KUALA LUMPUR: The story below is self-explainatory of course but Malaysian Defence begs to differ with the statement by the honourable minister. While I understand that we may lack the funds but upgrading rusting hulls will not offer us any capability nor technology.
For example, when it was decided that the old Kedah class be upgraded so it could be operational into the late 80s and until now under MMEA (renamed as Sipadan class) , most of the ships designed in the early 60s, remained incapable of fielding the latest technology and capabilities. These ships were once capable vessels but the years had eroded any chance of any integration new systems and technologies.
And btw, most of the ships in the RMN, apart from the new Kedah class and the Jebat and Lekiu are more than 25 years old. Heck, even the Lekiu is almost 20 years now.
Anyways, Malaysian Defence is wary of any plans of recapitalisation without the use of funds as hinted in paragraph 5. What ever methods proposed would cause us more money than a standard cash transaction.
RMN’s Old Assets Should Be Upgraded: Ahmad Zahid
LUMUT, May 22 (Bernama) — The Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) essential assets aged over 25 years should be upgraded immediately to ensure their compatibility with the climate and current technology, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
“I think the upgrading of the old assets and equipment is vital to fine-tune RMN’s preparation in tackling various issues and future challenges,” he told reporters after visiting the RMN Lumut base, here Friday.
He said it would be better if the old assets be replaced but the current global economic uncertainty did not allow the government to do so.
However, he said the acquisition of new assets could be done without purchases but through other possible approaches that would be proposed to the government later.
“Several financial methods will be submitted to the government to enable the acquisition of new assets to be done such as a modified payment system based on Islamic bonds or sukuk or other syarie-based approach.
“The proposed financial package will not be too much a burden as we can also use the new assets at the same time,” he said.
— BERNAMA
–-Malaysian Defence
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The Lekiu and Jebat were to have been delivered in 1997 but software problems delayed their delivery into service till 1999. I cant confirm this, but I've been told that during sea trials in the North Sea, an opened hatch in the Bofors Mk2 led to sea water damaging the guns system on either the Lekiu or Jebat. This allegedly led to another delay. When the Vosper Kedah class coastal patrols boats were ordered from Vosper in the 1960's, the requirement laid down by Tunku Abdul Rahman and Robert Thompson [his defence advisor] was that the class would have enough range to reach East Malaysia. Even if funding was available, the size of the Vosper Kedah class [about 300 tonnes]would have precluded any upgrades. Whilst I'm not privy to any inside information, Its my opinion the RMN has done a great job in maintaining its assets.
Marhalim: Indeed RMN had done a great job of maintaining its assets but rusting hulls cannot be nursed forever (apart from the GRP hulls of the Mahawangsa class of course!)
Maybe Malaysia can lease (or "Ijara" in Islamic finance) the Brunei OPVs.
When the defence minister mentioned upgrades, maybe he was refering to overhauls.. who knows?
But then over the years, most RMN ships have been sent to drydock for overhauls anyway.
To the RMNs credit, it has been able to secure funding in the past for upgrades on the Laksamana, Handalan, Perdana, Kasturi and Mahamiru class. Apart from installing an electro-optical sight to replace the thermal inager, software upgrades to the Nautis and upgrading to Seawolf 2 in the future, I cant think of anything else at the moment to upgrade on the Lekiu class. Due to its non-modular design, replacing Seawolf would be costly and involve a lot of work.
Marhalim: Upgrades are upgrades, overhauls are overhauls they are not the same, most of the work done on RMN ships were overhauls and not upgrades. I hoped what he meant is that the Kasturi SLEP that had been frozen due to economic crisis, would be start soon....
Government should upgrade the assets ASAP. As I am an RMN personnel, I have experience personally the problems we faced. Enough of overhaul or refit. I believe overhauls are only a waste of money as they only allowed the ships to return to service without any significant improvement. I am serving on an RMN ship which had recently undergone a refit, sadly to say the condition is disappointing. I hope MINDEF will do something on this matter.
Marhalim: Thank you for serving the country and thank you for your comments...
i have a feeling this is a prelude to the introduction of the brunei's opvs into RMN's fleet financed by sukuk....
Marhalim: Personally, I like the idea of having the Brunei ships as part of our fleet although some beg to differ due to different electronics and engines. To me as long as we can get all three ships together with a complete weapons fit for some RM500 million, lets go for it.....
“Several financial methods will be submitted to the government to enable the acquisition of new assets to be done such as a modified payment system based on Islamic bonds or sukuk or other syarie-based approach."
Somehow i think the quote above do not jive. When Gov say financial method to pay, i think they should meant a barter or partial barter payment. Sukuk or conventional bonds are just a mechanic to raise cash upfront which the arms seller does not want to know.
Does anyone actually think that this is anything other than a tacit admission of the failure of the government to plan, fund and execute long-lead capital projects? Every stop-start is $ and time pissed away.
That is why Si Padang Tembak, the camp cat would do the same job for a ton less money.
Just let the old rust bucket such as handalan and perdana be retired. Combatant ships should not be used too long but support ships are different story. Just upgrade the weapon system in the new kedah class. As such the combatant vessels should only be left with 2 Lekiu, 2 Kasturi, 4 Laksamana and 6 Kedah upgraded NGPV plus 3 subs
Marhalim: actually two subs as the Agosta is not being overhauled for a few more years of service....
Precisely my point Marhalim. Upgrades and overhauls are 2 different things, lets hope the defence minister actually meant upgrades in his statement. Overhauls cause less grief to the treasury as they require less funding than upgrades. Unlike the army, the RMN has managed to secure funding for upgrading its assets in recent years [the Laksamanas, Handalan, Perdana Mahamiru and Kasturi classes]. Have the army's Skyguards and Giraffes ever been upgraded, doubt it. It will be interesting to see what MME ships will be fitted with the Vigy 15 electro-optic sight.
Have sent an e-mail to Thales to inquire about the status of the Kasturi SLEP. In the unlikely event of receiving an answer, I will let you know. It remains to be seen if the RMN intends to replace the Schimitar jammer[export version of the Ramses which was sold to NATO vavies only] on the Kasturi and Lekir, which were the only RMN ships fitted with jammers until the arrival of the Nettuno jammers on the Laksama class.
Marhalim: Yes, the Skyguards and Giraffes had been overhauled in the late 90s, again overhauled not upgraded......
I doubt that the Nakhoda Ragams will be acquired due to a lack of cash, the current political enviroment and the RMN's desire for something more capable than Seawolf. Then again in Malaysia, its the politicans who have the final say in determining defence buys, regardless of what MINDEF says. If cash was available perhaps it would be better spent on a part replacement of the Nuri fleet? I think the question that should be asked is where the crews to man the Nakhoda Ragams will come from... does the RMN currently have the manpower ?
Marhalim: If funds were available for RMN, personally the Nakhoda Ragams will be the best option for the navy. The first ship could be on patrol by year end if they decide to sign off the deal. If we were to buy a new ship, we will need at least five years to get it into service if we are lucky and did not screw it up like Kedah and Jebat, Of course we can go down the upgrade route, if we are lucky, the Kasturi SLEP will be completed within six months although I doubt it, history tells us that even a modest upgrade will caused the ship to be in the docks for the next year or so....