SHAH ALAM: On the way, NLAW. In June, last year, I reported that Malaysia may well have purchased the Saab NLAW (Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon) based on a tender for a multi modal transport operator to ship the weapons back here.
Although, a winning bidder for the tender was selected it appears that the contract had lapsed without the weapons being shipped here.
This is because the government is again looking for a multi modal transport operator to ship the NLAW from Sweden to Malaysia. The tender was published on Sept. 27 and closes on Oct. 7
I am pretty sure that this is not a second shipment for the NLAW as I was told in October last year that export permit had not been cleared by that time (for the shipment tendered in June). Furthermore I again checked about the NLAW during LIMA 19 and was told that the weapons had not been delivered yet. Of course, the Army and Saab have yet to confirm nor deny the purchase.
Saab NLAW. Saab
Anyhow as part of the Army’s recapitalisation programme, it is also expected an order for the Saab Carl Gustav M4 will be made. I am not purview of the exact date though it must be noted that the Army’s stock of the Goose are long in the tooth already.
Anyhow, I was invited and attended a briefing for the media organised by the Defence Ministry on Oct. 2. Defence Minister Mohammad Sabu attended the briefing and answered the questions from those who attended. As the briefing and Q&A were off the record I took the opportunity to ask the minister about the MD530G and the M109 SPH deal. As it was off the record let me just point out my earlier post on both.
As others had reported it also, let me just say that earlier report remained factual.
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (63)
Why do you bother to do a briefing to the media if it is off the record? The rakyat deserves to know too!
Anyway on the Carl Gustav M4. Has our existing Carl Gustav launchers expended their barrel life? If not probably good to pass them to units that mans static posts such as in ESSCOM and Regimen Sempadan. New lighter Carl Gustav M4 would be a great addition to our infantry forces.
Reply
I have no idea why it was off the record but he did not say anything that I have not reported or will in the near future
We no need high tech helicopter nor jet nor vessel. What we just need small arm or anti armor or UAV is more than enough to protect our country. We will not win when we face big country, we should show our White flag only.
Given that the Gustav can fire a variety of rounds (including smoke and illum - something we also use the 60mms for) I guess it’s unsurprising why we’d want to buy new ones for Support Companies. Unlike disposable shoulder fired weapons; still which requires a 2 operators tend to have better sights and are more accurate.
Our existing Gustavs have been refurbished and still have live left but are heavy and cumbersome.
... - “l life? If not probably good to pass them to units that mans static posts such as in ESSCOM and Regimen Sempadan”
Intruders,terrorists,bandits or militants are unlikely to attack static border locutions as this won’t accomplish anything for them and these positions tend to be well defended will clear arcs of fire. Whilst operating the Gustavs from static positions to lay smoke and illum would not be an issue; for other types of targets the operators will still have to move around to get into position; for this operating from a static position would actually be a drawback. But yes on paper the older Gustavs can be handed to certain units.
The RMN also operates Gustavo on Layang Layang and apart from the Support Companies of infantry battalions, Gerak Khas has them.
Call it the Soviet in me but personally, I will have prefer for us to opt for more (even local manufacture by SMEO) RPG7s or it derivatives. We already have them in mass in the Regular Units but not in the Reserve.
RPG7 launchers is also unexpectedly easy to manufacture (they were manufactured by townsfolk in Pakistan & Afghanistan in crude workshop) as there are already 70-year old design but still effective.
Or is it the Army preferences for the venerables Carl Gustaf Recoiless over the RPG7s?
The carl gustav M2 is said to have a designed life of just 500 shots. But there was a study done that has fired more than 2,300 rounds before there is noticable wear on the rifling.
The M2 weighs about 14kg, the new M4 is just about 6.6kg. The new M4 has a barrel life of 1000 rounds.
BTW how many M2 do we actually have in our inventory?
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I have no idea
Michael,
Brilliant idea. While we’re at it why don’t we just have lightly armed militias who attend training several weeks a year only? They of course will be issued with rip stop white flags on a basis of one per section.
@ azlan
Probably we can ask tun and mat sabu to do a short video on how to fly the white flags?
Hazwan - “RPG7 launchers is also unexpectedly easy to manufacture”
It is also not a very accurate unless used at close range (dangerous and not easy to do in non restricted terrain) and it’s standard warhead is not very effective against uparmoured targets; which is why the Russians also maintain a variety of other shoulder fired weapons.
Although many countries manufacture RPG rounds Russian ones tend to be the most reliable.
- “Or is it the Army preferences for the venerables Carl Gustaf Recoiless over the RPG7s?”
Such a question should not
arise ...
Shoulder fired weapons in the category of Carl Gustav have their advantages in that they can fire a variety of rounds and they tend to be more accurate by virtue of having better sights. The downside is they are heavier and require a crew of 2. At 84mm a Gustav HEAT round will also tend to have better penetrating performance than the standard 40mm RPG round.
Thus the fact that we’ve continued to operate our Gustavs for decades and are planning to buy the latest version; whilst also continuing to stock disposable weapons: as well as RPGs (which is a section level weapon)
makes it obvious that there is no preference but the intent to continue operating both types. Both complement each other.
.., - “ BTW how many M2 do we actually have in our inventory?“
Enough to have a handful (3-4) in the Support Companies of most of our battalions. We bought them in batches.
Hazwan
It's not an apple to orange comparison as both filled different roles.