SHAH ALAM: The End is Near. It appears that the Gempita 8X8 production is reaching the end. Denel, one of the biggest suppliers for the programme announced last week that it had supplied the 100th turret from the 122 ordered by Deftech.
The programme would have been completed last year but with a financially mandated slow down of the deliveries, it is likely the last Gempita would roll off the production line by 2021. It must be noted that Denel is only supplying the turrets for 177 vehicles only out of the 259 Gempita contracted to Deftech. Two of these are R&D vehicles with only 257 to be put into service
Gempita AFV30 ATGW
From the 257, 46 is the IFV25 variant, the one fitted with the FNSS Sharpshooter turret with a 25 mm ATK M242 cannon and FN MAG 7.62 mm machinegun. The other 34 is likely to be armed with the FN MAG machine gun only.
Gempita AFV30 variant of 1 Kor Armor Di Raja seen at the Kuantan airbase at the PAT first order on Jan 24, 2017.
From Denel.
Denel is delivering the 100th modular turret for armoured vehicles used by the Malaysian armed forces in terms of a multi-million rand export contract.
“This is an historic and significant achievement which again demonstrates our leadership role in landward defence and Denel’s capacity to produce advanced technology systems for both the local and international markets,” says Mxolisi Makhatini, the CEO of Denel Landward.
The Euro 342-million contract is the largest export contract in Denel’s history. South Africa’s small and medium defence manufacturers have been amongst the largest beneficiaries of the contract, as Denel has had to procure millions of rands worth of equipment and services from domestic suppliers in order to meet its contractual obligations. At a time when the local economy has been contracting, the direct benefit to the local defence industry underlies Denel’s importance to the South African manufacturing industry and its position as a productive national asset, which contributes to generating export revenue and jobs in the manufacturing sector.
“We are extremely proud of what we have achieved in Malaysia. Despite Denel’s constrained liquidity position and significant changes that the organisation is undergoing, we have managed to stay focused and deliver the 100th turret out 122 to our client as per specification and schedule and to execute almost 98% of our Offset obligation to date. Not only this, but we have built an excellent working relationship with our Malaysian partners and we intend to build on this as we explore further export opportunities in emerging markets,” he says.
In terms of the contract, Denel Land Systems supplies 177 modular turrets in four variants that are fitted onto the Malaysian AV8 vehicles as well as 216 laser-guided Ingwe anti-tank missiles.
The contract deliverables consist of:
-69 armoured fighting vehicle turrets fitted with GI30 30mm cannons
-54 missile turrets with combined GI30 cannons and Ingwe missiles
-54 remotely-operated weapon systemsMakhatini says the Malaysian contract has been a breakthrough for Denel as it established turret manufacturing outside of the country based on South African design and intellectual property. The variants were developed to meet the specific requirements of the client, which needs the product to be utilised in tropical and jungle conditions.
The contract requires the integration of products from some 13 different original equipment manufacturers to ensure seamless functionality. This is achieved through solid project management and sound governance in line with international best practice.
“Denel has contributed to technology transfer, capability and vendor development as well as skills transfer to ensure that it is able to meet its contractual obligations.
“Throughout the delivery process we have been able to uphold the high standards, product quality and professionalism that Denel is renowned for,” he says.
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On The Way…Ingwe missile leaving its box launcher from the AFV30 ATGW.
Based on the above it is likely Denel supplied 122 turrets directly to Deftech with another 55 were assembled by the company or its associate company.
Spent cartridges flies out from the Sharshooter turret on the IFV 25 Gempita variant.
Anyhow I have been told that the Army has no plans for new Gempita in the near future. And a 6X6 or 4X4 variant (HMPV) of the Gempita must be part of a procurement project under the RMK plan. If the Army decides to get new vehicles for both projects, it is likely sayonara for the production of military vehicles in Pekan. That said the plant went into doldrums in the early 2000 after the end of the Adnan and other military vehicles production, only to be upgraded in 2011 to prepare for the Gempita programme.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (43)
Personally I’m not surprised. Even before the news on the 6x6s my guess was that the army would be contend with the AV-8 numbers it has for now and would next focus elsewhere.
