Royal Malaysian Navy orders Rheinmetall optronics and FCR for its future Gowind Corvettes

Rheinmetall will be equipping Malaysia with a total of twelve fire control radars (TMX/EO Mk2) and six electro-optical systems (TMEO Mk2) for six new patrol boats. This is a breakthrough order for a new generation of high-performance systems whose basic components were all developed by Rheinmetall.


TMX/EO Mk2 - Fire Control Radar
(Picture: Rheinmetall)

TMX/EO Mk2 - Fire Control Radar

The TMX/EO Mk2 can track air, surface and fixed ground targets with extreme precision. The size of the entire radar is reduced to a single unit located behind the antenna. It is available with either X-band or Ku-band radar and a scalable electro-optical sensor fit (including IR camera, TV camera and laser rangefinder). By means of a third axis between the lateral and elevation axes, the TMX/EO Mk2 is able to track steeply attacking targets, even in very rough seas.


TMEO Mk2 – Electro-Optical Tracking Module Mk2
(Picture: Rheinmetall)

TMEO Mk2 – Electro-Optical Tracking Module Mk2

The TMEO Mk2 is a modern, powerful and flexible tracking system intended for integration within a wide-range of naval fire control systems. Designed with a scalable architecture, the TMEO Mk2 can be employed in a wide variety of tactical roles, and optimised to meet specific functional requirements. The high quality TMEO Mk2 tracking data can be typically used for weapon control, as a 3-D designation source, and for internal data processing. The TMEO Mk2 will carry out the following primary operation functions, using both active and passive electro-optical sensors: anti air engagements, surface engagements and surveillance operations.

Together with spare parts and training, the order also includes a transfer of know-how to Malaysia, which will enable local industry to take an active part in the project. Delivery of the systems will commence in 2015 and continue through to 2020.

The Malaysian Navy’s new “Second Generation Patrol Vessels Littoral Combat Ships” (SGPV LCS), play a significant role in safeguarding regional sea lanes, where piracy poses a major threat to commercial shipping. Fire control technology from Rheinmetall will form a crucial element in the OPV’s shipboard technology, controlling the vessel’s primary and secondary armament. This important order underscores Rheinmetall’s increasing importance as a supplier of advanced technology to the world’s navies.


Gowind model at Boustead stand during DSA 2012
(picture: Navy Recognition)

Malaysian Shipyard Boustead, partnered with DCNS has been selected to supply six new corvette as part of the SGPV LCS program.

Specifications of the Boustead built vessels (as of now) are as follow:

Length: 107 meters
Breadth: 16 meters
Full load displacement: 2,730 tonnes
Max speed: 28 knots
Crew: 106
Range: 5,000 nm
Endurance: 21 days

DCNS Gowind combat. The RMN Littoral Combat Ships are based on this version
(Video: DCNS)

Integrated with SETIS, a combat system derived from FREMM, Gowind Combat can tackle air, surface and submarine threats. The shock-resistant platform (built according to military standards), the small radar cross-section together with an excellent acoustic signature make it a high-performance surface combatant.

Gowind Combat can be operated by a limited crew and has been designed to offer great at-sea availability and reduced life cycle costs.

source Navy Recognition

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Myanmar armed forces chief calls on Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: Myanmar’s despatch of a naval vessel for the Langkawai International Maritime and Aerospace 2013 exhibition best demonstrates its openness towards trade and diplomatic relations with its Asean neighbours.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi receiving Myanmar Defence Services commander-in-chief Vice-Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the former’s officer, yesterday. --NSTP pix by Mohd Yusni Ariffin

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that Lima 2013, among other events, was on Myanmar’s calendar as the Asean nation prepared for a series of economic and political reforms.

Zahid said this was conveyed to him by Myanmar Defence Services commander-in-chief Vice-Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during a courtesy call at the Ministry of Defence in Jalan Padang Tembak, here, yesterday.

“Min Aung’s visit is the first since 1975 by such a high ranking officer and it provides a good start towards military diplomacy not only towards Malaysia but Asean and Asian nations in general.

“This opens a big opportunity to explore and expand the defence industry’s products and service mutually,” said Zahid.

He recalled how Malaysia had assisted Myanmar in humanitarian aid and in overcoming its electrical power crisis that hit Yangon and Mandalay with the Royal Malaysian Air Force despatching a C-130 Hercules to ferry generators there last year.

Zahid said Myanmar was now gearing to host the 22nd World Economic Forum on East Asia in June.

The forum in Myanmar will be the first leading international gathering of senior decision-makers from industry, government, academia and civil society.

Myanmar will also assume the chairmanship of Asean next year and it will have a critical role in guiding the bloc’s 10-member economies toward the planned economic integration in 2015.

Read more at News Straits Times

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Another Armed Forces Asset Delivered On Schedule

I guess you can see the news on the launching of Gagah Samudera in the local defence blogs and articles in the newspapers especially since Utusan Malaysia front-paged the news. Mind you this is not the first combat ship built in Malaysia since MSE built the OPV KD Marikh and Hong-Leong Lurssen Shipyard built the six units of FAC-G Jerung class, The first that can be attributed to this shipbuilding is that it is the first training ship that is mission specific to the RMN as previously the Navy had to use their elderly warships to be converted to training ships while retaining their patrolling functions like the KD Rahmat and KD Tuah at the time. This was not conducive due the lack of space for the extra crewman and proper training facilities as highlighted when KD Tuah had to be deployed to the Gulf of Aden. That was the choice that had to be made as we could not afford actual Midshipmen Training Ships that the larger navies had in their fleets.


Credit : TLDM




















Credit To Standupper @ Mymil Forum

Nonetheless inversely now the RMN can look forward to having their patrolling fleet strengthened after their small crafts were transferred to the MMEA as these training vessels can also be multi-rolled as basic OPVs although some may say their armaments are limited. Even the CNO in his speech below mentioned that these vessels are being looked at as the FAC replacements, though I believe they are actually actual replacement for the PB squadrons that was similarly lightly armed. But even though the dreaded by some FFNW word was not mentioned, I guess if the vessels are of modular construction, then it should not be a big issue to upgrade the vessels' armaments to full combat specifications.

Meanwhile, Aziz said the completion of the vessel had been long awaited by RMN not only to be used for training but also to patrol and monitor the country's waters.He pointed out that RMN had been waiting for the ship after 27 of its ships were transferred to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in 2006. "At the moment, we only have K.D. Hang Tuah which is already 46-years old and KLD Tunas Samudera as training ships.

"We hope the government will take into account a proposal to procure another two ships from the company in the 11th Malaysia Plan as the two extra ships can replace RMN's eight fast attack vessels which are almost 40 years old," he said in his speech. - New Straits Time 15 December 2012

I must say thanks to the far-sighted person who decided to change the Navy's initial request for a mixed squadron of 47 metres and 30 metres training boats to these two Offshore Training Vessels as it allowed the Navy to have its cake and eat it too. And to those who doubt and criticise the Armed Forces projects as always being not to schedule, the Master Schedule below should prove that for this project it is on the right track, similar to the CSAR helicopter project. But I doubt this fact will receive much coverage from them.



Credit To Standupper @ Mymil Forum

source Secure Malaysia

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