SHAH ALAM: The Army is still in the planning phase on the service life extension programme (SLEP) on the Pendekar PT-91M main battle tank, Defence Minister DS Khaled Nordin told Parliament. Once the decision is made the funding for the programme is expected to registered in current RMK (2021-2025) or the next one.
He said the Army is currently undertaking a study on two Pendekar to determine the critical issues involving the transmission , the gunner Laser Range Finder (GLRF) and the Fire Control systems. Only the transmission manufacturer was identified as Renk of Germany. The study started in June 2023 and is expected to be completed this month.
“Only once the study has been completed and the final outcome is determine, the Army can proceed with the funding for the SLEP,” he said in a written response to a question by Tanah Merah MP DS Ikmal Hisham Aziz on the Pendekar. Ikmal asked what was the plan by the ministry on the future of the PT-91Ms as Bumar Laberdy – the Polish OEM – has stopped manufacturing spare parts for the tanks and the seemingly low performance of the T-series tanks in the Russia- Ukraine war.
Khaled said as to avoid dependence on the OEM, the ministry has signed a maintenance and supply contract with local companies. The contract is to expire this September and it is expected to be extended until September next year.
Wikipedia entry on PT-91M:
PT-91M Pendekar
(M for Malaysia) Production export variant for Malaysia with a Sagem Savan-15 fire control system, a new 1,000 hp powerpack, and a Renk automatic transmission, bringing its top speed to 70 km/h. Its main gun has been changed to a ZTS 2A46MS 125 mm gun, along with a 7.62 mm FN MAG coaxial machine gun and a 12.7 mm FN Browning M2 HB AA machine gun. This variant is equipped with a Sagem panoramic sight, a Sagem laser gyro inertial navigation system, turret stabilisation system, Obra-3 laser-warning system, and is integrated with 81 mm smoke grenade launchers, CBRN warning and protection system, and Thales communication system. It also features ERAWA 2 Explosive Reactive Armour, and German-made tank tracks (Diehl Defence). Two prototypes were made (renamed PT-91E and PT-91Ex), then 48 serial PT-91M Pendekar vehicles were produced from 2007 to 2009.
Comments by Malaysian Defence
It must be noted that registered for funding does not guarantee that the allocation will be given during the five-year Malaysian plan. The Adnan SLEP, for example, which is registered for current RMK, has not been funded yet. It must be noted that as we are already in 2024 meant that the funding for the Pendekar SLEP will surely not be done during this RMK12.
The full written answer below:
Kereta Kebal PENDEKAR ini merupakan aset bersifat ofensif
berdaya musnah yang penting untuk pertahanan negara dan juga
merupakan elemen deterrence pertahanan daratan. Penerimaan Kereta
Kebal ini telah dilaksanakan secara berfasa mulai tahun 2007 hingga
2011. Aset ini diletakkan di bawah pengoperasian Rejimen Ke-11 Kor
Armor Diraja yang berpengkalan di Kem Syed Sirajuddin, Gemas, Negeri
Sembilan.
2. Bagi menentukan Kereta Kebal PENDEKAR dapat diaturgerakkan
untuk penugasan operasi dan latihan, Kerajaan Malaysia telah
mewujudkan Kontrak Perkhidmatan Senggaraan dan Pembekalan Alat
SOALAN NO: 72
2
Ganti Kereta Kebal PENDEKAR yang dilaksanakan menggunakan
kepakaran tempatan bagi mengurangkan kebergantungan kepada
Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) dan juga masalah ‘no more
production’ pada sesetengah komponen utama pada kereta kebal
tersebut. Kontrak senggaraan dan pembekalan alat ganti ini akan tamat
pada September 2024 dan akan dilanjutkan sehingga September 2025.Sebagai inisiatif lain, satu kajian bersama melibatkan pengguna,
pasukan teknikal dan pemegang Kontrak Perkhidmatan Senggaraan dan
Pembekalan Alat Ganti sedang dilaksanakan. Pelaksanaan kajian ini
dibuat ke atas 2 buah Main Battle Tank (MBT) bagi mengenalpasti
permasalahan kritikal melibatkan Transmisi RENK, Komponen Elektronik
Gunner Laser Range Finder (GLRF) dan Sistem Sokongan Kawalan
Tembakan (Fire Control System). Kajian telah dilaksanakan mulai Jun
2023 dan dijangka siap sepenuhnya pada Mac 2024.
