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Only One KJA Programme

SHAH ALAM: Only one KJA programme. In a previous post I wrote that there was a possibility that the Army would embarked on two Kenderaan Jenis A (armoured vehicles – KJA) in the near future or even mixed them together. The programmes are the 6X6 – basically the Condor replacement – and High Mobility Protected Vehicle (HMPV).

I have been told however only the 6X6 is expected to be approved and funded for the near future.

A Lipan Bara likely from the Armour School in Port Dickson at the Merdeka 2019 rehersal day.

This means the Lipan Bara will remained the sole HMPV in service in the Army for the foreseeable future. Of course, another HMPV, the IAG Guardian, six of them are in service with the Malaysian contingent in Lebanon, though that’s another issue altogether.

IAG Guardians of the Malaysian contingent in Lebanon.

It must be noted several companies had already lined up their candidates for the HMPV programme. I am not sure whether they will be able to lobby to the government to have another look at it, once the 6X6 programme has been completed.

PARS 6X6 APC

As for the 6X6 I am told that the requirement is for some 200 vehicles with another 50 or so for use by the Unifil mission and the army’s ready battalion, also meant for UN peacekeeping missions. The 6X6 is mostly for the units currently equipped with the Condors namely for Kor Armor DiRaja. Funding is expected in the next RMK period.

Pindad Anoa.

I am told that the evaluation for the 6X6 has already started and the results will be used for the open competition. It is unclear however whether the 6X6 not included in the evaluation could be selected in the tender. On paper an unevaluated vehicle could trumped the ones already evaluated especially on the price.

Hanwa Tigon 6X6 APC

– Malaysian Defence

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Tags ArmyCondorLipan BaraTentera Darat
Marhalim Abas: Shah Alam

View Comments (63)

  • Q: Why need 6x6 when already have 8x8?

    Reply
    KAD requirement as Condor replacement programme. The Gempita was bought to fulfil different requirement

  • Realistically the condors was used in Kor Armor Diraja (KAD) armoured cavalry regiments as an armoured recce and fire support vehicle, armed with 20mm cannon or twin GPMG as a supplement to the SIBMAS armed with 90mm cannon. In KAD armoured cavalry regiments, they use a mixture of SIBMAS 90mm AFSV and Condor APCs. Right now, the SIBMAS is being replaced with the Gempita AFV30 with 30mm denel camgun and Gempita LCT30 with 30mm denel camgun plus INGWE anti tank missiles.

    An example with twin GPMG
    https://www.malaysiandefence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/condor.jpg

    Currently KAD has 4 armoured cavalry regiments
    4th Royal Armour Corps (Penrissen Camp, Kuching, Sarawak)
    3rd Royal Armour Corps (Lapangan Terbang Camp, Sungai Petani, Kedah)
    2nd Royal Armour Corps (Sunggala Camp, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan)
    1st Royal Armour Corps (Batu 10 Camp, Kuantan, Pahang)

    Of these, from open sources all except for 4 KAD has started the transition from SIBMAS to the Gempita.

    So what is armoured cavalry? Armoured cavalry are combat units using armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) instead of horses. They began to replace horse cavalry as the reconnaissance, screening and exploitation/pursuit arm in most armies after the First World War, although many armies continued to maintain horse cavalry through the end of the Second World War

    A 6x6 armoured vehicle of course can do what the condors had done before. But what about using a smaller, nimbler vehicle, with the same or better armour protection than the 6x6s, while also being cheaper?

    Personally I am inclined to replace the Condors with J-LTV. It has high armour protection, as much as a normal MRAP; very agile and maneuverable off road and can sustain high speeds over rough terrain; during tests it has proven to have a high mean time between failures; and importantly a low cost of around USD 350k per vehicle.

    For the equipment of these J-LTV for KAD, I am proposing to have 4 basic variants
    - general purpose (GP)
    - Heavy weapons carrier with 0.50 cal M2 HMG (HWC)
    - recce with VINGTAQs. This will be fitted with VINGTAQs that is supposed to be fitted to Gempitas. Those Gempitas will be converted to command variants.
    - ambulance

    http://hips.hearstapps.com/pop.h-cdn.co/assets/17/21/1495822778-jltv21.jpg

    I would suggest each of the armoured cavalry regiments to consist of

    24 Gempita IFV30
    12 Gempita LCT30
    4 Gempita Command
    2 Gempita ARV
    2 Gempita Maintenance
    34 J-LTV (12 HWC, 6 VINTAQS, 12 GP, 4 ambulance)

  • Why need to reinvent the wheel? Just get PARS 6x6 and be done with it, and without the usual high expense of ToT and localisation, and Malaysian customised configurations. The AV8 has pretty much covered all the configs that we could have, so its just a matter of adapting to the smaller 6x6 chassis.
    The R&D cost has sunken in, let's make full use of that.

  • With MPA, UAV, LCA, and now new 6x6, I hope all this plan going smoothly into reality to strengthen our ATM.
    And not to forget MRSS.

    Syabas Malaysia.

  • Before we get to hot under the collar about the best 6x6, does anyone know which ones the army has been testing?

  • I only have one wish. Refurbish the commando, Sibma n Condor to the Askar Wataniah n border Regiments

    Reply
    Unfortunately there isn't enough money to do that

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