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ROTORHUB
Russian Helicopters' after-sales approach in Asia
13th January 2017 - 10:00by Alex Mladenov in Sofia
Russian Helicopters’ marketing has been targeting the after-sales sector in Asia, where it sees a good potential for growth, Shephard has learnt.
The business of Russia’s sole helicopter manufacturer in Asia (excluding India and China) could be characterised as a modest one. There are no big contracts at present, and the prospects for the sales of new helicopters in the near future remain modest.
The most recent contract in the region was the delivery of six Mi-171Sh assault transport helicopters and one Mi-171 for VIP transport which was signed in April 2015 with Bangladesh. The deliveries under this contract were reported to be completed in November 2016.
Thailand is among the most prospective customers in the region, the country has already purchased six Mi-17V-5 helicopters.
A contract outlining for up to ten more of the same type, to be used for assault transport, was mulled over in early 2016. There is no information that a deal has been inked yet and signature of this contract is expected to take place in 2017.
Indonesia is now being viewed among the most promising customers for Russian Helicopters within the region.
The country expressed a recent interest in purchasing Mi-26 heavy lift helicopters for military use. This was revealed in December 2016 when a high-ranking Indonesian delegation visited Russia and toured the company's manufacturing plants.
The Mi-26 is being regarded as a suitable heavy lift transport type for the army aviation which already operates 14 Mi-17s, including six of the newest version Mi-17V-5s delivered in 2011.
Currently, Indonesia has a contract with Russian Helicopters for the overhaul of its five Mi-35P attack helicopters at the 150 ARZ - a maintenance, repair and overhaul company situated in the Kaliningrad district.
South Korea is being regarded as one of the most important markets for Russian Helicopters after-sales services, with the first authorised centre opening there in January 2014.
It is now set for a further growth, in order to cover the entire range of maintenance requirements. The centre is a joint venture between Russian Helicopters and the local company LGI, and is aimed at providing service support to a fleet of 70-plus Ka-32 helicopters operated by a wide variety of government customers in the country.
In May 2016, Russian Helicopters appointed another Korean company, RH Focus Group, as a partner for establishing another dedicated service centre in the country. Within the frame of this partnership, RH Focus Group will act as a dealer for the sales of spare parts and technical services covering the full spectrum of the Ka-32s and Mi-17s support in Korea.
Another important after-sales market exists in Vietnam where Russian Helicopters certified in September 2016 a local service centre, Helitechco, to deal with the overhauls for civil helicopters of the Mi-8/17 series, with prospects at a later stage to get an approval for the overhaul of military helicopters belonging to the Vietnamese MoD.
Myanmar is another prospective customer in Asia, which is expected to place contracts in the foreseeable future for Mi-17V-5 assault transport helicopters in addition to the new Russian Ansat light twin.
In addition, Myanmar relies fully on Russian Helicopters for the overhaul of its aging combat and transport helicopters, with the last contract covering four Mi-24Ps, signed in 2015 and expected to be completed in the first half of 2017.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/rotorhub/russian-helicopters-asian-after-sales-approach/
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Airbus DS continues SATCOM work with UK
10th November 2016 - 8:18by Beth Maundrill in London
With a mere six years until the end of Skynet, the UK’s sovereign satellite communications capability, attempts are being made to ensure continuing capacity.
The UK MoD has decided to buy satellite capabilities in a bundle through a deal with Airbus Defence and Space (DS).
Since 2016 the company has been dealing with the MoD to improve the cost of bandwidth usage and claims that since working with the ministry to create a ‘commercial’ type agreement there has been a 50% increase in capacity used by the UK armed forces.
‘We did a commercial deal with the MoD earlier this year to significantly free up their access to their remaining capacity within their boundary. That has been a success as stated by them,’ said Richard Franklin, head of Secure Communications at Airbus DS.
According to Franklin ‘pent up demand’ was being created by the previous cost structure. The company has since worked to change the cost model so they MoD is able to essentially access capacity through a ‘bundle deal rather than paying as they go’.
Airbus DS is keen to be in the running for the next stage of satellite communications. Future Beyond Line of Sight (FBLOS), which is expected to run a competition for the service in 2020. MoD thinking towards satellite procurement is already in the works according to Franklin.
‘As they are looking forward to specifying and defining FBLOS they were starting from a place that was constrained. So what we are tried to do was create a commercial construct that takes away their boundaries,’ said Franklin.
At the moment the satellite services that are provided by Airbus DS are done so though a private finance initiative. It is uncertain whether the MoD will adopt this approach again. More likely satellites will be procured and a competition for services will be held.
