Equipment of the Royal Malaysian Air Force

The equipment of the Royal Malaysian Air Force can be subdivided into: aircraft, ammunition, weapons, satellites, and ground vehicles.

Current aircraft

Royal Malaysian Air Force

A Malaysian Su-30MKM
A Malaysian F/A-18 during a national day flypast
A Malaysian Hawk 200
A Malaysian Airbus A400M on takeoff
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
MiG-29 Russia multirole 10[1]
BAE Hawk United Kingdom light attack Hawk 208 13[1]
Sukhoi Su-30 Russia multirole Su-30MKM 18[1]
Boeing F/A-18 United States multirole F/A-18D 8[1]
Maritime Patrol
Super King Air United States maritime patrol 200 3[1][2]
Tanker
KC-130 Hercules United States aerial refuelling KC-130H 4[1]
Transport
CASA CN-235 Spain utility transport 7[1][3]
Airbus A400M France / Spain transport 4[4]
C-130 Hercules United States transport C-130H 10[1]
Helicopters
Sikorsky S-70 United States VIP / utility 2[1][5]
Sikorsky S-61 United States SAR / utility 15[6][1] Will be upgrade[7][8]
Eurocopter EC 725 France SAR / utility 12[9]
Trainer Aircraft
BAE Hawk United Kingdom primary trainer Hawk 108 5[1][10]
Pilatus PC-7 Switzerland trainer PC-7 MkII 53[1]
Super King Air United States multi engine trainer 350 2[1]
Aermacchi MB-339 Italy jet trainer 7[1]
Eurocopter EC120 France light trainer 5[1]
UAV
CTRM Aludra Malaysia surveillance MK 1 3[11][12]
ScanEagle United States surveillance 2[13]
CTRM Eagle ARV Australia/Malaysia surveillance 1[13] Developed from the Eagle 150 aircraft
Schiebel Camcopter S-100 Austrian surveillance unknown[14] Transferred from Petronas[15]

Retired aircraft

TA-4PTM Skyhawk in flight
A RF-5E of the Malaysian Air Force
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
A-4 Skyhawk United States attack A-4 PTM 37[16] retired from service
Northrop F-5 United States fighter F-5E 14[16] retired from service
Transport
Cessna 310 United States light utility 3[16] retired from service
Grumman HU-16 Albatross United States SAR / utility 2[16] amphibious aircraft - retired from service
de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Canada utility / transport 11[16] retired from service
Helicopters
Bell 47 United States utility / training 47G 5[16] retired from service
Alouette III France liaison SA 319 24[16] retired from service
Westland Wasp United Kingdom ASW / SAR HAS. 1 6[16] flew with the Malaysian Navy - retired from service
Eurocopter AS332 France transport / VIP AS332L 1[16] retired from service
Trainer Aircraft
Bulldog T1 United Kingdom basic trainer 102 11[16] retired from service
Aermacchi MB-339 Italy jet trainer 11[16] retired from service

Armament

Munitions

Paveway II laser guided bomb
AIM 9L Sidewinder
Illustration of an AGM -65 Maverick
Name Origin Type Notes
Air-to-air missile
R-77 Russia active radar homing 35[17]
R-27 Russia beyond-visual-range missile 280[17]
R-73 Russia IR guided missile 500[17]
AIM-120 AMRAAM United States beyond-visual-range missile 20[17]
AIM-9 Sidewinder United States IR guided missile 360 units of which 20 are the AIM-9X[17]
Air-to-surface missile
AGM-65 Maverick[17] United States 30[17]
General-purpose bomb
JDAM United States precision guided munition 50[17]
Paveway United States laser-guided bomb 60[17]
Anti-ship missile
Kh-31 Russia anti-surface 150[17]
Exocet France anti-surface 150[17]
AGM-84 Harpoon United States anti-surface 29[17]

Procurement

To boost Malaysia's security in eastern Sabah from the threats of militants from the southern Philippines as well as to dispose of older inventory, the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAF) transferred four of its S-70A Black Hawk to the RMAF.[18][19] BAE Hawk 200 squadrons have been stationed in various bases across East Malaysia in order to launch air-to-ground operations and attacks against foreign militants attempting intrusion into Sabah.[20] In 2016, BAE Systems entered into a strategic partnership with a Malaysian aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre AIROD to upgrade the avionic systems on the Malaysian BAE Hawk aircraft.[21] As part of the Malaysia's Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) program, Malaysia is looking to replace its ageing MiG-29 and F-5 fighters which have long since passed retirement age.[22][23] Due to financial difficulties, the plan was postponed year after year. Announcement of the winner of the project, as well as purchasing of the new generation fighters will most likely occur between 2016-2020.[24] The major contenders of this project would be the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Sukhoi Su-30 and the Sukhoi Su-35.[24][25][26][27] While Malaysia's Aerospace Technology Systems Corp. (ATSC) has launched a bid to upgrade the ageing MiG-29 fighters,[28]

