Indonesia calls for regional response against the Islamic State

Terrorism & Insurgency A convoy of Islamic State fighters in Al-Anbar province, Iraq. (PA Images)

Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) chief General Moeldoko has called on his Southeast Asian counterparts to increase their co-operation against threats from the Islamic State, describing the group as a trans-boundary "cancer" that cannot be defeated if countries act in isolation.

The general was speaking in Singapore on 29 October at an event organised by the Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) on the challenges and opportunities for Southeast Asia in the next 20 years. He proposed that the region's chiefs of defence forces collaborate on a new strategy, given the appeal of the group's ideology to some segments of the region's Muslim population.

  ♞ IHS Janes  

‘Thousand Friends’ Policy No More Under Retno

Retno Marsudi, newly appointed foreign minister, speaks to the media at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Oct. 26, 2014. (Reuters Photo/Darren Whiteside)

Indonesia’s first female foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, confirms predictions that the country’s foreign policy under President Joko Widodo will be directed toward supporting the national interest rather than maintaining or expanding previous administration’s international activism.

Speaking in her first press conference on Wednesday, Retno said “pro-people” diplomacy would be the soul of Indonesia’s foreign policy, a shift in focus from former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s principle of “thousand friends, zero enemies” — which was translated into the country’s increasing presence and roles in international forums.

“Indonesia’s foreign policy must be down-to-earth; it should not be detached from the people’s interests,” Retno said. “Therefore, the kind of diplomacy that the Foreign Ministry will do is a pro-people diplomacy, diplomacy for the people.”

Pro-people diplomacy, she explained, should pave the way for more economic opportunities for Indonesians abroad.

To explore such opportunities, Indonesian diplomats stationed overseas will be expected to perform “ blusukan ,” a trademark activity of President Joko, which is loosely translates into impromptu visits to the constituents by state officials.

“We need a change of mindset among Indonesian diplomats, aimed at making us more active in doing economic diplomacy,” the former Indonesian ambassador to the Netherlands said. “Indonesian diplomats, including ambassadors, must also perform ‘blusukan.’ ”

Through such impromptu visits, Indonesian missions overseas are expected to be able to send to the home country information concerning potential business opportunities in other countries.

“And then we’ll be able to give clear guidelines [as to what to do] to Indonesian representative offices [overseas].”

Retno said, though, that she did not know yet if the new foreign policy would mean higher costs.

“We hope the budget will be enough. Anyway, we in the Foreign Ministry have been used to working with [budget constraints]. That’s what being a diplomat is, to fight,” she said. “We can lobby to develop our links. We’ll optimize what we have.”

By serving the needs of the people, inside the country and outside, Indonesia will hopefully transform into a great nation, Retno said.

Indonesian diplomatic missions are also expected to step up protection of Indonesian citizens overseas, which, under the Yudhoyono administration, has been largely considered a failure, citing the many cases of violence — some of them fatal — involving Indonesian migrant workers in countries including Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, regardless of whether they are victims or perpetrators that are facing the death penalty.

“We will really do our best for Indonesian citizens. We haven’t thought of structural changes to improve the protection; but we will optimize existing units through internal coordination,” Retno said.

She added that the ministry’s director general for the protection of Indonesian citizens and the legal bureau would still be tasked with the issue.

Retno further added with President Joko’s firm direction concerning the issue, coordination with other relevant state institutions were expected to improve.

Rizal Sukma, a foreign-policy expert who was actively involved in composing Joko’s foreign-policy platform, added on Wednesday that the new foreign minister was also expected to put more attention on bilateral relations, which would directly benefit Indonesia rather than multilateral processes.

 ‘Firmer’ Indonesia 

Retno said Indonesia would show a firmer stance in dealing with diplomatic disputes, such as the wiretapping scandal implicating Australia and border disputes with the archipelago’s Southeast Asian neighbors.

Border negotiations and settlements will continue to be among the Foreign Ministry’s priority programs.

“Being firm doesn’t always mean being confrontational. I’ll try not to be confrontational. Our firmness will be intended to help us reach our goals,” Retno said.

“To uphold our political sovereignty, what we must do is preserve the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. We’ll do this firmly and clearly.”

International relations expert Hikmahanto Juwana agrees with Retno’s pledge to develop a firm diplomatic stance.

He added, though, that it should be like Joko’s style of leadership — firm demeanor combined with pro-people policies.

“[With that], Foreign Minister Retno should be able to change the mindset of officials in Indonesian representative offices overseas,” said the University of Indonesia professor of international law.

Hikmahanto added, however, that Retno’s specialty in American and European affairs should not make her “more accommodative” toward the two regions’ interests.

