Boeing hopes to seal Super Hornets deal by year end
LANGKAWI Oct 2 – Boeing hopes to sell 18 units of the two-seater F/A-18 F Super Hornet to the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the deal is expected to be sealed by the end of the year, it was announced Thursday.
Negotiations for the sale had been ongoing since the 2001 Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (2001 LIMA) but the time taken by the Malaysian government to decide was “as expected”, said Anthony M Parasida, president of the F/A-18 Programme in the Boeing Company’s Integrated Defense Systems.
“It’s a very important decision for Malaysia, it’s good for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and for the people of Malaysia. I think the Malaysian government is doing a good job to make this the best possible jet deal,” he told Bernama on the sidelines of the aerospace show of the 2003 LIMA here.
Saying that Boeing had put in much efforts to meet RMAF’s requirements, he added that the deal was not meant to be signed during this year’s LIMA which ends on Sunday.
Parasida said while he could not speak on behalf of the Malaysian government on the length of time it had taken to make its decision on the Super Hornet purchase, it was neverthless “a very major decision.”
As part of the arrangement to sell the Super Hornets, the Boeing Company has also devised an offset programme which takes into consideration the requirements of the Eighth Malaysia Plan. Under its offset programme, the Boeing Company wants to help expand the knowledge-based environment in Malaysia.
In addition, the company also wants to work with local industry players in the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) to develop software for its own requirements.
Parasida said the Boeing Company would like to include bio-technology in the offset progamme and this could be done through its relations with foundations and universities in the US which have expertise on the subject.
He also said he was impressed with the availability of facilities, skills and technology locally and these would make the transfer of technology by Boeing into a “win-win situation for both sides.”
Asked on the expected delivery of the Super Hornets should Malaysia decide to acquire the strike fighter, Parasida said: “Hopefully we will be talking about it coming into service at the 2005 LIMA.”
He also praised LIMA for making it possible for the Boeing Company to promote its products such as the F/A-18.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), we had a great opportunity to have the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad) to get into the F/A-18 on static display.
“We had the opportunity to spend 30 minutes with him, he gets to sit in the airplane and see the technology, look at the airplane and see the parts that Malaysian companies will be fabricating for the Super Hornet,” Parasida said.
“That kind of access, we would never have without a show like LIMA.”
As for the likely Super Hornet components that Malaysian companies could produce should Malaysia decides to buy the aircraft, he said they might include machine parts, sheet metal parts, composite parts and other advanced technology that went into the fighter jets.
Government talking to Boeing to buy Super Hornets
LANGKAWI: Malaysia is negotiating with Boeing on the possibility of buying 18 F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter aircraft to replace the present batch of F/A-18D Hornet jets deployed by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) at its Butterworth base._
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said there had to be lengthy discussions as the purchase would involve high cost._
The Super Hornet is considered among the best fighter jets in the world and is currently used by the United States Navy and Marines._
If Malaysia reaches a deal with Boeing on the purchase of the aircraft, which saw action in the Iraqi conflict, she will become the first other country to have the Super Hornet._
In a related development, Boeing’s F/A-18 programme president Anthony M. Parasida said the company was willing to offer a comprehensive package to seal the deal, which would include investments in the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), transfer of technology and exposure of Malaysians to its highly-rated leadership programme._
“Boeing is keen to work with Malaysia on sharing technology and among the channels we are exploring are investments in the MSC to develop Boeing’s software, bio-technology ventures and also joint-ventures with Boeing’s foundations and local universities,” he added._
Parasida said both sides were currently working on a suitable financial package for the sale of the Super Hornet aircraft._
He said the Super Hornet was being offered to only seven countries which were Switzerland, Finland, Spain, Kuwait, Canada and Australia._
Parasida also said that the Super Hornets being offered to Malaysia would have the same avionic specifications as the aircraft being used by the US Navy.
Subject: [Touchdown-News] NEWS: Two Major Malaysian Helicopter Orders
Malaysia Orders Eleven Agusta 109 LOH
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica and GKN company, has been awarded a
contract by the Malaysian Ministry of Defence for the supply of eleven
Agusta A109 Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) together with an initial
product support and training package. The aircraft will be operated by
Malaysian Army Aviation. The contract is worth more than 70 Million US$
and includes a substantial package of Transfer of Technology to the
Malaysian Industries.
The A109 LOH, a version of the well known A109 LUH, has been selected
as the best cost effective machine upon a rigorous process of
evaluation run by the Malaysian Ministry of Defence against several
competitors. The primary purpose of the LOH is to serve as a cost
efficient system for observation, reconnaissance, tactical transport
and area suppression missions.
The selection of the A109 helicopter by Malaysian Army Aviation follows
the aircraft’s successes with the South African and Sweden Armed
Forces, and established the A109 LUH, with 61 units ordered till now,
as the foremost light twin engine helicopter for military utility and
advanced training purposes. It provides further testimony of the A109
LUH’s competitiveness, versatility and performance.
Source: AgustaWestland via http://www.rotorhub.com
—
Russia Signs New Contract for Delivery of 10 Combat Helicopters to
Malaysia
Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax-AVN web site
Langkawi, Malaysia, 1 October: The Langkawi International Maritime and
Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2003), which is in progress on the island of
Langkawi, saw the signing on Wednesday [1 October] of a 70m-dollar
contract for the delivery of 10 Russian Mi-171Sh Hip (Mi-8AMTSh)
helicopters to Malaysia.
Andrey Belyaninov, director-general of the Rosoboroneksport state-
owned arms trading company, signed the contract on behalf of the
Russian side, while Ahmad Johan, head of the AIROD company, acted in
the name of the Malaysian side.
“This is the second contract for the delivery of Mi-171Sh helicopters
to Malaysia. The first such contract was signed in July this year. In
compliance with the earlier contract, two Mi-171Sh helicopters made by
the Ulan-Ude aircraft works will be fielded with the Malaysian Interior
Ministry,” Viktor Komardin, Rosoboroneksport deputy director-general,
said. According to him, in the next two years the process of securing
new aircraft contracts will be slightly suspended, while the emphasis
will be placed on fulfilling the contracts signed, providing for
deliveries of fixed- and rotary- wing aircraft and the establishment of
their maintenance facilities.
“We plan to deliver the first Mi-171Sh helicopters, under the contract
signed today, as early as next year,” Komardin said. The Mi- 171Sh is
the new generation combat helicopter. It integrates all the advantages
of its prototype, the Mi-17 Hip military transport. The Mi-171Sh
helicopter is fitted with precision-guided munitions (PGM), including
the Shturm-V [helicopterborne] system, and air-to-air missiles. The
Mi-171Sh is designed to efficiently destroy enemy tanks, boats, depots
and personnel. It is also capable of destroying ground targets and
transporting cargo in the cargo hold and externally.
The helicopter can also be employed in combat airmobile operations, as
the tremendous firepower of the helicopter efficiently suppresses enemy
pockets of resistance during an air attack. The following modifications
of the helicopter are manufactured: the combat version (armed with
missiles, rockets, and cannons); the airlift version (designed to
transport airborne troops); the air transport modification (capable of
transporting up to 4,000 kg of cargo); and the medevac variant (for air
evacuation of the wounded). If necessary the helicopter can be quickly
retrofitted into any modification in the course of the pre-flight check.
Source: BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific via http://www.rotorhub.com
—
Steve ~ Touchdown-News
Sign In
October 3, 2003 at 2:22 pm