PETALING JAYA: In The Malay Mail on June 6, I wrote that:
The Malay Mail was informed by defence industry sources that the decision to open the office here “within the next one month or two” was a clear statement by Dassault that “it was serious” in offering its Rafale – which the company described as the only omni-role fighter – for the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) programme.
Dassault’s move is being matched or even overshadowed by the British. Of course, BAE Systems office in Kuala Lumpur is not being expanded but the British has upped the ante by offering a deal that has the bean counters in the MOF salivating.
As I mentioned before, the British are offering Tranche 1 Typhoons – soon to be retired from the RAF as part of its cost savings programme – together with a number of Tranche 3 Typhoons.
The Tranche 1 Typhoons are not technically MRCA, they are basically interceptors and can be upgraded to Tranche 2 standard with air-to-ground capability (but not AESA) while the Tranche 3 are full fledged multi-role aircraft and AESA radars.
I do not have the full details of the British offer but it goes something like this. Apparently if we were to buy 10 Tranche 3 Typhoons, we will get some 20 or so Tranche 1 Typhoons (ex-RAF) for free. Well, almost for free, we need to pay to fit Malaysian specific items like radios and such, support, training and ordnance but it is much,much cheaper than getting 20 brand new Tranche 3s.
So for the price of 10 Tranche 3 Typhoons, costing around RM4 billion, we will get 30 planes. I dont think we can get 30 Super Hornets for RM4 billion, or Rafale and Gripen for that matter. On top of that British has another 50 or so Typhoons slated for retirement within the next few years, the most advanced Tranche 2 (no AESA).
Of course, the French could copy the British proposal and offer us ex-French Air Force Rafales and new ones but I have not heard about that, yet. Since the US Navy cannot get enough Super Hornets to go around with, Boeing cannot offer such a deal. And as for the Gripen, unless Saab raided the Swedish Air Force stocks, a similar deal cannot be offered.
For a take on the Rafale combat performance go here
Boeing in the meantime had not been idle either. Instead of offering super sexy deal, it had gone through the traditional route. On June 9, Boeing announced that its Defense, Space & Security unit has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with three Malaysian companies. The MOUs outline plans to explore business opportunities for manufacturing specialized components and equipment for use in the defense and aerospace sectors. One wonders whether this has the seal of approval from Blenheim or not?
It must be noted that with its used and new Typhoon offer, the British can fixed the date of delivery, to the exact date when the Fulcrums are retired in 2015. Since the contract will most likely be signed no earlier than 2013, those with new build aircraft on offer will be hard pressed to make the same commitment.
It must be noted that the Tranche 1 can be upgraded further but not to Tranche 3 standard, so it cannot be a full fledged MRCA as stated by RMAF. But this argument could also be said about the Flankers….
-Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (101)
strongly vote for rafale if sarkozy willing
to include AESA radar together with spectra
for RMAF MRCA..just scrap the typhoon since
rafale beat them 7-1 in UAE..
Numbers have a quality all on its own. If the MCRA can be met through the Tranche 3 lot, the additional Tranche 1 plans would certainly be welcome in some quarters.
The plan sounds very similar to what the US is offering to Indonesia. Buy 6 new built F-16/C/Ds, get 24 F-16A/Bs and upgrade them to Blk 32s along with the existing OCUs.
But if RAF can't afford to maintain them, I do wonder if RMAF would do any better.
Wow... sound likes good if RMAF selected the conbinations between Typhoons F1 and F3... but Ithink the Indian MRCA programme decitions will affected us... but averything can hapen...
only rafale can match raptor..
typhoon design for air attack
but rafale design for air,sea & land
attack..first day of libya campaign the
us need to lauch 111 tomahawk before
dare to enter libya space different with
rafale which be the first NATO mrca search
& destroyed libya sam site & tanks deep inside
libya teritory..
Unless the French government is willing to offer us a long term, low interest loan [very unlikely],I can't see what chances Dassault has of selling us the Rafale - its just too expensive for us. Then again, why are they taking the trouble to open an office in K.L and who is Dassault local partner?
Very curious why the Tranche 1 can't be upgraded with an AESA radar? Also has the Typhoon been integrated with any other targeting pod besides the Litening, which is a no go for us?
koxinga, the RAF has publicly stated that the hourly flights costs of the Typhoon is higher than the F3s it replaced. Not sure how it compares with the Super Hornet though.
Reply
It has been reported that the Typhoon had to be modified to accept the AESA and it was very expensive for them to modify the Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 to the Tranche 3 standard.
no point of new MRCA if not
equipt with AESA radar..since
impossible to get AESA radar with
super bugs since american technology
involved political..typhoon only build for
air superiority not for land & sea unlike
rafale which france design for that kind
of doctrin..quantity means nothing compared
to quality of technology that aircraft own..
I would definitely said that the Super Hornet is the best option for RMAF since we already operating the Hornet. But looking at the british offer, it does sound good. But I'm not very convince about the Typhoon aircraft. Yes, I agreed with Azlan, I don't see any chances for the Rafale to ever serve in out air force.
What ever type of MRCA selected, i am more concern whether we can achieve at least 80% operational capability. No point having 50 mrca if only 30% availability for combat operation at anytime....
Zamyra,
Absolute nonsense!!
If the RMAF is unable to get an AESA for its Block 2s it will not order the Super Hornet, period. And ALL weapons sales involve some form of politics, not just sales from Uncle Sam. If you had read what Marhalim wrote above, you would realise that the Typhoon Tranche 2 and 3s have a full ground attack capability.
That contest is simple really. If the goverment is smart and leverages on the 4 Euro partnership, then we shud have the planes with the latest technology and when upgrades and improvements are made, such as the euro aesa radar.
If we go for the Rafale ,which is too expensive and relying on just one country that has shown it can be fickle with its contracts in international incidents.
And no one has bought the rafale after the massive push by sarkozy and france.
India in my humble opinion will go for the Typhoon, as I previously posted the reasons .
The record indicates that India's technical evaluation of military hardware is consistently very through and a good indicator of the product. That until the beaucrats and politicans take over the final decision.
The Gripen if worked properly cud be a low cost ,tough ,versatile plan to have .Shud look into that.