UK T45 will benefit RMN
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http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Thursday/National/20070208082513/Article/index_html
MoU will bring UK T45 destroyer technology here
08 Feb 2007
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KUALA LUMPUR: When the United KingdomÂ’s latest Type 45 (T45) destroyer was launched recently, one thing was not immediately obvious.
Although the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) had never operated destroyers nor announced plans to do so, the T45 will benefit the RMN.
The technology used in the production of the latest T45 — the Dauntless — will be used in the production of the RMN’s latest frigates.
The T45 anti-air warfare destroyers have been built by BAE Systems of the UK with the same company involved in the frigate programme for the RMN.
The Malaysian government usually negotiates a transfer of technology clause for procurement deals which it did with its frigate programme.
BAE Systems recently received a letter of intent from the government to provide two frigates via an industrial partnership with Labuan Shipyard & Engineering Sdn Bhd (LSE).
A transfer of technology is part of the deal and this technology will include those developed for the T45 destroyers.
Today, BAE Systems will be signing a memorandum of understanding with Realmild Sdn Bhd, the owners of LSE, to be witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also Defence Minister.
Although details of the MoU are unavailable, it is understood that it concerns co-operation between the companies in the maritime industrial field, with the first project being the RMN frigate programme.
BAE Systems managing director (Asia Pacific) Steve Meighan told the New Straits Times he believed the RMN and the maritime and defence industries would benefit from the transfer of technology.
"The T45 has been built with the most modern, sophisticated production techniques. These techniques will be transferred as part of the technology package to our Malaysian partners.
"Thus, the most modern naval shipbuilding technologies will soon exist in Malaysia.
"There are, of course, very key, central equipment technologies that will be common between the T45 and the new RMN frigates. These will be proven and developed on the T45 prior to integration on the RMN vessels," he said.
"Similarly, this equipment will be supported by Malaysian companies as part of the transfer of technology package."
Meighan said BAE Systems was confident LSE would be more than able to undertake the frigate programme once certain measures were taken.
The entire programme is expected to take about five years, but LSE needs to upgrade the infrastructure at its shipyard in Labuan before the programme can get started. The upgrading work is expected to take six months.
The Dauntless is the second of eight T45 destroyers which will, in concert with the UKÂ’s Future Aircraft Carrier, provide the backbone of the RMNÂ’s air defences for much of the first half of the 21st century.
The vessels are expected to be in service with the RMN until at least 2040.
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oh i dont like the sound of this. We need to buck up to keep ahead! I hope we have the funds else we risk our birdies getting taken down real quick i suppose.
What do we have that can "accomodate" such increase in capability of our neighbour? -
Something to take note :
Taken from http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsurf/articles/20060114.aspx
PAAMS is slated to enter service with three navies – the Daring-class destroyers in The United Kingdom, the Forbin-class destroyers in France, and the Andrea Doria-class destroyers in Italy. This system operates the ASTER family of surface-to-air missiles. There are two versions of the ASTER, the ASTER-15 and the ASTER-30. The ASTER 15 is a point-defense system, with a range of 30 kilometers. It has been installed on the Formidable-class frigates in the Singaporean Navy and the al-Riyadh class frigates in the Saudi Navy. The other missile in the family is the ASTER 30, with a range of to 70 kilometers. This will be on the destroyers. The ASTER missiles are guided by a variant of the active-radar seeker used on the Mica air-to-air missile
Are our neighbours going to be using the ASTER as well? -
Depends what the Malaysians are looking for. Are they looking for multi-role frigates or air-defence frigates which the Dauntless class is? I suspect the Malaysians will probably follow what we have and put together a multi-role frigate. Heck, the Type 45s don't even have Harpoons mounted initially, though they could be.
I was remembering reading that Aster 30 is a provision for our frigates, hence why our Defence Minister talked about anti-ICBM defence or something. -
We should not always look on the down side of our relationship with MY. Sometimes we should count our blessings.Originally posted by CM06:oh i dont like the sound of this. We need to buck up to keep ahead! I hope we have the funds else we risk our birdies getting taken down real quick i suppose.
What do we have that can "accomodate" such increase in capability of our neighbour?
Of all the other SE Asian nations, the Malaysians are still the more "relak" peoples. They are not super violent like the Thais, Indonesians or Filipinos. Crime rate is low compared to the other SE Asian countries.
There are raging rebellions in Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines. We must thank heavens we are not their immediate neighbours.
Malaysia, on the other hand, is enjoying a long period of peace and prosperity.
There are no violent overthrow of governments, for example.
The Malaysians may dislike us, but it is nothing compared to the ill-will the Indonesians or Filipinos have towards ethnic Chinese peoples.
Though they may go on about the water and Pedra Blanca, they do it to irritate us and I really don't think there's any issue is serious enough for them go to war with SG.
If you see things from their side, we are actually very prickly sometimes. It is not comforting for them to live next to a super aggressive little island that is armed to the teeth and is short of every damn thing like land, water, natural resources etc... Basically things that the Malaysians have plenty of.
While we have to be prepared for the unexpected, I have to say that Malaysia is very possibly the best neighbour Singapore can have and we should continue to put value on improving ties. It really isn't that difficult. -
having to acquired a technology doesn't mean you will know where, how and when to employ it.
Further, the people in command and operating it also play a critical role.
RSN PV crash with commerical vessal is a very good example -
You don't exactly expect Malaysia to sit around on its butt and do nothing rite? Why should one be surprised that they ought to get such technology?
The real question is what we are doing in response to it. -
I agree! The dauntless is more AA than AS role. It will most likely impair our air ops the most. I look forward to what we can bring up to counter it.Originally posted by SingaporeTyrannosaur:You don't exactly expect Malaysia to sit around on its butt and do nothing rite? Why should one be surprised that they ought to get such technology?
The real question is what we are doing in response to it.
TO Moca : Yeah MY and SG are buddies...we are part of FPD still you never know what may/may not happen. Best scenario we are working together....that said we should always look at the worst senario too. -
They buying that to counter our F-15s? hehe
As much as we slam each other. Many of us have relatives or friends across the causeway it will be quite difficult to start a war. But yes
'In times of peace, you must prepare for war'