FMT - 5 countries vying for RM36 billion RMAF deal, says report (extracts)
Politics may be the deciding factor in a RM36 billion deal to supply light combat aircraft to the Royal Malaysian Air Force over the next 10 years, according to a Singapore news report.
The aircraft on offer are believed to be the F-50 by Korea Aerospace Industries of South Korea, Tejas by Hindustan Aeronautics (India), YAK-130 by Irkut Aerospace (Russia), JF-17 Thunder (Pakistan) and the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master (Italy).
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YAK-130 |
According to the Straits Times newspaper in Singapore, defence industry executives believe that the RMAF top brass is partial towards South Korea’s FA-50 jets, but its critics contend that the single-seater aircraft is not suitable because it does not have the capability for air-to-air refuelling. [...]
The tussle to secure the contract is being waged by local agents of the manufacturers and are “typically little-known private entities whose well-connected shareholders hide behind business proxies to shield their involvement”, the report said.
The ST quoted unnamed defence industry executives as saying that the FA-50 is being represented by a little-known private entity Kemalak Systems, Tejas by Forte Drus, JF-17 by Kharisma Wira, the YAK-130 by Sarawak-based Sovereign Strategic. Aermacchi’s representative was not known.
The ST quoted unnamed defence industry executives as saying that the FA-50 is being represented by a little-known private entity Kemalak Systems, Tejas by Forte Drus, JF-17 by Kharisma Wira, the YAK-130 by Sarawak-based Sovereign Strategic. Aermacchi’s representative was not known.
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JF-17 a Pakistan & China collaboration |
“The armed forces always have their wish list but it is politics that will decide what Malaysia buys,” a senior executive of a local defence agency is quoted as saying.
There was also a strong lobby from Pakistan, whose prime minister Imran Khan enjoys close ties with prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. However, Pakistan could fail because Malaysia intends to link the arms deals to purchases of palm oil.
India, one of Malaysia’s largest buyers of palm oil, has reportedly offered to acquire Malaysia’s retired MiG-29 fighter jets to boost its chances.
There was also a strong lobby from Pakistan, whose prime minister Imran Khan enjoys close ties with prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. However, Pakistan could fail because Malaysia intends to link the arms deals to purchases of palm oil.
India, one of Malaysia’s largest buyers of palm oil, has reportedly offered to acquire Malaysia’s retired MiG-29 fighter jets to boost its chances.
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MiG-29 |
The person who said “The armed forces always have their wish list but it is politics that will decide what Malaysia buys,” has been absolutely spot on.
The uniformed staff and technical professionals can scream for all they want but the politicians and civilian staff will be the ones to decide.
There has been a misconception that air force generals decide on what planes we buy, but recall, Tun Razak decided on the RMAF's executive jets, Mahathir decided on Russian fighter jets and an ancient Grumman HU-16 Albatross (in every sense of that avian metaphor), AAB decided on Airbus A400, etc.
Thus while the RMAF may wish to have the modern South Korean FA-50, the air force must wait to see who the government favours. It may well be the agent for the FA-50, it may well not be.
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FA-50 Golden Eagle |
While the palm oil barter angle may indicate a leaning towards the Indian's Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA), technically and performance-wise, the RMAF in all likelihood will not like that choice of an aircraft the Indian Air Force has to grudgingly accept after a 30-years long development.
From the net:
The Tejas LCA is a supersonic, single-seat, single-engine multirole light fighter aircraft that has been under development by the ADA in cooperation with HAL since the early 1980s. The IAF had to repeatedly revise its requirements for the fourth-generation fighter. Notably, the service has repeatedly stressed that the Tejas Mark-I Tejas does not meet the service’s specifications and operational requirements, as I noted previously:
Overall, the IAF demanded over 43 improvements and upgrades of sub-systems of the aircraft. Given the Tejas Mark-I FOC status, it appears that these deficiencies have now been addressed, although details remain murky. FOC aircraft are set to enter production this year. HAL will also set up a new assembly facility at Nashik in Maharashtra by 2020 to increase annual production from eight to 16 aircraft per year.
If the autocratic premiership of Mahathir decides on the Tejas, there is eff-all the RMAF can do.
Instead of spending the alleged RM36 Billion on one of the following:
(a) F-50 by Korea Aerospace Industries of South Korea,
(b) Tejas by Hindustan Aeronautics (India),
(c) YAK-130 by Irkut Aerospace (Russia),
(d) JF-17 Thunder (Pakistan), and
(e) Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master (Italy),
the RMAF would be better buying a bigger fleet (instead of drips and drabs) of second-hand re-conditioned older type aircraft, eg. BAE Hawks, Aermacchi MB339, or even the venerable vintage F-5E/F fighter jet, the latter of which Thailand has purchased and re-con-ed them to F-5ST Super Tiger fighter jet. Another heavier choice would be the relatively still-new Mirage 2000-5.
