Rentaka - Rentaka Defence Portal

U.S. AND MALAYSIAN AND ARMED FORCES KICK-OFF JOINT EXERCISE

1/9/2014

Members of the Malaysian Armed Forces observe as a landing craft air cushion carrying Marines and sailors from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron Five arrives on a beach during Malaysia-United States Amphibious Exercise 2014 (MALUS AMPHEX 2014). (Photo: USMC)

By: USMC (www.marines.mil)

The exercise, planned over the span of several months, is designed to improve participating forces’ amphibious training, readiness and interoperability.

Malaysia’s Armed Forces

21/5/2014

Recent events has shown that the lack of long range MPA has seriously undermine Malaysia's effort to effectively patrol its vast maritime boundaries. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

By: Gordon Arthur (http://www.asianmilitaryreview.com)

Malaysia’s proposed 2014 core defence budget has increased by six percent to $5.1 billion. However, just $868 million of this will go towards new equipment, despite current security threats. For example, China’s state news agency, Xinhua, reported in January 2014 that a three-ship People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) task force had patrolled James Shoal, 43 nautical miles (80 kilometres) from Sarawak, one of two Malaysian states on Borneo. Xinhua reported sailors aboard the amphibious warfare ship and two destroyers that comprised the task force “swore an oath of determination to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and maritime interests”. China regards James Shoal in the South China Sea as its southernmost territory, a claim vigorously contested by Malaysia. In March 2013, Malaysia protested the incursion of four Chinese ships in the same location.

Artillery Systems 'Boom' in Asia

15/5/2014

By: Gordon Arthur (www.isn.ethz.ch)

Local Production
We shall begin our regional survey by looking at indigenous capabilities. There are currently four countries self-sufficient in artillery system production - China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, and we shall look at their offerings in turn.

As the world's largest armed force, and one that continues to rise at a stunning rate - for the coming year China announced a 12.2% hike in its defence budget to US $132 billion - the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is enamoured with SPH systems. In total, China owns 6,000+ towed artillery pieces and 1,700 SPHs. The PLA has traditionally operated Soviet 122mm, 130mm and 152mm artillery calibres, although its newest SPH is notable for being of 155mm calibre. This signals that China is switching over to 155mm for future designs. The system in question is the 35-tonne PLZ05 (Type 05) from NORINCO, which features an U52 gun. It can fire laser-guided munitions based on the Russian Krasnopol design, with the WS-35 round reputedly having a 1OOkm range.

Also new for the PLA is the 22.5-ton PLZ07 (Type 07) 122mm SPH introduced by NORINCO in 2007. China has also brought the PLL05 120mm mortar howitzer into service, this being based on a WZ551 6x6 chassis; it was first noticed deployed in 2008. China also has systems available for export, primarily through the state-owned firm NORINCO. China has sold PLZ45 155mm SPHs to Algeria, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, this type being a forerunner to the PLA's own PLZ05.

Mengukuhkan pertahanan Wilayah Timur - Penubuhan Markas Pemerintahan Wilayah Timur sejajar dengan penyusunan kekuatan Tentera Darat agar selari mengikut keperluan pertahanan negara.

5/5/2014

Panglima Tentera Darat, Jeneral Datuk Raja Mohammed Affandi Raja Mohammed Nor menyaksikan penubuhan Markas Wilayah Timur Tentera Darat. (Foto: Tentera Darat Malaysia)

Oleh: Mohd Zaki Mohd Salleh (www.kosmo.com.my)

PENUBUHAN Markas Pemerintahan Wilayah Timur Tentera Darat (Mks Wil Timur) yang berpengkalan di Kuching, Sarawak bertujuan memperkasakan kesiapsiagaan Tentera Darat di negeri berkenaan dan Sabah. Markas ini menaungi dua ketumbukan utama iaitu Divisyen Pertama Infantri (1 Div) di Kuching dan sebuah divisyen baharu, iaitu Divisyen Ke-5 Infantri (5 Div) di Sabah.

Malaysia interested in bunker ammo

1/5/2014

Nammo’s M141 BDM is a single shot disposable system for use against field fortifications, urban structures and light armoured vehicles. (Photo: US Army)

By: Tim Fish (www.shepardmedia.com)

Nordic ammunition company, Nammo, is preparing to demonstrate the M141 bunker defeat munition (BDM) to the Malaysian military.

A spokesperson from Nammo told Shephard that they are in the process of proposing and conducting a firing demonstration for Malaysia’s Army Infantry Brigade.

Malaysia Advances With 8-Wheeled Armored Vehicle

20/4/2014

AV8 prototype fitted with Sharpshooter turret displayed at DRB Hicom Deftech booth. (Photo: RENTAKA)

By: Wendell Minnick (www.defensenews.com)

Malaysia’s top armored vehicle manufacturer, Deftech, has begun the qualification stage for its eight-wheel-drive AV-8 armored wheeled vehicle and will produce 257 units with 12 variants for the country’s Army when tests are concluded, said Deftech CEO Amril Samsudin this week at the Defence Services Asia exhibition here.

