[UPDATED] Photo of an Indonesian AF C-130 covered in volcanic ash

This post-apocalyptic photo, by a photographer who wishes to remain anonymous, shows a Tentera Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara (Indonesian Air Force) Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules transport (serial A-1316) covered in volcanic ash from the eruption of Mt Kelud, in Java. Taken at Adi Sucipto Airport near Yogyakarta, the airport is one of several airports closed due to the volcanic activity. The TNI-AU's bases of Iswahyudi & Abdul Rahman Saleh were, as of yesterday, also still closed for similar reasons.

UPDATE: C-130H-30 A-1316 is now back flying, and Adi Sucipto Airport has also re-opened.

Thanks for Taz Imansyah (@KaitouTaz) for the heads up

VIDEOS: Singapore Airshow aerial displays: Black Knights, Black Eagles, Jupiter, V-22 and more

Youtube user Tonkatsu298 brings us some videos of the aerial display at the recent Singapore Airshow. Aerobatics displays from 3 military display teams (Singapore's Black Knights, Indonesia's Jupiter and South Korea's Black Eagles). Plus solo displays from the a Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet from the Royal Australian Air Force, F-16C and C-17 from the USAF, and a V-22 Osprey tiltrotor making its debut at Singapore Airshow.

Here are some of the highlights:

Republic of Singapore AF Black Knights (F-16C Fighting Falcon)
External Link

Republic of Korea Air Force Black Eagles (KAI T-50B Golden Eagle)
External Link

Indonesian Air Force Jupiter (KAI KT-1)
External Link

United States Marine Corps Boeing MV-22B Osprey
External Link

Royal Australian Air Force Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet
External Link

More videos of the aerial displays at Singapore Airshow 2014 on Tonkatsu298's Youtube page

PHOTO: Republic of Singapore AF Black Knights F-16C six-ship air-to-air

© Republic of Singapore Air Force/Photo by Katsushiko Tokunaga (DACT). Click on thumbnail for hi-res.

A fantastic air-to-air photo of the F-16Cs of the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Black Knights Aerobatic Team over the waters off southern Singapore, photographed by the one and only Katsu from an RSAF F-16D photo ship.

The Black Knights have recently been re-formed, and will perform at the upcoming Singapore Airshow, to be held at the Changi Exhibition Centre from 11-16 February 2014. They will be joined by the Republic of Korea Air Force's Black Eagles team flying the T-50 and the TNI-AU (Indonesian Air Force) KT-1 trainers belonging to the Jupiter Aerobatic Team.

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 02 Oct 2013

HMM-262 Sea Knight at Ex Cobra Gold, Thailand in 2009

According to reports from Russia quoting Indonesian sources, Indonesia has a requirement of 112 fighters between now and 2024. The TNI-AU intends to form 8 squadrons of 16 aircraft each. It already operates 16 Su-27/30s and has 24 refurbished F-16C/Ds on order.

End of an era as the last Okinawa-based U.S. Marine CH-46 Sea Knight made its last flight prior to storage pending disposal. The helicopters from Marine Helicopter Medium Squadron 262 (HMM-262) is in the process of converting to the MV-22B Osprey. Another Okinawa-based squadron is now flying Ospreys since 2012, having also turned in its Sea Knights.

More details have emerged of the new Taiwanese-built air launched precision weapon we reported on a while back. The Wan Chien is a cluster munition with a range of over 200km. It will equip the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching Kuo fighters of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force, with forty Tainan based aircraft already retrofitted for the new weapon.

Marine aviation assets temporarily deployed to Japan are currently in the Philippines conducting training with Philippine Air Force personnel. F/A-18C Hornets from VMFA-232 'Red Devils' and AH-1W Super Cobras of HMLA-167 'Warriors' are temporarily deployed to Japan as part of the USMC's Unit Deployment Program (UDP)

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 25 Sept 2013

TNI-AU (Indonesian Air Force) Su-30MK2

Indonesia now has a full squadron of Sukhoi Su-27/30s after the last aircraft were accepted into the TNI-AU.

