SHAH ALAM: IT appears that the Army had ordered a batch of Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW) developed by Sweden and United Kingdom. This was revealed as the Defence Ministry issued a request for tender to multi-modal transport operator (MTO) to ship the missiles back to Malaysia.
Saab NLAW
Like the earlier order for the LAW and MAPAM this was the first time I had heard about the acquisition of the anti-tank missiles.
A soldier preparing to fire the NLAW. Note the red dot sight. SAAB
Saab announced an order for the NLAW from an undisclosed customer back in December, 2016 with deliveries scheduled for 2017. Checks with my sources indicated that the undisclosed customer may well have been Malaysia.
Saab NLAW. Saab
As the NLAW is manufactured by Thales Air Defence in the UK, it is likely that this could also be part of the Starstreak deal in 2015. Under the deal Thales agreed to buy back the retired Starburst missiles and launchers. Part of the proceeds of the buy back led to the purchase of the Guardians MRAP for the Malaysian contingent in Lebanon.
Unlike the Carl Gustav and RPG-7, the NLAW can be fired safely in a confined space. SAAB
From Saab
Destroy the most advanced Main Battle Tanks wherever and whenever it appears.
NLAW (Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon) is the latest shoulder-launched, Overfly Top Attack, anti-tank missile system that makes it the true tank killer for light forces that operate dismounted in all environments including built up areas.
Selectable Overfly Top Attack (OTA) against armoured targets and Direct Attack (DA) against non armoured targets such as other vehicles and vessels or enemy troops inside buildings.
PLOS (Predicted Line Of Sight) guidance and OTA delivers easy handling, accuracy and high kill probability.
Specifications of the NLAW
Single non-expert soldier system, Range 20-800m
PLOS (Predicted Line Of Sight) Guidance, Fire & forget
OTA (Overflying Top Attack) and DA (Direct Attack) firing modes
Un-jammable proximity fuze, High SSKP (Single Shot Kill Probability)
Night vision capability, Confined space capability
Maintenance free, 20 years shelf life
IM (Insensitive Munition), Design for all Climate conditions and environments
From the specifications, the NLAW is looking very similar to the MBDA Eryx, previously in service with the GGK. As the Army infantry unit’s main shoulder launch weapons are the RPG-7 (section level) and Carl Gustaff recoiless rifle (support platoon) it is likely that the GGK will be the main operator of the NLAW together with the LAW.
An Army soldier firing a RPG-7 at the LKT 2018. Note the back blast.
It is also likely that a small batch of the NLAW and LAW will also make their way to the leading elements of the 10th Para Brigade as a last ditch defence against all sorts of targets.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (21)
"OTA (Overflying Top Attack) and DA (Direct Attack) firing modes"
so one of army objective have been achieve.
this is exciting....hope we can see the demo or exercise of it in the next LKT
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If it goes to the GGK as I am assuming, unlikely they will fire it during LKT. They never did with the Eryx, AFAIK. Of course this will make the odd trip to Mersing a little bit worthwhile
Great news. At last a top attack atgm for the army.
Was looking at LIG Next1 Raybolt, this is more of a javelin-like system rather than a disposable one like the NLAW. Any pros and cons using reusable instead of disposable systems?
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Not sure about the pros and cons. But carrying extra rounds are always a bitch especially for a specialised units. In normal infantry the lowest rank got the dibs
Buying decision under PH or previous government?
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Of course it was the previous government. One just don't order missiles today and get them next week
Malaysia made a Good Choice to buy NLAW but I wish PASKAL And PASKAU Has New ATGM for Spec-Ops Mission Serious. And Should Army need Javelin ?
"Part of the proceeds of the buy back led to the purchase of the Guardians MRAP for the Malaysian contingent in Lebanon."
-What the...? I thought the MRAPs were UN sponsored since it will be used for missions under their auspices?
From wiki, this NLAW seems to be better than Javelin, considering its ability to fire in CS.
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If we buy things for UN missions, they will reimburse the cost. However we need to pay the manufacturer first to get the things before claiming it to the UN. It must be noted that the reimbursement money will be paid to the Treasury and not to the Defence Ministry. It will be up to the Treasury to decide on whether to allocate the money back to the Ministry. That's why the allowance money for soldiers for the Congo mission in the 60s were never paid to them. Nowadays soldiers got the their UN allowance though I have been told that it was not the full amount. I stand to be corrected on this of course
Is the short range going to be an issue?
I suppose not because there is plenty of cover from trees and buildings in M’sia. It’s not as if there wide open spaces like in a desert or in Europe with lot of pastures or grassland.
What does everyone think?
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It is a shoulder launch missile, it is not expected to touch something far away.
Better to have and not need than to need and not have.
Glad the boys got these instead of the javelin.
Big and clunky those things are .
Big thumbs up for me.
Nice to see something new in the tender listing.. asyik2 servis dobi dengan tanam bunga saja haha
If this is correct, malaysia will he the 2nd country in SEA to use NLAW, indonesian army being the 1st user since 2013.
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwJTtZxUEiA/UUywIeqrSGI/AAAAAAAARps/t9VVt7NaRwg/s1600/ATGM_NLAW.jpg
Interestingly TNI-AD uses NLAW and also Javelin for ATGW.
As of our ATGW stocks. We know the Eryx has expired. Next in line would be the Metis-M. Not seen the Metis-M at LKT 2018, but it was there last year. Our baktar shikans are from 2001, no idea how much longer the missile life would be. So as of now we have
- NLAW
- INGWE
- Baktar shikan
- Metis-M
C90 and RPG7 are basically rocket propelled granades while Carl Gustav is a recoiless rifle
Short, medium and long range ATGMs all have their purposes, their pros and their cons. Applies to every weapons system.
The question is whether we are using something for a purpose that it is not intended for, and whether not having something or not enough of it leaves us vulnerable.