SHAH ALAM: Earlier this year, Army chief General Hafizuddeain Jantan announced that the
main procurement programme for this year will be the High Mobility Armoured Vehicle (HMAV) and the High Mobility Light Tactical Vehicle (HMLTV).
During the interview at DSA 2024, Hafizuddeain expounded further on the procurement of both vehicles. The tender process for the 136 HMAV was on-going with a budget of RM400 million, he said adding that the procurement was part of the Year Four Rolling Plan of RMK12. The other story from the interview.
He said they are being procured for the 3 and 4 Kor Armor DiRaja, with only the latter having armoured vehicles currently.
“Even with the 136 vehicles, they are still not enough to fully equip the Cavalry Regiments and we hope to have funding to procure 6X6 armoured vehicles under the Year 5 Rolling Plan of RMK12” he said adding that additional Gempita may well be procured once the 4X4 and 6X6 vehicles procurement are completed.
The HMLTV is also an armoured 4X4 vehicle but meant for the Malaysian UNIFIL contingent. The budget for the 80 HMLTV is RM200 million The vehicle will be lighter and more nimble as per the UN specifications as they will be used in urban terrain. It will be used for utility and communication missions unlike the 20 Pantheras recently shipped to Lebanon.
Various companies were displaying their prospective HMAV and HMLTV candidates for the project with Mildef Technologies Sdn Bhd going to extend of naming its vehicle as HMLTV. A Mildef official was also quoted by a defence magazine as saying that the company had won the contract for both. The magazine had previously also reported an official of the company as saying that it had won a leasing deal to supply armoured 4X4s to the Malaysian Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, Hafizuddeain said the Army is looking to fund the life extension for the Adnan AFV initially for 60 vehicles before extending it to cover the rest of fleet. It also planned to conduct the same programe for the MIFV in service with 14th Royal Malay Regiment (Mechanised) and the armoured squadron of the 10th Para Brigade. Asked whether the Army planned to replace the squadron armoured vehicles, Hafizuddeain replied in the negative.
Both Mildef and Deftech displaying their proof-of concept Adnans at their respective booths at DSA 2024. The Mildef vehicle is from the 7th Royal Ranger Regiment while the one from Deftech came from the 12th Royal Malay Regiment (Mechanised). Cendana Auto Sdn Bhd, which is looking to do the SLEP for the MIFV, signed an MOU with Hanwha Aerospace at DSA 2024.
On the SPH programme, the General said they are still waiting for the final decision from the government. The Army hopes that the SPH selected was the one which suited its specifications and operating concepts.
The Army is also proposing for the funding Year 5 Rolling Plan to acquire two regiment’s worth of 105mm howitzers (36 guns) to replace the Oto Melara 105mm pack howitzers operating since the 1970s.
— Malaysian Defence.
View Comments (46)
Deftech as part of the Adnan upgrade spoke of equipping Adnans with a VTOL UASs. Makes sense as a UASs would enable the crew of a vehicle to have enhanced SA.
There's a fine line between ''High Mobility Armoured Vehicle'' and ''High Mobility Light Tactical Vehicle'' but then like other armies we've fallen for acronyms. Soon we might not be calling a rifle a rifle or a pair of boots a pair of boots anymore but will have an acronym for it.
Yes I heard that but since there is no specifications for it, my guess it will not happen.
136 HMAV for RM400 million. That is a budget of around RM3 million per HMAV, or USD633k per HMAV.
That is less budget than a single Lipanbara which was bought for RM7 million per vehicle.
Also, i am not keen on too much rojak for KAD Cavalry regiments. I am okay for Gempita + another armored vehicle, but not 3 different types.
I am for the HMAV to be an armored reconnaissance vehicle, with benchmark of JLTV, Nurol Makina NMS, FNSS Pars 4x4 and Otokar Cobra 2.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FB_HwQCWUAUKWRv.jpg
Recently Morocco bought 200 Otokar Cobra 2 for USD136 million, which brings each cost to about USD680k, is is a bit over our budget.
https://www.military.africa/2024/01/morocco-buys-200-cobra-ii-tactical-armoured-vehicles-from-turkey/
For HMLTV, as most know, I am for the KIA KLTV, of about USD150k per vehicle. It is armored to STANAG 4569 Level 2-3, which is as heavily armored as the Tarantula, but weighs less than half of it.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GJTaWPeWgAAFL9i.jpg
Given that the Sharpshooter turret makes the vehicle top heavy with the potential to ''roll''; I'd have to question if an unmanned turret would be a better alternative [assuming it exists].
105mm guns are great for close support but they really lack the flexibility offered by 155mm guns. The M1 shell at full charge has a maximum 21-23 off km range so counter battery work is out of the question. In an ideal world arty units would have an organic UAS capability; as well as loitering munitions as a supplement but at battery level; not hogged by regimental HQ or level.
Neighbours sharing our borders got hundreds of 155mm howitzers and we are getting 105mm howitzers. The mere 18 units taking ages to finalise. Good grief.
... - ''I am okay for Gempita + another armored vehicle, but not 3 different types.''
Unsurprisingly you would be but whether it suits the requirements of Calvary units [due to its size, profile and other factors] and whether there will be the cash to get anymore in the coming years are really the questions ...
I have no opinions on ''MRAPs''/''High Mobility Armoured Vehicle'”/”High Mobility Light Tactical Vehicles but I can see their uses. Interestingly the Ukrainians have found their various foreign supplied MRAPs to be unsuitable; no surprises I guess given that they were intended for Iraq and Afghanistan in response to the acute IED threat.
HMLTV from Mildef (the white one with UN color) is actually Mildef Rentaka right? If Im not mistaken Mildef makes some modification to the Rentaka hull and dubbed it as HMLTV to take part in army's HMLTV tender.
No idea
Hasnan - ''Neighbours sharing our borders got hundreds of 155mm howitzers''
Singapore is the only one with an all 155mm force structure and it's not as if our neighbours have lined up their arty along the border pointing at pre registered targets in Padang Besar or JB.
I'm all for an all 155mm force structure but the cash just isn't there. Granted there are inherent limitations with a 105mm gun [discussed in depth here over the years] but it is what it is. What we can do is increase their efficacy by making improvements in organisation and other things; as well as getting ISR capabilities which are distributed down to battery level.
Mildef, Deftech, Weststar, Cendana Auto & etc...may this companies can give the best products and services to the armed forces.
Mildef, Deftech, Weststar, Cendana Auto & etc...may this companies can give the best products and services to the armed forces.
@Azlan
You said our armed forces is geared towards short border skirmishes with the neighbours. Whenever we acquire something of high deterrence, they immediately will response by quickly acquiring better stuff. We on the other hand, when the neighbours upgraded their stuff, we do nothing. Don't tell me the neighbours are upgrading to stand up against the regional superpower. Kinda daft isn't it?
The pack howitzers and 81mm mortars that we already have is adequate against any non state actors.