SHAH ALAM: More SAMs in RMK12. The Defence Ministry has approved plans to procure V-SHORAD and SHORAD under the RMK12. The procurement for the Army is part of the Rolling Plan 2 under RMK12 which means that it may be funded in 2022 or be brought forward to the next plans. Just like what happened in the last 30 years.
The approval for the short range SAMs was the answer given in Parliament on Nov. 10 following a question by Hulu Langat MP Hassanudin Mohd Yunus. I believed based on the question, the Amanah MP really do not understand how SAMs – short or longer range – work.
His question:
SOALAN Minta MENTERI KANAN PERTAHANAN menyatakan adakah Kerajaan akan membuat perolehan peluru berpandu darat ke udara jarak sederhana seperti ASTER 30 milik Singapura, dan Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile milik Indonesia, memandangkan ruang udara negara kerap diceroboh anasir asing yang telah merendahkan maruah Malaysia
And the full answer was:
Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Dalam memastikan kedaulatan ruang udara negara sentiasa terpelihara, Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) melalui ketiga-tiga perkhidmatannya iaitu Tentera Darat Malaysia (TDM), Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) dan Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM) telah dilengkapkan dengan Sistem Peluru Berpandu Pertahanan Udara Jarak Dekat (Very ShortRange Air Defence Missile System – STARSTREAK VSHORAD) serta sistem pertahanan udara jarak dekat seperti Meriam Oerlikon 35mm dan Igla. Bagi memperkukuhkan lagi kedaulatan ruang udara negara daripada anasir-anasir asing yang seringkali mencerobohi ruang udara negara, TDM telahpun membuat perancangan perolehan sistem pertahanan udara iaitu Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) MANPAD dan sistem Short Range Air Defence (SHORAD) yang telah didaftarkan di dalam Rolling Plan Kedua (RP 2) Tahun 2022, Rancangan Malaysia Kedua Belas (RMKe-12). Manakala bagi TLDM dan TUDM telah mempunyai perancangan bagi perolehan Surface to Air Missile (SAM) untuk TLDM dan Sistem Pertahanan Udara Jarak Sederhana (Medium Range Air Defence – MERAD) untuk TUDM.
Actually part of the answer (from the Defence Minister) was wrong as well as the Igla is also a VSHORAD system as well as does the Chinese FN-6 and Anza MANPADs. It is likely the new procurement for V-SHORAD will likely be the replacements for the FN-6 and Anza MANPADs. The MBDA Jernas system is also up for replacement together with the Oerlikon 35mm guns.
As for the RMN, the MRSAM is likely the MBDA VL MICA which has been selected for the LCS. Though it is likely any movement with the missiles procurement itself will depend on when the project is approved for resumption (whenever that is) so it isn’t listed for procurement in RMK12.
For RMAF, the procurement of MR-SAM will be in the next RMK or even probably even after that. RMAF procurement priorities in this RMK is of course, the UAV, MPA and FLIT/LCA. For this reason I think it is silly to even talk about the candidates for the MR-SAM requirement at this point.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (32)
@Marhalim
What's your take on this
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/11/10/government-to-buy-117-uavs-drones-to-guard-nation039s-borders
They are buying more commercial drones, ie DJI or equivalents...
It's unfortunate that CAATSA happened because the army should get a fourth gen Manpads from Russia.
dundun - ''because the army should get a fourth gen Manpads from Russia.''
We can get an equivalent from a non Russian source.
Given the year the Anzas entered service; they should be in need of replacing. I hope that along with whatever system we get; we also get an alerting device; as we did with Starstreak. Sure beats having an operator scanning the skies with a tube on his shoulder and his Mk1 eyeballs and ears as his only means of warning. Another problem is the short window of opportunity in many areas due to terrain; both natural and man made.
Basically, the new SHORAD and V-SHORAD are to replace the aged one. Like you said, hope that this will not be brought forward / delayed again. Another thing from the MP's question, he was asking about our neighbour's MR-SAM and was given an answer for the SHORAD instead.
From what I read, the RMAF MR-SAM is still in the planning stage and is to be procured in stages to complete 4 batteries by RMK15. That is a long way to go.
@dundun
Even w/o CAATSA we should not get anything Russian until they own up and recompense for MH17. Lest we forget.
@joe
I am really interested to know what were those will be "VTOL fixed wings drones and two of the hybrid drones" and "84 mini UAV"
@Ed Liew
" MR-SAM and was given an answer for the SHORAD instead."
The minister did answered that we will be buying those in the near future (not this RMK) hence he cannot say right now which one is being being considered right now. It was also a good time to tell that we are replacing our VSHORAD and SHORAD hence why he did that.
Ed - "Basically, the new SHORAD and V-SHORAD are to replace the aged one"
They to replace stuff which is aged and can't or isn't worth relifing. As well as stuff which has't met expectations, like Jernas.
Even after Jernas is retired, if possible we could hold on to Blindfire and Dagger as syrceiilance/early warning systems. The EO sight is particularly useful.
Ed - "the RMAF MR-SAM is still in the planning stage and is to be procured in stages to complete 4 batteries"
It's been on the wishlist for quite a while now and the intention is to procure a regiment's worth comprising several batteries.
Why waste money on short range air defence?
I am sure an area defence system is more effective than all these shorads and vshorads
VSHORAD and SHORAD have come into attention in recent times due to the proliferation of drones used in close quarters. There is nothing right or wrong in providing defensive coverage through out the whole eco-system but its how we prioritise them when money is in short supply all the time
Hasnan,
There is no such things as ''as more effective''. They all complement each other and depends on the threat : is it a fighter flying at 25,000 feet; a helicopter flying at 80 feet or a swarm of micros UAS flying a tree top level?
In A Russian context; why do you think S-400s are protected by the likes of Buk, Tor and Pansir; which in turn are defended by Igla and Shilka? Why does Singapore have ASTER, Spyder and Igla? Why dpes Isreal have Arrow and David's Sling?
Things should be layered and networked; with redundancy. Lessons in Iraq, Kosovo, Libya, Syria and other places clearly shows this. Saying V-SHORADS are a waste of money is like saying M-4s are a waster when we can stick to GPMGS and HMGs.
@Luqman
That is why this Ops Benteng UAV drone procurement is fascinating. Unlike other wishy-washy plans, including this SAM buy, those for Ops Benteng largely gets fulfilled and it seems they are looking to get multi-tiered layer drone surveillance capability. They finally realised the usefulness of such methods at last.
Buying disposable things for temporary taskings is a wonderful idea