Indonesia Ordered 6 EC-725 Combat SAR Helicopter

Eurocopter to supply six EC725 combat search and rescue helicopters to PT Dirgantara Indonesia for customization and delivery to Indonesian Air Force

A contract is signed today between Eurocopter and PT Dirgantara Indonesia/Indonesian Aerospace for the supply of six EC725. To be received in 2014, Indonesian Aerospace will customize and deliver these combat search and rescue configured helicopters to the Indonesian Air Force under a contract signed with the Indonesian Ministry of Defence last month.

The aircraft, for delivery from Eurocopter starting in 2014, will be shipped to Indonesian Aerospace's facility in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, where they will be reassembled and customized before delivery to the Indonesian Air Force under a contract signed, between the Ministry of Defence and Indonesian Aerospace, on 12th March 2012. The EC725, a combat-proven multi-role helicopter in the 11-ton class, was selected by the Air Force in 2011 to meet its requirements for a Combat Search and Rescue capable helicopter fleet.

"The selection of the EC725 by the Air Force is a renewed demonstration of the confidence that the Indonesian Air Force has in the Super Puma family of helicopters and enables Eurocopter to further strengthen its long standing relationship with Indonesian Aerospace relating to the Super Puma family," said Olivier Lambert, Eurocopter’s Senior Vice President for Sales and Customer Relations.

The EC725, a member of Eurocopter's successful Super Puma/Cougar family, will further extend Indonesian Aerospace's involvement with the type. As well as building several SA330 Puma and AS332 Super Puma under license in Bandung for the Air Force, Indonesian Aerospace has held a contract with Eurocopter since 2008 for the manufacture of EC225 and EC725 tail booms and complete airframe assemblies.

"This contract for the EC725 will propel Indonesian Aerospace into a new era of co-operation with Eurocopter, enhancing the company's capabilities at the forefront of rotorcraft technology," stated Budi Santoso, President Director of Indonesian Aerospace.

The twin-engine EC725/EC225 rotary-wing aircraft family features high-performance navigation and mission systems, including a unique digital four-axis autopilot. Offering excellent flight autonomy, this powerful machine is also great for tactical transport as it has a large cabin with seating for 25 persons. As a result, the EC725 military version and its EC225 civilian/parapublic variant have become the reference for civil and military search and rescue, off-shore and passenger transport missions around the world.

Eurocopter.com

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ST Marine Delivers LPD To Royal Thai Navy

Singapore, 3 April 2012 – ST Marine today held a ceremony for preliminary acceptance and delivery of the 141m Landing Platform Dock (LPD), which it designed and built for Royal Thai Navy at its Benoi yard. The ceremony held in the morning was graced by Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, and His Excellency Mr Marut Jitpatima, Ambassador of Thailand to Singapore.

The design of the LPD is proprietary to ST Marine and is based on its Endurance Class of LPDs. The design is proven by the four 141m Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs) that ST Marine built for theRepublicofSingapore Navy. The LSTs have been deployed successfully on many occasions to provide peacekeeping duties in the Gulf, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts during the 2004 Indonesian tsunami and more recently as part of the international anti-piracy Combined Task Force in the Gulf of Aden.

With a displacement of about 7600 tonnes, the LPD has a well-dock with a stern as well as a side ramp designed for expedient embarkation and disembarkation of equipment and personnel. This versatile vessel is capable of supporting myriad missions, ranging from sea transportation, naval support operations, civil search and rescue to disaster relief missions. To support these missions, its heli-deck can land up to two medium-sized helicopters of about 10-tonnes each.

ST Marine secured this contract worth some S$200m, to design and build this LPD as well as two units of 23m Landing Craft Mechanised and two units of 13m Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel. Work for the LPD commenced in mid 2009 and the vessel was launched in March last year. After going through the mandatory and comprehensive acceptance sea trials, the LPD is now ready to sail to its base in Thailand for the final acceptance trials. Final delivery of the LPD is expected to be by 2Q2012.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to ST Marine for their efficient supervision and construction of the ship as well as their kind support to the Royal Thai Navy personnel throughout the period when they were working here at the yard.” ~ Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom, Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Navy

“ST Marine has always pride itself on our design capability as well as being able to deliver quality ships and excellent services to our customers. Through this LPD programme, we hope to be able to continue to build on our precious relationships with the Kingdom of Thailand and Royal Thai Navy in the years to come. We are very proud that we have once again delivered on our promise.” ~ NG Sing Chan, President, ST Marine

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MANILA — Philippine Navy (PN) flag-officer-in charge Vice Admiral Alexander Pama on Thursday expressed optimism that the contracts for the service's two multi-role vessels (MRVs) will be signed by July this year.

With the expected signing of this vital document, the contracting shipbuilder can proceed ahead with the construction of the above-mentioned ships as per design specification of the Philippine government.

