VSHORAD Tender for The Army Out

On The Way...the Starstreak missile seconds after it was fired at the firing trials at Tanjung Logok, Johor, in March, 2016. year. According to Thales, the missile will be launched from the tube 7-8 milliseconds after the trigger is depressed. Malaysian Defence picture.

SHAH ALAM: The procurement division of the Defence Ministry has issued a tender for the supply, delivery, and commissioning for eight Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) ground-based air defence system for the Army. The VSHORAD system is listed as the Army’s main asset and equipment for 2024.

The 23-day tender published on November 20 closes on December 19. As usual the public specifications for the tender are limited.

MEMBEKAL, MENGHANTAR, MENGUJI DAN MENTAULIAH VERY SHORT RANGE AIR DEFENCE (VSHORAD) GROUND-BASED AIR DEFENCE (GBAD) UNTUK TENTERA DARAT – PERALATAN DAN ASET UTAMA TD 2024

35 RAD (Ad-Hoc) soldiers preparing to put the Starstreak launcher in the combat position from their GK-MK1 Rapid Rover KPMS at a demonstration earlier this year. Note the boxes on the vehicle flat-bed which contained the launcher, tripod, sighting and command launch module, and likely the missiles as well. See the other pictures below from the same demonstration. 5 Divisyen picture.

The indicative cost for the eight VSHORAD system is RM150 million. It is therefore unclear whether the VSHORAD system is meant for the four Starstreak carrier vehicles or Kenderaan Pembawa Misil Starstreak (KPMS) which tender was published last August.
Getting ready to put the missile launcher on the flat bed of the vehicle.

The public specifications for the KPMS:

There is a requirement of mobile platform for Lightweight Multiple Launcher Next Generation (LML-NG) of Starstreak Missile from Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) unit. The Mobile platform shall be used for VSHORAD GBAR units to operate LML-NG.

After installing the tripod, the soldiers taking out the launcher from the ready box,

It may well be that the Starstreak LML NG VSHORAD SAM being sought are for the KPMS. And if it’s meant to be for the KPMS it may well be the setting up of a GBAD unit for 1 Division which is based in Kuching, Sarawak. The Fifth Division based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah has a single GBAD unit, 35 RAD (Ad-hoc) which got its Starstreak KPMS, missiles, and launchers from the disbanded RMN GBAD unit.
Installing the twin launchers on the tripod.

Five bidders qualified for the KPMS tender, the lowest is RM2.660 million; second RM2.680 million; third RM2.730 million; fourth RM2.744 million and highest is RM2.799 million. There is no indicative cost of the vehicles.
The Starstreak LMS-NG launcher ready for a fire mission.

The other Starstreak unit is 32 RAD which is based at the Terendak camp in Malacca. It is also interesting to note that the 361 Battery of RAD – the GBAD unit- with 10th Para Brigade are still equipped with the Anza Mk2 VSHORAD system procured some 20 years ago. The Thales Starstreak missiles, launchers, vehicles, and a single radar system were procured in 2015. What about the leasing deal for the VSHORAD system then? I was told it will not be taken up.

— Malaysian Defence

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35 Comments

  1. Personally I’m inclined towards Starstreak. Sure it’s a line of sight weapon and required the operators to guide it but at the speed it flies the operator only has to guide it for a few seconds. The down side is that beam rider operators require a higher level of training.

  2. I wonder what type of vehicle (KPMS) will be choosed to mated with this new VSHORAD. We already has Uro Vamtac and Weststar GK M1/2 in service. Is there will be new vehicles as KPMS? Cendana Auto light tactical vehicle perhaps.

  3. RM150 million is about USD34 million.

    Not a big amount of money

    8 systems? 1 system = 1 battery or 1 system = 1/2 battery?

    Recently Romania bought 54 launchers + missiles + training & support of KP-SAM Chiron for USD96.5 million
    https://defence-industry.eu/romania-acquires-chiron-kp-sam-air-defence-systems-from-south-korea/

    So for USD34 million we can get 19 KP-SAM Chiron launchers + missiles.

    Anyway the anti-aircraft missile leasing is a stupid idea. As is the 16.8 billion helicopter lease idea.

  4. What about an alerting device? With the fixation on the hardware; it’s overlooked that the operators will need an alerting device. They can’t be expected to rely only on the Mk 1 eyeball and MK 1 ear. Windows of opportunity will be limited.

  5. There is none AFAIK. If its based in 1 DIV AOR, they can or should be relying on the RMAF radar at Kota Samarahan. Not ideal, I know but as usual with what we have.

