SHAH ALAM: IT appears that the RMN Super Lynx fleet is down to four helicopters only. They are being used for operational and training duties. The other two are being kept in long term storage due to lack of maintenance funds, it was reported by Utusan Malaysia for the service’s anniversary question and answer session. The Q&A was answered by RMN chief Admiral Rahman Ayob.
On RMN’s future-plan for an ASW helicopter, Rahman said the service may lease new helicopters as a stop-gap measure when the Super Lynx are retired progressively, though he did not say when exactly their out-of-service dates.
RMN aviation wing’s woes is the same of the surface fleet predicament. With limited funding, it cannot move forward with the acquisition of new aircraft suited for the intended role. RMN had wanted to purchase the new ASW helicopters for the last 15 years-or-so and like the surface fleet it has been thwarted by the lack of funding.
The lack of money also prevented any upgrades of the Super Lynx fleet. Malaysian Defence had previously reported that RMN was offered an upgrade solution by Leonardo – the OEM – but it was declined due to cost (though I was not purview to the actual quote).
It must be noted that Brazilian Navy which operated nine older version of the Lynx – had in 2015 signed off on a US$160 million (RM713 million) upgrade programme for eight of the aircraft. By 2021, at least four Lynx had been upgraded to the Mk21B standard by Leonardo. Work with the other four will be completed in Brazil.
The upgrade for the Brazilian Lynx includes new engines, new NVG-compatible cockpits upgraded tactical and navigation system; and new ESM equipment.
It must be noted that Norway was recently approved for the purchase of six Sikorsky Seahawk ASW helicopters for US$1.1 billion (RM4.4 billion) which is much more expensive than the upgrades for the six Brazilian Lynx.
It must be pointed out that other customers for the Seahawk have been offered low prices for their helicopters though it must be said that the Norway ones must be as near standard to the US Navy ones hence their price.
RMN has also been offered the Leonardo Wildcat, the latest version of the Lynx but it was not taken up. Instead of buying the Wildcat, the government decided to approve the purchase of three AW13 maritime operations helicopter (MOH) for the RMN. Three more are expected to purchase in the near future. Even with six MOH in service, RMN requirement for ASW helicopters remains. One has to wonder when it will be funded.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (45)
Personally they should had retired some of the laksamana & FAC rather than retiring 2 of the super lynx.
But they can't let go of these smaller ship not until MACC get up to speed while TDM able to operate as OZ defense strategic review called it 'in a littoral setting'. TDM meanwhile are currently a bit obsessed with armour & anti armour rather than costal battery, NLOS, himars & long range precision strike that OZ army would be transitioning into.
Marhalim, the head of the RMN said ASW helicopters will come in 2026 just yesterday in the NST or Star.
It's the same as the LMS Batch 2 that's supposed to be delivered in 2026. To me it is foolish to say the delivery date when the helicopter or ship when either has been selected nor contract signed.
So the Super Lynx is down to four, what about the fennec fleet?
Any upgrades + ASW conversions of RMN super lynx fleet will be at a lower cost than the Brazilian Lynx upgrade. Brazilian Lynx upgrade entails the conversion of an older Lynx spec into the Super Lynx configuration. RMN Super Lynx will not need engine + powertrain upgrades as it is already at the latest super lynx spec. What is needed is to upgrade the avionics + cockpit displays to the latest EFIS-type like the brazilian upgrade and add on ASW systems.
For the latest SH-60R Romeo, that is the ballpark cost for all new customers, around a billion dollars for half a dozen Romeos. Lower costs are mostly buys of US EDA older seahawks by Israel and Spain.
Yes the ideal time for RMN to have its ASW Helicopters is 2026.
So how can the RMN get its needed ASW helicopters? What level of ASW capability should RMN have? All of this needs to be tied with the completion of the ASW capable Gowind Frigates with its towed variable depth sonars, which is why the 2026 date is put out. It has been widely discussed that the LMS Batch 2 will not have ASW capability. Is it the correct way forward? Or should we get a LMS that could work as a team with the Gowind LCS Frigates to perform ASW taskings?
... - ''and add on ASW systems.''
The RMN has no such intention and as has been discussed to death the Lynx has very little weight/lift capacity or internal space to carry torps, sonobuoys and a dipping sonar. ASW is time extensive and a helo may have to fly some distance to where the contact is - it can carry a single torp and a dipping sonar or a pair of torps and a dipping sonar or one may have to resort to the impratical means of having a helo armed with a pair of torps and another with a dipping sonar.