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RTAF F-5ST Super Tiger fighter jets |
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Mirage 2000-5 |
Then spend the remaining amount on air-to-air refueling tankers like the Airbus A330 MRTT. The Korean Air Force has ordered 4 of these must-have planes in a air defence setup costing US1.3 billion (RM5.5 billion)
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Airbus A330 MRTT |
AIN online reports:
The A330 MRTT has won every major tanker competition outside of the U.S. since it entered the market, Airbus claims.
South Korea is the seventh nation to order the aircraft, following France, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE and the UK. The latter six nations have ordered 46 total aircraft, according to the manufacturer.
On July 1, Airbus announced that it signed a contract to provide two additional A330 MRTTs to the Royal Australian Air Force, joining five the RAAF currently operates.
On July 1, Airbus announced that it signed a contract to provide two additional A330 MRTTs to the Royal Australian Air Force, joining five the RAAF currently operates.
Airbus in Getafe, Spain, will convert two previously owned Qantas Airways A330-200 airliners to the MRTT configuration, for delivery to the RAAF in 2018.
I hope Mahathir won't go for the Tejas nor any of his bizarre choices such as the ancient Grumman HU-16 Albatross, which admittedly at only 70 years old (and of WWII vintage) is still much younger than him.
See how the decision plays out first.
ReplyDeleteDon't pronounce the PH government guilty of misconduct or autocratic decisions even before anything has been decided.
Buying a vintage plane would be the worst possible decision.
Aircraft with long operational flying hours suffer from metal fatigue, leading to dangerous or fatal failures. The old analogue era planes lack most of the modern digital electronics.
Even when they have upgraded equipment, it is a patch on , not fully integrated with the rest of the plane's equipment.
Many Air Forces do keep their own old planes running, due to lack of budget or the plane nicely meets their operational requirements.
Just if you have your own old car, if you know its maintenance history, needs and quirks, you can still maintain and use it with confidence.
Buying used old equipment from someone else is a far more risky project.
re-con-ed planes usually have new spars and total replacements of vital parts - even the USAF re-con-ed its A-10 and F-15. And it's NOT patch-ons so don't dismiss a viable, practical and cheaper alternative
Deletehttps://defence-blog.com/news/first-thai-f-5st-super-tiger-fighter-jet-rolls.html
DeleteWakakaka...Thailand leveraged on its friendly relationship with Israel to upgrade its 1960's designed F-5E with 2018 electronics, Radars, Electronic Warfare, ground attack targeting electronics, glass cockpit, HUD helmets, advanced missiles...
Too bad, this option is not available to the Melayus....
Israel is NOT the only aircraft re-conditioner
DeleteNone is as capable!
DeleteJust look at India trying yrs to upgrade her aging ear planes from the Soviet & US!
Oh no...why must there always be intermediaries. Corruption galore, remember Perimekar, Ombak Laut, Terasasi etc. Will we be reading about kickbacks and C4 assassinations 10 years from now...?
ReplyDeleteWe Never Learn. I say Negotiate direct.
QUOTE
The tussle to secure the contract is being waged by local agents of the manufacturers and are “typically little-known private entities whose well-connected shareholders hide behind business proxies to shield their involvement”, the report said.
The ST quoted unnamed defence industry executives as saying that the FA-50 is being represented by a little-known private entity Kemalak Systems, Tejas by Forte Drus, JF-17 by Kharisma Wira, the YAK-130 by Sarawak-based Sovereign Strategic. Aermacchi’s representative was not known.
UNQUOTE
wakakaka, you're so biased and gullible when you said "Will we be reading about kickbacks and C4 assassinations 10 years from now...?"
DeleteMore attractive female translators turning up dead, perhaps ?
DeleteKickbacks are a given fact in such transactions. Kickbacks are the "Oil" that moves such deals.
In the Scorpene case there was no dispute that kickbacks were indeed given and C4 was indeed used to kill Altantuya, so there is no bias or gullibility on my part.
DeleteAltantuyaa was NOT killed by C4 but by handguns. The C4 was subsequently used to demolish her corpse
DeleteWa!!!
DeleteNow u were at the scene of crime when it happened!
Wakakakaka.... Same old arrangements....
ReplyDeleteMost of all these representative companies are just shell offices with a receptionist, Secretary, Accounts clerk and a rarely occupied CEO office.
They were formed to make a "cut" from the project deal, nothing of any real value contributed.
whatever aircraft just like a car the availability of spare parts and armoury is crucial, if the parts can be sanctioned during a protracted military crisis you are better off buying a mothball
ReplyDeleteata refuelling capability not that crucial in our case unless we have far flung vital strategic interest to protect
bear in mind these are only trainers cum light attack aircraft which we already have, refurbishing, add on the mirages and hawks with more sophisticated avionics is better for all sides, including the already familiarised flight instructors to train new ones
politics has and always be the decider, sing is no exception
"ata refuelling capability not that crucial in our case unless we have far flung vital strategic interest to protect"
ReplyDeleteFor bolihland air force head honcho, the building light is semua mau, tak kira suitability!
