SHAH ALAM: Low Coat Solution for RMN and MMEA. As we are all aware many of RMN and MMEA vessels lacked proper capabilities against air and even surface threats. Most of the ships are equipped with unguided 40mm, 57mm and even 76 mm guns which are aimed locally, the old spray and pray method. Even the Kedah class, built to the fitted for but not equipped concept, have yet to be fitted with its anti aircraft missile system.
Lack of money and competing claims from other services meant that the lack of protection against airborne threats – from aircraft, missiles, guided bombs and even drones – is expected to continue into the near future. As the current vessels are expected to continue service for the foreseeable future, at the minimum we could armed them with VSHORAD missiles to counter air threats, for lack of anything else. There are a variety of these missiles available from manned to remote launchers. At the current Navdex show in Dubai MBDA is displaying one interesting solution to our predicament.
A CGI of the SPIMM module by MBDA
From MBDA.
At Navdex 2019, MBDA will be presenting the SPIMM (Self-Protection Integrated Mistral Module), an all-in-one air defence module based on the SIMBAD-RC system and designed to equip ships of all types, particularly those without a combat system (such as supply ships).
The SPIMM module consists of a SIMBAD-RC automated naval turret equipped with two ready-to-fire Mistral missiles and a 360° infrared panoramic system to detect and track air and surface threats. The system is entirely controlled by two operators located in a shelter inside the module, which is also used to store four additional missiles. This ISO standard “all-in-one” module, 10 feet long and weighing some 7 tons, can be easily positioned on the deck of a ship using a crane, and requires just a standard electrical connection.
Designed to protect surface vessels against most conventional airborne threats (anti-ship missiles, combat aircraft, helicopters and UAVs), the SIMBAD-RC and Mistral demonstrated, at the end of last year, its ability to neutralise asymmetric threats such as Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC) by day and by night.
“The SPIMM enables the urgent and rapid adaptation of supply vessels or landing platform docks to cope with new threats, or for using them in contested areas,” says Naval Defence Systems Product Executive Christophe Leduc. “This system illustrates MBDA’s ability to understand its customers’ needs and to quickly come up with effective and functional solutions.”
Such a system when coupled with other containerised weapon systems could easily make cheap, merchant vessels as potent naval assets. This containerised system could also be moved around the fleet as ships are refitted or even retired.
Of course, corvettes and frigates are more sexy but these are mostly left in planning rooms and exhibition halls when the politicians and bean counter goes through them.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (54)
We dont use mistral.
A nice idea all round anyway. Probably aselsan malaysia could do something containerised using the naval LMM launchers. Would be a good addition to the LMS boats.
https://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2014-08/1407846986_naval-mount-for-thales-lmm.jpg
http://www.navyrecognition.com/images/stories/news/2016/july/LMM_Aselsan_launcher_Thales.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8Et7v5PaeeaWEKTP1RqBuaqngtoImStBBlbc6BgrzIPh5Bu4SSQjsBX2HoC7V1OAZ-Rtk_dOzK0TOQ
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We also don't have LMM. Since MBDA is promoting the system of course it featured its own missiles. If I am going to wait to run stories on things we do have in our inventory they will be a lot of empty pages....
Aselsan STOP with LMM
http://i60.tinypic.com/1zfpsvt.jpg
@ marhalim
Well LMM is developed from the starstreak, and the missiles is backwards compatible with all our current starstreak launchers.
I think a medium gun - missile platform is a brilliant idea that we shall have had a long time ago. Money is tight so we shall focused on equipping the NGPV first then the LMS. We shall also equipped the NGPV with SSMs during the upgrade, preferably the NSM or the MM40 Exocet Block 3 as to promote commonality.
As for the LMS, I would have preferred to pass on the Made in China ship to MMEA. The idea of RMN operating a ship from a country we have a maritime dispute on and on the contested area itself is a security leak we do not need. If we want to trade brownie points we shall considered their land combat systems only, not air and sea system. VT4s shall fit nicely into the Army 2nd MBT Battalion requirements while being among the cheapest brand new MBT on the market, as do their various type of MBRLs for another Army requirement for a new rocket regiment. I understand that some may disagree with me by citing the military requirement and the politics angle but it is also my opinion that we also need to adapt to our wallet also. Money is tight and by the look of it, it will stay it is no matter which govt of the day we have. Best bang for our buck, eh?
Is this kind of a system really effective?It might be a deterrent albeit a very last minute one. How if the enemy uses multiple launch from stand off range. Honestly its best that either we have nothing or have something higher than bare minimal. The malay saying "jangan lepas kan batuk di tangan". Any SAM should be at least 15km range.
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The problem we have is the lack money. I am not saying this kind of stuff is a replacement for the real ones but it's a start
I must add we.have in the bag 6 NGPV and 6 LCS. Isnt this enough. Retire all our FACs our covettes.and FS1500. The savings goes to buying real.weapons for our.NGPV and 6 helis for the LCS. Dont even bother with 15 to 5. With 12 decent boats isnt that enough to protect malaysian waters?. Again i benchmark.vs the Royal Navy. They have 19.major.combatants but they operate all over. We.have no.worldly ambitions.
The cheapest solution is buy standard portable Igla and fire by human. Since most of our old patrol boat still using manual way to operate our guns
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Yes it's cheap but will it work?
@ hazwan
I am for buying chinese weapons, even ships too. My only gripe with the LMS is it is too poorly armed for the price that we paid for it. Other countries got fully armed OPV from China for that price!
@ Shahrudin esa
Just 12 large ships is not enough actually.
from various studies, IMO 30 large ships would be needed, to enable 10 to be always out on patrol.
our operating areas are (with ideal number of ships in the bracket)
1) selat melaka (9)
2) east coast of peninsular (6)
3) south china sea off sabah and sarawak (12)
4) east coast of sabah (ESSCOM) (3)
IMO 2/3rds of the number should be OPVs of APMM, as any direct actions (against foreign fishing boats for example) would not be seen as a military move.
Fully arming the Kedah class does not add any value to normal patrols. Money saved IMO better used to buy more Gowinds and Scorpenes.
as for those mistrals sold as able to take on anti-missile threats, I think it is a bit over the top to think that it is capable to do that.
I don't see a point because enemy air units have no reason to close to within the Mistral's effective range. They can perform any missions related to detecting/observing/acquiring/engaging the ship from a greater distance. Mistral is also not a substitute for a CIWS because it cannot engage missiles.
Something we can do more effectively within our means is to counter the threat from fast, small boats. The Mistral only does this as a secondary capability, and more expensively too.
Other than going for bare minimum, the navy should invest in more sophisticated CIWS options like the 35mm Millennium gun or RIM-116 rolling airframe missiles as these systems can intercept other missiles. Our current msi 30mm chain gun could only fire 200rpm which is inadequate to intercept missiles. Imo if the Kedah class is not fully fitted with SSM and a CIWS or SAM, they are just a waste of tax payers money.