KUALA LUMPUR: IF you got the cash or other means you might want to contact Mindef ASAP. The Fulcrum fleet is to be withdrawn by next so says the Defence Minister as reported by Bernama.
To read the Bernama story click here
What to do with the Fuclrums? Apart from enjoying a ..ck-stand by going supersonic, one could make some money by turning them into an aggressor squadron to pitch against RMAF pilots and allied nations as done by some private companies in the US and others. Will it be too expensive to maintain them for such duties, I have no idea but certainly a good entrepreneur could make something out of nothing.
Certainly by flying the Fulcrums, it would be a much better fate for these Russian birds rather than letting them rot as base guards! Funny thing about the Fulcrum deal, is the fact that the Defence Minister last month said the Fulcrums will not be retired soon… as guess, the air force has finally got some back bone…..
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (30)
The way I interpret the article is that the MIGs will be sacrificed in order to ensure RMAF can operates within a limited budget. Well bon voyage to the MIGS, thee shall be missed. Thou are not fantastic but thou has given Malaysian people some sense of pride over 15 years of service.
If that is the case, they migt as well scrap the hawk 200, as by record it has more accidents compared to the MIGs and may cost as much to maintain. I dont believe that the MIGs will be replaced soon, as the government would have go ahead with the EC725 purchase first if they really have the money. As such we will only be left with 18 SU 30 and 8 F18D as our deterrent Factor. It would not be enough to participate in any battle should any occur (god forbid) so lets pray really hard that peace will prevail in the next 10 to 15 years.
What should be the move from now? Assuming we still got some budget left, I tend to suggest we go for surplus F18D from the USN if any should be available. Or obtained surplus rapier SAM from the UK.
Marhalim: From what I have been reading on the issue of surplus Hornets, apparently there is none. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had really taken the toll on the USN/USMC Hornet fleet, that is why the Super Bug is being purchased in bigger numbers...
Wonder whats next, what does he mean by strengthening with other "interceptors"??? Logically we should either buy more Su-30 MKM's or their cheaper cousins the Su-30MKs with less customisation. Or even some more F-18C/Ds second hand from USN stocks? Hopefully not a totally new type though!
We live in strange times. Only yesterday, in an interview with the Star, the RMAF chief said that the Fulcrums would not be replaced. And now the defence minister says otherwise. In the same interview, the RMAF chief said that 6 multi-role jets would be acquired as the Fulcrums were only interceptors. This seems to tally with a report that emerged a year back saying that the RMAF had proposed selling off the Fulcrums to fund 6 additional Su-30MKMs.
Perhaps the RMAF had reached a point where operating several combat types had become too costly?
Marhalim: The Russian, I am told are offering more Flankers for purchase on a soft loan basis as undertaken by our neighbour, Indonesia....
If Im not mistaken, Dzirhan in another forum, ran an excerpt of a story he wrote for JDW saying that delivery of the final batch of 6 MKMs had been delayed due to integration problems. The IAF had exactly the same problems some years back. The Russians will happily tell you the main problem here is the inclusion of western avionics. Perhaps Dzirhan will able to elaborate more on the delay?
Marhalim: There was a report earlier which stated that Russian arms production have been delayed due to the economic crisis, the manufacturers apparently cannot purchased the raw materials to manufacture components like engines and things like that.....
Si Padang Tembak, a.k.a. Kementah Kamp Kat made no such comment. You must be confusing him with his human assistant.
I think we could sell the idea of the Iskandar/Singapura Jaya Dissimilar Air Combat Training Center located in Senai. After all the windows in the area get rattled from artillery fire so they won't mind a sonic boom or two.
Marhalim: LOL
Another puzzling aspect with the Bernama report is the Defence Minister saying 11Sq members had received simulator training. Has a simulator for the SU-30MKMs even been ordered?
With 11Sq only expected to combat operational next year, perhaps the retirement of the Fulcrums is not so imminent after all?
Marhalim: Yes the Flanker simulator was ordered via Hi Tech Padu, several years ago, I am not sure of the status of the simulator, it was delayed although it may well be operational already but as usual we have this hang-ups over this kind of things as if just saying that the simulator is operational will somehow effect operational security.......the 11 Sq is supposed to be operational by year end (this was stated during the last LIMA) but perhaps the problems affecting the jets may well delay their full operational status as well...
A few clarifications, the Star report was a Bernama story and for some reason the Bernama reporter got the RMAF's Chief's statement on the last six sukhois being delivered confused with MRCA jets being eventually purchased in the future to replace the fulcrums. As I was at the PC, the Chief only said that when the Fulcrums eventually retire (whenever that may be), the RMAF wants to replace them with MRCAs but no point did he say 6 MRCAs will replace the fulcrums. It was offered that Malaysia buy additional C/Ds which belong to Kuwait as Kuwait was supposed to have replace that fleet with Superhornets, however the Kuwaitis decided not to buy the Superhornets and retain their fleet. My full story has been posted elsewhere on some forums, but essentially it's a contractual dispute, the six ac are done and ready to go but Malaysia wants the russians to fix the 12 in-county before they take delivery of the final six. The Russians have stated they fixed all problems in the last six and want Malaysia to take delivery of these first then they'll fix the 12 incountry
I think it is more of aquestion that Malaysia's coffer arent deep enough to pay for operation and maintenance of 53 combat aircraft due to "People's Impact Project" priority and economic contraction of 6.2%. Like i mentioned before, it is more logical for the time being to just operate the SU 30 and F18D and pray peace prevail and economy expanded next year by at least 5%, Rather than sell the MIGs, cant they put it in active reserve, flyig just once a month or something. In case of emergency, it could sill do some patrolling job eh, but again depends on budget
If we proceed with the Iskandar DACTC, we can not only fund flying hours for the RMAF but also earn valuable foreign currency as well.
For the RSAF, a DACTC next door would be immensely attractive both for cost as well as operational fidelity compared to Cazeaux, Amberley and Mountain Home.
Phase II would implement a full AtG environment with GAPU providing the ground environment.
Marhalim: With Muya as DPM, I do not it believe it is feasible ,,,
Sure the Flanker simulator is not delivered (or even on the drawing board yet ) as there would have been a big article in the press about it!!
A company like HiTech Padu are just not into building 'sims' and if you think they're going to perform any better than the nations other 'sim' outfit, Sapura, then think again. Look at Sapura's past history and documented cock-ups from the local press.
Until one of these local companies jumps into bed with one of the worlds 'top' manufacturers like Thales or CAE then we'll likely see our Top Gun guys training with a rebadged Microsoft FSX sim under the banner of HiTech Padu!!!
Marhalim: I am told by an idiot that its already in service, they dont publicise this sort of things unfortunately. I remembered the time when I went hunting for the Mig simulator some time back, mindef and air force says no and in the end CAE, the manufacturer finally confirmed via a one line statement, they supplied one full motion simulator and one desk top version.
If they really retire the Fulcrum fleet, I WANT to buy the simulators!