SHAH ALAM: The Defence Ministry is waiting for the green light from the Finance Ministry to commence the procurement of the FLIT/LCA for the RMAF, says its caretaker minister on October 27. Hishamuddin Hussein said the physical evaluation and price negotiations have been completed with the evaluation report forwarded to the Finance Ministry for the final decision.
“Of course, we need the aircraft, and I believed there will be no issue as I had promised that the selection will be according to the needs of the end user, the air force,” he told the media at a press conference at the RMAF Subang airbase here. He was officiating the first flight of Malbat 850-10 – the Malaysian contingent for the UNIFIL mission. The peacekeepers will replace the current unit Malbatt 850-9.
On claims that there was no physical evaluation of the candidates for the FLIT/LCA tender, Hishammuddin dismissed it as general elections speculations. The announcement by Hishammuddin confirmed my previous report that no firm decision has been taken on FLIT/LCA tender unlike the MPA/MALE UAS which had been confirmed. Both are waiting for the 2023 budget to be approve for their contracts to be signed.
As the budget is waiting for the new government for it to be approved, will it be possible that the FLIT/LCA be included when it is presented in parliament in late November or early December? It could of course, but it depends on the newly appointed Finance Minister to put in the budget. Of course, the funds for the FLIT/LCA could be allocated in the 2024 budget if the government wants it, which more likely what will happened. Especially with RMAF expecting the first deliveries in late 2025. As for the FLIT/LCA chosen, Hishammuddin did not mentioned it, but you can guess from the pictures here.
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— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (61)
I'm sensing another LCS debacle is coming. I don't have anymore hope on defence procurement.
@Akmal
Agreed, the elite have never and will never ever take defence seriously, I wonder what must take place in order for them to finally realize...
Akmal - "I’m sensing another LCS debacle is coming"
How exactly? Different circumstances.
If you have any inside knowledge that indicates that the LCA programme will go ratshit please share what you know.
Just sounds toooooo good to be true, just waiting for the green light. My impression is this: what authority does the finance minister have to agree or disagree if the defence ministry greatly needs fighter jets for something as important as national defenceless? His job, IMHO, is to make it happen. Seems as though things are rather convoluted in Malaysia. The Australian treasurer or finance minister here do not decide what
Defence can or cannot have.
It's the same thing really in Oz, as the treasurer needs the go ahead from his boss, the PM. It happened when the military wanted the Black Hawks and indeed had chosen it but the PM and his Cabinet decided to choose the Airbus offerings
Hopefully Hishamudin really meant what he said which is the RMAF will get what it actually wanted. Though i am not surprised if the next government (whomever the next government will be) will not give what RMAF really wanted
Jason - "I wonder what must take place in order for them to finally realize"
For the country to come under direct existential threat and for a long underesourced MAF to be unable to meet this threat; whether it's our access to international shipping lanes being disrupted and we can't export or import stuff; the country coming under a devastating cyber or EW attack; a clash with a neighbour over an unresolved overlapping claim which sees the army being trounced, etc.
At least munition and engine can share with Hornet. Indirectly bought something military from USA.
Just out of curiousity, who don't the Def Ministry straight buy up to 54 jets? Since the air force planned for 3 squadrons?
AN-Apg79(v4) radar from Raytheon or HHI one? I hear the hornets radar also upgraded to this GaN based radar? Reports say it will be Block 20 witb Aesa but I’m not too sure. Pinoy’s fighting eagle grounded but KAI said they skip maintenance as no funds for it. I find it hard to believe. Worst i heard during the Marawi insurgency recently they have only 1 pilot flying as much as 40 sorties per day. That’s shocking. Are they running out of pilots.
Block 20 is the one with the air to air refueling probe, Block 30 is the one with the probe, AESA radar and BVR missiles
Tom Tom - ''Just sounds toooooo good to be true, just waiting for the green light.''
How so? Eventually at some point it has to get funded. Back in the early 1990's all of us were waiting to see what fighter we'd order. It did seem ''toooooo good to be true'' when I bought the NST one morning and on the front page was the report we were buying Fulcrums and Hornets.
Tom Tom - ''or disagree if the defence ministry greatly needs fighter jets for something as important as national defenceless? ''
You've missed the plot. The Finance Minister can and does say that perhaps the time is not ideal or that the price is too high but he does not say that there is no need for the said purchase.
If we start from the beginning; first the armed services decide what they need; then the get MINDEF to approve the requirement for purchase [subject to funding]; then the Finance Minister and EPU from the PM's Department srutinise the deal and at times the views of the Foreign Ministry are sought.
Tom Tom - ''Seems as though things are rather convoluted in Malaysia.''
I could give you various examples of how things can also get convoluted in Australia with regards to defence.
Tom Tom - ''The Australian treasurer or finance minister here do not decide what''
Finance Ministers everywhere - by virtue of their position - have a say in whether funds can be allocated or whether the country can afford the purchase. It's up to the PM to overrule the Finance Minister if needed.