Dassault Rafale has offering financial package with a ten-year repayment loan from a French commercial bank and guaranteed by the government of France to assist procurement of their fighter.[29] This offer was countered by BAE Systems' Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab JAS 39 Gripen which has offered competitive leasing deals instead.[22][30][31] EADS and BAE Systems has offered to set up joint venture companies for maintenance and repair of the aircraft if it is selected, along with competitive financial support extended by the UK government.[32] Beside promoting their jet fighters, Saab is pitching their airborne early warning and control aircraft, the Global Eye (Bombardier 6000) equipped with Erieye radar system and is looking for local partners in Malaysia for manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul.[33]

Russia is ready to offer their jet fighters to meet Malaysia’s requirements.[34] The Russian defence export corporation, Rosoboronexport which supplied the Royal Malaysian Air Force with Sukhoi Su-30MKM expressed its readiness to discuss the prospect of establishing joint and licensed production facilities in Malaysia.[35] The Russians have argued that despite some initial advantages especially in terms of meeting the high cost for maintenance, fuel, parts and insurance in the short term, the lessors the aircraft will require frequent checks to be assured that terms of the lease are upheld, and the aircraft will eventually have to be returned after the leasing period is up. As such, leasing fighter aircraft will have significant drawbacks in the defence of sovereignty of the nation.[27] Instead, the Russian offering their Sukhoi Su-35 at lower prices than their western rivals. However, according to the Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, the race for new fighter jets has narrowed down to the Rafale and the Typhoon instead, both of which built by BAE Systems.[36]

In the late 2015, it was rumoured that Malaysia might purchase the Sino-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder,[37] but the report was denied by Malaysian Defence Minister and said they were still determining to choose.[38] It was believed that there was an immediate requirement for new fighters due to the increase of China's aggression in the South China Sea dispute.[39] Belarusian company also expressed their interest to help Malaysia to upgrade and repair their Russian-made fighter jets.[40] Following the visit of Saudi King in early 2017, Malaysia are reportedly seek to buy the excessive Royal Saudi Air Force jet fighters and helicopters.[41]

Following the visit by French President also in early 2017, Malaysia said they remain undecided whether to buy the French fighters although it has become the leader on the list of all jet fighters suggested,[42] with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak assured the French President that they considering to buy.[43] The French government confirmed that negotiation is on the way although no final deal have yet been signed.[44] Malaysia also reportedly considering an offer from Japan for P-3C Orion maritime patrollers if it can persuade the Japanese government to pay for the cost.[45] In July 2017, the plan to acquire new jet fighters were shelved by looking instead to upgrade its aerial surveillance capabilities to confront the growing threat of Islamist militants in the Southeast Asian region.[46]

In December 2017, the Royal Malaysian Air Force's Brigadier General Yazid Bin Arshad announced it had shortlisted four aircraft types to replace the force's ageing fleet of Beechcraft Super King Air maritime patrol aircraft. The selected types are the EADS CASA C-295 from Airbus, the P-8 Poseidon from Boeing, ATR 72 MP from ATR, a joint venture between Airbus and Leonardo, and the CASA/IPTN CN-235, which could be provided by either Airbus or Indonesian Aerospace, which acquired a licence to produce it. Brigadier General Yazid Bin Arshad added, however, that while "these four types are shortlisted, the door is not closed yet", indicating other options may still be possible.[47]

