SHAH ALAM: The Procurement Division of the Defence Ministry has issued an open tender for the supply of spare parts and Arrius A1 engine maintenance for a period of four years specifically for the RMN’s AS555 SN Fennec helicopters.
The tender for the contract was published on April 3 and closes on May 27, a period of 48 days. The indicative cost for the four-year contract is RM23 million which means that the spare parts and engines for the four Fennecs is around RM1.5 per year each.
Skuadron 502 – the unit operating the Fennecs – had six helicopters but two crashed – M502-03 and M502-06. It must be noted that the RMN Fennecs are equipped with two Arrius A1 engines each.
Unfortunately, the public specifications for the tender did not revealed whether the spare parts sought are for the engines only or for the whole helicopter. It did say that the tender could add a lump sump figure for the tender.
TAWARAN NILAI HARGA PETENDER
SECARA GRAND SUM BAGI
LAMPIRAN 2 (TAWARAN HARGA
TERHADAP UNJURAN SKOP
SELENGGARAAN TERMASUK PAKEJ
ALAT GANTI)
TAWARAN NILAI HARGA PETENDER
SECARA ITEM BAGI LAMPIRAN 3
(TAWARAN HARGA ALAT GANTI).
TAWARAN NILAI HARGA PETENDER
SECARA GRAND SUM BAGI
LAMPIRAN 4 (JADUAL HARGA BAGI
PERKHIDMATAN PAKAR)
It must be noted that Galaxy Aerospace (M) Sdn Bhd is the provider of the In-Service Support maintenance provider for the Fennec and the Super Lynx helicopters. The ISS contract for the Fennec is in the third year based on a release by Galaxy in January this year. Galaxy is an Aircraft Maintenance Organisation recognised by the Directorate General Technical Airworthiness (DGTA). The company is also recognized by DGTA as Authorised Engineering Organisation for the Super Lynx and the EC120B helicopters. The latter is used by RMAF for basic and advanced flight training.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (43)
When PDRM AS355N helicopters are retired, i would prefer them to be donated to TUDM to join the remaining 4x AS555 SN Fennecs
of the 7, probably 4 to be used while the remaining 3 kept as spares.
So Skuadron 502 will have 4x AS555 SN and 4x AS355N operational
the AS355N could be used as training, utility, liaison missions.
As for performance upgrades, maybe can look at this fastfin modification
https://www.helis.com/database/news/fastfin-as355-nz/
... "When PDRM AS355N helicopters are retired, i would prefer them to be donated to TUDM to join the remaining 4x AS555 SN Fennecs"
Given the age and wear and tear on them, plus the fact that the RMN might not need anymore a platform with such limited space and range [one reason in getting the AWs]; I veer much doubt the RMN would want this option. Tggr is also the fact that the RMN, who h has already placed a pair of Lynxs in storage, wants to focus its attention on a future ASW plstfitm buy, sustaining its present assets and gettng more AWs.
Off topic.
Marhalim, in the 2023 Tarantula thread you mentioned that "Both 2 and 4 KAD are now light infantry regiment". Sorry, you mind clarifying?
As both had no armoured vehicles during that time period. Even now it is likely only half of the units are actually are able to utilise the Gempita as their numbers are not according to the KAD TOE.
One can buy an old BMW for the prize of bezza. Doesn't mean the BMW is as safe (drive shaft won't come break during driving), as reliable (would totally start every morning) or as cheap to run as 1 workshop can easily equal several months of monthly repayments.
If one don't have the money then just go to the bank and get a loan lah.
Something I've been unable to discover is whether we operate our vehicles in Troops of 3 or 4.
Yes a problem is that on paper TOEs don't reflect actual strengths. Units will be under strengthed and actual equipment will not be as authorised. Thus can be a problem in conscript armies, never mind a small all volunteer one which has a small recruiting pool.
I was told it is four. Whether or not it is across the whole mechanised units, is beyond me.
Zaft - "If one don’t have the money then just go to the bank and get a loan lah"
Yes but as you will be aware; unlike our neighbours we don't secure loans for military purchaces.
" One can buy an old BMW for the prize of bezza "
In the case of the fennecs, we are not buying anything. I am proposing a free transfer of all 7 PDRM ecureuils to TLDM, with 3 of the 7 be used as spare parts source.
TLDM is clearly going to use the fennecs at least 4 more years into the future. Able to have 8 of them to choose from to fly (rather than just 4) plus additional 3 airframe for spareparts will actually lessen the individual airframe flying hours (same flight hours requirements but divided with more airframes) thus extending the maintenance intervals.
Doing proficiency, recurrency, and other training for the pilots is much more cheaper done with the AS355/AS555 rather than burning the flying hours of the AW139.
... - "Doing proficiency, recurrency, and other training for the pilots is much more cheaper done with the AS355/AS555 rather than burning the flying hours of the AW139"
They will use the remaining Fennecs for training and other purposes but from what I've been told have zero intention of getting anymore. Even with one having been lost it still has a pair of AWs and that has taken the strain off the remaining Fennecs which can focus on training and other things more suited for it.
Focus is on getting more AWs and the Lynx replacement. Why would the RMN add to something it doesn't need? And why utilise scare resources when it can't even afford to fly all 6 of its Lynxs.
Azlan "Yes but as you will be aware; unlike our neighbours we don’t secure loans for military purchaces."
Lease with an option to buy at the end of the period for a token sum is a loan in practice just not in name and balance sheet treatment.
A lot of companies get a lease contract instead of a proper loan despite the obvious difference in overall cost just to make their book nicer. Which in turn increase investor confidence and their stock prices. Which make the extra cost of classifying something as a lease rather than a loan worth it.
Personally if our close neighbours can get a lease offers in local currency rather than a foreign currency dominated loan. They too would take it. But given their financial situation, it's probably hard for them to get one. And the fact they are admitting to taking foreign dominated loan for what essentially an expanse would put their financial situation even worse. Which would put them in a vicious cycle that hard to break away from.
... - "Lease with an option to buy at the end of the period for a token sum is a loan in practice just not in name and balance sheet treatment"
Slightly diffrent. One can do various things with kit bought via loans rather than obtained via a leasing agreement. Also, obtaining kit paid for by a long term loan will probably be cheaper than a leasing equivalent.
Zaft - "But given their financial situation, it’s probably hard for them to get one"
You do realise that Thailand has been offered long term low interest loans and that South Korea has offered the Philippines the same thing. Both can and have gone down the lease route which is there if they so desire.
Zaft - " Which would put them in a vicious cycle that hard to break away from"
A apt description of us given our chronic inability to learn from previous mistakes.