SHAH ALAM: Shooting at stars. A couple of days ahead of DS Najib Razak visit to the White House, several news portal claimed that he will sign a contract to buy Super Hornets there as a way to wriggle out of his “legal” troubles.
It was naive for them to think there is only one jalan tikus in this world as it was announced Malaysia this morning was indeed buying jets from Boeing though these are the passenger planes variety!
From Bernama
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Malaysia Airlines Berhad (Malaysia Airlines) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 16 airplanes during a ceremony at the St. Regis Hotel in Washington D.C.
The signing was witnessed by Dato’ Sri Mustapa bin Mohamed, Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry and in the presence of The Honorable Dato’ Sri Muhammad Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia as well as members from the airline and Boeing.
The announcement includes eight 787-9 Dreamliners by converting eight of Malaysia Airlines’ existing order of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and eight additional purchase rights of the 737 MAX 8s as well as Boeing’s Global Fleet Care service to maintain the national carrier’s current and future Boeing airplanes. Once finalized, the deal will be posted to Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries website.
“Malaysia Airlines is proud to sign this MOU for the widebody Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and additional 737 MAXs, building on our more than 40 years of partnership with Boeing,” said Peter Bellew, managing director and chief executive officer of Malaysia Airlines. “New widebody aircraft are a key to making Malaysia Airlines a premium airline offering a five star product again.
The extraordinary range of the 787-9 gives an ability to operate to any point in Europe and some USA destinations in the future from Kuala Lumpur. The MOU with Boeing on their Global Fleet Care program will allow the two companies to build a world class MRO for the 737 MAX, 787 and 737NG based on Malaysia’s existing facilities in Kuala Lumpur.”Malaysia Airlines currently operates more than 50 Next-Generation 737s and has an additional 25 737 MAXs on order, including 10 for the new 737 MAX 10.
“Boeing offers the very best widebody and single aisle airplanes in the world and we are delighted Malaysia Airlines continues to put its trust and confidence in Boeing with this MOU for 16 Boeing airplanes,” said Kevin McAllister, President and Chief Executive Officer, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The 787 and the 737 MAX will provide Malaysia Airlines with unmatched fuel efficiency, economics and a superior passenger experience as they continue to grow their business across Southeast Asia and beyond.”
Whether or not, Najib and Trump discussed the Super Hornets is beyond me at the moment, we will have to wait for the transcript of their meeting. Even there was discussions it does not meant any deal is forthcoming.
Anyhow, it appears that Deftech is taking the first steps of exporting the AV8 Gempita. The company has send at least one Gempita, an AFV30, based on a picture posted on social media, to a very, friendly country in the Middle East. As I have been asked not to name the country, I will leave it to your imagination.
The Gempita has been trialled in the country for several months now. I am not sure whether it will be the first Gempita to face baptism of fire but if they took it far south, it might just.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (17)
Haha Ha.... how obvious could it be..... am I in the same country now performing my 5th Islamic obligations...
In its current form...i dont think av8 will survive any rpg fire...will need urban protection package like reactive armor or steel cage like the one use by stryker
Still an excellent achievement by our local defence company, Deftech, to have those Gempita trialled by a foreign country.
Clearly AFV30 variant is one of the best globally in their category for the time being.
Any deals in the future will be a proud moment for all of us.
More likely chances for a deal for M109s or 2nd hand Hornets from Kuwait...
Gempita,
For sure it is not the same country buying the PARS (Oman)
Or is it Saudi? I can see a person wearing saudi camo on the turret hatch. For political reasons not wanting to buy direct from Turkey, probably buying them through Malaysia instead?
BTW look at the Gempita plate numbers. the one in middle east is ZC3209 while the one with 1 Armor is ZC3210
Anyway how many Gempita's actually sent to the middle east? Seen a few others (one of them, the recce version with vingtaqs) painted in sand camo.
Csl,
The Gempita Can stand from RPG, They used the STANG Level 4 Armour Protection.
By the way Marhalim, About The Discuss the SH. I think Our PM Won't Talk about it.
Searching the Deftech web,
Most probably that the AV8 is in Saudi as the same vehicle (plate number ZC 3209) was shown to the Saudi delegation in Deftech plant.
http://www.deftech.com.my/images/Arab_Saudi_Delegation/ERF_7951.JPG
http://www.deftech.com.my/images/Arab_Saudi_Delegation/ERF_7944.JPG
ZekMR,
How did you reach the conclusion that the 30mm variant is "one of the best globally" in its category? Based on what comparison or measured against what other design?
Safran,
The AV-8 can't "stand from RPG". An RPG or any shoulder fired weapon will penetrate it. It's protected up to 14.5mm.
A possible barter trade being hammer out between Malaysia and Saudi?
Secondhand Hornet in exchange for AV8?
Cool AV8 desert camo. But I think said country has enough mowag piranhas and F-15 plus Eurofighters to deal with something down south or further east depending on how childlike their leaders want to continue to be…..