MARITIME PATROL AIRCRAFT FOR MMEA?



Courtesy of Malaysiandefence.com

It appears that another maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) programme is likely to be tender out – no time frame yet – to meet the requirements of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

I havent got much details on the requirements apart from that the MMEA is looking for two aircraft. And no, this not connected to the RMAF requirements as a law enforcement agency, MMEA maritime patroller requirements are mostly likely for surveillance and border monitoring and other utility roles as well as search and rescue. Hence the term of maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA) is more apt to described the programme though clarity sake I will still use the MPA term for the programme.

It is also likely that the MMEA programme is more exciting to local players as it will probably not be an international tender like the RMAF one. For the record MMEA already has two aircraft – the Bombardier CL415s – which are equipped with the Swedish MSS 6000 Airborne Surveillance System.

Anyhow based on the little things I know about the programme, I am assuming that a large number of aircraft could be offered from Super King Airs to even a modified ATR or Q400. I believed the latter ones are too expensive for the programme unless MMEA allowed for second hand airframes to be offered.

Yes I know a Cessna 206 fitted with an ISR equipment could also do the job but realistically it will not have much chance to win the deal. Of course a MALE drone could do the same job at a lower cost than a manned aircraft but it will not make the cut as well if the requirements say otherwise.

Anyhow, a few months back, the MMEA announced that they will be getting up to four helicopters soon. It appears that it will be a medium type likely to be the Leonardo AW139.

I was told that initially the helicopters would be purchased outright like the six helicopters already in service – three AW139 and three Dauphin (these were originally to be leased like the CL415s) but it was decided recently that the new helicopters will be leased instead.

SOS

OMG another batch of videos showing tanks inexplicably hanging out in the open getting picked off by ATGMs. I'm so done.

Aiyo, what's this chatter I hear about Turkey shooting down an Armenian fighter jet?

General Tomoyuki Yamashita meeting with Malay Sultans (11 April 1942)

Malaysia tallies deficiencies observed on first Keris-class littoral mission ship



The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has compiled a list of deficiencies that were observed while operating the first Keris (littoral mission ship)-class vessel, and is now in discussions with selected contractors to rectify them and prevent similar issues with the remaining hulls.

The Malaysian government signed a contract for four Keris-class patrol vessels with China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) in April 2017. It was Putrajaya’s first naval ship contract with Beijing, and the programme’s first-of-class, KD Keris (111), was commissioned in January 2020.

A list of the deficiencies encountered, which has been provided to Janes by an industry source with access to the discussions, suggests that the issues encountered by Keris largely revolve around its Chinese-supplied sensors and combat systems.

The vessel, which has an overall length of 68.8 m, is equipped with the OFC-3 electro optical tracking system (EOTS) from Huazhong Institute of Electro-Optics, the SR2405A air and surface search radar from the Nanjing Marine Radar Institute, and an electronic support measure (ESM) system from the Southwest Institute of Electronic Equipment of China.

The ship is also equipped with the VisionMaster FT 250 navigation radar from Sperry Marine, which incorporates an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) and an automatic identification system (AIS).

In terms of weaponry, the Keris class is armed with a CS/AN3 30 mm multi-purpose naval gun from the Chongqing Chang’an Industrial Group Limited in the primary position, and two CS/LM6 12.7 mm heavy machine guns from the Sichuan Huaqing Machinery Company Limited.

sos

Hahaha WTF man...

Painting done on the first APMM OPV, waiting for construction of a slipway to launch.

AFAIK the other two sister ships are already prebuilt in blocks, just waiting for this one to launch and then can use the site to assemble the blocks of the next OPV together. It would seem that the yard can only assemble only one OPV at a time though.

Wahaha even got shark mouth. So tacky I love it.

So this is the last of the LMS project, rite?

Former Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi to be summoned by PAC over non-delivery of the LCS



Former Minister of Defense, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be called as one of the witnesses at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) proceedings following the failure to supply six coastal combat ships (LCS) next January.

Informing the matter, PAC Chairman, Wong Kah Woh said, the failure to complete the assets of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) is very serious because it not only involves the failure of governance, procurement and finance but also has an impact on national security.

He said, apart from Ahmad Zahid, other witnesses who will be called are the former Commander of the Navy, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar and the Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn. Bhd. (BNS).

“Parliamentary PAC will also visit the LCS construction site in Lumut, Perak. The appointment of the main contractor, BNS, is done through direct negotiations.

“Until October 2020, a total of RM6.083 billion was paid and not a single ship was completed. According to the schedule, two LCS should have been completed, "he said during a press conference at the Parliament building.

Last Monday, the Dewan Rakyat was told by the Cabinet to reject the first solution to the LCS construction delay issue by appointing the Naval Group France firm as a rescue contractor to complete at least two units of the ship.

Senior Defense Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, now there are two more options left whether the project is handed back to BNS to continue with another RM3 billion grant or terminate the contract.