Airbus DS has also delivered its Xebra X-band flat panel terminals to the UK MoD which allows various platforms increased access to the X-band network. It is possible that new platforms such as the A400M and Protector UAV will be looking to gain access to X-band.
The company is also making continued progress in Asia following the relocation of the Skynet 5A satellite in September 2015.
The company recently signed an agreement with GigaSat to be part of its channel partner programme for Skynet services. GigaSat will pass on these services to the Indonesian Defence Forces operating within the Asia-Pacific region.
This will be the first time GigaSat will be able to provide X-band and UHF Skynet services.
Success already with more partners signed up to take advantage of the X-band capacity of Skynet 5a with more capacity to be sold.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/digital-battlespace/airbus-ds-continues-satcom-work-uk/
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Indo Defence 2016: Hopes for light artillery expansion
06th November 2016 - 6:00by Tim Fish in Jakarta
French defence manufacturer Nexter expects further orders for its LG1 light artillery gun in Indonesia.
The company has already delivered 20 to the Indonesian Marines. LG1 fires 105mm rounds and is marinised so that it can be used in a naval environment.
A spokesperson from Nexter said that the Indonesian Army may be interested in buying the gun as well because it is a lightweight system weighing just 1,550kg that can be easily deployed by medium helicopters like the Bell 212 and SA 330 Puma.
LG1 can fire 12 rounds per minute and can be brought into action in 30 seconds if an optional inertial navigation system is included that allows the gun to be brought into action faster because it removes the need for a geographic team to calculate the location and surrounding terrain before LG1 can be used.
He said the army already has 105mm guns but that these are old and will need to be replaced. LG1 can be crewed by a few as three soldiers and has a Top-Lite ballistic computer.
The Indonesian Army has already upgraded its 155mm and rocket artillery forces as it has recently taken delivery of two batteries of Caesar 155mm self-propelled 6x6 wheeled artillery guns in 2015 totalling 36 guns plus one for training. They also received 36 ASTROS 6x6 self-propelled rocket artillery systems from Brazilian manufacturer Avibras.
Nexter is also offering improved ammunition that can extend the range from about 11km using exsiting M1 rounds to more than 15km with Nexter Munitions’ hollow base and base bleed projectiles.
Nexter has already sold the LG1 to Thailand, which has 18 systems and to Singapore and the company expects to sell more in the South East Asia region. Other LG1 customers include Belgium, Canada and Colombia.
For more information about Indo Defence visit the dedicated show news page here.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/...defence-2016-hopes-light-artillery-expansion/
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Indo Defence 2016: Teaming to offer digital vehicles
08th November 2016 - 6:00by Tim Fish in Jakarta
Thales has teamed with Indonesian companies PT Len and PT Pindad to develop a fully networked vehicle proposal.
The company brought a modified 4x4 Bushmaster, named Sanca, to Indo Defence to demonstrate its C5iconcept – the traditional C4 plus combat information added as the fifth ‘C’ and ‘i’.
At the exhibition, PT Pindad announced the vehicle as Indonesia’s first MRAP (mine resistant armour protected) vehicle and it is already in service with the country’s KOPASSUS special forces unit.
Laurent Letellier, product line manager, told Shephard that the plan was to improve the combat effectiveness of Indonesia’s armoured vehicles, which include the Badak 6x6, Anoa APC and Anoa 2 amphibious 6x6, and Komodo 4x4 among others.
To do this the team will develop a vehicle electronics architecture that will allow different networked vehicles on the battlefield to exchange information in near real time. PT Len is to work with the vehicle networking systems and software with PT Pindad’s role to integrate the electronics into the vehicles.
Letellier said that the benefit of this is that commanders will know exactly what the threats are and can select the appropriate vehicle to respond to the threat. For example, if a vehicle is targeted by a laser then an alert is sent out, a reaction from the vehicle such as smoke will take place immediately and then it will get support from others.
Information is collected automatically and exchanged within the vehicle and with other vehicles. The vetronics system can integrate and collate this to add value.
Letellier added that previously without C5i only raw data from sensors is sent through and distributed, whereas now there is the potential to fuse it and present only the useful bits.
It can do this by adhering to NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture standards relating to power management units, rugged computers and communications sensors.
Thales may be able to provide additional sensors, C2 systems, tactical communications and other additional equipment that is required such as a navigation unit, camera system, or a jamming solution a vehicle does not have these already. But the idea is for the system to be vehicle agnostic.
