SURABAYA, Kompas – Indonesian Navy deployed two new vessels, KRI Usman Harun-359 and KRI Frans Kaiseipo-368, in Ujung Indonesian Eastern Fleet Command berth, Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday (1/4) for AirAsia QZ8501 search and rescue mission.
According to Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Ade Supandi, these vessels will replace some vessels which have been deployed earlier.
“KRI Bung Tomo has conducted some tasks before going to SAR location. In the execution of the mission, there is an issue over the continuity of operational officers. Personnel endurance is limited and there is also equipment exhaustion. Therefore, currently, we deploy vessels with the fresher personnel having underwater object surveillance equipment. It will be very useful for plane body search mission,” Ade said.
The event was also attended by Eastern Fleet Chief, First Admiral Arie Henricus Sembiring Meliala; Eastern Fleet Command (Koarmatim) Chief of Staff, First Admiral Aan Kurnia, and assistants; as well as Koarmatim Task Force Head.
KRI Usman Harun-359 is the latest corvette own by Indonesian Navy inaugurated on December 4th 2014. The corvette produced by British firm, BAE System Maritime Naval Ship, categorized as a multi-role light frigate, is led by Sea Colonel, Didong Rio Duta.
This vessel is also a speed patrol vessel equipped with various sensors and sharp detection instrument for naval war. The detection instrument is in from of navigation radar, surveillance radar for aerial observation, and weapon-detecting radar. The weapon sensor system is equipped with electro optical tracker system (EOTs) to control vessel cannon and visual observation via video camera.
KRI Usman Harun-359 is also equipped with underwater sensor having good accuracy rate in detecting and classifying underwater contact namely sonar system. The underwater sonar is expected to assist the search and rescue (SAR) mission.
Meanwhile, KRI Frans Kaiseipo-368 is Indonesian Navy’s Sigma corvette. This vessel was made in Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (SNS) shipyard, Vissingen, Holland. Even though it has just come from overseas operation on December 24th 2014, this vessel is ready to go to SAR location.
The vessel has just finished a mission for ten months united in Konga XXVIII-F/UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) Indonesian Navy Maritime Task Force.
The vessel, led by Lieut. Col. Ade Namo Suwardi, also has underwater sonar equipment namely Thales Kingklip having active/passive middle frequency, ASW hull mounted sonar which is an underwater sonar having better accuracy to detect and to classify underwater contact.
“Its sonar system can be directed to front or side of vessel so it can be more accurate in conducting search,” Ade said.
Both vessels are predicted to arrive at SAR location within 24 hours and will add the number of Koarmatim corvette conducting humanity mission in SAR location.
Prior to that, Koarmatim has deployed KRI Bung Tomo-357, KRI Yos Sudarso-353, and KRI Pulau Rengat-711 on December 29th 2014, one day after AirAsia plane crash. Koarmatim has also deployed KRI Sultan Hasanuddin-356 and KRI Sungai Gerong-906.
The number of Indonesian corvette joining AirAsia SAR is seven corvettes from the total 15 corvettes in Koarmatime, Western Fleet Command (Koarmabar), and Military Inter-Sea Command (Kolinlamil).
“Indonesian Navy, in this operation, coordinates with National SAR Agency (Basarnas). Each of the vessels is under Basarnas operational control. All of it, including foreign vessels and aircrafts are under Basarnas’ control,” he said. (Kompas)