4. Dengan adanya kajian ini, isu melibatkan permasalahan OEM
kepada aset yang berstatus Obsolete dan tiada pengeluaran bakal diatasi
dengan kewajaran kajian yang sedang dilaksanakan di peringkat Tentera
Darat. Selain itu, pihak Tentera Darat Malaysia juga sedang merancang
untuk melaksanakan Life Extension Programme (LEP) ke atas Kereta
Kebal PENDEKAR dan dijangka akan didaftarkan dalam RMK-12
atau RMK-13.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (102)
Interestingly the issue is explicitly said to be with the transmission, not the whole powerpack. So there is no issues with the PZL-Wola S-1000R diesel engine, but instead with the RENK ESM-350M gearbox, which is said to be the most advanced gearbox available for the T-72 series. A few years ago (2018) RENK lobbied the army to change the powerpack to the RENK Powerpack 350S, combining the ESM-350M gearbox with the Scania D16 diesel engine.
THe GLRF and FCS is a part of the SAGEM SAVAN-15 / VIGY-15 system. Options are to modernise the existing system (if possible) or to replace them with current available systems.
If possible, getting additional used PT-91 (20-30 units) should be included in the SLEP program. Not to increase the size of the tank regiment or to stand up new units, but as attrition reserves or as prepositioned stocks in East Malaysia. Poland still has a handful of PT-91s, with the majority of the fleet now donated to Ukraine.
Is the PT-91M a tank that is still on par with Leo2 or Abrams?
Probably not. But it is much better protected and armed than any light tanks like the Harimau, while costing so much less.
The Turkiye T-72 upgrade with the new MZK turret (while retaining the original ammo carousel) looks interesting.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FnYkxOUXgAALX4m.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FnYkyo0XEAAXg81.jpg
Interestingly, the MZK turret weight is put at 5 tons lighter than the original T-72 cast turret.
The current PT-91M weighs about 48.5 tons, with the new turret it could be down to just 43.5 tons.
Compare that to light tanks such as Pindad Harimau of 35 tons or the M10 Booker of about 42 tons.
If the cost of SLEP is low, less than even the cost of a light tank then why not?
Latest costs of tanks
Pindad Harimau for Indonesia
USD135 million for 18 tanks (USD7.5 million each)
Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 for Bahrain
USD2.2 billion for 50 tanks+28 support vehicles (assault breacher, recovery, bridge)
https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/bahrain-m1a2-abrams-main-battle-tanks
Time to look and learn from the experience of Ukrain n Russia war as both parties ises the T72. Learn from their problem n advantages n modify our Pendekars based on these lessons.
lessons from Ukraine?
If we go for the MZK turret + RWS, I would equip the RWS with a coaxial self-reloading shotgun. Making the RWS as some sort of hardkill APS to destroy FPV killer drones.
Sensors? Can a gunshot locator microphone array be used to detect the buzzing noise (acoustic signature) of the FPV killer drone?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F-o1kheaYAA0XQf.jpg
We need enough numbers to sustain a local workshop or two. Otherwise just a simple upgrade the costing would be big sum.
Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia seem able to maintain their old assets.
… - “ Is the PT-91M a tank that is still on par with Leo2 or Abrams?”
The rhetoric aside that’s not even a question.
Western tanks have better ergonomics, are more comfortable; have a higher baseline protection level and have ammo stored in blow out compartments. One only has to look at crew casualty rates in Russian/Soviet tanks and contrast that with rates in Western equivalents. No tank is invulnerable but some are more survivable then others. Also note that direct comparisons wharfs anything is on “par” is silly and misleading as design was driven by different philosophies/requirements., The T-72 was supposed to be a tank of a certain weight, height, ground pressure and one able to be mass produced and operated by conscripts.