Defence Services Asia: Malaysian Army boss highlights developments

10/4/2014

The army wanted additional 120mm mortars to beef up its firepower. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

By: Dzirhan Mahadzhir (www.shepardmedia.com)

General Datuk Raja Mohamed Affandi Bin Raja Mohamed Noor, Chief of the Malaysian Army, spoke to Shephard about how the service is overcoming the difficulties of the current fiscal environment and is planning for the future.

Defence Services Asia: OEMs anticipate Malaysian attack helicopter RfP

10/4/2014

AH-1Z is one of the contenders to fulfil Malaysian Army need for attack helicopters. (Photo: USMC)

By: Jonathan Tringham (www.shepardmedia.com)

Anticipation of a potential Malaysian attack helicopter tender remains high, with candidate platforms from Bell, Airbus Helicopters and Boeing to be showcased at the Defence Services Asia expo in Kuala Lumpur.

Denel, Malaysian Company Settle Offsets Deal for Turret Purchase

27/2/2014

PARS 8x8 with Denel's LCT-30 turret. (Photo: FNSS)

By: Oscar Nkala (www.defensenews.com)

South Africa’s Denel Aerostructures (DAe) and Malaysian company Strand Aerospace Malaysia have signed a deal that initiates an indirect offsets program South Africa is offering in return for the Malaysian Army’s 3.5 billion Malaysian ringgit (US $1.1 billion) order of Denel Land Systems turrets for its eight-wheel-drive armored infantry fighting vehicles.

Demonstrasi ketenteraan lebih hebat pada DSA 2014

17/2/2014

Oleh: Mohd Hazli Hassan (www.utusan.com.my)

KUALA LUMPUR 17 Feb. - Pengunjung ke Pameran Perkhidmatan Pertahanan Asia (DSA) 2014 kali ini bakal dihidangkan dengan demonstrasi ketenteraan yang lebih hebat berbanding siri-siri DSA yang lepas.

Tanpa mahu mengulas lebih lanjut, Panglima Angkatan Tentera, Jen. Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd. Zin berkata, pastinya demonstrasi ketenteraan yang akan dipamerkan kelak mampu mengujakan pengunjung ke DSA 2014.

Perlu ESSCOMM di Sarawak ekoran wujud ancaman tahap rendah

17/2/2014

ESSCOM bakal diperluaskan hingga meliputi Sabah dan Sarawak untuk melindungi daripada ancaman luar. (Foto: The Star)

Oleh MOHD. HAZLI HASSAN

Usaha awal untuk mengekang ancaman tahap rendah memerlukan pentadbiran Kawasan Khas Keselamatan Pantai Timur Sabah (ESSCOMM) diperluaskan ke Sarawak bagi membolehkan ancaman itu dihalang dengan tuntas dan pantas.

SGA14: Singapore Airshow GM 200 display confirms air force purchase

12/2/2014

By: Beth Stevenson (www.shepardmedia.com)

The Republic of Singapore Air Force has displayed its Shikra radar – based on the ThalesRaytheonSystems (TRS) Ground Master (GM) 200 - on-board an 8x8 vehicle at the Singapore Air Show, thus confirming the purchase of the air defence radar system.

Kampung Tanduo revisited

9/2/2014

By: Philip Golingai (www.thestar.com.my)

It was the scene where armed Sulu gunmen were involved in deadly gunbattles with Malaysian security forces. Today, it is a highly secure place and safe.

Malaysia Struggles to Update Military

8/2/2014

Malaysia’s air force C-130 transports will be upgraded with avionics and navigation systems to ensure they meet international civil aviation standards.

by Dzirhan Mahadzir (http://www.ainonline.com)

The current political climate and government austerity measures in Malaysia mean that a number of programs for the Malaysian armed forces look likely to be postponed until the time frame of the 11th Malaysia Plan, which covers government spending for the period of 2016-2020. A combination of public dissatisfaction over the cutting of government subsidies and the government’s need to balance an increasing deficit has made spending on military procurement politically unviable at the moment.

One of the key programs already on hold indefinitely is the Royal Malaysian Air Force MRCA (multi-role combat aircraft) requirement to replace its MiG-29s, though all four contenders for the program–Boeing, Dassault, BAE Systems and Saab–have, in the light of the current situation, made proposals such as long-term repayments and lease options to Malaysia in an attempt to persuade the country to make a decision soon to go ahead with the program.

However, it appears that even this will not be enough for Malaysia to proceed in the near future, even though the timetable has already fallen behind the RMAF’s projected target date of 2015 for phasing out the MiG-29s. The RMAF currently has restricted the MiG-29 fleet (which number around eight aircraft) to operational duties and missions only in an effort to preserve their operational lifespan. Previously, the MiG-29 also carried out public event duties such as fly-pasts and airshow displays.

Security forces foil Sabah intrusion bid

7/2/2014

By: The Star (thestar.com.my)

Security forces thwarted yet another foreign attempt to encroach into the waters off Sabah’s east coast, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said.