Philippines to Receive Riverine Patrol Boats from US

The Silver Ship’s new 40 feet Riverine Patrol Boats can hit speeds of 40 knots. 

(all photos : Militaryphotos)

(IW) -- The Philippine Navy (PN) is set to receive six riverine patrol boats (RPBs) from the United States in August under a US Navy (USN) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract.

A Silver Ships riverine patrol boat (RPB) on trial in the United States.1513348A Silver Ships riverine patrol boat (RPB) on trial in the United States. (Silver Ships)

According to an official at manufacturer Silver Ships, a contract was signed with the USN in September 2011 and the boats were completed a year later. However, delivery was delayed until early May this year due to "non-availability of marine transport".

Although the boats are capable of open-water operations, they will be used primarily in shallow waters. They have a length of 40 ft, a beam of 10 ft 8 inches and a draft of less than two feet.

The boats feature a centre console configuration and a bow ramp to permit egress of embarked troops during beaching operations. They have three weapon mounts - two forward and one aft - for machine guns and grenade launchers as well as ballistic protection.

Powered by two Hamilton HJ-292 waterjets, each driven by a Yanmar 6LY2A-STP diesel producing 440 hp, top speed is 40 kt. Fully loaded, range is greater than 250 n miles at a cruising speed of more than 30 kt.

Besides Silver Ships, fellow US boatbuilder Willard Marine is supplying unspecified numbers of 7 m Sea Force 730 outboard rigged-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) to the PN under an FMS programme.

In other news, the PN announced in March it was looking to buy three more multi-purpose attack craft (MPAC) to add to its fleet of six vessels. "This acquisition is under our mid-term development plan for 2014-2017," said PN spokesperson Lieutenant Commander Gregory Fabic.

The MPACs are similar to the CB-90 Combat Boat. The first three were constructed by Lung Teh Shipbuilding in Taiwan, while the following three were built locally to a revised design by Propmech Corporation, based in Subic Bay. The PN is hoping to later acquire 42 MPACs but funding remains an issue.

(Jane's)

OSI Maritime Systems Signs Contract to Deliver Integrated Navigation Systems to DSME for Indonesian Navy Type 209 SSK Program

OSI Maritime Systems ECPINS-W (photo : OSI)

(IW) -- OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) is pleased to announce the signing of a contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), South Korea.

As part of the program, DSME will build three Type 209 diesel submarines (SSK) for the Indonesian Navy. Under the terms of the agreement, OSI will deliver three Integrating Navigation and Tactical Systems, including ECPINS-W Sub software.

ECPINS-W Sub is the most advanced navigation software in the world specifically designed for the unique requirements of subsurface navigation.

(Maritime Executive)

Kementrian Pertahanan Akui Pembelian 6 Oerlikon Skyshield

Keenam meriam pertahanan udara Oerlikon Skyshield pesanan Indonesia akan dikirimkan 2015-2017 (photo : Oerlikon Contraves)

Perkuat Dirgantara, Indonesia Beli Perisai Udara

Jakarta, (IW) -- Kementerian Pertahanan tak hanya membeli pesawat tempur untuk memperkuat pertahanan dirgantara Indonesia. Kementerian mengaku telah memesan perisai udara dari pabrik Rheinmetall Air Defence di Swiss. Alat utama sistem persenjataan bernama Oerlikon Skyshield itu berbentuk meriam yang terintegrasi dengan radar pangkalan udara.

"Kita pesan enam unit Oerlikon SkyShield, saat ini dalam proses produksi," kata Kepala Badan Sarana Pertahanan, Laksamana Muda Rachmad Lubis, saat dihubungi Tempo, Selasa, 28 Mei 2013.

Enam unit meriam perisai udara itu dipesan Kementerian Pertahanan dengan harga US$ 202 juta. Namun, TNI AU mesti menunggu cukup lama sebelum menggunakan alutsista baru ini. Pasalnya, Oerlikon Skyshield baru bisa dikirim dari Swiss pada 2015. "Jadi bertahap. Pertama, empat unit tiba tahun 2015, dua unit lagi tiba tahun 2017,"kata dia.

Sumber Tempo menyebutkan, Oerlikon Skyshield menggunakan meriam kembar berukuran amunisi 35 milimeter dan rudal anti-serangan udara jarak pendek. Kemampuan meriam memuntahkan 1.000 peluru dalam satu menit dianggap efektif menghancurkan ancaman pesawat tempur dan rudal musuh.

Kemampuan Oerlikon Skyshield semakin mumpuni jika menggunakan amunisi khusus buatan Rheinmetall bernama Advanced Hit Efficiency and Destruction (AHEAD). Jika ditembakkan, peluru ini mampu menyebar membentuk perisai, sehingga presisi tepat sasaran mencapai lebih dari 90 persen.

(Tempo)