Mungkin ada Kenyan debian kickbacks & syiok-sendiri-ism!
incorrect, air-to-air refuelling becomes more critical with small size fleet as the limited number of planes cannot afford to land to refuel
DeleteThe FA-50s are single-seater fighters, how many hours can one pilot fly before they must land anyway.
Deletein air defence situation, the scrambles and air patrol will require higher fuel consumption. For a small size fleet, returning to base to refuel before taking off again is less efficient than staying aloft in a cruise configuration for longer by using air fuel tanker
DeleteMy Colombian military source says during OTHER emergency operations (??), air-to-air refuelling is never considered.
DeleteOnly during war time, is the air-to-air refuelling deployed for refueling the fighter planes.
But, if yr air defense zone is narrow then both the fighter & the air refueling plane r sitting targets since narrow air defense space means enemy planes r also closer by!
Logic also dictates that with small size fleet then air-to-air refuelling is putting fighter planes & pilots at RISK. Bcoz both have to work longer hours in the air.
What a bloody waste of spending RM 36 billion when the RMAF cannot even locate and detect the MH 370 flight path while traversing thru Malaysian airspace.
ReplyDeleteBetter buy better aerial surveillance radars first because you can't detect even where the enemy planes are coming from. We can't even locate where the aircraft engines goes missing and only much later were discovered.
That's cheaper also and more beneficial than preparing for aerial war in which may or may not happen in the next 10 years and the outcome is quite predictable.
If need be, buying unmanned supersonic drones or more surface to air missiles which are cheaper is a better option.
http://ktemoc.blogspot.com/2008/10/eurocopter-cougar-deal-malaysiakinis.html?m=1
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see how vigorously Ah Mok defended his Ah Jib Gor's arms deals as kosher and clean, while the PH government has already been condemned as corrupt even before any decision has been made.
show me where I condemned the current government
DeleteAnother example of corruption when you use agents or middle-men....
ReplyDeleteQUOTE
RM300mil helicopter deal ‘part of Mindef probe’
FMT Reporters - May 20, 2019
PETALING JAYA: Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu has cautioned against speculation about a RM300 million deal in 2016 for the purchase of six military helicopters, which have yet to be delivered.
In a statement, Mohamad said any speculation could jeopardise investigations into the matter.
A special investigation committee on procurement, governance, and finance, headed by former Auditor-General Ambrin Buang was still investigating various matters and the findings would be presented to the Cabinet before reports are lodged with the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission and police.
Earlier today, FMT had reported that six MD 530G helicopters had been ordered by the previous government but had yet to be delivered.
In 2016, Malaysia was reported to have become the launch customer of the MD 530G model of light scout helicopters, a new generation introduced by MD Helicopters of the US.
The helicopters were meant for use by the Malaysian Army.
FMT understands that the deal was made by a local company with a strong relationship with a government employee and which had been appointed as the agent of MD Helicopters in Malaysia. The defence minister at the time was Hishammuddin Hussein.
The proposal was subsequently submitted to the prime minister and finance minister, Najib Razak, for approval in November 2016 but Mindef was unaware that the company had lost its rights as the agent for MD Helicopters.
The helicopters were to be delivered in two batches with the second batch scheduled to arrive by last year.
UNQUOTE
Can anyone recount any incident where we had to use our fighter jets to defend our territory since Merdeka? Or were the billions we have spent thus far all been wasted?
ReplyDeleteThe Canadian CL-41G-5 Tebuan was used many times during the Communist insurgency.
DeleteIn the 1970's, as the CPM attempted a comeback, the F-5E Tiger was employed on many bombing missions.
The F/A-18 Hornets were used a few years ago during the Lahad Datu Suluk incursion.
Poor intelligence led to ineffective use (reportedly the bombs accurately destroyed already empty huts), but the F/A-18 is nevertheless a very effective combat proven aircraft.
Hawks and F18 at Lahad Datu
DeleteRather than spend money on airplanes we should spend it on foreign diplomacy with our neighbours, our own "belt and road" initiative.
ReplyDelete36B can buy a lot of goodwill and diplomacy, and that's just for fighter jets.
the problem of a prepared miliatry that is well trained and equipped and thus ready for war or defence is its general uselessness in peacetime (there are some use for it in nation building) and thus perceieved waste of finncial resources. But emergencies do occur unexpectedly and if the nation's armed forces including its air force is not trained well for years and satisfactorily equipped. no last minute expenditure of trillions of ringgit can produce a ready armed forces in less than 7 to 8 years. The nation then will be in deep shit
DeleteSo, is bolihland fighter pilots well trained such that they r used to bomb the sulu rigtaging 'invaders'!?
Delete