SHAH ALAM: RMAF units in Kuching and Kota Samarahan, Sarawak conducted an air defence simulation exercise for four days from Sept 4 to Sept 8. The exercise involved units based at the Kuching airbase and Kota Samarahan which is the headquarters of Skuadron 330 which control the nearby Thales air surveillance radar.
Release from RMAF:
MAJLIS PEMBUKAAN AIR DEFENCE SIMULATION EXERCISE (ADSIMEX) SIRI 6/2023
KOTA SAMARAHAN, 4 Sep 23 – Kol Baharin bin Mohamad TUDM, Komander Pangkalan Udara Kuching telah merasmikan pembukaan “Air Defence Simulation Exercise” (ADSIMEX) Siri 6/2023 bertempat di Atrium Kanang, Skuadron 330. Majlis pembukaan yang melibatkan semua peserta eksesais di CRC 2 juga turut disertai peserta eksesais dari “Regional Air Operation Centre 2” (RAOC 2) dan CRC 1 melalui sidang video.
ADSIMEX yang berkonsepkan Peperangan Konvensional (Conventional Warfare) ini bermula 4 Sep Hingga 8 Sep 23. Eksesais ini juga merupakan Eksesais tahunan bagi menguji serta memfokuskan keboleh upayaan CRC 1 serta CRC 2 dalam melaksanakan pengawasan ruang angkasa serta penugasan pesawat bagi menangani konflik mengikut senario eksesais yang telah digarapkan oleh pihak EXCON berdasarkan isu semasa di Wilayah Udara 2.
Skuadron 330 TUDM Kompleks CRC 2 Kota Samarahan telah dipertanggungjawabkan sepenuhnya terhadap aspek pelaksanaan ADSIMEX Siri 6/2023 dengan keanggotaan dibantu oleh CRC 1, unit-unit Skuadron Pertahanan Udara, Skuadron GBAD, wakil dari skn penerbangan pesawat pejuang, pesawat angkut, pesawat helikopter serta wakil dari pihak TLDM. Ini secara tidak langsung dapat membuka ruang kepada percambahan idea di kalangan setiap peserta eksesais. MPOU-A7 bertindak sebagai Sekretariat bagi perancangan dan koordinasi pelaksanaan manakala MPOU-JKO bertindak sebagai Tim Penilai yang akan membuat penilaian keseluruhan eksesais.
Komander Pangkalan dalam ucapannya menegaskan kepada semua peserta eksesais agar mengambil peluang yang sepenuhnya di dalam eksesais ini bagi mengenalpasti jurang yang ada dari segi keupayaan aset, prosidur dan doktrin serta mengenalpasti penambahbaikan yang boleh dibuat di masa akan datang. Beliau juga berharap agar eksesais ini dapat meningkatkan tahap kecekapan warga Kawal dan Lapor amnya dan TUDM khasnya dalam melaksanakan apa jua penugasan dengan penuh dedikasi serta efisyen.
Sebagai simbolik pembukaan Eksesais ADSIMEX kali ini, Lt Kol Stanlee Sullau TUDM selaku Exercise Director telah memakaikan lencana eksesais kepada Kol Baharin bin Mohamad TUDM, Komander Pangkalan Udara Kuching, Kol Mohd Azwan bin Pohari TUDM, Pengarah Kesiagaan Operasi dan Lt Kol Zainal Abidin bin Yahia@Yahaya TUDM, Pegawai Memerintah Skn 330 TUDM.
From the release we know that a ground based air defence squadron – likely armed with Thales Starstreak SHORAD system – was involved in the exercise. It must be noted that the Thales GM400 radar controlled by Skuadron 330 and future ones at Labuan and Bintulu are capable of controlling and reporting long range air targets.
It is for this reason one may surmise that the air defence exercise is meant to simulate RMAF future capabilities. My summation came as the industry is currently talking that the RMAF is to float a tender for MR-SAM next year. Details are sparse but I was told that the SAM system sought are those like K-SAM from South Korea; FK-3 from China, US/Norwegian NASAMS; and the MBDA Aster 30.
