LIMA 2013 MALAYSIA Network Centric Operation Simulation Unveiled

Datuk Ir. Khalilur Rahman Ebrahim, executive chairman, gave a real-time demonstration of his company’s Battlefield Management System (BMS). Unbeknownst to attendees at LIMA ’13, SCS actually has a UAV loitering high above the show venue providing live feed to the SCS ‘command centre’ inside a closed room at its booth, as well as a mobile communication vehicle and static video surveillance. Khalilur Rahman explained that the watchwords of the BMS are ‘observe, orientate, decide and action’.

The company reported the RMN has already been using its TACX command-and-control (C2) system for approximately two years, and it is currently employed in combat operations in Lahad Datu in Sabah. SCS also has a police C4I version available. SCS demonstrated how a bystander could photograph an unfolding crime or emergency situation with a mobile phone and forward the information to the command centre, which would then dispatch a police car. The chairman said SCS would be “fighting for a contract” to supply the police with this locally produced system. It is also attracting regional interest from countries such as Cambodia and Thailand.
SAPURA and its technological partner THALES have been developing and refining Malaysia's future soldier program in which some Internet open source noted as the MKFUMKII program (here). Elements and hardwares of the SAPURA developed future soldier program has been showcased in several edition of DSA and most recently during the 2011 Army Day and LIMA 2011.

On November last year, the Defence Minister has informed that Sapura Technologies Sdn Bhd has been appointed to initiate the MAF NCO Phase 1A development program. The two year program will cost about RM 140 million.

With the establishment of this unit, Malaysia will become the second ASEAN country after Singapore to formally induct future soldier program into its Army unit.
Raytheon – Good for GBAD!Raytheon, in combination with Kongsberg, told it was working closely with Malaysia on a ground-based air defence (GBAD) solution. Malaysia is seeking a C2 system to integrate existing short and very short-range air defence (SHORAD/ VSHORAD) systems. An ideal solution is Raytheon’s Fire Distribution Centre (FDC) already used by six nations.

A company representative said, “It provides baseline elements with which the RMAF can incrementally grow from integrated SHORAD to medium-range capabilities.” Raytheon has already provided a full proposal to Malaysia. “We can tailor our offering to their needs and requirements,” said Patrick Marcoux, senior manager of Raytheon’s integrated air and missile defence division. The FDC already operates with Stinger, Mistral and RB70 missiles, and others could be integrated according to customer requirements. In future, Malaysia could easily scale up to include the medium-range NASAMS missile system, and the FDC would act as a foundation for a netted air defence infrastructure. Raytheon commented that other regional nations are now “getting serious” about GBAD as well.