Flight Interview: Malaysian air force chief sets strategic focus









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.


© Rolls-Royce


A more immediate priority is the acquisition of airborne early warning and control aircraft, with funding again likely to be sought under the 2011-15 ninth Malaysia plan. "The requirement has been discussed earlier and officially registered during the eighth Malaysia plan, but due to budget constraints, we were not able to launch it," says Azizan. The contenders are likely to be the Embraer EMB-145 and Saab 2000 equipped with Saab Microwave Systems' Erieye radar, and Northrop Grumman's E-2C Hawkeye 2000.

Maritime patrol aircraft are also needed as part of Malaysia's commitment to joint surveillance of the Malacca Straits with Indonesia and Singapore. The budget, however, may not stretch to that in the near term. "As a maritime nation, MPA is an imminent requirement," says Azizan. "The budget allocation may not allow for a complete inventory, but we may go by phases, just like the MRCA [fighter] programme."

The MPA project will go hand in hand with a navy requirement for anti-submarine warfare helicopters, also likely to be included in the ninth Malaysia plan. The contenders could include the AgustaWestland Super Lynx, Kaman SH-2 Seasprite, Kamov Ka-28, NH Industries NH90 and Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk. "The total platform required is to cater for 24/7 operations between the two theatres of Malaysia," says Azizan.

Additional rotorcraft are high on the list of priorities for Malaysia. A competition to replace the Sikorsky S-61 Nuri transport and utility helicopter, which Azizan says has served the armed forces "gallantly for more than 40 years", is imminent. Over 90 armed forces personnel and civilians have died in crashes involving the type since 1968, and calls for their replacement increased after the last incident in 2007.

Azizan acknowledges that accidents and the lower number of S-61s in service have increased the maintenance and operating costs of the fleet, and that "the low availability of the Nuri has lowered the RMAF's heliborne readiness". Kuala Lumpur has assessed the AgustaWestland AW101, Eurocopter EC725, Mil Mi-17 and Sikorsky S-92, and a shortlist had been expected early this year. An initial order for 12 aircraft is anticipated, but this could eventually rise to 48.

However, a decision has been delayed until late 2008, as the Malaysian cabinet must approve a special budget for the purchase. This is unlikely to happen until the future of prime minister Abdullah Badawi, whose ruling coalition returned to power with a much lower majority and lost several key states to the opposition, has been resolved.

While Malaysia has been inducting unmanned air vehicles, it could also begin a study into unmanned combat air vehicles in the future. "This will require further study on its concept and implementation, due to the laws governing the conduct of participants in war," says Azizan.

From a broader perspective, the RMAF's modernisation effort will seek to balance "factors including budget constraints, relative comparison, how much is enough [and] those areas in which we are lacking," Azizan says. "Our main areas of focus are towards refining our operational strategies and concepts, equipping the RMAF with high-tech weapons and weapon systems, and of course ensuring the competency and professionalism of our personnel."

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Good! A follow-on order for more Su-30MKMs would be welcomed news.

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Its a good wish list by the RMAF general but with the current and expected near future budget constraints i doubt RMAF will be getting even 20% of what it is asked. Remember the target is to reduced the budget deficit,2007 at 3.1% GDP or RM18 billion to zero by the 10th Malaysian Plan. With Oil price and food price at all time high and approximately 25-30% out of our last year budget (about RM30 billion) of aproximately RM120 billion goes to subsidies in various form, new acquisitions of military equipment will be hard to go by.

With this however, the effective cost producer such as Russia, Sweeden and even China stands a better chance to supply military equipment to Malaysia.

My bet would be the MIL 17 would stand a better chance to replace the Nuri's due to its cost per heli (purchase excludes maintenance) would be at least 25% cheaper than most European or American Heli. With the announce budet of RM1.5 billion for at least 12 choppers, If MIL is selected you could get at lest 15 to 20 heli with the same amount of money.

I doubt the next batch of MRCA will be ordered either the SH or Sukhoi. I would tend to believe rather than spending aproximately USD1.5 billion on 18 new MRCA, the most cost effective options would be to upgrade the 14 remaining MIG 29N to SMT standards, which i believe based on Indian airforce upgrades program would cost around USD15 million a piece. Or even if we are lucky, a very big if, the US Marines would be kind enough to suplly us with surplus F18 D and we go for limited MLU.

It will be a good idea to get more of the Su-30MKM, the problem with RMAF is that they do have capable aircraft but not enough in terms of quantity.

There are quite a few aircraft types for one intended role which is quite a waste of resources. By standardising to one few types of aircraft from a single country supplier, at least logistics wise it will easier. The weapons can also be interchanged.

The Australians are going to be p!ssed off with F-35 flying at M 1.6...


Lo there do I see my father.
Lo there do I see my mother.
Lo there do I see my brothers and my sisters.
Lo there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning.
Lo they do call to me;
they bid me take my place among them in the Halls of Valhalla,
where the brave may live forever.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
There were 481 occasions were Typhoons were cannibalised last year in the RAF to keep the rest of the fleet running... Jwcook <<<<<<<<<

I will not give this article much credence unless it really happens. Malaysia talks more about buying weapons than she really buys in reality. The reason: money. She does not have enough of it most of the time.

