Malaysia Takes Delivery of its Third A400M

RMAF took official delivery of its third A400M airlifter at the Airbus Defence and Space facility in Seville.
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.
defense-studies

Malaysia To Receive Second A400M in December

Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chief said the second A400M will be received in early December.
This is the second of four aircraft bought in December 2005. The first was received on March 9.
bernama

Malaysia to upgrade MiG-29N

The Royal Malaysian Air Force fleet of MiG-29N fighter aircraft will remain an important asset to the country's air defence. RMAF chief said there has been no decision to replace the MIG-29N which had been in service since 1990 and the aircraft will still remain in service. He said RMAF will scrutinise the capabilities of the existing MIG-29N fleet to ensure it remains competitive and relevant in safeguarding the country's air space. "Initially, there were plans to phase out the aircraft and replace them with another multi-role combat aircraft. "However, we have decided to upgrade the aircraft to ensure it has similar capabilities with fighter jets owned by other countries," he told reporters after opening RMAF's 57th anniversary here today.
nst

Malaysia Halts A400M Flights

Malaysia Defence Minister Monday confirmed that Malaysia has temporarily halted the operations of its military Airbus A400M fleet following a crash involving the transport carrier during a test flight in Seville, Spain last Saturday.
The incident prompted Malaysia, Germany, Britain and Turkey to ground their fleets of the new troop and cargo carrier.
Malaysia has ordered four A400Ms, and has received delivery of the first aircraft on March 9, after they were purchased in 2005.
Malaysia is expected to receive two more of the aircraft by the end of this year and the last one next year.
defense-studies

Germany and United Kingdom ground A400M after Spain crash

Germany has grounded its A400M military transport aircraft after a similar plane crashed in Spain during a test flight on Saturday, the defense ministry said.
The move echoes a decision taken by Britain's Royal Air Force after the crash, in which four people died.
There was no immediate word from France, Malaysia and Turkey, which also operate the aircraft.
Germany took delivery of its first and so far only A400M, with a delay of four years, shortly before the end of 2014.
The country has ordered 53 in total, but intends to sell 13 so that its armed forces will ultimately keep only 40.
Airbus said in April Germany would receive another two to four planes this year after new schedule delays. It plans to deliver 14-18 A400Ms in total this year.
reuters

Dassault offers Malaysia 10-yr bank loan to fund Rafale purchase

Dassault has offered Malaysia a 10-year bank loan to support a purchase of the Rafale .
The package is similar to the one offered to Egypt, which in February ordered 24 Rafale fighters.
The repayment package offered to Malaysia features a 10-year loan provided by an unspecified French bank and guaranteed by the government of France.
Dassault is offering the Rafale to meet the Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF's) severely delayed programme to procure a Multirole Combat Aircraft (MRCA).
janes

Malaysia Receives First A400M

Malaysia has received the first of its four Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas , the company announced on 10 March.
The handover of aircraft MSN022 to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) took place at the final assembly line in Seville, Spain.
The aircraft will shortly arrive in Malaysia, ahead of the LIMA Airshow that is to take place in Langkawi from 17 to 21 March.
Malaysia became the A400M's first (and so far only) export customer in 2005 when it signed a contract for four aircraft to supplement its Lockheed Martin C-130H-30/KC-130H Hercules fleet.
The RMAF was originally due to have received its first two aircraft in the second half of 2013, with the remaining pair to follow in 2014. However, this timeline was revised when the programme was re-baselined in 2009, with the commencement of deliveries put back to the first quarter of 2015. Malaysia is due to receive two more aircraft this year, with the final one set to arrive in 2016.
With 12 of the 174-aircraft orderbook now delivered to five customers (France, Germany, Malaysia, Turkey, and the United Kingdom) in a logistics configuration, Airbus DS will shortly begin rolling out additional tactical capabilities (featuring full airdrop, self-defence, and a tanker role). This will lead through to the release of the Full Common Standard Aircraft in 2018.
defense-studies

Boeing offers Super Hornet with AESA radar To Malaysia

Boeing has been negotiating since 2002 on the Super Hornet deal with the Royal Malaysian Air Force, which currently operates eight F/A-18Ds.
The version of the Super Hornet to be sold to Malaysia is called the Block II, which went into operation in 2007, and could easily integrate into current aircraft systems as Malaysia has already been flying the Super Hornet.
He said the Super Hornet is flying the most advanced AESA radar, the APG-79 by Raytheon.
defense-studies