Before heading Indonesia’s diplomatic mission in the Netherlands, Retno served as the Foreign Ministry’s director general for America and Europe. Prior to that, she served as the Indonesian ambassador to Norway and Iceland.

Hikmahanto praised the diplomatic credentials of Retno, who began her diplomatic career in 1986, upon graduating from Yogyakarta’s Gadjah Mada University’s School of International Relations.

“In the bureaucracy, she has been unstoppable, continuing to rise with her career,” he said.

But Foreign policy observer Bantarto Bandoro of the Indonesia Defense University reminded Retno not to neglect Indonesia’s international diplomacy that may not directly concern Indonesia.

In his opinion piece published in the Jakarta Globe on Wednesday, Bantarto compares Retno to her predecessor, Marty Natalegawa, who has been widely credited for building “an impressive legacy” in the form of Indonesia’s expanding international roles and reputation during his five years in office.

“The job of foreign minister is not only about putting the country’s bilateral relations back in order, but it is also about how Indonesia, under the new government, would continue to adhere to the belief that it needs to continue its international role, despite the possibility of fresh domestic flash points resulting from possible clashes of political interest,” Bantarto wrote.

He added that Retno should also not forget Joko’s goals of turning Indonesia into a so-called global maritime axis — which the president has immediately translated into setting up a new coordinating ministry, the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs.

“What is more important for Retno is how she will inject maritime elements into her ministry’s agenda in a way that reflects Joko’s aspiration to turn Indonesia into a maritime axis,” Bantarto said.

  ♞ thejakartaglobe  

Misil Sukhoi TNI AU

Prajurit TNI Angkatan Udara sedang mengoperasikan forklift untuk mengangkat kotak berisi misil R-73 di Bandara Internasional Hang Nadim, Batam, Jumat (31/10). Misil buatan Vympel NPO/Tsibilisi Aircraft Manufacturing, Rusia yang memiliki bobot 105 kilogram dan berhulu ledak 7,4 kilogram itu memiliki daya jelajah 40 kilometer dengan kecepatan 2,5 mach dan merupakan senjata udara ke udara jarak pendek yang melengkapi pesawat Sukhoi jenis SU27 maupun SU30 TNI AU. (ANTARA FOTO/Joko Sulistyo)

  ♞ antara  

Serangan Taipur Kostrad di Banongan

Latihan Pasukan Taipur Kostrad di Banongan Jawa Timur (all photos: kostrad)

Tepat pukul 04.00 wib pasukan Pengintai Tempur (Taipur) Kostrad dipimpin Komandan Kompi B Lettu Inf Zulkarnaen Galib menggempur pantai Banongan yang sudah dikuasai oleh GPK. Pasukan yang berkekuatan 1 Peleton dibagi menjadi 5 unit dengan tugas yang berbeda-beda, diantaranya 1 unit selam tempur dipimpin Sertu Dedi, 1 unit serbuan perimeter pantai dipimpin Lettu Inf Sandra, 2 unit pengamanan pantai dipimpin Lettu Inf Wahyu Dwi dan Lettu Inf Panji, serta 1 unit regu cadangan.

Dengan kemampuan yang dimiliki pasukan taipur, mereka masuk dengan senyap dan membunuh para GPK dengan senyap. Di sela baku tembak, pasukan taipur diberi bantuan tembakan oleh panerbad dikarnakan GPK telah didukung oleh sebagian masyarakat. Pasukan Taipur dapat menguasai pantai Banongan, menghacurkan sasaran menara musuh dan membebaskan sandera.

Salah satu kemampuan yang dimiliki oleh prajurit Pengintai tempur Kostrad adalah menghadapi medan tempur di laut, sehingga untuk memelihara kemampuan tersebut, Prajurit kompi Taipur Kostrad menggelar latihan serangan pantai, bertempat di perairan banongan Jawa Timur, Rabu (29/10/2014).

Latihan ini dipadukan dengan latihan Raid dan Ralasuntai (Rawa, Laut, Sungai dan Pantai), salah satunya melakukan infiltrasi dan penyerangan secara senyap melalui laut dengan menggunakan LCR (Perahu Karet).
  ♞ Kostrad  

★ Belly Radome dan Teknologi Radome Buatan Indonesia

Penguasaan teknologi sebuah bangsa merupakan pencapaian yang patut dibanggakan. Banyak keuntungan yang bisa didapatkan dengan penguasaan teknologi, antara lain di sisi ekonomi, sosial, maupun kedaulatan bangsa di mata dunia.

