SHAH ALAM: In September, Malaysian Defence wrote about tenders for the procurement of support vehicles and firearms for the Army. The support vehicles being sought are air-defence command trucks and howitzer towers. As for the firearms, the Army wants more 9mm pistols, heavy machine guns, light machine guns, mortars (complete set), anti-materiel rifles and automatic grenade launchers.

Five air defence command three tonnes truck is being sought and four bidders have qualified for the tender. The highest was RM4.95 million, RM4.47 million, RM4.365 million and lowest RM4.275 million. As a three tonne truck usually costs around RM400,000, I am guessing the air command-and-control system costs around RM1 million each.

As the gun tower tender is still open, I will update this post to include the bid prices when it is published in Eperolehan.

Eighty-six 12.7mm heavy machine gun is being sought and the indicative price is RM15.5 million. Fourteen bidders have qualified for the tender with the lowest price at RM14.114 million and the highest RM14.634 million.

As for the 18 81mm mortar with fire control system and 4X4 truck (complete set) three bids had qualified with the lowest at RM29.682 million, RM30.45 million and RM30.6 million.

Only one bidder took part in the tender for the 12.7mm anti-materiel sniper rifle of which 19 is being sought with an indicative price of RM7.2 million. The sole bid is RM7 million plus change.

Two hundred and ten 5.56mm light machine guns are being sought with an estimated price of RM21 million. The Army currently operates various versions of the FN Minimi 5.56mm LMG. Small numbers of the HK11E LMG remained in service with RS units though. Eleven bidders have qualified for the tender with the lowest price RM10.456 million and the highest RM26 million.

Will the Army choose the lowest bid then? My guess is as good as yours. That said the Army is very conservative, like its sister services and it is likely the chosen LMG will be the same one it has been using. Even if a cheaper, unlicensed copy is available from another manufacturer.

Both the 9mm pistol and AGL tenders will only closed on October 8. This post will be updated accordingly. By the way, the tender for the fourty Integrated Fire Control System published earlier had been cancelled shortly after it was published here. A new tender was published a week later. Checking on the new specifications, it showed that the number of IFCS units being sought is now 29 compared to 40 from the cancelled tender. The indicative price is RM40.2 million, same as the cancelled one. I am guessing that potential bidders had told the Army that they could only supply 29 units of the IFCS for the estimated cost hence the cancellation of the original tender. The IFCS is meant for Royal Artillery units operating the Denel G5 155mm and the 105mm pack howitzers.

— Malaysian Defence

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