SHAH ALAM: In his 2024 budget speech on October 13, PMX announced that RMAF will be getting twelve new helicopters as part of the national security sector allocation.
Last month, Defence Minister DS Khaled Nordin stated that the allocation for the new RMAF helicopters was RM2.8 billion, some RM1.2 billion more than the contract for the twelve EC725 helicopters we bought in 2008.
With PMX scheduled to deliver the 2025 budget this October, industry sources told Malaysian Defence that the Army is hoping that he will release the funds to purchase a fleet of new medium utility helicopters.
It must be noted that the Army Air Wing – PUTD – has been seeking funds to purchase medium utility helicopters since the 2000s as the service aspired to conduct air mobile operations. And as usual although the requirement was approved in successive RMKs, the funding was not.
In the aftermath of the Lahad Datu incident, the requirement for utility helicopters was up for funding again though this time it was together with the attack helicopters. As money were not enough to get both, PUTD had to make do with Nuri helicopters – which were stored by RMAF – allowing the procurement money to be reserved for attack helos. The Army had only to spend operational money for maintaining and operating the Nuri.
In the end, PUTD ended up with the MD530G light scout attack helicopters as the decision was made to buy them via a direct commercial deal. One cannot buy Apaches, Cobras or Tigers via a direct commercial order. Even if they could, no local company can afford to pony up the funds to pay for them.
Four years later, in 2019, PUTD was left in the lurch when the RMAF decided to retire the Nuri even as it had just become to grips with medium utility helicopter operations. During the Covid years it was then decided that in the short term PUTD will lease utility helicopters to prepare for when it will eventually get the funding to buy them which had happened with RMAF.
And here we are in 2024 and the Army is seeking to get the funding for fourteen new medium utility helicopters with the first machines expected to be delivered in 2028, if the contract is signed next year. Just in time for the Black Hawk lease to expire as with RMAF.
So, will the Black Hawk be the favourite? If the leasing deal goes without a hitch. More importantly, will PMX sign off the funding for the new Army helicopters then? Your guess is as good as mine.
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (60)
the opening paragraph is about rmaf but the rest of the article is about the army?
The intro is the segue to the Army funding. I did not see the transition as too jaring though.
I gonna bet Azlan will bring up the issue will we have enough manpower to fly all new ordered 12 TUDM CSAR choppers, 14 PUTD utility choppers, prolly 6 TLDM ASW choppers, and a dozen or so incoming MMEA, Bomba, PDRM choppers.
A positive aspect the leased Blackhawks can be a good training ground to start building the flight & service crewmembers in preparation for the new Blackhawks if they are selected.
"requirement was approved in successive RMKs, the funding was not"
The irony is that while the requirements predates other vehicles, somehow funding for Gempitas, for the KJA (HMAV & HMJLTV), for dozens of light & medium trucks, for the LG1 guns, & the ongoing SPH saga, have gone thru ahead of that utility choppers. Or perhaps it was up to TDM to prioritise where to put their money?
Of course things like Gempita will get priority not because of military requirements but its supposed local content. Helicopters are expected to be imported so it will get lower priority. Furthermore, a fleet of helicopters will cost a set amount which made them not feasible to be bought from local companies...
Ok question:
I know many armies across the world operate utility helicopters eg US army and the Australian army which is now ditching the Taipan for Blackhawks.
One notable exception is the British army. They rely on the RAF for transport. Why can’t we follow their model?
>why can't we follow their model
You mean relying on the AF for 100 percent of your vertical lift need? We did exactly that until the 90s, when every other services decided they also need their own helo
'' gonna bet Azlan will bring up the issue will we have enough manpower to fly all new ordered 12''
Well you ''bet'' flat wrong.
I'd however raise the pertinent question of how long will the army take to raise the needed manpower and support infrastructure given the Air Wing is small and has its hands full with 10 A-109s, 6 Little Birds and Blackhawks.
Tom Tom - ''They rely on the RAF for transport. Why can’t we follow their model?''
The AAC is happy to focus on ground attack and the RAF is happy to continue meeting the army's lift needs; there is no conflict. Over here the RMAF felt that it was pointless to continue meeting the army's rotary needs whilst having to pay for it; thus it was more than happy for the army to get its own helis.
The army on the other hand wanted the funding that comes along with its own Air Wing and happily got the RMAF to agree to transfer the attach helicopter role. Note that although the Army's Air Wing was raised in 1995 plans were first made in the early 1970's. Several army pilots [including the owner of a well known blog] received rotary training [during that period from a private company] but were transferred to the RMAF when plans for the army' Air Wing were cancelled.
Just like how it was easier to sell the LCS deal rather than the MRCA one. Constructing the LCSs in Lumut created jobs; created Bumi vendors/suppliers; contributed to the ability of a yard to eventually design its own ships in the future; gave the politicians bragging rights, etc. Contrast that with the MRCA deal for which there was little spinoff to the local economy and industry.
Apart from the commission to the local agent when it comes to the MKM.
Aw149 or aw169 for army aviation option?
I think it will be the AW149
And a number of local companies which later supplied various MKM specific stuff.
What about the Surion, Marhalim? If KAI promises local assembly since the FA50s will also be assembled in Malaysia?
The numbers are too low for local assembly, IMO. Nope the FA-50s will not be assembled in Malaysia. They are talking about local MRO for FA-50s which is to me is sheer idiocy.