SHAH ALAM: Keeping up with the Joneses…Cougars and K9s. The Australian government today signed an Australian $1 billion (RM3 billion) contract today for the purchase of 30 K9 (AS9 Huntsman) 155mm SPHs and 15 K10 (AS10) ammunition resupply vehicles. T
It is the biggest military contract between Australia and South Korea (as well as Asia). The deal came some nine years after Australia canceled the plan to buy the K9. Apart from the South Korean Army, the Thunder and the ammunition resupply vehicles have been sold to six other countries including India and Turkey. The latest deal makes the SPH one of the best selling one in recent memory.
The Australian deal include local manufacture of the SPH and its resupply vehicles hence its Australian designation AS9 and AS10. This is likely the reason it costs so much.
Meanwhile, Thailand took delivery of four more Airbus H225M helicopters it was announced today. From Airbus:
Thailand takes delivery of four new H225M helicopters
Bangkok, 13 December 2021 – The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has taken delivery of four new H225M multirole utility helicopters.
With these latest deliveries, the RTAF’s fleet totals 12 H225Ms under its fleet modernization programme. These four helicopters will join the air force’s fleet for combat search and rescue, search and rescue flights and troop transport missions.
A combat-proven multi-purpose and versatile asset, the H225M enables military forces to deploy wherever and whenever needed. 125 H225Ms are currently in service across the world, having accumulated more than 150,000 flight hours. The H225M is relied upon by Brazil, France, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, and Kuwait to support their most demanding missions
From the pictures provided by Airbus, it is clear RTAF Cougars are equipped with the DAS system and its associated hardware including flare dispensers.
RTAF originally ordered four H225Ms in 2012, which were received in 2015. It further ordered two more in 2014 and 2016, respectively. The latest four were ordered in 2018 and was expected to be delivered this year.
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (10)
I think we should learn something from there. buy 2 + 2 + 2 eventually we get 12 more. If we go for current method, we wait + wait + wait + wait until we have $ for the 12.
Michael,
We fund things under Malaysia Plan cycles. That itself is highly flawed because of constant delays and shifting of prorities on the part of the government.
Interestingly, the UK is also looking for AS90 braveheart SPH replacement and K9 is touted as one of the potential replacement despite both entering active duty around the same time and both were designed as M109 replacement in UK and RoK service
Perhaps more interestingly, other Nato countries are also choosing the K9 instead of PzH 2000s
The PzH 2000 was designed for the traditional NATO role of dealing with a Russian threat in Europe. It's a great piece of equipment but it's costly and has a heavy footprint. For armies which want to spend less and want something with a lighter footprint; the K-9 is ideal.
@Michael
If they buy in small quantities at a time, they will only get a small budget. Through buying in large numbers, they can justify a large budget & of course cheaper price per unit.
Do RMAF Cougars also have DAS?
Fitted For but not equipped with. As the Cougar was already designed to be fitted with DAS it was easier and cheaper to leave them wired for them rather than taking them out. If we have the money, we can easily install them. RTAF four first Cougars were also the same like us but I think they have since installed the hardware for the DAS to ensure commonality with the new ones and make it easier for the crew
sikit sikit lama-lama jadi bukit. i guess that the way to go now. the thais with thier heli, the indonesian with their sukhoi.
I was told the US had proposed to MY government to purchase a small number of Super Hornets, annually, when they were looking for MRCA a few years back. Of course we did not want to listen to the proposal.
Mustaffa,
Pros and cons.
Either way the government still has to make a firm committment. On paper we also buy progresively under Malaysia Plans but the problem is we have no continuity and shift priorities.