Malaysian Army/Land forces discussions

Zzims

New Member
I was just wondering, why Malaysia isnt working toward a cost effective counter for MBT's, going toe to toe MBT wise would be costly right? Leaving Tank abilities and survivability to limit the extent of a decisive Victory. Wouldnt a Sizeable ATGM force render any MBT force in the region Inert? Cost alot cheaper with Malaysia being forested and Highways and Roadways flanked with Hills and towns. Wouldnt that be more effective as a deterrent?. What's the survivability of a well trained ATGM crew, ive been wondering how the Hezbollah ATGM crew faired against the Merkava?
 

DavidDCM

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
ATGM's are a nice kit for ambushes and defensive battles, but are pretty much useless in offensive operations. You need tanks there.
 

Zzims

New Member
ATGM's are a nice kit for ambushes and defensive battles, but are pretty much useless in offensive operations. You need tanks there.
I agree, an offensive operation would be nice with armored support

Tho, based on present information regarding Armour strength in the region, few countries can field some sort of a Tank offensive. Its either they have a lot of obsolete tanks or too few modern tanks, that might change. Malaysian military doctrine is a Defense one. A capable multi-tasked Infantry Division can do alot of damage when its given sufficient cover to operate, Malaysia has alot of terrain, perfect for defense positions and ambush. Tanks for me sticks like a sore thumb in Malaysia or anywhere. Be it Gunships or Aircraft, Tanks are like bullseye waiting to be popped.
 

Chrom

New Member
I agree, an offensive operation would be nice with armored support

Tho, based on present information regarding Armour strength in the region, few countries can field some sort of a Tank offensive. Its either they have a lot of obsolete tanks or too few modern tanks, that might change. Malaysian military doctrine is a Defense one. A capable multi-tasked Infantry Division can do alot of damage when its given sufficient cover to operate, Malaysia has alot of terrain, perfect for defense positions and ambush. Tanks for me sticks like a sore thumb in Malaysia or anywhere. Be it Gunships or Aircraft, Tanks are like bullseye waiting to be popped.
An army without strong offensive capabilities is bound to quickly lose against enemy with such capability and resort to partizan-like tactic under occupation. Having strong offensive and highly mobile forces is especially important for small countries or for smaller (than enemy) armies. These are very basic points, which are however almost always not understood by "armchair" generals and even low-ranked (or badly educated) officers.
 

DavidDCM

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Agree to chrom there.

And even if Malaysia's doctrine is overall defensive. 1.) You never know the future. 2.) Even in defence you sometimes have to attack.

While you can attack without tanks, such an attack will always be slower and less powerful than an armored assault. Tanks might be prone to get attacked by aircraft, but that's what your air defence is there for. And why should a tank in Malaysia be more endangered than a tank in Germany, Russia or elsewhere? I'd say, the dense environment in Malaysia, even though forestalling huge armoured formations, even protects the single tank from air reconnaissance.
 

Zzims

New Member
Couldnt an effective offensive operation be supported by Mobile artillery or MLRS? Beside an Armored column.
 

DavidDCM

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Yes of course, to support an advancing assault is one of the main jobs of self-propelled artillery.
 

DavidDCM

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
From what I know there is the long-term plan to acquire a 155 SPH. They tested the Korean K9 and the French Caesar light SPH. The Caesar seems to be the favorite but no specific steps have been done to acquire it since then.

But they already have the Astros II MLRS and - if you want to see it as "artillery" - they have a number of 81mm mortars on APC chassis and recently acquired 8 120mm mortar carriers.
 

qwerty223

New Member
Nope, the fact is opposite. Ceasar had lost it interest from the MA cheifs, and in fact they had redraw the bid. K9 is on the table now.
 

DavidDCM

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
qwerty, thanks for the info, I haven't watched that so close and must've confused it a bit.

@croc: Malaysia has no concrete plans to do so at the moment. They haven't signed any Letter of Intent, let alone a contract, about the K9 or any other SPH right now. A lot of military procurements were at the edge of being cancelled in the last months and the money for new projects is very sparse in these days.
 

qwerty223

New Member
actually, the Caesar's semi auto design does not full fill the MA's expectation. They are looking for something that could react fast and better survivability. Which the k9 in other hand has all the features the MA looking for. The Archer somewhat has a strong atraction to the MA in terms of capability. But BAE themselves too did not pay too much expectation as their product is out of the MA's budget.
 

DavidDCM

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Right now in the "9th Malaysia Plan"-budget allocation I think there's no funding left for a new SP artillery. So you'll at least have to wait until 2011 until plans for such a system could begin to form. Same goes for the replacement of the Condor and Sibmas. No money in the current budget.
 

qwerty223

New Member
Well, its hard to say as there is still 1 year to go. But i m afraid that political wrestling will hard the military procurement, just like what happened in tawain...
 

Pro'forma

New Member
Not so interesting that political wrestling, how come the traditions are
lying on table as being stuck with in a mud after typhoons ?
Without these anti-liberal budget enlargement plans country has no attendance world-wide f.ex. enlarge the procurement ahead of schedule.
 
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