INTRODUCTION

1. The military concept of Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) is theory about the future warfare. RMA are closely linked and combined with economics, politics, technologies, security and strategies for RMA to have it changes. The original theorizing about RMA was largely done within the American military, other nations are exploring similar shifts in organisation and technology.

2. Interest in RMA and the structure of future US force have made many other militaries have done researched and considered RMA as and organizational concept.

3. Malaysian Army also now in the planning to modernise it organisations after experienced in insurgency era to the conventional warfare (CW). The modernisation that planned to take place in Malaysian Army is logistic, weaponry, knowledge and doctrines .

AIM
4. The aim of this paper is to highlight and discusses to give some understanding of RMA and how it relevant to the Malaysian Army.

DISCUSSION TOPICS
5. The topics that will discuss are as follow:
a. The Meaning of Revolution in Military Affairs.
b. RMA Relevant To The Malaysian Army.
c. Implication on Doctrine.
d. Future Planning in The Malaysian Army.
e. Conclusion

MEANING OF RMA
6. Definition of RMA had been defined as the changes in the concept of warfare that brought by the changes in military doctrine, equipment, political and economy of a country . This revolution occurs when the application of new technologies into a significant number of military systems combines with innovative operational concepts and organisation adaptation in a way that fundamentally alters the character and conduct of conflict. RMA offers new opportunities to the military and offering an answer to many enduring strategic dilemmas.

7. The term RMA also is used to describe the impact of leading-edge military technologies and information warfare on the conduct of military operations from the tactical to the strategic level.

8. Key RMA technologies include precision-guided munitions, stealth technology and the used of space based assets for command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as modern computational capabilities to integrate these functions.

9. If we looks, today’s RMA is believed had been developed the research or adapted from previous revolutions in all aspects especially tactics and weaponry. The revolutions that happens until now is in this aspect: a. Revolution in Weaponry Technology. In pre-historical era, they used stones and sticks as their weapon and at this time the also implement a simple tactics when involve in a fight. From time to time it was develop, they makes weapon using metal and also start to create the defences equipment such as shield and body armoured. From spears and sword, the gunpowder was invented. Soldiers were equipped with musket and it was to develop until we reach the era of modern rifle with better range compare before this. This revolutions still going on and the scientist makes researched.

b. Revolution in Doctrines and Tactics. By the changing of equipment and weaponry it may change the doctrines and tactics. Starts from hand to hand battle-using sword to the modern warfare the tactics and doctrine still studied by military strategies. Before this battle was conducted in various formation and in a short ranges with the commander near by the battlefield but now the commander can conduct the war and battle from the rear. c. Dimensional of Warfare. Before this, there is only one-dimensional warfare. When the battles take place on land, it only involved weaponry on the land and that same goes the sea warfare. Now there is three-dimensional warfare and it’s including the using of satellite to locating the enemies’ position without using manpower. The navy or air force can support the army operational deep inside land area like in Afghanistan and Iraq, where the coalition forces start the air bombing meanwhile the navy launched missile and after that army will destroyed whatever left after the bombardment.

d. Logistic. Before World War II, the supply to front lines where delivered using land by vehicles. Sometimes when enemy cordon the friendly the logistic forces will not arrived to them. Aircraft were introduced in World War II it was use extensively, it changes the pattern of supply deliveries. After the World War II the research had been done to make sure that the front line forces will have their supply without any problem and was proven in Vietnam War when air cavalry were used to send troops and supply using helicopters.

RMA RELEVANT TO THE MALAYSIA ARMY
10. The challenge for the future is to build up an army which is relevant to the emerging security environment at least until the following decade. The fundamentals elements Malaysia’s defence needs:

a. Self-reliance.
b. Regional co-operation.
c. External assistance.

11. There is no clear cut military threat, therefore the Malaysian Army in future must be able to respond to wide spectrum of contingencies. The army in future will probably be smaller in size than the present one but it must have the capability to fulfil its task in an uncertain environment.

12. The capabilities that the Malaysian Army must have are as follows:

a. Rapid Response. This requirement calls for existence of force capable of swiftly responding to intended acts of aggression. b. Wide Range of Options. The army must have a force in being capable of providing the national command authorities with a wide range of options for employment in any contingency. Conclussion

c. Interoperability. The army must work together with the navy and air force to ensure it is capable of deploying and fighting as coordinated joint force.

13. New defence technology in future will be highly critical for the defence of our territory. It is for this reason that more emphasis will be given towards exploiting new technologies to ensure we gain a distinct increase in the following capabilities:

a. Command, control and intelligence.

b. Operational and strategic mobility to repel penetration.

c. Fire support with intelligent artillery ammunition.

d. Anti-tank, aircraft surveillance and EW combat system.

e. Protection of personnel and equipment against weapons effect.