... - ''What level of ASW capability should RMN have? ''
Quite obviously the answer is what it has long been seeking : a ship armed with triple torp tubes [more as a self defence weapon] and a ASW suite; plus a helo configured for ASW and with the range and endurance which is needed for ASW.
... - ''Is it the correct way forward?''
Obviously not; just like nobody would want a hole in their head but in this case the only ''way forward'' when funds are limited and trade offs have to be made...
Zaft - ''Personally they should had retired some of the laksamana & FAC ''
If you haven't noticed the RMN is not in the business of retiring anything unless it really has to or can [i.e. Hang Tuah] because it has a shortage of hulls to meet its operational commitments.
Zaft - ''TDM meanwhile are currently a bit obsessed with armour & anti armour rather than costal battery, NLOS, himars & long range precision strike that OZ army would be transitioning into.''
Nonsense. It's not ''obsessed'' with anything; it has long wanted an improved ATGW capability. Also, understand that buying a shore based ASM is merely part of the equation. One also needs to acquire the ability to detect, ID and fix targets which are moving and trying their best not to be found and one needs to synchronise their use with other assets an services; i.e. if a RMAF MPA detects a target how fast and under what mechanism can it share the data witha shore based ASM operated by another service?
Ideally such systems would be RMN operated. Also, ATGW weapons and shore based ASMS are two profoundly different things for profoundly different requirements and should not be conflated.
On another matter as I've long pointed out [the case with the Lynxs being a case in point]; having adequate sustainment funds has long been a challenge for us and unless the RMAF is assured that it will received adequate funds to sustain pre owned 30 odd year old Hornets which will get more maintenance intensive to sustain as the age further; it will not be enthusiastic... It' also for this reason that the RMN is very selective and hesistant to receive ''cheap'' pre owned hulls.
if the fund is not there.. and now seeing the way is leasing..this is not the correct way to equipped the forces.. but rather, the way to enrich the cronies, specifically leasing company. might as well the tanks will be leased too in the future.
@ Azlan
We just can't keep hoping that the gov would increase funding. Realistically Our low taxes per GDP ratio plus the upcoming financial responsibility act put a damper on the gov abilities to spend. They had even embarked on the extremely unpopular subsidies rationalisation. Let just say an increase in defense spending aren't coming anytime soon and even if it did, it would likely pays for localisation & thus the extra money is to pay for jobs & economics not really purely for defensive purposes.
Abilities to make hard choice is precisely why OZ army would sacrificed a lot of their armour to pay for littoral capabilities & some of the reasons to focus on missiles is because OZ want to create a missiles production industry.
On RMN, it's a bit problematic when we retired our combat capabilities like the super lynx but not peacetime operations asset like patrol vessels. Patrol duties are mostly the works of MMEA and sacrificing your own mainjob to help others did their jobs is never ideal.
Ideally RMN should be in charge of a lot of things from coastal battery to MPA. But as we seen with this rather perplexing decisions, it is often seen as a weak organisation & thus what should had been naturally under their jobscope is done & would be done by other services.
As for RMAF, A 30 years old hornet can be upgraded & services live extended rather cheaply then the younger MKM. Obviously with the money we had we just can't expect to have both.
Marhalim, the article was in NST dated 28/4. My fault, should have been more specific. He did say the Lynx will be retired in stages and the ASW heli process will start in 2026.
Realistically, it will be stuck between the Wildcat(lower end) and Seahawk(high end), so really what options do we have; NH90 is out for obvious reasons, the Merlin could be just as pricy as the MH60, Caracal/Cougar is too big to fit into LCS hangar (no folding option), maybe Kaman Seasprite if still want to go USA.
@hulubalang
"Yes the ideal time for RMN to have its ASW Helicopters is 2026."
Indeed but we just don't have the money. Prior to 2026, all DE funds will go into completing the 5 LCS and the LMS2 batch. That is their priority right now. As I see it the reason why TLDM couldn't upgrade the Lynx fleet is because they used the DE fund for the OP rehulling project or they seen the limitations of that type and prefer to use the money for a proper ASW chopper. Perhaps once the OP is done maybe they will reallocate budget for the upgrading. As it is, the LCS will likely launch without onboard ASW choppers unless TLDM rebase the Lynx onto each boat.
Whichever the case, TLDM will need up to 11 ASW choppers, one for each LCS plus the 6 replacing the Lynx, an all too expensive proposition when each cost RM 700mil or 2x F35 5th gen jet.
"So how can the RMN get its needed ASW helicopters?"
TLDM will have to be realistic with their choices. The chopper they wanted we could not afford, the chopper we could afford they don't want. Somethings gotta give.
Even the Kiwis are ditching the Seasprites.