SHAH ALAM: The keel laying ceremony for the third Littoral Combat Ship is scheduled on December 18 at the BNS dockyard in Lumut. Malaysian Defence has reported that the ceremony will be held around this time in the posting regarding the launch of the first LCS, Maharaja Lela in August.
As for the names of the LCS, based on the above, the second one will be called Shariff Mashor, the third Raja Mahadi, Mat Salleh (fourth), Tok Janggut (fifth) and the sixth Mat Kilau. Some people might disagree naming the ships after persons but I guessed this was taken consideration when they decided on the names. That said Maharaja Lela was actually a title given by the Sultan of Perak in the past to his warlords as a norm deguerre for a judge, jury and executioner. Indeed an apt name for a warship.
SHAH ALAM: Light At The End of The Tunnel. Although the government has agreed to the RMN’s 15 to 5 transformation plan, no further funds have been allocated apart from those for the six LCS.
RMN chief Admiral Ahmad Kamarulzaman Baharuddin says however the planning for two MRSS was on track and an open tender will be done to select the ship for the program though he admitted there was no timeline just yet for when funding will be made available.
The same goes for the follow on ships of the Kedah class. To reduce cost of the 12 more Kedah class, the navy wants to used as much components being fitted on the LCS as possible especially those already manufactured locally .
SHAH ALAM: Work on First MMEA OPV Starts. The keel for the first of class MMEA OPV was laid at the THHE Destini shipyard at Pulau Indah, Kelang today. The three class ships are based on the Damen 1800 OPV design.
The first of class is expected to be ready for delivery by February, 2020, says the APMM news update. The second in May and August, the same year says the report. You can view the report below:
The 83 metre vessels with 70 crew members will have an endurance of 21 days. It can also accommodate 20 passengers.
SHAH ALAM: A Good Deal Perhaps.It appears that the contract for the six MD530G light attack helicopter seemed to be a good deal, after all, at least based on the contract price. At DSA 2016 the government signed a RM321 million contract for the supply of the MD530G inclusive of training and weapons package. That said the full details of the training and weapon package remained unknown.
Why I am pointing this out? Well, on Dec. 13, the U.S announced a gift package of weapons and hardware to Lebanon. Included are six MD530G LAH (same as ours) and associated equipment valued at more $94 million or RM383 million. On paper this means our MD530G is cheaper by RM62 million. A caveat though, as we do not know the full details of our MD530G deal we cannot be celebrating just yet. Hopefully in the near future we will find out more about the contract and hopefully we did get a good deal.
It is considered as a standard training platform for major Air Forces and aviation branches in ASEAN region. These include the Indonesian Air Force or Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU), the Indonesian Army Aviation (Penerbang Angkatan Darat – PENERBAD), the Indonesian Naval Aviation (Dinas Penerbang Angkatan Laut – DISNERBAL), the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and many more.
In fact it has always being considered as a true successor for other legendary helicopter trainers such as the Bell 47 Sioux, the Aerospatialle Allouette, the Aerospatialle AS350 Squirrel and the Bell 206.
Unfortunately, the days of Airbus Helicopters H120 (previously Eurocopter EC-120B Colibri) has ended. The French company has decided to cease the helicopters’ production due to waning demand of the helicopter in the market. The Colibri cannot keep up with the success of its other competitors especially from the US-based Robinson light helicopter manufacturer.
The EC-120B had just entered service with the MAF through the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) No 2 Flight Training Center (Pusat Latihan Terbang 2 – PULATIBANG 2) at Alor Setar AFB. Six of the helicopters have leased from Gading Kencana as replacement to the now retired SA316 Allouette III helicopters which have been in service for 50 years back then.
As all of the helicopter were of early variant, hence the EC-120B designation, they were all previously have analogue cockpit. In order to suit the MAF requirement (since all of MAF helicopters including the Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri now have digital cockpit), these EC-120B have been locally upgraded before they were being inducted into service.
