(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has conducted the firing of Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles through TAMING SARI Exercise in the waters north of the Strait of Malacca today.
In a statement released today, RMN stated that TAMING SARI Exercise is a series of missile firing exercises by RMN assets aimed at testing the capabilities and readiness of the missile systems on ships, as well as the competency of its personnel.
“During TAMING SARI Exercise 22/2023, a total of two Exocet MM40 guided missiles were launched from the warship KD LEKIU,” according to RMN.
It was mentioned that KD LEKIR is a reserve missile firing ship.
KD LEKIU is a Frigate-class ship (FFGH30) commissioned on October 7, 1999, and led by Captain Mahamad Nazir bin Darus, RMN.
(Video courtesy Royal Malaysian Navy)
On the other hand, KD LEKIR is a Corvette-class ship (FSG26) commissioned on June 18, 1984, and led by Commander Mhd Izmi Faizal bin Mhd Khani, RMN.
Witnessing the missile firing today were the former Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Utama Mohamad Hasan, who currently holds the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defence Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, and the three services chief.
Conceptualized with Force Integration Training (FIT), the jointness aspect was demonstrated in this exercise through the involvement of 14 surface ships, eight boats, and 12 aircraft from RMN, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
The TAMING SARI Exercise 22/2023 also tested the capabilities of all involved assets while showcasing the maritime defence forces’ presence in the waters of the Strait of Malacca.
The exercise, conducted from December 4 to 16, 2023, comprised four main phases: Port Phase, Area Cleaning and Firing Line-Up Phase, Firing Day Phase, and Closure Phase.
During the Port Phase from December 4 to 9, 2023, at the RMN Lumut Base, various activities for sea preparation were carried out, including the Opening Ceremony, Exercise Briefing, Operations Officer Discussion, Table Top Exercise (TTX), and Pre-Sailing Briefing.
During this phase, detailed planning for the upcoming phases was undertaken to ensure the success of the missile firing.
“Subsequently, all involved assets sailed to the northern waters of the Strait of Malacca to conduct the Area Cleaning and Firing Line-Up Phase from December 10 to 13, 2023, followed by the actual firing today,” according to the RMN statement.
Given the increasingly challenging geo-strategic landscape, RMN plays a crucial role in remaining relevant in the context of maritime defense.
“The implementation of TAMING SARI Exercise 22/2023 can showcase the combat power capability of RMN and prove that it remains formidable in the maritime defence arena, credible, and capable of defending the sovereignty of the nation’s waters,” said RMN. — DSA
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