Thales is able to provide systems experts and programme management experience working on Dingo vehicles for Luxembourg, Pars vehicles for Malaysia, and on the Scorpion vehicle programme in France where it is providing the common vetronics infrastructure for all the vehicles.
The company said part of the C5i concept was to ensure that the delivery of information to operators can be done on one multifunction display. This means that a battle management system becomes more than just that, it is able to view all the local situational awareness cameras and control all the electronic equipment on the vehicle.
‘In combat you need to focus on the mission and not spend all your time looking at information on screens, we need to provide the basics for the driver, commander and gunner,’ he said.
However, he added that although there were talks underway with the Indonesian MoD, the push for this concept to be implemented in Indonesia needs to come from the domestic companies.
They will first demonstrate on an individual vehicle – Sanca – and the plan is to hopefully be given a unit of vehicles to upgrade so that the MoD can see the difference in capability before incrementally spreading the growth across the vehicle fleets.
For more from Indo Defence, visit the dedicated news
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/...-defence-2016-teaming-offer-digital-vehicles/
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Indo Defence 2016: Terma widens SE Asia maritime surveillance
03rd November 2016 - 5:26by Tim Fish in Jakarta
Danish surveillance radar manufacturer Terma is to fit its Scanter 4100 radar to the second upgraded Indonesian Navy Fatahillah-class corvette.
A spokesperson from the company told Shephard that the plans are in place and discussions are ongoing, although it still requires officials to give their final approval.
Terma has already delivered a 4100 naval air and surface surveillance radar for the first of the two corvettes as part of a strategy aimed at upgrading older naval vessels to give them an improved 2D surveillance radar capability.
The system is able to detect and track small targets from the radar horizon right up to the vessel’s side and up to 35,000ft in all weather conditions. This offers a vital UAV detection capability and can be used for supporting helicopter operations, particularly ship landings.
The company had earlier confirmed at Indo Defence 2016 that it had received an order to fit its Scanter 6000 radar on five Indonesian Coast Guard patrol vessels and had delivered the system for the fifth ship in April. The radar gives a capability to detect small surface targets and air targets close to the ship out to 10-15nm and up to 6000ft.
In addition, the spokesperson said that the company was providing its C-Guard decoy system for the Indonesian Navy’s two new SIGMA frigates that PT Pal is building with Dutch shipbuilder Damen. He confirmed that the first two systems are delivered with a third on the way.
C-Guard provides 360° defence firing 130mm NATO decoys to seduce missiles away from the ship and can control from six to 24 firing tubes on each side of a vessel.
Looking ahead Terma sees further market prospects for its Scanter 6000 and the C-Guard decoys on Indonesia’s four Fast Attack Craft and this proposal is being examined by officials.
Terma has already delivered the 4100 radar, C-Flex command and control system and the C-Guard systems to the navies of both Brunei and Thailand. In addition the company has provided the Scanter 2600 series of X-band naval surveillance radar to the Singapore Navy frigates and the Scanter 6000 to the Malaysian Navy’s Lekiu-class corvettes.
For more information about Indo Defence 2016 visit our dedicated news page here.
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https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/...efence-2016-terma-widens-se-asia-maritime-su/
Indonesia to buy second-hand artillery
22nd August 2016 - 8:27by Gordon Arthur in Hong Kong
Indonesia will buy 20 second-hand BAE Systems M109A4 SPHs, most likely to be sourced from Belgium, it has been confirmed.
The draft state budget for 2017 issued by Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance on 16 August confirmed an intention to buy these weapons, as it included a request for a funding allocation.
In April a delegation from Indonesia’s field artillery centre travelled to Belgium to view the platforms. Belgium modernised 64 of its 127 M109A2s to M109A4 status, decommissioning the reminder of its fleet. It previously sold 40 vehicles to Brazil.
The second-hand SPHs will equip a battalion in the Indonesian Army, but it is still unclear which one this will be. There is speculation it could be a unit located near the capital Jakarta.
The Indonesian Army is continuing to strengthen its artillery branch to fill capability gaps. It procured 37 examples of Nexter’s CAESAR 155mm howitzer mounted on Renault Sherpa 6x6 truck chassis in 2012, and 36 units of the Brazilian-made Avibras Artillery SaTuration ROcket System (ASTROS) II that was ordered the same year.
Buying from Belgium illustrates the kind of attractive deals that are possible as European militaries either downsize or replace older equipment.
Similarly, Indonesia purchased 61 Leopard 2 RI and 42 Leopard 2+ MBTs, 42 upgraded Marder 1A3 IFVs and ten specialist vehicles from Germany for $280 million in December 2012.
