SHAH ALAM: 3 KAD – the last KAD regiment without armoured vehicles after it retired the Condors in early 2023 – has taken delivery of the Gempita 8X8 vehicles. A parade was held on August 26 to mark the entry of the Gempita into regiment.
3 KAD is based at the Kem Lapangan Terbang Sungai Petani, Kedah which also houses several other Army units including 19 RAMD which also operates the Gempita.
The Gempita operated by 3 KAD, was acquired from 2 KAD – based at Kem Sunggala, Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan. 2 KAD itself got the Gempita from 1 KAD. It is unclear how many Gempita are now in service with 3 KAD but from pictures it is around 14 – ten ACV-30s and the other four are one command, engineering, surveillance, and ambulance vehicles. It is likely the ten ACV-30s and one command vehicle are part of one squadron, while the rest are with the regiment’s headquarters company.
This is a similar number of Gempita operated by 4 KAD in Kuching, Sarawak since November last year. 4 KAD however has an extra vehicle, the 30-tonne Volvo Heavy Armoured Recovery Vehicle. Yes, the Volvo wrecker has been up-armoured, becoming the sole wheeled wrecker which is armoured.
As 19 RAMD operate from the same camp is equipped with the wrecker, though from a different site, 3 KAD could always ask for help from them.
As we do not have enough Gempita to fully equip the armoured regiments, the Army plan to buy the High Mobility Armoured Vehicle (HMAV) for them. The plan to buy them was announced by PMX in his budget speech last year but the tender for them has not been announced yet.
On paper, a KAD regiment has one headquarter’s company with three or four squadrons (called company in infantry battalion) with each squadron having three troops and one headquarters. On paper, a KAD regiment should have around sixty armoured vehicles with a similar number of soft skin vehicles. An engineering batalion is also attached to the regiment to maintain the vehicles, electronics, and guns.
The release from 3 KAD.
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SUNGAI PETANI, 26 OGOS 2024: Panglima 2 Divisyen, Mej Jen Dato’ Azhan bin Hj Md Othman telah menyaksikan acara Perbarisan Pengoperasian Kenderaan Perisai (KP) 8X8 GEMPITA Rejimen Ketiga Kor Armor Diraja di Padang Kawad Rejimen Ketiga Kor Armor Diraja, Kem Lapangan Terbang, Sungai Petani, Kedah.
Perbarisan yang berkekuatan seramai 11 Peg dan 163 LLP dimulakan dengan gimik pergerakan masuk Kenderaan Perisai (KP) 8X8 GEMPITA dan anggota perbarisan sebelum diteruskan dengan pemeriksaan barisan oleh YBhg Panglima 2 Divisyen dengan menaiki Kenderaan Perisai (KP) 8X8 GEMPITA Armoured Command Vehicle (ACV).
Perbarisan yang diketuai oleh Mejar Manivel a/l Letchumanan, Pemimpin Skuadron Alpha merupakan acara simbolik untuk lakaran sejarah 3 KAD apabila Tentera Darat telah bersetuju perpindahan Kenderaan Perisai (KP) 8X8 GEMPITA daripada Pasukan 2 KAD kepada Pasukan 3 KAD bagi menampung keperluan operasi, latihan dan mengekalkan kompitensi krew 3 KAD.
Upacara perbarisan ini turut menyaksikan acara pemasangan formasi 2 Divisyen dan 3 KAD oleh YBhg Panglima 2 Divisyen sebagai simbolik perasmian Pengoperasian Kenderaan Perisai (KP) 8X8 GEMPITA. Dalam ucapan beliau menyatakan harapan agar penerimaan Kenderaan Perisai (KP) 8X8 GEMPITA ini dapat meningkatkan lagi kompitensi Krew pasukan 3 KAD. Beliau juga mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Jabatan Arah Armor kerana telah menaja kertas kerja dalam Mesyuarat JKKOTD pada bulan Feb yang lepas bagi perpindahan Kenderaan Perisai (KP) 8X8 GEMPITA tersebut.
Upacara berakhir dengan YBhg Panglima 2 Divisyen dan isteri, Datin Noor Ainy binti Hj Mohd Ali telah diarak menggunakan Kenderaan Perisai (KP) 8X8 GEMPITA (ACV) oleh seluruh warga 3 KAD sebagai tanda penghormatan dan penghargaan merasmikan Perbarisan Pengoperasian Kenderaan Perisai (KP) 8X8 GEMPITA pasukan 3 KAD.
3 KAD had to rely on soft-skin vehicles prior to getting the Gempita.
— Malaysian Defence
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Nice Now Which KAD are still without proper number of armor vehicles? and how about that HMLTV/HMAV and adnan slep tender? when they will come out?
