KUALA LUMPUR: One of the three letters of intent (LOI) handed out on Apr. 18 at DSA 2018, was for the VL MICA surface-to-air missiles by MBDA.
The MICAs are being bought to arm the LCS, of course. Unlike the NSM, this was not a contract yet, though it is likely to be awarded soon.
As I had posted earlier, MBDA had been contracted by BNS to supply the launchers and associated equipment though not the missiles. All weapons for the LCS – from guns to missiles – are “government furnished equipment” to be supplied directly to BNS once the contracts had been awarded. Hence it is the government (through the Defense Ministry) that signed the contract and LOI for the missiles – NSM and MICA -with Kongsberg and MBDA, respectively.
As for cost and number of MICA missiles to be procured, I have yet to double confirm them. However as the six LCS each supposedly has 16-launchers each, we can assume at least 100 missiles will be procured. It is likely also that both the RF and IR versions of the missile will be bought.
Anyhow from the schematic of the LCS as shown by BNS at DSA 2018, I think that they could fit the Aster 15 or 30 missiles for the follow on ships, if funding is available of course. The schematics showed the A-35 launcher on the LCS penetrated only one deck with at least three decks below. Of course they need to redesign the whole bow area if they do this but I dont think its undoable or expensive. The expensive part is of course the missiles itself!
Converting the first six LCS for Asters however will be quite expensive as they need to modify at least two deck at least.
— Malaysian Defence
If you like this post, buy me an espresso. Paypal Payment
View Comments (22)
Aster 15 fits in the A-43 launcher which is only 80cm taller than A-35. If below deck penetration is an issue, they only need to raise the missile deck area by 80cm. Probably a cheap mod.
An issue with having a longer range missile than the point defence MICA is that a radar with longer range than SMART will be needed.
By the way Marhalim, what anti sub torpedoes will arm the LCS? No mention whatsoever ?MU90
Reply
One thing at a time otherwise I will ran out of questions to ask
sorry for the off topic, but on the same DSA, is this guy serious?
Malaysia expected to have own fighter aircraft by 2030: Academician - http://m.thesundaily.my/news/2018/04/19/malaysia-expected-have-own-fighter-aircraft-2030-academician
Reply
In Ennor of course
Academician...
What can I say. I have met a fair share of them, immersed in their theoritical utopia, and then trying to push their theories to industry leaders that is doing what they theorised evey day.
Remember the USM professor promoting car powered only by water? That is pure BS and is only an auxillary water injection system. He got millions of grant from the government for that crap.
My advise? Walk the talk. Build a working scale model that we can test the stealth capability. Lay out the plans for the manufacturing capability. Build the working radar prototype. Build a workable flyable jet engine prototype. When you can do all that, then talk of building your own fighter.
For mica, i dont see any official news from mbda regarding which launcher platform was selected by tldm unlike the nsm launcher and the missile
Is it secretive?
Reply
MBDA has always been mum on its sales around this region relying only on government announcement or not
hafizu - ''Is it secretive?''
Some companies are more selective in releasing news compared to others. At times it is the customer which decides what info should be released.
Any news on rapier replacement? NASAM or VL Mica sounds good. What say you?
Reply
Tried asking the GAPU boss but he will not revealed anything apart from saying Jernas will need to be replaced in the next few years and their recommendation for replacement is something capable of defeating threats from low to medium level. The Army is also looking for counter drone technology though it is still very early in the game
kamikaze - ''NASAM or VL Mica sounds good.''
Anything sounds good as long as we can afford to maintain it and it won't be too much of a hassle to integrate it to GAPU's existing network. Ideally it would be NASAMS or MICA as we already operate AMRAAM and the LCSs will be armed with MICA. There is also the question of whether GAPU intends on replacing its GDFs with another gun. That will be interesting to see.
Jernas replacement...
One of the reasons why we should not buy something new at the end of their use by its main user. We got our 1st systems only in 2006. So now after only 12 years, we need to find replacements for them? I was thinking the replacements would be like after 2025.
As the navy is getting the VL MICA, it is good if the army goes for that too, and if possible to trade in those Jernas systems for VL MICA like starburst for starstreak as both is made by MBDA.
A battery of VL MICA is said to cost about usd30 million each. A total of 6 would be good, 3 in penisular and 3 in sabah/sarawak.