Malaysia is also in the running to acquire surplus M109A5 SPHs from the US via the Excess Defense Articles programme. The Malaysian Army could receive up to 24 M109A5s, with the force not having any SPHs at present.
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https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/indonesia-buy-second-hand-m109s/
AUVSI 2016: Endeavor Robotics to continue with current UGV lineup
05th May 2016 - 21:00by Richard Thomas in New Orleans
Attending Xponential for the first time since the formation of Endeavor Robotics, company officials say they will concentrate on marketing their existing lineup of UGVs until demand for new designs and platforms emerge.
Around 6,000 UGVs have been delivered to customers from 42 countries around the world, with the company (then operating as iRobot) making $55 million in 2015. The new company had formally been the Defense and Security Business Unit at iRobot.
Speaking to Shephard Sean Bielat, CEO of Endeavor Robotics, said that it was difficult to determine which emerging markets offer the most promise for the company but that there were opportunities to be had in Latin America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
‘We are unlikely to engineer a new model to see if that sticks [in the market], really we would do that only if there was a customer requirement,’ he said.
The company has a number of UGVs in its portfolio, including the 110 Firstlook; 310 SUGV; 510 Packbot and the larger 710 Kobra. They also produce the uPoint multi-robot control system, based on an Android controller.
‘It is difficult [to specify emerging markets]. One country can have a requirement, which ends when it is fulfilled, and national budgets determine prospects as well.’
Much of the business would remain in the defence and security market in the US and that one programme of interest, the US Army’s multipurpose equipment transport, was one that the Kobra UGV ‘is well positioned for’.
The Kobra would carry equipment to assist in sustaining an infantry formation in the field, weight that would otherwise have to be borne by the soldiers themselves.
Bielat did say that Endeavor Robotics was keeping watch on potential future uses of manned and unmanned teaming, a concept being extensively studied by the US Army, as well as interoperability between UAS and UGV platforms. However this concept would not be developed ‘unless there was a customer requirement’.
At DSA 2016 show in Kuala Lumpur last month, the company said their UGVs will be demonstrated to militaries and police forces in Malaysia and Singapore later this year.
Other requirements for UGVs could emerge from Australia, and the company also delivered six PackBots to the Indonesian Police in 2015.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/uv-online/auvsi-2016-endeavour-robotics-continue-current-ugv/
UV ONLINE
DSA 2016: Skeldar claims SE Asian territory
20th April 2016 - 1:30by Gordon Arthur in Kuala Lumpur
On the opening day of DSA 2016, UMS Skeldar began training Indonesian Army personnel in-country to operate new F-330 fixed-wing UAVs.
Indonesia has ordered three systems from the Swedish company under a managed services contract, each system consisting of one UAV, one ground control station and one tactical data link. The training course will last for eight weeks.
The Indonesian Army will use the F-330 UAVs for homeland security and border protection missions. George Duncan, responsible for Skeldar’s sales execution in Asia, told Shephard that his company anticipates more Indonesian sales this year, possibly ten more systems by 2017.
‘The contract with our Indonesian partner, Putrindo Adiyassa Perkasa, is a prime example of the type of service we offer. We are not just a hardware manufacturer; instead we provide a total UAV and systems ground control package, incorporating all of the training, management protocols and documentation an organisation requires to gather the intelligence it needs,' he said.
Duncan predicted that Indonesia might later opt for the rotary-winged R-350 too.
UMS Skeldar is prepared to transfer technology to clients, and the initial target for Indonesia is 30% local content, a figure that would grow over time.
Indonesia is not the only target. Duncan said the Swedish manufacturer, in which Saab holds a 47% stake, is hoping for good things in Malaysia too. Thailand has also shown interest, while ‘India is an exciting possibility’. The Indian Navy should release an RfP later this year, which could ask for up to 75 shipborne UAVs.
UMS Skeldar is also talking to Singapore, which wants UAVs to operate from its new Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessels being built by ST Marine.
The UAV manufacturer completed a training package for the Singapore Police, helping the force to write a concept of operations. However, Singapore’s extremely strict civil aviation regulations meant the police opted for a small quadrotor with which to gain experience.
UMS Skeldar is participating in a rotary-winged UAV requirement for the Royal Australian Navy too.
Duncan said having Saab ‘as a big brother’ brings advantages, such as access to a test range in Sweden.
UMS Skeldar is pushing the services model to customers, and he said militaries are interested in such wet lease services. He said this kind of model has a ‘great future’ as it allows militaries to try before they buy, and that it is more cost-effective.