Bernama has reported that the recently unveiled Advanced Super Hornet would be offered for Malaysia's Multi-Role Combat Aircraft competition. However Jane's Malaysia correspondent Dzirhan Mahadzir has said that Boeing has offered the Advanced Super Hornet upgrade if Malaysia wants them down the line after acquiring regular Super Hornet airframes.

The first of 12 Lockheed-Martin P-3C Orions for Taiwan has arrived at Pingtung Airbase from Guam yesterday.

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 12 Sept 2013

Royal Thai Air Force Gripen (Gripen International/Saab Photo)

The Royal Thai Air Force held a ceremony at its Surat Thani base to mark the commissioning of the RTAF's Gripen Integrated Air Defense System. The RTAF has also expressed an interest in acquiring six more Gripens.

Lots of photos of the departure of Indonesia's first two KAI T-50 trainers leaving for their delivery flight to Indonesia via Kaoshiung, Taiwan and the Philippines. The T-50s were escorted by a TNI-AU Hawk Mk.53 when they arrived over Indonesia, with photos here and here. (Both TNI-AU photos)

Spotters badge for the T-50 Gallery goes to Irman

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 10 Sept 2013

Delayed by the grounding following a recent crash, two KAI-T-50 trainers are currently on a delivery flight to Indonesia. The two jets will make stopovers in Taiwan and the Philippines for refueling before landing on Indonesia's Iswahyudi Air Force base on Wednesday. Here's a photo of one of the Indonesian T-50s by South Korea's Yonhap news.

According to this AIP Supplement issued by Airservices Australia, Singapore's F-16s will be taking part in the upcoming Exercise Wallaby 2013 to be held at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia. A Singapore Armed Forces annual combined arms exercise, it will also involve Singapore Air Force Super Puma, Chinook and Apache helicopters.

My latest piece for The Diplomat Magazine is up online. Aircraft Carriers or Not? Flattops in the Pacific surveys the recent proliferation of through-deck helicopters carriers in the region and looks at their potential for operating fixed wing aircraft.

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 05 Sept 2013

TNI-AU (Indonesian Air Force) Su-30MK2

Two more Sukhoi Su-30MK2 Flankers have arrived in Indonesia in knocked down condition from Russia. This completes Indonesia's order of Flankers.

Boeing is still warily confident of the F-15SE Silent Eagle being selected in South Korea when the expected announcement is made in 2-3 weeks. This wariness is despite reports that both the F-35 and Typhoon have already been eliminated.

The last Australian F-111 designated as a museum piece has left RAAF Amberley on it's way to the Pacific Aviation Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii on board an RAAF C-17.

After a delivery flight interrupted by a lightning strike on one of the aircraft, the last three Gripens Thailand has on order have arrived at Surat Thani, home to the RTAF's Wing 7.

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 03 Sept 2013

Is this a photo of China's new Z-20 medium utility helicopter being transported by road? It is expected to make it's first flight soon, and will be in the same class as the Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopter.

Hopefully, this will end the silly brouhaha. The bombs jettisoned into the Coral Sea by Marine Harriers during Talisman Saber in late July have been disposed of.

An look into the possible reasons for Indonesia's choice of the AH-64E Apache helicopter gunship.

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 28 Aug 2013

Wreckage of this afternoon's tragic RoKAF T-50 crash

Republic of Singapore Air Force pilots are flying the Arizona ANG's F-16s training with the RSAF's F-15SG detachment at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. It's pretty well known that the RSAF has aircraft based in CONUS for pilot training, but much less well known is the agreement for RSAF pilots to train on ANG F-16s.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has announced that United States will sell 8 AH-64E Apaches to Indonesia. An interesting decision by the Indonesian military, to say the least.

Chinese State media has announced that Changhe WZ-10 attack helicopter has launched an air-to-air missile for the first time during exercises over the waters off China's Guangzhou Province last week.

Apparently, the South Korean Air Force is not happy with the F-15SE selection as carried out by the government procurement agency. Unsuprisingly, the RoKAF wants the F-35A. Some of the comments in the link are worth reading, too (which is the real surprise).

