KUALA LUMPUR: The press release from MBDA below is self-explainatory. However, it is more revealing than the release by RMN itself. MBDA must be pleased by the success, considering the problems it encountered before with its missiles in service with the RMN.
Royal Malaysian Navy Conducts Successful Firing of Otomat TG2 Anti-Ship Missile
On 23rd September 2008, a live firing of a TG2 (guide mode 2) OTOMAT missile was successfully carried out from the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) Laksamana class corvette KD Hang Nadim
The firing satisfied a contractual obligation requiring MBDA to validate the OTOMAT TG2 system (over the horizon re-vectoring system) installed on board the Super Lynx helicopters supplied to the RMN by AgustaWestland.
The firing, carried out in an open sea scenario, was planned against a target beyond the launch ship’s radar horizon with the missile flight comprising two phases.
The initial phase (TG1 Phase – guide mode 1) involved the missile being directed from the launch ship towards the TG2 helicopter. The subsequent phase (TG2 Phase) saw the missile directed towards the real target position by the TG2 helicopter. This involved a 30° turn after in-flight re-vectoring of the missile with the new navigation and attack data provided by the helicopter.
OTOMAT’s flight exceeded 60 Km, with the missile following the planned trajectory and approaching the target with exceptional accuracy. Target impact occurred at the planned altitude and with the correct detonation of the warhead.
The firing activities were carried out by the RMN supported by an MBDA team. Top level RMN representatives were present on board a helicopter hovering above the target area to witness the operation.
Fabrizio Giulianini, Executive Group Director Sales and Business Development of MBDA, said: “This latest success for OTOMAT confirms its role as a leading anti-ship missile system within the modern naval operational scenario. This missile’s already excellent performance has been further improved with the addition of a new land attack capability. With this new configuration, OTOMAT will offer one of the best solutions for navies up to 2020 and beyond”.
With sales exceeding 1,000 missiles worldwide, the OTOMAT anti-ship missile system has been updated to a new, fully digital Mk II Block IV standard. In this new configuration the missile has been updated and upgraded to face future naval threats, typically brown water scenarios and land attack requirements thanks to its new on-board navigation system and its operational range of 180 Km.
The updating programme was launched thanks to the support and funding of the Italian Navy. For the Italian Navy, the programme covers the updating to the new standard of the missiles that will be installed on board its Durand de La Penne class Horizon destroyers and on its future FREMM frigates. Qualification firings for the Italian Navy were completed at the end 2007.
–MalaysianDefence
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WONDER WHY IT TOOK SO LONG… THE LAKSAMANA’S AND THE SUPER LYNX’S WITH THE ALENIA TG2 DATA LINK WERE DELIVERED YEARS AGO. MAYBE SOFTWARE OR DATA LINK PROBLEMS.
Marhalim: You could be right there, but the Otomat missiles were delivered about three years ago and the Super Lynx were only declared fully operational within the last two years. It takes a while for a new capability to be absorbed into a service which is always quiet wary of technology…
Marhalim, you mentioned the Otomats entered service only 3 years ago. But the Laksamana’s were all delivered by 1999.
Marhalim: Sorry, I was wrong. You are right, the missiles were delivered in three batches with the boats from 1998, 1999 and 2002. But the Super Lynx only become operational within the last two years. I believe after the Seawolf debacle, they probably delayed the validation period until everybody comes up to speed with the weapon system and a lot of testing and simulation before proceeding with the actual firing.
Hopefully we will see NGPV with ASW and EXOCET BLOCK 3 in RMN.. Hopefully in batch 2 we wiil have MEKO 200
marhalim: with the current economic crisis, i doubt we can afford to buy anything. Lets hope we still have enough money to sent out our boats on patrol.
Earlier this year, the French navy had to cancel plans to send a destroyer for a an exercise in the Atlantic because of rising fuel costs. Makes you wonder about the situation effecting the MAF….
Talking about fuel, makes one wonder about how much fuel the MAF has stockpiled for emergencies.
Marhalim: one can only make speculation on such matters, its verging on OSA!
Lets hope Malaysia’s future PM will consider a lot in purchasing a military equipment.
Go nuke! The RMN is saying damn the budgets and cranking up op tempo.
Simon
Marhalim: Perhaps. But its probably they rob Joe to pay Sam….