I was not told where the SAM system will be located once procured but from the exercise above, we can guess that it will be RMAF Regional Command 2 or Sabah and Sarawak. Under the CAP 55 Plan, RMAF wants to raise at least one Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) squadron. Honestly, as they will have three long range radars soon, they should also include two more GBAD squadrons but of course, that too many bridges to cross.
With GAPU based in the peninsula, a similar MR-SAM capability may well be Army-centric here.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (31)
Still long way to go though.Mr M if it is up to you what MRSAM would you choose for the RMAF and GAPU? best bang for buck that tick all minimum requirement boxes?..KM SAM looks potent as i understood that system are developed from/with russians s350 Vityaz system and kinda proven (not battle proven proven but proven in term of sales and service in rok af /army)..Maybe missile commonality will play a huge say in this procurement i presumed?
In term of capability Aster 30 and KM SAM are the frontrunner while NASAM has the advantages of being able to perform both Shorads and MR-SAM role (though not as capable as both Aster 30 and KM-SAM) and we can use existing AMRAAM or AIM-9 missile so we can simplify logistics and get more of the systems to fill both MR SAM requirement and to replace jernas in Shorads role
Personally I would prefer KM SAM although any of these 3 would do just fine. FK-3 is problematic as not only due to China overlapping claim to our EEZ, but also that integrating something that can be considered as strategic asset to our BMS would expose our BMS to potential breach
I am just putting it there.
Since we're on a Turkish roll, anything from there? Roketsan has their Hisar SAM.
It is likely Roketsan will be selected for the tender, if it comes. My list is not inclusive of all SAM system.
This is just a tabletop exercise, not a physical one.
There is no mention of GAPU, while there is a mention of TLDM. GAPU was supposed to be the lead unit for all malaysian ground air defence "shooters" element.
Those involved
- Skuadron Pertahanan Udara - these are the ground air defence radar squadrons
- Skuadron GBAD - this is the TUDM air defence squadron, probably Skn 401 Kuantan with Starstreaks. TLDM starstreak battery has been disbanded and missiles handed over to GAPU.
- Skuadron penerbangan - self explanatory
- Wakil TLDM
I am those few that actually prefers all the "shooters" element of GBAD to be under GAPU. This reduces any duplication of responsibility in shooting down aircrafts.
As for the type of MR-SAM, i would prefer the missile to be the same as what missile that is to be fitted to the Gowind Frigates. This will simplify and increase operational readiness of both MR-SAM GBAD and Gowind Frigates.
As for the quantity, we should have at least 2 regiments of MR-SAM under GAPU, each with at least 3 batteries. 1 regiment in West malaysia, 1 regiment in East malaysia. Priority air defence area in east malaysia should be the TLDM base in sepanggar, and bintulu petrochemical complex.
hope they choose nasams
Nah, if it ever eventuates, I bet you it’s going to be the Hisar / Siper.
IMHO mid to low range SAM like NASAM or MR SAM, due to the nature of it used case should be done by the army.
Not saying the AF wouldn't need a GBAD system but it's more logical for an AF to look at something similar to US army mid range capabilities to supplements & replace some of activities that's currently being done by fighters jet.
@ darthzaft
why is it "logical" for Royal Malaysian Air Force to look at something that US Army is doing?
To me the "logical" thing is actually for Malaysian Army GAPU to look at doing something similar to US Army mid range capabilities
If mainly for static protection, perhaps india's akash ng? 50% the cost of comparable western system
In addition to the MR-SAM, maybe they should also consider buying land-based antiship missiles to defend important areas along the coast.
One example is the NSM Coastal Defence System: https://www.kongsberg.com/kda/what-we-do/defence-and-security/integrated-air-and-missile-defence/coastal-defence-system/