SHAH ALAM: A request has been made via the US FMS programme for the mid-life upgrade of the F/A-18D Hornets and the purchase of 6 ATFLIR.
Since the whole programme has an estimated cost of US$72 million (RM301 million) and the ATFLIR pods cost around US$3 million each (RM9 million) much of the money will probably go towards the Hornets MLU, which is about time I might add.
For more information on the ATFLIR go here
From other Hornet user MLUs, we can surmised that our programme will probably add new capabilities to the radar, electronics and capabilities to use the latest munitions including satellite guided weapons such JDAMs and the C7 version of the Amraam. An extension to its service life is also expected. With the MLU, our Hornets will probably soldier on beyond 2020.
Perhaps another FMS request for the new munitions will be made soon.
From DSCA:
Malaysia request for Hornet MLU
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2011 � The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Malaysia for upgrades to existing F/A-18D aircraft, as well as associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $72 million.
The Government of Malaysia has requested the procurement and integration of a Mid Life Upgrade to existing F/A-18D aircraft including six (6) AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR Pods. Also included are software development, system integration and testing, test sets, aircrew and maintenance training, support equipment, spares and repair parts, publications, technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor technical, logistics, engineering support services, and other related elements of program support. The estimated cost is $72 million.
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in East Asia.
Malaysia needs these assets to support future coalition operations and aircraft interoperability with the U.S. and other regional partners. This will upgrade the current FLIR pod to a current configuration, reducing obsolescence issues, and aligning the Malaysian Navy with functionality similar to the U.S. Navy.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be The Boeing Company in St. Louis, Missouri.
There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this sale will require the temporary travel of approximately eight contractor representatives to Malaysia for installation, system validation, and verification of this system along with other upgrade capabilities being integrated and installed simultaneously.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (40)
At least this project will be cash well spent unlike some of our other projects. 6 ATFLIR pods for 8 aircraft is a very good ratio!!
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It should be eight pods.
...I suppose its an upgrade from the Nitehawk unit currently available..also thought there was an FMS request for the JHMCS not too long ago, wonder what happened to that??
Off topic slightly ,were our Hornets given a new coat of paint recently?
Thanks
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Dont know about the new paint job...
This is the same program that had been talking about 5 years ago.
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Yes it was supposed to be funded in the RMK9 which included a trip to Red Flag. They had more pressing matters in RMK9 like completing the NGPV programme and one must not forget the sub-prime mortgage crisis which blew out almost everything in the plans.
eddy, our D's from day one, had the same colour scheme. A slightly darker grey than used by others. The ATFLIR can be used from a much higher altitude than the Nitehawk and even the Damocles. Though the Damocles has just entered service with the French AF and navy, Thales is already working on an improved version.
just need another 10 -12 SH to complete two squadron then. Then can retire the MIG fully and may be the hawk 200...so we should only have max 2 types of Multi-role fighter and 2 types of trainers. I believe with that our budget would be suffice for other things
Agreed. Let just go with the 2 full squadron of Su30MKMs and 2 full squadron of F/A-18E/Fs. That can give us around 70 MRCAs to cover the entire country. As for the trainers, all the Hawks and MB339s should be upgraded and based on a same dedicated training base for logistics sake. That gonna settle a lot of headadches and save money. Money save should be used to buy AWACS or surveillance aircrafts...
...thanks for the info Azlan , what i meant to say was whether they were given a repaint (same grey coating) recently..as some latest pics that i've seen seem to suggest ,making those 'birds' lookin kinda brand new.
Well the ATFLIR is definitely progress , though i could never understand why procurement numbers never match aircraft numbers...that goes for other 'stuff' too..
Thanks
If the D's are to be upgraded, i don't see the D's going to be traded in for the SH's. To add SH to the mix is adding another different aircraft without taking a current variant off the fleet...
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I believe its either upgrade them or store them.
Should have traded them in as part of a deal to purchase new. Why upgrade 8 legacy aircraft, only to add more advanced models later, resulting in a mixed squadron? I know they share a similar logistical footprint, but a pure squadron would be preferable. It all makes me wonder whether there are any plans to purchase new aircraft in the foreseeable future.
RMAF procurement needs to get going; the force is vastly outclassed in both number of aircraft and quality. How many aircraft can the RMAF put into action at a moment's notice? Singapore, with only 5 million people and one island to defend, is two decades ahead of Malaysia in air force development. The RMAF is operating too many types of aircraft at all levels (fighters, trainers and support), lacks sufficient numbers of aircraft and pilots, has virtually no ISR, AEW&C, electronic/signals intelligence, etc. and so on. The government won't wake up to what is a crisis in national defence until a precision guided munition from an undetected UCAV is dropped on the Istana Negara.
We need someone with vast military knowledge and experience at the highest level in our parliament to change that I guess. Until then we can talk all we want and sammo, sammo.