Ketika Amerika Serikat menjatuhkan embargo kepada Indonesia dengan alasan pelanggaran HAM di Timor Timur di akhir tahun 1990, banyak peralatan militer, pesawat tempur, termasuk pesawat sipil yang tidak dapat dioperasikan. Bila sekarang para engineer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (Persero)(PT DI) menguasai teknologi radome itu bisa dikatakan sebagai berkah di balik embargo yang dijatuhkan AS.

Tim Composite Materials and Structures, Structural Health Monitoring, PT DI, mengatakan latar belakang pengembangan teknologi Belly Radome berawal dari kesulitan yang dialami militer maupun industri penerbangan sipil Indonesia karena embargo AS.“Embargo yang berlangsung cukup panjang itu mengakibatkan banyak pesawat yang grounded, tidak bisa terbang, salah satunya kerena tidak memiliki radome. Saat itu Amerika Serikat hanya menjatuhkan embargo pada radome, tapi radome merupakan perlengkapan penting bagi penerbangan sebuah pesawat. Tanpa radome sebuah pesawat tidak bisa terbang,” Tim Design dan Manufacture Belly Radome PT DI.

Kesulitan itu memacu para insinyur PT DI untuk mengembangkan teknologi radome. Hingga pertengahan 2000-an, mereka sudah mampu membuat sendiri radome yang dibutuhkan pesawat.

Tim Design Integration Manager, Design Center Division, Directorate of Technology and Development, menambahkan setelah tidak bisa membeli radome dari AS, Indonesia mulai mencari peluang untuk membeli dari negara lain.

Salah satu perusahaan yang mengajukan penawaran harga untuk pengadaan belly radome adalah RISAC (Research Institute for Special Structures of Aeronautical Composites) dari Republik Rakyat Tiongkok.“Tapi semurah-murahnya tawaran itu tetap saja jatuhnya mahal bagi Indonesia. Dengan penguasaan teknologi dan kemampuan PT DI membuat radome sendiri, devisa negara yang bisa dihemat sangat besar,” Proses pembuatan cetakan Belly Radome

Belly Radome merupakan komponen pesawat terbang yang bermakna radome, dipasang di bagian bawah (perut- belly) pesawat terbang. Sedangkan radome merupakan singkatan dari Radar Dome yang berarti kubah penutup antena radar.

Secara teknis Belly Radome didefinisikan sebagai penutup antena radar guna melindungi fungsinya dari gangguan sekitar dengan memperhatikan bentuk, kekuatan struktur dan efisiensi transmisi gelombang radar. Belly Radome yang telah didesain dan dibuat di PT DI telah dipasang pada empat pesawat CN 235-110 KCG (Korea Coast Guard) pada 2010 dan satu unit CN 235-220 Patmar (Patroli Maritim) TNI-AL. Diren canakan dua lagi akan dipasang di pesawat TNI-AL. Belly Radome didesain menggunakan konsep yang dikembangkan sendiri oleh PT.DI berdasarkan pengalaman dan pengetahuan yang telah ada.

Belly Radome merupakan salah satu bentuk radome yang ada. Teknologi radome adalah teknologi pembuatan penutup radar yang bisa ditempatkan di mana saja, termasuk di darat maupun di kapal. Selain Belly Radome, PT DI juga sudah bisa membuat Nose Radome yang dipasang pada hidung pesawat NC 212. Nose Radome dibuat untuk menutupi radar yang terletak di bagian depan pesawat. Belly Radome untuk menutup radar di perut pesawat yang biasa berfungsi mendeteksi keberadaan suatu objek pada jarak sampai 300 mil. Jadi radome itu menutup antena yang ukurannya 30 cm x 94 cm yang bisa berputar hingga 360 derajat.

Ada beberapa prinsip yang harus dipenuhi sebuah Belly Radome.

★ Pertama harus memenuhi prinsip aerodinamika. Teknologi radome bermanfaat sebagai penutup dari antena radar bentuknya harus mulus karena aliran udara di sekitarnya harus mulus.

★ Kedua, secara struktur harus kuat. Pasalnya radome ini menonjol keluar maka dia harus tahan terhadap air hujan, batu, lemparan dan gumpalan es.

★ Ketiga, secara material harus memakai material-material yang khusus, salah satunya, kevlar (bahan anti peluru) yang berbahan ringan tapi kuat.

★ Keempat, harus bagus secara elektromagnetik. Antena radar memancarkan sinyal elektromagnetik tapi ditutupi radome. Meskipun ditutupi, sinyalnya harus bisa menembus radome dengan baik.“Ada semacam paradoks di sini. Radome harus kuat tapi juga harus bisa ditembus sinyal elektromagnetik dengan mudah. Di lain pihak dia harus kuat untuk bisa melindungi antena radar yang ada dibaliknya” Tempat pengujian electromagnetic PT DI

Belly Radome harus memenuhi persyaratan MIL-R-7705B. Untuk kasus ini dipilih Belly Radome type III, grade A, class I dan Style C.

