US Navy delivers first upgraded CN-235 military transport aircraft to RMAF
Work on the two remaining CN-235 aircraft and multiple ground stations continues and is expected to be completed in 2022. (US Navy pic)
JAKARTA: The US Navy has delivered the first of three Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) CN-235 military transport aircraft converted to a maritime patrol platform.
This comes just three-and-a-half years after the US signed a letter of offer and acceptance to begin increasing the capability and interoperability of US and Malaysian forces.
In a statement, the US Navy said the effort was facilitated by the US Navy’s building partner capacity programme, aligned with the US government’s maritime security initiative.
This initiative is intended to assist the Malaysian government in increasing maritime security and maritime domain awareness within the Malaysian Exclusive Economic Zone.
“The Malaysian CN-235 programme will be a significant force multiplier to an indigenous Malaysian intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability,” said director Ron Weinberger, based at the security cooperation office at the US Naval Air Systems Command.
He said this will directly support joint Malaysian and US efforts to ensure global security in the Indo-Pacific Command area.
The CN-235s were flown to Indonesia for completion and testing in September 2020 amid Covid-19 restrictions.
Work on the two remaining CN-235 aircraft and multiple ground stations continues and is expected to be completed in 2022, the statement read.
The CN-235 is a medium-range twin-engine transport aircraft manufactured by the Indonesian aerospace company PT Dirgantara and Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA of Spain.
JAKARTA: The US Navy has delivered the first of three Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) CN-235 military transport aircraft converted to a maritime patrol platform.
This comes just three-and-a-half years after the US signed a letter of offer and acceptance to begin increasing the capability and interoperability of US and Malaysian forces.
In a statement, the US Navy said the effort was facilitated by the US Navy’s building partner capacity programme, aligned with the US government’s maritime security initiative.
This initiative is intended to assist the Malaysian government in increasing maritime security and maritime domain awareness within the Malaysian Exclusive Economic Zone.
“The Malaysian CN-235 programme will be a significant force multiplier to an indigenous Malaysian intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability,” said director Ron Weinberger, based at the security cooperation office at the US Naval Air Systems Command.
He said this will directly support joint Malaysian and US efforts to ensure global security in the Indo-Pacific Command area.
The CN-235s were flown to Indonesia for completion and testing in September 2020 amid Covid-19 restrictions.
Work on the two remaining CN-235 aircraft and multiple ground stations continues and is expected to be completed in 2022, the statement read.
The CN-235 is a medium-range twin-engine transport aircraft manufactured by the Indonesian aerospace company PT Dirgantara and Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA of Spain.
Spanish design airframe, built in Indonesia (a bit iffy in quality reputation ) , its key strength is it can fly for hours and hours.
ReplyDeleteIt's jammed full of electronics and sensors to monitor large areas of sea. Depends on how much electronics the Yankees trusted Malaysia with.
The way Malaysia's international relations policy stands have been developing, the Yanks may suspect a risk of the technology falling into Tiongkok hands.
Wakakakaka…
Delete"risk of the technology falling into Tiongkok hands"
Reengineering a kiddo's toy!