Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Nuclear Energy News .




AEROSPACE
Indonesia closes in on Grumman F-5 Tiger replacement
by Staff Writers
Jakarta (UPI) Jan 17, 2013


German army Tornado plane crashes
Berlin (AFP) Jan 17, 2014 - A German army Tornado fighter plane crashed near the western city of Koblenz on Thursday, with both pilots ejecting to safety, local police said.

The Koblenz police said the pilots were slightly injured, but did not need hospital treatment, after the crash which left debris strewn around a main highway which was swiftly closed.

No one else was injured in the crash.

The plane crashed in a hilly region some 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Koblenz and police, army and firefighting personnel were quickly at the scene.

Local paper Rhein-Zeitung carried pictures of one of the pilots caught in a tree with his parachute and reported that the plane went down in a wooded area at around 9:30 pm (2030 GMT) after taking off from a nearby air base.

Police gave no theory on the cause of the accident.

Indonesia's Defense Ministry said it is looking at several jet fighters, including Russian, American and Swedish aircraft, as a replacement for its aging Grumman F-5 Tigers.

Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said he wants to ensure the purchase is part of Indonesia's Strategic Plan II 2015 to 2020, Antara news agency reported.

The ministry has five or six options as a replacement for the Tigers that have been in service for about 30 years.

"We have received proposals from several jet fighter manufacturers for replacing the F-5 Tiger fighter aircraft," Yusgiantoro said.

"We are in the process of evaluating which jet fighter will best suit our requirements, whether the aircraft is from Russia, United States or other countries. I hope the finalized next-generation jet fighter is capable of carrying long-range missiles."

Among the aircraft being evaluated are the Russian Sukhoi Su-35, the American Boeing F-15 Eagle and Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the Swedish SAAB JAS 39 Gripen, said Gen. Moeldoko, Indonesia's top military commander.

The ministry is looking at buying 16 aircraft, but the type and number of aircraft "depends on Indonesia's financial position," Moeldoko said.

Defense analyst FlightGlobal said its database shows Indonesia operates six F-5Es, as well as three F-model trainers. Its air force also has 10 F-16A/Bs and 16 Su-27/30s in active use.

The purchase of Tiger replacements would be part of a larger upgrade of military capability outlined by Air Chief Marshal Ida Bagus Putu Dunia in October.

Indonesia is aiming to create eight new squadrons of fighter aircraft -- more than 100 aircraft -- by 2024, the Jakarta Globe newspaper reported at the time.

The Globe report also said Yusgiantoro confirmed the air force had received a squadron of 16 supersonic advanced trainer T-50 Golden Eagles -- so-called baby F-16s -- from South Korea at the Iswahyudi Military Air Base in Madiun on Java Island.

The T-50, which can be used as a light fighter, was developed by Korea Aerospace Industries and Lockheed Martin and is South Korea's first indigenous supersonic aircraft.

Its maiden flight was in 2002 and it entered service with the Korean air force in 2005.

In October, Indonesia also officially received six Russian-made Sukhoi SU-30MK2 fighter aircraft -- the last of a contract for 16 Sukhoi aircraft signed in 2007 that includes pilot training.

Sukhoi sent the aircraft to Indonesia in knocked-down form accompanied by 13 technicians to oversee assembly testing before handing them over to the military.

The Sukhoi fighters are for the air force's Squadron 11 at Hasanuddin Air Base in Makassar, the Globe reported.

.


Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








AEROSPACE
Taiwan displays upgraded fighter jets with 'smart' munitions
Taipei (AFP) Jan 16, 2014
Taiwan on Thursday unveiled a fleet of upgraded fighter jets built domestically, with President Ma Ying-jeou hailing the rapid modernisation of the island's forces despite warming ties with China. A dozen Indigenous Defence Fighters (IDFs) with advanced combat capabilities were displayed at a ceremony at a military base in the southern city of Tainan. The IDFs are capable of carrying "sm ... read more


AEROSPACE
Boeing Joins BIOjet Team To Develop Biofuel Supply Chain In UAE

UAE's Etihad demonstrates flight with biofuel mix

Boeing Finds Significant Potential in "Green Diesel" as a Sustainable Jet Fuel

Renewable chemical ready for biofuels scale-up

AEROSPACE
Solar-power device would use heat to enhance efficiency

Germany eyes swift cuts in renewable energy subsidies

Cobalt catalysts allow researchers to duplicate the complicated steps of photosynthesis

UNC researchers harness sun's energy during day for use at night

AEROSPACE
Maine offshore wind project appears on track for federal funding

No Evidence of Residential Property Impacts Near Wind Turbines

Blown away? US suspends wind power subsidies, for now

China to Power Ahead as Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Market Leader for Foreseeable Future

AEROSPACE
EU could cut emissions by 40 percent at moderate cost

Global warming's biggest offenders

EU weighs new climate goals, economic needs

Soaring electricity prices zap struggling Spaniards

AEROSPACE
Oil prices drop on China data

Norway to build modern icebreaker for oil, gas exploration in Arctic by 2016

Iraq threatens Turk boycott, contract cuts in Kurd row

EU, Russia to discuss concerns over South Stream pipeline

AEROSPACE
NASA's Kepler Provides Insights on Enigmatic Planets

Powerful Planet Finder Turns Its Eye to the Sky

New kind of planet or failed star? Astrophysicists discover category-defying celestial object

SF State astronomers discover new planet in Pisces constellation

AEROSPACE
Raytheon, L-3 demonstrate new ship protection system

Lockheed Martin Completes Critical Milestone to Upgrade US Navy's Electronic Warfare Defenses

China starts building second aircraft carrier

Vietnam takes delivery of its first 'black hole' sub

AEROSPACE
Ten-Years Roving About On Mars

Mars Orbiter Images Rover and Tracks in Gale Crater

Who Wants to Go to Mars - One Way?

More than 1,000 chosen for one-way Mars reality-TV mission




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement