SHAH ALAM: RMAF and RMN, last week on their official Twitter page, blasted graphics separately announcing their gratitude to the government for providing an extra allocation to the Armed Forces 2017 budget. The extra allocation for the military based on the graphics is RM817.60 million.
This means the budget for defence for 2017 is actually RM15.819 billion, compared to the RM15.05 billion announced in October, last year. Note that extra allocation are normal, the government provides for such every year.
Based on the graphics, we know RMAF is getting half of the extra allocation with RM450 million while RMN is only getting RM218 million. The Army did not come out with a graphic but based on the sums for RMAF and RMN, it should be getting RM149.60 only.
So far the Defence Ministry has not made any official announcement on the extra allocation, so there is no telling whether the extra money is for the operational or development expenditures. However, based on the annual budget we can assume most of the extra money is for operational expenditures.
Both RMAF and RMN graphics stated that the money was meant to ensure the readiness of assets which meant the bulk of it are likely to pay for spares, assets, parts and services. The RMN graphic even included a Kedah class, the Tun Azizan platform and quarters which may indicate the main thrust of the extra money. It is also likely that the some of the money will be used to pay for repairs of KD Jebat which caught fire late last May.
As for the RMAF, it is likely the bulk of the allocation will be used to pay for the Sukhoi’s 10 years scheduled maintenance program, which started late last year. The program is expected to be carried out for the next three years.
My sources also indicated that the extra allocation is mostly for projects already committed whether it’s under OE or DE. One of them is the RMN’s LMS. The first ship I am told is expected to be started once the company, CSIC got the export approvals from the China government.
— Malaysian Defence
If you like this post, buy me an espresso. Paypal Payment
View Comments (23)
firstly, who even think that RM15b is enough for defence?
Reply
Well for starters the government as they were the one which allocated the money in the first place. Anyhow, how much is enough?
Nicely put Marhalim.
Maybe someone can define what constitutes ''enough''.... Especially given that we are not in a state of tensions with anyone and that the economy isn't doing that great.
Major military acquisition always come from 5 year plan la. this 15b is usually for overheads,spares and wages
Off topic
New JF-17 for our Asean neighbour
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCHxcGvXUAAz_zN.jpg
Another pic of the JF-17
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f80b4ba9f48877137f6576e8023917dca29784d4e097a8bec5040c572cd6adb8.jpg
More info on the JF-17
It is said that the contract is for 16 aircrafts at just usd 16 million each. That must be the cheapest brand new supersonic fighter aircraft for sale right now.
With extra allocation maybe the army can finally bring home the paladin?
Ideal ATM budget is about RM 25bilion , RM15b for Managment, Rm10b for Development (procurement)
Effectively means RMN secured additional procurement funding for LMS; since RMN took LMS money from OE, and this additional funding tops up OE to more/less similar amount.
Slightly unrelated, can anybody actually list out the ongoing procurement projects for MAF? I only know of the major projects: Army, AV8 + MD530G; Navy, Gowind + LMS; Air Force, A400... what else is ongoing/locked-in?
Reply
Your list is correct apart from the A400M. There is on going procurement of trucks, uniforms and other small items for the services and quite hard to track as it is less sexy and therefore less publicity. Technically, the MPA procurement is on going...
One area of modernisation or upgrading of the MAF which will receive little publicity or interest is ongoing efforts to ''network'' the 3 services. This is actually of far more importance than the sexy hardware that usually garners most of the attention from the public and defence enthusiasts - apart from Marhalim no other Malaysian defence blog/forum has touched on the issue.