Well, relax everyone, its just MANPADS they are talking about,
not SRMBs.
KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has agreed in principle
to purchase medium-range surface-to-air missiles from China and in
return China will transfer its technology in very short-range air
defence system to Malaysia.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the
procurement would be made under the 9th Malaysia Plan (2006-2009)
as part of the continous Armed Forces Modernisation
Programme.
"Details of the procurement and offset programme will be finalised
later should Malaysia give its full commitment," he told a news
conference after witnessing the signing of the Memorandum of
Understanding on the matter.
China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation
(CPMIEC) is offering the FN-6 very short-range air defence system
to Malaysia should the country purchase its KS-1A, the medium-range
surface-to-air missiles.
FN-6, the shoulder-launched missile, has an engagement range
capability of 6km and altitute range of 4km while KS-1A, while the
vehicle-launched missile has an engagement range of 50km and
altitude range of 27km.
The industrial offset programme of the FN-6 offered to Malaysia is
inclusive of special test facilities, universal equipment, special
tools, manufacturing process document, training and technical
support, and capable of an annual output of 100 FN-6
missiles.
The MoU was signed between CPMIEC, SME Ordance Sdn Bhd, the local
company to implement the offset programme, and Aneka Bekal Sdn Bhd,
a local agent that promoted the programme.
Over the past couple of years, the Armed Forces have been
evaluating medium-range surface-to-air missiles and shortlisted the
BUK-M1-2 from Russia, SAMP/Aster 30 from France, MIM-23B Improved
Hawk and Hawk-Amraam from United States and KS-1A from China.
The medium-range surface-to-air missiles are crucial for
reinforcing the layer between short-range air defence systems and
manned air combat aircraft.
Malaysia had procured very short-range air defence systems from
Russia and Pakistan as well as a short-range air defence missile
system from United Kingdom for its air defence requirement during
the 8th Malaysia Plan (2001-2005).
The president of CPMIEC, Prof Wang Bingyan, said China had ofered
to conclude the KS-1A transaction on flexible payment terms,
including counter-trade, barter and deferred payments.
Malaysia is currently focussing on developing its defence
technologies towards achieving greater self-reliance as it did not
want to remain merely as a consumer of foreign defence
technologies.
The MoU was signed by Prof Wang for CPMIEC, Senior Vice President
SME Ordnance Sdn Bhd Gen (Rtd) Datuk Seri Mohd Sharom Nordin and
Chairman of Aneka Bekal Datuk Muhammad Hamzah.
Also present were Army Chief Gen Datuk Pahlawan Mohd Azumi Mohamed
and China's Ambassador to Malaysia, Wang Chungui.
-- BERNAMA
