Leonardo ATR MPA and TAI Anka
October 9, 2022 Marhalim Abas Malaysian Defence 0


TAI Anka UAS displayed at DSA 2022. EL?SC
SHAH ALAM: Leonardo ATR MPA and TAI Anka. Senior Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today announced that the government has selected the Leonardo ATR72 MPA and the Turkish Aerospace Industries Anka UAS to meet the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) requirements for both capabilities. Malaysian Defence posts on the MPA and MALE UAS

The selection was hinted in Malaysian Defence post on the 2023 budget which Hishammuddin hinted in his social media posts. Malaysian Defence was told that the LOI for both the MPA and MALE UAS were already issued to both companies late last month.


Hishammuddin said the Defence Ministry was in the process of finalising the Letter of Award (Surat Serah Setuju Terima) pending final agreements among all the parties.


To boost the capabilities of the Army, he said that will conclude the procurement of the 136 Type A 4X4 (armoured) vehicles and various Type B (unarmoured) vehicles worth RM2.046 billion. Malaysian Defence was told the armoured vehicles are likely be the Mildef Rentaka 4X4 unveiled at DSA 2022.


With 136 armoured 4X4s already signed for, that leaves some 100 plus 6X6 to be contracted, to replace the Condors still in service with the Armoured Corps. I was told no funding has been allocated for the 6X6 requirements so it is likely this will be deferred to the next RMK.


Hishammuddin also said some RM2.4 billion has been allocated for the maintenance and upgrade of the RMAF F/A-18D Hornet fleet. At least one F/A-18D Hornet is undergoing a depot level maintenance and upgrade at the RMAF Butterworth airbase which is expected to be completed by year end. It is unclear what kind of upgrade was being conducted, however.

Hishammuddin also said some RM140 million has been allocated to provide “head to toe” equipment for the Army following complaints from soldiers on the quality of the gear issued. He did not elaborate but under the head-to-toe scheme, a single supplier will be chosen to provide all the equipment from head gear to boots. The current Armed Forces practise is to source such gear from different suppliers. I was told small units of the military had already done this, but the most prevalent user of the head-to-toe scheme is the police’s General Operations Force.

Sos

at last some good news for our RMAF

damn miss out that one. 2.4 billion can already buy new 8 new super hornet

it's not direct via leonardo malaysia?

it seems that KM Tun Fatimah has been successful launch this morning



OPV Tun Fatimah Launched
October 10, 2022 Marhalim Abas Malaysian Defence 0


OPV TuN Fatimah after her launch early on October 10, 2020.
SHAH ALAM: OPV Tun Fatimah was launched this morning, some five years after its keel was laid. The launch was conducted about 6am at the THHE Fabricators yard, Pulau Indah, Pelabuhan Klang where the three OPVs contracted to the THHE Destini JV are being built.

THHE is now the sole builder of the OPVs after Destini decided to opt out from the joint venture. The contract for the three OPVs based on the Damen 1800 OPV design was awarded to the THHE JV in 2017.

All three OPVs were supposed to be delivered already to the MMEA but the shipbuilder had obtained an extension of time to defer the delivery of the first ship to August 2022.

MMEA first Damen 1800 OPV 8305 at her stand at THHE -Destini JV yard at Pulau Indah. Picture taken in November 2020. Destini FB

The launch of Tun Fatimah was low key like the launch of KM Bagan Datuk, the first of six patrol boats built by Destini Shipbuilding and Engineering Sdn Bhd. The timing of Tun Fatimah launch at 6am may have something to do with it, I guess.

Following the launch, Tun Fatimah has been tied up to the jetty next to the yard. She will now undergo harbour and sea trials which will culminate with its commissioning by May, next year, just in time for LIMA 23, just like Bagan Datuk.