Type III artinya narrow band radome, digunakan pada frekuensi gelombang mikro pada bandwith kurang dari 0.10 Grade A artinya primary radome, kerusakan yang terjadi dapat memengaruhi kelaikan operasi pesawat terbang, keamanan orang, kehilangan atau kerusakan antena.

Class I artinya radome untuk pesawat udara. Style C artinya struktur sandwich. Dinding radome tersusun atas tiga lapisan yaitu dua skin dan core material.

Konstanta dielektrik bahan skin materials lebih tinggi dibanding konstanta dielektrik bahan core.

  ♞ ristek  

New Indonesian President Jokowi Talks Tough With Fading Power Australia

Indonesia's new President Joko Widodo shouts "Merdeka," meaning freedom, at the end of his speech, during his inauguration at the parliament's building in Jakarta on Oct. 20, 2014

Indonesia's newfound chest-thumping may simply be a fledgling administration's efforts to win domestic approval, but is nonetheless indicative of shifting powers in the region.

Two days before his Oct. 20 inauguration, new Indonesian President Joko Widodo, gave Australia a stern warning not to test the territorial sovereignty of the world’s largest archipelago.

“We will give a warning that this is not acceptable,” Jokowi, as he is widely known, told Fairfax Media in reference to half a dozen incursions into Indonesian waters last year by Australian navy ships turning back boats full of predominantly Middle Eastern asylum seekers. “We have international law, you must respect international law.”

Bolstering Jokowi’s message, Indonesia’s new Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi — the first ever female in the role — confirmed on Wednesday a departure from former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s principle of “thousand friends, zero enemies” to national interests first.

“To uphold our political sovereignty, what we must do is preserve the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia,” Retno said at her first press conference. “We’ll do this firmly and clearly.”

The interception one day earlier of a Singaporean passenger aircraft over a well-traveled flight path that cuts through Indonesian airspace may be indicative of Jakarta’s new hard-line stance. Indonesian fighter jets forced the aircraft to land and pay a $4,900 fine — despite protestation from the Singaporean owner, ST Aerospace, that it had been using the route for a number of years without the need for prior clearance from Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

However, these messages must be read within the context of Indonesia’s time-honored political melodrama, where tough talk against meddling foreign powers is par for the course. It’s also an easy and predictable way for new administration to score political points on the home front. “I think Jokowi’s warning to Australia was made for domestic consumption rather that advocating a nationalistic tone in foreign policy,” says Philips Vermonte, head of international relations at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta.

Indeed, Jokowi’s apparent double standards when dealing with Chinese incursions in the fish- and gas-rich waters of the Natuna Islands, on the northwest coast of Indonesian Borneo, seems to demonstrate diplomatic nuance rather than a new era of nationalistic fervor.

As recently as March 2013, armed Chinese ships bullied Indonesian patrol boats into releasing Chinese fisherman caught trawling illegally near Natuna. China has also included parts of the waters around Natuna within its so-called nine-dash line — its vague southern maritime boundary, adding Indonesia to the long list of countries it’s dueling with over aggressive claims to some 90% of the South China Sea.

In April, Indonesia’s armed-forces chief General Moeldoko penned an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal promising to strengthen Indonesian forces on Natuna and prepare fighter jets to meet “any eventuality.”

But two months later, during a presidential-election debate in June, Jokowi claimed Indonesia had no beef with China. In later interviews he adroitly turned the burning strategic problem with China on its head, suggesting Indonesia could serve as an “honest broker” vis-a-vis the Middle Kingdom’s disputes with other countries in the South China Sea.

This should not, however, be understood to mean the new Indonesian administration will be pushovers. Its soft stance on overlapping territorial claims with China is obviously linked to the fact that China is Indonesia’s second largest export trading partner. Australia, meanwhile, barely makes the top 10.

The lesson, it seems, more concerns shifting regional power than newfound Indonesian belligerence. “Australia needs to understand that Indonesia’s place in the world is growing, while it is not,”
 adds Professor Tim Lindsey, director of the Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society at the Melbourne Law School. By current estimates, he adds, Indonesia will have world’s seventh largest economy in around a decade and the fifth largest by 2050. “Australia’s current policies of turning back the boats doesn’t seem to factor in any of that at all,” says Lindsey.