First A400M for Malaysia makes its maiden flight

The first of four A400M ordered by the Royal Malaysian Air Force has made its maiden flight. The aircraft, known as MSN22, took off from Seville, Spain, on January 30 at 5.30pm local time and landed back on site 1 hours and 30 minutes later.
nst

Brunei confirms Black Hawk transfer to Malaysia

Brunei confirmed its intention to transfer its S-70As Black Hawks to Malaysia on 28 January.
In a statement titled 'Defence Co-operation between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia', the Brunei Ministry of Defence said that the transfer of the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAF) S-70As to Malaysia would take place in September when the RBAF's S-70i Black Hawks become operational.
The ministry did not state how many helicopters would be transferred, but the RBAF has four S-70As in service.
The statement ended by saying that the transfer would contribute to the capabilities of the Malaysian armed forces and to the efforts of the two countries in maintaining regional peace and stability.
janes

Malaysia to upgrade and arm S-61 "Nuri" fleet

Malaysia is to boost its ability to combat future militant incursions by arming its AgustaWestland AW109s and transferring upgraded Sikorsky S-61 “Nuri” utility helicopters to army aviation control.
Prompted by an incursion made by Sulu rebels in Sabah in 2013, Kuala Lumpur has already outfitted three of the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s S-61s with 12.7mm door guns.
The army plans to arm the AW109 helicopters with 7.62mm gatling guns.
Malaysia had previously planned to remove its aged Nuri fleet from use by 2012. However, with the nation having ordered only 12 of a planned 28 Airbus Helicopters EC725s as replacements, this has forced the service to prolong the life of its Sikorskys.
If proven viable through a pilot project involving one aircraft, up to 26 S-61s will receive upgrades to their main and tail rotor blades and gearboxes, and be equipped with a digital datalink, self-protection equipment, armoured protection and a pintle-mounted machine gun at the cargo door.
Malaysia’s interest in acquiring a dedicated attack helicopter capability has failed to advance due to budget pressures. Its army has previously evaluated types including the Airbus Helicopters Tiger, Bell AH-1Z, Boeing AH-64 Apache and Denel Rooivalk.
flightglobal

First Airbus A400M Airlifter for Malaysia Rolled Out of Paintshop

The first Airbus A400M for the Royal Malaysian Air Force has now been painted in its new colours at the Airbus Defence and Space facility in Seville, Spain.
In the coming days the aircraft, known as MSN22, will perform its first ground tests and flights before delivery.
RMAF pilots, maintenance engineers and technicians are already undergoing training at the Airbus Defence and Space International Training Centre in Seville, Spain.
defense-studies

France in Talks with Malaysia for Rafales

France’s Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was in Malaysia recently and he spoke to his Malaysian counterpart on France’s desire to sell Rafales to the South East Asian nation.
lexpansion

First A400M for Malaysia takes shape

The first of four Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas transport aircraft for Malaysia will shortly begin ground testing ahead of delivery in 2015.
The aircraft - MSN022 - is currently in the latter stages of the final assembly line in Seville, Spain, with all of the major components now put together. Following the completion of ground and flight trials, it will be delivered to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in the first quarter of 2015. Two more will be delivered in that year, with the final aircraft set to be handed over in 2016.
janes

F-22s land in Malaysia for first Southeast Asian exercise

Six US Air Force (USAF) F-22 Raptor air-superiority fighters arrived in Malaysia at RMAF Butterworth airbase on 6 June to take part in the bilateral Exercise 'Cope Taufan 2014'.
The participation of the F-22 in its first exercise in a Southeast Asian country follows discussions in 2013. The United States is keen to engage with Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKMs, which in the past carried out air combat exercises with US Navy carrier-based fighters whenever a carrier transited through Malaysian waters.
The six F-22s are a composite detachment from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and arrived from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. They will be joined by Boeing F-15Cs.
Both types will engage in air-to-air combat exercises with the RMAF's Su-30MKMs,MiG-29s,F/A-18Ds and Hawks.
'Cope Taufan 2014' will also include a number of logistics exercises involving USAF transport C-130s and C-17.
janes

RMAF To Upgrade Radar Technology

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has to expedite upgrading the national defence radar system as some of the radars are more than 15 years old.
RMAF is also studying the need to upgrade the airspace detecting system.
Defence Minister said the country's radar system and national defence should be re-evaluated being that the government had exposed its military capability and assets during the search and rescue mission for MH370.

