SHAH ALAM: The RMN is looking to lease a barge to be used as a surface target later this year. The notice for quotation for the service was published today and ends in just seven days. The specifications called for the rental of a used barge to be used a surface target. It must be 40 metres long, 10 metre wide with a moulded depth of 3 metres and a draft of 1.5 metres.
The barge should have a maximum load of 30 tonnes though it will be carrying six containers with a loading of four tonnes each and another six tonnes of other equipment. It must be able to operate in 1-3 sea state. Other details for the specification is available on the ePerolehan website.
The containers on the barge will also be fitted with reflectors though the specifications does not indicate whether this will be radar reflectors or ones for use with night vision goggles or thermal imagers.
As the barge needs to be delivered to the RMN base in Kuantan by May 21, it is likely the exercises planned are likely to be at various training locations off Pahang and Terengganu waters. It is unclear in what exercise the surface target barge will be employed though.
The last time RMN conducted a firing exercise off the East Coast waters was in July 2019. As the culmination of Eks KerisMas 2019, the RMN fired three missiles – one Exocet and two Sea Skuas – at a surface target barge on July 16.
The target was also hit by gun fire by RMN ships as well as strafing attacks from the Super Lynx helicopters.
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (18)
Tried make it moving target and see weather these missile can catches up the target or not... Otherwise useless..
Fadiman - “Otherwise useless..”
No. That is certainly not the is not the issue. The barge could be moving at 70 knots but it would make no difference.
The issue is the seeker of the missile detecting the target and homing onto it. The idea being that if the missile can detect, home it and destroy a small barge; it won’t have an issue with an actual much larger ship. Some barges can be partly submerged to prevent a smaller profile.
@Azlan....cmon just kidding ok, otherwise just boring during this mco...
With the RMN missile stocks aging at least, 20 years, hopefully there will be plan to replenish or refurbish/replace them
Do they really need a public tender for this type of thing? seriously you could slap a few from the random stuff in the storage yard for this.
Reply
Yes since the government decided open competition is that best way almost every thing is goes through the SOP. Even items that could be bought directly from the manufacturers are open up from competition
@kamal
I seconded that suggestion..that long overdue tbh..Theres plenty to choose as long we can ditch the chinese made then we will be fine..for ssm theres exo block 3,rbs and atmaca or latest version of otomat..for sam theres mica ng,camm and aselsan bora
With so few ships with missile launchers, how does TLDM trains its personnels on the various CMS available? Do we have simulators?
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Yes we do have simulators. Anyhow we only have a number of ships with missiles nowadays so training is not an issue. Crews on ships with the missiles will train on them even when no live rounds are on-board.
Fadiman - “cmon just kidding ok”
Sorry - missed the humour part.
In the barges; we use (maybe still do) to have a target barge which could partially submerge to provide a lower profile.
The fact that we’re using reflectors means we want to make it easier for the missile. Reflectors have also been used as decoys; albeit against older gen missiles with unsophisticated seekers.
Hasnan - “TLDM trains its personnels on the various CMS available”
Everytime a ship puts to sea; as part of its deployment the CMS will be used: so yes crews get regular practice. As for missile training; eventhough a live launch is not performed: it’s the prerogative of the CO to get his crews to practice simulated launches.
What crews should also practise is not just the actual launch but issues which may be encountered for real: i.e. difficulty in detecting and designating a target (either due to enemy action or other reasons); the tracker having difficulty locking on and maintaining a fix in the target; the missile hitting what it’s aimed at rather than veering of at another target during the terminal phase; etc, etc.
Aiyoo. When no open tender, people complain no transparency lah, crony lah, corruption lah, ini semua salah....., when things are now open tender, people still complain. WTF!
Maybe our Armed Forces shouldn't buy anything so as to please everyone. How about that?