SHAH ALAM: Long range radars for Malaysia and Indonesia. The US announced on June 8 a notice of proposed contract action to Lockheed Martin for the supply of three long range radars to Malaysia and Indonesia. The $77 million contract is expected to be completed within 48 months once it is awarded. The notice published by the US General Services Administration did not identify the type of radar to be contracted nor the exact numbers for Malaysia and Indonesia. So its likely the two countries will get two radars or one.
Description: AFLCMC/HBNK intends to award a contract utilizing FAR Part 15 Contracting by Negotiation. This will be under NAICS code 334511 (1,250 employees). This effort is to acquire up to three transportable solid-state long-range surveillance radars. These radars must be capable of simultaneously performing air surveillance and maritime surveillance missions in the South East Asia
Theatre. The objective is to provide secure interoperable C3I and Sensor systems supporting Joint Air Operations to US Government FMS customers. These solutions provide partner nations with secure mission capability, able to interoperate both within sovereign space, and provide connectivity and interoperability with U.S. military support forces. This period of performance will be 48 months (4 years).
(14) Place of Contract Performance. Malaysia and Indonesia
A check on the Lockheed Martin website showed that the TPS-77 Multi Role Radar fits the above missions in the notice which is to perform air surveillance and maritime surveillance missions. So it is likely that the TPS-77 MRR is the radar for the proposed contract.
Lockheed Martin recently completed production on the first TPS-77 Multi-Role Radar (TPS-77 MRR) for the Ministry of Defence for the Republic of Latvia. This milestone is the most recent event in a 15-year partnership of radar development and training between Latvia and Lockheed Martin. The TPS-77 MRR is the latest version in Lockheed Martin’s successful product line of surveillance radars and was developed in response to the evolving needs of armed forces on the battlefield.
The TPS-77 MRR is equipped with the latest technology that is quickly adaptable to a variety of surveillance missions. The radar’s multi-role single scan technology allows operators in specific sectors to select roles for the radar such as long range or medium range low-level flight surveillance, including helicopter detection.
As the radar rotates through each 360-degree scan, the system automatically adjusts to the operator selected mission. Changes can be made easily if the system is moved or if the mission is changed. The design also incorporates Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology. GaN provides for ultra-low power consumption and high reliability that ensures radar operation over extended time periods.
The TPS-77 MRR is adaptable to a variety of surveillance missions.The MRR combines the best performance and reliability in the surveillance industry into a mobile and cost effective package. The radar can be truck mounted for rapid deployment at unprepared sites and can also be dismounted for use at fixed sites. This gives the user more options and mobility on the ever-changing battlefield.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (63)
Currently the only country that is using the latest TPS-77 MMR is Latvia. This latest version is a full AESA radar using Gallium Nitride (GaN). Older TPS-77 version does not have this.
Interestingly it also has a maritime surveillance mode. So this is probably going to be located somewhere near to the sea?
In all a good radar for malaysian needs.
So UAVs, MPA conversions, Radars from uncle sam... That is quite a lot of stuff IMO. Looks like the money usually spent on the Phillipines now would up for malaysia and indonesia?
Off topic
http://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/amid-row-with-china-iaf-pushes-proposal-for-acquiring-33-new-russian-fighter-aircraft/608474?
Should still not be too late to offer our MiG-29Ns in exchange for some of IAF Su030MKI?
Around 4-6 would be good to enable us to have planned airframes in maintenance while having the numbers operational.
What we can do is to offer some of our MiG-29N plus to offer the service of overhauling IAF fleet of C-130J in AIrod, in exchange for 4-6 of IAF Su-30MKI. A win-win situation without any money changing hands (no issue with CAATSA).
IAF can replace those MKI passed to malaysia with their top-up order for new MKIs.
Not that I am unhappy with it, but surely there's some of a trade off of giving these radars for free? Is it because of recent China's posturing in the SCS?
@...IMO I think we should just sell those MiGs and use the cash to get more Hornets. Canada's upgrading their fleet, so there's still plenty of fight left in the Hornets.
Talking on the Flankers, if we decide to add more (despite MH17), then we should get new MKMs instead. No need for it to be full spec like the ones we have now, maybe just basic radar (with options for upgrade of course) to handle routine tasks like patrol, QRA etc
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Airod has no skill and permit on C-130J only C-130H.
Trade off between mig29 and MKI is difficult as MKI is using Israel parts. I don't know of HAL has expertise or license to replace Israel part with French product.
Like it or not US Will be Asean only hope in SCS. US is gladly to help because China ambition in SCS is challenging US policy and interest too.
Recently a lot of equippments we got from USA. MPAs conversion, UAVs and now radars. Thank you uncle Sam.
Great, finally we may get a radar with GaN tech which is the best any current radar could offer. I think we would get the 2 units as we have more area of waters that is contested by China. If this happen, does our tender for new ground radar still going on Marhalim?
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A great idea to boost our Flankers numbers and availability rate that is if RMAF want to add more jets that are more expensive to operate than our Hornets. If RMAF can accept the higher operating cost then we should go for it. I would trade our Migs with BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (400km, Mach 3) and large quantity of spare parts for Flankers (especially for the engines). Getting the Zhuk-AE AESA radar upgrade is also a good option.
Out of topic.
Just want to find out any progress on the little birds please
Reply
None, with the travel ban still enforced nothing is moving on the MD530Gs
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As India are just the assembler for MKIs, unlikely they will build more than what IAF had ordered. Even if IAF willing to forego a few airframes for us, will Sukhoi as the principal allow it? It will eat into their business so I don't think they will allow it.
Furthermore, MKIs are built with Indian and Israeli subsystems together with Russian & French ones. So build to MKIs into MKM spec will need heavy Russian involvement to replace the Indian & Israel systems and the French to recertify their own equipment for use on MKI convert to MKM.
In that case, I would rather just buy MKMs straight up from Sukhoi directly.
If there's anything I want Indian, would be Brahmos and convert MKMs to launch them.
Luqman - “expensive to operate than our Hornets. If RMAF can accept the higher operating cost then we should go for””
Well it’s a fact that the Su-30 is maintenance intensive (larger aircraft, parts and components that don’t last as long as Western equivalents and the TVC that also needs maintenance) but irrespective of whatever we get; the government still has to increase the operating budget.
Failure to do that will constitute a major problem: a problem unfortunately the armed services are well acquainted with.
I posted a comment earlier on but somehow it got lost.....
Good for us getting these radars but what's the trade-off with the US? I don't think the Yanks give these things away for free.
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IMO we should just sell the MiGs and get extra Hornets. Canada is upgrading theirs; seems that legacy Hornets still have plenty of fight left.
I am all for increasing the Flankers, but new MKMs instead of MKIs. To reduce the cost we could perhaps get MKM half spec (with options for upgrade later on) so these maybe use for routine tasks like patrol and QRA.