“I think Australia would be advised to take [Jokowi’s latest about naval incursions] warning very seriously, and that it would be unwise to look at it in narrow terms by saying, ‘Their navy is very small so it’s not a valid threat,’” opines Antje Missbach, a research fellow at Monash University’s School of Social Sciences in Melbourne. “There are many ways Indonesia could make a point without involving its navy.”

Moreover, she adds, “Look what happened last time Australia offended them,” referring to when Indonesia recalled its ambassador to Australia for six months following revelations by NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden that Australia had spied on Yudhoyono and his wife.

Speaking to TIME, Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says, “It is not the government’s policy to incur Indonesia’s waters” and blames past incursions on the opposition government it replaced following the September 2013 general elections. “[We're] working closely with the new government of Indonesia on people-smuggling issues and we are optimistic about initial responses,” Morrison says.

Optimism is one thing; keeping out of your neighbor’s backyard is another altogether.

— With reporting by Yenni Kwok

  ♞ TIME  

Cornelis Minta Dibangun Pangkalan Militer

Rencana Pembangunan Pangkalan Militer [Kenyot10]

Gubernur Kalimantan Barat, Cornelis menyatakan provinsi yang dipimpinnya saat ini berada pada posisi strategis. Kalbar berbatasan langsung dengan negara tetangga, Malaysia.

Diperlukan upaya ketat untuk menjaganya baik di perbatasan darat, laut, dan udara. “(Posisi) Kalbar jangan dianggap enteng. Posisi strategis Kalbar luar biasa,” ujar Cornelis dalam kegiatan sosialisasi empat pilar oleh MPR RI, Selasa (28/10) di Balai Petitih Kantor Gubernur Kalbar. Cornelis menilai posisi strategis Kalbar saat ini tidak dijaga dengan ketat. Terbukti lebih dari 20 mil sinyal seluler Malaysia masuk ke Indonesia (Kalbar). Kondisi ini berbeda dengan daerah perbatasan di luar negeri. Misalnya di Eropa, ketika masuk ke wilayah suatu negara, sinyal negara lainnya terhenti.

Menurut Cornelis, posisi strategis Kalbar ini juga rawan terhadap perang informasi dan teknologi. Selain itu, juga rawan masuknya kelompok ekstrim tertentu. Untuk mengatasi kerawanan-kerawanan tersebut, diperlukan langkah dan kebijakan dari pemerintah pusat.

“Saya mengatakan dengan Panglima TNI, perlu dibuat pangkalan militer di daerah Paloh, Sambas,” kata Cornelis.

Cornelis menjelaskan keberadaan pangkalan militer di Paloh sangat penting, terutama untuk mengantisipasi jika terjadi konflik. Ia berharap pada masa jabatan Presiden Joko Widodo pembangunan pangkalan militer dapat terealisasi.

“Tahun depan (rencananya) akan dibangun pangkalan militer,” ungkap Cornelis. Cornelis menambahkan banyak negara-negara besar di dunia yang ingin menguasai Indonesia. Terkait hal ini, penyelenggara pemerintah, tokoh masyarakat, tokoh agama, dan lainnya wajib memberi penyuluhan kepada masyarakat. Penyuluhan ini terkait Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia.

Bupati Sambas, Bupati Sambas, Juliarti Djuhardi Alwi mengatakan Pemerintah Kabupaten Sambas mendukung pembangunan pangkalan militer di daerahnya. Salah satu bentuk dukungan yakni dengan menyediakan lahan seluas lima hektar di daerah Liku.

Rencananya di daerah Temajuk juga akan dibangun Lanal tipe C. Menurut Juliarti, rencana pembangunan pangkalan militer ini juga mendapat dukungan dari masyarakat.

Mereka menilai keberadaannya sangat penting untuk menjaga kedaulatan bangsa. “Tahun ini perencanaan dulu. Mudah-mudahan tahun depan realisasi,” ujar Juliarti di Kantor Gubernur Kalbar, kemarin.

  ♞ pontianakpost  

Familiarization Flight di Lanud Tarakan

Latma Brunesia VI Komandan Lanud Tarakan Letkol Pnb Tiopan Hutapea, S.Sos, didampingi Letkol Pnb Destianto N. Utomo Pabandya Latma Sopsau dan Perwakilan Tentara Udara Diraja Brunei (TUDB) Letkol Udara Abd Rachman Bin Hj Durachman beserta beberapa Perwira dan air Crew dari TUDB ikut Menyaksikan sekaligus mengoreksi Familiarization Flight dan geladi Cargo Drop JLR dari Pesawat CN-235 TNI AU di apron Lanud Tarakan, Kamis (30/10).

