Flight Interview: Malaysian air force chief sets strategic focusBy Siva Govindasamy
Fourth-generation multirole combat aircraft, rather than fifth-generation fighters remain the Royal Malaysian Air Force's near-term priority, with the service hoping to gradually build up its purchases to form six squadrons by 2025.
"To achieve this will require a big budget allocation," says RMAF chief Gen Azizan Ariffin. "Therefore we will be going by phases, and hopefully by 2025 we will have the total required platforms."
While types including the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-16 could be offered to Malaysia, analysts believe that Kuala Lumpur wants to move to an all-Russian fleet of strike aircraft. The South-East Asian country ordered 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKMs in 2002, with deliveries scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, and although the air force also operates eight F/A-18Ds and 16 RSK MiG-29Ns, the Su-30MKM is the favourite for a new fighter deal. The service could seek funding for a follow-on buy in time for Malaysia's 2011-15 spending plan.
Neighbouring Singapore, which has ordered 24 Boeing F-15SGs and now operates South-East Asia's largest fleet of F-16s, could order the Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter early next decade, but Malaysia is not about to rush into a decision. "The RMAF will keep abreast with the latest technology and strategic environment in procuring future fighters. If there is requirement to go for a specific role platform, I am sure the RMAF will make a thorough study on those requirements," Azizan told Flight International during the Defence Services Asia exhibition in Kuala Lumpur late last month.
Link to full story
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/05/06/223353/flight-interview-malaysian-air-force-chief-sets-strategic-focus.html
Back to Index
Move to Top 
