SHAH ALAM: Out of the blue. KD Ganyang – pennant number 3504 – has been fitted with a electro-optical turret to replace its obsolete Thomson CSF fire control system. It is unclear when the ship was installed with the EO system though it is likely from June, 2019 onwards as she was last photographed without one that month. The photographs were publicly uploaded on her own Twitter account.
The latest posting of Ganyang was posted on Christmas eve wishing every one a great celebrations with a the port profile of the ship, clearly showing the EO turret. I scrolled back to earlier postings and I believed the latest picture is the most clearest one enabling it to be identified as an EO turret.
KD Ganyang Merry Christmas graphic. KD Ganyang
I believed the EO is the Gem Electronica EOFCS115A that were barter traded for the MBDA Otomat SSM that used to arm the Laksamana class corvettes.
I had reported previously that the these EOFCS were supposed to be installed on the Laksamana and Kedah class ships but it appears that at least one of them was installed on the Ganyang instead. Of course I stand to be corrected as I basing this on the pictures by Ganyang itself.
As the barter trade for the Otomats were supposed to get RMN with eight EOs from Gem Electronicca, among other things, at least another seven is available for employment on the FACs as they undergo life extension to serve for another 15 years.
Perhaps it will be fitted on KD Perkasa which is getting a completely new hull under the RMN’s Obsolescence Programme. RMN may well save money for the OP as it could used the already paid Gem Electronicca EO system for eight out of 14 FAC fleet. As for what to be installed on the Kedah and Laksamana classes is beyond me at the moment.
This is something that I will be chasing in the new year, which is hopefully will be a better one than this year. It must be noted another combatant was also pictured without her FCR earlier this year. When she is fitted with a replacement I will write about it, I am wary I will be accused of breaching OPSEC if I do it now.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (37)
I hope gov@mindef will replaced the 14 old golden vessel with next generation vessel in the future.
From the pictures, those are really the EOFCS115A on the KD Ganyang.
I have been watching for the EOFCS115A on any Kedah class ships, but so far none is equipped with them.
Actually how many EOFCS115A are we getting as a swap with the expired otomats?
Reply
Its in the story, the last time I checked it was eight
@ marhalim
sorry i didn't see the numbers. thanks for the reply...
anyway
There is a blog that wants the NGPC to be a replacement for TLDM old PC and MCMV.
IMO that blog does not look at the needs of malaysian maritime security from an overall outlook, also does not understand what kind of capability that future MCM missions will need.
The vosper PCs tasks can be undertaken by NGPC, of course. But the best course of action is to actually pass the mission currently undertaken by TLDM PC to MMEA. If we need to build 2 new NGPC to replace the PC, then 2 additional NGPC for MMEA is what we need, not 2 NGPC for TLDM. We have the MMEA now, so those tasks should be borne by MMEA, not TLDM. We need TLDM not to be distracted by doing missions that MMEA NGPC can do, to be able to to concentrate on being the force we can rely on when peace turns to war.
Future MCM mission suites with multiple unmanned systems need a large mother craft as a base for all those systems. A small ship like NGPC or even the current MCMV does not have the optimal space needed.
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/EnClJEaXYAE12dh.jpg
While some countries are looking at custom built MCM motherships, IMO the same tasks can be undertaken by a lightly modified OSV vessel, which can be a multi role ship.
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/EaNygr8XsAAMGna.jpg
https://www.malaysiandefence.com/on-budget-and-schedule/#comment-437376
Now I am confused. I thought the RMN has decommissioned the MM38s.
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Sorry I didn't thought it would caused a confusion by putting up the picture of the FAC still with the launchers
Does the MM38 Exocet still operational? Can see the launchers in 2019 photos.
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Yes the launchers are there
As for me i reckoned only the newest fac are worth keeping for,the handalans i believe..Replace all the remaining fac with LMS at least for 8 units and arm them with either ssm or sam if we cant afford to put ssm n sam in a ship..put 40mm gun at the very least n select ship with minimum speed of 26-28 knots..
@ marhalim
IMO the lima 2019 pictures are file pictures from previous lima, not in 2019 itself.
This is a picture of KD Ganyang from 20 Sept 2019. already with EOFCS115A
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/EE6V2xJUcAAJGgp.jpg
There is another ship with EOFCS115A. Its the KD Pendekar. Unfortunately KD Pendekar is not active on twitter. This is a picture of KD Pendekar in 28 Feb 2020, during tioman war 1/20
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/ER2HOK8UwAA0uDA.jpg
KD Ganyang also during tioman war 1/20
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/ER2HOK-U4AAUdqD.jpg
Also marhalim, is there an effort by TLDM to get back all the vospers from MMEA that is not yet sunk for artificial reefs to be recommissioned into the navy? One of the ship that they are looking at is the ex KD Sundang 3149. Probably why suddenly the LMS68 is launched without names as they will probably have names that does not clash with surviving vosper patrol crafts?
http://mobile.twitter.com/Mawilla_1/status/1286218785767084032
surviving vospers (afaik)
KD Sundang 3149
KD Panah 3155
KD Rentaka 3159
KD Sri Sabah 3144
KD Sri Melaka 3147
plus still operational
KD Sri Perlis 47
KD Sri Johor 49
i seriously applaud the efforts, energy, time and money that TLDM has gone to increase the number of available hulls. They have IMO done way more than what they are required, which in turn sacrificed other needs of the navy.
This is IMO should be an effort by MMEA, as all these FAC and PC TLDM is spending so much effort to recommission are at best patrol only assets.
Hazone - “Does the MM38 Exocet still operational”
Retired almost a decade ago.
Firdaus - “ i reckoned only the newest fac are worth keeping for,the handalans i believe”
It’s not only the age which is an issue but the state of the hull: plus key components like the gearbox, engines, etc. Certain things are seen as worth replacing; some aren’t.
You can have a newer ship which use in worst condition than an older ship. The Laksamanas are an example. Younger than the FACs but were in worst shape. Many years ago the RMN did look at the possibility of new hulls but decided against it.
Firdaus - “Replace all the remaining fac with LMS at least for 8 units ”
The intention is to replace the FACs and Laksamanas with the LMS.
Firdaus - “.put 40mm gun at the very least”
As it’s secondary mount the RMN has decided to standardise on 30mm which although being a smaller calibre offers certain advantages over 40mm.
... - “even the current MCMV does not have the optimal space needed”
The “optimal” space needed is dictated by the needs of the user. He might determine he only needs ‘x’ number of USVs/UUVs and other things which can go on a hull of a certain size.
It’s of academic interest only as the class is to be retired but there is enough space on the sweep deck and boat deck of the Mahamiru to mount several USVs/UUVs. The Olisters are mounted on rails and quite a bit of space on the sweep deck is taken up by the wire sweep which if removed creates more space.
..... - “I seriously applaud the efforts, energy, time and money that TLDM has gone to increase the number of available hulls”
This is something the RMN and it’s sister services have long been doing.
Maintaining their commitments despite severe limitations; forced to improvise and undertake certain steps that by right they shouldn’t; no thanks to political masters who not only keep shifting priorities; fail to provide a firm timeline as to when funding can be made available to enable the services to plan accordingly and also expect the services to do their job despite not providing them the means.
On top of that we have a general public mostly clueless and indifferent to the needs of the MAF and the importance of adequate and sustained investments to be made.