SHAH ALAM: More on the 4X4/6X6 requirements. It appears that the 6X6 requirements has been transformed into a mixed 4X4/6X6 project. According to the Shephard, it is due to the lack of money (as usual).
From Shephard:
The Malaysian Army’s plan to acquire 6×6 AFVs has now transformed into a mixed acquisition of 6×6 and 4×4 vehicles, sources have told Shephard. This change is for cost reasons.
The original plan was to acquire an entirely 6×6 fleet to outfit the remaining armour regiments currently operating the Sibmas 6×6 AFV, and mechanised battalions operating the Condor APC, that have not been re-equipped with the AV8 Gempita 8×8.
Deftech had offered a second batch of AV8s, but this was declined on the cost basis and the difficulties the army has had in operating the vehicle’s integral electronics
The mixed 4X4/6X6 project -according to the DWP it should have been all 6X6 vehicles – will replaced all the armored vehicles in the three Kor Armor Diraja (KAD) units, currently not equipped or partially equipped with Gempita. The units are likely to be the 3 KAD, 4 KAD (based in Sarawak) and 5 KAD (Sabah).
The procurement is supposed to start next year and once delivered, the units are expected to have more 4X4 than the 6X6 vehicles. This is similar to the set up when the Armour units are made up with Condors and Sibmas in the late 80s and 90s.
Personally, the cost issue regarding the 6X6 is a fig leaf. It is simply that they wanted that the local manufacturers have a fighting chance at least for the 4X4 part as no one can offer a local 6X6. I do not think Mildef can develop 6X6 in time for the tender.
The strongest candidates for the project will be FNSS/Deftech which will be offering the Pars 6X6/4X4 vehicles all of which have some commonality with the Gempita. Another contender should be the Otokar vehicles, the Arma 6X6 and Cobra 4X4. Like the Pars vehicles they have been marketing this vehicles since 10 years ago.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (91)
what do u meant by AV8\'s integral electronics problems.
To be honest, I don’t see the point of a 6x6. If there are already 8x8, any further requirements that can then be fulfilled by a 4x4 will save $, IMHO. In other words I am advocating 4x4 and 8x8 in the army. Skip the 6x6, or keep the numbers minimal.
The Armour people I am told is unhappy that their requirement have been watered down from 8X8 to 6X6 and now worse as the 4X4 has taken precedence
4 vehicles per Troop and 4 Troops in a Squadron. A Regiment will have 4 Squadrons and a HQ element of 'x' number of vehicles. This set up is basically what we've been using since Merdeka. I personally - in this case - would prefer a smaller Troop of 3 vehicles; easier to command/control. Plus the decision to have a mix of 6x6s and 4x4s is surprising. A question is whether the 6x6s will have only the standard protection level of up to 12.7mm AP or whether there are also plans to fit slat armour if required [same question applies to the AV-8s]. The article also contained other intresting bits. .
There are issues with maintenance and training
Tom Tom - ''any further requirements that can then be fulfilled by a 4×4 will save $, IMHO.''
The army obviously sees an operational requirement for a 6x6 and not a 8x8 or a 4x4 to perform certain roles. The decision however to go for a 6x6 and a 4x4 was a compromise...
The decision not to go for additional AV-8s is the right move as the needs of the end user must take precedence over the local industry and again calls into question the politically driven decision to license manufacture the AV-8 and all the set up and ToT costs without achieving economics of scale; a result of our neither here nor there high flawed and self defeating policy as set by a certain politician. No surprises we have a MAF whose capabilities don't match all we've spent on it.
So they wanted something equivalent to french 6x6 griffon & 4x4 serval & maybe something like the jaguar ebrc in the future to replace the simbas, condor & Scorpion?
No lah, things more simpler
Really? but we/them armour people need to be a lil bit realistic here..The plain truth is we cant afford to replace sibmas and condors with 8x8 and 6x6 alone..There are other urgent needs for army like sph,nuri replacement,additional Lg1 etc..and its not like them armour people will get cheap/low quality 6x6 and 4x4..The contenders for 6x6 and 4x4 tenders are quite impressive to say the least..or maybe slap some 105/90mm gun turret to gempita and boom you get a direct replacement for sibmas afsv
The Army people won't put a 90mm gun any vehicles anymore. They had learnt the lessons of the Sibmas and Scorpions. Of course some other people might specify them guns...
You could be right Marhalim. I was told that a few years ago that a decision was made for a 6x6 because it was cheaper and being slightly smaller was deemed more suitable for certain roles.
I'm pretty sure that people in the army are taking a good look at the situation so far in the Ukraine which is reminding [rather than teaching] us of lessons we already knew; namely the importance of combined arms and that armour should always be deployed in conjunction with various other assets; all working together. Another lesson reinforced is the potential of top attack stuff [not new per see as Bill came out in the late 1980's together with Merlin and Stryx] but a reminder of how vulnerable armour is to top attaack stuff.
How about otokar arma 6x6 guys? Or tigon or maybe troop carrier type as back echelon like griffon or hamza?