Use Of MIG-29N Fighter Aircraft being Reduced

02 Juni 2016

RMAF MiG-29N (photo : worldavia)

KUANTAN (Bernama) -- The use of the MIG-29N fighter aircraft will be reduced following increasing operating expenses, said Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chief, Tan Sri Roslan Saad.

He said apart from that, the capabilities of the fighter aircraft were also getting more limited as the aircraft have been in service for 21 years since they were first used in 1995.

"We have been reducing the use of the aircraft since three years ago and so far there is no time frame as to when the aircraft will be completely phased out," he said.

(Bernama)

Beginilah Kesaktian Su-30MKM Flanker Malaysia

Su-30MKM (Modernizirovannyi Komercheskiy Malaysia) (photo : carl brent)

Sebagai sesama pengguna Su-30 di Asia Tenggara, varian Su-30MKM (Flanker-G) yang dikembangkan khusus untuk TUDM (Tentara Udara Diraja Malaysia), memiliki spesifikasi jauh lebih jaguh (jago) dibandingkan Angkatan Udara Vietnam dan Indonesia. TUDM diuntungkan oleh India, yang bersusah payah mengintegrasikan seluruh subsistem ke dalam Su-30MKI. Su-30MKM (Modernizirovannyi Komercheskiy Malaysia = Modernisasi, Komersial pesanan Malaysia) memang dikembangkan dari basis Su-30MKI.

Dua sayap canard merupakan sayap aktif (photo : sgroader)

Dari tampilan luar, Su-30MKM menggunakan fuselage, mesin TVC AL-31FP, dan sistem kendali fly by wire yang serupa dan setara dengan milik AU India. Su-30MKM diawaki dua awak, pilot dan operator sistem senjata.

Ragam persenjataan yang dapat dibawa berupa rudal jarak menengah, sedang, dan jauh serta rudal udara ke permukaan tidak dibedakan dengan milik India, mampu menggotong seluruh sistem senjata buatan Rusia.

Sistem optronik pasif IRST (Infra Red Track and Scan) OLS-30 dan Cobham 754 buddy refueling pod. (photo : vivawariors)

Perbedaannya, sebagai negara Islam tentu haram mengadopsi teknologi negeri Yahudi. Oleh karena itu, seluruh perangkat made in Israel diminta dilepas dan dicari gantinya, barulah Malaysia mau menandatangani kontrak senilai 900 juta dolar AS untuk 18 pesawat.

Nah, varian Su-30MKM mempertahankan sistem radar dan elektro optik yang sama dengan Su-30MKI. Radar N011M sudah jadi standar, begitu juga sistem optronik pasif IRST (Infra Red Track and Scan) OLS-30 yang mampu mendeteksi sasaran di udara sejauh 90 km dari belakang, atau 50 km dari depan.

Mesin AL-31FP dengan Thrust Vector Control (TVC) (photo : korsakul)

Pilot bisa memilih pembesaran (Field of View) lebar dengan cakupan 20×5 derajat atau sempit dengan lebar 3×3 derajat. Cakupan sempit digunakan untuk membidikkan rudal BVR (Beyond Visual Range). Sistem laser range finder akurat sampai jarak 3 km untuk sasaran udara dan 5 km untuk sasaran darat.

Sistem avioniknya mengandalkan produk Perancis yang memang sudah lama punya pasar di Malaysia. HUD menggunakan sistem Thales CTH3022 wide angle holographic, begitu pula sistem IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) yang juga dibuat Thales. Sistem pod pencari sasaran dan pengarah rudal menggunakan, lagi-lagi, produk Thales yaitu Damocles targeting & NAVLIR pod. Untuk sistem komputer pada Su-30MKM tetap menggunakan sistem S101 buatan Rusia.

Sistem pod pencari sasaran dan pengarah rudal buatan Thales yaitu Damocles targeting & NAVLIR pod (photo : cmano)

Su-30MKM memiliki kekhasan dengan fokus pada sistem pertahanan yang cukup lengkap daftarnya, meliputi Saab Avitronics MAW300 Missile Warning Sensor dan LWS350 Laser Warning Sensor untuk mendeteksi sistem laser pemandu rudal antipesawat yang digunakan sistem rudal seperti Saab Bofors RBS-70. Untuk mendeteksi rudal dengan pemandu radar ada sistem RWS-50RWR. Sama seperti Su-30MKI, Su-30MKM memiliki kemampuan diisi dan mengisi bahan bakar di udara melalui Cobham 754 buddy refueling pod.