With the closing of EC-120B production line in France, one wonders whether the amount of after sales support would be available for all of these Colibris? Excluding those operated by the Indonesians, both the Malaysian and Singaporean Colibris were sourced from service providers namely Gading Kencana and ST Aero hence the two Air Forces are free to choose newer training platform once the contract have respectively expired.
At the same time, Airbus Helicopters has yet to announced whether the production could be transferred to other countries where the company’s partners could reopen the production line at much cheaper costs. This could be seen in the respective cases of the AS350/550 Fennec, AS365/565 Dauphin/Panther and the SA330 Cougar/Super Puma where productions have been moved to Indonesia, South Korea and Romania.
When Bombardier decided to cease production of the CL-415 amphibians, Viking Air has opted to buy the program and is now supporting the aircraft type currently in service all over the World including with the Malaysian Coast Guard. It is expected that the same will happen to the EC-120B simply because there more 700 of these in worldwide service.
Interesting enough, there has been a lot of academic and industrial research and development (R&D) effort being taken in this country when it comes to the Aerospatialle/Eurocopter AS-350/555 and its further development, the Airbus Helicopters H130 (previously the Eurocopter EC-130) light helicopter.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has been conducting wind tunnel tests on the fenestron equipped AS350Z at its facility in Skudai, Johor. The AS-350Z eventually becomes the EC-130 with more refinement being made on the aircraft.
A local defence industry player, Ikramatic, has been producing a simulator for the AS-350/555 Squirrel/Fennec helicopter as part of the offset program following the procurement of six Eurocopter AS-555SN Fennec naval helicopters by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).
SME Aero (SMEA), a subsidiary of National Aerospace and Defence Industries (NADI) also produce the fuselage and tail sections of the AS-350. The region’s leading composite aerostructure maker, CTRM, on the other hand, produces tail section of the EC-130.
Having said that however, it is interesting to note here that despite its performance and potentials, the H130/EC-130 is not a popular helicopter in this country. This may have been due to competition with other helicopter especially from the Robinson light helicopter family but also from the EC-120B/H120 Colibri helicopter which have firmer footing and presence in this country.
That could be changed however following the cessation of production of the EC-120B. There will be a great demand for new helicopter especially in the EC-130 category to fill in the training requirement by various helicopter schools in this country, both public and military.
The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) have had a good experience using the EC-120B as its helicopter training platform initially through the Integrated Aviation Academy at Ipoh and now the No 2 Flight Training Center (Pusat Latihan Terbang 2 – PULATIBANG 2) at Alor Setar AFB.
The EC-130 will be a good successor to the EC-120B in the coming years. It too could be used by the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) Air Operation Force (Pasukan Gerakan Udara – PGU) to replace its ageing AS-350 Squirrel helicopters.
Sarawak Offers Initial Funds For Coast Guard Mothership
The State Government of Sarawak is offering an initial fund through the Development Bank of Sarawak in order for the Malaysian Coast Guard to procure the RM 200 million mothership which it now seek as part of the agency’s plan to boost the maritime security throughout Malaysian waters.
Should the offer being taken up, the mothership will be deployed off the coast of Sarawak. The coast guard has been highlighting the need to have two mothership to be deployed in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia as well as off Sarawak.
The waters between these two sectors have known to be hot areas where tanker vessels plying along the route were robbed by the pirates from Indonesia. Through the deployment of motherships in strategic areas within the sectors, it is hope that the coast guard will be able to quickly response to distress signal by deploying smaller patrol boats in time before the pirates are able to escape into the safety of their home country.
The coast guard has recently commissioned KM Sri Aman, a Bagan Datuk-class New Generation Patrol Craft (NGPC) into service on December 4, 2017 at the Tun Abang Salleh Maritime Complex (Kompleks Maritim Tun Abang Salleh – KOMTAS). The Sri Aman is the second ship in the class to be launched in order to replace the Sipadan class Patrol Craft.