The acquisition cost for the two MRVs is estimated to be worth P10 billion.

Pama said that the two vessels would greatly increase the PN's patrolling and disaster relief mission capabilities as the proposed ships are capable of cruising even at the heaviest seas,aside from being equipped with helicopters and and LCMs, allowing them easy access to calamity-stricken communities.

Aside from the MRVs contract, the PN chief stated that the contract for the three brand-new helicopters for the naval service will also be signed by the end of the year, giving the command's air arm new equipment to fulfill its mandate of patrolling and securing Philippine maritime sovereignty

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ST Kinetics and SAIC Team For Marine Personnel Carrier Programme

Singapore ST Kinetics, the land systems arm of ST Engineering, and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) today announced they will team for the upcoming U.S. Marine Corps Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC) programme.

The MPC will provide U.S. Marine infantry formations with an advanced generation eight-wheeled armoured personnel carrier. The MPC is intended to be a highly protected and swim-capable vehicle, with requirements shaped to provide a balance of performance, protection, and payload to ensure it is effective across the full range of military operations. The MPC programme calls for the production of approximately 100 units per year for up to 7 years, with initial awards for the testing and demonstration phase expected in April 2012.

"The SAIC and ST Kinetics team will base its offering on the modern TERREX 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carrier already fielded by the Singapore Armed Forces. By using existing and proven technology, tailored to Marine expeditionary requirements, we will be able to quickly deliver a simple, elegant, enduring and USMC-usable capability to meet the programme's critical needs and schedule." ~ Dan ZANINI, Senior Vice President and Landforce Systems Operation Manager, SAIC.

Under the teaming agreement, SAIC will serve as the prime contractor for the MPC programme, with both companies combining their ground vehicle integration, design, production, fielding, and support expertise to field and provide the best solution to the U.S. Marines.

"We are proud to field ST Kinetics' TERREX as the basis for our team's offering for the USMC MPC programme. We are confident that the advanced design of the TERREX, particularly in the areas of survivability and crew habitability, will underpin an effective and affordable solution usable by the US Marines in a myriad of tough environments." ~ Patrick CHOY, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, ST Kinetics.

About SAICSAIC is a FORTUNE 500® scientific, engineering and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy & environment, health, and cybersecurity. The company's approximately 41,000 employees serve customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, other U.S. Government civil agencies and selected commercial markets. Headquartered in McLean, Va., SAIC had annual revenues of approximately $11 billion for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2011. For more information, visithttp://www.saic.com.

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Raytheon Diberi Kontrak Untuk Membekalkan Sistem Penangkis Roket Kepada USA

Syarikat Raytheon diberi kontrak bernilai $79.2 mil untuk membina sistem yang mampu mengesan dan memusnahkan serangan roket. Sistem tersebut akan diberi nama Accelerated Improved Intercept Initiative (AI3).

Pembangunan AI3 akan mengambil masa selama 18 bulan termasuk ujian pemintas dan diiukuti pengeluaran berskala kecil. Menurut sumber, Raytheon akan membina dan menguji roket pemintas sistem AI3, manakala kerajaan US akan lengkapkan sistem tersebut dengan pelancar, sistem kawalan tembakan dan sistem arahan dan kawalan (CCS).

Setakat ini Israel antara negara yang telah membangunkan sistem seumpama (Iron Dome) untuk menangkis serangan roket Hizbulallah di Gaza. Kemusnahan roket yang membawa kemusnahan dan kerugian besar telah memaksa kerajaan US untuk membina sebuah sistem yang mampu menangani masalah tersebut.

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Malaysia Ganti Semua Kenderaan 4x4 Tentera

Malaysia akan menggantikan semua kenderaan pacuan empat roda (4x4) yang uzur mulai Jun depan, kata Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hari ini. Beliau berkata Malaysia akan memperoleh kenderaan itu dari Thailand, dikeluarkan oleh sebuah syarikat Malaysia, Weststar Group, berpangkalan di Pattaya. "Kenderaan 4x4 yang digunakan oleh ketiga-tiga perkhidmatan tentera sudah usang dan tidak menjimatkan untuk disenggara," katanya kepada media Malaysia selepas pertemuan dengan rakan sejawatannya dari Thailand Sukumpol Suwanatat, di sini. Kedua-dua pemimpin itu telah menghadiri sidang Pertahanan dan Keselamatan 2012, satu acara Pertahanan dan Keselamatan Dalam Negeri tiga perkhidmatan Asia bagi Darat, Laut dan Udara, di IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre, di sini. Ahmad Zahid berkata prioriti program baru 4X4 itu ialah menggunakan komponen Malaysia, termasuk untuk alat gantinya.

Sumber : Berita Harian

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