Australia and Indonesia Conduct Combined Maritime Patrol

 KRI Sura, HMAS Ararat and KRI Kerapu sail together in a coordinated maritime security patrol as part of AUSINDO CORPAT 2021 (photo : AusDoD)

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) have completed a coordinated maritime patrol to enhance security along our shared maritime border as part of AUSINDO CORPAT 2021.The five-day patrol conducted by Armidale Class Patrol Boat HMAS Ararat and TNI-AL vessels KRI Kerapu and KRI Sura was the eleventh iteration of AUSINDO CORPAT and reflected the enduring defence partnership between Australia and Indonesia.

AUSINDO CORPAT took place in the waters between Australia and Indonesia, with a specific focus on the deterrence of illegal fishing.Commander of the Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Mark Hammond, said the coordinated patrol demonstrated Australia’s enduring commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.

“Indonesia is an essential partner for Australia. We share security challenges and a firm commitment to a rules-based maritime order, underpinned by adherence to international law,” Rear Admiral Hammond said. AUSINDO CORPAT tested and proved our shared mariner skills, techniques and procedures and refined our ability to work together in cooperative maritime surveillance, security and interdiction.”

“By working together, we improve regional maritime security and promote a stable, inclusive and resilient region based on international law.” The coordinated patrol was conducted in a contactless manner to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

DTI Thailand Delivered DTI-2 122mm Rocket Launcher

 

Thai Defense Technology Institute (DTI) hands-on modified Chinese Norinco Type 85 Self-Propelled Artillery Rocket Launcher (YW306) with 30 tubes 130mm rocket that replaced with domestic DTI-2 20 tube 122mm rocket to Royal Thai Army (RTA) at Artillery Division, Fort Sirikit, Lopburi province on 23 September 2021 (all photos : DTI)

Multiple-launched rockest system, Type 85, which has been in service in the Royal Thai Army (RTA) since 1988, is based on tracked vehicle Type 85 produced by Norinco China, which has been in service in the Royal Thai Army since 1987.

While RSP 30 Type 85 has been renovated and will continue to be stationed, but the Type 85 multi-barreled rocket launcher, size 130mm, 10 pipes, installed with the original Type 85 system, is an obsolete system that has a firing range of only 10 km and has a long service life already trusted.Modification project, MLRS Type 85, installed a multi-barreled rocket launcher DTI-2, size 122mm, 20 tubes, firing range 40km, arrived at the stage of delivery to the Royal Thai Army for testing on September 23, 2021.

Defense Technology Institute DTI (Defence Technology Institute) has tested the launch of the DTI-2 122mm multi-barreled rocket launcher installed on the MLRS Type 85 several times.

As part of DTI's high-performance rocket development program, the 122mm DTI-2 rocket is a fully self-developed system by Thailand.  It has been tested several times with the Thai Army's 40-tubes SR4 self-propelled rocket launcher system.

DTI also has a multi-purpose rocket project, together with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) based on the Israeli Elbit Systems PULS (Precise & Universal Launching System) self-propelled rocket launcher system.

South Korea, Indonesia Move Closer to KF-21 Agreement, Says DAPA

 

 DAPA has said South Korea and Indonesia are “narrowing the gap” on an agreement on Jakarta's payments on the programme to develop the KF-21 fighter aircraft, seen here at the launch of the platform's first prototype (photo : nate.news)

South Korea and Indonesia are edging closer to an agreement about Jakarta's financial commitment to the programme to develop the KF-21 Boramae multirole fighter aircraft, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in Seoul told Janes.

A DAPA spokesperson said that the two countries remain in talks over Indonesia's payments on the project but that the agency is confident that an agreement can be reached soon. The spokesperson also indicated that once the agreement is in place, Indonesia's position in the KF-21 programme could expand.

“The Republic of Korea and Indonesia are narrowing the gap between each other's position with regards to repayments through a number of negotiations,” said the DAPA spokesperson. “DAPA is very positive that the payment issue will be resolved.”

In 2015 the two countries agreed to invest KRW8.8 trillion (USD7.5 billion) to develop the KF-21, with Indonesia paying 20% of development costs in return for access to technologies and know-how. Under this accord, payments were scheduled to be made by Indonesia through to 2028, but Jakarta ceased these imbursements in March 2020.

Negotiations since then have been aimed at finalising a new repayment structure that Indonesia is willing to adhere to. Pointing to a commitment to the programme, Indonesia sent more than 30 engineers to rejoin the KF-21 programme in August 2021 and their number is expected to grow to approximately 100 by the end of the year. The engineers had ceased work on the programme in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Australia Issues $5.1 Bio Tender for AWD Destroyer Support

 Critical role for industry in $5.1 billion support of Hobart class destroyers

Australia’s defence industry will act as a ‘steward’ for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart class destroyers under a new approach to sustainment that will optimise the destroyers’ capability and create hundreds of jobs in South Australia.

Tenders opened today for a Capability Life Cycle Manager, which will see industry support and sustain the destroyers through their lifespan.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price encouraged Australian industry to become part of an innovative new model sustaining Navy’s ships.

“This model builds on the success of our continuous naval shipbuilding initiative and has been designed to ensure we can continue to deliver complex naval capability at sea that is reliable and fit-for-purpose,” Minister Price said.

“It includes performing asset management for the capability and supporting the upgrade of their combat management system.

“Once again the Morrison Government is delivering enormous opportunities for Australia’s defence industry, particularly in South Australia.”

The Morrison Government will invest up to $5.1 billion for the upgrades at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia – creating 300 jobs in the State – as part of a major expansion of Australia’s naval capabilities announced on 16 September 2021.

The destroyers will be the first major platform to have a Capability Life Cycle Manager, a further step in the realisation of the Future Maritime Sustainment Model under Plan Galileo – Defence’s new national, innovative approach to sustainment.

It follows the appointment of Raytheon as the Capability Life Cycle Manager for the new Arafura class offshore patrol vessels in December 2020.

An Industry Briefing will be held about the Hobart class destroyer Capability Life Cycle Manager on 4 November 2021.

Tenders will need to be received on or before 21 January 2022.

Vietnam Unveils Locally Made Self Propelled Howitzer

 

 

 PTH-130 - K255B (Vietnamese: Pháo Tự Hành 130 ly - Khung Gầm KrAZ-255/English: KrAZ-255-mounted 130mm self-propelled field gun) of Vietnam People Army making a surprise apperance on a QPVN channel. The PTH130-K225B 130mm SPG developed by the Military Technical Institute.

The Vietnamese SPG strongly resembles Cuba's Jupiter V SPG and is implied to be based upon it due to Cuban-Vietnamese military cooperation. Both use the older Soviet M1954 (M-46) 130mm towed field gun as their main weapon.

The intention to create the PTH130-K225B can be traced back to 2017 after it was announced that plans would be made to do so following the successful trials of the PTH105 (old American 105mm howitzers on the chassis of a Ural).Other militaries in Southeast Asia have opted to supplement or completely replace their towed artillery with SPGs. Now the People's Army of Vietnam will be able to follow suit.

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