JAKARTA: Carry On. Carry On. Although funding for the new MPA and MRSS has yet to be found, likely in RMK12, the technical work on them is continuing. This is of course normal as specifications and technical requirements must be ready when funding is available.
RMN chief Adm Kamarulzaman Badaruddin said the work will continue until funding are made available. He did not comment further as he was to be one of the speakers at a maritime forum at the IndoDefense 2018 exhibition on Nov. 7. I was told also that RMAF is continuing its work on the MPA just like the RMN on the MRSS.
Funding for both MPA and MRSS which made them a project of record was announced in the 2018 budget. However without the proper allocation to allow for the purchase, both remained “paper projects” and there is no confirmation when funding will be made available.
Anyhow, Defence Minister Muhammad Sabu launched the Malaysian Pavilion here at IndoDefense on Nov. 7. Although the pavilion featured a number of Malaysian defence industries it is completely overshadowed by neighbouring Vietnam booth which showcased its own defence industries with a number of indigenously manufactured firearms and ammunition.
Our pavilion is mostly catered to promote the two exhibitions to be held, Lima 19 and DSA 2020.
The Vietnam defence industry booth at IndoDefense 2018. The Malaysian pavilion is on the right.
As it is the host country, Indonesia showcased a slew of items manufactured mostly by its state owned companies. PT Pindad which specialises on land equipment its first medium tank, the Harimau. The Harimau was designed by Turkish firm, FNSS together with Pindad. For the medium tank role it is equipped with the Cockeril 105mm turret.
PT Pindad Harimau medium tank.
Also displayed are various other APCs and military equipment manufactured by Pindad and other companies. Also on display was a single Nexter Caesar SPH in service with the Indonesian Army.
Nexter Caesar SPH of the Indonesian Army.
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (34)
Deftech did not try to push AV8 there? I'm so disappointed.
MPA and MRSS are still paper project.....noted.
"Our pavilion is mostly catered to promote the two exhibitions to be held, Lima 19 and DSA 2020.
There are already many exhibitions in region. I hope still many major defence industries attend Lima and DSA.
"Although the pavilion featured a number of Malaysian defence industries it is completely overshadowed by neighbouring Vietnam booth which showcased its own defence industries with a number of indigenously manufactured firearms and ammunition."
Hmmm....good for them. China is their neighbour.
"The Harimau was designed by Turkish firm, "
I think Harimau was a JV between FNSS and Pindad. It was designed and developed by both of them based on TNI requirements and both are share the intelectual right. Both have the right to produce and export. (Source:wiki)
With small DE budget that could carry on for years, we need to refocus and reset our priorities in getting new stuff for our defence.
Rather than planning for the time we have big budgets (unlikely), we need to reset the plans to reflect the lower DE budget that we will have.
For the navy, i think my alternative 15 to 5 is still affordable. This would see TLDM buying stock SSV design of PT PAL for the MRSS requirements, leave OPV business to MMEA, buy more LCS and Submarines.
https://www.malaysiandefence.com/another-look-rmn-15-to-5/
For the air force, it seems at most the government can spare only USD1 to 1.5 billion per rancangan malaysia for DE. So we must set our expectations way lower than what we dream of right now. So no way we can afford Rafales or Typhoons ever. MPA, either we convert all 6 of our CN-235 to MPA variants (basic no ASW capability) or get some free hand me downs from Japan or Australia (BTW australia has started selling their P-3 and S-70 to private parties). Replace those hawks and aermacchis with 1 type to save operating and upgrade costs. Retire the Nuris.