  6. these LML have their own EOTS instead of just relying on operators’ pancaindera

    Besides not using radar means they’re more unlikely (or less likely?) being detected and subesequently targeted by anti radiation missiles

  7. Of course but without radar how will they know threats are incoming. One cannot use the EOTS all the time as it will drain the battery. They need the radar to give them at least a 10 minute warning as for the direction of the threat.

  8. ” What about an alerting device ”

    Ideally each battery needs to have their own search radar.

    Indonesia currently uses cheap chinese TH-S311 Smart Hunter with 30km range.

    https://i0.sinaimg.cn/jc/p/2008-11-19/U1335P27T1D530890F3DT20081119095317.jpg

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuABGrBVIAE41C9.jpg

    Ideally i would like to have the Weibel Xenta C1 AESA which is a relatively low cost but very modern radar with 50km range, or the Saab Giraffe 1X AESA with 75km range. Both are designed to detect Low, Slow and Small (LSS) targets such as UAVs. Even buying the Xenta for every GAPU VSHORAD MANPADS battery, it would cost about USD20-30 mil?

    Or if we are too skint to spend 20-30 mil on radars, next best thing is getting apps that would amalgamate radar picture of various radars and display it in a single picture for all to see with a tablet. This is one of the things we should adopt from the Ukrainian conflict. Using a simple tablet that would enhance the situational awareness of all air defence units without needing to upgrade old and incompatible hardwares.

    https://x.com/PaulJawin/status/1583833453534990337

    https://x.com/RALee85/status/1579972596200017921

  9. Why are they not expanding the rapid ranger fleet but still rely on manual lml?
    Why more uav, shouldn’t the vshorad team introduce AA gun + missile? Something like the pantsir or if on budget, poland pilica vshorad.

  10. Due to the budget really. As for the gun-missile combo, that is the plan when they decide to replace the Oerlikon guns. But they need to replace the Jernas first. Of course, in the ideal world, everything is recapitalized at the same time.

  11. Some mistake in article above

    The Starstreak is with 32 RAD GAPU in Terendak. 33 RAD GAPU is based in Kluang with Igla Dzhighit launcher. 361Bti uses Anza Mk2 not FN-6. FN-6 is seen used by 32 RAD GAPU.

    Anyway

    Of the many combo that can be done, below is probably the best combination of quantity and quality that can be had with our limited budgets. Enabling GAPU to do :
    – point defence
    – CUAS
    – counter cruise missiles
    – counter shahed-like OWA-UAV
    – MERAD
    – air defence capability in both east and west malaysia

    Any wants to counter ballistic, hypersonic threats will not be affordable.

    Lets say a budget of USD300 mil in RMK13 2026-2030

    4 battery of 8x new IR VSHORAD (anza mk3, chiron etc) + 4x spare (Total 36 launchers) for USD65 mil

    4 battery of 8x used KIFV K263A3 Vulcan VADS from South Korea (32 units) for USD15 mil

    8 battery of 6x used HAWK XXI from Turkiye (48 launchers) + 500-800 missiles for USD100 mil

    12x Weibel Xenta C1/M1 radar for USD20-30 mil

    Aselsan upgrade for 24x oerlikon gdf + 12 new KORKUT-FCS for USD80 mil

    GBAD tablet app for USD10 mil

    With GAPU units in 2030 to be :

    31 RAD GAPU (KL) – 2x GDF + 2x IR VSHORAD (igla/fn-6)

    32 RAD GAPU (Melaka) – 1x Starstreak RAPIDRANGER + 2x starstreak LML/Rapidrover

    33 RAD GAPU (Johor) – 2x K263A3 VADS + 2x IR VSHORAD (anza mk3/chiron etc)

    34 RAD GAPU (Pahang) – 4x HAWK XXI

    35 RAD GAPU (Sabah) – 4x HAWK XXI

    36 RAD GAPU (Sabah) – 2x GDF + 2x IR VSHORAD (igla/fn-6)

    37 RAD GAPU (Sarawak) – 2x K263A3 VADS + 2x IR VSHORAD (anza mk3/chiron etc)

    361Bti RAD GAPU PARA (Melaka) – 1x Anza Mk2

  12. Strange to replace the oerlikon gun as it is widely used around the world & still very effective. Iran for example use it to counter the israeli missiles recently. Keep the gun, perhaps add some more to newer versions like the revolver & millenium gun. So effective against drones too

  13. Thanks for the ORBAT. Anyhow, AFAIK Aselsan has offered to upgrade the GDF but its on offer only, no firm plans to do it. It is the same with the Jernas replacement. Many offers has come through but AFAIK there is no firm plans to get them.

