RI Pertimbangkan Beli Jet Tempur F-16 dari AS

Pemerintah Republik Indonesia (RI) tengah mempertimbangkan pembelian enam jet tempur jenis F-16 Fighting Falcon varian terbaru dari Amerika Serikat (AS) untuk meningkatkan kesiapan tempur Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (TNI AU).

"Kita sedang mempertimbangkan tawaran jet tempur F-16 dari AS sebanyak enam unit, dengan masa pembiayaan empat hingga lima tahun," kata Menteri Pertahanan (Menhan) RI, Juwono Sudarsono, usai pertemuan Menteri Pertahanan (Menhan) AS, Robert Gates, dengan Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono di Istana Kepresidenan, Jakarta, Senin.

Ia mengatakan, pembelian enam unit F-16 Fighting Falcon itu untuk melengkapi sepuluh unit pesawat sejenis varian A/B milik TNI AU yang akan di-"up grade" (ditingkatkan kemampuannya).

Menhan mengemukakan, pembelian enam unit F-16 itu akan memakai mekanisme pembiayaan `multiyears` sesuai kesepakatan dengan Departemen Keuangan dan Komisi I DPR RI.

"Kami juga masih mempertimbangkan apakah pembiayaannya akan dilakukan melalui mekanisme FMF (Foreign Military Financing) dan FMS (Foreign Military Sale). Semua juga tergantung DPR karena pada tahun ini pemerintah tengah memfokuskan anggaran pada kesejahteraan rakyat," ujar Juwono.

Ia menjamin, rencana pembelian F-16 tersebut tidak akan berpengaruh terhadap komitmen RI dengan pemerintah Rusia dalam pengadaan alat utama sistem senjata (alutsista) TNI.

"Masing-masing negara memiliki kelebihan dan kekurangan. Kesulitan dengan AS adalah masalah birokrasi sedangkan kesulitan dengan Rusia adalah masalah pembayaran," ujar Juwono.

Sementara itu, Komandan Komando Pemeliharaan Material TNI AU (Koharmatau) Marsekal Muda Soenaryo kepada ANTARA News mengatakan, TNI AU kini memiliki sepuluh unit F-16 Fighting Falcon, dan dari jumlah itu ada enam yang masih dinyatakan laik pakai.

"Sepuluh unit yang kita pakai merupakan jenis A/B dan akan ditingkatkan kapasitasnya mendekati varian terbaru Block 52 F-16 Fighting Falcon C/D multi role, terutama untuk sistem avioniknya," ujarnya.

Dalam pertemuan Kepala Staf Angkatan Udara (Kasau) Marsekal Madya Subandrio dengan "Under Secretary of The Air Force For International Affair" AS, Bruce S. Lemkin, di Jakarta akhir pekan silam, Pemerintah AS menawarkan Indonesia untuk membeli Block 52 F-16 Fighting Falcon C/D multi-role dan pesawat angkut berat C130-J Hercules.

Thailand Signs Contract for Six Saab Gripen Fighters

Thailand buy 6 Gripen and Erieye for the air force (photo : Flight Global)

Thailand signed a Baht19 billion ($577 million) contract with Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) on 11 February, clearing the way for its air force to field an initial batch of six Saab Gripen fighters in early 2011.

Revealing fresh details of the air defence deal last week, the FMV confirmed that the Royal Thai Air Force will receive four single-seat Gripen Cs and two two-seat Gripen Ds under the sale, with the new-build aircraft to replace some of its Northrop F-5 interceptors.

Intended to boost Bangkok's air surveillance capabilities, the order also covers the delivery of one Saab 340 regional airliner to be equipped with a Saab Microwave Systems Erieye airborne early warning and control radar, plus a second 340 to be used for aircrew training and transport activities.

Saab says its stake of the Thai deal is worth $310 million, with the company to also supply datalink equipment for the AEW&C aircraft and Gripens.

"This agreement strengthens our position within the area of airborne surveillance and advanced command and control systems," says Saab chief executive Ake Svensson.

The FMV says all equipment will be delivered to Thailand in the first quarter of 2011, with pilot and technician training to commence in Sweden during 2009.

Discussions on a planned second batch of six Gripen fighters - and potentially also a second AEW&C aircraft - are expected to take place with the next Thai government.

Bangkok's purchase makes it the fifth nation to order the Gripen, joining the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa and Sweden.

The Erieye AEW&C system has, meanwhile, previously been purchased by customers including Brazil, Greece, Mexico, Pakistan and Sweden.

Malaysia's Air Force Gets First Two Sukhoi Su-30 Fighters

Su-30 MKM of the RMAF

The transformation of the Royal Malaysian Air Force received a significant boost yesterday, the service accepting its first two of the 18 Multi-Roles Sukhoi Su-30mkm fighters.

The plane was given during a ceremony at the installation of the manufacturing of the Irkut aviation plant in Russia to which RMAF Gen Datuk Seri Azizan Ariffin.

Electronics equipment of Su-30 MKM

Kuala Lumpur signed an agreement of $ 900 million with Russia's Rosoboronexport Arms Agency in 2003 to acquire the new SU-30MKM fleet, which will join its 16 current Air Force RSK MIG-29 interceptors.

The video of the Malaysia TV3 news channel shows one of the Malaysian planes carrying models of Vympel AA-10 (R-27) and AA-11 (R-73) of Russian origin and AA-11 (R-73).

Range of Malaysia's Su-30MKM

The second video shows a flying display without stores. Similar to the Indian SU-30MKIS, RMAF planes are powered by two Vector Pushes Saturn al-31f.

The plane has a maximum takeoff weight of almost 35 t, including an 8T weapon load, an operating ceiling of 56,700 feet (17,300 m) and a top speed of Mach 2.

The current fleet of Malaysia combat aircraft also includes eight Boeing F / A-18D Hornets, Northrop F / RF-5E / FS, and BAE Systems HAWK 208.

(nadpost)