Malaysian Space Trip as part of deal to purchase SUKHOI Jets

Atobe SG

Reported in the Singapore Straits Times on Friday, 10 October 2003 - the deal with Russia was announced by the Malaysian Deputy Defense Minister.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,4386,213970,00.html?

Russian jet deal includes space trip for Malaysian

KUALA LUMPUR - Russia will buy US$300 million (S$520 million) worth of palm oil and send a Malaysian into space as part of a billion-dollar deal for 18 Sukhoi 30-MKM fighter jets, Malaysian Deputy Defence Minister Mohamad Shafie Apdal said yesterday.

Payment will be made over five years, with the fighters due for delivery in 2006-7, he told Parliament.

The Russian government has agreed to buy palm oil to the value of 30 per cent of the contract price, which also includes the setting up of a service centre in Malaysia and sending the country's first astronaut into space, Datuk Mohamad Shafie said.

The space flight reflects Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's drive to bring Malaysia into the mainstream of scientific and technological development. -- AFP

tripwire SG

send MAHATIR to space lah...

since malaysia always want to be first.... now its a great opportunity to be a first for malaysia!!

send mahatir to a one way trip to the SUN!! the first man (and probably the only man earth will ever send) to land on the sun!!!

laser51088 SG

omg, they serious??!! haha, never tot such a thing can be included in plane deal. . . . shows that anything can happen. . ., i dun think a space trip was included in any other arms deal anywhere. .. whats the actual significance of sending ONE malaysian to space??? i think its more prestige than any readl, hard benefits. . . .

YourFather SG

Aiyoi, what’s so prestigious? Tompang other people to go to space, macham like hire a cab only what…. soon even normal people with enuff money can become space tourists, if the X-challenge succeeds… Really want prestige, then be like China, design a rocket and send your own man to space lah… (even though China got significant Russian help, at least the spacecraft is still indigineously designed) Of course, give them another century they also cannot lah…..

Silenthunter SG

Could this purchase be based on political grounds???... Rolling Eyes

Atobe SG

Funny that this is another mega-million US Dollar deal that is being rushed into conclusion just before PM-MM is to move out of office.

There seems to be a string of MEGA-MILLION "VALUE" deals being rushed over the last three to six months, after his retirement date was announced (and postponed by thirty days to end-October 2003).

the Bear SG

are they going to shoot Dr.M into space?

his hot air alone could send him into orbit!

back to the topic... uhh... so what's so strange about that?

Gedanken SG

ST's a bit slow on the uptake - this was reported on CNN.com more than a month ago.

In any case, welcome back to the 1950's. I would have thought we had already gotten as much as we could out of sending monkeys into space, but obviously somebody disagrees.

|-|05| SG

haha actually the Chinese bought a russian design wholesale for they're 1st 3 test beds it's only the last 2 that was modifyed to look more chinese then russian.But still better then what malaysia is trying to do ahha
Haiya with so many space tourist now of days it is only a matter of time lah

tankee1981 SG

In this way, i think i can say that they did not buy the new planes solely because of the performance? Looks like RSAF is going to dominate the skies for a little while longer! Very Happy

branzzz SG

there was a report today in the newspapers saying that they will hold auditions for the general public to take part in this. weird. i thought they’d want to send a fighter pilot up. not some auntie uncle from the public who probably doesn’t know much.

|-|05| SG

true...especially since the reason given was to conduct experiments.

Atobe SG

Now that PRC has successfully launched its own astronaut into space, although with heavy Russian help, perhaps we may see some Chinese military hardware being purchase by the Malaysians.

Since a precedent has been made, perhaps a similar condition can be included - to allow a Malaysian to fly in the next PRC Space Launch.

The next objective will be a Sino-Malaysian joint effort to land a Bumi on the Moon, with a Mainland Chinese by 2020 ?

Year 2020 is a significant year for the progress of Malaysia, and PRC has also set this target date for landing a Chinese on the Moon.

kanzer SG

unlike the russkies, the chinese are not in a situation whereby they are desperate for hard currency. should they go to the moon in 2020, i doubt they will allow the msians to steal their thunder… most probably they will just tell the msians to bugger off…..

akula SG

The effort of sending one guy up to space is not even marginally equal to buying just 1 SU-30KM.

18 SU-30KM, 8 F/A-18D (who knows how many can still fly), 16 MIG-29N, 19 F-5E/F hardly seems impressive at all and they are talking about sending people to space. Geezzz... pity their taxpayers.

Oh well, it's their $. =)

tankee1981 SG

I am wondering what are the roles for the the different types of aircraft that the Malaysians are operating. They seem to have quite a variety of aircraft types but not enough of quantity. Further more their combat roles are not very well-defined with lots of overlaping in some areas but no capability for other areas. I also don't see how they can work together in combat due to the difference in weapons and spare parts. Agree? Very Happy

akula SG

I agree with u tankee. Not that I am biased. But it does seems like a master plan is missing. But then again it could be their doctrine for diversity. >=P Well guess we can sleep better I suppose. At least physiologically.=)

branzzz SG

its just a political ploy to show off lah. just to show malaysia boleh. just like having the worlds biggest this,tallest that, but all with no true purpose but to show off. take patronas and their new shopping center for example. their military is not far off. i seriously don’t see how their military can be effective. don’t talk about logistics. i think more important is integration. but they wanna show they’re mini-USAF, can have diff types of a/c for every purpose. malaysia boleh?

SingaporeMacross SG

let’s hope singapore doesnt take part in this space race and waste precious resources.

akula SG

Well, if Dr M is sending himself up into space, Singapore can get China to help us send Starhub's Sparky up to space too. ;-P At least got advertisement value.

Ring RIng.... =P