Incidents and accidents

  • Since 1989, around 95 armed forces personnel (most of those are the RMAF) have been killed in 18 crashes involving the ageing type American-made Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King (Nuri) helicopter.[48] This led the RMAF to purchase the French-made EC725 helicopter to replace it. But with the nation having ordered only 12 of a planned 28 EC725 helicopters as replacements, the RMAF was forced to prolong the life of its Sikorskys.[49] On 21 October 2016, it was reported that a Canadian helicopter company Heli-One will upgrade all Malaysia's Nuri helicopter.[50]
  • In May 2008, two J85-GE-21 engines that power the Northrop F-5E Tiger II fighter jets belonging to the Royal Malaysian Air Force were reported missing, as of sometime in 2007, from an RMAF warehouse in Kuala Lumpur during Najib's tenure as Defence Minister in Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's cabinet. The jet engines belonged to the 12th Squadron (Scorpion) based in Butterworth. The issue became a matter of political dispute,[51] and it was reported a brigadier-general together with 40 other armed forces personnel had been sacked over the incident.[52] Further investigation led to the arrest of two RMAF personnel and a civilian contractor were charged in connection with the theft and disposal of both engines on 6 January 2010.[53] On 5 February 2010, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail revealed that the two missing engines had been found in Uruguay with the help of the Government of Uruguay and the Malaysian government is proceeding with the necessary measures to secure their return. Investigations showed that the engines were taken out of the RMAF base between 20 December 2007 to 1 January 2008 before being sent to a warehouse in Subang Jaya to be shipped out of Malaysia to South America.[54][55]
  • On 26 February 2016, the RMAF Indonesian made-CN-325-220M version were forced to make an emergency landing into mangrove swamps near Kuala Selangor due to engine failure.[56] The aircraft co-pilot sustained a broken left arm during the incident while the rest of the crew managed to escape without major injuries. A fisherman who trying to help the crews out of the aircraft were reported drowned after his foot got stuck in a mud. The black box from the aircraft was found on the next day and sent to Bandung, Indonesia for analysing by Indonesian manufacturer over the cause of the accident.[57]
  • On 21 December 2016, an American-made Beachcraft King Air 200T crashed into Butterworth airbase during its training mission from Subang airbase, killing one pilot while injuring three others.[2]
  • On 14 June 2017, two pilots were killed after a British-made BAE Hawk (Mk 108) crashed at the Pahang-Terengganu border.[58] Previously, several other Hawks had crashed during training mission.[59]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "World Air Forces 2017". Flightglobal Insight. 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 "1 killed, 3 injured in Malaysian military plane crash at Butterworth base". Bernama. Channel NewsAsia. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  3. ↑ http://www.defenseworld.net/news/15447/Malaysian_Air_Force_CN_235_Plane_Crash_Lands__Crew_Safe
  4. ↑ "Fourth and Final A400M Delivered to Malaysia". Airheads Fly. 9 March 2017. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  5. ↑ http://www.malaysiandefence.com/when-september-ends/
  6. ↑ https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/03/21/army-gets-first-batch-of-nuris-rmaf-hands-over-48yearold-helicopters/
  7. ↑ http://www.malaysiandefence.com/nuri-upgrade-update/
  8. ↑ "Malaysia's Eurocopter selection kicks up dirt". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal Insight. 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  10. ↑ "Malaysia Air Force says crew of missing fighter jet killed in crash". straitstimes.com. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  11. ↑ aviation.bernama.com/news.php?id=459690&lang=en
  12. ↑ https://www.ctrm.com.my/ps_alu_mk1.php
  13. 1 2 SIPRI
  14. ↑ http://www.malaysiandigest.com/frontpage/29-4-tile/546343-lima-15-sees-rm9-3-billion-worth-of-contracts-inked-hishammuddin.html
  15. ↑ http://www.malaysiandefence.com/lima-2015-day-3-contracts-confusion/
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "World Air Forces 1990 pg 60". Flightglobal Insight. 1990. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Trade Registers. Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved on 2017-12-23.
  18. ↑ Marcel Burger (23 January 2015). "Brunei gives four Black Hawks as present to Malaysia". AIRheads. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  19. ↑ "Brunei transfers S-70A Blackhawks to Malaysian Armed Forces". Borneo Bulletin. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  20. ↑ "New infantry battalion to boost RMAF presence in Labuan". Bernama. The Malay Mail. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  21. ↑ "BAE Systems and AIROD partner to upgrade RMAF Hawk Aircraft". airforce-technology.com. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  22. 1 2 "Saab Offers Lease Package For Gripen Jets". Bernama. Malaysian Digest. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  23. ↑ Bradley Perrett (16 February 2016). "Malaysian Mig-29 and F-5 Decisions in 2016?". Aviation Week Network. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  24. 1 2 Bradley Perrett (23 March 2015). "Malaysia Expected To Order Fighters In 2016-20". Aviation Week Network. