MD530G Scout Helicopter and Nexter 105mm Howitzer in Firepower Exercise
The Malaysian Army’s MD530G light scout attack helicopter and the Nexter 105mm LG1 Mk III howitzer, both latest addition to its list of battle equipment, today (June 21) took part in an airland firepower training exercise south of the capital Kuala Lumpur.
The airspace above live fire training area, part of the sprawling Syed Sirajuddin Camp in Gemas, 119 km south of here reverberated with the roar of ordnance fired and launched from two MD530G and other combat aircraft at the 2022 MAF Firepower Training (FPT).
The helicopters equipped with weapons such as 70 milimetre (mm) rocket and 7.62 mm “mini” guns have the capability of attacking light armored vehicles and enemy personnel at ranges between 500 metres to seven kilometres as well as execute its key air reconnaissance duties, depending on weapons fit.
Present at the event were Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang and Chief of Army Gen Tan Sri Zamrose Mohd Zain.
The firepower display and combat manoeuvres also saw the participation of the Army’s, mechanised, artillery and air units, as well as aircraft from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).
Other equipment included PT-91M Pendekar main battle tank , AV8 Gempita, AV4 Lipan Bara and the ACV-300 Adnan infantry fighting vehicles.
Other weapons systems employed in this year’s training encompassed small arms and high calibre cannons and guided misiles, including the Astros II multiple rocket launcher system (MLRS), the 155mm G5 MK III howitzer, the 105mm PH L5 pack howitzer, the INGWE Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM), 81mm and 120mm mortars as well as 40mm Rocket-Propelled Grenades.
Helicopters from all three branches of service – the Super Lynx and the AS555 Fennec from the RMN, the EC 725AP from the RMAF and the Agusta A109 LOH also took part.
A dynamic display of Combat Air Support (CAS) by RMAF aircraft were also carried out during the exercise, with F/A-18D Hornet and BAe Hawk 208 fighters. – adj/dl/mgm (Images: ADJ/Perajurit)
