Dankosek I Medan dan Danlanud Suwondo Tinjau Kesiapan Runway

06 April 2025

Kesiapan runway dan taxiway Lanud Suwondo Medan ditinjau Dankosek I Medan dan Danlanud Suwondo (photos: TNI AU)

Profesionalisme dan kesiapan operasi udara menjadi prioritas utama TNI Angkatan Udara dalam menjaga kedaulatan udara nasional. Komandan Komando Sektor I Medan Marsma TNI Toto Ginanto, S.T., M.A.P., M.Han., bersama Komandan Lanud Soewondo Kolonel Nav Sonni Benny Simanjuntak, M.Si. (Han)., meninjau langsung kesiapan runway dan taxiway di Lanud Soewondo, Medan, Rabu (26/3/2025), guna memastikan infrastruktur penerbangan mendukung optimalisasi operasi udara.

Kasau Marsekal TNI M. Tonny Harjono, S.E., M.M., telah menegaskan pentingnya tekad TNI AU AMPUH (Adaptif, Modern, Profesional, Unggul, dan Humanis) dalam setiap aspek operasi, termasuk kesiapan pangkalan udara. Kegiatan peninjauan ini menjadi wujud nyata dari adaptivitas dan profesionalisme TNI AU dalam memastikan kesiapan operasional pesawat tempur dan pesawat angkut dalam berbagai misi strategis, mulai dari pengamanan wilayah udara hingga operasi kemanusiaan.

Inspeksi meliputi evaluasi permukaan landasan, sistem drainase, serta fasilitas pendukung lainnya guna memastikan operasionalisasi yang optimal. Langkah ini tidak hanya meningkatkan standar keselamatan penerbangan, tetapi juga mendukung respons cepat TNI AU terhadap dinamika pertahanan udara di wilayah Sumatera Utara.

Dankosek I Medan menegaskan bahwa pemeliharaan dan peningkatan infrastruktur penerbangan di Lanud Soewondo merupakan bagian dari strategi penguatan kapabilitas TNI AU dalam menghadapi tantangan operasi udara. Dengan infrastruktur yang terjaga, Lanud Soewondo semakin siap dalam mendukung berbagai operasi udara yang bersinergi dengan kepentingan nasional.

Kegiatan ini mencerminkan komitmen TNI AU AMPUH dalam menjaga kesiapan tempur dan mempertahankan keunggulan strategis di wilayah barat Indonesia. Profesionalisme dan kesiapan yang terus ditingkatkan menjadi landasan bagi TNI AU dalam menjalankan tugasnya sebagai garda terdepan pertahanan udara nasional.

(TNI AU)

Northrop Grumman to Equip Australian C-130J Fleet with Radio Frequency Countermeasures System

06 April 2025

The Royal Australian Air Force has selected the AN/ALQ-251 radio frequency countermeasures system for its C-130J fleet (photo: RAAF)

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill.  – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been selected by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to provide the AN/ALQ-251 advanced radio frequency countermeasures system for its C-130J airlifter fleet.

The AN/ALQ-251 provides robust protection against advanced weapon systems and agile electronic warfare systems in dense electromagnetic spectrum environments.

The system gives aircrews full situational awareness, radar warning and precision direction finding of radio frequency threats.

RAAF C-130J integration takes advantage of commonality with a current United States Department of Defense program of record, reducing lifecycle costs and enabling interoperability.

The AN/ALQ-251 radio frequency countermeasures system for the C-130J (photo: USSocom)

Expert:

James Conroy, vice president, navigation, targeting and survivability, Northrop Grumman: “With the increase of advanced radio frequency threats, our digital AN/ALQ-251 system allows the RAAF’s C-130J fleet the freedom of maneuver to carry out its wide range of humanitarian and national security missions safely.”

Details on AN/ALQ-251:

The Northrop Grumman AN/ALQ-251 is a radio frequency countermeasures system that provides radar warning, threat identification, geolocation and countermeasure capabilities, with the flexibility to adapt to future threats. It is currently in production for the U.S. Department of Defense and is available to international partners.

The AN/ALQ-251 is part of Northrop Grumman’s family of electronic warfare systems that scale to virtually any platform or mission, including current and future platforms. Northrop Grumman’s sensors and electronic warfare systems give warfighters superiority across the spectrum and allow for faster, more informed decision making.