Russian Helicopters' after-sales approach in Asia
13th January 2017 - 10:00by Alex Mladenov in Sofia
Russian Helicopters’ marketing has been targeting the after-sales sector in Asia, where it sees a good potential for growth, Shephard has learnt.
The business of Russia’s sole helicopter manufacturer in Asia (excluding India and China) could be characterised as a modest one. There are no big contracts at present, and the prospects for the sales of new helicopters in the near future remain modest.
The most recent contract in the region was the delivery of six Mi-171Sh assault transport helicopters and one Mi-171 for VIP transport which was signed in April 2015 with Bangladesh. The deliveries under this contract were reported to be completed in November 2016.
Thailand is among the most prospective customers in the region, the country has already purchased six Mi-17V-5 helicopters.
A contract outlining for up to ten more of the same type, to be used for assault transport, was mulled over in early 2016. There is no information that a deal has been inked yet and signature of this contract is expected to take place in 2017.
Indonesia is now being viewed among the most promising customers for Russian Helicopters within the region.
The country expressed a recent interest in purchasing Mi-26 heavy lift helicopters for military use. This was revealed in December 2016 when a high-ranking Indonesian delegation visited Russia and toured the company's manufacturing plants.
The Mi-26 is being regarded as a suitable heavy lift transport type for the army aviation which already operates 14 Mi-17s, including six of the newest version Mi-17V-5s delivered in 2011.
Currently, Indonesia has a contract with Russian Helicopters for the overhaul of its five Mi-35P attack helicopters at the 150 ARZ - a maintenance, repair and overhaul company situated in the Kaliningrad district.
South Korea is being regarded as one of the most important markets for Russian Helicopters after-sales services, with the first authorised centre opening there in January 2014.
It is now set for a further growth, in order to cover the entire range of maintenance requirements. The centre is a joint venture between Russian Helicopters and the local company LGI, and is aimed at providing service support to a fleet of 70-plus Ka-32 helicopters operated by a wide variety of government customers in the country.
In May 2016, Russian Helicopters appointed another Korean company, RH Focus Group, as a partner for establishing another dedicated service centre in the country. Within the frame of this partnership, RH Focus Group will act as a dealer for the sales of spare parts and technical services covering the full spectrum of the Ka-32s and Mi-17s support in Korea.
Another important after-sales market exists in Vietnam where Russian Helicopters certified in September 2016 a local service centre, Helitechco, to deal with the overhauls for civil helicopters of the Mi-8/17 series, with prospects at a later stage to get an approval for the overhaul of military helicopters belonging to the Vietnamese MoD.
Myanmar is another prospective customer in Asia, which is expected to place contracts in the foreseeable future for Mi-17V-5 assault transport helicopters in addition to the new Russian Ansat light twin.
In addition, Myanmar relies fully on Russian Helicopters for the overhaul of its aging combat and transport helicopters, with the last contract covering four Mi-24Ps, signed in 2015 and expected to be completed in the first half of 2017.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/rotorhub/russian-helicopters-asian-after-sales-approach/
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Airbus DS continues SATCOM work with UK
10th November 2016 - 8:18by Beth Maundrill in London
With a mere six years until the end of Skynet, the UK’s sovereign satellite communications capability, attempts are being made to ensure continuing capacity.
The UK MoD has decided to buy satellite capabilities in a bundle through a deal with Airbus Defence and Space (DS).
Since 2016 the company has been dealing with the MoD to improve the cost of bandwidth usage and claims that since working with the ministry to create a ‘commercial’ type agreement there has been a 50% increase in capacity used by the UK armed forces.
‘We did a commercial deal with the MoD earlier this year to significantly free up their access to their remaining capacity within their boundary. That has been a success as stated by them,’ said Richard Franklin, head of Secure Communications at Airbus DS.
According to Franklin ‘pent up demand’ was being created by the previous cost structure. The company has since worked to change the cost model so they MoD is able to essentially access capacity through a ‘bundle deal rather than paying as they go’.
Airbus DS is keen to be in the running for the next stage of satellite communications. Future Beyond Line of Sight (FBLOS), which is expected to run a competition for the service in 2020. MoD thinking towards satellite procurement is already in the works according to Franklin.
‘As they are looking forward to specifying and defining FBLOS they were starting from a place that was constrained. So what we are tried to do was create a commercial construct that takes away their boundaries,’ said Franklin.
