SHAH ALAM: Going, going..gone part 2. It appears that the deal for six MD Helicopters MD530G light scout attack helicopters is likely to be cancelled. Defence Minister Mohamed Sabu told the Parliament today that “the government probably need to go to court over the six helicopter deal made by the previous administration, worth RM300 million, which had not been received until today.”.
This is the first official confirmation that the deal had gone sour. As I had reported before the ministry had not want to confirm that the deal was likely to be canceled.
The MD530G fitted with the FN Herstal rocket machine gun pod and a Gatling. This is a likely weapon configuration for the LSH.
It must be noted that past legal challenges against the government for cancelling contracts have usually been in the favour of the defendant. I have no idea why the ministry in this instance felt so defensive over its decision apart from the money already paid for the helicopters, reportedly some RM112 million. If it felt aggrieved over the payment it could always get the courts to compel the company which received the payment to pay it back. It is my assumption that the ministry’s in this regard deemed it’s case as weak and it is likely it will be unable to get the repayment order hence it’s tepid steps in regards to finally cancelling the order.
MD530 which was supposed to be delivered for the Malaysian Army on display at the HAI Heli-Expo in Las Vegas
Although the Defence Minister continue to say that the helicopters have not been delivered yet, the real reason for the cancelling the deal is the fact that the Army does not want it anymore. And although the ministry had to try to pass on the helicopters to others including other government agencies, it appears no one wants a single pilot light scout attack helicopter.
The MD530G displayed at HAI Heli-Expo is also fitted with the twin Hellfire missile launcher on its starboard pylon. The Army did not purchased the Hellfires.
Please read previous reports by Malaysian Defence on the issue for context. First story Story.
Contract confirmed.
DSA contract signing.
Going, Going…Gone.
MD 530G light attack scout helicopter to be based in ESSCOM.
As for the M109 SPH, again it was the Army that decided that these vehicles – ex-US Army stocks are long in the teeth – are superfluous to its needs.
— Malaysian Defence.
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View Comments (53)
Since Army dosen't want MD 530G. Are they gonna concidered with New Advance Attack Helicopters ?
Just asking....
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Nope
So TDM is willing to hold out for another 20 years to finally get a proper attack chopper. Seems reasonable... that would only be 40 years since this requirement first came out. Suicide drones are proving to be more cost effective, so by that time the role of attack chopper might be obsoleted.
If the M109s are superfluous, does it mean the SPG requirement had been superfluous too?
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Of course not they want new SPH
And he used a picture of the Super Lynx?
* facepalm *
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/EIGbKVMUcAASg4P.jpg
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The tweet has been deleted and replaced with one with the right picture
My, my, picky aren't we? Then it's actually true then that the Army thinks these toys aren't good enough to be assets in their inventory. I can understand the Paladins being 2nd hand and all, but the Little Birds? Something is always better than nothing.
But then again, I'm just Joe Public, not a Von Bismarck or a Napoleon Bonaparte! 😉
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The MD530G has a range of 40 minutes when fully kitted out
We do not see Army speak out they dun wan the MD530. So they want Apache or Tiger? Ok lah, we all wait. wait until dream come true....
Taib - '' true then that the Army thinks these toys aren’t good enough to be assets in their inventory.''
First ask who laid out the specs for the Little Birds and how much say did the army actually have in the matter ..... When that is done ask whether a platform the Little Bird's size; with its range [when fully loaded with crew, passengers and fuel] and carrying capacity actually can do what the army has in mind.
Taib - ''Something is always better than nothing.''
An often heard cliche but in this context if that ''something'' can't even do half of what is needed then it serves no purpose ......
Customers normally get the Little Bird to perform as a fast reaction asset, the light armed recce role or as a light fire support platform : the army quite obviously had something else in mind and one does not have to be a
' Von Bismarck or a Napoleon Bonaparte' to see this .......
Question, Marhalim, if you don't mind
Do you have a source for that dissatisfaction or is that speculation on your part?
Just trying to make thing clear here
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Yes, of course, several sources, actually. How do you think I managed to write about the cancellations without even getting the official acknowledgement in the first place?
The army had tried several SPH since the 90s and and them refusing M109s (that wasn't even being upgraded to newest A5+/A6 or KAWEST standard) means that the army know what they want and are holding out for their wishlist. Keep in mind the moment they accept these M109s they have to forgo their actual wish. Also unlike Caesar (which we have conducted pretty extensive tests upon), we didn't even do anything particular to the M109s. No on road/off road endurance test, no munition firing test, no nothing
As for the helicopter, I already against the idea of getting something so small to be of any practical use. I'd rather if the army gets more AW109 or prolly even continue with their medium lift helo. Who knows, prolly mahathir's russophile policies means that the army will get Mi-171. It has rear ramp option which is very useful for disembarking troops who had to jump off from side door of Nuri previously and could undersling up to 4 tonne load externally.
I wonder if the army wants the Atak or even the Mi28 instead of MD 530, hence this change of mind.
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ATAK was still a prototype when they they bought the MD530G though it could be considered the favourite now. The Mil was never considered then. It was the Tiger that was the odds on favourite in early 2015. How the requirement actually warped into the MD530G is however beyond me. Probably it will come out in the open, if they really take the case to court.
Ah, I see
Keep it up then! You're the closest thing we have to a true investigative journalist in defence area in all of SEA!