On the day I beseeched here for the Government to continue with the building of additional patrol vessels for the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Prime has responded in this Bernama article that as expected this will depend on the affordability of the Government to continue the program despite the Ministry of Defence intention to continue. However what caught my attention is this is the first time it was officially stated that the number of units may now end at 18 units instead of the 27 units planned at the beginning of the program. This actually makes sense since the patrol vessels are being stationed at three different naval bases regionally, so to have three squadrons of six vessels each to patrol the area would be good enough.
I would rather use the savings from the deletion of the additional nine units to complete our frigate squadron to six, be it the same design as the existing frigates or of new designs. This is because however you may want the navy to be strengthened, additional patrol units is not the answer as no matter how you look at it, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency is actually being well equipped to undertake the intermediate and coastal patrol duties by getting their own offshore patrol vessels in addition to the Langkawi class (Ex-Musytari class) already in service. Therefore the navy should accept the number of eighteen units of patrol vessels for their fleet and now lobby for new strike units instead, be it the additional frigates or the Fast Attack Craft replacement in the form of Littoral Combat Ships, enabling the navy to concentrate on their core business, to engage enemy strike units with their own powerful strike force.
3 comments:
Perhaps this is only your prediction, but i belive that the government will stick to their 1st decision to built 27 OPVs for RMN. Regarding to the 2nd batch of OPV, i personally think that the government will proceed to the program, this is because our former PM strongly mentioned that the 2nd batch is still going on and expected the program to be resume somewhare in next year. Besides, my friend from RMN told me that the 2nd batch program of OPV and Frigate are still going on.
not a prediction, just a comment on what the PM said in the article. Either way I just hope the navy gets the extra units.
I crtainly agreed with your article. 3 sqn with comprise of 6 OPV is good enough.however the next batch of OPV should equip with various role and function ie ASW, AAW and surface capabilities with all missile fitted on board. we also might consider the next batch will be able to conduct mine laying role as a deterrence capabilities. we basicallly need to exercise all kind of capabilities hence to know what exactly what our need and present capabilities for future improvement.
milobserver
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