Still on South Korea, an RoKAF T-50 trainer has crashed this afternoon near the southwestern city of Gwangju while on a training flight, killing both pilots.

Indonesia turns down South Korean offer of F-5E/F Tiger IIs

Indonesia has turned down an offer by South Korea of surplus Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II interceptors to bolster the TNI-AU's Tiger II fleet. This linked article from Indonesia's Tempo newspaper is in Bahasa, but the gist of the article is in the paragraph below:

According to the TNI-AU's Chief of Staff Marshal Ida Bagus Putu, the RoKAF Tiger IIs are virtually in the original specification as delivered from Northrop in the 1970s, unlike the TNI-AU's fleet, which underwent an avionics upgrade in the 1990s. It was felt that the difference in configuration would add a burden to the maintenance cost.

Indonesia operates the survivors of 12 F-5Es and 4 F-5F two-seaters delivered in 1980. The aircraft underwent an upgrade in the 1990s, Belgium's SABCA installing new avionics offering commonality with the TNI-AU's F-16s and Hawk 109/209s, rewiring, structural repairs on at least one aircraft and a radar upgrade. This improved the F-5s air combat and ground attack capability, and enabled the type to serve as a lead-in trainer for the F-16s.

Spotter's badge for the article goes to ASPI's Natalie Sambhi (‏@SecurityScholar).

Indonesian Hawk crashes near Pekanbaru; pilot unhurt

A Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU, or Indonesian Air Force) BAe Hawk 209 single-seat lightweight combat jet has crashed in Pasir Putih, near Pekanbaru on Indonesia's Sumatra Island this morning. The pilot, Second Lieutenant Reza Yori Prasetyo, ejected and made a safe landing as the aircraft went down during a routine training mission.

According to witnesses quoted by Indonesia's Antara News Agency, the ill-fated jet was performing "aerobatic manoeuvres, along with two other similar aircraft" when it crashed.

As the above screengrab from Indonesia's Metro TV shows, the serial number of the crashed aircraft was TT-0212. Based on the location, the aircraft will most likely have come from Skuadron Udara 12, based at Pekanbaru's Sultan Syarif Kasim II airbase.

Following the crash, the TNI-AU has grounded its remaining Hawks until the investigation into the incident has been completed.

The TNI-AU currently operates a second Hawk 109/209 Squadron, Skuadron Udara 1 at Pontianak/Supadio with a third squadron, Skuadron Udara 15 operating the Hawk 53 at Madiun/Iswahjudi.

More photos:

Note: Click on last two images for larger versions. Spotter's badge for these photos goes to xtemujin. Original photographer unknown.

Indonesia offered 10 more F-16s; wants AGM-65K2 Mavericks

Indonesia's Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro has revealed that a second offer of F-16s to Indonesia consists of 10 additional aircraft. He had previously been coy about revealing the number. Indonesia has already been offered 24 refurbished ex-USAF F-16C/Ds, and is currently operating a fleet of 10 F-16A/Bs.

Meanwhile the Defense Security Cooperation Agency has notified the U.S Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Indonesia for 18 AGM-65K2 Maverick Air-to-Surface missiles. The AGM-65K is an updated derivative of AGM-65G with an improved 480x480 pixels CCD-TV sensor.

Indonesia says no more Sukhois; offered more F-16s from US

Air Marshal Eris Herryanto, secretary general of the Indonesian Defense Ministry, has said the SouthEast Asian nation will not buy any more Sukhoi Su-27/30s from Russia on top of the ten aircraft already on inventory and a further six already on order. Meanwhile, Indonesia has also revealed that the United States has offered more F-16s on top of the 24 refurbished aircraft already being delivered. The number being offered this time round has not been revealed, although it was said to be enough to form another squadron of aircraft.

Meanwhile, Indonesia is also close to acquiring six more C-130H Hercules transports from the Royal Australian Air Force. The RAAF is due to retire its C-130H fleet at the end of this year.