All done now
I wish there is a clearer history of the gempita saga with 3 KAD.
As early as 2018, the 3 KAD actually already equipped with the gempita
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GWxkktda8AAyBG0.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GWxkTLGXwAARICu.jpg
Then it was taken away from them. Now in 2024 it is given back to them.
3 KAD currently consists of
– Skn Markas
– Skn Alpha (now with Gempita)
– Skn Bravo
– Skn Charlie
– Support Skn
– 33 Skn Worksyop Armor
– Skn Delta (AW)
From previous posts here, 4 KAD received about 26 Gempita’s
The available gempita’s for the cavalry regiments are
78x IFV30
54x LCT30 (Ingwe)
24x SURV VINGTAQs
If divided by 5 regiments, each regiment would have
15-16x IFV30
10-11x LCT30
4x SURV VINGTAQs
basically each would have about 30 Gempitaβs.
That is probably enough to equip 2x Squadrons in the Regiment. So the the 3rd operational squadron, and the support squadron would be equipped with around 30 4×4 Armored Reconnaissance Vehicles. Around 150 vehicles needed.
As for the kembalik, that armored volvo is totally different than the 2 unarmored ones. It is not converted from those 2 received from Australia
so currently there are 3 different types of Volvo FMX kembalik in army service
1) 3 axle version (as seen in Lebanon)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fr4i6J-acAAzvSN.jpg
2) 4 axle version no armor (2 units from Australia)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fp8yEwGaQAE_WNd.jpg
3) 4 axle version with armor and dozer blade (8-10? units from UK with armored cabin from Turkiye)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fp9SvDaaYAEKD11.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GM-MmE1bMAAYSyt.jpg
Picture of the trucks in UK before installing armored cabin and dozer blade
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GM-QcisbMAEevjK.jpg
you can see the ladder chassis extends over the front bumper , to attach to the dozer blade
I believe now there is no recovery/kembalik version of the Gempita built (only fitter version), instead replaced with the Volvo FMX kembalik’s.
From this parade picture
https://www.malaysiandefence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/457046626_900185818655123_1616722175091694478_n.jpg
– 10x IFV30
– 1x SURV VINGTAQ
– 1x Command
– 1x Ambulance
– 1x Fitter
What’s about 5 KAD? AFAIK they only equip with 20 lipan bara. Why not 19 Ramd give half of the gempita to 3 KAD. From the marhalim post before,19 Ramd equip with at least with 47+ gempita.
19 RAMD is a storied unit, which won battle honours. 5 KAD is a newly created unit. Not a problem though as 19 RAMD is to be transferred to Sabah once its camp in Kota Belud is completed. Perhaps they will sent 5 KAD to Semenanjung and take over the 19 RAMD camp in Sg Petani.
So the 19 RAMD move to Sabah is official?
5 KAD IMO will remain in Sabah. I would like to see it equipped similarly to the rest of the KAD Cavalry Regiments.
Currently every division (except central 4th Division) has at least 1 RAD Cavalry regiment.
1 KAD is attached directly to 4th Mechanised Brigade, so 3rd Division has 2 RAD Cavalry regiments.
What I would like to see is a mechanized regiment set up in Sarawak too. Ideally it would be similarly equipped like 19 RAMD. But if cannot, used KIFVs from South Korea would be okay. Buy extra so we can have plenty of attrition reserves of KIFVs.
Of course it is. 1 KAD and 4th Mechanised is also under 3 DIV as well with 11 KAD. I am not sure about 2 KAD really, it may well be under the 3 DIV as well as 4 DIV is a garrison division.
What I read from the news, right now under 5 division combat elements that station in Sabah beside 5KAD that use 20 lipan bara as skuadron armour in Kota belud there are one company of gempita from 19ramd,12 vehicles had been sent to Sabah in 2015 station at Sandakan and one company of mifv from 12 ramd,18 vehicles station in lahad datu.
Budget has been approved for the hmltv. Wonder what’s the delay in the procurement process? In government cash accounting the money is already there.
Technically, they can hold back the procurement to next year and it will still be part of the RMK12…
The HMLTV once procured would be send off straight to lubnan rights?
Also guessing we would be buying a prototype right? Since the only HMLTV type vehicles that’s I know in active services is only the JLTV and hawkei.
There are the Turkish and UAE ones. Yes they are supposed to replace and augment the soft skin vehicles there including the FFR. That was the plan anyhow.
Yes like Nurol Yoruk/NMS and NIMR Ajban right?..How about KIA KLTV/Raycolt?..NMS also currently being tested.And how about that HMAV tender then? as far as i undestand the future HMAV eventually will equip KAD too right? MILDEF HMLTV still not out from contention right?
