Remember my postings earlier about the MRCA programme for the Royal Malaysian Air Force? Yes, the Super Hornets are on just waiting for the signing of the contract. And the Su-30MKM is also set to join the RMAF.
However, I have on good authority that the MKM is facing serious competition. And its none other than IAPO arch-rival the KNAAPO built Su-35! It seems that the KNAAPO people have got a pledge from the Defence Ministry to go their plant to check out the SU-35!
The Su-35 in question, is a two-seater multi-role aircraft equipped with glass cockpit, the so-called Super Flanker.
Apparently the KNAAPO people were not able to put their aircraft when the RMAF multi-role combat aircraft tender were put out (the serious contenders were the SH, SU-30MKM and the Mig-29MRCA) as the SU-35 twin-seater were not ready yet.
Now at the last hour, they came in to town to pitch their aircraft and they may yet snatch the deal from IAPO’s hands. Check a feature on the Su-35 in the local papers on Sunday!
BTW, IAPO is the Irkust Aircraft Plant which build the Indian Air Force MKIs while the KNAAPO (I dont know how the correct spelling for the Komsomolsk Na Amur Aircraft Plant) is the people behind the MKK (Chinese Air Force and the single seater SU-35 equipped with TVC.
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November 28, 2002 at 5:32 pm