KUALA LUMPUR: The Bernama story below explained the whole thing. You heard it here first. Simon, you owe me.
Eurocopter Awarded Tender To Replace Nuri
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) — The Defence Ministry has agreed to acquire new helicopters from European helicopter manufacturers, Eurocopter, to replace the Nuri, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced Friday.
He said the ministry was now scrutinising the clauses in the agreement before signing it officially with the company concerned.
“I have been told that the Defence Ministry has identified Eurocopter as the replacement for Nuri.
“The Defence Ministry had received many applications from international aircraft manufacturers and suppliers,” Abdullah, who is also the Defence Minister, told reporters after attending a special briefing at Wisma Pertahanan, Jalan Padang Tembak, here.
On Sept 17, Abdullah handed over the post of Finance Minister to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and took over the Defence Ministry. Abdullah had once held the Defence Minister’s post from 1986 to 1987.
He said the selection of Eurocopter was based on the criteria stipulated by the Defence Ministry as well as the specifications of the helicopter.
“We go for the best. The selection was made without discrimination. The tender must be awarded properly,” he said.
Abdullah said the time had come for the Nuri helicopters to be put out of commission as it had been used for a long time and had been involved in several fatal accidents.
Meanwhile, when asked how he felt about assuming the Defence Minister’s post after 12 years, Abdullah said: “I feel good to be here again.”
Asked about his priorities for the ministry, he said they included building living quarters for military officers and other ranks throughout the country.
On weaponry, he said the Defence Ministry had no problems with the existing weapon system.
“In terms of weaponry currently, there is no problem but the armaments will be upgraded according to the country’s needs,” Abdullah said.
In another development, he said Datuk Tiki Lafe had been appointed to succeed Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye as Chairman of the National Service Training Council.
— BERNAMA
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (20)
asyik-asyik Eurocopter. Dahlah polis, APMM ni MINDEF pulak......
Quote "Abdullah said the time had come for the Nuri helicopters to be put out of commission as it had been used for a long time and had been involved in several fatal accidents"
but Pak Lah, how come the Nuris will be given to the Army Air Wing?
From what I gather from conversations with the Army folks the plan to hand over the Nuri to the AAW remain a plan only, just like the so-called 2010 transition plan....
ala..army punye plan..haih..plan tahun 2000, implement 2004, barang pun dah obsolete..
neway, kasi can la kat eurocopter, dah berape pulo tahun dok naik turun mindef nk lobi helicopter..sian die,..hehe
I read once that one of the requirement was rear door, but cougar do not have one..ermm.that seem odd i still think AW101 i guess it just to costly for us..
Marhalim: The rear ramp was in the original specifications but after the LIMA meeting, helicopters without rear ramp was allowed to bid for the deal as well those without retractable gears...
WAS HOPING FOR THE MERLIN AS IT HAS A BIGGER PAYLOAD AND LONGER RANGE. WITH THE NAVY HAVING STATED THAT IT HAS A REQUIREMENT FOR ASW HELOS, THE MERLIN WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECT FOR BOTH THE ARMY AND NAVY. INTERESTINGLY, THE MAIN UTILITY HELI FOR THE FRENCH WILL BE THE NH90 NOT THE COUGAR. TO DATE, THE NH90 HAS GAINED MORE EXPORT SUCCESS. THE BERNAMA STORY RAN BY THE NST ALSO STATED THAT 8 OUT OF 12 COUGARS WOULD BE NURI REPLACEMENTS.
I read in Air Forces Monthly (I think) that Denmark had trouble with their EH101s, due to the complexity of the machines. They sold it to the UK. So the EH101 or AW101 is not the best choice due to the cost and complexity. The NH90 would have been nicer than the Cougar, sure, but one has to look at the fly-away cost, and perhaps the Cougar was cheaper having been around for some time. God knows we have too many financial issues with purchasing many types in relatively small numbers... I digress.
But how many helicopters have the same performance, range and payload capability as the S-61 whilst flying 'only' with 1400 shp T58s? Perhaps the S-92 would have been the better choice....it DOES have a rear ramp :)
Marhalim: The Danes sold their choppers (the 2.1 version) to the UK as the British needed new airframes quickly to overcome operational issues due to Iraq and Afghanistan. In return they got the 3.1 version of the AW101 (new softwares and rotors). According AW rep, the Danes 3.1 version are the most advanced AW101 around but that is one of the reasons, MINDEF selected the Cougar. The AW101 was offered and re-offered with different configurations...
I am confident that this decision too will flip-flop. Lebih-lebih lagi bila tukar PM. In any case, 12 new birds mana cukup? 2 ea. in each operational RMAF base pun sudah take cukup.
Saya ni geram dengan zoomie mentality yang mencengkam RMAF. Nak jual habis semua fast jet sebab memang tak guna.
Simon
I think EC 725 is a good choice. The AW101 is ideal but all that capability comes at a cost. Besides, it is "fair" that Eurocopter gets it after all they spent promoting the helicopter and bringing it here for demonstrations not just once. None of the other candidates were as persistent.
Let me look up that AFM article again on the reasons why the Dane AW101s were sold to the UK. I read in there that the Danes wanted to get rid of the copters, and it just so happened that the UK needed more AW101 airframes to meet the shortfall in the helicopter force in Afghanistan rather. If so, then both the Danes and the British were lucky :)