Ideally the vehicle chosen should be common with what we will use here, but like UNFIL Edjer Yalcin, its likely will be spending its whole service life in Lebanon and finally scrapped/donated in situ. So there is little point for commonisation in this case. More importantly whats selected for us is what have met all (or at least most) of the criteria.
Yes on both but also likely Streit and IAG vehicles will also be in the mix.
Yes, the Mildef vehicle should be in contention too. Not sure about KLTV though. Yes HMAV will equip KAD regiments.
IMO the mission of KAD cavalry regiments (reconnaissance, surveillance, and security), are ideally covered not with HMAV-type of vehicles, but with relatively smaller and more agile HMLTV.
I think the HMAV requirement is in there just because there is a local option for it, not because of the actual requirement.
On the heavier side i would say the options are
1) PARS 4×4
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FfeXHHrakAAF7vg.jpg
2) Cobra 2
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GWd8IY7bsAAcjgo.jpg
3) JLTV
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FhWMQlqaAAACz2F.jpg
The KLTV would be much more to the lighter side, but with its low cost (armored version around USD150k each), and the ability to customise it for many other variants (VHSORAD, Ambulance, Command post, FFR, etc.) it would be a good option to look at, as it will enable the army to get more of them.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fox9qRYaMAAmsum.jpg
Inkas Sentry suddenly popped on my mind and what about terradyne gurkha?.While we at it..Any update on PDRM future armor vehicles?
As I said before the JTLV is the preferred option for the HMTLV (to me for both really) after testing but it will need to be procured under FMS to make it below the budget. The PARS is not preferred due to some technical issues and the NMS is the second best option. KLTV was not tested as it was not offered by any local company
IMO PDRM does not need any new armored vehicles, although it recently bought 4 Guardian Extremes.
There is no insurgency happening, and the probability of malaysians picking up arms en masse to raise against the government and the king is extremely low.
maintaining/refurbishing/resetting current PDRM armored vehicles (V150 and Saxon) can be done, as their protection level is adequate (not needing mine resistant or RPG-7 resistant)
Or the army give some hand me downs like 1-2 dozen condors (it can be easily rebuild with latest UNIMOG engine, gearbox and axles for cheap) or to streamline the vehicle types, maybe divest the guardian extremes / lipanbara to PDRM when getting new HMLTVs or such.
@ marhalim
I am all in for getting the JLTV thru FMS for the HMLTV requirement.
Maybe not buying the tarantula seems like not supporting the local industry but i really dont see a need for a large 15ton mrap to do armored cavalry tasks.
anyway the Otokar Cobra 2 was not tested by the army?
I was not told about the Cobra 2.
If the gomen doesn’t buy tarantula they going to buy the pantherra. Both likely are the same things under the skin probably.
Ideally TDM might want JLTV for both HMAV & HMLTV requirements, but other HMLTV other than JLTV do not have much variant a.t.m. And building those variant going to cost lots of money as we experienced with gempita. So what else can TDM do then to just agree with a 15 ton MRAP.
Unlike the ph,JP,oz. We haven’t cross the Rubicon yet. No we intend to cross it as crossings it is bad for the economy. So the gov allergic to FMS would still continue on for the Foreseeable future.
@Hulu
“HMAV requirement is in there just because there is a local option for it”
Nope, HMAV requirement is there because we cannot get more Gempitas for the budget we have so we gotta economise to a smaller vehicle.
“hand me downs like 1-2 dozen condors (it can be easily rebuild”
Its what I had proposed before, reuse back the Condors for border patrol, police duties, rear troop movement with better protection than softskin trucks. Or else since we brought/bringing back the Guardian APC which deemed unfit for Unfil, its still new enough for hand down to PDRM. Their lack of RWS would not be an issue in civvie service.
“…still new enough for hand down to PDRM”
Maybe keep those as “war reserve”, while PDRM standardised to Guardian Extremes.
” we cannot get more Gempitas for the budget ”
What mission does the Gempita do in Kor Armor Diraja cavalry regiments that the Tarantula can do?
So each KAD cavalry regiments have a rojak of 3 types (Gempita, Tarantula, HMLTV) of IFVs?
Lets say each of 5 KAD regiments will get 30 Gempita’s
A KAD regiment then will consist of
β Skn Markas (4 Gempita)
β Skn Alpha (12 Gempita)
β Skn Bravo (12 Gempita)
β Skn Charlie (12 HMLTV?)
β Support Skn (12 Tarantula?)