The army has no plans for further gempitas? Why do we even get the gempita in the 1st place if it is to equip just 1 mechanized infantry battalion?
I really want to know what is the army plan for RMK12 and RMK13 from 2021-2030. What kind of hodgepodge plan do they have actually?
I am waiting for the DWP to be published. Then my own take on the future army plan.
BTW some of the important take from the announcement.
1) the turrets and ATGMs cost Euro 342 million.
2) 216 ingwe ATGM is included in the contract
3) The Reutech Rogue RCWS is part of the denel contract.
@ azlan
You shift your focus elsewhere not at the halfway point.
with this,hope we will buy off shelves and not producing it in country for near future with our market so small,defense industry so slow and cant compete with neighbor price or tech. hope HMPV will be a good start for the army.
There is supposed to be 78 IFV30 variant. Why is there just 69 armoured fighting vehicle turrets in the contract?
Seems that 9 IFV30 variant has been converted into other types. What is it? Any latest info on the 257 configurations? Is the ARV variant really cancelled?
..... - “You shift your focus elsewhere not at the halfway point.”
In reality maybe but look at the past few decades. After achieving a certain “mass”
the army always shifts its attention to others areas; same with the Adnans and other things.
Also if indeed we’ve reached the “halfway point” (to quote you) with the AV-8s: what about the other areas in which the needed investment hasn’t been made, i.e. stuff arty, air defence, engineering, etc, all stuff which is vital and part of the equation given the AV-8s (or anything else) don’t operate in a vacuum.
Given it has a whole lift of other priorities which also need to be addressed and that funds are tight; I hardly find it surprising or unreasonable that after getting an initial batch of AV-8s it has decided to focus on other areas which also need attention.
.... - “Why do we even get the gempita in the 1st place if it is to equip just 1 mechanized infantry battalion”
We decided on a new generation IFV but plans were only approved for ‘x’ number and it was a political decision to select the
AV-8 and to have it locally assembled here. It was always the army’s plans (like with Adnan) to order an initial batch and to progressively increase numbers over the years. That was and is the plan.
Your feelings on the AV-8 are well known but nowhere is it written in stone or holy writ that that army has absolutely no plans for anymore AV-8s; its just means that that focus for the near future is elsewhere. Note that there was a repeat order of 48 Adnans some years after deliveries of the initial batch were completed.
.... - “What kind of hodgepodge plan do they have actually”
“Hodgepodge” is not the right word as things can be very subjective and the army has pretty well thought plans (even though some might not agree based on personal preferences) on what it needs to focus on next. Apart from the 6x6s I’ve been told that some focus (assuming these long registered requirements are even approved) is to be placed on arty, GAPU and support elements.
.... - “The Reutech Rogue RCWS is part of the denel contract”
I always assumed it was procured as part of the overall Denel deal, even though it may have been produced by a different entity.
@ azlan
" what about the other areas in which the needed investment hasn’t been made, i.e. stuff arty, air defence, engineering, etc, all stuff which is vital and part of the equation given the AV-8s (or anything else) don’t operate in a vacuum "
Yes, i am aware that the gempita is not all there is for the army. Too short to explain all my thoughts now.
@...
it says no plans for the >!"NEAR FUTURE"!<. it doesn't say no plans for more av-8 forever.
GG comprehension.
@ neb
All the manufacturing facilities, all the human knowledge will be need to be reset if the 2nd batch is not continued in the near future.
This is also applicable to the gowinds SGPV. Many of those involved in the Kedah class for example has moved on or outright retired.
Reply
I was told that anyone who were involved in the Kedah class were excluded from the LCS as the new management believed they had nothing to offer to the new programme
By making this press release, Denel seem to indicate they have nothing yet in the pipeline once these existing orders are fulfilled.