Malaysia to buy more 155m systems in major modernization programme

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Malaysia to buy more 155m systems in major modernization programme
July 12 2004 at 11:59 AM
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The Malaysian army is expected to buy more 155mm artillery systems as part of a major modernization programme.

The army has taken delivery of 28 South African Denel 155mm/45-cal G5 Mk 3 towed artillery systems plus ammunition, including projectiles, charges and fuzes.
These are used in conjunction with an African Defence Systems AS2000 computerised fire-control system. The prime movers for the G5s are German MAN 6x6 cross-country trucks that have been modified by local company DEFTECH for their specialist role.

The service has yet to decide whether to buy more towed weapons and/or self-propelled howitzers (SPHs). Until the G5s were delivered, the largest-calibre artillery systems in Malaysian service were 12 155mm FH-70s supplied in the early 1980s by RO Defence. BAE Systems, RO Defence, has had an agreement for some years with Malaysisn Naval Dockyard for the local assembly and eventual production of the 105mm L119 Light Gun. However, industry sources said that this project is not likely to proceed in the short term as the army focuses on 155mm artillery.
Denel could supply additional 65 Mk 3s or the more recent 155mm/52-cal system. The company is still marketing the 155mm G6 SPH but with a combat weight of 47 tonnes, this may be too heavy for the army's retirement.

A possible alternative is the more recent Denel T5, which mates the upper part of the standard G5/45-cal ordnance with an 8 * 8 cross-country chassis. Using a 155mm Base-bleed projectile, a maximum range of 39km can be achieved, which increases to 54km with the recently introduced Velocity-enhanced Long-range Artillery Projectile (V-LAP). The first T5 system was installed on a Tatra 8x8 chassis. It could, however, be fitted to a variety of other cross-country plat-forms, according to Denel. For trials purposes, the chassis has been fitted with the upper part of the latest G5 155mm/52. This is called the T5-52 and a total of 22 projectiles and charges are carried.

During the Defence Services Asia 2004 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur in April, South Korea's Samsung Techwin displayed its 155mm/52-cal K9 Thunder SPH. The K9 Thunder is staying in Malaysia for trials and demonstra璽ion purposes before returning to Korea.

It is understood that more than 100 K9s have been built for the Republic of Korea Army and for Turkey. Turkish weapons, given the local name of Firtina are assembled at facilities of the Turkish Land Forces Command. The weapon has also been tested in Spain.

Malaysia has taken delivery of three batches of Brazilian ASTROSII multiple rocket systems and a regiment is now fully operational with three batteries, each with six ASTROS II launchers (JDW 16 January 2002). The army has also received a quantity of Avibras AV - VBL (Viaturas Blindadas Leves) 4 x4 light armoured vehicles. These are to be used in specialised roles within the ASTROS II regiment.

Source:- Janes Defence Weekly 26th May 2004.

Christopher F Foss JDW Land Forces Editor, London



DSA 2004, Mobility Demo.

[pezfez]

if they got the g5, then malaysia should go for the g6 or t6 spa system, that would be awesome

[srirangan]

Can anyone explain in brief the geopolitical scene in and around Malaysia. Is Indonesia the only threat or do CHina and N Korea also bother her?

Indonesia is the "biggest" threat to Malaysia, however Malaysia also has simmering regional tensions with Singapore China/Vietnam/Phillipines over the Spratly Island chain and the oil/natural gas contained therein...

[Salman78]

I wonder if these artillary systems are much effective in jungle terrian. But ones gotta do what ones gotta do

[Awang se]

Originally Posted by Aussie Digger

Indonesia is the "biggest" threat to Malaysia, however Malaysia also has simmering regional tensions with Singapore China/Vietnam/Phillipines over the Spratly Island chain and the oil/natural gas contained therein...

I don't think as such. for me, the biggest neighbouring threat come from Singapore. Indonesia is a threat once during confrontation in 60s, but not recently. Malaysia, though have a smaller military, achieve superiority in technical means. besides, Indonesia was still facing a lot of internal conflicts and they need every available military units to deal with this.

Singapore on the other hand have shown an agressive and offending stance towards it's neighbour, especially Malaysia. Their fighters have continuosly overflown Malaysian territory illegaly. they occupied Pulau Batu Puteh, a disputed island which clearly inside Malaysian waters. and many more which i'm not stated here. They have far superior Air Force compare to the other countries in the region. Though far smaller, singapore have ten times the number of Tanks then it's larger northen neighbour.

[Awang se]

I speculate that Malaysia try to overcome the weakness in their air strike capability with the use of mass artillery barrage. I don't know how far can they achieve that goal.