As long as the traitor najib is still milking every defence deal, what choice do we have. Ladies and gentlemen, observe and see how a generation of political pigs have milked a country dry. Phuck UMNO.

The Australians are going to be p!ssed off with F-35 flying at M 1.6...

Not at all. The Air Force is well aware of the capabilities of the Flanker, and still wants the F-35 as our new aircraft. Nothing has changed. If it makes you feel better, the Typhoon was not even considered for the requirement. Of course, neither was the Rafale.

Personally I am quite confident in the opinion of everyone in defence that the F-35 is the best aircraft.

- Sarge

Australia has one of the best and best equipped air forces in Asia and the world. I doubt they will be `pissed' off. Furthermore, Australia has many friends and allies in Asia. Australian troops fought and died defending millions in South East Asia when many SEA nations were very young or have yet to achieve independance.

Fly against her and you will be flying against the airforces of Singapore, US, etc at the same time. Also, Malaysia, UK, New Zealand, Singapore and Australia are strong defence partners in the Five Power Defence Agreement defence pact.

Quote: As long as the traitor najib is still milking every defence deal, what choice do we have. Ladies and gentlemen, observe and see how a generation of political pigs have milked a country dry. Phuck UMNO.

You are one of the most rational Malaysians on the forum. I share your views. Sigh.... Where would our two countries be right now if not for UMNO? A sum bigger than the two parts. Much bigger. What a waste...Sigh

SargeAUS
"Personally I am quite confident in the opinion of everyone in defence that the F-35 is the best aircraft".

Sure: No supercruise and a kinetic deficit of 0.6 Mach.

Keep this sort of opinions for the newbies because even the USAF F-22 pilots considers this as being a problem.......

+ Where is the famous F/A-18E/F TOO SLOW argument gone NOW???


Lo there do I see my father.
Lo there do I see my mother.
Lo there do I see my brothers and my sisters.
Lo there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning.
Lo they do call to me;
they bid me take my place among them in the Halls of Valhalla,
where the brave may live forever.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
There were 481 occasions were Typhoons were cannibalised last year in the RAF to keep the rest of the fleet running... Jwcook <<<<<<<<<

Quote: As long as the traitor najib is still milking every defence deal, what choice do we have. Ladies and gentlemen, observe and see how a generation of political pigs have milked a country dry. Phuck UMNO.

Bravo!! well said

Taking into account that some here have mentioned that Najib is corrupt...he is also next in line to be Malaysia's PM when Abdullah steps down(won't be too long from now). Won't that creates more problems for Malaysia?

Anwar's coalition will be the solution for all the current problems? What do you Malaysians think?

Yes najib is the next prime minister after abdullah, but for me, neither najib nor anwar will do the malaysians proud. Anwar? im not sure about this guy,he is quite cunning and has his own "things" going on in his mind,a very unpredictable person

I feel that the problem is more deep seated that it looks. There does not seem to be a lot of good and capable leaders within the ranks of UMNO who can lead. And there does not seem to be any form of renewal process in place either with political dinosaurs remaining in thier seats for much longer than they should. Look at Badawi`s new cabinet. They had to fall back on the same tired old faces. UMNO may not fade to nothingness anytime soon but they will look more and more incompetent as time goes on. It certainly looks better on the opposition`s side.

However, the current impasse(which might persist for a long time)is not good if you look at how the other countries in the region are blazing ahead of Malaysia in all fields. Vietnam, in particular, will be ahead of Malaysia in terms of development by the end of the next decade. Indonesia is doing well too. Same goes for Thailand. Singapore has moved to another level of development so she is no longer competing with the rest of SEA at thier level; something which Malaysia ought to have done several years ago.

For Malaysia, it is a sad story of indolence and economic malaise for a former `Asian Tiger'.

Next decade, Malaysia will become a net importer of oil. She will not be able to support the massive subsidies she has been giving out. And it will affect other expenses;including defense. However, many Malaysians are still stuck in that income gap which requires lots of government support and monies. Things can only get tougher.

If things need to change, it has to be now.

Sure: No supercruise and a kinetic deficit of 0.6 Mach.

Keep this sort of opinions for the newbies because even the USAF F-22 pilots considers this as being a problem.......

+ Where is the famous F/A-18E/F TOO SLOW argument gone NOW???

Whatever Thunder. The best minds of the Australian Air Force and goverment, with access to all the information and facts for all the aircraft on the table, have pretty unanamously decided the F-35 is the best aircraft. Of course, that doesn't compare to someone who copies and pastes things from open source media off the internet though...

Either way, I can confidently predict that no Malaysian Flanker will ever shoot down an Australian F-35.

- Sarge

Fly against her and you will be flying against the airforces of Singapore, US, etc at the same time. Also, Malaysia, UK, New Zealand, Singapore and Australia are strong defence partners in the Five Power Defence Agreement defence pact.

The air force of New Zealand? Can't see them being much use in the fighter or striker role


"He lives in a world where concept is reality..."

