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• Marhalim,

  Apart from the SPH, RMAF Nuri replacement and LMS Batch 2 programmes; as week as vehicles for the army; what other so called big ticket items are funded under the current Malaysia Plan? Has it been confirmed that the MPSS and Jernas replacements will be under the next Malaysia Plan?

  • AFAIK there is no Jernas replacements, MRAD going to RMAF. Army is supposed to be get one big ticket item for this RMK. Whether or not funding will be made available is beyond me. MRSS is supposed to be in the next RMK.

• Well '...' will be overjoyed. The problem of course is that the RMAF will prioritise the defence of its assets unlike GAPU which although is an army unit is also tasked with the defence of critical national infrastructure. Then we also have the RMN which has no organic land based AD; totally reliant on others.

• Other big ticket items in RMK12 2021-2025
  - LCS Gowind completion
  - Scorpene refit (from Opex?)
  - FA-50
  - ATR-72 MPA

  @ Marhalim

  " AFAIK there is no Jernas replacements, MRAD going to RMAF "

  If that is the case, why are they building a brand new larger base specifically for 34 RAD GAPU if they have no plans to replace the now obsolete and unsupportable JERNAS? In a few years we would probably be the last operational user of rapiers in the world.

  Also according to plan in the next RMK is supposed to have the LMS B2 Tranche 2, for another 5 units of LMS Corvette at a budget of RM4.1 billion. The second batch of HOM is also due, as is the ASW helicopter requirement.

  • There will be money for guns and SHORADs...

• Apparently the M3M isnt just the gun itself but include the pintle & aircraft mounting system: "The M3M is a weapon system rather than just a machine gun. The system has three parts: The Machine Gun, the Medium Pintle Head (MPH) or "Soft Mount", and the Cradle, which is used to integrate the weapon into a particular aircraft or vehicle."

  Its interesting to note that TLDM also went for equivalent weapons but from other brands on surface vessels ie Vektor 7.62mm & Canik 12.7mm MGs, rather than standardising their surface & air MGs.

  • The Canik is basically the same gun though it is the Turkish M2 variant which can be fired from a land mount if and when needed.

• "Army is supposed to be get one big ticket item for this RMK."
  Yeah by right should have been Gempita Batch2 but that got deprecated all the way down to KJA. But if they could bungle small ticket item SPH multiple times along with the changing Govts, how much more can they screw up a big ticket decision? They might be the most senior branch service with arguably the biggest budget but they certainly arent showing that gumption and authority other than playing politics.

• ''But if they could bungle small ticket item SPH multiple times along with the changing Govts,''

  How did the army ''bungle'' it? The decision was made at a political level and although the army was consulted it's not as it had a say or it's opinion would have made a key difference.

• "AFAIK there is no Jernas replacements"

  Is there a requirement to replace our manpads marhalim?

  • yes

• If GAPU isn’t going to get a new generation SHORADs to replace Jernas and will only have a force structure comprising V-SHORADs I don’t sen any need for its continued existence. It’s not like GAPU is a large entity and has a air defence school anyway. Must as well stand it down and have its V-SHORADs become organic assets to brigades/ battalions. I’m a firm believer of decentralisation. Whether it’s missiles, UASs or counter battery radars they should be organic to brigades/battalions to ensure the capability is there when needed and they can train with the units they support. Placing them under the control of a HQ [eases logistical and administrative issues] is inflexible and runs the risk of them not being available when needed.

  Or have a joint AD command; tasked with providing all services; ass well as key economic/political infrastructure with AD coverage. All V-SHORADs would still however be still operated by the respective services. Like how a future joint UAS command would only operate MALES. Why joint comments? To ensure all services get the needed capability in a efficient and flexible manner; to avoid role duplication and service centric parochialism and infighting and to ensure we get the optimum of what we have.

• As it is, we don't have the means to equip each battalion or even brigades with their own AD systems. GAPU is practically a national-level asset similar to 10PARA or Briged Artilleri Rocket.

  Currently GAPU is tasked with providing all services; as well as key economic/political infrastructure with AD coverage.

  The army must have big plans for GAPU as they are building both a new dedicated HQ for GAPU and new larger facilities for 34 RAD GAPU, and blurring them from google maps. Even the multiple new large hangars for 882 PUTD was not blurred in google maps.

  I am a firm believer that the best and lowest cost course of action for malaysia to have ground-based MRAD is to replace 34 RAD GAPU Jernas with a medium range air defence missile system, of which if TLDM LCS Gowinds are to be fitted with VL MICA NG, then the missile system for MRAD should be VL MICA NG too.

  • As usual, the Army plans changes...

• "As usual, the Army plans changes…"
  Which doesnt give assurance to what they actually want so Govt, politicians, & beancounters take advantage to influence TDM buys. Which is how they keep bungling the SPH buy til today when we see NOTHING compared to if they stuck with M109 deal.