  14. SPAAG should be under KAD instead of GAPU. In the meantime we can use

    Also
    >pilica
    Why would you want a glorified ZSU gun when we have plenty of GDF lmao

  15. Since we already got some of rheinmetal stuffs why not pursue a complete system like Skynex? It contains networked layered air defense systems. A complete set with option to integrate existing air defense standalone unit like the gdf. Stop buying separately, buy them in bulks once and use it for a long time rather than pick anything of something but not enough of everything

  16. As I said before, Jernas replacement is contingent on what kind of MRSAM the air force is getting.

    If we’re getting Nasams or VL Mica then the matter practically solves itself.

    If we’re getting longer ranged MRS KM-SAM then we needed something to bridge the capability gap between VSHORAD and MRSAM. Mistral 3 is newer,heavier version of Mistral that could fulfil SHORAD role, or at least, fulfil the role Jernas is doing right now. Bonus is that it’s cheaper than actual SHORADS like Spyder or Crotale while still having the range and flight ceiling of rapier missile as well as being much more mobile as the similar KPMS arrangements as the Starstreak LML can be adopted (unlike Jernas)

    That said we should look into upgrading both Jernas. It’s still a very capable SHORADS missile

  17. No lah, Jernas is at the dead end as no one is using them anymore. Even the Brits did not send them -Rapier FSC – to Ukraine even though they had retired them. Switzerland destroyed them instead of selling them to UK, fearing that the missiles will be sent to Ukraine. The Swiss retired them all of its Rapier SAM in 2022 -though it stopped using them in 2019= much later than the UK.

    It sounds foolish but it is unlikely GAPU will get the same SAM system which the air force will get, AFAIK. Despite similar requirements for MERAD.

  18. >Why would you want a glorified ZSU gun when we have plenty of GDF lmao
    Dont think we have a lot of GDF. We certainly need more AA instead of relying so much on VSHORAD missile only with the proliferation of drones.

  19. >need more AA

    If the army needed more AA they wouldn’t retire those Bofors 40mm gun

    Manpads is the way to go and for those pesky FPV drones a better solution is to invest in jammers

  20. “I was told it will not be taken up.”
    If thats the case, most likely this tender will be a followon order of new Starstreaks. I dont see why would TDM choose another missile unless their unhappy with Starstreak. Also the Anzas would likely be replaced sooner than later but as part of recapitalisation activity.

    As for now, I dont think there is money for MERAD yet. Maybe if theres a low upfront cost lease deal for it might tempt TDM chiefs & beancounters, but of course the overall price would be outrageous.

    “unlikely GAPU will get the same SAM system which the air force will get”
    From where I see, its more unlikely both will get similar capabilities; it will either be TUDM gets the MERAD duty or TDM, as we really cant afford to have both in service and worse if both their coverages overlaps. My bet it will be TUDM with TDM getting exclusive VSHORAD task.

  21. The rapier that the swiss had as the old drum looking ones with 4x missiles per launcher not exactly similar to Jernas. Same thing with other rapier users as they’re mostly bought in the 70s/80s

    Even if the UK chose to destroy their jernas instead of donating them to Ukraine that’s hardly a proof that the missile is worthless. They probably did that to expedite the acquisition of land based CAAM (they’re as much about national economic interest as they’re about pure defensive reasons just like us)

    Upgrading Jernas while waiting for the denero to be available for GAPU in 2030s doesn’t sounds incredulous.

  22. I do agree with @Hulubalang and @dundun

    A combination of laser beam riding and IR could strike the balance between higher trained and lower trained troops and also costs, though IR missiles like Mistrale 3 is more expensive than Starstreak, Chiron could be the cheaper alternative.

    As for sensors, we did purchase the Thales GM200 along with the Starstreak back then but I am not sure how many units of radars we received. If we purchase the Saab Giraffe 1x, we need to find a way to integrate them into/with ForceShield, there are cheap also at just usd2 million each, of course adding an EOTS would be nice too.

  23. “Nope, GAPU will get their own MERAD system”
    I see a lot of hurdles for this. There isnt a lot of money in the kitty even if planned in RMK, for TDM there are often other things that gets priority and GAPU have constantly been neglected. Then of course the ecosystem; either TDM will have to get their own detection and C&C system or ride on TUDM radars, whether how practical/effective would that be is questionable. And whether if TUDM allows it too. I see the higher cost for MERAD would be task & function duplication and coverage overlaps when both services are doing the same thing. For our stingy budget we cant afford such issues.

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