant number 1101, measures 15.5 m in breadth, and has a standard displacement of 2,400 tonnes. The platform’s hull and superstructure are both made of steel. The OPV is powered by two 5,300hp diesel engines, and can attain a maximum speed of more than 20 kt, and a cruising speed of 15 kt.

The platform can accommodate a total of three rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), one each on the port and starboard sides, and a smaller RHIB at the stern that can be deployed via a small boat recovery system. The vessel also features a flight deck that can support either helicopter or rotor-winged unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations.

(Jane's)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

HMNZS ENDEAVOUR - Final Harbour Entry with Pennant Flying

05 Desember 2017 HMNZS Endeavour (photo : RNZN) The Royal New Zealand Navy’s 30 year old tanker support ship, HMNZS Endeavour is about to be retired and enters the Waitemata Harbour for her final time on Friday 1 December. She will be flying her decommissioning or paying off pennant - the longest pennant in the Navy. Endeavour is expected to berth at Devonport Naval Base at 10am and will be visible from East Coast Bays and North Head for up to an hour as she enters the Rangitoto Channel, approaches the inner harbour and progresses to her berth. For her final ceremonial harbour entry, naval tradition allows the Commanding Officer of Endeavour, Commander Martin Doolan, to fly the decommissioning pennant from the ship. The custom is inherited and adapted from the Royal Navy since before the Napoleonic Wars when it was tradition for ships to fly a ‘Paying-off Pennant’ at the masthead when they left their fleet to return to their home port to ‘Pay Off’. The length of the pennant was equal t...

15th Strike Wing will Operate 6 Brand-New Super Tucanos

04 Desember 2017 A-29 Super Tucano (photo : Rafael Nunes) PAF unit to get 6 'Super Tucanos' MANILA -- Once delivered in 2019, the six brand-new Embraer A-29 "Super Tucano" light attack aircraft will be turned over to the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) 15th Strike Wing, a defense official said. "They will be turned over and maintained by the 15th Strike Wing, the PAF's end-user," Department of National Defense (DND) public affairs office chief Arsenio Andolong told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview late Friday. Andolong said the A-29 is a durable, versatile, and highly advanced aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of missions. "(It can) even (operate) on unimproved runways," he added. The 15th Strike Wing, based in Sangley Point, Cavite City, is the operator of all the Air Force's ground attack aircraft, including the venerable Rockwell OV-10 "Broncos" and assorted armed helicopters. Earlier, Andolong announce...

BAE Systems Integrates VBS3 and VBS IG for Use with the ADF's AADS

04 Desember 2017 VBS3 simulator (photo : BISims) WILLIAMTOWN, NSW (Australia) — BAE Systems, a global defence, aerospace and security company, engaged Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim), a global developer of advanced military training and simulation software, to integrate BISim’s VBS3 and VBS IG products into the Advanced Air Defence Simulator (AADS) used by Australian Defense Force personnel to train in a simulated RBS-70 platform (Ground to Air Missile System). The Training facility for the RBS-70 ground-based missile defence system is located at the Australian Defence Force's Woodside Barracks in South Australia and is managed by BAE Systems. “The AADS provides a fully immersive collective training environment for Air Defence soldiers,” said Steve Baldock, Manager, Support Engineering, BAE Systems Australia. “It continues to deliver quality training outputs without the high logistic and ammunition costs. With the inclusion of VBS3/VBSIG, the immersive experience has increa...