15 Feb 2007
Adrian David
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KUALA LUMPUR: After a one-year delay, the first six Sukhoi Su-30MKM
jets will be delivered to the Royal Malaysian Air Force in
May.
The RMAF ordered 18 of the Russian jet fighters in 2003 in a US$900
million (RM3.24 billion) deal.
After India and Vietnam, Malaysia will become one of the largest
operators of the high-tech jet.
Indonesia has ordered 12, while Thailand is mulling the
purchase.
Defence industry sources said the RMAF was ready to take delivery
of the jets as the crew of pilots, engineers, technicians and
ground support staff had completed their training.
Sources said India was the natural choice for the RMAF crew
training as English was the medium of instruction.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is said to be as sembling 140
Su-30MKI for the Indian Air Force.
HAL will provide technical support for equipment such as auxiliary
power units, air-cooling systems and spares for the RMAF.
A local service and maintenance centre is also being
established.
In December, information technology company Heitech Padu Bhd won a
13-year, RM258 million contract to design, construct, supply, fit,
assemble and maintain a Sukhoi flight simulator.
The multi-role Sukhois will gradually replace the RMAFs 14
two-decade-old US-made F-5E jets and complement its 18 MiG-29N
Fulcrums.
"Part of the delay is attributed to the fitting of non-Israeli
components (as Malaysia does not have diplomatic ties with the
Jewish state).
"Russian and French-made avionics replaced the
Indian-Israeli-French combination, while the Israeli electronic
counter-measure system was changed to a South African variant," a
source said.
Those familiar with the package said it would have the "NIIP N011M
Bars" passive electronically scanned-array radar, Kh-35 (AS-20
Kayak), Kh-31A (AS-17 Krypton) and Indo-Russian Brahmos (anti-ship)
missiles.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Thursday/National/20070215094508/Article/local1_html
