SHAH ALAM: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was featured in the Interview section of the latest Defense News newspaper. To read the full interview, read here.
As expected the minister did not reveal much but his answers to questions on our procurement programme and defence budget is interesting, to say the least.
“Q. Could you say a little about your plans for procurement of conventional equipment?
A. The next 10 years or so will see us acquire a number of new platforms as we modernize and upgrade our capabilities. This is not a comprehensive list, but to give you an idea, just last month we purchased 257 wheeled eight-by-eight armored vehicles from FNSS of Turkey.
The Army is also looking at some of our local companies to research, develop and produce tactical unmanned air vehicles. We would look to originate the airframe locally and acquire the optronics and other systems from international markets.
We want better lift capability for the Air Force, which is why we have embarked on buying A400Ms from Airbus. We are also looking at buying new multirole combat aircraft capability. The Air Force is also very keen to develop airborne early warning capabilities.
The Navy will be getting second-generation littoral combat ships and other vessels.
For the armed forces as a whole, we are working on building network-centric capabilities.
Q. Do you see Malaysian defense spending increasing during the decade?
A. Normally, we do not spend more than 6 percent of our gross domestic product on the military, police and enforcement agencies. In the present five-year plan for defense, we are spending 26 billion ringgit [$8.6 billion], about 10 percent of that for procurement. For the remainder of the decade, I think we are not likely to spend much more than that due to our requirements to invest in education, health and certain infrastructure projects.”
Since we know already about the AV8, SGPV, A400M and MRCA programmes, the comment on the AEW is quite revealing. I have heard about this back in 2006 and had even reported that Eireye had been down-selected, now it seemed the project have been revived although no favourites had been bandied around lately.
The answer on the defence budget is quite contradictory as we know that Defence and Security was given only RM23 billion during RMK10 (10 per cent of the RMK10 RM230 billion). Was Zahid misquoted or the reporter got it wrong? Anyhow if its only 10 percent out of RM26 billion (the figure quoted in the interview) is being used for procurement how can one explain the amount being spent on the AV8, Eurocopter and SGPV? Or RM26 billion for both RMK10 and RMK11?
I have no idea, at the moment at least.
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (43)
It is encouraging to hear from Zahid Hamidi on the overall plan to upgrade the armed forces. Although the budget of RM26 billion is quite small to make an impact for the overall national defense, but the deed is quite good.
The RM26B if pledged for leveraging would entitle the ministry a minimum of RM3B of dividend and free money to spend with 90% margin would allow an immediate overdraft of RM23B to spend. It is a "creative financial modelling" which has been done by the American. Think of it logically, how would USA financed their huge defense budget if not thru "creative financial modelling" and not just printing the dollar?
Today, it is the era of creative thinkers for not doing it well, we'll be just another goon looking for cheap but useless materials. If you don't know HOW? Ask those who know. Otherwise you'll be looking for money until end of the world and you're heading to nowhere.
Marhalim, apart from the Erieye, what other AEW platform that cross your mind which best suited for the RMAF? How about the latest E-2D?
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I dont think we can get the E-2D. Perhaps the E-2C with some D parts...
Nice talking points raised in the interview. Actual realities speak differently on the ground. Each and every issue he spoke of has multiple not-so-positive backstories that even purveyors of this blog knows that the interview is a glossy marketing brochure, and nothing more.
Rather puzzling the Minister has said the 8x8 are procured from FNSS Turkey. My understanding is that Deftech is the prime contractor for the project.FNSS is just one of Defetch vendors!
Marhalim,
I understand the E2D has superior capabilities compared to the Erieye.It has no blind zones, no waiting time for the radar to be effective when the aircraft is taking-off from the runaway, its radars could do simultaneous surveillance of the maritime surface and airspace.The Navy, MMEA, DCA, Maritime Police, Customs and Immigration could also benefit from the procurement of the E2D since it could easily be networked to these agencies.Malaysia could certainly obtain maximum benefits from the E2D.
