The Royal Malaysian Navy RMN has successfully conducted Exercise KERISMAS 26/2019 from 1 to 16 July 2019. The exercise also encompassed Exercise TAMING SARI 19/2019, both of which were held in the South China Sea.
The opening ceremony of Exercise KERISMAS 26/2019 was officiated by the Chief of Navy, Admiral Datuk Mohd Reza bin Mohd Sany 2 July 2019. The exercise had involved assets in the RMN fleetincluding KD LEKIU, KD KASTURI, KD GAGAH SAMUDERA, KD LAKSAMANA TAN PUSMAH, KD LAKSAMANA HANG NADIM, KD MAHAMIRU, KD KELANTAN, KD BAUNG, KD PENDEKAR, KD GANYANG, KD PAHANG, KD PERANTAU, the Super Lynx dan Fennec helicopters as well as the submarine KD TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN. As a joint element, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) sent their Sukhoi SU-30MKM to participate in the exercise.
The RMN fleet in a task group was deployed to the exercise area on 4 July 2019. The fleet was tested in various aspects of dimensional warfare including mine area maneuvering, navigation, seafaring, armament, communication and maritime warfare tactics.The aim of this training is to test the level of readiness of the Navy People when facing a situation or threat at sea. The training also tests the endurance of ship’s crew when operating at sea for a long duration. The Chief of Navy had joined the exercise to witness the capabilities of the officers and sailors conducting training evolution and assess the readiness of assets participating in the exercise.
Exercise TAMING SARI 19/2019 was the finale of Exercise KERISMAS 26/2019, which is the firing of EXOCET MM40 Block II and SEA SKUA missiles. The RMAF’s F/A-18D Hornet, EC725 and B200T, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) ship KM GEMIA and PENGGALANG boat also took part in the exercise. It has been five years since the last Exercise TAMING SARI was conducted, which is in 2014.
KD KASTURI was chosen as the firing platform for the EXOCET MM40 Block II missile while the RMN’s Super Lynx was chosen to fire two SEA SKUA missiles. The firing was successfully conducted displaying the high level of readiness of the RMN fleet.
The Minister of Defence, YB Tuan Haji Mohamad bin Sabu and Deputy Minister of Defence, YB Senator Liew Chin Tong took time to witness the firing exercise. The Minister was proud of the outcome of both Exercise KERISMAS 26/2019 and Exercise TAMING SARI 19/2019. He said that this success is proof of the RMN fleet’s capability to fulfill requirements when operating in the South China Sea. Indirectly, this training also has a positive impact on the maritime communities in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, especially their confidence in the Malaysian Armed Forces through the RMN in protecting the nation’s maritime sovereignty in the South China Sea.
About EXOCET MM40
The MM40 Block II as an “over the horizon” anti-ship missile. Exocet, in production since 1972, was the West’s first long range anti-ship missile with “fire and forget” and sea-skimming flight capabilities. Since entering service in 1972, 3,600 EXOCET missiles, in all configurations, have been sold to 35 countries.
MBDA now markets the newer Block III version which features many improvements: It is fitted with a booster and has a significantly extended operational range making it a 200 km class weapon and features open ocean, littoral and coastal land attack capabilities. The new Block III is compatible with Block II launchers
Main specifications of the MM40 Block II missile:
Length : 5,20 m
Diameter : 0,35 m
Weight : 735 kg
Warhead : 165 kg
Speed : Mach 1
Range : 70 km
Sea Skua on a RMN Lynx at LIMA 2019 Sea Skua on a RMN Lynx at LIMA 2019
About Sea Skua
The Sea Skua is a lightweight British anti-ship missile, designed by the British Aircraft Corporation (now MBDA), to be used from Royal Navy helicopters, especially the Lynx. Mass production of the missile started in 1981. The Royal Navy fired its last Sea Skua in March 2017 . It will be replaced by MBDA’s Sea Venom. The missile has been exported to 8 navies including the RMN.
The Sea Skua has a weight of 145 kg, a length of 2.5 meters, a speed of Mach 0.8, a range of 25 km. It has a 30kg blast+ fragmentation warhead. It employs semi active radar guidance and sea skimming flight to reach its target.
