SHAH ALAM: It appears that the RMN Eastern Fleet has divested its holding of the Starstreak VHSORAD system. In a ceremony on July 11, the Eastern Fleet commander Vice Admiral Sazali Sabri officially declared the RMN Air Defence unit disbanded. The official disbandment was just ceremonial as the unit had handed over the missiles and its associated equipment to the Army in April.
In its social media posting, the Eastern Fleet stated that the RMN Air Defence Unit was disbanded six years after it was stood up due to current operational needs. It is unclear how many launchers the unit used to operate though from pictures posted previously by the unit, they were equipped with at least four light weight multiple launchers (LML) launchers. Two of the LML were mounted on the Weststar GKMK-1 Rapid Rover vehicles.
It is likely that the Starstreak VSHORAD from the RMN AD unit are now in service with an Army AD unit in Fifth Division in Sabah.
Meanwhile it appears that the bus which was handed over by Deftech last month and described by the Army as the Outreach Command Centre Vehicle (OCCV) is indeed a command vehicle. Unlike what I said here. Army chief General Zamrose Mohd Zain hold a meeting in the OCCV while traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Taiping. Together with him were some 15 of the Army highest ranking officers. The meeting was broadcast live to other Army formations likely via a secured datalink.
From the Army social media page:
MESYUARAT JAWATANKUASA OPERASI TENTERA DARAT SIRI 1/2022
KUALA LUMPUR, 11 Julai 2022 – Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Operasi Tentera Darat (JKTD Op) Siri 1/2022 yang dipengerusikan oleh Panglima Tentera Darat (PTD), Jeneral Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Zamrose bin Mohd Zain telah diadakan di dalam Outreach Command Centre Vehicle (OCCV) bermula dari Kem KEMENTAH, Kuala Lumpur hingga ke Garrison Taiping, Perak hari ini.
Mesyuarat JKTD Op merupakan mesyuarat khas yang membincangkan hal-hal berkaitan dasar dan pelaksanaan operasi Tentera Darat Malaysia (TDM). Mesyuarat pada kali ini telah dilaksanakan secara ‘on mobile’ melalui platform OCCV yang bergerak. Mesyuarat ini juga lebih menumpukan kepada sesi perbincangan di antara pemerintah formasi bersama pucuk pimpinan tertinggi TDM.
Turut hadir ke mesyuarat ini adalah Timbalan Panglima Tentera Darat, Leftenan Jeneral Datuk Seri Mohammad bin Ab Rahman, Panglima Medan Barat Tentera Darat, Leftenan Jeneral Datuk Muhammad Hafizuddeain bin Jantan, Panglima Medan Timur Tentera Darat, Leftenan Jeneral Datuk Mardzuki bin Muhammad, Ketua Staf Tentera Darat, Mejar Jeneral Dato’ Mohd Sofi bin Md Lepi, panglima-panglima formasi serta beberapa pegawai kanan TDM yang lain.
Penganjuran mesyuarat sebegini adalah selari dengan Tonggak Kedua Perintah Ulung PTD Ke-28, iaitu “Keutuhan Organisasi” yang menekankan aspek mempraktikkan sistem tadbir urus yang telus dan teratur.
–Malaysian Defence
View Comments (54)
Good news. RMN should focus on the seas and not the air. Wasting resources.
Hmmm. So who will cater the air defence protection for Tldm shore or land based facilities?
The hell does that means "focus on the seas and not the air"?
It's a point air defence, a bare minimum of what they should have to guard a naval base from being a target of opportunity
Likely they will call the Army to do it
Why the need for OCCV? Mobile meeting room?
Kamal,
The whole point of having a MANPADs was enable an organic AD capability without having to rely on anyone else.
As for "wasting resources"; it was only a single unit - not a whole brigade's worth; not as if it soaked up immense resources and distracted the RMN from its primary role.
Yup otherwise they all have to ride on their separate FFRs
Out of curiosity, is the Sepanggar naval base host the whole of PPUTLDM ? If I memory serves me right there is another detachment at Lumut, and not sure about if similar unit is based at Tanjung Gelang
No, the hq of the RMN Air Wing is in Lumut. There is only a temporary detachment to Tanjung Gelang, when needed. RMN do not have the manpower or equipment to operate from many bases.
dundun - "It’s a point air defence, a bare minimum of what they should have to guard a naval base"
It's supposed to be the last tier of a layered defence. As it stands however; against certain types of unmanned threats a MANPADs will be the only effective means. Also note that like RMN operated Carl Gustavs; Starstreak; like Starburst before it; is also intended to be deployed in other areas apart from RMN bases.
Azlan - if you think it is a wrong move, why did the RMN chooses that way? I am pretty sure it was after careful evaluation and they decided the best decision for RMN. MANPADS are no longer useful in today's world. Maybe for a very limited point air defense and it doesnt even guarantee comprehensive protection of bases. Our bases are in fact open for drones to easily enter so what more can a MANPADS does?