SHAH ALAM (Aug 9, 2010): The first of the last remaining batch of the Aermacchi MB-339As was put on display at the RMAF Museum at the Sg Besi Airbase last week. The plane serial number M34-12 is pictured here courtesy of NST journalist Sager Ahmad, who has a long history working with the museum.
Sager reported that the aircraft was transported to the museum on a low-loader with the wing taken out. The appearance of the M34-12 I believed marked the retirement of the As following the delivery of the 8 MB339CM last year. However there is no official confirmation from the RMAF just yet. But since the engines of the As had been taken out to be refurbished before they were fitted on the CMs, the argument is purely academic of course.
Only in Malaysia, so claimed DHEagle to me. He said such thing has never happen anywhere else. No other airforce he claimed would put an old engine into a new plane! How did this thing happened one may asked?
Well the short answer, based on conversations I had with DHEagle and confirmed by other sources, the RMAF had been planning to replace the As since 2000. But due to long negotiations plus an added requirement from the Ministry of Transport – extra landing rights to Malaysia Airlines for Rome – the deal was finally struck in 2006. However, by that time the allocation to purchase the new CMs had been fixed at around RM600 million. That means RMAF can only purchase 4 new CMs with new engines and eight, if they used the old engines from the As. We all know what happened next.
I was told that RMAF did not pursue the option of refurbishing the As into the CM version as it was expensive as buying new airframes. I am told that the As were retired prematurely as the airframes and engines had still half of their service lives when the deal to purchase the CMs was finalised, which was a pity of course…
The LOI for the 8 CMs was signed at DSA2006 while the contract was signed a few months later. The deal to refurbished the engines of the As (Viper Mk623.43) for the CMs was signed at Lima 2007. All of us (reporters) , including myself, missed out on that small print as we were always looking for bigger, newer things at such functions. Oh well, at least the museum got a new toy for display….
–– Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (31)
Only in Malaysia...... Probably only in Malaysia do landing rights for the national carrier comes first before the airforce.
Janes reported some years ago that the Scorpene deal hinged on MAS getting more landing rights to Paris.
Marhalim, are the funding allocations for the new fighters to be provided in the next Malaysia Plan or after?
Marhalim: Most probably its the next one but that hasnt stopped everyone from marketing their planes apart from .....
I would be very surprised if it's anything other than the S.Hornet or the Gripen. Still, I dont see how on earth Malaysia is going to be able to afford the Hornet.
Marhalim: The European is thinking of providing a super deal so we will choose the Eurofighter. Oman was offered 24 Eurofighters for some USD2.1 billion although they also asked the US permission to purchase F16s for some USD3.1 billion. The Gripen is reportedly the cheapest (USD50-USD80 billion per piece). I will write about this next week still gathering more info on the issue...
As most of the EU nation that signed for the Eurofighter are thinking of cancelling Tranche 3 and may reduced their current operating number of existing typhoon, cant we opt what Hungary did with Gripen, i.e lease the existing surplus from sweedish airforce? In this case, we lease the surplus Tranche 2 from UK or even germany
Marhalim: Yes they are thinking that way for us to lease Tranche 2 from UK and Germany, thats the thinking but then they must be prepared for other stuff, offsets, landing rights etc.......
Marhalim, maybe we should start with the basics and worry about securing funding for more MBB-339s or Hawks 100s to train our pliots before having visions about fighters.
Memalukan! - reading about the MBB-339s and the engines. Its not that we don't have the cash, its just our bloody politicians waste what cash we do have...
Marhalim: Back to basics? Thats what I have been trying to say so far but then come the argument about light and heavy fighters! And also the need for a local defence industry....we have too much of everything but not enough of anything...
Indeed every time I drive down to Putrajaya I wonder if the money had been put to better use elsewhere and I am not saying that it should been for defence............
"... they must be prepared for other stuff, offsets, landing rights etc……."
Ha, that means kickback for certain people, right?
Marhalim: For me its offsets, landing rights etc....if you want to think otherwise it is up to you...
Whatever gets selected, be it Gripens, Typhoons, Super Hornets, lets hope it's a decent number with at least 18 minimum instead of say 8... Whilst quality provides an edge, numbers still count.
Marhalim, prior to the ASTROS being selected, do you recall SME tying up with a Bosnian company to offer the Orkan MLRS to the army? I recall reading this somewhere around the late 90's.
Marhalim: Azlan I though you want us to get back to basics? For me it will be better for the air force to get more Flankers (I know about the air force reluctance) but its the best bet yet to stream line our defence procurement towards a real world situation.
Sorry I do not recall the project.
Well, let's forget about all those shining fighter. Instead of buying more fighters at the moment, I would suggest that we start from the most basic things with procuring AEW&C platform.
The platform could be the Embraer R-99, Saab 340 or the Boeing 737-AEW&C designation.
Without AEW&C, the RMAF fighter aircraft like the Hornet, Fulcrum and the Flanker will be easily defeated by our enemy. We need this as our eye in the sky.
But, as for the next fighter procurement plan, I still believe that the Gripen and the Super Hornet would be the best contender for the next MRCA procurement. But personally, I would prefer the govt to procure the Super Hornet since we already operated the Hornet and the Boeing IDS is keen to sell those super hornet to us.
The Typhoon is no way can be in our inventory since it is the world's second most expensive fighter after the Raptor.
Lastly, I am highlighting here that we must give the highest priority on the AEW&C project rather than other project for the air force except for the Cougar deal.
Marhalim: As part of real world procurement deal, I would not even buy any AEW at the moment nor the Cougars. For the rotary fleet I will buy second hand Blackhawks....
AWACS is so 90s. Leap ahead, not follow. Reapers and Reapers and more Reapers.
Marhalim: I dont think they will sell the Reapers, Predators maybe....
An,
If you sold a piece of land you will get a kick-back, if you just an intermediary and you just promote or helping to sales Palm Oil you will get a kick-back. YOU CAN’T RUNAWAY FROM RECEIVING A KICKBACK. I believed receiving kick-back is normal in International Trade, if Malaysia doesn’t what to deal kick-back just do FMS (Foreign Military Sales). Perhaps you should know under which tier Malaysia fall.
Syameer,
If Thailand purchased AEW&C I understand, because they have more than 50 F16 and a new Gripen. If Singapore purchased AEW&C I understand, because they have numbers of F5E – More than 48, F16 – More than 72 and 24 new shining F15SG.
What we have now in our inventory 8 Hornet’s and 10 MiG’s and our Su30MkM NOT operation yet. Do you see here, we need more planes before we introduce AEW&C. Let say 48 fighter planes are sufficient to introduce AEW&C.