PETALING JAYA: Since I have said a lot of about the M4 Carbine lets enjoy the story below….
KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry has sealed a RM700 million deal with the United States to purchase 130,000 new weapons for the armed forces and police.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government had in 2006 approved the 5.56mm Colt M4 carbine, which can accommodate the M203 grenade launcher, to replace the Austrian-made Steyr AUG assault rifle.
SME Ordnance Sdn Bhd (SMEO), which began local production of the Steyr in 1991, had on Nov 19, 2007 undertaken the deal with American firm Colt Defence LLC to initially acquire 14,000 carbines, which were all delivered by June 2008.
The company followed it up with a second contract with the same firm on Feb 17 this year for the supply of 116,000 carbines over a seven-year period.
“Through the deal, SMEO is set to obtain the licensing rights to manufacture additional Colt carbines locally, through a technology transfer programme once the US government gives its approval,” said Zahid.
He added that Malaysia would also be given the rights to market the locally produced carbines to Thailand, Brunei, the Phlippines, Indonesia and other countries using them.
“This will enable SMEO to become a centre of excellence for the manufacture of small-bore firearms in Asia,” he said after chairing a Malaysia Industry Council for Defence, Enforcement and Security (MIDES) at the Royale Chulan Hotel, here yesterday.
The MIDES meeting is held regularly towards the establishment of the high-tech Malaysia Defence and Security Technology Park in Sungkai, Perak later this year.
The park will be a one-stop centre aimed at spurring the local defence industry via counter-trade, offsets, transfer of technology, counter-purchase and work packages through partnerships with foreign entities.
Investors from South Korea, Japan, Europe and the Americas have committed an initial US$1 billion (RM3 billion) and pledged an additional US$5 billion for the park.
On another note, Zahid said MIDES had agreed to streamline the purchase and manufacture of defence equipment, including firearms and apparel, for local enforcement agencies to optimise resources for their maintenance.
“Just like the car industry, local manufacturers do not compete over the same product but diversify into different capacities of vehicles.”
Read more: RM700m deal for new firearms http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/2nch/Article/#ixzz1HyeO0mF8
-Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (51)
I wonder,Indonesian & Singaporean have had their own design of rifle.Why we still need to rely on some western design of assault rifle,when our Malaysian company have their design such as the berapi.Can't we more self-dependence.Even in small arms production we still depending on foreign.
The news doesn't state anything about M4 riffle attachments. Is the deal is just on the production of the bare files only or complete with attachments such as sights, laser designators, M203 grenade launcher etc? For a RM700mil deal they better be included!
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Its bare with detachable handles ...
That works out to RM6,034 per rifle and I thought we could save a little by having the production here in Malaysia.
MOD should at least equip 10th PARA with additional gadgets since 10th PARA would be the first to be deployed in any conflicts.
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Based on the story most of the rifles will be manufactured in the US.
Yes some units including the 10th Para are equipped with additional gadgets but its not general issue...
Syaz, I'll give you the address of Berapi and a contact number. Ask them if their firearms, which were designed by Russians, Bulgarians, etc, not Malaysians, have been trialled and if they are ready to enter production.
Hazwan, a Trijicon or an EoTech scope will set you back USD500-600 minimum. Multiply that by 130,000 and then add the cost for the laser pointers, lights, fore-grips, etc. There is no money and no political will. But our bungling defence Minister wants us to believe that the M-4, without it's nicey bitsy attachments, is much more efficient tool at killing people than the Steyr.
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It will have the Hak Kerajaan Malaysia logo on it as the guns are purchased on a commercial basis. The US made laser designators with the invisible beams I believe are off-limits apart to selectable Allies only.
I reckon we are better off with Steyrs. We could have use that money for something else such as body armor(made in Malaysia) or personal radios or even a damn SPH regiment or even an MBRL regiment. Maybe not Caesar or ASTROSS II, but K9, G6, Nora B52 and even Grads is so cheap these days. There 1st Division and 2nd Division are in need of howitzers anyway..
I hope this is not just a diplomatic maneuver to please the Americans(remember the Hillary Clinton and Robert Gates visit to Putrajaya?) since it doesn't seem we will be buying the Super Hornets any time soon.
It is. The Steyr AUG buatan Malaysia cannot hold zero. There is a reason for it....money.
Berapi....LOL.
Marhalim, it will have the TD logo - kris and parang. It's on everything - boots, RPG's, small arms, the NTW 20mm rifle, even the Jernas and G-5!
I have no idea what the logic was behind Berapi. One of the persons involved is the former CO of MALBATT in Cambodia and the former CO of the 4th Mechanised Brigade when it was first formed, an honorable, and old school gentleman, unlike many others who get involved in the local defence scene. I'm seeing him next week and will find out more about Berapi.
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I believe the blogger Mind No Evil is one those involved the Berapi project.
Bare rifle without any accessories at RM5,385 or less than USD2k. kalau campur all accessories mau jadi double of that kot. will wait and see how this will turn out but as previous experience could be an indicator, another nightmare could be in the making
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Not if they continue letting Colt manufacture them in the US...
That guy is talking like SMEO is the crown jewel of malaysian defence industry...
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Actually it is. If its up for sale, the queue line will stretch from Batu Arang to Batu Caves.
With an order book worth billions and no capital expenditure (even if they have to do it the Government will pay for it) its a pretty gold mine.
Heck I will buy it tomorrow if I got the money, not for the profits but for the chance to shoot ARs, machine guns and AT weapons all year around...