Another Navy Big Ticket ITem Delayed ?

Although the mainstream newspapers basically carried Bernama's reporting on the proposed acquisition of Anti Submarine Helicopters by the Royal Malaysian Navy below, it is a bit surprising to read in Mr. Marhalim's  Abas blog that the program has actually been deferred to the 11th Malaysian Plan starting in 2016 rather than made under the current plan.  This was not mentioned in the Bernama's article at all but if Mr. Marhalim was at the press conference, I guess that was extra information that the others had omitted in their reporting or editing.

Navy Plans To Acquire Anti-submarine Helicopters

LUMUT, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has proposed for the government to acquire anti-submarine helicopters to increase the force's capabilities.

Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said this is to ensure the force remains relevant with the current modernisation.

"At least six anti-submarine aircraft are needed to form a squadron.

"The Kota Kinabalu RMN Base in Teluk Sepanggar, Sabah will house the squadron where two of the country's submarines are also stationed," he told reporters after officiating the Perak RMN Air Unit's 25th Silver Jubilee at the RMN Base, here Thursday.

The Kota Kinabalu RMN Base currently has two French Scorpene submarines, the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak.

In another development, Abdul Aziz said the RMN Air Unit plans to establish its own training centre which will conduct training modules on flight operations.

He said plans for the training centre was still in talks and is expected to be realised in three years, also to be situated at the RMN Base here.

"The training centre will carry out modules for aircraft transition training for pilots and air tactical officers, helicopter guard course, flight deck officer course as well as other courses and training," he said.

Abdul Aziz said the training centre will produce an air unit and fleet crew which is ready to meet the needs of the RMN and country.

At the ceremony, Abdul Aziz was awarded an honorary wing as a mark of respect and recognition for his contributions in the development and achievement of the RMN Air Unit.

-- BERNAMA

I guess this means that previously made proposals to acquire other big ticket items would also be deferred, i.e., the systems and weapons upgrade to the Kedah class and the FAC-M replacement program. Speaking on the FAC-M replacement program, I just noticed from an article that the program may have actually amalgamated like the SGPV/FFG/LCS program into an FGS/LCS type vessel that was initially separated from what I heard previously under the 10MP proposal from the RMN. If this is true, I sincerely doubt the FAC-M replacement program will materialise early since the other arms of the MAF has also taken a hit in their big ticket item acquisition programs. But who knows with the flurry of acquisition programs to be made under The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOMM) requirement, this FAC-M replacement program may yet sneak in as it would meet the patrol vessel prerequisites easily.

He also stated thal the RMN was looking to replace its fast attack craft (FAC) fleet with new ships. Although the government has not yet approved funding for this, the RMN has proposed either a modified version of the localty built Gagah Samudera-class training shipdesign or a new 50-75 m design to be sourced from a foreign manufacturer. The replacement ship would not be an FAC type, but rather one capable of long-distance endurance and patrolling of Malaysia's waters, with firepower equal or greater to the FACs it would replace. ==> source

 

Another Artist's Rendition OF An Upgraded Gagah Samudera Class Vessel

Credit to Dewafrost @ Mymil