(Northrop Grumman)

BRP Miguel Malvar Telah Tiba di Filipina

 06 April 2025

BRP Miguel Malvar FFG-06 (photo: Eyorio)

MaxDefense dalam unggahannya pada tanggal 04 April 2025 lalu menyampaikan bahwa fregat baru yang dibangun untuk Angkatan Laut Filipina, BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06) telah tiba di Pangkalan Angkatan Laut Subic pada 04 April 2025 kemarin.

Kedatangan kapal mendahului rencana pengiriman sebelumnya yang dijadwalkan pada 8 April ini.

Kapal ini dilengkapi dengan meriam utama 76mm, 16 sel VL-MICA VLS, 8 rudal anti-kapal C-Star, dan 35mm Gokdeniz CIWS.

Alpha Jet TH Melakukan Pelatihan Terbang di Malam Hari

05 April 2025

Latihan terbang malam pesawat Dornier Alpa Jet TH (all photos: RTAF)

Skadron 231, dari Wing 23 melakukan kesiapan pesawat dengan melakukan pelatihan penerbangan malam hari dengan pesawat serang Alpha Jet TH demikian postingan dari akun RTAF pada 19 Maret 2025 lalu.

Setelah memasuki program upgrade kemampuan, pesawat ini telah ditingkatkan kemampuannya untuk melakukan operasi taktis malam hari untuk dapat melindungi kedaulatan dan kepentingan nasional, serta keamanan dan keselamatan rakyat Thailand, pesawat berada pada kondisi kesiapan untuk dapat menanggapi ancaman apapun. 

RTAF memiliki 18 pesawat Dornier Alpha Jet, dimana 14 unit diantaranya menjalani upgrade menjadi tipe standar TH. Sebagian dari pesawat ini akan digantikan oleh pesawat AT-6TH Wolverine yang telah diterima dari Textron Aviation, USA.

Pesawat Alpha Jet TH termasuk dalam pesawat serang (attack) di Skuadron 231 Wing 23 di Udon Thani. RTAF mebagi pesawatnya ke dalam 12 Wing (fighter, attack, transpot, heli, UAV, Air Control, Reconnaissance) dan saat ini memiliki 3 skuadron serang (atack) dan 9 skuadron pemburu (fighter).

Provinsi Udon Thani adalah sebuah provinsi di timur laut Thailand, ibukota provinsi ini adalah Udon Thani, yang merupakan kota utama di provinsi ini.

Shield AI Partners with RSAF and DSTA to Advance AI-Powered Autonomy with Hivemind Enterprise

05 April 2025

Hivemind Enterprise has been applied to the F-16, MQ-20, MQM-178, V-BATs and quadcopters (photo: ShieldAI)

SINGAPORE/PRNewswire/ -- Shield AI, the deep-tech company building state-of-the-art autonomy software and defense aircraft, today announced a partnership with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) to co-develop AI for autonomous flight operations. The collaboration will leverage Hivemind Enterprise to enhance autonomous capabilities and strengthen the RSAF's operational effectiveness.

"The Republic of Singapore Air Force is a fantastic U.S. partner and one of the most technologically advanced air forces in Southeast Asia," said Brandon Tseng, Shield AI's President, Co-founder, and former U.S. Navy SEAL. "We're excited to be working with them to bring cutting-edge autonomy to their operations. This partnership is a testament to their forward-thinking approach and the growing demand for intelligent, resilient autonomy at scale. More and more companies and countries are turning to Hivemind Enterprise."

Hivemind Enterprise is a suite of AI-powered autonomy software products designed for rapid development, test and evaluation, and deployment across domains for any intelligent machine. It accelerates autonomy development by providing a multi-year head start with platform products and AI-powered intuitive toolsets. By transforming complex processes into scalable workflows, it enables teams to design, test, evaluate and deploy autonomous behaviors across domains in record time. The products include an integrated autonomy factory, industrial-grade production ready middleware, a rich autonomy catalogue, and seamless mission control, empowering developers to build and own their mission-ready autonomy solutions with unprecedented speed and flexibility.

"Collaboration is at the heart of breakthrough technology. We believe true progress happens when innovators, technologists and operators come together – combining expertise, resources and creativity to drive transformative solutions. By working with Shield AI and RSAF, we want to drive AI innovation in drones - enhancing flight autonomy and overall effectiveness," said DSTA's Chief Executive Mr. Ng Chad-Son.

Shield AI is making this announcement at the Singapore Defence Tech Summit, where Brandon Tseng delivered a tech talk on AI-enabled autonomy on March 19.

(ShieldAI)

PAF Fighter Jet Fleet to Join Aerial Exercises with US

05 April 2025

PAF FA-50PH aircraft (photo: PAF)

MANILA – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said Thursday its FA-50PH fleet would take part in aerial exercises with the Americans under "Cope Thunder Philippines 2025-1," scheduled on April 7-18.

