SHAH ALAM: Last minute lobbying for Hurjet and Anka? Bernama is reporting that PM DS Ismail Sabri will be making an official visit to Turkiye (its preferred spelling) starting tomorrow to increase bilateral ties and forge close cooperation in the aerospace and defence industries.
According to Bernama the visit was on the official invitation of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. RMAF chief Jen Asghar Khan Gorman Khan and Army chief Jen Zamrose Mohd Zin are among the official delegation for the visit. Ismail and his delegation are expected to visit the facilities of two Turkish biggest defence players – MKE Corporation and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) on Wednesday, prior to his meeting with Erdogan scheduled on Thursday.
With TAI’s involvement in two RMAF tenders – FLIT/LCA and MALE UAS – one can surmised that the visit basically a last ditch lobbying for its two contenders. Of course, the report also cited other reasons for the visit but it must be noted that the chief executives of both companies met with Ismail in Putrajaya earlier in June and late last year. For the FLIT/LCA tender, TAI is offering the yet-to-be flown Hurjet while the Anka is seen as the favourite for the MALE UAS tender.MKE is trying hard with its yet to-be-sold SPH as well.
As Malaysian Defence reported previously, it is unlikely the Hurjet is in the mix for the FLIT/LCA as the RMAF is supposed to conduct a physical evaluation of its choice on June 22 while the contract for six aircraft is to be signed this month. RMAF has not offered any thing on the issue since it released the statement, however.
The decision for the MALE UAS is supposed to be done this month although there is no word on when is the contract signing. This is not the first official visit to Turkiye by a Malaysian PM though.
It must be said that the Indian media is going over top when the country’s own national news service, PTI, is reporting that the Tejas is the odds-on favourite to win the FLIT/LCA tender.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (12)
"PTI, is reporting that the Tejas is the odds-on favourite to win the FLIT/LCA tender."
Well Indians will always sing that tune even until RMAF announce the winner, not surprised...
Anka? Sure
Partnership for TFX? Maybe
Hurjet (when we really need LCA yesterday)? no
There are plenty of Turkish made military products that we could buy. Hurjet isnt one of them
The Tejas is not a long shot anymore, I think. With spare parts for the Sukhoi from Russia now out of the question, collaboration with HAL may be an important factor. The Indians are also planning to upgrade their MKIs with a domestic AESA radar, so that may be part of the attraction for the RMAF. I think it’s called the UTTAM AESA.
Because we need A doesnt meant that B is a shoe-in. The India MKM deal can go ahead even without the FLIT/LCA deal
We keep saying we don’t have the budget to buy the good stuff. Then we go out and buy stuff that are marked up 200-300%.
What la
SO contract for LCA for only 6 units? down from 18 units first batch? or its this just initial contract and additional 12 units will be sign in the next 2 3 years? I dont want to jinx it but if the initial contract are just for 6 aircraft chances are they/rmaf will stuck with that 6 units.
With the current economic situation, we will be lucky if we get six
@marhalim abas
Will we still be able to secure parts from India despite turning the Tejas down? I'm afraid they might be upset and ignore our request for spare parts in the future since this is a huge deal for them more so than us.
Why should they be as long as we are paying for them?
@marhalim abas
I guess you're right, money does talk after all
Getting the TEJAS would be a big JOKE !!!!!! Get the F/A-50 far more better !!
'SO contract for LCA for only 6 units? down from 18 units first batch? or its this just initial contract and additional 12 units will be sign in the next 2 3 years? I dont want to jinx it but if the initial contract are just for 6 aircraft chances are they/rmaf will stuck with that 6 units.' Firdaus.
Am also wondering which is which too... Any ideas?