Latihan ini dilaksanakan dalam bentuk tutorial dan AMX dengan sasaran yang dicapai antara lain terjalinnya kerjasama TNI AU dan TUDB dalam melaksanakan Operasi Militer Selain Perang (OMSP).

Latihan bersama ini disimulasikan dukungan logistik dengan Cargo Drop terhadap wilayah yang tidak dapat di tempuh menggunakan jalur darat serta wilayah yang terkena bencana.

Menurut Komandan Lanud Tarakan Letkol Pnb Tiopan Hutapea, S.Sos Latma ini juga sebagai bentuk kerjasama antara TNI AU dengan TUDB yang merupakan bagian dari hubungan bilateral kedua negara, dimana latihan kali ini merupakan latihan yang ke enam.

Dengan adanya latma ini tentunya para peserta latihan diharapkan dapat melaksanakan tugas latihan dengan baik sehingga latihan ini dapat berjalan dengan lancar dan tentunya tanpa dengan accident.

Latma ini dilaksanakan dari tanggal 26 s/d 31 Oktober 2014 dengan melibatkan kurang lebih 200 personel yang terdiri dari personel Lanud Tarakan, tim dari Mabes AU dan Crew CN 235 dari Skadron 2 Halim serta Personel TUDB. Adapun alutsista yang di libatkan antara lain TNI AU menurunkan 1 pesawat CN-235, sedangkan dari TUDB melibatkan 1 Heli Black Hawk dan 1 pesawat CN-235.”

  ♞ TNI AU  

Sekilas Westland Wasp

Helikopter AKS Skuadron Udara 400 TNI AL Monumen WASP di Surabay [airliners]

Westland Wasp merupakan helikopter buatan Inggris generasi pertama yang bertenaga turbin gas dengan fungsi anti kapal selam. Dibuat untuk memenuhi persyaratan Royal Navy dan Royal Army akan helikopter yang cukup muat untuk mendarat di dek Frigat dan mampu mengusung 2 buah torpedo. Heli ini dibuat oleh pabrikan Westland Helicopters di Inggris dengan penerbangan pertama pada 28 Oktober 1962 dengan 2 awak yaitu pilot dan kru udara. Prototype heli ini meli\uncur dengan kode Saro P.531 pada Juli 1958.

Khusus untuk Royal Army, disebut sebagai Westland Scout, bedanya terletak dengan tidak digunakannya roda. Meski menyandang tugas sebagai pemburu kapal selam, perangkat avionik heli ini terbilang kuno, dimana belum dibekali radar, dan sonobuoy. Sebagai informasi, sonobuoy merupakan perangkat sonar yang dicelupkan ke dalam air, gunanya untuk mendeteksi letak dan posisi kapal selam musuh.

Meski kelengkapannya serba terbatas, di era 60 dan 70-an Wasp cukup diandalkan oleh NATO, lantaran heli ini sanggup menggotong 2 torpedo MK44, atau 1 torpedo MK46, atau 2 bom laut MK44, bahkan secara teori bisa menggendong bom laut dengan hulu ledak nuklir. Untuk misi serangan ke permukaan, Wasp juga bisa dibekali 4 rudal SS1 atau 2 rudal AS12. Untuk kelengkapan pertahanan diri, Wasp juga dapat dipasangi GPMG (general purpose machine gun) 7,6 mm, dan flares.

Untuk menjalankan misinya, Wasp diawaki oleh seorang pilot dan seorang aircrew yang juga berperan sebagai navigator untuk pelepasan senjata. Untuk kapasitas angkutnya, di bagian belakang, heli ini dapat memuat 3-4 orang penumpang. Untuk melayani misi tempur dan patroli, Wasp ditenagai oleh sebuah mesin Rolls-Royce Nimbus 103 turboshaft, mesin ini dapat menghantarkan Wasp hingga kecepatan maksimum 193 km per jam, serta jangkauan terbang sampai 488 km.Wasp dalam Jajaran Helikopter AKS TNI AL Wasp yang digunakan oleh TNI AL merupakan bekas pakai dari AL Belanda. Jumlah yang dibeli sebanyak 10 unit, dan merupakan paket dalam pembelian frigat kelas Tribal dari Inggris, dan frigat kelas Van Speijk dari Belanda. Karena dibeli second dan masuk dalam sistem paket, Wasp dihargai cukup murah, yakni US$ 75.000 per heli.

Helikopter Wasp ini memiliki sejumlah keunikan yaitu :

Memiliki roda pendarat yang dapat digerakan ke segala arah guna memudahkan saat berada di dek kapal perang.