IMPLICATION ON DOCTRINE
14. Doctrine is the tool as guidance for all aspect in Malaysian Army. It is based on the realities of current capabilities, but it anticipates intellectual and technological developments that will bring victory now and in the future.

15. Sound doctrine based on the knowledge warfare must guide the employment of new capabilities. Doctrine should be developed first and would be the basis of all decisions, dictating what kind of forces need to be developed and what type equipment required to be used. In reality, that process is interactive. Doctrine should not to be seen as definitive or finalised, the RMA will be moving to fast for that.

16. Future conflicts and operations will require joint and combined ground, air, sea and space power. It will be necessary to have a coherent joint doctrine to integrate all service capabilities into a seamless, multi-dimensional application of force to ensure that the Malaysian Army does retain in qualitative edge. MALAYSIAN ARMY FUTURE PLANNING
17. In order to make sure the army could prevent and defence our country from any threats can breaks air and maritime controls, Malaysia Armed Forces (MAF) had put six main priorities to develop for Malaysian Army. The six priorities are:

a. High mobility combined armed.

b. Capabilities in logistic support.

c. Reconnaissance equipment.

d. Fire support from air force aircraft and reconnaissance helicopters.

e. Troop carrier and reconnaissance vehicle using track and wheeled.

f. Special Force will be giving more attention to upgrade their skills in anti - terrorist and non-conventional warfare.

18. High command in the army also concern about the Electronic Warfare (EW) and have been tasks to Signaller Corps. The Signaller Corps will have their own capabilities in EW. That’s means the Signaller Corps also have their RMA from the aspect of specialities and jobs.

19. Before this the task for defending Malaysian airspace was given to Air Defence Artillery (ADA) that only used cannon like Oerlinkon and Bofi only. In early 1990, we were introduced to the Starburst missile usage for air defence and now two more types of missile, Anza were introduces for air defence usage. That was a major loop in air defence artillery because the transformation from cannon age then to the missiles age. Beside ADA, Artillery Corps are now move to the usage of 155 mm cannon and Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) for more fire power and it is can be categories as morale booster among front lines troop. 20. As we know infantry are the backbones of army. Much equipment was bought for the uses of infantry. Many infantry in the world especially from superpower countries nowadays don’t have to walk to their objective but the use vehicle for mobility. Motorised infantry, mechanised infantry, air cavalry and motor rifle regiment are the type of infantry that we can hear these day. The Malaysian Army also interested to change the pattern of infantry from the ‘old type’ to the new one. Starting from the establishment of mechanised infantry then airborne and now we are waiting for motorised infantry in Malaysian Army.

21. The Tank Regiment now are waiting to receive the MBT PT 91 by the end of this year. Total MBT that will received are as follows: a. Main Battle Tank (MBT PT-91M) - 48 veh.

b. Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB PMC-LEGUAN) - 5 veh.

c. Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV WZT-4) - 6 veh.

d. Armoured Engineering Vehicle (AEV MID-M) - 3 veh.

22. It useless if we have superb equipment but we don’t have enough human resource to manned it. To solve this problem Malaysian Army had introduced ‘K-Army’ and encouraging the officer and its men for further their studies. Armed Forces Academy was established top trained cadets to became knowledgably officer, Army Colleague had introduce Diploma of Human Resource in syllabus beside military academic. The knowledgeable army are the main priorities for Higher Command.

CONCLUSION
23. RMA and Malaysian Army are related to each other. This type of relation cannot be ignored and history had show that RMA and army were on the same tracks all the times. Malaysia locations are on the strategic location on Malacca Straits and South China Sea need to Malaysia Army always alerted and standby to react if our sovereignty is in danger. Until now many countries have show their interest in political and economy to Malaysia and neighbouring country.

24. My opinion our army RMA are going slowly and we are at the behind compared to the other army in Asia for example Singapore and China. This is because the limitation of economy and budgets. In 1980’s our country going down and in 1996 the same situation happen. This incident limited the RMA in the defence sector because the government have to concern other sector.

25. In order to maintain our RMA, we have to cooperate with the government and defence industrial sector. We don’t want drastically result in RMA but the continuity will satisfied all. We don’t want to receive same fate as Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) when their vessel project in trouble or Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in A-4 Skyhawk purchased during PERISTA in 1980’s. The continuity will guaranty the development of Malaysian Army RMA.

26. The most important things for the future is operations must fully combined joint operations, utilising the right technology, supplied in the environment and backed by new doctrine and training. In planning the Malaysian Army for the twenty-first century, we have to ask ourselves about these to:

a. How are we adapting to the rapid changes we are going through?

b. Is there a reduction in the overall threat to national security or merely in the threat?

c. How will this affect the roles and functions of the army in the future.

d. What are the future plans of the army with regards to its structure and capability?

e. What challenges do we face in realising the future plans of the army?