SHAH ALAM: DESPITE the current travails, it appears that the MRCA programme is inching towards the final stage. And the aircraft shortlisted has been cut to two. Unsurprisingly, the two are the Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale.
Industry and ministry officials said although Boeing and Saab are aware of the latest developments they are still plugging away their planes as no contract have been signed yet. That said however if the funding magically appears tomorrow, it will be either the Typhoon or Rafale that will be chosen.
The decision on the MRCA could be made soon, I am told though funding remained the biggest issue on the table. As both UK and France offers funding options under a government-to-government deal the tricky issue could be resolved, I am told.
If we go for the proposed funding options, the payment period for the aircraft may well spread out for at least 10 years based on statements made by the Defence Minister in the past. I am no finance expert but I think it could go up to 20 years. Which also mean that we will only get 18 jets only and not more.
As which one is the more likely candidate for the MRCA programme, my guess is as good as yours. Both aircraft have their own merits so at the end of the day the political considerations will tip the scale.
What about the proposals about buying Hornets from Kuwait then? That is only a proposal made in this website, it was never AFAIK considered by the government.
Furthermore, how will the MRCA programme affect other projects of the Armed Forces? Little or no impact actually as the major programmes – the AV8, A400M and LCS – are already accounted for. It is this army/air force centric funding that leaves the navy scrambling to find funds for its own recapitalisation plans. That resulted in the proposed 15 to 5 plan.
— Malaysian Defence
If you like this post, buy me an espresso. Paypal Payment
View Comments (74)
Wow.if the typhoon get choosen we will be the first in the SEA region but 18 unit for me is very optimistic marhalim.
Is our mrca requirement for all 18 aircrafts to be 2 seater or mix of both?
Reply
Mix
Hope more than 18, i think 24 suitable for two squadron.
Reply
I think 36 is better...
The current weak global economic situation also works in our favour. Both the UK and France will be giving the best offsets they can.
Whoever that can sweeten the pot would win the contract I suppose. France is willing to give M346 free of charge and willing to assemble the plane in malaysia.
As for the brits, they would offer their AJT variant, upgrade our legacy hawk (which is a moot point because rmaf has selected a company to do the same), and, if I'm not mistaken, extra,zero-clocked tranche 1(upgradeable to to tranche 2) thrown in on the cheap?
Sad too see f/a-18f not being seriously pursued anymore sonce it would definitely fill the MMRCA role to a tee.As for gripen, despite offering sweetest gravy on the pot(aew, mpa, offset deals), gripen are just too short legged for MRCA role and the price is really unjustified; almost 100 million usd for NG variant. For comparison, we can get an upgraded F/A-50 (with F414/eurojet engine, Aesa radar,targetting pod and CFT tank) for almost 1/3 the price of gripen NG and yet it has roughly comparable capability as gripen NG
so.....can we afford to use/operate those 2 aircraft??i really hope RMAF getting more the 18 MRCA but it all up to the gov...
Hmmmm......
1. Show me the money than I'll believe it.
The price of both fighters are very expensive and both are new to TUDM so beside the price of each fighter then there are additional costs for tools, training, and ground support..etc. Will the weapons included? Then they will add the cost.
2. It will another blow to ATM procurement. It will show a no plan procurement . It will show a "no continuation" plan with the previous. Buy completely different and start over again. Just like sgpv instead of a modified ngpv.
Marhalim,
If I had my way, I'd settle for 24
F-15SE's and 36 F-16's latest version of course, for some hi and lo mix.
Alas, in the real world Typhoon's or Rafale's would be nice just don't know how many can the Gov afford to buy.
I guess the winner is typhoon as the AIROD already signed a MoU with BAE systems to upgrade the hawks.
Maybe a mix of T1 and T2. Perhaps 24 aircraft for 2 squadrons, 1 squadron with tranche 1 and the other with tranche 3s.
I thought the MRCA was also to replace the F5s which only does air patrols anyway.
Reply
Nothing is set in stone yet not until the contract is signed