Keunikan berikutnya yaitu mesin yang tampak terbuka dan tidak tertutup seperti heli pada umumnya. Desain mesin terbuka tentu cukup memudahkan dalam perawatan, tapi jadi elemen yang melemahkan dari sisi perlindungan, semisal bila heli diberondong tembakan, bisa fatal akibatnya. Karena dirancang untuk ‘hidup’ di lautan, heli ini pun dilengkapi pelampung yang dapat mengembang bila terjadi crash, letak pelampung ini terdapat pada besi penyangga, persisi disisi kiri dan kanan mesin.

Keunikan terakhir heli ini memiliki ekor yang dapat dilipat.

Dalam event pameran ABRI di tahun 1995, Wasp TNI AL bahkan pernah dipamerkan dengan kelengkapan penuh, selain Torpedo MK46, juga diperlihatkan beberapa perangkat yang bisa dipasang untuk misi SAR di lautan.

TNI-AL memiliki 10 unit heli jenis ini dibawah Skuadron Udara 400 Anti Kapal Selam Penerbal, yang ditempatkan di dek Kapal Perang jenis Frigat KRI Ahmad Yani dan KRI Hasanudin.

Saat ini heli tersebut telah non aktif dari Skuadron Udara 400 Penerbal sejak 1998, dan salah satu heli tersebut masih bisa kita jumpai sebagai monumen di depan markas TNI-AL Surabaya. Heli pengganti wasp yang dipilih TNI-AL saat ini adalah Eurocopter AS-565 Panther. Saat ini heli masih dalam tahap pemesanan, diharapkan dapat segera memperkuat Skuadron Udara 400 AKS Penerbal.[mpd1986/indomiliter] Spesifikasi Wasp HAS Mk.1 ★ Pabrik : Westland Helicopters, UK.
★ Kru : 2 orang (pilot dan kru)
★ Kapasitas : 3-4 penumpang
★ Panjang : 12,30 meter (termasuk rotor)
★ Diameter rotor : 9,83 meter
★ Tinggi : 2,72 meter
★ Berat kosong : 1,569 kg
★ Berat Max : 2,500 Kg
★ Mesin : 1 × Rolls-Royce Nimbus 103 turboshaft
★ Kecepatan maksimum : 193 Km/jam
★ Kecepatan jelajah : 177 Km/jam
★ Kecepatan menanjak : 7,3 meter/detik
★ Jangkauan terbang : 488 Km

  ★ Garuda Militer  

[World Article] A new stealth corvette from France

Cherbourg based CMN (Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie) has unveiled the C Sword 90 stealthy corvette at the Euronaval naval expo in Paris this week. The stealth vessel is one of three new ship designs the company is launching, all positioned to address the growing needs of world navies to support increasingly demanding missions encountered at the high sea and littoral waters. At Eurosatory 2014 CMS unveiled the latest concept design of its new C Sword 90 stealth corvette, a direct descendant of the Combattante family of compact missile boats that was first introduced in the 1960s. Part of its efficiency results from the inversed stem, contributing for enhanced propulsive efficiency and sea keeping. The round bilge shaped hull also contributes to better endurance in strong wind and rough sea conditions. Image: CMS

The distinctive shape of the C Sword 90 depicts an innovative hull formation and superstructure design with sloped surfaces, developed in collaboration with naval architect Thierry Verhaaren, who also designed the Baynunah missile boats CMS has built for the UAE. The vessel is designed for operation at the high sea, littorals and coastal area. The hull is made of steel and superstructure is made of steel and aluminium. The C Sword 90 carries a powerful combat systems package comprising surface, anti-submarine and anti-air weaponry, guns, countermeasures and a wide range of ISR sensors.

The vessel provides a compact, yet versatile multirole craft packing high firepower and an extensive sensor package for Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) missions and ESM/Comint electronic surveillance and electronic warfare capabilities. The primary sensor is an unspecified ‘new generation’ phased array radar, comprised of four flat panels mounted on the upper superstructure. In addition the vessel EO package is also configured to support some of the weapon systems with fire control functions. An integrated bridge control and communication systems help automate many procedures and reduce crew workload.

The boat has also the facilities to operate two RHIBs, which can also be unmanned surface vessels (USV) and underwater unmanned vessels (UUV). The boat has a large flight deck supporting a 10 ton helicopter day and night, or an unmanned helicopter (VTUAV). It also has the facilities to operate two RHIBs, which can also be unmanned surface vessels (USV) and underwater unmanned vessels (UUV).

