SHAH ALAM: Another AW139 for Op Benteng. Back in July last year, the Defence Ministry issued a tender to lease two helicopters for the RMN as part of Op Benteng operations. I did a story on that tender but it appears that the tender was subsequently cancelled.
Now it appears that at least one aircraft is likely to be operated by the National Task Force (NTF) the body set up to coordinate the various agencies involved in Op Benteng.
The NTF operated helicopter, an AW139, appeared in a banner (main picture) at the Defence Ministry booth at the Keluarga Malaysia exhibition held in conjunction with the 100 day celebration of the current government. The banner said AW139 GOCOM, which may mean Government Owned, Company Operated and Managed.
It must be noted that there is a single government owned AW139 -serial number 9M-JPM – which arrived here a few months back. It is bought for the Prime Minister’s Department hence the serial number JPM – Jabatan Perdana Menteri. I managed to track its movement on an aircraft tracking application likely in September though I have not seen the aircraft on it anymore. It is very that 9M-JPM is the helicopter to be used by the NTF.
It is also likely that 9M-JPM would be flown by Galaxy Aerospace flight crews which will also provide the maintenance at its facility in Subang hence the GOCOM designation. NTF personnel will be onboard to conduct the surveillance operations. This is a slight variation to the canceled helicopter leasing programme which was supposed to be company owned, company operate and managed, with the surveillance personnel coming from the navy.
Meanwhile in Parliament, yesterday, Deputy Defence Minister DS Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz stated that the MD-530G helicopters will be delivered in the first quarter of next year. The helicopters are likely to be delivered later than the RMN Maritime Utility Helicopters as suggested previously.
HT to DM.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (44)
So that chopper under RMN or RMAF?
its under NTF
Marhalim, the latest news this morning is the Australian Army will be replacing the Taipans with Blackhawks because of reliability and maintenance issues. Could they be any use to us, not for the army/military but for more civilians type applications? Perhaps maybe?
Unlikely for us, as even Oz apparently cannot afford them
Oh yeah great another postponement for that mere 6 md530g..Bought in 2016 mind you..What a joke..
Tom Tom - ''Could they be any use to us, not for the army/military but for more civilians type applications? Perhaps maybe?''
First determine why Australia and other users are having issues with their NH-90s and then ask yourself if these issues will be a major concern for us ,,,,
Those NH-90 / MRH-90 is a perfect example of something used, will be available but we should avoid at all costs.
So it all depends, things like Legacy Hornets yes as we are adding to something we already currently using. But things like those MRH-90 with high operating costs and questionable reliability, a big no.
gonggok - "things like those MRH-90 with high operating costs"
Indeed. The Australians are on record as saying that it's more expensive to run compared to a Blackhawk and we know the Blackhawk is more expensive to run compared to a Cougar, gives us some idea of the costs involved.
gonggok - "Legacy Hornets yes as we are adding to something we already currently using"
But which are already 30 odd years and getting older and will require more post flight maintenance hours as they aged further in RMAF service equating to extra costs and resources. Pros and cons. As it stands we are on a shoe string budget operating and maintaining what little we have and can't even afford a AESA radar for the 8 Ds we have. By right we also should be seriously contemplating an upgrade for the MKMs to improve capabilities and replace expired/obsolete components which were designed in the 1990's.
@gonggok
The idea of going for used ones is, they already would have a known track record of usage, hence reliability is a known factor as compared to newer stuff that has less users. So if you known a used KIA model has given problems when new, obviously buying it used is tempting fate rather than a used Toyota. The same applies, however it'd depends. Reselling to current NH90 users would make sense as they would know its faults and best ways of tackling them (with the OEM). Some of the issues were unsurmountable bcoz OZ requirements differ from NATO's (which that chopper was purposely designed to meet).
Back to the AW139, I'm all for a homogenous model used for the various Forces requirements, so it would be good if the AW139 (or the bigger 149 variant) could be used to fulfill TLDM ASW role.
The AW139 is roughly the same weight category as a Wildcat so whether it has the range, endurance, internal volume/space and lift capacity to carry the crew; a full load of fuel; a dipping sonar and associated equipment; a pair of torps and sonobuoys is the question.
Also whether the AW139 or 149 there are no current ASW users foe either type; so we'd be the first and would have to pay integration/certification costs for all the needed stuff. Another question; I know the AW139 has been ordered by the RMN but is it actually fully marinised?
Azlan - "the Blackhawk is more expensive to run compared to a Cougar"
flight cost per hour of the cougar, blackhawk and nuri are in the range of 4,200 dollars give or take a few hundred.
AW139 around 3,000 dollars.
MD530 around 1,100 dollars.
a highly upgraded but old UH-1H+ flying cost is just about 2,000 dollars an hour. which is why they are still being flown and upgraded.
I'm well fully aware we'd be the first implementer for the ASW version if we pursue that, but current purpose built ASW choppers are much too expensive or too big to fit into our ship borne hangars, so its either that or "a ASW helo does not have the range and endurance to get to where it has to and to stay there for a while to locate a target and to engage it and can’t carry torps, sonobuoys and a dipping sonar, then it’s not up to the task."
Also AW139 are being used by Japan CG, Italian CG, Algerian Navy, Nigerian Navy, Dutch Carib CG, SASEMAR, Swede MRG, UK CG, our MMEA of course, and plenty of civvie offshore contractors. So the question if they can be fully marinised is moot.