SHAH ALAM: The procurement division of the Defence Ministry has issued a tender for the supply, delivery, and commissioning for eight Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) ground-based air defence system for the Army. The VSHORAD system is listed as the Army’s main asset and equipment for 2024.
The 23-day tender published on November 20 closes on December 19. As usual the public specifications for the tender are limited.
MEMBEKAL, MENGHANTAR, MENGUJI DAN MENTAULIAH VERY SHORT RANGE AIR DEFENCE (VSHORAD) GROUND-BASED AIR DEFENCE (GBAD) UNTUK TENTERA DARAT – PERALATAN DAN ASET UTAMA TD 2024
The indicative cost for the eight VSHORAD system is RM150 million. It is therefore unclear whether the VSHORAD system is meant for the four Starstreak carrier vehicles or Kenderaan Pembawa Misil Starstreak (KPMS) which tender was published last August.
The public specifications for the KPMS:
There is a requirement of mobile platform for Lightweight Multiple Launcher Next Generation (LML-NG) of Starstreak Missile from Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) unit. The Mobile platform shall be used for VSHORAD GBAR units to operate LML-NG.
It may well be that the Starstreak LML NG VSHORAD SAM being sought are for the KPMS. And if it’s meant to be for the KPMS it may well be the setting up of a GBAD unit for 1 Division which is based in Kuching, Sarawak. The Fifth Division based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah has a single GBAD unit, 35 RAD (Ad-hoc) which got its Starstreak KPMS, missiles, and launchers from the disbanded RMN GBAD unit.
Five bidders qualified for the KPMS tender, the lowest is RM2.660 million; second RM2.680 million; third RM2.730 million; fourth RM2.744 million and highest is RM2.799 million. There is no indicative cost of the vehicles.
The other Starstreak unit is 32 RAD which is based at the Terendak camp in Malacca. It is also interesting to note that the 361 Battery of RAD – the GBAD unit- with 10th Para Brigade are still equipped with the Anza Mk2 VSHORAD system procured some 20 years ago. The Thales Starstreak missiles, launchers, vehicles, and a single radar system were procured in 2015. What about the leasing deal for the VSHORAD system then? I was told it will not be taken up.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (35)
this must be where the rumor where the army is looking at Anza Mk 3 came from
Personally I'm inclined towards Starstreak. Sure it's a line of sight weapon and required the operators to guide it but at the speed it flies the operator only has to guide it for a few seconds. The down side is that beam rider operators require a higher level of training.
I wonder what type of vehicle (KPMS) will be choosed to mated with this new VSHORAD. We already has Uro Vamtac and Weststar GK M1/2 in service. Is there will be new vehicles as KPMS? Cendana Auto light tactical vehicle perhaps.
Most likely it will be the GK MK2 really.
Only 2 contenders anza & starstreaks? Those Mbda mistral or licorne are not bad too.
RM150 million is about USD34 million.
Not a big amount of money
8 systems? 1 system = 1 battery or 1 system = 1/2 battery?
Recently Romania bought 54 launchers + missiles + training & support of KP-SAM Chiron for USD96.5 million
https://defence-industry.eu/romania-acquires-chiron-kp-sam-air-defence-systems-from-south-korea/
So for USD34 million we can get 19 KP-SAM Chiron launchers + missiles.
Anyway the anti-aircraft missile leasing is a stupid idea. As is the 16.8 billion helicopter lease idea.
On the leasing idea, its not stupid for the companies that proposed it.
What about an alerting device? With the fixation on the hardware; it's overlooked that the operators will need an alerting device. They can't be expected to rely only on the Mk 1 eyeball and MK 1 ear. Windows of opportunity will be limited.
There is none AFAIK. If its based in 1 DIV AOR, they can or should be relying on the RMAF radar at Kota Samarahan. Not ideal, I know but as usual with what we have.
As of yet there is no indication that Anza is a contender.
these LML have their own EOTS instead of just relying on operators' pancaindera
Besides not using radar means they're more unlikely (or less likely?) being detected and subesequently targeted by anti radiation missiles
Of course but without radar how will they know threats are incoming. One cannot use the EOTS all the time as it will drain the battery. They need the radar to give them at least a 10 minute warning as for the direction of the threat.
" What about an alerting device "
Ideally each battery needs to have their own search radar.
Indonesia currently uses cheap chinese TH-S311 Smart Hunter with 30km range.
https://i0.sinaimg.cn/jc/p/2008-11-19/U1335P27T1D530890F3DT20081119095317.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuABGrBVIAE41C9.jpg
Ideally i would like to have the Weibel Xenta C1 AESA which is a relatively low cost but very modern radar with 50km range, or the Saab Giraffe 1X AESA with 75km range. Both are designed to detect Low, Slow and Small (LSS) targets such as UAVs. Even buying the Xenta for every GAPU VSHORAD MANPADS battery, it would cost about USD20-30 mil?
Or if we are too skint to spend 20-30 mil on radars, next best thing is getting apps that would amalgamate radar picture of various radars and display it in a single picture for all to see with a tablet. This is one of the things we should adopt from the Ukrainian conflict. Using a simple tablet that would enhance the situational awareness of all air defence units without needing to upgrade old and incompatible hardwares.
https://x.com/PaulJawin/status/1583833453534990337
https://x.com/RALee85/status/1579972596200017921
Why are they not expanding the rapid ranger fleet but still rely on manual lml?
Why more uav, shouldn't the vshorad team introduce AA gun + missile? Something like the pantsir or if on budget, poland pilica vshorad.
Due to the budget really. As for the gun-missile combo, that is the plan when they decide to replace the Oerlikon guns. But they need to replace the Jernas first. Of course, in the ideal world, everything is recapitalized at the same time.