β 33 Skn Worksyop Armor (2 Gempita, 2 Volvo wrecker)
Or it can be
β Skn Markas (4 Gempita, 6 JLTV)
β Skn Alpha (12 Gempita)
β Skn Bravo (12 Gempita)
β Skn Charlie (16 JLTV)
β Support Skn (16 JLTV)
β 33 Skn Worksyop Armor (2 Gempita Fitter, 2 Volvo wrecker)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FhWMQlqaAAACz2F.jpg
So in total 190 JLTV required (38 x 5 regiments)
The support squadron should be equipped with Gempita, ideally the LCT-30 ATGW or Mortar for fire support.
@Hulu
“What mission does the Gempita do”
Its not so much what the mission requires. Maybe certain things like mounting 30mm turret & ATGM the Gempita could manage such that Spider cannot. But moreso, TDM wanted more in commonality with their current Gempita fleet. Having rojak vehicles is not ideal but what they can do with a limited budget?
IMO this is a Cavalry regiment, not an infantry regiment
The 3 fighting squadrons should have their own embedded ATGM rather than the ATGM is in another support squadron. The whole cavalry regiment is supposed to “support” other infantry units anyway. So
– Squadron A = 8x AFV30, 4x LCT30 ATGM
– Squadron B = 8x AFV30, 4x LCT30 ATGM
– Squadron C = 16x JLTV with 0.50cal HMG RWS + ATGM
The support squadron would probably consist of the
– observation platoon (x2) with VINGTAQs on 8x JLTVs (only 4x with VINGTAQs)
– signals platoon on 4x JLTVs
– pioneer platoon on 4x JLTVs with mine rollers, mine clearing line charges etc.
https://www.mkeusa.com/en-US/catalogue/vehicles/tamkar-mine-clearing-line-charge-system-for-vehicle/52/2106
https://globetech-us.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MVPPperformanceCallouts.jpg
This enables all 5 Cavalry Regiments to have the same vehicle, making training easier and enabling personnel from any units to be transferred among them without the need for retraining.
Joe
“Its what I had proposed before, reuse back the Condors for border patrol, police duties, rear troop movement with better protection than softskin trucks. Or else since we brought/bringing back the Guardian APC which deemed unfit for Unfil, its still new enough for hand down to PDRM. Their lack of RWS would not be an issue in civvie service.”
I think it’s pretty clear none of our agencies love hand me down for reasons that Azlan had explained soo many times before. (unless it a foreign hand me down though). If you force it upon them, it won’t be long before they abandon it or in APMM case sink it.
So why bothered.
Did the army already tested Mildef HMLTV?
Simply because they can hold out for brand new stuff and because it helps pushes for their agency to get a bigger budget even at the expense they might have to wait longer to get it approved.
Why they can be so patient when they supposedly have a need? A starving person couldnt care what they have to eat, but a well fed person wont touch the food immediately but doesnt stop him from demanding more, right?
I am not aware of it.
>upgraded condor
even the army couldn’t stomach the cost lmao. These vehicles already worn out and the paulice wouldn’t want something like that as they’re already have hundreds of even older V150s and Saxon to worry about
A lot of newer police armorered vehicle with better protection and crew comfort couldve be had for roughly similar price (or even lower) than condor upgrade cost. Mildef Rentaka or Even Barracuda would’ve been a better choice than remanufactured Condor
@Dundun
“even the army couldnβt stomach the cost”
Cost of SLEP Condor is relative, the only one we know is the overpriced quote from Deftech. If the goal is to relife the powertrain and certain suspension parts, perhaps some rewiring work for lights & comms, the cost wouldnt come close to what Deftech is asking moreso if its reasonable without the excessive markups. Initial high startup cost can be amortised by the hundreds of Condors available. We wouldnt have to buy new vehicles just for benign border patrols and whatnot, and the relative ease of its simplicity can be serviced by a bengkel mechanic. In contrast it provides better offroad mobility than a pickup and better protection than softskin trucks.
” even the army couldnβt stomach the cost lmao ”
They couldn’t stomach the absurd cost that DEFTECH quoted (RM3.5 million per vehicle, half the price of Lipanbara which is RM7 million)
Rebuilding Condors is no different to rebuilding trucks.
You can still buy a brand-new UNIMOG
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GWEQEtyagAAI7Dn.jpg
The condor uses UNIMOG engines, transmissions and axles. I believe you could rebuild (return to as new condition) + add some comfort equipment (aircons, all round cameras etc.) the Condors for less than RM1 mil each.
BTW – number of Gempita in 19 RAMD – 78 units (from 19 RAMD FB).
Romania has signed a contract for 1059 units of Otokar Cobra 2 for USD934 million (USD882k @ RM3.65million each)
The contract consists of 278 made in Turkiye, with the rest to be manufactured locally in Romania.