At the moment the satellite services that are provided by Airbus DS are done so though a private finance initiative. It is uncertain whether the MoD will adopt this approach again. More likely satellites will be procured and a competition for services will be held.
Airbus DS has also delivered its Xebra X-band flat panel terminals to the UK MoD which allows various platforms increased access to the X-band network. It is possible that new platforms such as the A400M and Protector UAV will be looking to gain access to X-band.
The company is also making continued progress in Asia following the relocation of the Skynet 5A satellite in September 2015.
The company recently signed an agreement with GigaSat to be part of its channel partner programme for Skynet services. GigaSat will pass on these services to the Indonesian Defence Forces operating within the Asia-Pacific region.
This will be the first time GigaSat will be able to provide X-band and UHF Skynet services.
Success already with more partners signed up to take advantage of the X-band capacity of Skynet 5a with more capacity to be sold.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/digital-battlespace/airbus-ds-continues-satcom-work-uk/
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Indo Defence 2016: Hopes for light artillery expansion
06th November 2016 - 6:00by Tim Fish in Jakarta
French defence manufacturer Nexter expects further orders for its LG1 light artillery gun in Indonesia.
The company has already delivered 20 to the Indonesian Marines. LG1 fires 105mm rounds and is marinised so that it can be used in a naval environment.
A spokesperson from Nexter said that the Indonesian Army may be interested in buying the gun as well because it is a lightweight system weighing just 1,550kg that can be easily deployed by medium helicopters like the Bell 212 and SA 330 Puma.
LG1 can fire 12 rounds per minute and can be brought into action in 30 seconds if an optional inertial navigation system is included that allows the gun to be brought into action faster because it removes the need for a geographic team to calculate the location and surrounding terrain before LG1 can be used.
He said the army already has 105mm guns but that these are old and will need to be replaced. LG1 can be crewed by a few as three soldiers and has a Top-Lite ballistic computer.
The Indonesian Army has already upgraded its 155mm and rocket artillery forces as it has recently taken delivery of two batteries of Caesar 155mm self-propelled 6x6 wheeled artillery guns in 2015 totalling 36 guns plus one for training. They also received 36 ASTROS 6x6 self-propelled rocket artillery systems from Brazilian manufacturer Avibras.
Nexter is also offering improved ammunition that can extend the range from about 11km using exsiting M1 rounds to more than 15km with Nexter Munitions’ hollow base and base bleed projectiles.
Nexter has already sold the LG1 to Thailand, which has 18 systems and to Singapore and the company expects to sell more in the South East Asia region. Other LG1 customers include Belgium, Canada and Colombia.
For more information about Indo Defence visit the dedicated show news page here.
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/...defence-2016-hopes-light-artillery-expansion/
TAL BATTLESPACE
Indo Defence 2016: Teaming to offer digital vehicles
08th November 2016 - 6:00by Tim Fish in Jakarta
Thales has teamed with Indonesian companies PT Len and PT Pindad to develop a fully networked vehicle proposal.
The company brought a modified 4x4 Bushmaster, named Sanca, to Indo Defence to demonstrate its C5iconcept – the traditional C4 plus combat information added as the fifth ‘C’ and ‘i’.
At the exhibition, PT Pindad announced the vehicle as Indonesia’s first MRAP (mine resistant armour protected) vehicle and it is already in service with the country’s KOPASSUS special forces unit.
Laurent Letellier, product line manager, told Shephard that the plan was to improve the combat effectiveness of Indonesia’s armoured vehicles, which include the Badak 6x6, Anoa APC and Anoa 2 amphibious 6x6, and Komodo 4x4 among others.
To do this the team will develop a vehicle electronics architecture that will allow different networked vehicles on the battlefield to exchange information in near real time. PT Len is to work with the vehicle networking systems and software with PT Pindad’s role to integrate the electronics into the vehicles.
Letellier said that the benefit of this is that commanders will know exactly what the threats are and can select the appropriate vehicle to respond to the threat. For example, if a vehicle is targeted by a laser then an alert is sent out, a reaction from the vehicle such as smoke will take place immediately and then it will get support from others.
Information is collected automatically and exchanged within the vehicle and with other vehicles. The vetronics system can integrate and collate this to add value.
Letellier added that previously without C5i only raw data from sensors is sent through and distributed, whereas now there is the potential to fuse it and present only the useful bits.
It can do this by adhering to NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture standards relating to power management units, rugged computers and communications sensors.
Thales may be able to provide additional sensors, C2 systems, tactical communications and other additional equipment that is required such as a navigation unit, camera system, or a jamming solution a vehicle does not have these already. But the idea is for the system to be vehicle agnostic.
