SHAH ALAM: The Procurement Division of the Army has issued a 41-day tender for the supply, delivery, testing and commissioning of a multiple integrated laser engagement system or MILES (combat simulation system) for the Army.
The public portion of the tender – published on December 12 – specified 144 systems (unclear whether this will be 144 man-worn systems or will also include vehicles and others) for an indicative cost of RM10 million.
The public specifications:
There is a requirement to equip the Army with Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) that provides the ability to train soldiers in essential skills which involve shooting, moving and communicating as part of a larger manoeuvring tactical formation
From Wikipedia:
The multiple integrated laser engagement system, or MILES, is used by the U.S. military and other armed forces around the world for training purposes. It uses lasers and blank cartridges to simulate actual battle.
Individual soldiers carry small laser sensors scattered over their bodies, which detect when the soldier has been illuminated by a firearm’s laser. Each laser transmitter is set to mimic the effective range of the weapon on which it is used. When a person is “hit”, a medic can use the digital readout to determine which first aid method to practice.
Different versions of MILES systems are available to both US and international militaries. The capabilities of the individual systems can vary significantly but in general all modern systems carry information about the shooter, weapon, and ammunition in the laser. When this information is received by the target, the target’s MILES system uses a random number roll and a casualty probability lookup table to determine the outcome. For example, a MILES transmitter emulating an M16 rifle cannot harm an armored personnel carrier (APC), but could still “kill” a commander visible in the hatch of the vehicle.
Vehicles are typically outfitted with a belt of laser sensors or individual wireless detectors. Dismounted soldiers often wear a vest or harness with sensors as well as a “halo” of sensors on their helmets. MILES systems can be coupled with a real-time data link allowing position and event data to be transmitted back to a central site for data collection and display. More sophisticated systems for tanks and APCs exist that use various techniques (including scanning lasers and coupled radio systems) to allow more precise targeting of armored vehicles.
The standard is maintained by the U.S. Army’s PEO-STRI branch
It is unclear though whether the tender also calls for the procurement of such systems for vehicles and others as well as the overall command and control system, but it is likely. As you are aware the Army operates a simulation system at Sirajudin Camp in Gemas but this is for a platoon size training.
The number of MILES system being sought will allow some one hundred soldiers with their vehicles and support weapons to simulate a battle with an opposing force.
It must be noted that neighbouring countries already operate the MILES procured from Cubic Defense of the US. The US Army in recent times has procured such system from Saab as with the UK Army. Of course, it is likely a China-made one is also avaialable.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (4)
So the one at Sirajudin was just a tester for the TDM to evaluate and now this is to go ahead in a larger scale.
Will this new system also based at Sirajudin? What about the current system, rather a new one, can this be expanded to a larger formation?
It is not a tester as it is a different system and technology. Most likely the new one will also be at Kem Sirajudin as it has the space for the training facility. The new one can be expanded further but I do think the previous one is more likely limited in its usage.
What I meant was the sim at Sirajudin was a kind of proof of concept testing for the use of MILES. I want that eventually we could expand MILES to the urban combat training facility doing combined arms tactic at squad & platoon level.
The sim is not a proof of concept for the use of MILES.
The current sim is indoors with the use of VR goggles. The system is the SAAB Grintek (South Africa) - Battletek IV.
MILES is for real world outdoor use. We have used MILES many times before, usually bought by foreign mititary while training with malaysian army. The last one if i remember correctly is during Exercise Desert Tiger with UAE