Malaysia May Be Offered Updated Super Hornets
From Mohd Arshi Daud
SEATTLE, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The Boeing Company may have to revise
its offer to sell the F/A 18-F Super Hornets to Malaysia into an
updated version of the two-seater fighter jets by the time the
country decides to make confirmed orders.
Business Development Director for Boeing Integrated Defense
Systems' International Operations for Naval Systems David J.
Schweppe said the world's second-largest defense company was
currently upgrading the multi-mission jet into a more advanced F/A
18-F Block 2 from its existing form called Block 1.
Schweppe told Bernama during a Boeing Asia-Pacific Media tour in St
Louis recently that the upgraded version would have more advanced
radar, cockpit, targeting and other avionics system.
"Malaysia was given a proposal on Block 1. As the programme
matures, the offer will likely have to be updated," he said.
Schweppe was not sure if the updated version of the Super Hornets
would cost Malaysia more.
Following Malaysia's expression of interest to procure the
multi-mission Super Hornets, Boeing had held extensive dialogues
with the government to provide a package of the fighter jets and
its weapon system in a deal worth around RM5.7 billion.
The package, submitted more than two years ago include an offset
programme. Malaysia was holding back decision on the F/A 18-F as
the government was committed to trimming its fiscal deficit
further.
The Super Hornets, currently in service with the US Navy, has yet
to register any international sales.
Apart from Malaysia, Boeing was also trying to market the F/A 18-F
to several other countries that presently fly the older F/A 18-A
through F/A 18-D.
"We were hopeful it (the deal with Malaysia) would closed last
year. Of course it hasn't," says Jim Albaugh president and chief
executive officer of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.
"This is a deal that has been on the table for several years," he
said in reference to the efforts made by Boeing to come up with an
offset programme aimed at making the offer to Malaysia
alluring.
"But I don't think it will get done this year and I would be very
surprise if it got done next year as well," he added.
Explaining on the offset programme offered to Malaysia, Boeing
Integrated Defense Systems regional director for Industrial
Participation Programs Gerald D. Schmidt said it include a proposal
to set up a biotechnology centre in Malaysia.
The centre, in cooperation with several Malaysian government
agencies and research thrust; and Donald Danforth Plant Science
Centre (a world-class plant research centre located in St. Louis,
Missouri) would conduct research projects on
agriculture-biotechnology. Schmidt added that the offset programme
also offers opportunity for industrial collaboration such as
through market assistance or technology transfer in commercially
viable projects.
This might include manufacturing composite material for the Super
Hornets by Malaysian companies.
"It's possible as Malaysia has good composite manufacturing
capabilities at CTRM (Composites Technology Research Malaysia Sdn
Bhd) and ACM (Asian Composite Manufacturing Sdn Bhd)," he
said.
CTRM is the largest composite wing component supplier for the A320
series while ACM makes advanced composite panels for the wings of
the 737, 747, 757, 767 and 777 aircraft.
Composites are lightweight but high performance materials used for
high-end aerospace, defence and industrial applications.
-- BERNAMA
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