Satu sistem yang terpasang pada Su-30MKM dan tidak ada pada Su-30MKI adalah sistem pod ECM (Electronic Counter Measure) buatan perusahaan Kaluzhsky Rusia yaitu KNIRTI SAP-518 yang dipasang di ujung-ujung sayap Su-30MKM. Pod ini memungkinkan Su-30MKM melaksanakan misi SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defence), dengan mengacak gelombang radar yang bermain di frekuensi G-J. Malaysia dirumorkan mengakuisisi sistem pod pengacak SAP-14, yang sampai saat ini belum terkonfirmasikan kehadirannya.

Sistem pod ECM (Electronic Counter Measure) buatan Kaluzhsky yaitu KNIRTI SAP-518 (photo : kret)

Purwarupa Su-30MKM terbang Mei 2006, dan versi produksinya setahun kemudian pada musim semi 2007. TUDM menyatakan purwarupa sudah layak produksi pada Mei 2007. Bandingkan dengan pengembangan Su-30MKI yang berlangsung selama bertahun-tahun, Malaysia jelas diuntungkan dengan inisiatif India mengembangkan varian Su-30MKI.

Seluruh pesawat pesanan sudah diterima TUDM mulai Juni 2007, dan yang terakhir pada Agustus 2009. Su-30MKM di TUDM ditempatkan di Skadron No 11 di Gong Kedak, Malaysia Barat yang merupakan salah satu pangkalan militer tertua di Malaysia bersama skadron latih PLTB3 dengan pesawat latih Pilatus PC7 Mk11.

(Angkasa)

Third A400M Arrived in Subang

M54-03 prepared to landing at Subang airport. (photo : Malaysian Defence)

SHAH ALAM: RMAF’s third A400M air-lifter arrived at the Subang airbase last Monday – four days after it was officially delivered to the service. The A400M – tail number M54-03 – flew some 9,100 km to get to Subang from the Airbus D&S A400M Final Assembly Line in Seville, Spain.

The ferry flight from Seville, took two days with one stop-over at the Al Bateen executive airport in Abu Dhabi. Both the previous deliveries, took the same route and stop-overs.

Unlike the arrival of 02 late last year, 03’s arrival today was rather subdued. There was no fly past over Subang and there was no escorts.

An official welcoming ceremony for the aircraft is only expected after Ramadan. It will be a good excuse to hold a Raya open house at 22nd Squadron spanking new hangar.

The prompt arrival of the RMAF third aircraft must be a welcome relief to Airbus D&S which have come under pressure due to delivery delay caused by engine and air-frame issues.

Mean-while, a PDRM Super King Air 350 fitted with the ISR fit also made a landing at the runway after what appears to be a test flight following maintenance.

(Malaysian Defence)

Malaysia to Fortify its Naval Forces Through its Procurement Programmes

17 Juni 2016

DSME missile surface corvettes for RMN (photo : asian defence)

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has requested $2.9bn in funding under the 11th Malaysia Plan 2016-2020 for 36 programmes, which are anticipated to boost the capabilities of the RMN in coming years, says a report by Strategic Defence Intelligence (SDI).

Titled 'Future of the Malaysian Defense Industry - Market Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts to 2021', the report provides insights of the Malaysian defence strategies.

Malaysia's major acquisition programmes include the construction of eight missile corvettes, six anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters and small boats, as well as the replacement of outdated missiles and torpedoes.

The RMN has already placed an order with the South Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) for six missile surface corvettes, to be delivered from 2018 onwards.

Additionally, the funding will also support the procurement of six Second-Generation Patrol Vessel-Littoral Combat Ships (SGPV-LCS) being built by Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS). The SGPVs are based on the Gowind-class corvette designed by French shipbuilding company DCNS. The first ship is scheduled to enter service in 2019.

Malaysia imported two submarines, 40 SM-39 Block 2 torpedoes and 30 Black Shark torpedoes and is anticipated to continue with its modernisation and procurement plans to safeguard its coastal waters and exclusive economic zone.

(Naval Technology)