VIDEO: Day One Pitch Black 2012

The Royal Australian Air Force's Wing Commander David "Max" Merritt discusses the first day of Exercise Pitch Black 2012.

Meanwhile, the below photo was snapped from just outside RAAF Darwin near the end of a frenetic day of Pitch Black 2012 flying activity today. We were given a first rate tour of RAAF Darwin courtesy of the good folks over at the RAAF, and have a ton of photos to process!

Photos of Indonesian Su-27/30s arriving at Darwin for Ex. Pitch Black

© Commonwealth of Australia

Pitch Black has not even begun yet, and it already looks like the air-to-air images of Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) Su-27/30s arriving in Australia for the exercise taken by the Royal Australian Air Force will be hard to beat in terms of their wow factor.

List of participants at Exercise Pitch Black 2012

The Australian Defence Force has just released the list of participating aircraft at this year's Exercise Pitch Black, which will be held in the skies over Australia's Northern Territory from 27 July to 16 August 2012. Up to 94 aircraft and more than 2200 personnel are expected to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 12. This will include:

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

F/A-18A Hornet (Darwin and Tindal)
F/A-18F Super Hornet (Darwin)*
C-130H and C-130J Hercules (Darwin)
King Air 350 (Darwin)
Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter (Tindal)
Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft (Tindal)*
AP-3C Orion (Tindal)
KC-30 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (Amberley)*

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)

F-16C/D Falcon (Darwin)**
F-15SG Eagle (Darwin)*
Gulfstream 550 Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) (Darwin)*
KC-135R Stratotanker (Darwin)

United States Marine Corps (USMC)

F/A-18C Hornet (Tindal)***
KC-130J Hercules (Tindal)

Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF)

F-16A/B Falcon (Darwin)

Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU)*

Su-30 Flanker (Darwin – 27 July to 13 August only)*

Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)

Combat Support Personnel

*denotes first time participant for Exercise Pitch Black.
**RSAF F-16C/Ds will probably carry markings from both 140 and 143 Squadron, however personnel will be drawn from either of the squadrons listed.
***US Marine Corps F/A-18Cs will be from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, normally based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The unit is currently based at Iwakuni in Japan as part of the USMC's Unit Deployment Program (UDP).

More on the ADF's dedicated Pitch Black website.

Indonesian Flankers to make Australian debut at Pitch Black

TNI-AU Su-30MK2

We've finally been given the clearance to publish this after sitting on it for the past few weeks. The TNI-AU (Indonesian Air Force) will be sending it's Sukhoi Su-27/30 Flanker interceptors to Darwin for the upcoming Exercise Pitch Black. Four aircraft, reportedly 2 Su-27s and 2 Su-30s, will make up the TNI-AU's debut contingent at the biannual multinational air defence exercise. From what we understand, the TNI-AU will however not take part in the full exercise.

The TNI-AU will join aircraft from Australia, Singapore, Thailand and the United States for this year's Pitch Black, which will be held in the skies over Australia's Northern Territories from late July to mid-August.

Indonesia operates a mix of Su-27SK/SKM and Su-30MK2 variants of the Flanker. This will be the first time the TNI-AU and it's Flankers will make an appearance at Pitch Black.

Indonesian AF Fokker F-27 crashes into Jakarta neighbourhood

An Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) Fokker F-27 turboprop transport has crashed into a Jakarta neighbourhood while landing at the city's Halim airport at 2.45pm local time. AP is reporting that at least nine people, including six of the aircraft's seven crew, have been killed.

It has been reported that the crashed aircraft was A-2708, one of six similar aircraft in TNI-AU service.

Indonesia confirms 6-aircraft Su-30 order

Confirming earlier reports from the Russian press, air force chief of staff Imam Sufaat has said that Indonesia has ordered six more Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighters from Russia. He added that two aircraft will be delivered annually between 2012 and 2014.

The Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara (Indonesian Air Force) currently operates six Su-27SKMs and four Su-30MK2s based at Hasanuddin Airbase in South Sulawesi with 11 Squadron.