Malaysia prepares tender to procure up to 400 new 6x6 wheeled armored vehicles
Hyundai Rotem's K806, one of the competitors for the Malaysian Army requirement for new 6x6 armored vehicles. Photo c/o Defence Security Asia. |
The Malaysian Army is preparing to open an international tender for the procurement of 6x6 wheeled armored vehicles to replace older models in its inventory.
The acquisition, dubbed the Next Generation Wheeled Armoured Vehicle project, aims to procure 400 new 6x6 wheeled armored vehicles to replace its fleet of Belgian-made SIBMAS 6x6 and German-made Condor 4x4 armored vehicles.
The Condor Armored Personnel Carrier were built by Germany's Henschel Wehrtechnik GmbH, while the SIBMAS 6x6, built by Belgium's BN Constructions Ferroviaires et Metalliques and armed with 90mm Cockerill low-pressure cannon, have been in service with the Malaysian Army since 1981.
The Condor is being used as an armored personnel carrier, while the SIBMAS are used as fire support vehicles supporting infantry units.
The new vehicle is expected to become the most numerous armored vehicle in Malaysian Army's inventory.
It is expected that Turkey's FNSS, Indonesia's PT Pindad, General Dynamic Land Systems Canada, and South Korea's Hyundai Rotem would be participating in the tender.
FNSS is potentially offering their PARS II 6x6 vehicle, while PTT Pindad is expected to offer their Anoa 6x6 vehicle.
General Dynamics Land Systems Canada may also proceed with a 6x6 version of their successful LAV series of vehicles, while Hyundai Rotem may offer the new K806 6x6 wheeled armored vehicle.
The requirement from the Malaysian Government may require local production of the vehicles, in which Turkey's FNSS currently has advantage due to their recent completion of producing the PARS 8x8 armored vehicles, known locally as the AV8 Gempita by Malaysian partner DefTech.
Hyundai Rotem has also opened to the possibility of local production, and has confirmed that they are participating in the tender with the K806 wheeled armored vehicle. The K806 was designed and built for the Republic of Korea Army, and is also being offered for export to other countries.
Aside from the requirement for 400 new 6x6 wheeled armored vehicles, the Malaysian Army is also expected to tender for 36 new 4x4 armored vehicles, which could be for requirements by the service's United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.
[1] Asiae
[2] Defence Security Asia
Malaysia prepares tender to procure up to 400 new 6x6 wheeled armored vehicles
Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal
on
September 06, 2021
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