SHAH ALAM: RMAF took official delivery of its third A400M airlifter at the Airbus Defence and Space facility in Seville, Spain, today (June 9, 2016)
The aircraft – M54-03 – was accepted by Defence Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Radzi. It is yet to be determined when the A400M will fly to Subang airbase, the home of 22nd Skn. But based on previous two A400Ms, it is likely that the aircraft will make it home by July.
The 03 was supposed to be delivered in April but was delayed after engine and air-frame problems were in discovered in German and French A400ms.
RMAF had never officially confirmed whether its A400Ms were also affected by the problems but the first aircraft was seen in its hangar in early March with its engine panels opened.
The 22nd Skn currently operates two A400Ms, the first arrived in March, 2015 while the second in late December. The fourth and final aircraft is expected to be delivered by year end.
It is expected with the fourth A400M delivered, 22 Skn will ramped up its operational use of the air-lifters. Although the squadron had conducted test loading of Army vehicles, mostly 4X4s trucks, it had yet to conduct flights carrying them.
Currently, the two A400Ms of the 22 Skn mostly carry personnel and their belongings. The longest known trip so far is to Korat airbase in Thailand, in support of the Air-Thamal 2016, the annual exercise between RMAF and the Thai Air Force.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (9)
This third A400 is build with aerial refuelling. So is the fourth n final example. The first two are not plumed for aerial refuelling
Just wondering, our Charlie except the 5 c-130h-30 do they still have a lot of life hours in them. Sorry that I might used the wrong term.
Reply
Yes I believe so
@ lee yoke meng
What I understand is all production a400m is plumbed for aerial refueling. Whether it could be done or not depends on the required refueling pods is acquired or not.
A magnificent bird but not the capability we need in current time and situation. Wonder how the air force would utilize the bird apart from ceremonial flyby and carrying very minimum personnel.
Air force budget is really rip with the grizzly project. A capability it doesn't need and such a wasteful resources. Further skip the really important AWACS and MPA program. Malaysia, Bolehland where impossible and out of mind become reality
A400M cant refuel helos. Our KC130s will have to soldier on for awhile.
M - '' Our KC130s will have to soldier on for awhile.''
If I'm not mistaken we have never done AAR with helicopters.
JohnRambo - ''Further skip the really important AWACS and MPA program.''
The RMAF - with justification - can point out that funds for MPAs should come from the RMN's budget.
'A400M cant refuel helos. Our KC130s will have to soldier on for awhile'
RMAF doesn't have a need for helo refuel capability and non of our heli are aar capable. Except the gov purchase the aar probe for the caracal which is unlikely to happen.
Marhalim,
Do all caracal is equipped with FLIR or only half of them, just like the Super Lynx saga ?
Reply
Just like the Super Lynx fleet, the FLIR turrets are rotated through the Cougar fleet
Says... I have spoken to the technical people . Confirmed the first two units not plumbed for ar. The third n fourth comes ready for ar. If the first two planes need to do ar, they need to fix all the pipes
A400M full refueling capability only ready in v2.5 spec， if not mistake our A400M will install refueling pods together with A400M upgrade to version 3.0 spec in 2018-19.
A400M will study/fix helos refueling in future spec.
also our helos no refueling capability.