Saab Offers Info on Gripen Lease to Malaysia

Saab has confirmed it has submitted proposals to the Malaysian government for the lease of Gripen fighters but said it wasn’t responding to a formal request for information.
SAAB delivered proposals earlier this year but wouldn’t reveal how many ex-Swedish Air Force C/D model aircraft are involved or the length of a possible lease deal.
The new aircraft is meant to replace 18 MiG-29s due to go out service in the next couple of years.
Without a replacement, the Malaysian Air Force fast jet fleet would comprise F/A-18 D and Sukhoi Su-30s.
Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, Dassault’s Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon and Sukhoi have previously been involved in bidding for the program.
Saab already has lengthy experience in leasing Gripen C and D model jets to the Czech and Hungarian air forces.
Boeing is reckoned to have lodged proposals for an F/A-18 Super Hornet lease. It has the advantage of being the incumbent fighter supplier to the Malaysian Air Force.
A BAE offer based on second-hand Eurofighter Tranche 1 Typhoons failed to materialize as expected, but it could be submitted soon.
BAe, which represents the Eurofighter partners Airbus Defence and Finmeccanica, considered using Spanish Tranche 1s but have opted for Royal Air Force jets.
Dassault’s plans to address the Malaysian affordability issues are not known at this time.
Russia have been offering the Su-35MKM but could also offer the Su-30.
defensenews

BAE Systems says Malaysia seeking Eurofihgter leasing bids

BAE Systems expects to submit a leasing proposal for the Eurofighter Typhoon jet to Malaysia next month, as its cash-strapped government mulls over renting, rather than buying fighter aircraft.
Last year Malaysia, which had wanted to buy 18 combat aircraft by 2015, said it was choosing between Boeing's F/A-18, Dassault's Rafale, Saab's Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon.
The purchase could run into billions of dollars and Malaysia's Prime Minister told the purchase might be delayed.
reuters

Cash-Strapped Malaysia Looks To Lease Fighters

Malaysia’s proposed purchase of fighter jets has switched from a procurement competition to a leasing competition due to affordability issues.
The Malaysian government put its multirole combat aircraft program in the freezer last year for fiscal and political reasons. Now Boeing, BAE Systems and Saab have, or are about to, submit leasing proposals in the hope of making a deal palatable.
It’s possible Dassault Aviation and Sukhoi, which were also on the original procurement shortlist, are in a similar position.
Until recently, the Royal Malaysian Air Force had been looking for a straight purchase of a new jet to replace 18 aging MiG-29 fighters.
But Malaysian budgets are under pressure to be cut, making it politically difficult to approve a multibillion-dollar deal for a fighter while the administration is cutting subsidies on items such as food and fuel while hiking taxes.
The new jets, if they arrive, will complement the Boeing F/A-18D and Sukhoi Su-30 fleets in service with the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
Saab has put an offer on the table for the Gripen. Boeing is about to with the F/A-18 and BAE with the Eurofighter Typhoon won’t be far behind. French and Russia are probably doing the same.
defensenews

First A400M flies into retirement

Airbus Military has reduced the size of its "Grizzly" development fleet of A400M tactical transports to three, after retiring its first-flight example and placing another aircraft into storage.
First flown on 11 December 2009, MSN1 was the first of five test aircraft to be flown in support of the eight-nation A400M programme. The aircraft performed its final flight from Toulouse, France on 4 November
The aircraft will be preserved and put on public view, with Airbus's heritage department to decide on its final display location next year.
In addition to Grizzly 1's removal from use, aircraft MSN3 has also now been placed into long-term storage. It is not intended to fly again, but could be returned to flight-test duties if required.
Airbus Military's remaining three development aircraft will be used to support the ongoing introduction of additional capabilities for the A400M. Two of the type have been delivered to the French air force, with Turkey due to receive its first example before year-end. Further customers for the type are Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain and the UK, with a total order book for 174 aircraft.
flightglobal