Condor Re-Manufacturing Program

The 1st pattern vehicle for the Condor upgrade, ZA 9474 which took part in the 2017 Merdeka parade. It features new air intakes, beefier suspension and new larger, weapon shield for its 7.62mm GPMG.

SHAH ALAM: The Condors deployed to the Malaysian unit in UNIFIL – Malbat 850-5 – will be shipped home in batches to undergo refurbishment and upgrades.

Armed Forces Chief Gen Raja Affandi Raja Muhammed Nor says the Armored Re-manufacturing Program (ARP) will allow the Condors to continue serving the Army for the foreseeable future.

The pattern vehicle for the Condor upgrade, ZA 9474 which took part in the recent Merdeka parade. It features new air intakes, beefier suspension and new larger, weapon shield for its 7.62mm GPMG.

He confirmed that the Weststar Guardian armored security vehicle (ASV) will replaced the Condors for the UNIFIL mission. He however says the numbers and timeline for the replacement of the Condors will depend on the financial allocation from the government. He made the comments after attending the demobilization ceremony for Malbatt 850-4 at Port Dickson. Malbatt 850-5 replaced 850-4 last month.

A standard Condor ZA 9487 armed with a 20mm cannon which took part in the 2017 Merdeka Day parade rehersal.

Previously Malaysian Defence had also posted on the upgrade program for the Condors which is being undertaken by Deftech

A RAD Condor in service with the UNIFIL mission. Joint Force picture

Raja Affandi was asked to comment on the replacement of the Condors by the Guardian which was first announced by Deputy Defense Minister Datuk Seri Johari Baharum recently. For more go here.

Guardian ASV. Weststar

As posted previously, Weststar Defence had partnered with UAE-based IAG to offer the Guardian to the armed forces.

Condors of Malbatt lined up for an inspection. Note the two with long barrel 20mm cannon.

Asked what kind of weapons will armed the Guardians, Raja Affandi says it will likely be limited to the 12.7mm machine-guns. “From our experience in peacekeeping operations, it is not necessary to have the most biggest gun out there,” he says when asked whether Malbatt will not have the same firepower with the withdrawal of the Condors.

Condors of Malbatt undergoing annual inspection.

The Condors deployed to Lebanon are mostly equipped with the twin 7.62mm machine guns in a one-man turret though the variant with the 20mm cannon are also available. Some Condors have pintle mount for the GMPG while the ambulance version are also deployed as well.

–Malaysian Defence

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9 Comments

  1. @ marhalim

    Both 20mm and 7.62mm twin are one man turrets

    BTW i have written a few long repies that is totally missing…

    Reply
    If you willing to redo it sent them to me via email.

  2. Hope they could source some of these Condor for the GOF and for ESSZone

    Reply
    They got Gempita and Lipanbara in ESSZone. They will only send new stuff there as some people might just used that to say something bad about the Armed Forces. You know these days one can create a ruckus for nothing.

  3. Wish you guys a very good morning to all the readers here. I’m wondering how thick the armor and what bullet size the armor can withstand?

    Reply
    Condor should be good for 7.62mm AP rounds, STANAG II for the Guardian 7.62mm API rounds

  4. I feel we should send new stuff there as those are the units most likely to see action. It’s been said before that luckily for us, the Condors have not faced RPGs.

    The new gear and procedures should also be validated in rough conditions.

  5. Agree with AM. Perfect opportunity to test out AV-8 actually. Why is it that we have to buy Guardians? What happened to the rest of the vehicle fleet?

    Also I suspect the Condors are being SLEP-ed because the AV-8s are too pricey… any idea if the contract terms locked in USD or MYR?

    Reply
    The more the merrier

  6. How cost-effective is this? It’s probably cheaper to buy new Lipanbara with upgraded STANAG II protection than to ship the Condors home and refurbish. When the US Army left Afghanistan, it left behind hundreds of vehicles deemed to be not cost-effective to ship home. I’m surprised that the bean counters didn’t raise a ruckus

  7. The condors have faced RPG in Bakara market. RPG 1, Condor 0.
    Driver killed immediately as RPG hit windshield directly

    Reply
    Corporal Mat Aznan did not die immediately. I am not sure how long he survived but he was conscious for some time following the attack.

  8. “Agree with AM. Perfect opportunity to test out AV-8 actually. ”

    It isn’t only about torture testing the vehicle. All land assets should be validated in the majority of the country’s terrain.

    In the tactical sense, there will always be areas where vehicles cannot pass because of obstacles, soil conditions or bridge limits.

    In the strategic sense, a vast territory like Sabah can offer lessons on the strategic mobility and responsiveness of Gempita units over long distances.

    As I have said before, air mobile forces are probably the only way to respond quickly over such a large territory. The units and vehicles we have there need not be too heavily armed, armoured or large.

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