SHAH ALAM: As expected, Eperolehan website has republished the ATGW-MR tender, the one that was cancelled a few weeks ago. For the latest tender, published on April 18 and closes on May 18, only the general statement was published. (A check on the Eperolehan website on May 20 showed that the deadline for the tender has been extended to June 1. The revision was made on May 17)
PEROLEHAN MEMBEKAL, MENGHANTAR, MENGUJI DAN MENTAULIAH ANTI TANKGUIDED WEAPON-MEDIUMRANGE (ATGW-MR) UNTUK TENTERA DARAT. Number: 18. There is a requirement for the Anti-Tank Platoon of Infantry Battalion to be equipped with Anti-Tank Guided Weapon Medium Range (ATGW-MR) which is capable to engage and destroy enemy armour and heavily fortified bunker at a distance between 2000 m to 4000m
This is in contrast with the original tender which published in the open portion, six pages of the specifications which Malaysian Defence edited for brevity:
There is a requirement for the Anti-Tank Platoon of Infantry Battalion to be equipped with Anti-Tank Guided Weapon Medium Range (ATGW-MR) which is capable to engage and destroy enemy armour and heavily fortified bunker at a distance between 2000 m to 4000 m.
Penetration Capability. It shall be able to defeat ERA and subsequently main armour plate at least 900 mm RHA with BAE to inflict casualty to crew and vehicle.
Attack Capability. It shall have Top Attack Mode and Direct Attack Mode.
Effective Range. It shall be between 2000 m to 4000 m.
Guidance System. It shall be Imaging Infrared (IIR) homing guidance with cooled or uncooled system to provide better imagery.
Warhead. It shall be tandem shaped charge.
Quantity of Missile. At least one (1) missile for each launcher.
Weight of Complete System. It shall be not more than 25 kg.
Guidance System. It shall have Automatic Command Line of Sight (ACLOS) fire and forget guidance system.
Reliability. It shall be highly reliable when used in any environment.
Observation and Launching Unit (OLU). Minimum 15 years.
Missile. Minimum 10 years.
As it is the latest solicitation looks very much a repeat of the previous exercise despite the lack of specifications. It may well be the same as the cancelled one though based on the basic requirement. Though I may concede new ones might be added to the latest solicitation or deleted. That said the new tender confirmed my guess that the original one was cancelled as the specifications were accidentally published. Hopefully, the tender will not be cancelled as with the previous one.
Apart from the ATGW-MR, another solicitation for 20,000 rounds of 30mm armour piercing fin-stabilised discarding-sabot tracer (APFSDS-T) ammunition was also published on April 18. The rounds are for use in the Gempita armoured fighting vehicle equipped with the LCT-30 turrets. The tender closes on May 18.
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (18)
Regarding the 30mm, APFSDS-T. This is one of those that is qualified to be used with the Gempita GI-30 Camgun.
https://www.nammo.com/product/our-products/ammunition/medium-caliber-ammunition/30-mm-seriess/30mm-x-173-apfsds-t/
The gempita's denel GI-30 Camgun with APFSDS-T could penetrate every armored vehicle in south east asia smaller than the MBT, including latest medium tanks such as MT Harimau and ASCOD Sabrah.
Could it be that some potential suppliers complain that the specs are too constricting & too detailed that only a couple few could meet all of them, and that the new tender has "loosen up" things so now they have a chance to go in and win? From the very specific requirements down to just "destroy enemy armour and heavily fortified bunker at a distance between 2000 m to 4000m" that is so general.
... - ''The gempita’s denel GI-30 Camgun with APFSDS-T could penetrate every armored vehicle in south east asia smaller than the MBT''
it can also penetrate certain areas of older less well protected MBTs; i.e. engine deck; rear of the turret, etc. Whether it actually gets the chance to hit certain areas of a MBT [which can hit further] will depend on whether the engagement is in unrestricted terrain [i.e. along highways; open areas such as paddy fields; etc] where engagement ranges will be longer and targets will mostly be faced frontally or restricted terrain [urban areas; plantations, etc] where engagement ranges will be shorter and targets will be engaged from various quarters.
"MBT [which can hit further]"
those with 120mm gun can hit further.
ELBIT 105mm gun on the sabrah has a range of 3600m, which is less than the GI-30 Camgun + nammo APFSDS-T, which has advertised range of 4000+m.
Then there is the rate of fire. Tank guns usually have a rate of around 6 rounds er minute. The GI-30 has a rate of 60 rounds per minute.
APS if if fitted usually has limited effectors. Would intercept the first few rounds shot at it, but not 60.
but 105mm have bigger amount of explosives, something 30mm rounds will not match.
... - ''Then there is the rate of fire. Tank guns usually have a rate of around 6 rounds er minute.''
MBT and light tank guns as you're keenly aware are not rapid fire weapons.
Ultimately a auto cannon fitted on a IFV can penetrate certain areas of a MBT but it would depend on the MBT and the operational circumstances. Range or rather the ability to exploit range would also depend on the terrain. We also have to note that by and large the main function of a IFV mounted auto cannon is not to engage tanks; be they MBTs or light tanks irrespective of the fact that under the right conditions penetration can be achieved. A auto cannon would also be very useful in damaging or knocking out the optics and tracks of a MBT if it could get into the needed position.
the detailed specs suspiciously sounded like OMTAS ATGM from Turkiye.
At1k raybolt maybe?
Hulubalang:"The gempita’s denel GI-30 Camgun with APFSDS-T could penetrate every armored vehicle in south east asia smaller than the MBT, including latest medium tanks such as MT Harimau and ASCOD Sabrah"
First of all, we will not use IFV and tank head to head in any operation.
Many terms and conditions are required to make IFV can defeat even a medium tank.
Today medium tank armor are equipped with armor which can stand 30mm ammo. Even if 105mm fire rate is only 6 in a minute but one shoot is more than enough to blow IFV. Even if the latest 105mm has effective range of 1500m but it also equipped with GLATGM falarick which have range of 5000m.
In real situation IFV, APC and Tank are moving together. They complement each others.
@ Romeo,
"Today medium tank armor are equipped with armor which can stand 30mm ammo"
Can the MT Harimau or the ASCOD Sabrah do that?
To withstand 30mm shots, it would need to have NATO STANAG 4569 Level 6 armor. Both MT Harimau and ASCOD Sabrah does not have.
@Hulubalang
Yes..it can
As I said many terms and conditions are required for 30mm IFV can panetrate even a medium tank.
Range is one important factor. I don't think 30mm ammo can panetrate tank skin beyond 1 km. It has already loss some its kinetic energy.
If the tank applied with additional armor than the range is under 500m.
How IFV can get close undetected or the tank is not shooting first beyond 1km is also a big question.
Like modern IFV, modern tank also equipped with many tech so it is difficult to defeat a tank based on IFV 30mm rapid fire only.