KUALA LUMPUR: Since Mar 19, US and Nato forces have been involved in Operation Odyssey Dawn. From that time, three of the candidates for the RMAF MRCA programme have been involved in the operations.
They are the Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafale. Now it seems that the fourth candidate the JAS 39 Gripen is also to be involved. Read Here.. This will be the first time the Gripen will see action as the Super Hornet has seen action in Iraq and Afghanistan while the Typhoons and Rafale have been used in anger in Afghanistan only.
For more information on Odyssey Dawn. Read Here. Here. There is also the concern about the future Libya.
Why I am writing this? Well apparently, the discussions on the MRCA programme is getting serious and I am told that a Request For Quotation has been issued to the four manufacturers. A RFQ is indeed a key stage that may led to a decision probably by the end of the year. Or it could be a good way to get all four manufacturers to show off their planes during Lima by year end. But if the European planes does show up in Langkawi it clearly meant that they feel that we are really serious looking for a replacement for the Fulcrums.
And the numbers? It hovers from 24 to 54! To be honest, I am more convinced that a 24-plane buy is more likely than a 54-plane deal. Nonetheless, based on the Aussie experience, a 24-plsne deal is likely to cost around RM6 billion (airframes plus engines only). Of course it will take two Rancangan Malaysia to pay for them and another to pay for the weapons and other stuff!
–Malaysian Defence
If you like this post, buy me an espresso. Paypal Payment
View Comments (56)
I am shocked and in awed. Where the hell that the money come from? I thought we had used up our budget for RMK10 for the AV8, Cougar and SGPV. I can understand if we splash some more for a regiment of SPHs or infantry gears but a 24-54 MRCAs is out of my scope. I expect the replacement for the MiG29N somewhere in the RMK11 but not this early. Nonetheless, it is a very good surprise if it come through. The Super Hornet is the most likely candidate it seems as a 24SHs + 8Hs will lead to a 2 complete squadron. And ideas were the planes might be based? Labu perhaps?
Bro Marhalim, Aussie 24 SH is not RM6 billion, it is AUD6 billion or about USD5 billion. Its inclusive of 10 years maintenance and support package and weapon suite i.e amraam, aim 9x, JDAM. Plus to make it more expensive, 12 of the 24 is the electronic warfare version or the growler.
SU is not in the pic? There goes the commonality factor then and another logistic issue needs to be sort out. based on this development, i bet only another 2 years before the decision will be made and the first aircraft will only be supplied between 5 years later. In this case it should be by 2018
Reply
As I mentioned the RM6 billion price is for the airframes. The whole deal complete with training, basing, weapons and support for five years is more like Rm12 billion...
Whatever it takes for the national security, RM6 billion for 24 frames? That's cheap! Look at what our neighbours are doing presently. Indon is talking about 150 fighter jets on the way. And we are right smack in the middle. Let the armed forces tell the politician what they need to safeguard the country. Because if you give peanuts than you'll get monkeys.
Reply
RM6 billion is for initial outlay only. By the time its in service we may be paying up to Rm10 billion and a whole live investment of around RM30 billion.
Wwell, what a surprise!. An MRCA is a multi role airplane- a swing role plane which can be good at every task thrown at it.That is to say, it must be good at air to air, interdiction, attack and recce too. Out of the 4, the Typhoon is out of contention I suppose due to two main factors and they are i)It is not yet truly a multirole aircraft.The RAF is now trying to add in the attack role only.Now its an ait fighter supreme-something like the MIG29 before upgrade with multi station ejector racks and ii)it is not cheap at all.
The Rafale is an unknown quantity and how well it can perform. Furthermore, it is also expensive and with Brazil considering it only, the desicion of the other air forces must be correct.Just look at how people buy the popular non national cars and the same principles will apply.
This leaves the Gripen and the super Hornet.The Gripen is not a very capable airplane as its only a single engine, no super cruise, not super agile but it is cheap enough and with numbers and a good long range aesa radar can do some harm. This leaves the super hornet.This cannot be compared to our own hornets as its a totally different plane altogether with fewer parts and the maintenance and logistics is totally different.But it is a proven package, in service, bought by Australia who is very satisfied with its service. But then again, Singapore bought the F-15. Why should we not consider the latest offering of the F15 too? Of course it is more expensive and we can buy less only but it is a hugely capable aircraft.But in Libya it came down all the same. Whatever it is, if the government listens for once to the RMAF may we yet get the best and most suitable for our country.
