Malaysia Reveals Force Structure for Air Force in 2055

The Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) has published an infographic detailing its force structure plans up to 2055. Based on the plan, RMAF fighter jet fleet will be two types, a multi role combat aircraft (MRCA) and the light combat aircraft (LCA) organised into five squadrons. Currently, the RMAF operates a mixed fleet of Su-30, F-18C/D and MiG-29 with additional supplement for the light attack roles from the trainer fleet - Hawk and MB339.

The transport squadrons will be reduced from four to three units with the aircraft type reduced from four to two. The A400M should still be a major transport asset in the next few decades. The helicopter fleet will be standardized into a single aircraft type. This seems to indicate that attack helicopter procurement is not in the plan.  However, there are plans for one squadron of Airborne Early Warning aircraft  and long endurance Unmanned Aircraft as well as one squadron of maritime patrol aircraft. The RMAF of the future will maintain air defence radars and one regiment of ground based air defence system which does not seems to be adequate for wide geographical spread of the country.

RMAF

Malaysia Lays Keel for Third Littoral Combat Ship

Malaysia’s Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd held a keel laying ceremony for the third Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) ordered by the Royal Malaysia Navy (RMN). Six LCS are to be delivered to the RMN by 2023 at a total cost of RM9 billion. The second LCS is planned to be launched in October 2018, while the keel laying ceremony for the fourth LCS is scheduled to take place in the second quarter of 2018.

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Thailand To Buy More T-50 Jets

Thailand is expected to add on to its existing order of twelve T50 advanced jet trainers from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). Initially, Thailand ordered four aircraft which will be delivery beginning from January 2018 to March 2018. The advanced jet trainer, which the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) designates as T-50TH, were ordered in 2015 for about US$110 million. A second batch of eight aircraft was ordered recently, to delivered from October 2019.  Thailand is likely to order two to four more of the trainer jets.

The compact South Korean aircraft is already operated in Indonesia and Philippines with Malaysia as another potential customer.

Asian Defence Technology

Malaysia Seeks Light Combat Aircraft

Just months after shelving the plan to purchase a high end fighter as a replacement for their MiG-29 fleet, Malaysia is considering the purchase of a Light Combat Aircraft for the RMAF instead. The cost is reportedly is large factor in the decision. The South Korean FA-50 is reportedly a prime candidate. The type is already in service with neighbors Philippines and Indonesia (T-50) with orders on the way for Thailand (T-50).

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CNA

KAI

Royal Thai Army Bolsters Air Defence

Oerlikon Skyshield® all-weather short-range air defence system from Rheinmetall

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has ordered Rheinmetall’s Skyguard 3 air defence gun systems and AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency and Destruction) airburst ammunition. Rheinmetall will supply four Oerlikon Skyguard 3 fire control systems and eight 35mm Oerlikon GDF007 Twin Guns.

Thailand has a number of older air defence systems which will need to be replaced in the future. So more orders may be likely.

The Oerlikon guns are very reliable and capable. They were used to devastating effects by Argentine in the 1982 Falklands War.

In the region, Indonesia and Malaysia also operates the Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns.Singapore operated the Oerlikon guns beginning in 1970. The system was upgraded with the Super Fledermaus Fire Control Radar during service and was retired after 45 years of service.

Malaysia also has a long history of operating the Oerlikon guns with the first order of 16 gun and 4 Skyguard systems in 1988.

In 2013, Indonesia ordered six gun systems. In 2014, a follow-on order for more fire units was placed. The €38 million contract includes training and logistical services for the Indonesian armed forces.

Asian Defence

Asia Pacific Defence Reporter/ Malaysia Order-of-Battle

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URA

Malaysia Deploys MRAP to Sabah

Chaiseri Win MRAP, also known as the AV4 will be deployed in Sabah, East Malaysia. The AV4 is developed and produced by Thailand with maintenance support provided by its Malaysian partner (DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies or Deftech). Malaysia has bought 20 units of the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. Also known as First Win, the 4x4 has also been sold to the Philippine and the Thai Police.



Janes

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Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise

The navies of the United States, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand are participating in the annual, multilateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise. The Bangladesh Navy will be participating as observers. This year’s exercise, staged from Singapore's Changi Naval Base from 5 to 9 October 2015, marks the 14th in the series.

The exercise participants will receive simulated reports of suspicious activities in the Straits of Singapore, the Straits of Malacca, the Andaman Sea and the South China Sea in order to practise simulated response drills.

The U.S. ships and aircraft participating in the exercise include USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE-6, a dry cargo ship), USNS Safeguard (T-ARS-50, a rescue and salvage ship), a P-8A Poseidon and a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. Participating in SEACAT for the first time is the joint high-speed vessel, USNS Millinocket, an Expeditionary Fast Transport.



USNS Millinocket in Vietnam, earlier in August. U.S. NAVY


The Exercise SEACAT series started in 2002 with the aim of enhancing maritime cooperation. Participating navies share information and  coordinate maritime security responses to scenarios such as piracy and maritime terrorism. The Republic of Singapore Navy's Changi Command and Control Centre (CC2C) at Changi Naval Base is the key infrastructure facilitating such cooperation.

The CC2C is specially equipped for information-sharing with various secured and open information networks.  The CC2C houses the Information Fusion Centre (IFC) which was inaugurated on 27 Apr 2009. The information-sharing systems include the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS), Regional Maritime Information Exchange (ReMIX), the Malacca Strait Patrols Information System (MSP-IS) and other sense-making systems. Navies from regional groupings such as the WPNS and Malacca Straits Patrols were invited to attach International Liaison Officers (ILOs) to the IFC. These ILOs play an important role as they facilitate information sharing and better coordination when responding to maritime threats.

Last month, a Singapore warship disrupted a sea robbery on a Malaysian tugboat in the Straits of Singapore.  The sea robbers attempted to evade arrest by speeding into Indonesian territorial water. The IFC officers were able to coordinate responses with the Indonesian Navy's Western Fleet Sea Security Group and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. Both countries deployed their naval assets to search for the robbers. Three robbers were subsequently arrested and the stolen cargo was recovered. This incident highlighted the close cooperation between the regional navies and maritime enforcement agencies as well as the utility of the IFC.



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