SHAH ALAM: The Defence Ministry has issued a tender to supply and deliver eight-hundred units of the Nammo M72 EC for the 10th Para Brigade. The 21-day tender was published on July 9 and closes on July 30.
From the public specifications page:
There is a requirement to equip the 10th Brigade (Para) Infantry Battalion with a Light Anti-tank Weapon Enhance Capability (LAW-EC) Disposable System to be used by infantry personnel during operations and trainings. The main usages of the weapon are as follows: 1.1. It shall be
used to penetrate light armoured vehicles, gun emplacements, pillboxes, concrete bunkers, or equivalent hard targets.
It shall be easily carried by personnel without degrading their mobility during infiltration and
exfiltration by sea, air, or land.
The nature of airborne operations to conduct offensive and defensive operation requires the characteristics of weapon which shall be lightweight, self-contained with effective fire power
and disposable
From the Nammo website:
M72 Enhanced Capacity
The Nammo M72 Enhanced Capacity (EC) combines decades of innovation and Nammo expertise to deliver a world-leading close combat weapon. The system is disposable, easy to operate, extremely lightweight and powerful. The M72 EC can penetrate up to 450 mm RHA. The dual safe fuze and on-axis trigger equip the warfighter with an improved weapon system that is both safe and effective.
The M72 LAW is likely to replace the RPG-7 currently in service with the brigade. The two last paragraphs revealed the reason. It must be noted that the RPG-7 needs a two-man team for combat deployment with the gunner concentrating on firing, while the loader is also the spare ammo carrier.
Interestingly in the Army exercises I have been, I have not seen the RPG gunner/loader team though that said I have not attended recent exercises. It is interesting to note that foreign airborne forces equipped with the RPG-7, are issued with the D3 version, which can be broken into two (during jumps either from parachute or helicopters). AFAIK, we have not purchased the D3 version.
It must be noted that the support companies with the four battalions of the brigade are also equipped with the Carl Gustaf 84mm recoilless rifles for anti-tank and anti-structure work. They will be getting the latest M4 version soon.
Apart from the 10th Para Brigade, the M72 LAW is also issued to the GGK. It is likely the RPG-7 will continue to serve with the Army infantry battalions which will also uses the Instalanza C90 LAW.
Like Goose and Instalanza, the procurement for the M72 LAW will be done through local companies even though it will be cheaper to buy it direct from the manufacturer.
— Malaysian Defence
>D3
probably because we didn’t buy our RPG launchers from russia? Besides the paki RPG is shorter that standard RPG launcher as they’re actually meant for Para unit
Also the para unit has plenty of options so it’s not like they’re exactly hurting for D3 version
Wow…800 units..good number I think. We also just ordered 780 units C90 recently.
Mr Marhalim..what is the type of Light Anti Structure weapons that being delivered by MTO Teguh Hiasan Sdn Bhd? If Im not mistaken the number -+1500 units the candidate between C90 and M72.
If 800 + 780 + 1500 mysterious LAW thats quite large number to us.
Lets stockpiling.
The light anti structure munition may well be the M72 RC anti structure LAW by Nammo as well.
Rock – ”thats quite large number to us.”
You sure about that? Count the number of battalions we have and then the number of companies; platoons and sections. Given that shoulder launched weapons are issued down to section level; is 1,500 really ”quite large number to us”?
dundun – ”Besides the paki RPG is shorter”
And it would seem so is the Serbian launcher.
Ohhh, be careful. The word ‘Paki’ is actually offensive to the Pakistanis.
Like Goose and Instalanza, the procurement for the M72 LAW will be done through local companies even though it will be cheaper to buy it direct from the manufacturer.
This is the most ridiculous part of our procurement. I know the open tender system is meant to fight corruption but it’s applied in such an inefficient manner.
Tom Tom
It’s a manufactured butthurt as pakistan is a relatively recent name and is actually made of acronyms of the provinces within pakistan
it’s like sating how “DVD” is an offence to asian community like what the fk lmao
TIV – ”This is the most ridiculous part of our procurement.”
We all know that but like it or not the policy is part and parcel of the system we have in place.
Tom – ”Ohhh, be careful. The word ‘Paki’ is actually offensive to the Pakistanis.”
Ok but are they any here? Also, some time ago someone took offence with someone else for using the term ”Indon” but some ”Indonesians” themselves use the term.
Off topic, but has anyone read Timbalan Menteri recently recently mention plans for:
3+3 LMS batch 2.
3 LMS batch 3.
4 ASW helicopters.
6 UAV
We will have to see whether the funding will also be included…
dundun – ”pakistan is a relatively recent name and is actually made of acronyms of the provinces within pakistan”
Really? Didn’t know that. Punjab, North West Frontier, Sind Province and Baluchistan.