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  25. ↑ Praveen Menon; Muralikumar Anantharaman (18 March 2015). "Boeing pins hopes on Malaysia order for boost to F/A-18 fighter jet". Reuters. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  26. ↑ "Russian weapons still have high export potential in Malaysia". Rostec. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  27. 1 2 "Why Russia's Su-35 must re-enter the Malaysian dogfight". Russia Beyond the Headlines. Big News Network. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  28. ↑ Nigel Pittaway (28 March 2015). "Malaysian Company Proposes MiG-29 Upgrade". Defense News. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  29. ↑ "Malaysia Offered Similar Financial Package As Egypt For Rafale Procurement". Bernama. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  30. ↑ "BAE to offer Eurofighter lease to Malaysia". Australian Aviation. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  31. ↑ Jon Grevatt (19 April 2016). "Saab looks to Gripen lease to kickstart Malaysia's MRCA programme". IHS Jane’s 360. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  32. ↑ Jon Grevatt (18 April 2016). "DSA 2016: BAE Systems outlines Typhoon offset package for Malaysia". IHS Jane’s 360. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  33. ↑ Tim Fish (22 April 2016). "DSA 2016: Eyeing up Malaysia". Shephard. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  34. ↑ "Russia's positions on Asia-Pacific arms market". Tass. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  35. ↑ "Russian company ready to discuss joint and licensed production facilities in Malaysia". Bernama. The Sun. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  36. ↑ "Rafale appears in the lead as Malaysia seeks new fighter jets". Reuters. The Star. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  37. ↑ Benjamin David Baker (23 December 2015). "The Sino-Pakistani JF-17 Might Have Another Buyer in Asia". The Diplomat. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  38. ↑ Usman Ansari (22 December 2015). "Malaysia Denies Interest in JF-17, But Export Hopes Remain". Defense News. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  39. ↑ "In China's shadow, Southeast Asia looks to replace ageing fighter jets". Reuters. The Star. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  40. ↑ "Belarusian company to repair more military aircraft for Malaysia". Belarusian Telegraph Agency. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  41. ↑ "Malaysia Eyes Buying Excess Aircraft From Saudi Arabia". Defense World. 2 March 2017. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  42. ↑ Rozanna Latiff; Praveen Menon; Simon Cameron-Moore; Michael Perry (28 March 2017). "Malaysian PM tells France not ready to decide on buying Rafale jets". Reuters. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  43. ↑ "Malaysia considering buying French fighter jet Rafale". The Star. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  44. ↑ Jean-Baptiste Vey; Adrian Croft; Paul Sandle; John Irish (30 March 2017). "Malaysia only talking to Dassault about fighter purchase - French government". Reuters. Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  45. ↑ "Malaysia Considers Surplus Japanese Orions". Aerospace Daily & Defense Report. Aviation Week Network. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017. (subscription required)
  46. ↑ "Malaysia shelves plans to buy fighter jets". Reuters. Khmer Times. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  47. ↑ Ridzwan, Rahmat (19 December 2017). "Malaysia discloses line of aircraft shortlisted for maritime patrol requirements". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 26 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  48. ↑ "Nuri's 18th Crash In 39 Years". Bernama. 17 July 2007. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  49. ↑ Craig Hoyle (22 January 2015). "Malaysia to upgrade and arm S-61 "Nuri" fleet". Flightglobal. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  50. ↑ Greg Waldron (21 October 2016). "Malaysia S-61 upgrade gathers pace". Flightglobal. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  51. ↑ "Stolen engines case was covered up from the start". The Malaysian Insider. Archived from the original on 23 December 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
  52. ↑ "PM: Fighter jet engine reported stolen to cops". The Star. 12 December 2009. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
  53. ↑ "Two Malaysian Indians charged with aircraft engine theft". India: Deccan Herald. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  54. ↑ "Missing jet engines found". The Star. 5 February 2010. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  55. ↑ A. Trucido Y R. Rossello. "El enigma de los motores de F-5 robados" (in Spanish). El Pais. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  56. ↑ Ridzwan Rahmat (25 February 2016). "Malaysian Air Force CN-235 crash lands near Kuala Selangor". IHS Jane's 360. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  57. ↑ "RMAF to send flight recorder to Bandung for analysis by manufacturer". The Star. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  58. ↑ "Malaysia Air Force says crew of missing fighter jet killed in crash". The Star/Asia News Network. The Straits Times. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  59. ↑ "Chronology of RMAF Hawk jet crashes". New Straits Times. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
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