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Yes, but the E-2D is the latest US Navy variant, so if we go for the Hawkeyes, we may get the airframe but surely not the radar and electronics.
An offer was previously made to supply surplus USN P-3's and integrated it with the AN/APY-9 radar like in the USN's Hawkeye 2000 upgrade. On paper, due to the RMAF's familiarity with the C-130 and AIROD being able to overhaul
C-130's, a radar mounted on C-130 would be an ideal solution.
SAAB would like us to buy the Erieye on the SAAB 340. Only problem is the SAAB 340 is no longer in production and all customers have received refurbished 340's formerly operated by SAS. The RMAF's preference for the Erieye, was if i'm not mistaken the Embraer.
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Yes, the RMAF prefers a jet as it is of course faster than a prop plane. Some have said the Erieye and Embraer combo was the favourite due to the influence of the agent. This time around who knows? If commonality on logistics and training are the paramount factor, Id preferred the Wedgetail as I had mentioned several times before.
Marhalim,
I am sure if the USG gives the E2D release to Malaysia,it will be the whole AEW configuration since the procurement will be done through FMS. Don't tell me the USG will short-change Malaysia if we were to buy their E2D?
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A deal done through FMS does not mean that we will get the current version of the Hawkeyes as flown by the US Navy. We may only get Hawkeye 2000, the current export variant. The Delta version is still under flight testing and as far as I can tell it is not yet cleared for export.
An Indonesian fisheries boat snatches 2 Malaysian fishing trawlers in Malaysian waters and the STAR gives it a page 10! I would have thought that something like this would reach the front cover rather than the Customs bribery affair... Rather than pussyfooting around and always going out of our way to appease the Indons, around I hope this government send a clear message that incidents like this will not be tolerated.
I read about the snatching incident in The Star too and how piss i am with the meek reaction from our govt. Apparently in this country state election is more important than safety of its citizens. 4 helis were dispatched to locate the boats only to watch it being towed away to the border while it is still in our OWN waters!! Our own territory for god sake ! Is this what Malaysia has become? Is TLDM just going to stare in horror if it happens again? Where are those loudmouth politicians who argue and criticize each cents spent on defense procurement? Are they going to save our fishermen?
We all know they wont do diddly unless it translates into 100,000 votes and some political mileage. This incident is precisely why we need AWACS, maritime patrol aircraft, more frigates and corvettes to guard our waters.
This is not the first incident and i can assure you it wont be the last. Indons are playing intimidation game and we are playing right into their hands.
One way to subdue a rabid dog is to punch it hard in the face (figure of speech only) and show who is the master. They cant afford a full scale war any more than we do. Next time around, i hope TLDM will lob few shells across the bow just like the old time. They can scream and protest all they want in front of our embassy and threaten our citizens. That is about all they can do. If no example is set, this will definitely happen again.
Precisely,that is what happened to butt licking politicians in Malaysia. They're trying to please our neighbour instead of our citizen. Anwar Ibrahim has gone one step further to please the indon. Nobody is respecting us. Our country is known as corrupt, lazy and gay nation to our neighbours. Sometime a crazy dog should be smack right on the face to teach em a lesson. Provided we have a clear and proof of the wrongdoings. We need AWACS, 54 SH, MAP, NGPV, LCS, LPD, SAMs and whole bunch of defensive equipments as deterrent to our sovereignty. Otherwise we'll always be a sissy. IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP MALAYSIA!!!
During a visit to Indonesia some time ago, Anwar told some politicians there that if he was PM he could solve all bilateral problems in 2 weeks!! As the Indonesian economy improves, Indonesia will try to revert to it's traditional [as it perceives] role as the ''senior'' member in ASEAN, one with the most diplomatic clout. For now, the main aim of the TNI is to modernise and replace old stuff, not to develop any power projection capabilities or maintain a numerical or technological edge over Malaysia [like Singapore], but that can change.