SHAH ALAM: Upgrades Conundrum. JANES is reporting that Malaysia is considering upgrading the Army’s fleet of Scorpion light tanks and the Condor 4X4 APCs. The report datelined from London stated that the upgrade programme was mooted despite its getting delivery of 257 of the Deftech Gempita.
The upgrade plans was revealed by an official from STRIDE, Dr Yazid Ahmad, the director of Mechanical and Aerospace Technology Division at a conference in London. The fact that this programme was made public by a Stride official is interesting. Does this mean that the funding if approved will come under Stride budget? And will they be able to choose the contractors?
I have dont much answers at the moment. Actually I was hoping to get some answers on the various Army programmes including upgrades at the upcoming interview with the chief ahead of its annual anniversary on March 1. AFAIK the Army has several other important programmes and the upgrading of its light armour and APCs are not it’s priorities in the current Malaysian plan.
The Janes story
“Speaking at the IQPC International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2016 conference held in London, in late January, Dr Yazid Ahmad, director Mechanical & Aerospace Technology Division of the Science and Technology Research Institute for Defence (STRIDE), revealed that Malaysia is planning to upgrade some of its Alvis Vehicles Scorpion 90 light AFVs and Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Condor 4×4 armoured personnel carriers (APCs).
Malaysia received a total of 186 SIBMAS 6×6 AFVs between 1983 and 1984 and 459 Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Condor 4×4 APC and variants. It also acquired 26 Alvis Scorpion 90 light armoured vehicles (LAVs) from 1983, which were fitted with a two-person turret armed with a 90 mm Cockerill gun and a 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun (MG). They were originally fitted with a flotation screen for amphibious operations, but these have now been removed.
After looking at a number of options a decision was taken to refurbish the current Perkins diesel engine and upgrade the TN15 transmission to the more reliable TN15DE standard, and also to go with a new single pin track.
The aluminium hull will be refurbished and seven of the remaining 14 Scorpion 90 LAVs will have their turrets removed and replaced by the Thales UK FVT900 one-person turret armed with a 20 mm cannon and a 7.62 mm co-axial MG.
These FVT900 turrets are being taken from the Alvis Stormer tracked APC, of which 25 were delivered from the United Kingdom. Of the 25 Stormer APCs, 12 had the FVT900 turret and the remainder had a Rheinmetall TH-1 one-person turret armed with two 7.62 mm MGs.”
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (85)
Sorry to be pedantic, but the Scorpions were acquired in 1978, not 1983. I specifically remember they were in the Merdeka Parade that year.
I think this the only solution to solve Army lack of APC issues... we do not have extra $ to get more AV8
we can upgrade number of Condor and permanent relocate them at Sabah and Sarawak.
A very wise move if the plan ever proceed,
since we have 'the numbers' in Condor
A good decision. In fact we can buy some dirt cheap scorpions n scimitars from great britain who had retired these vehicles but still in storage.
Cheap n good decidion. Gives employment too since these can all be carried out in country.
Dismantle every unit , sand blast the whole body n restore them like how america restores its M1
Something I've always wanted; removal of the Cockerill - which makes the Scorpion slow and unable to fire on uneven ground - with an auto cannon. Back then the requirement was for a fire support vehicle; the Scorpion and the Sibmas was a compromise as we didn't want to spend on a 105mm armed vehicle. That was then but for now the Scorpion is better utilised as a recce/scout vehicle that has no need for a 90mm gun that makes a nimble vehicle into a slow and overweight one.
The Scorpions were ordered with the Stormers (we were the first export customer for the Stormer) under PERISTA: as were the Condors and Sibmas. I believe the Scorpions were ordered in 1981 or 1983 - PERISTA was launched in 1979.
For the Condors I believe the term "life extension" or "refurbishment" would be a more apt term to use rather than "upgrade"; which anyhow will not change the fact that most of fleet is simply worn out from heavy useage over the years. Another problem is that the Condor - like the Scorpion - has a very low baseline armour protection level - adding applique armour (as some might suggest) will strain the engine and gear box. In short, any work done will enable the Condors to remain operational for a few more years but will not improve anything else. As for the "numbers", quite a few have ended up in junkyards.
Great. The Condor are unimog machines and should be easy to refurbish. They could also be sold or transferred to another country once Malaysia decides to phase them out.
Good enough to fight them mundus. I think it's better than purchasing those non military AFV that isn't much of an improvement compared to Condor
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Not really as the Jaws and AV4 have better seating and air-condition compared to the Condor. I nearly puke due to inhaling the diesel fumes the last time I ride in the Condor. I was also almost thrown about in the cabin as the seats are very rudimentary. No seats belts, one just have to hold on to anything you can grab on.
If the details are ever released and the programme implemented; will be interesting to see what STRIDE does to the condors that MMC hasn't previously done. Past refurbishments conducted by MMC have included replacing the batteries and eletricals; overhauling the gear box, work on the AC, etc.
After the Condors are retired, doubt anyone will want them as there will be other pre-owned vehicles on the market that will have less mileage than our close to 3 1/2 decade old Condors.
Please, treat the Condors with respect.
A bit of anecdotal information you may not know...
The Condor and the Sibmas were ordered by Dr. M in 1981-2 after the biggest loss the Malaysian Army ever suffered. Do any of you remember the CPM ambush in 1981 in Pahang that resulted in 12-14 fatalities. Apparently an RPG or mortar hit a trunk..I still remember reading about it in the NST.
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I do not disrespect the Condor, its just that I feel that it time had passed. The Condor was ordered under Perista programme - Azlan will chip in about this - but the ambush you are talking about is the one that happened in Gerik in 1979. One Commando V150 was hit and all three crew died. The Commando is displayed at the the Army museum in PD, I believe. BTW the article from Janes I quoted was written by Christopher Foss, the doyen of armoured vehicles. I am pretty sure he is correct about the time when we bought the Scorpion.
Condors uses truck components so upgrades and spares shouldn't be a problem. So why junk them? Let Stride play with it and see what they can come up with within a specific budget.
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As long it is not used as a troop carrier, I have no problem with upgrading them.