Quote: The air force of New Zealand? Can't see them being much use in the fighter or striker role

Errr...O.o. Shhhh...saying it is a form of deterrance. The airforce of New Zealand. Sounds good.

New Zealand has no significant air force; under agreement they rely on Australia's.

And we are happy to provide protection to our cousins and allies across the strait.

I concur with Sarge.

@thunder.

They may well have a squadron or two of faster planes. But they will not have 150+ of them. They will not have adequate range to make any significant impact either.

The me-262 didn't do Germany much good either.

-- Dee

Dont worry, assuming there is no fanatics taking over the country, at least the next 5 years Malaysian Defense Force is in no shape to be a threat to anyone. Our airforce should be glad if Govt even willing to cover the cost of ensuring existing planes is service ready.

dhp

Quote: @thunder. They may well have a squadron or two of faster planes. But they will not have 150+ of them. They will not have adequate range to make any significant impact either.

Just in case you didn't noticed yet, F-35 is an OFFENSIVE aircraft, not air defense...

Quote: The me-262 didn't do Germany much good either.

Weither F-35 is going to do better is more than debatable.


Lo there do I see my father.
Lo there do I see my mother.
Lo there do I see my brothers and my sisters.
Lo there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning.
Lo they do call to me;
they bid me take my place among them in the Halls of Valhalla,
where the brave may live forever.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
There were 481 occasions were Typhoons were cannibalised last year in the RAF to keep the rest of the fleet running... Jwcook <<<<<<<<<

Quote SargeAUS:

Quote: "Whatever Thunder. The best minds of the Australian Air Force and goverment"

YOU MEANT: "The BEST US and available"?

W.H.A.T.E.V.E.R is the result of what you keep bubling about without the necessary knowledge.

Quote: "The best minds of the Australian Air Force and goverment"

Ho i like that a LOT; YOU meant the one on L-M payrolls or the one that FLEW F-22 and F-35 back-to-back?

Quote SargeAUS:

Quote: Of course, that doesn't compare to someone who copies and pastes things from open source media off the internet though...

STFU BOY. "someone" is the acurate description of yourself and the rest of the trolls:

I was playing with A2A weapons and flying with a *** AdA General you weren't even big enough to wet your lit' nappies s otry your lectures on your buddies will ya?...

I DONT need to copy/paste to be able to comprehend what this is all about, unlike YOU and i learnt my ABC long ago and when it comes to it I was R.I.G.H.T about F-35 Speed vs all the US superioricist writers.

Also i DONT have to feed myslef with other's opinions, i'd rather read ONERA and NASA technical reports on aerodynamics to make up my own mind, are you that switched on yourself???

I also find it rather hilarious that you can pretend basic physics doesn't apply to this strike aircraft you're procuring:

When a Raptor pilot says that at M 1.6 and 45.000 ft he have DOUBLE the AAM range than a low-flying subsonic target it is only due to the US nationality of the missiles i presume.

YEAH, sure + AdA didn't TEACH me that while letting me servicing and loading AIM-9s and R530 under their the top gun's squadron Mirages IIIEs at Dijon AFB.

W.T.F do you think YOU are mate?

I'm sure it's feels more confortable to convince yourslef that the geezers at F-16.com are right when they actually counterdict the very guys who fly these aircrafts while rewriting every single aerodynamic laws to their US superioricist convenience...

Quoting God-himself@F-16.com: F-35 "novatrice" aerodynamics:

READ: = vortexes L-M designers doesn't even KNOW what they do and forces them to strengthen the airframe structure, increase weight because they can't design anything remotly right since F-18A days; looks like you've been missing some history for a while....

Amazing grace! I saw more educated Air Cadets and these would have come to the SAME conclusions:

F-35 is an over-hyped and under-performing industrial CON designed to save an increasingly underskilled US weapon industry because of course YOU didn't read about this from US sources either... Well i DID and posted the article, another one you guys duely SKIPED.

You're a pedestrian mate, and can't hide this fact, every one of your post shows it too much.

The FACT IS: Every single (non-Australian) A-F agrees with this:

For A2A SPEED is STILL the main succesful engagement factor and the right speed is between M 1.6 to M 1.8.

NOT F-35 territory, you're procuring a STRIKE aircraft designed to replace Harriers II and it says so on the tin, F-35 is SLOW and SLOWER than F/A-18 by 0.2 M, welcome back to hearth.

So an idiot trying to explain to us that what makes the F-22 superior to its opponents doesn't apply to other aircafts is better off taking the fight personal as you do.

You got NO proper argument to offer.

Quote SargeAUS:

Quote: "Either way, I can confidently predict that no Malaysian Flanker will ever shoot down an Australian F-35".

Not ONE but several is more likely if ever your A-F was to engage theirs over their own airspace...



Lo there do I see my father.
Lo there do I see my mother.
Lo there do I see my brothers and my sisters.
Lo there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning.
Lo they do call to me;
they bid me take my place among them in the Halls of Valhalla,
where the brave may live forever.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
There were 481 occasions were Typhoons were cannibalised last year in the RAF to keep the rest of the fleet running... Jwcook <<<<<<<<<