For the army, we cannot afford to have a program like the AV8 Gempita that costs a massive RM7.55 billion for just 257 vehicles. Additional Gempitas is obviously what we should get, but not at those costs. If we can pare down cost of projects like the MRT3 probably we can get say 200 more Gempita for like USD500 million only. Other items probably we can look into more Excess Defence Articles (EDA) or Foreign Military Sales (FMS) from USA or used items from friendly countries like Australia, UK, South Korea for example. Concentrate on improving soldier systems.
sample army DE
RMK12 2021-2025 USD1.0bil
196 AV8 Gempita batch2 0.5
250 J-LTV 0.1
70 PT-91M batch2 0.2 (refurbished PT-91 include upgrade batch1)
100 Polaris DAGOR A1 0.02 10PARA
30 ZBD-03 IFV 0.06 10PARA
20K SOLDIER SYSTEMS 0.1
90 LG-1 105mm 0.1
72 LIG Next1 Raybolt ATGM 0.05 (replacement for ERYX)
RMK13 2026-2030 USD1.0bil
250 New MRAP 0.25
250 J-LTV 0.1
24 UH-60 used EDA 0.2 (replacement of Nuri)
36 VL-MICA 0.25 (replacement for Jernas)
20K SOLDIER SYSTEMS 0.1
40 Hawkeye 105mm J-LTV 0.1 (hawkeye howitzer on J-LTV chassis)
60 LIG Next1 Chiron MANPAD 0.05 (replacement for IGLA)
RMK14 2031-2035 USD1.0bil
250 New MRAP 0.25
40 new 155mm Towed Howitzer 0.25
16 HQ-16 MR-SAM 0.3
20K SOLDIER SYSTEMS 0.1
?? Electronic Warfare 0.2
For the MMEA, if we continue to maintain the 2019 DE budget for next 20 years, we can more than afford to fulfill a plan that is something like this
https://www.malaysiandefence.com/apmm-plans/
Ok off topic but the French have confirmed there will be a VL MICA NG. I wonder if all the procrastination about the MICA might be because of this. Maybe the RMN should just go for the NG from start.
Reply
No lah as I written in the past the RMN previously wanted the ESSM
@...
I really admire the phased acquisition proposal, but a targeted final force structure would be useful to help envision the goal in mind.
Off topic
Next big frigate program for Indonesia has just got another option, this time the damen new "omega" frigate. Indonesia was drawn to the Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates as a follow on design to the 4 Sigma PKR frigates PT PAL is building
https://www.navyrecognition.com/images/stories/news/2018/November/IndoDefence_2018_Damen_Unveils_6000_Tons_Omega_Frigate_3.JPG
@ chua
I believe you are mentioning about my ground forces structure
My final force structure would be something like this:
1 brigade of para rapid reaction force
3rd division consisting of -
1 brigade of armour (2 tank rgt+2 adnan/KIFV tracked mechanized battalions)
1 brigade mechanized (4 gempita battalion + 1 cavalry rgt gempita and J-LTV)
1 brigade motorized (with MRAP and J-LTV)
1 battalion each motorized (with MRAP and J-LTV) in 1st and 5th divisions (sabah and sarawak respectively)
1 cavalry rgt each (with gempita and J-LTV) in 1st, 2nd and 5th divisions.
all the current BIS infantry battalions (minus those converted into mechanized or motorized battalions)
7 artillery rgt of 105mm howitzers (5 LG1 and 2 SPH with Hawkeye J-LTV)
2 artillery rgt with 155mm howitzers
2 rocket artillery rgt
1 rgt HQ-16 MR-SAM
2 rgt VL-MICA/Oerlikon 35mm Twin mix
1 rgt Starstreak
2 rgt Chiron manpads
BTW care to share what do you have in mind for tentera darat?
@...
Thanks.
Haha, I have been mulling it for a while in the little spare time I have. I don't have much idea yet. All I can say is I admire the British Army's various proposed force structures and the USMC MEU, but still struggling to apply to Msian context.
It's easy to create a fantasy army modelled on something else, less easy to create one that fits the situation. I may be barking up the wrong tree in terms of what army I'm trying to model.
Downsizing is one option. Have you noticed that a 8.5% cut in OPEX is a 33% increase in CAPEX? Maybe what we need is a smaller, better-equipped military.
On IndoDefense 2018,
Indonesia has signed USD89.4 million deal with KAI korea to provide:
3x KT-1 wongbee (replacement for crashed aircrafts)
retrofit of radar and guns to all T-50i golden eagles. This will bring the aircraft to TA-50/FA-50 standards.
That DAMEN Omega frigate is so luscious....