PETALING JAYA: North Korea is expected to launch a rocket in a few weeks time. According to the wires:
“North Korea announced earlier this month it would launch a rocket between April 12-16 to put a satellite into orbit to celebrate the centenary of Kim Il-Sung’s birth.”
The move has been condemned by the United States, South Korea and other nations as a pretext for a long-range missile test banned by the UN.
It has also jeopardised a deal with the United States announced last month on suspending uranium enrichment and long-range missile tests in return for food aid.
A senior US official warned that the rocket launch would be aimed south for the first time and impact in an area “roughly between Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines”
Clearly the range of the missile is well within our own shores. And yet we persists on buying short range surface to air missiles!
It appears that even the US is thinking of having a BMD shield in Asia. Read Here
—Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (31)
Chances are, if we ever in the future come under ballistic or cruise missile attack, it will be from our 'cousins' from seberang. There are some who share the opinion that Singapore's getting Iron Dome is due to fears that a country in SEA will get ballistic or cruise missiles, not due to the ASTROS, as in commonly believed. Anyway, I don't see what the big deal is from the North Koreans, as the whole of SEA has long been well within range of Chinese ballistic missiles.
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Yes, China has more ballistic missiles but its not called a rogue country....
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Singapore_To_Improve_Defences_Against_Ballistic_Missiles_999.html
It's called being prudent, even if there is no direct and immediate threat.
btw, will you be at DSA2012?
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Hopefully
koxinga,
For the Japanese, South Korans and the U.S., indeed, but for us?
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I am asking because with a defence policy calling for a Forward Defence, it is strange we are buying shorter range missiles...
Marhalim,
I don't expect you to post these links, as they are very "sensitive". For your information though...
http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4343&Itemid=178
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Scorpenes-Sting-Liberation-Publishes-Expose-re-Malaysias-Bribery-Murder-Scandal-05347/#more-5347
Considering the high profile that this case has in France, I doubt that the MoD will go with any additional large French contracts any time soon.
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I let it go as to me they are not sensitive to me. But some people are expecting so much and so fast from the French courts. As the Taiwan case took almost a decade to be settled I dont expect the Scorpene case to be very fast either. And it will mostly limited to whether or not the money paid to Perimekar is considered a commission or not.
Improve air defences - Absolutely!
Develop ABM capability - Ha! If we can't manage basic programs, how would we ever get ballistic missile defence right? It seems we have caviar tastes but only a McDonald's budget.
As for Singapore's ABM defence plans, we should benefit from their largesse. Any system they put in place would most certainly cover a large portion of at least the peninsula.
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Of course any move towards ABM capability means that we need to step up our plans and capabilities. But doesnt that show that Jalan Padang Tembak is at least making a serious show for the funds expanded? Presently the evidence does not point that way, it is mostly confirming what the antis are claiming that defence are just to fill up some people's pockets.....
Iron dome isnt for ballistic missiles or cruise missiles. David's Sling is for shorter range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
The likes of the North korean missiles with range is in excess of 500km is meant for Arrow 2/3.
The protective bubble of Singapore's improved i-hawks (45km range) already covers large parts of Southern Johor.And the i-hawks are slated for replacement after the rapiers. Rapiers are being replaced by Spyder SR(>15km range) missile system.
If requested and necessary, Singapore may even deploy air defence assets to protect Butterworth and other RMAF bases. The last thing Singapore wants is an enemy at her doorstep.
The I-hawk replacement has to be a system that allows seamless and easy incorporation of anti ballistic missile systems in future, if necessary.
The s300 from Russia anyone hahahah
Lets take a look at the anti-ballistic missiles available in the market.Iron Dome is Israeli manufactured and needs to be crossed out. Then there is the Patriot. Will the States sell these to us?. A big big question mark.This leaves only the Russian systems -where for money, they are willing to sell anything you want. What are the sytems available and how effective?. We need both long range missiles and also medium range weapons in case the long range missiles fails to bring down the missiles in the first shot. So some BUK M2's for a start to beef up the medium range defence?
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I was thinking more of a sea-based BMD system which at the moment is limited to the US Standard missiles. We have the option of choosing the SeaApar from Thales which is capable of controlling the SM-3 to newer upgrades from the light Aegis purchased by the Aussie or Norway. I know the ships and systems are expensive, around RM7 billion a piece. But we are spending up to RM7 billion to buy six ships armed only with self-defence system.
As I mentioned before there should be a total revamp of planning to accommodate a BMD capability perhaps even the need for ASEAN-BMD initiative but that would take a lot of work doesnt it?
Wouldn't ASTER 30, whether land or sea based, also be able to perform the ABM role?
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Not the current one. But MBDA is proposing an ABM version