Thales is able to provide systems experts and programme management experience working on Dingo vehicles for Luxembourg, Pars vehicles for Malaysia, and on the Scorpion vehicle programme in France where it is providing the common vetronics infrastructure for all the vehicles.
The company said part of the C5i concept was to ensure that the delivery of information to operators can be done on one multifunction display. This means that a battle management system becomes more than just that, it is able to view all the local situational awareness cameras and control all the electronic equipment on the vehicle.
‘In combat you need to focus on the mission and not spend all your time looking at information on screens, we need to provide the basics for the driver, commander and gunner,’ he said.
However, he added that although there were talks underway with the Indonesian MoD, the push for this concept to be implemented in Indonesia needs to come from the domestic companies.
They will first demonstrate on an individual vehicle – Sanca – and the plan is to hopefully be given a unit of vehicles to upgrade so that the MoD can see the difference in capability before incrementally spreading the growth across the vehicle fleets.
For more from Indo Defence, visit the dedicated news
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/...-defence-2016-teaming-offer-digital-vehicles/
GITAL BATTLESPACE
Indo Defence 2016: Terma widens SE Asia maritime surveillance
03rd November 2016 - 5:26by Tim Fish in Jakarta
Danish surveillance radar manufacturer Terma is to fit its Scanter 4100 radar to the second upgraded Indonesian Navy Fatahillah-class corvette.
A spokesperson from the company told Shephard that the plans are in place and discussions are ongoing, although it still requires officials to give their final approval.
Terma has already delivered a 4100 naval air and surface surveillance radar for the first of the two corvettes as part of a strategy aimed at upgrading older naval vessels to give them an improved 2D surveillance radar capability.
The system is able to detect and track small targets from the radar horizon right up to the vessel’s side and up to 35,000ft in all weather conditions. This offers a vital UAV detection capability and can be used for supporting helicopter operations, particularly ship landings.
The company had earlier confirmed at Indo Defence 2016 that it had received an order to fit its Scanter 6000 radar on five Indonesian Coast Guard patrol vessels and had delivered the system for the fifth ship in April. The radar gives a capability to detect small surface targets and air targets close to the ship out to 10-15nm and up to 6000ft.
In addition, the spokesperson said that the company was providing its C-Guard decoy system for the Indonesian Navy’s two new SIGMA frigates that PT Pal is building with Dutch shipbuilder Damen. He confirmed that the first two systems are delivered with a third on the way.
C-Guard provides 360° defence firing 130mm NATO decoys to seduce missiles away from the ship and can control from six to 24 firing tubes on each side of a vessel.
Looking ahead Terma sees further market prospects for its Scanter 6000 and the C-Guard decoys on Indonesia’s four Fast Attack Craft and this proposal is being examined by officials.
Terma has already delivered the 4100 radar, C-Flex command and control system and the C-Guard systems to the navies of both Brunei and Thailand. In addition the company has provided the Scanter 2600 series of X-band naval surveillance radar to the Singapore Navy frigates and the Scanter 6000 to the Malaysian Navy’s Lekiu-class corvettes.
For more information about Indo Defence 2016 visit our dedicated news page here.
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Indonesia to buy second-hand artillery
22nd August 2016 - 8:27by Gordon Arthur in Hong Kong
Indonesia will buy 20 second-hand BAE Systems M109A4 SPHs, most likely to be sourced from Belgium, it has been confirmed.
The draft state budget for 2017 issued by Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance on 16 August confirmed an intention to buy these weapons, as it included a request for a funding allocation.
In April a delegation from Indonesia’s field artillery centre travelled to Belgium to view the platforms. Belgium modernised 64 of its 127 M109A2s to M109A4 status, decommissioning the reminder of its fleet. It previously sold 40 vehicles to Brazil.
The second-hand SPHs will equip a battalion in the Indonesian Army, but it is still unclear which one this will be. There is speculation it could be a unit located near the capital Jakarta.
The Indonesian Army is continuing to strengthen its artillery branch to fill capability gaps. It procured 37 examples of Nexter’s CAESAR 155mm howitzer mounted on Renault Sherpa 6x6 truck chassis in 2012, and 36 units of the Brazilian-made Avibras Artillery SaTuration ROcket System (ASTROS) II that was ordered the same year.
Buying from Belgium illustrates the kind of attractive deals that are possible as European militaries either downsize or replace older equipment.