… - “lessons”
Experiences in the Ukraine didn’t teach us much we didn’t already know. MBTs have to be employed properly as part of combined arms formations and require effective engineering support. In the Ukraine they have been misused as mobile artillery rather than as a breakthrough or manoeuvre element and have been employed in oenny packets.
… - “weight”
More concerned about ground pressure.
Lee,
This has been done to death. “Modifying” it is not cost effective. Buying new as opposed to spending a lot on a date design based on Soviet requirements is not added value.
Now we can do what “…” and look at things from a paper perspective - new transmission; improved power supply; new ERA, APS, new turret with a bustle loader; overuse for the commander ; 24 hours hunter/killer capability; etc, etc. Great on paper but in reality simply not a good return of investment
P.S. ''overide'' for the commander; not ''overuse''.
... - ''If possible, getting additional used PT-91 (20-30 units) should be included in the SLEP program. Not to increase the size of the tank regiment or to stand up new units, but as attrition reserves or as prepositioned stocks in East Malaysia. ''
No we shouldn't. Looks and sounds great on paper but in reality it's not sound. Upgrading a T-72M1 to PT-91 standard costs money; as does maintaining those extra tanks in East Malaysia; as well as creating the support infrastructure. Having a few tanks in East Malaysia doesn't add much value and would be a continuation of our penny packet or a ''bit of everything but never enough of anything'' predicament.
We should continue doing what we're doing : keeping the fleet operational and combat ready until such as time as they an be replaced by a new generation tank; as is the intention of the Armour Directorate.
... - ''But it is much better protected and armed than any light tanks like the Harimau, while costing so much less.''
One is a ''MBT'' and the other a ''light tank'' - something would be profoundly wrong if the PT-91 was not ''much better protected and armed''... To be a devil's advocate the Harimau has a FCS and other components a generation ahead of the PT-91 and better ergonomics.
Lee - “Time to look and learn from the experience of Ukrain n Russia war as both parties ises the T72”
Well no surprises but they have found their Western tanks to be far superior to their Soviet/Russian ones. Better survivability, better sensors and SA, better ergonomics, more comfortable and quieter.
The downside is that Western tanks require more maintenance and can’t be trashed the way one would a Soviet/Russian tank or IFV. In the 1990’s when Executive Outcomes in Angola received its BMP-1s it was found that the filtres had no been changed in years and various things had long been in need of replacing but they were still running. A Marder or Bradley would long have broken down but are far more survivable.
Hasnan - “ Otherwise just a simple upgrade the costing would be big sum”
Deftech was supposed to have upgraded Cambodia’s T-54/ T-55s with Maybank providing funding.
Hasnan - “We need enough numbers to sustain a local workshop or two”
In terms of economics of scale what about the F/A-50s? Even if we buy another 18 does it justify setting up a local assembly set up paid for by the Malaysian taxpayer? Does assembling a pair of subs - as “…” keeps proposing - actually provide any tangible benefits apart from bragging rights and adding to LNS’s coffers? By the time we get around to ordering another 2 whatever we learnt from assembling the first 2 would have been lost.
Hasnan - “Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia seem able to maintain their old assets”
Granted but if they had issues would we know about it? The Viets have T-54s/55s and the Thais have M-47s, M-48s and M-60s [all close or exceeding the 60 year mark] but they’re mostly analogue and not that challenging to keep running provided spares are available. The Iranians are still running their Chieftains and the Philippines Marine Corps still has LVTH-6s. Up until the late 1990’s the Bulgarians still had T-43/85s.
We also “seem able to maintain old assets”; Model 56s way older than their crews and PCs and FACs which were only recently reworked on. The Giraffes are close to 40 odd years old. The GDFs and Skyguards 30 odd years old.