[gf0012-aust]

Originally Posted by Awang se

I speculate that Malaysia try to overcome the weakness in their air strike capability with the use of mass artillery barrage. I don't know how far can they achieve that goal.

Well, if the arty and battlefield rockets are on the other side of the bridge, then they can hit all of singapore. Singapore however has a very potent airforce - so air supremacy would make short work of arty.

Singapore will soon be increasing it's air combat capability when it chooses it's new fighter. There are also rumours that the retirement of it's remaining A-4's and F-5's will be hastened due to follow-on orders of the new fighter. A technologically advanced fighter purchased in large numbers (ie: 60+) something relatively new for that region, will shift the balance of power dramatically I should imagine, despite the new arty. Singapore recently unveiled a newly self-designed 155mm Artillery system (both self propelled and towed) too. A hot war would be rather serious between these 2 Countries I guess.

[|||]

Singapore on the other hand have shown an agressive and offending stance towards it's neighbour, especially Malaysia.

I dunno why Malaysia sees Singapore as an agressive neighbor. We are a small country of course we need to make sure we are well defended against any threat. anyway,i hope a war does not break out between Malaysia and Singapore. both sides have simply too much to lose.

[Awang se]

Originally Posted by |||

I dunno why Malaysia sees Singapore as an agressive neighbor. We are a small country of course we need to make sure we are well defended against any threat. anyway,i hope a war does not break out between Malaysia and Singapore. both sides have simply too much to lose.

I'm aware of the limitations suffered by the Singapore and i'm personally feel kind of sympathy toward singapore. If I'm a Malaysian leader, i will give all the water that Singapore ever need and don't charge a penny. They only have to pay for the land of course, and i will limit the size of the pump less they'll use it for something else.

The other issue is the intrusion of malaysian airspace by RSAF fighter. I realize that RSAF need to use our airspace en route to their training area in South China Sea, but at least they could do is notifying Malaysian authority of the time and the route they will take. Not just enter at will. We will certainly allow RSAF fighter to pass in the name of ASEAN. How do you feel if someone suddenly walk in to your front door and walk in your house and then get out at the back door, and in the process, he ignoring you as a house owner? how do you feel?

[|||]

geez.. i know that RSAF planes fly over Malaysian airspace on a regular basis but i never knew they never asked for clearance.i was told once by a guy working in the air force that when the fighters take off from their base,they usually end up near to Malaysian airspace by the time they reach level flight.dunno how true it is though

[Awang se]

It's already a public issue in this side of the straits.

[Paxter]

have you seen the size of singapore? its really small its just one big city ... by the time they come to flight level they are already in malaysian airspace or indonesian airspace... its understood they do need to fly but they should have inform their neighbours... singapore as the most powerful airforce in south east asia... it has like over 90 combat base fighters.... compared to malaysia which has around 40+ and malaysia is like 100+ times larger then its counterpart... malaysia use to play dumb but now with those nice sams from the UK i bet they will be playing i lock and and u run game all over the johor state cant wait for the MKMs then it will be " whos your daddy" then singapore buys their new jets with 3 times the number of mkm ... personally i think malaysia and singapore is being quite childish... i got submarines (malaysia) i got 3 times more destroyers then you do... i got NEW MBT (malaysia) singapore goes i got new apache choppers... they have been doing this for the past 10 years now...

if it does happend however i wonder which side the commonwealth will help? the last time the aussies and the brits help save malaysia from the indonesians in their short live confrontation

[gf0012-aust]

Originally Posted by Paxter

have you seen the size of singapore? its really small its just one big city ... by the time they come to flight level they are already in malaysian airspace or indonesian airspace... its understood they do need to fly but they should have inform their neighbours... singapore as the most powerful airforce in south east asia... it has like over 90 combat base fighters.... compared to malaysia which has around 40+ and malaysia is like 100+ times larger then its counterpart... malaysia use to play dumb but now with those nice sams from the UK i bet they will be playing i lock and and u run game all over the johor state cant wait for the MKMs then it will be " whos your daddy" then singapore buys their new jets with 3 times the number of mkm ... personally i think malaysia and singapore is being quite childish... i got submarines (malaysia) i got 3 times more destroyers then you do... i got NEW MBT (malaysia) singapore goes i got new apache choppers... they have been doing this for the past 10 years now...

if it does happend however i wonder which side the commonwealth will help? the last time the aussies and the brits help save malaysia from the indonesians in their short live confrontation

I think you need to read up on the "Five Powers Defence Agreement" between UK, Australia, NZ, Malaysia and Singapore.