Just like the Bagan Datuk, the Sri Aman is able to launch Thales Fulmar X mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as well as Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) for VBSS operations. It is armed with ASELSAN 30mm Remote Weapon System (RWS).
Four more NGPC are currently being built by Destini. These were part of modernisation effort of the Malaysian Coast Guard which also include 3 new Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) due to start by early next year.
Under the Bajet 2018 announced on October, the coast guard has been allocated with RM 490 million for the repairs of its patrol boats and vessels as well as the construction of the OPV. A total of RM 900 million has been allocated for the coast guard next year.
Admittedly, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) did experience some form of transformation especially in terms of its capability to address and handle new threats. Perhaps there is no changes in terms of the quantity of its fighter fleet, currently made up of 18 KNAAPO-built Sukhoi Su-30MKM (NATO Reporting Name: Flanker) Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA), 8 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Mod 25X Hornet strike fighters and several dozens of BAe Hawk Mk 108/208.
Despite the report of modernisation works on 10 MiG-MAPO built Mikoyan Girevich Mig-29N/NUB (NATO Reporting Name: Fulcrum) air superiority fighters, the recently announced Bajet 2018 does not include funds for these Russian made aircraft currently said to be in active reserve/storage.
Nevertheless, there are significant increase of capabilities for the RMAF to conduct precision bombing, electronic counter measures (ECM), electronic counter counter measures (ECCM), signal intelligence/electronic intelligence (SIGINT/ELINT) as well as suppression and destruction of enemy air defences (SEAD).
These have been translated over the years through procurement of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), Paveway 2 laser guided bomb (LGB), Kh-31 (NATO Reporting Name: AS-17 Krypton) anti radiation missile (ARM), KNIRTI SAP-581 wingtip jamming pod, AN/APX-111 Bird Slicer ECM, AN-ASQ-228 ATFLIR and Damocles pod.
The acquisition of these hardwares and systems have led to RMAF’s venture into the fourth dimension of warfare namely the cyberspace. The capability to allow the Air Force fighters to speak with each other has been highlighted and stressed as part of Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Network Centric Operation (NCO) Phase 1B, due to be approved and funded by the Government.
Ultimately, the result of Phase 1B will see manned-unmanned teaming as well as secured datalink enabled through the procurement of Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as well as Airborne Early Warning & Control ( AEW&C or AWACS).
All this requires a complete rethink of RMAF training syllabus at a pace much faster than the transition of analogue cockpit to digital cockpit that the Air Force has undergone through the Pilatus PC-7A to PC-7Mk II and Aerospatialle SA-316B Allouette III to Eurocopter EC-120B Colibri transformation programs.
Currently, the Air Force employs seven Alenia MB-339CM Lead-in Fighter Trainer (LIFT) at No 3 Flight Training Center (Pusat Latihan Terbang 3 – PULATIBANG 3) for advanced jet training. The Macchi replaces the BAe Hawk Mk 108 in such role while at the same time introduces full digital cockpit layout when compared to the latter.
The Hawk itself was a breakthrough in the RMAF AJT training considering that it introduces pilot with some element of digital cockpit display, weapons training as well as radar and ECM. This is a step ahead than the Aermachhi MB-339AM that it replaces beginning from 1994.
The MB-339AM itself was way better than the Canadair CL-41G-5 Tebuan, the best side-by-side jet trainer at its time after the Cessna T-37 Tweet. In short, the RMAF did keep itself abreast with new and current technologies. It has become apparent now, that sooner or later, the MB-339CM will need to be replaced by newer platform.
Within the ASEAN’s perspective, we have seen many of our neighbours have already embarked in replacement programs for their respective AJTs. Thailand is looking forward for the delivery of KAI T-50TH which will prepare new pilots to fly SAAB JAS-39C/D Gripen, a Swedish-made fighter aircraft which are able to integrate and operate together with SAAB Argus AEW&C aircraft.