In an interview, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo confirmed that the FA-50PH fighter jets would participate in the drills now that the fleet has been placed under operational status after the lifting of its grounding order on March 25.

"That's the plan. Cope Thunder (Philippines 2025-1) will be running from April 7 until the 18th and isa sa mga fleet na magpa-participate is yung FA-50 natin (and one of the fleets that would participate are the FA-50s)," she added.

The opening ceremony for Cope Thunder Philippines 2025-1 is scheduled at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

However, Castillo did not give the exact number of FA-50PH fighter jets that would join the 11-day exercise.

Eleven FA-50PH fighter jets remain in the PAF inventory following the crash of a similar aircraft last month. (PNA)

PAF's grounded fighter jet fleet now operational, mission capable

MANILA – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Thursday announced that all its 11 FA-50PH fighter jets are now in "operational status" and "mission capable" following the lifting of the grounding order against the aircraft.

"The PAF's FA-50 fleet has been placed on operational status effective 25 March 2025," PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.

She also said these planes are now flying their assigned missions shortly after the lifting of the grounding order.

"The aircraft are now all airworthy and mission capable," Castillo said.

The grounding order was lifted after inspection of all remaining aircraft found no technical problems with the FA-50PH fleet.

The 11 FA-50PHs were grounded after one with tail number 002 crashed in Bukidnon last month.

Castillo said the PAF is preparing the accident report for the ill-fated aircraft.

"The official report is for finalization," she added.

The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50PH units from South Korea's Korea Aerospace Industries for PHP18.9 billion.

These were delivered from 2015 to 2017. The March accident was the first for the type since it was commissioned in PAF service. (PNA)

Latihan Gladi Tugas Tempur Skuadron Udara 700 Wing Udara 2 Sukses Digelar

04 April 2025

Latihan Gladi Tugas Tempur Skuadron Udara 700 Wing Udara 2 dengan Smart Eagle UAV (all photos: Puspenerbal)

TNl AL-Dispen Puspenerbal -- Skuadron Udara 700 Wing Udara 2 Puspenerbal Juanda sukses menggelar Latihan Gladi Tugas Tempur (Glagaspur) Tingkat 1/U1 TA. 2025 yang beralangaubg selama sepekan dan dirutup pada Senin (24/3/2925).

Komandan Skuadron Udara 700 Wing Udara 2 Puspenerbal, Mayor Laut (P) Bani Safangat mengatakan bahwa Latihan Galgaspur Tingkat 1/U1 TA. 2025 ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan dan kesiapan personil dalam melaksanakan tugas-tugas operasional.

"Latihan ini sangat penting untuk meningkatkan kemampuan personil dalam mengoperasikan UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) dan melaksanakan tugas-tugas operasional," terangnya.

Latihan ini lanjutnya, juga bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan personil dalam mengoperasikan UAV dan melaksanakan tugas-tugas operasional.

Kami juga ingin meningkatkan kemampuan personil dalam mengenali dan memahami target, serta meningkatkan kemampuan dalam melaksanakan pengawasan dan pengintaian," ungkapnya.

Sementara itu, Komandan Wing Udara 2 Puspenerbal, Kolonel Laut (P) Adam Firmansyah, menambahkan bahwa latihan ini juga bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan personil dalam melaksanakan tugas-tugas operasional yang lebih kompleks.

Skuadron Udara 700 Puspenerbal sekarang ini mengoperasikan UAV jenis Scan Eagle dan Campopter S-100 (photo:  Skuadron Udara 700)

"Latihan ini tidak hanya bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan personil dalam mengoperasikan UAV, tetapi juga untuk meningkatkan kemampuan personil dalam melaksanakan tugas-tugas operasional yang lebih kompleks, seperti pengawasan dan pengintaian," kata Kolonel Laut (P) Adam Firmansyah.

Skuadron Udara 700 Puspenerbal sebentar lagi akan mengoperasikan VTOL UAV H10 dan H12 Poseidon buatan Swarmly, Siprus (photo: Swarmly)

Dalam latihan ini, personil Skuadron Udara 700 Wing Udara 2 melaksanakan berbagai kegiatan, seperti pengoperasian UAV, pengenalan dan pemahaman target, serta pengawasan dan pengintaian.

Latihan ini diharapkan dapat meningkatkan kemampuan dan kesiapan personil Skuadron Udara 700 Wing Udara 2 dalam melaksanakan tugas-tugas operasional.

(Puspenerbal)