Malaysia: The World Top Arms Importer! Edited

KUALA LUMPUR: Based on the Trends in international arms transfers, 2009 Paul Holtom, Mark Bromley, Pieter D. Wezeman and Siemon D. Wezeman SIPRI Fact Sheet it appears that Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, are in an arms race.

The 722 percent figure cited by the publication really sounds alarming doesnt it? But the data must be seen in its full context though. Since we had to procure arms in 10 year cyclical basis, no thanks to the 1997 economic crisis, one would expect such spike in percentage however. But since explaining such matters are the purview of people with more power and getting more money than me, I will leave it to them then.

The statement by SIPRI has been published for a while now but it has not received much publicity so far until Reuters used that data in its report here. I am sure will make a meal out of this.

Online news portal, Malaysiakini also jumped into the bandwagon, but alas their take on their issue is really a poor cut and paste job!

–Malaysian Defence

Posted in Malaysian Defence, budget, commentary, defence Industry | 14 Comments »

US to Select New Carbine, Next Year or M4 is the New Dodo

KUALA LUMPUR: The story below from Defensenews is self explanatory. I would like to say I told you so but I do not feel I had won anything. Malaysian Defence and its readers had since 2006 questioned the decision to adopt the M4/M16A4 as the standard Malaysian Army assault rifle and the story from DefenseNews vindicated our concerns. The US Army is to ditch the M4 soon and perhaps within two years, they will be equipped with new carbines and even rifles. It is most likely the rest of the US forces, Marines and others will follow the Big Green transition to the new weapon and ditch the Black Rifle. The Malaysian Army in the meantime, will be using the M4 and M16A4 for at least another 20 years or so. We already accepted some 14,000 rifles and if not for the economic downturn, we could have ordered another 30,000 or more of the Black Rifles.
By next year, the US will field its last batch of M4s and M16A4s , so we will have the dubious honour of fielding new Black Rifles in the foreseeable future. Of course, thousands of M4s will be available within the next two decades, but it will be funny isnt it if we were to start looking for a new rifle to replace the Black Rifle within the next few years so. At the same time, it will also be funny for the Malaysian Army to continue purchasing new M4s and M16A4s as the primary user had declared it redundant.
Also from the story below, it appears that SMEO had paid Colt LLC for nothing by acquiring the exclusive manufacturing rights in the country as the design rights of the M4 had been taken over by the US Army. Does this mean that SMEO now has to sign a new contract with the US Army and perhaps has to fork out extra payment to manufacture the M4 in-country now? I am not sure about that but when I found out I will report it here.

US Army Will Open Competition for Carbine – As Soon As Congress Passes Budget

Soldiers could have a new carbine by 2012, unless a Congressional budget impasse slows it down. The Army requested $9.9 million for fiscal 2010, money needed to start the solicitation process for a competition that stands to draw dozens of small arms companies waiting for the chance to unseat the M4 as the Army’s primary soldier weapon.
In July, the service took control of the design rights to the M4 carbine from its sole maker, Colt Defense LLC. The transition of ownership of the M4 technical data package marked the end of an era and Colt’s exclusive status as the only manufacturer of the M4 for the U.S. military for the past 15 years. The transfer of the licensing agreement also frees up the Army to give other companies a crack at a carbine contract. Last November, Army senior leadership announced the service’s intent to open a competition for a new carbine this fall. Then Army Secretary Pete Geren directed the Army’s Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Ga., to update the carbine requirement in preparation for a search for a replacement for the M4. At the same time, the Army is slated to finish fielding the last of its 473,000 M4 requirement some time next year.
Small-arms companies waiting for the chance to compete for the Army’s next carbine view Colt’s loss of the M4 TDP as a new beginning for the industry and for soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

–Malaysian Defence

Posted in 1Malaysia, SMEO, budget, defence Industry, m4 | 40 Comments »

Ho Hum II

KUALA LUMPUR: Critics may claim that I lack a sense of patriotism for dismissing Malaysian-made weapons. To which I may shot back “What Weapon?”

I believe I am patriot but when it comes to the Malaysian defence scene, National Security seemed to cloud everything including common sense.

That is exactly why I ho hum the arrival of the Malaysian-made Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

If you think I am being too harsh think again and I quote “Najib, who is also defence minister, said he was proud of the success of the local companies in producing the country’s first TUAV.

“This TUAV was designed by these three companies using composite materials produced by CTRM and software made by local companies,” he told reporters after chairing the Malaysian Defence Industry Council meeting at CTRM here.

He said that although the aircraft’s engine and camera were from overseas, it was still regard as a Malaysian product.

He said steps were being taken to buy better quality camera and higher power engine to meet the specifications of the Malaysian armed forces..

Please note the last paragraph. The TUAV DOES NOT meet the specifications of the Malaysian Armed Forces! Why we are even bothered to highlight such a “success” is beyond me.

Through-out the last two decades, the Malaysian media has trumpeted the arrival of Malaysian made weapons. They all kept quiet when these weapons of wonder were retired rather prematurely. Remember the Steyr? Remember the SME MD3?

Will the TUAV joined the long list of such wonderful but retired weapons? The one that was displayed in Malacca will soon be one I assume. The airframe that flew on Tuesday probably cannot be fitted with a new engine and surveillance system.

So they have about another year to design a new airframe together with flight trials before they could passed the military trials. By that time the Malaysian Armed Forces could have purchased a UAV off-the-shelf, probably a cheaper cost per unit than the Malaysian-made UAV.

Najib said the TUAV could also be used by the police, Customs and the Malaysian Coast Guard. Since it cannot meet the specifications of the Armed Forces, how could it meet the needs of the other Govt agencies, may I inquire?

Malaysian Defence believes that the local defence industry need to learn new technologies like UAV through research and development but not the whole gamut of manufacturing process. Not UAVs or TUAVs of which that no more than 200 examples will ever be purchased.

Firearms like assault rifles, handguns and machine guns are the weapons that we should be able to manufacture together with high-accuracy cartridges from 9mm to 155 shells.

Too much money have been wasted in the past for so-called self-reliance of the defence needs. Until now we have yet to be self-reliant in the defence scene instead gravitate to self-fulfilling project which knows no end.

The TUAV specifications

Posted in defence Industry | No Comments »