Indonesia, which now boast of having LockheedMartin F-16ID Block 50/52 and KNAAPO-built Su-27/30 Flankers, is also investing on T-50ID for its current and future fighter fleet that will include Indo-Koryo KF-X/IF-X stealth fighter.
Singapore which leaves its contemporaries in leaps and bounds, is operating Alenia M-346 Master, also operated by the Israeli Air and Space Force (IASF) to train new generation pilots destined to fly LockheedMartin F-35I Adir stealth fighter.
It is not only because Malaysia needs to have new AJT due to the anticipated post-2020 MRCA program. The need arises simply because there is a need to introduce Electronic Warfare (EW) element to new generation of fighter pilots considering that the Flanker and Hornet’s capabilities have been significantly improved.
The introduction of Mobile Radar Threat Emitter Simulator (MRTES) does not only benefitted the Sukhois but also the Hornets. In the near future, newer pilots will need to be exposed to EW much earlier before they are being posted into these elite No 11 and No 18 squadrons.
With that came into mind, perhaps the RMAF will have to begin assessing new generation AJT/LIFT such as the KAI/LockheedMartin T-50A, a variant which is now being brought forth for the US Air Force (USAF) T-X program.
The T-50A has a dorsal spine which allows EW training to be conducted and implemented in AJT training syllabus. Having such platform by the RMAF means that precious flight time of the Su-30s and the F/A-18s will not being overused for basic EW training but rather, this has been addressed during the advanced jet training phase.
The Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) Marine Operation Force (Pasukan Gerakan Marin – PGM), better known as the Marine Police will be receiving new patrol boat built locally by Gading Marine Engineering at the company’s shipyard facility in Seri Iskandar, Manjung, Perak.
G16 Interceptor will join other Marine Police assets built locally in Malaysia. For decades, the Police have been using ships and patrol boats built by MSET Engineering, Perlis Marine Engineering, Hong Leong Lurssen Shipbuilding Corp, Marine Alutech, DALAC Marine, Destination Marine and many more.
Bumar Labedy has unveiled upgrade program for its PT-91 main battle tank (MBT) operated by its Army as well as the Malaysian Army. Designated as the PT-91M2, the prototype features new generation ERAWA reactive armour, additional rear cage armour, reinforced suspension and upgraded Cx mechanical transmission with an 850-hp S-12U engine. An auxilliary power unit has also being added.
The PT-91M2 upgrade plan was announced last August along with the PT-16 technology demonstrator which this blog has detailed out here. Nevertheless, despite the potential of adopting either the PT-91M2 or the PT-16 upgrade program by the Malaysian Army for its 48 PT-91M Pendekar MBT currently in service since 2007, obviously a second type of MBT is needed to boost the Army’s current armoured strength.
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has taken this path by adopting the Ukrainian made T-84 Oplot and Chinese VT-4 for its armoured unit.
357 pekerja kilang bekal senjata, bahan letupan tuntut gaji
Mohamad Athir Ismail
13 September 2018 1:49 PM
KIRA-KIRA 150 mewakili 357 pekerja kilang pembekal senjata dan bahan letupan, SME Ordnance Sdn. Bhd. melahirkan rasa tidak puas hati terhadap majikan yang gagal menjelaskan dua bulan tunggakan gaji mereka di Jabatan Tenaga Kerja di Rawang, hari ini. - UTUSAN ONLINE/Mohamad Athir Ismail
RAWANG 13 Sept. - Kira-kira 150 orang kakitangan bukan eksekutif syarikat pembekal senjata dan bahan letupan kepada Kementerian Pertahanan, SME Ordnance Sdn. Bhd. hadir ke Jabatan Tenaga Kerja (JTK) di Rawang Perdana hari ini untuk membuat aduan terhadap majikan mereka yang gagal menjelaskan tunggakan gaji pekerjanya seramai 357 orang selama dua bulan.
Syarikat berkenanaan juga dipercayai menarik balik beberapa faedah lain termasuk elaun kehadiran, lokasi dan makan serta kemudahan perubatan.