But please dont bump up the price with huge needless commission that will not go any distance in helping to defend the country.
Reply
If its the Super Hornet there is no way of bumping up the price as it will be FMS deal all the way.
The Typhoon for Malaysia is Tranche 3, a real MRCA. It is also expected to be available the quickest, by 2013, via Tranche 1 version of the RAF and full Tranche 3 also from RAF line. But like the Rafale its also the most expensive in the region of RM400 million or more a plane...
Come to think of it, why is the F-16 not in the fray?.Its a good agile MRCA-LIGHT cheap and tested
Reply
I don't know. To say the air force prefer twin engine jets, the Gripen is there....
Another example of our political and military leaders not wanting to implement defence requirements in its correct order of priority.
No amount of MRCA units added to the current RMAF's fighter jets inventory will drastically improve our national defence capability.
The new MRCA will not be able to neutralize the current threat of hostile jet fighters' ability to deliver precision-guided missiles against high- value targets in our territories such as Agong's Palace, PM's office and house, CDF's office and house, VVIP's Offices and houses, Petronas Complexes at Bintulu and Kertih, Electricity Power Stations, Water Plants, telecommunication centres, airports, seaports, transportation hubs, telecommunication centres, military bases etc.
Only a comprehensive Ground-to-Air Defence System at 25-30% of the 8x8 AFV budget will deter and prevent the ability of hostile fighter jets from launching their precision-guided missiles at will against us.Our military leaders should have the moral courage to step forward and advise the political decision-maker(s) on what need to be put in place immediately in order to make Malaysia a safer place from aerial attacks.
Given the limited numbers of fast jet pilots we have and the limited number of LIFT's operated by PULATIBANG 3, around 18 is the maximum number of jets we can get, even if we have the funds to buy more. I'd love to see an order of 25-28 jets to equip 2 squadrons but it's not going to happen - not enough pilots and not enough cash.
Rafale and Typhoon is definitely out of the picture due to high units costs. As we already operate Hornets, buying Super Hornets is the next logical step, with regards to training, support and commonality [not only in ordnance but in certain parts and ground support equipment]. Another advantage in buying Super Hornets is the level of support we receive via FMS, something that neither BAE Systems or Dassault can match. In last Sunday's STAR, the RMAF Chief confirmed what most of us already know, that the Super Hornet was and is the RMAF's main choice.....
YM Lee, for one thing the F-15 requires a pilot and a WSO. Not to mention the price tag. We already have 28 jets, not including the Hawks, that require 2 crews.
Reply
Yes on the Super Bug. That's why the manufacturers are looking into the deal whether or not we are serious or just simply to fill up the tarmac at Lima.
I guess they got the money from the Customs Officers..hehehehe....
BTW statistics tells that Malaysia lost appx RM 108 Billion per year due to customs undeclared value etc, it tells us of how rich actually our country trade is......
if only the army got 20% of it,,,,,imagine what we can do to secure our country
Reply
How do you know the leakages will be given to the Armed Forces? They might just use it to light up the Sepang F1 track and build a bridge to Sumatra...
lol 54 aircraft? let's say bye2 to the more important and useful project like the MPSS, NGPV and the APC programme
Reply
One must remember that 54 aircraft is perhaps the minimum if we are to follow the Forward Defence Strategy put forward in the recently published National Defence Policy.
The MRSS and APC by definition does not meet the requirement of forward defence
maybe the top brass should think out of the box,for goodness sake to buy a bare jet fighter just to wow its neighbour,i would rather spend the billion ringgit on air defence missile, hi altitude AA,mid altitude AA,n not to mention coastal missiles n the best passive radar money can buy.
this could deter any agressor for sometime,while the top brass squabble among themselves what jet fighter to buy in the next MALAYSIAN PLAN.
Reply
There is no squabbles, they wanted the SH back in 1999 and they still want it now.
Now its how many, when and how much.
As for the rest, didn't I mention that they don't want a lot of empty tarmac at Lima 2011?