PUTRAJAYA: Four countries are expected to show interest in competing for the tender for the supply of a total of 400 six-wheel drive armoured vehicles of the Malaysian Army.

According to a report by business news portal, Seoul, South Korea-based Asia Business Daily, the acquisition replaces the team’s existing vehicles used since 1981.

“So far, the international tender that has been opened will take over the functions of the old Sibmas 6 × 6 armored cars made in Belgium and the Condor 4 × 4 made in Germany,” the site said.

Both models of the armed vehicles were produced by well-known European machinery manufacturers, Constructions Ferroviaires et Metalliques BN and Henschel Wehrtechnik GmbH.

The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) handles 186 Sibmas and 460 Condors with the last delivery in 1984 which is now considered an outdated model.

The Ministry of Defence’s open tender also laid down the main condition that the product must be manufactured in the country for high technology transfer effort and the supply of spare parts.

The portal reported that four manufacturers are expected to bid, namely FNSS from Turkey, PT Pindad (Indonesia), General Dynamic Land System (Canada) and Hyundai Rotem (South Korea).

Based on the current offer, the Turkish company is predicted to have a big advantage as it has already established cooperation with its local partner, DRB-Hicom Defense Technologies Sdn. Bhd.

The joint venture enables the automotive giant’s subsidiary to produce 257 multi -function amphibious armored vehicles, PARS 8 × 8 branded as AV8 Gempita.

Its closest competitor is PT Pindad which will offer the Anoa 6 × 6 model of the Indonesian National Army with the Malaysian version to be known as Rimau.

Canada, meanwhile, is expected to offer a new model of LAV 6 × 6 while South Korea with a K806 6 × 6 armored car which is also used by the country’s military.

The Ministry of Defence also opened tenders for a total of 36 units of four1-wheel drive armored cars for the operation of the Peacekeeping Force under the United Nations (UN).

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4 Negara Dijangka Bersaing Tender 400 Kereta Perisai 6×6

PUTRAJAYA: Empat negara dijangka menunjukkan minat untuk bersaing bagi merebut tender pembekalan sejumlah 400 buah kereta perisai pacuan enam roda Tentera Darat Malaysia.

Menurut laporan portal berita perniagaan, Asia Business Daily yang berpusat di Seoul, Korea Selatan, perolehan ini menggantikan kenderaan sedia ada pasukan itu digunakan sejak 1981.

“Setakat ini, tender antarabangsa yang dibuka itu akan mengambil alih fungsi kereta perisai lama model Sibmas 6×6 buatan Belgium dan Condor 4×4 buatan Jerman,” kata laman tersebut.

Kedua-dua model kenderaan bersenjata tersebut dihasilkan oleh pengeluar jentera ternama dari Eropah, Constructions Ferroviaires et Metalliques BN dan Henschel Wehrtechnik GmbH.

Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) mengendalikan 186 buah Sibmas dan 460 buah Condor dengan penghantaran terakhir pada 1984 lalu yang kini sudah dianggap model ketinggalan zaman.

Tender terbuka Kementerian Pertahanan itu turut meletakkan syarat utama iaitu produk mesti dikilangkan di negara ini bagi usaha pemindahan teknologi tinggi dan pembekalan alat ganti.

Portal itu melaporkan, empat pengeluar dijangka membida iaitu FNSS dari Turki, PT Pindad (Indonesia), General Dynamic Land System (Kanada) dan Hyundai Rotem (Korea Selatan).

Berdasarkan tawaran semasa, syarikat Turki diramal ada kelebihan besar kerana sudah menjalinkan kerjasama dengan rakan tempatannya, DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies Sdn. Bhd.

Usahasama itu membolehkan anak syarikat gergasi automotif itu mengeluarkan 257 buah kereta perisai tempur amfibia pelbagai fungsi, PARS 8×8 dijenamakan sebagai AV8 Gempita.

Saingan terdekatnya pula ialah PT Pindad yang bakal menawarkan model Anoa 6×6 Angkatan Darat Tentera Nasional Indonesia dengan versi Malaysia akan dikenali sebagai Rimau.

Kanada dalam pada itu dijangka menawarkan model baharu LAV 6×6 manakala Korea Selatan dengan kereta perisai K806 6×6 yang turut digunakan pasukan tentera negara tersebut.

Kementerian Pertahanan juga membuka tender untuk sejumlah 36 unit kereta perisai pacuan empat roda bagi operasi Pasukan Pengaman di bawah Pertubuhan Bangsa Bersatu (PBB). -UTUSAN ONLINE