SHAH ALAM: ALMOST 18 months after it was first announced, a Hawk squadron is finally operational in Sabah. In March, the No 6 Skn – which flies the Mk 108 and Mk 208 Hawks – completed its move to Labuan airbase.
The decision to have a Hawk squadron at Labuan was first announced shortly after the Lahad Datu incursion in 2013. However as upgrades were needed at the airbase to cater for a full squadron, Hawks from both the 6 and 15 squadrons were stationed there on a rotational basis.
It is likely No 6 Skn moved to Labuan after its new facilities at the airbase were completed.
With the transfer of the No 6 Skn to Labuan, the Kuantan airbase currently hosts three squadrons – No 10 Skn which flies the Airbus Helicopters EC725/H225M; No 17 Skn (Mig-29N/NUB Fulcrums) and Pulatibang 3 which flies the Aermacchi MB-339CMs in the LIFT role.
As widely reported on Wednesday, a single MB-339CM from Pulatibang 3 – M34-20 – was lost in a crash near Pekan, Pahang on Tuesday (May 17, 2016). The pilots, Major Nazrul Hafiz Zaimi and Lieutenant Mohd Hakimi Khairi, ejected from the aircraft at 12.54 pm after it suffered engine failure. Mohd Hakimi reportedly suffered a broken leg.
The crash left Pulatibang 3 fleet with seven aircraft from the eight which was originally procured back in 2006 to replace the earlier variant of the trainer, the MB-339AM.
This was believed to be the first incident involving the CM fleet since the introduction in 2009. At least six AMs were lost in accidents – both the pilot and co-pilot died in a crash in 1985 – from the 13 acquired back in 1983.
It is likely that the RMAF is regretting the decision back in 2006 to reuse the Rolls Royce Viper Mk 632 turbojet engines of the AMs in the CMs. This was the solution to reduce the cost of buying the new aircraft. As the engine is no longer in production, RMAF is having difficulties in supporting them.
Following the crash of the tail number 20, RMAF may well have to replace the Mk 632 turbojets in the CMs if it is found that it was no longer feasible to maintain them in the long run.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein told reporters on Thursday that an independent audit of RMAF aircraft would be conducted to “ensure the assets are in the best condition.
The AMs were mostly retired in 2005/2006 when their engines were sent to Italy for over-haul in anticipation of putting them in the CMs.
Meanwhile, the Fulcrums of the No 17 Skn will continue flying for sometime despite rumours that it will be retired on June 1. The rumours were sparked after the aviation community found out that a renowned photographer would conduct an air-to-air photography session with the Fulcrums “as part of the aircraft retirement celebration”.
Indeed it will be the last air-to-air photography session for the Fulcrums but it will not be the last hurrah for the aircraft.
During a visit to Kuantan airbase on Monday, one Fulcrum conducted a demonstration flight while another five were seen at the dispersal shed. The squadron is expected to take part in Cope Taufan 2016 expected to be held in mid-July.
Apart from the Fulcrums in the dispersal sheds, several more including the famous 03 were seen inside a hangar though unfortunately no pictures were allowed to be taken.
The 03 was undergoing maintenance and will probably feature prominently when the air-to-air photography session is conducted.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (16)
Actually a lot of other equipments were canibalised from the AM to the CM, including the ejection seats. Right now what could be done is to salvage equipment from the crashed CM and transfer it to one of the stored AM airframe. The Rolls Royce Viper turbojet is no longer in production and all Mb-339 models use that engine, no other engines are intergrated with the Mb-339.
The mig-29 could still be used if the engines is given its periodic overhaul. That is the current limiting constraint that would cause the mig-29 to be retired, the unwillingness to spend money to overhaul the engines. To take it into perspective, even the hawks would have to be retired if wasn't the decision to overhaul their engines a few years ago.
I think now is the right time to sell off the Mb-339, hawks to private military contractors that already uses those types (draken and air usa) while it is still usable, and get a common fighter for lift and lightweight fighter roles. This should be the current priority instead of the mrca.
How many platforms is that, Marhalim?
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At least nine aircraft, I believe
Labuan AB shared runway with Labuan Airport, dunno when RMAF will get its own dedicated AB (like Gong kedak) in Sabah@Sarawak. Anyway, since the SKN had moved to its new home, "selamat datang ke labuan". Hope contractors tasked to support the airframe can give quality of service like what in the former AB.
"Labuan AB shared runway with Labuan Airport, dunno when RMAF will get its own dedicated AB (like Gong kedak) in Sabah@Sarawak."
No benefit from that. All our RMAF bases are single runway, and all but one have no hardened aircraft shelters. Even in a world without precision guided munitions, unless the bases are hardened, having a dedicated air base does not make it more survivable than a shared air port.
However, PGMs are making even hardened bases more pointless. You should be looking more at dispersed operations and rapid runway repair capability.
Is there any plan to get new trainers? T/A-50 would be nice replacement to hawk and aermacchi
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I think there is but it has not been articulated yet as other programmes probably goes higher in the rank of importance
Question, would it be better off having a layered SAM/AA capabilities than having a hardened shelter for an air force base if PGM would render hardened shelter pointless?
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All three is the best solution but beggars cannot be choosers...
Nimitz - ''Labuan AB shared runway with Labuan Airport''
RMAF Kuching and Kuantan is also on land shared with airports.
Kamal - '' than having a hardened shelter for an air force base if PGM would render hardened shelter pointless?''
Having hardened shelters is good but pointless if the aircraft inside them escape damage but can't take off because the taxiways and runways are destroyed or damaged. The key is to having reconstruction teams with the needed gear, including fast drying cement, to quickly perform repairs; as well as hardened shelters and adequate dispersal areas.
...... - '' That is the current limiting constraint that would cause the mig-29 to be retired, the unwillingness to spend money to overhaul the engines. ''
There are also other issues. The main issue is off course the overhaul of the RD-33s but if the Fulcrums are remain operational for a while more; other stuff also had to be ideally replaced.
After inspecting the MBB-339As [at no cost] Aermacchi found them to be in good condition; requiring an upgrade. For various reasons, including the costs involved and the fact that the air frames were 30 years old, we decided no to upgrade them. The fact that the Viper Mk 632s are no longer in production is a fact but what is important is that Rolls Royce is still supporting the engine. The MBB-339CMs are at present the closest thing we have to a LIFT and if we do intended to sell them; we first need a replacement. Same goes with the Hawks.
The good news is that we have been steadily ordering more PC-7 Mk2s to replace the Mk1s. Granted, it's MRCAs that give people adrenaline rushes but equally or more important is the basic trainer
fleet and the need for a dedicated LIFT, which the MBB-339CM is not.
Wonder if the Russian offer to swap MiG29n for Su30MKM discount still stand? Buying more Su30MKM or F18C/D/E/Fs might be more feasible then buying new types...
Might surpise you Kamal. Good to have ur own system But I told SAF air defend missile sistems will deploy in West Malaysia if require under FPDA and not just Butterworth. Ter is already a 350 to 400 km plus range high altitude and low altitude bubble 24/7 over Sg and West My thank to My radars and Sg AWAC, radars on land and sea and air. Much info is share btw Sg and My. It hard not be seen to pierce this bubble and have RSAF and RMAF jets coming at you.