Similarly, Indonesia purchased 61 Leopard 2 RI and 42 Leopard 2+ MBTs, 42 upgraded Marder 1A3 IFVs and ten specialist vehicles from Germany for $280 million in December 2012.
Malaysia is also in the running to acquire surplus M109A5 SPHs from the US via the Excess Defense Articles programme. The Malaysian Army could receive up to 24 M109A5s, with the force not having any SPHs at present.
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AUVSI 2016: Endeavor Robotics to continue with current UGV lineup
05th May 2016 - 21:00by Richard Thomas in New Orleans
Attending Xponential for the first time since the formation of Endeavor Robotics, company officials say they will concentrate on marketing their existing lineup of UGVs until demand for new designs and platforms emerge.
Around 6,000 UGVs have been delivered to customers from 42 countries around the world, with the company (then operating as iRobot) making $55 million in 2015. The new company had formally been the Defense and Security Business Unit at iRobot.
Speaking to Shephard Sean Bielat, CEO of Endeavor Robotics, said that it was difficult to determine which emerging markets offer the most promise for the company but that there were opportunities to be had in Latin America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
‘We are unlikely to engineer a new model to see if that sticks [in the market], really we would do that only if there was a customer requirement,’ he said.
The company has a number of UGVs in its portfolio, including the 110 Firstlook; 310 SUGV; 510 Packbot and the larger 710 Kobra. They also produce the uPoint multi-robot control system, based on an Android controller.
‘It is difficult [to specify emerging markets]. One country can have a requirement, which ends when it is fulfilled, and national budgets determine prospects as well.’
Much of the business would remain in the defence and security market in the US and that one programme of interest, the US Army’s multipurpose equipment transport, was one that the Kobra UGV ‘is well positioned for’.
The Kobra would carry equipment to assist in sustaining an infantry formation in the field, weight that would otherwise have to be borne by the soldiers themselves.
Bielat did say that Endeavor Robotics was keeping watch on potential future uses of manned and unmanned teaming, a concept being extensively studied by the US Army, as well as interoperability between UAS and UGV platforms. However this concept would not be developed ‘unless there was a customer requirement’.
At DSA 2016 show in Kuala Lumpur last month, the company said their UGVs will be demonstrated to militaries and police forces in Malaysia and Singapore later this year.
Other requirements for UGVs could emerge from Australia, and the company also delivered six PackBots to the Indonesian Police in 2015.
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DSA 2016: Skeldar claims SE Asian territory
20th April 2016 - 1:30by Gordon Arthur in Kuala Lumpur
On the opening day of DSA 2016, UMS Skeldar began training Indonesian Army personnel in-country to operate new F-330 fixed-wing UAVs.
Indonesia has ordered three systems from the Swedish company under a managed services contract, each system consisting of one UAV, one ground control station and one tactical data link. The training course will last for eight weeks.
The Indonesian Army will use the F-330 UAVs for homeland security and border protection missions. George Duncan, responsible for Skeldar’s sales execution in Asia, told Shephard that his company anticipates more Indonesian sales this year, possibly ten more systems by 2017.
‘The contract with our Indonesian partner, Putrindo Adiyassa Perkasa, is a prime example of the type of service we offer. We are not just a hardware manufacturer; instead we provide a total UAV and systems ground control package, incorporating all of the training, management protocols and documentation an organisation requires to gather the intelligence it needs,' he said.
Duncan predicted that Indonesia might later opt for the rotary-winged R-350 too.
UMS Skeldar is prepared to transfer technology to clients, and the initial target for Indonesia is 30% local content, a figure that would grow over time.
Indonesia is not the only target. Duncan said the Swedish manufacturer, in which Saab holds a 47% stake, is hoping for good things in Malaysia too. Thailand has also shown interest, while ‘India is an exciting possibility’. The Indian Navy should release an RfP later this year, which could ask for up to 75 shipborne UAVs.
UMS Skeldar is also talking to Singapore, which wants UAVs to operate from its new Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessels being built by ST Marine.
The UAV manufacturer completed a training package for the Singapore Police, helping the force to write a concept of operations. However, Singapore’s extremely strict civil aviation regulations meant the police opted for a small quadrotor with which to gain experience.
UMS Skeldar is participating in a rotary-winged UAV requirement for the Royal Australian Navy too.
Duncan said having Saab ‘as a big brother’ brings advantages, such as access to a test range in Sweden.
UMS Skeldar is pushing the services model to customers, and he said militaries are interested in such wet lease services. He said this kind of model has a ‘great future’ as it allows militaries to try before they buy, and that it is more cost-effective.
