News Story: LIMA Show Reveals Malaysian Indecision Over Military Needs

Malaysian Air Force F/A-18D Hornet (Image: Wiki Commons)

by Chen Chuanren and Vladimir Karnozov

The 2017 Langkawi International Marine and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) attracted 555 exhibiting companies and more than 40,000 trade visitors and witnessed deal signings worth a reported RM3.8 billion ($860 million). This enabled Malaysian defense minister Hishammudin Hussein to declare the show “a big success.” But there was no disguising the fact that most of the signing ceremonies duringLIMA were small-scale, and that none of Malaysia’s supposed requirements for new military aircraft were firmed up.

The main reason has been the national economy slowdown, lowering GDP growth to 4.2 percent in 2016, much below earlier expectations. Speaking at the show opening, Prime Minister Najib Razak repeated that a total of RM26 billion ($5.9 billion) had been allocated under the 11th national economic development plan to bolster defense, public order and enforcement. Most of that money, however, is already spent, leaving little room for follow-on acquisitions, such as the long-discussed maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) and medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned air vehicle.

However, Malaysia might soon seek surplus jets and helicopters from Saudi Arabia according to Hishammuddin, who spoke following a visit by the Saudi monarch King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud and his entourage to Kuala Lumpur in late February.

The MRCA debate continues, with no apparent progress since 2015. Marketing teams from BAESystems, Dassault and Saab again came to LIMA to press the respective merits of the Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale and Gripen, with the latter two also present in the form of actual hardware. Senior RMAF officers gave mixed signals about the air arm’s future fighter plans. Although the RMAFcommander Gen. Affendi told AIN that the dwindling operational fleet of MiG-29s might be upgraded, his assistant chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Kamalruzaman, told AIN that the type will be decommissioned.

Kamalruzaman further told AIN that the RMAF could streamline its future inventory as a new strategy to increase fighter availability and reduce costs.

Read the full story at AINonline

News Story: Singapore's Ministry of Defence signs contracts to acquire new helicopters

A Boeing CH-47F Chinook Helicopter

SINGAPORE, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on Monday announced that the ministry has awarded two contracts to Airbus and Boeing to acquire new helicopters.

MINDEF said the new the H225M - Medium Lift Helicopter and CH-47F - Heavy Lift Helicopter will replace the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)'s existing Super Pumas and older Chinooks, which have been in service since 1983 and 1994 respectively, and are facing obsolescence.

Read the full story at Xinhua

Industry: Royal Thai Air Force places order for two additional EC725s

A French EC275 Caracal (Image: Wiki Commons)

• Acquisition is Phase III of fleet strengthening programme initiated in 2012.
• The two new helicopters will join its existing operating fleet of four EC725s (Phase I) for similar military missions, with two more (Phase II) to be delivered this year.
• Delivery is expected in 2019.

Marignane – The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has ordered two additional mission-ready twin-engine EC725 (now marketed as the H225M Caracal) multirole utility helicopters as part of the continuation of its fleet strengthening programme agreement launched in 2012. Delivery of the two additional EC725s is scheduled for 2019.

Editorial: Thailand’s Air Force Gets a Boost with New Helicopters

A French Air Force EC725R2 Caracal in 2009
(Image: Wiki Commons)

By Prashanth Parameswaran

The RTAF receives four EC725 helicopters which will become operational next month.

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has received the four new medium-lift helicopters it ordered, Airbus Helicopters announced August 25.

The four EC725 helicopters, which were ordered in 2012, were delivered and will become operational next month, the company announced. Two additional EC725s which were ordered in 2014 are expected to be delivered to the RTAF in 2016.

The EC725 – which has been renamed the H225M in 2015 in line with Eurocopter’s corporate rebranding as Airbus Helicopters – is a 11-ton, twin-engine helicopter. It features high-performance navigation and mission systems – including a unique digital four-axis autopilot. It boasts a maximum speed of 201 miles per hour, a range of 533 miles and a service ceiling of nearly 20,000 feet.

According to Airbus Helicopters, it is capable of performing multiple missions including combat search and rescue, long-range tactical transport, aeromedical transport and logistic support and naval duties. Delivering excellent flight autonomy and seating 28 persons, the company says the powerful helicopter is “perfectly tailored” for the RTAF to carry out such missions.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

Industry: The Royal Thai Navy and Air Force acquire five EC645 T2 and two EC725 rotorcraft from Airbus Helicopters

EC645 (Image: Flickr user gynti_46)

The airborne capabilities of Thailand’s navy and air force will be significantly enhanced with the acquisition of two mission-ready Airbus Helicopters rotorcraft types: the light-utility EC645 T2 and the 11-ton-class EC725.

The Royal Thai Navy signed for five EC645 T2s to be deployed on transport duties and other missions, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2016. Its purchase represents the first export order of this militarized version of the EC145 T2, which is the newest and most powerful model in Airbus Helicopters’ proven EC145 light twin-engine helicopter family.