CAP55: Malaysia Continues to Upgrade Its Radar

10 Juni 2020

Thales Raytheon GM400 radar and radome construction work by Deftech (all photos : MFH)

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Despite the enforcement of Movement Control Order (MCO) which began since March 18, 2020, Malaysia continues to upgrade its air defence and surveillance radar facilities in the East Malaysian state of Sarawak.

In his speech in conjunction with the 62nd anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Jen Dato’ Sri Ackbal bin Hj Abdul Samad TUDM listed new procurement of an air defence radar which will be made soon.

The new air defence radar will complement the existing radar sites at Labuan as well as at Kota Samarahan hence further strengthening the RMAF National Air Defence System (Sistem Pertahanan Udara Nasional – SPUN).

Request for Information (RFI) has been issued in 2019 and it seems that the procurement will materialised soon.

Previously the operation of a Marconi S-605S radar was put under the charge of No 330 Skn out of Kuching AFB since 2000. The Marconi radar was withdrawn from service in October 12, 2010 and was slated for replacement following a new air defence radar procurement made by the RMAF in 2008.

No 330 Skn is now assuming the role as Sector Operation Centre 3 (SOC 3) with Thales C2 Sentry command and control system as part of the Malaysia Air Defence Ground Environment (MADGE) system out of its new base at RMAF Kota Samarahan.

Since 2013, a new air defence radar squadron in Sarawak, the No 331 Skn, has assume the role Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) for Sarawak through the successful integration of Thales Ground Master 403 into the SPUN/MADGE system.

All these years,the GM403  radar was operated by No 331 Skn at RMAF Kota Samarahan together with No 330 Skn. The squadron stayed there until January 22, 2019 when the radar was relocated at the peak of Gunung Ngili, Sarawak.

Construction of radome and other facilities for No 331 Skn at RMAF Gunung Ngili was initiated in 2019 by DEFTECH.

The company, which controls Composite Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM) has already constructed three composite radomes for the RMAF at Western Hill, Bukit Lunchu and Bukit Kubong.

In the near future, two more radars are expected to be procured under the 12th Malaysia Plan which will begin in 2021.

(MFH)