Kah Woh added that so far, four meetings and proceedings with witnesses have been completed since last November.

He explained that among those who were called were the Auditor General, Datuk Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid and the Secretary General of Defense, Datuk Seri Muez Abdul Aziz.

"The PAC intends to complete and present a report on this issue to the Dewan Rakyat in the March 2021 parliamentary session," he said.

SOS

Dunno which is better. Was the delay actually caused by BNS incompetence or actually caused other factors? I heard that at least some of the LCS weapons and electronic systems have been blocked or delayed for whatever reason, contributing to this.

Option 1 specifically said that for Naval Group to continue construction & I think he meant that option 3 means to move the LCS work to another yard, local or international shipyard. Not necessarily local.


This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Dec 18 2020, 10:23 AM

Malaysian shipyard completes construction of patrol boats for Nigerian Navy



Northern Shipyard Sdn Bhd (Northern Shipyard), a local ship repair and construction company here, made history when it successfully completed four littoral patrol boats 'Manta MKII' for the Nigerian Navy in 10 months.

Northern Shipyard manager, Masmawi Ishak said the firm had been picked by Suncraft Private Limited, a Singapore company and the Nigerian Navy, to be the centre to build the four patrol boats involving a contract worth RM32 million in February (Feb 2020).

He said each patrol boat, costing from RM6 million to RM10 million, was built based on the requested specifications, such as equipment and armaments, and was very suitable for border control assignments, coastal security and rescue activities.

"The Manta MK11 is a 17 metre long and 4.3 metre wide coastal patrol boat using an Italian design with two engines with 1,200 horsepower each from Germany that can reach a speed of 50 knots.

"The success of completing the patrol boats on time is something to be very proud of not only for this company but also Malaysia.

‘’This is because Northern Shipyard hired more than 20 local experts to build the four patrol boats," he told a press conference after the Nigerian Navy Coastal Patrol Boats Launching Ceremony, here, today.

The launching ceremony was officiated by Langkawi District Officer, Saiful Anwar Azmi.

Commenting further, Masmawi said Northern Shipyard believed they were picked to build the patrol boats due to the company’s price, capability and vast experience in carrying out ship repair, maintenance and modification works.

"In addition, the Northern Shipyard located in Langkawi, a duty-free island, provided an advantage in terms of cost because it is easier to bring in the components and this speeded up construction work.

Meanwhile, Northern Shipyard managing director Ooi Cheng Choon said the four coastal patrol boats were expected to be delivered to Apapa Port, Lagos, Nigeria in January next year.

"Delivery to Lagos will be made either through Tanjung Pelepas Port or Port Klang," he said.

sos

Government approves TUDM LCA/LIFT program, Nuri replacement on RMK 12 budget


KAI FA-50, one of the contenders for the TUDM LIFT/LCA program

The government had approved the funding for the RMAF LCA/FLIT project next year. RMAF chief Gen Ackbal Abdul Samad however did not revealed the number of aircraft to be funded though the service had proposed the purchase of 18 airframes for the RMK12 period.

Defence Minister DS Ismail Sabri today confirmed that the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department had approved the funding for 18 LCA/FLIT programme under the Rolling Plan 1 of the RMK12 which starts next year. He said this in his response to questions in Dewan Negara. However the amount of allocation was not mentioned, which is usually the case for defence issues.

"Bagi pertanyaan YB tentang perolehan pesawat Fighter Lead-In Trainer (FLIT) dan Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) pula, ia merupakan projek keutamaan utama dalam Rancangan Malaysia Ke-12. Permohonan bajet untuk perolehan Fasa 1 bagi 18 buah pesawat ini telah diperakukan oleh Unit Perancang Ekonomi, Jabatan Perdana Menteri, di bawah peruntukan Belanja Pembangunan (DE) untuk dilaksanakan pada Rolling Plan 1 (RP 1) RMKe-12 bagi tahun 2021."

The minister also said it was the plan that the RMAF will be looking to a new helicopter during RMK12 to replace the Nuri which had been grounded since 2019 following an emergency landing. This will ensure the new helicopters will be in service once the contract for leased helicopters ends in 2025 or 2026. For the short-term, RMAF will leased a number of helicopters from a local company selected for the tender which closed on 17 December.

A lot of goodies incoming next year: LIFT/LCA, Nuri replacement, APMM MPMS, MALE UAV......

Most likely at most announcement je

The RMK spans 5 years, who wanna bet we only see defence purchases in the last year?

For an archipelago nation prone to natural disasters, this is practically needed.

For one thing, a hospital ship doesn't need to be purpose-built to be effective. Many examples of hospital ships are converted civilian ships with add-on medical facilities.

The USNS Mercy, for example, is a converted oil tanker. These are an especially good template to start with, since the vacant space formerly occupied by the oil tanks are spacious and easily customizable. Ocean cruise liners are also a good candidate.



This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Jan 11 2021, 08:11 AM

LPD need that many ke?