KUALA LUMPUR – The Defence Ministry’s (Mindef) purchase of the Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) Starstreak air defence system has cost the government RM897 million.
In a parliamentary reply dated November 16, the ministry said Putrajaya entered a deal with Global Komited Sdn Bhd to replace the old Starburst system, which was been in service since 1992.
“The acquisition of the new asset is to replace the Starburst system, which completed its service in 2019 at the end of its shelf life.
“The Starburst system has been used by all three military branches – the army, navy and air force – since 1992, for 23 years,” said the reply.
Hence, the military saw the need to replace the asset to ensure that Malaysia’s defence force remains at optimal, ideal levels.
Mindef added that despite facing economic constraints, the acquisition for the replacement of Starstreak was necessary for the sake of the country’s safety.
The military had also decided on a buy-back scheme to purchase Starstreak and obtained RM60 million as added value during the disposal of the Starburst system.
From the RM60 million, the military had bought nine armoured personnel carriers worth RM45.1 million that have been deployed in Lebanon, along with 107 multipurpose domestic vans, 20 hearses and six Type C ambulances, worth RM14.9 million in total.
It added that Starstreak has been successfully acquired and that Mindef received all the equipment in 2019. – The Vibes, November 18, 2021
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