In addition to maritime missions including surface and anti-submarine warfare the vessel is well equipped to conduct maritime security missions, and support land operations from the sea To carry out those missions the C Sword 90 can be configured to support commando and ground operations operating a helicopter and two 11 meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs). These configurations can also supported by loading two containers, storing mission specific payloads, cargo and supplies. The boat has a large aft deck configured to operate one medium size (10 ton) helicopter or unmanned aerial system (UAS) in day and night. The boat has also the facilities to operate two RHIBs, which can also be unmanned surface vessels (USV) and underwater unmanned vessels (UUV). The C Sword 90 is operated by a crew of 65 personnel. The ship also has berths for 20 additional personnel.

The design has been optimized to sustain high maximum speed (28 knots) and extended autonomy, covering 7,000 nautical miles with an average speed of 12 knots. (It would do 5,000 nm cruising at 14 knots). Part of its efficiency results from the inversed stem, contributing for enhanced propulsive efficiency and sea keeping. The round bilge shaped hull also contributes to better endurance in strong wind and rough sea conditions.

The corvette’s firepower consists of one 76mm or 57mm gun mounted at the fore section and two remotely controlled weapon stations on port and starboard side, mounting 20mm or 30mm guns. The vessel is equipped with eight launchers of MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles plus a vertical launcher packing 16 anti-air/anti-missile missiles. Additional air defense is provided by two additional launchers mounting two short-range anti-aircraft missile. Decoy systems are also used for self-defense offering both an anti-missile protection with radar or infrared guidance and along with electro-acoustic anti-torpedoes protection.

The vessel is designed to accommodate the infrastructure and equipment necessary for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations, including a hull mounted sonar, a towed sonar and two torpedo-launching tubes each mounting three tubes.

The biggest naval vessel ever built by the Cherbourg Shipyard, C Sword 90 is one of three new designs CMN unveiled at Euronaval – the others were the Ocean Eagle trimaran, configured as patrol boat or mine hunter and a new variant of the classic Combattante missile boat – the 46meter long FS46.

The Normandy based shipyard that has been building trawlers and mine sweepers since 1948 introduced the Combattante class patrol boat in 1963, a design that was later adapted by the Israelis with their Saar II gunboats and Saar III missile boats, an innovative concept pioneered by the Israeli Navy with its Gabriel anti-ship missile. By 1967 CMS completed six Combatant II boats for the Israelis, but the delivery of those boats was blocked by the arms embargo the French government imposed on Israel following the 1967 Six Day War. The boats were later smuggled to Israel from Cherbourg and sailed to Israel on a clandestine trip. Since the construction of those first hulls CMN delivered more than 90 Combattante class boats to navies around the world.

CMS continues to develop new mine hunters and missile boats, introducing the CIRCE mine hunter in 1970 and Combattante II built for the German Navy in 1973, Combattante III built for Greece in 1977 and IIIM delivered to Tunisia in 1983. In 1994 the company introduced the DV15 High-speed Interceptor and in 1997 delivered the first of eight P37 patrol boats for the Kuwaiti Navy. In 2009 CMN delivered the first of six Baynunah stealthy fast attack crafts (FAC) built for the UAE.

  ★ defense-update  

TNI bangun lima unit rumah, jalan untuk bekas OPM

Komandan Kodim 1703 Manokwari Letkol Inf. Stevanus Satrio Aribowo mengatakan pembangunan lima unit rumah huni bagi masyarakat Kampung Sosmuruf, bekas markas Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM), oleh anggota TNI telah rampung 100 persen.

"Pembangunan lima rumah layak huni bagi masyarakat Kampung bekas markas OPM itu dalam rangka Karya Bakti TNI Skala Besar Tahun 2014," Kata Letkol Inf. Stevanus Satrio Aribowo di Manokwari, Kamis.

Ia mengatakan bahwa selain membangun lima unit rumah, Aparat TNI juga membangun jalan utama Kampung Sosmuruf dan telah mencapai 100 persen.

"Karya Bakti TNI Skala Besar 2014 di Kampung Sosmuruf selain melakukan pembangunan fisik, aparat TNI juga melakukan berbagai kegiatan pembinaan kepada masyarakat setempat," katanya.

Kegiatan Karya Bakti itu, katanya, merupakan bentuk fungsi pembinaan teritorial khususnya tugas misi sosial yang sudah menjadi tekat dan komitmen TNI untuk senantiasa peduli terhadap kesulitan rakyat.

"TNI peduli dan mempunyai tekad yang kuat membangun rakyat karena tentara lahir dari rakyat untuk kesejahteraan rakyat," ujarnya.

Dandim berharap seluruh komponen masyarakat di Kampung Sosmuruf bekas markas OPM Kaswari Satu pada tahun 60-an itu, menjaga dan memelihara rumah dan jalan yang dibangun oleh TNI agar bermanfaat bagi kehidupan masyarakat daerah itu.

  ★ antaranews