Good one Marhalim …
This keris strike exercise with uncle sam in Sabah might hurt big brother feelings lol. Judging from recent incidents in shabina shoals between pinoys & china coast guard. The pinoys sleeping with uncle sam & that hurt china’s feelings. However jokes aside, do you think China will do the same to us? I mean there is a possibility after west capella incident. Not two days ago bunga mas lima was deployed to shadow CCG 5302 in our EEZ.Its getting hot in here.
@Qamarul
“exercise with uncle sam in Sabah might hurt big brother feelings lol”
If it did they would have issued a press statement, as with many others they genuinely were upset about. So did they?
Marhalim, my point was that there are now plans, pending allocation, for 9 LMSs in batches 2 and 3! Also he said MRSS will number 2, not 3.
Anyhow, let’s see what happens in RMK 13…
No they would not necessarily issue a press statement. It would probably be via closed channels. As Marhalim alluded to some time back; the Chinese have been known to complain “quietly” about certain things; i.e: exercises with non regional or “outside” counties.
Tom Tom,
There are lots of plans. From the top of my head I can name various plans stretching back to the 1980’s. Unless there is funding; a plan remains just that; a plan.
At least Australia is now considered part of the greater Asia Pacific and not an ‘ outside’ power…
The MRSS has always been 3. Anyhow, I remember speaking to one of the PTL previously saying that they should buy 4 MRSS instead of three. He said that is the ideal number but the service has always to defer to the government on actual numbers.
Tom Tom,
My reference to “outside” was in view of how the Chinese see it. To China; the U.S. and compliant allies like Australia are 0outside” powers meddling in a Chinese internal matter and are making things worse by urging regional countries to harden their stance.
Australia is part of the Asia Pacific but it’s a Wesyern country. The term “Western” BTW can be based on cultural factors [i.e. Australia and New Zealand], geographical factors [Europe is in the “West”] or countries like Japan and South Korea [although Asian and in Asia; have Western forms of democracy/values when it comes to governance].
As a caveat in case there is any obfuscation on the part of others as tends to happen; this is not me saying one is better then the other or anything like that. Only pointing out that the term “Western” can be applied in a geographical context or in the context of governance.
The MRSS has always been 3. Anyhow, I remember speaking to one of the PTL previously saying that they should buy 4 MRSS instead of three.
Are there any other contractors shortlisted other than PT Pal? The Makassar class sure is cheaper but again it lacks prospects for future upgrades. Imho the south koreans mrss models looks more suited and within the price range
I wonder would there be any AWACS under next rmk
Yes the Makassar class is shortlisted because its cheap and the fact the builder PT PAL has signed MOUs with BNS and now Lunas. Whether it will be selected when the funding comes in, I have no idea.
Alex,
Look at the defence budget and stuff already approved and planned for procurement. No … Not unless we cancel other things and make a AEW platform a priority.
Qamarul – “The Makassar class sure is cheaper but again it lacks prospects for future upgrades”
How so; compared to the Turkish and South Korean designs offered? Also, in your opinion what upgrades would a MRSS require at a later date? The LCS and Kedahs lack deck and below deck space for extra hardware but the Makassar?
On the Makassar being cheaper; without any modifications requested by the end user; what’s is its level of DC compared to South Korean and Turkish designs? Sane number of waterproofed compartments/bulkheads? A question nobody can answer but one to ponder on. Time and again we’ve seen how the level of DC on ships can make the difference between it sinking or making it back to base.
Question. Why would the Army buy different LAWs? For sake of diversifying? Is there specific pro and cons between C90 and M72 EC?
Also with RPG-7, 1 tube can be reloaded multiple times and the loader can carry more than 1 extra reloads, so its like loosing some capability in certain point of view
Disposable systems tend to be more practical; the launcher can be binned after use and only a single operator is needed. Non disposable systems however – like the Carl Gustav – tend to have better optics and thus more accuracy.
Qamarul – ”The pinoys sleeping with uncle sam ”
Don’t know about the ”sleeping” part but they are closer physically to China and have been on the receiving end of lasing, ramming, water cannoning and other actions. To understand the Philippines/American connection; note that both countries are linked by history; by the shedding of blood; a bond. It’s part of their collective consciousness.
Qamarul – ”However jokes aside, do you think China will do the same to us? I mean there is a possibility after west capella incident.”
As has been explained we differentiate between day to day tactical actions [i.e. intrusions] and actions which can actually have an adverse affect on our interests. There’s also firm belief by observers [with justification] that we have an informal understanding with China – reached at sea and not by official dialogue – to maintain the status quo.
Qamarul – ”Its getting hot in here.”
It has been ”hot” there for years. I remember a Newsweek article in the early 1990’s [when almost nobody was paying attention] calling the Spratlys a ”flashpoint”.