SHAH ALAM: As the media is full of the soon-to-be-ready camp in Sendayan, we might as well looked into things that for me is more interesting, like the MPA requirement. Recently, I wrote that we are hoping to get P-3C Orion MPA from Japan for free. For free because the Orions are meant to be gap fillers until we get our own MPAs.
So what kind of MPAs are being looked for the long term then? The requirements are not set in stone I was told and to get pass the military financial log jam, which doomed previous efforts, the National Security council is now the lead agency. As the NSC is the lead agency, the MPA requirement also encompassed the coast guard and police.
As for the platforms, I am told that the capabilities being sought include both manned and unmanned platforms. And for that reason, this post will only cover the unmanned platform. The Armed Forces will operate the UAV with RMAF as the lead agency, I am told.
What type of UAV do they want to get? I have no idea as according to industry sources even the government have yet to spell out the details of the capabilities they want or the budget being allocated to it. As we have yet to operate UAVs bigger than the ScanEagles I guessed those involved will wing it based on the presentations by the manufacturers.
From talks with the industry, three UAVs have been suggested for the unmanned UAv requirement namely, the Safran Patroller, Thales Watchkeeper and the Predator XP, the unarmed variant of the Predator. Industry sources told Malaysian Defence that a Thales delegation briefed the NSC on the Watchkeeper ahead of LIMA 17.
Thales officials at LIMA 17 declined to confirm or deny whether the presentation had occurred or whether they had even spoken to the NSC, however. It is also possible that China or its local marketing agents will offer its UAVs to meet the requirement though I have yet to get anyone to speak on this.
The Patroller as you are all aware beat the Watchkeeper for the French Army tactical drone system in 2016. Story here. The Watchkeeper is in service with the British Army. The XP for that matter is in service with the UAE military.
Both the Patroller and Watchkeeper were not displayed at LIMA 17 although a US Air Force MQ-1B Predator with the 147th Air Reconnaissance Wing of the Texas Air National Guard was on static display throughout the show.
Apart from an outright buy, there is also the possibility that the UAV selected could be run under – the company owned, company operated concept -which will also shorten the time of getting the selected aircraft into service. Leasing will also allow the Armed Forces and other security services to develop competencies in operating in UAVs like the Patroller or Predator. And leasing will also reduce the cost of the procurement, something that must be considered due to our financial situation.
My sources could not say whether the program has been funded or not. As the programme comes under the NSC, it will be pretty difficult to find out what is coming next. So I guess we will have to wait for the 2018 Budget documents to see whether or not the funding for the requirements has been allocated.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (24)
MPA requirements using UAV eh?
The main issue to solve is the airspace sharing of unmanned and manned (including passenger) aircrafts. I don't think it has been discussed before, and that leaves medium altitiude and long endurance (MALE) UAVs flying only in military restricted or low volume airspace.
As of platforms
New :
My 1st pick is the patroller or to be more specific the Stemme ASP S15 airframe. The airframe has been integrated with quite a few UAV control systems, and that is not just from Sagem/Safran.
Used:
Request USA some excess defence articles (EDA) of the remaining 154 Predator that is going to be totally retired (replaced with the longer range Reaper by 2017-2018). Modify them so they could not carry weapons.
Operational area:
Probably around the edge of malaysian-philippines waters in ESSCOM, overwatch of beting raja jarom and beting patinggi ali.
For new frame im more keen of predator xp. Seems its other variants are already being used for many years. A proven platform in my eyes.
Agree with mr. 3 dots on getting used predator. I think we need at least 8 airframes. 4 in peninsular and the other 4 in sabah.
For the manned mpa, maybe it should be given to mmea. Something like dornier do 228 ng seems good.
So the rmaf will have more money for other needed stuffs. But again only rmaf have the experience in handling mpa.
using UAV for MPA seems interesting. hopefully it will get funded, the MPA of course.
SAGEM Patroller looks good for Malaysia both financially and tactically. if have more money get Predator XP which have more experience in conflict. but please not The Watchkeeper.
What happened to the aludra project?
Reply
No idea
For me the main issue is not the platform but the issue of who has operational control of such assets and how to ensure that those who need the info gained get it in a timely manner with no bureaucratic delays. In an ideal world unmanned platforms would be manned jointly by a tri service staff under a tri service command with representatives from the police and other agencies
P.S.
No doubt operating UAS in ESSCOM and fitting some with EW payloads [from SAAB] has gone a big way in influencing the way we think about UAS and their utility. Again, having the ''best'' unmanned platform will count for nothing we are constrained by a cumbersome command system and if those who need the info gained d not get it on time. Hopefully in the future as we get more and more into the UAS game, we'll see RMN ships with UAS and UAS used by the army for artillery spotting.
Last time didn't we have that 2 seat propeller project going? Helang something?
Indigenous to us. Is it still around? why don't just use that to catch the pirates/rebels swimming at sea?
Reply
I don't think that work out.
Operational control can be under 1 force but any operational units under the surveillance footprint of the system should have access to the info gained. The system operators should also have some method to identify the presence of friendly forces within their surveillance footprint, and a direct communication channel to those forces.
Btw 1 area of surveillance is usually called an "orbit", and each orbit is usually covered by 3-4 uav (usually 3-4 uav is considered a single "system") in rotation to enable a 24-7 coverage of the area. So a force of say 12 uav could cover 3 orbits plus some airframes for standby and training.
Uavs, especially large ones, are a hazard to manned aircrafts flying in the same area. More regulations and systems must be in place to make sure there is enough separation and deconfliction between manned and unmanned aircrafts flying in the same airspace. Until that is sorted out, i don't think we can operate something like the predator in airspaces around penisular malaysia.
Reply
That's why a COCO solution is probably the best interim way to ensure the speedy deployment of the UAV
I wonder do we have a UAV like the Predator XP right now, I remember somewhere around year 2015, I saw a UAV looks like the Predator flying silent and low above one of our O&G offshore rig in Sabah water. The colour is black and it had a cam below its belly.
.......... - ''Operational control can be under 1 force but any operational units under the surveillance footprint of the system should have access to the info gained''
We can only hope. The reality is that we still have a long way to go to really achieve ''jointness''and do away with in service rivalries/infighthing; which admittedly is still a problem in Tier 1 militaries even today. Whatever command arrangements we have for future UAS it must do away with the bureaucratic set ups that seem to plague most of our HQs and commands; the actual system must not be dominated by any one service operational wise.
Melayu Ketinggalan,
Are you referring to the Aerotiga which initially was intended to be a basic trainer [before pilots moved to the PC-7] and also an unmanned surveillance platform? The plane was designed by a Swiss engineer in his basement and was sold to SME which together with then British Aerospace offered it to the RMAF.