Menurut pekerjanya, masalah tersebut sudahpun berlarutan sejak September tahun lalu dan perjumpaan dengan majikan telah diadakan beberapa kali namun masih tiada penyelesaian.
Wakil Kesatuan Pekerja Industri Petroleum dan Kimia Kebangsaan (NUPCIW) di syarikat itu berkata, isu bayaran gaji lambat bermula apabila majikan memaklumkan terdapat masalah pada sistem teknologi maklumat (IT).
"Sejak itu, gaji setiap bulan mula dibayar lewat, malah pada Februari lalu gaji pekerja dibayar pada hujung bulan Mac.
"Sekarang kali terakhir pekerja terima gaji adalah pada bulan Jun, sementara gaji bulan Julai dan Ogos tidak dibayar," kata mereka ketika ditemui wartawan Utusan Online, hari ini.
Pekerja juga mendakwa majikan tidak membayar caruman Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja, Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (Perkeso) dan bayaran pinjaman melalui potongan gaji.
"Sudah lebih lima bulan tiada caruman KWSP dibuat dan Perkeso pula sudah lebih setahun. Bayaran melalui potongan gaji lain pun tidak dibuat tetapi, gaji kami dipotong seperti yang tercatat dalam penyata.
"Kami sudahpun mengadakan pertemuan beberapa kali dengan Pengarah Eksekutif dan Presiden syarikat untuk mengadu masalah sedemikian, namun jawapan yang diberikan tetap sama, seperti tiada tindakan penyelesaian," jelas mereka.
Mereka juga turut menimbulkan persoalan jika syarikat mempunyai masalah kewangan tetapi bagaimana pun kerja-kerja pemprosesan masih berjalan.
"Kami diberitahu masih ada pembekal dan kontrak dengan Kementerian Pertahanan masih berjalan, tetapi majikan tetap memberitahu syarikat mempunyai masalah kewangan.
"Jadi kami mohon perhatian pihak berwajib termasuk JTK supaya mengambil tindakan terhadap masalah berkenaan sedangkan gaji bulan ini (September) belum tahu akan dibayar ataupun tidak," katanya.
M'sia not ready to make its own fighter jet just yet, says Mat Sabu
16 Oct 2018, 6:50 pm (Updated 16 Oct 2018, 6:57 pm)
PARLIAMENT | Malaysia does not have the capability yet, especially in terms of finances, to have its own fighter jet, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said that though researchers feel that Malaysia could produce a fighter jet in 2020, it would also depend on the country’s financial capacity.
“In the country's attempt to manufacture an aircraft, for example, we have been able to manufacture a passenger aircraft, but small in size.
"If we want to manufacture about 50 units, it is just not economical, so we have to mass produce, but where can we sell them?” he asked.
Mohamad was responding to a supplementary question from Abd Latiff Ahmad (BN-Mersing) who wanted to know whether the ministry would be keen on collaborating with a university that has the expertise but not the capital to build a jet.
Latiff said that this effort could be coordinated with members of the Malaysian Defence Industry Council (MIPM) to enable the self-reliance policy to be expedited.
In reply to another supplementary question from Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PAS-Pasir Mas) on the capability of the Malaysian fighter jets in operations and warfare, Mohamad reminded all quarters not to look down on the ability of the air force.
The air force's equipment is sufficient, in good condition and ready for use in the event of a war, he said.
“We will not go to war with any country, but we are fully prepared, and our military personnel are in high spirits. If it (military equipment) is in a state of disrepair, we will fix it,” he said.
X payahlah dan buang masa saja jika mahu membuat pesawat pejuang di Malaysia .. Jauh kebih jimat dan cepat.. jika Malaysia membeli majority ownership of Airbus, Boeing, Loxcheed Martin, Rheinmetall etc ,, dan kemudian memindahkan kilangnya ke Malaysia ...
Post time 23-12-2017 09:15 PM
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