LIMA 2011

[Norman 1]

I'll be arriving LGK 1900 Dec, 8th and leaving LGK 2130 Dec, 10th.

Accommodation arranged near airport...

[Kip Dawson 0]

so whos going on what date?would be great if we can meetup in langkawi

 

I will be arriving during the show on the 10th (Silk Air flight)and will also watch/photograph the departures (from outside the fence) on Sunday.

 

Hope to meet up with some of you.

 

Kip

[iwan 3]

ill be leaving KLIA on the 6th,2115. should be outside the fence from Thursday onwards for both sessions!Will be going back on the 11th.staying in Kuah Town.Can go teh tarik at night!

Edited December 3, 2011 by iwan

[Cire 0]

To all folks who's visiting LIMA, kudos for being loyal to the air show.

 

Make sure to snap and share your pictures, ya.. cheers...

[flee 5]

Najib Opens LIMA 2011

 

LANGKAWI, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Tuesday opened the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2011 (LIMA '11), underscoring that defence and security are of paramount importance to regional and national strategic interests.

 

Against the backdrop of more than 400 companies from 35 countries present at the 11th edition of LIMA, he pointed out that defence and security ensured not only territorial integrity but also the sovereignty that all countries hold dear.

 

He said that Asia today enjoyed the fastest-growing economy in the world, and defence expenditure was no exception.

 

"Aerospace and maritime spending is surging, and is set to rise yet further as governments continue to tackle both traditional and non-traditional security threats," Najib said when opening Malaysia's premier defence and security show at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC), here.

 

Present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, former prime minister and LIMA's founding figure Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as well as foreign defence and security chiefs.

 

Najib said: "There can be no doubting the bravery and heroism of our men and women in uniform, and before they risk their lives to protect us, it's our duty to ensure they have the best tools for the job.

 

"That means giving them the latest, safest, most cutting-edge equipment capable of meeting the challenges of modern warfare."

 

He noted that LIMA was not just about the latest military technology as it was also about the commercial sectors of the maritime and aerospace industries which were exhibiting here for the first time.

 

Over half of the world's top 100 maritime and aerospace suppliers are present for the show.

 

According to LIMA organisers, on display are 65 aircraft as well as 14 warships from around the world.

 

Najib said technology-intensive sectors such as shipbuilding and ship repair and aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) continued to be significant contributors to Malaysia's economy.

 

Last year alone, the shipbuilding and ship repair industry generated more than US$2.3 billion (RM7.26 billion), while MRO and aerospace manufacturing contributed about US$1.73 billion (RM5.46 billion).

 

"Taken together, these sectors provide jobs for more than 44,000 people, many of them in highly-skilled professional roles," he said.

 

The prime minister said skills and wages in Malaysia were rising as the country continues on the path towards high-income status.

 

"But as this transformation occurs, we must be prepared to face stiff competition for foreign investments once we're no longer perceived as a 'cheap' place to invest," he said.

 

Najib mentioned that the Malaysian Aerospace Council last year helped establish the Aerospace Malaysia Innovation Centre (AMIC), an industry-led research and technology centre of excellence that would drive progress in Malaysian aerospace expertise.

 

AMIC, he said, had already brought together key global players such as EADS, Rolls Royce and CTRM to help shape the future of Malaysian aviation, working in close collaboration with local universities to raise skills as well the global reputation of Malaysian researchers, engineers and scientists.

 

"So, we're putting in place the skills, the infrastructure. What we need now is to build the market demand that will drive expansion now and in the future," he said.

 

Najib's speech also alluded to the launch of the national Aerospace Blueprint back in 1997, and, now, the creation of a similar strategic plan for Malaysia's maritime businesses.

 

"The Malaysian Shipbuilding/Ship Repair Industry Strategic Plan 2020 charts a clear course for the industry to sail ahead," he said.

 

Following the LIMA opening, Najib witnessed the signing of a number of aerospace industry-related pacts.

 

They include the technical consultancy services agreement between Airod Sdn Bhd and Malaysian Aerospace Engineering Sdn Bhd (MAE) in relation to MAE providing consultancy services to Airod for the development of the aerospace MRO cluster at the new Kunming International Airport.

 

Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) also inked a strategic collaboration agreement with National Aerospace and Defence Industry Sdn Bhd (NADI) in developing competitive bumiputera human capital in high-technology aerospace industry.

[flee 5]

IN FOCUS: Malaysian air force chief outlines priorities

 

Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chief Gen Rodzali Daud is clear about the increasingly complex threat facing Malaysia, and of his service's role in its continued prosperity.

 

While the air force's key mission is still to safeguard Malaysia's borders and territory against foreign aggression, Daud increasingly sees a role for it in also dealing with the asymmetrical challenges and United Nations-led missions.

 

"Present and future security issues are no longer tied to Malaysia's traditional boundaries, but have expanded into new areas that are asymmetric in nature," he said. "Terrorism, overlapping territorial claims, intra-state conflicts, drug trafficking, illegal immigrants, sea robbery and piracy are new security challenges in the 21st century."

 

Daud believes these varied issues could all serve to undermine both global and regional security, presenting a challenge to Malaysia. "The RMAF's role safeguarding Malaysia's territory in the next two decades will be more challenging, and the RMAF must be shaped and modernised to deal with both traditional and non-traditional security concerns."

 

The highest profile conventional concern facing southeast Asian nations are the "overlapping territorial claims" Daud refers to. Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam all have claims in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Of these, China's claim is most vexing, because Beijing claims virtually the entire South China Sea as its territorial waters. Although Chinese leaders seem to realise that their claims earlier this year alarmed neighbours, Kuala Lumpur and others remain wary of Asia's rising superpower - and their defence spending will reflect this.

 

Malaysia's multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) competition for 18 fighters will provide a significant upgrade for its air force, replacing the RSK MiG-29 (above). Four contenders are in the running: the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet; Dassault Rafale; Eurofighter Typhoon; and Saab Gripen.

 

Daud said a decision will be made before the finalisation of the 11th Malaysia plan, a country-wide economic blueprint that will touch on all aspects of the nation's development. The 11th plan will cover 2015-2020, suggesting an MRCA decision will be announced in 2013 or 2014. As for the 18-aircraft requirement, Daud said "this number will incrementally increase in line with the RMAF's concept of operation".

 

One criticism of Malaysia's air force has been the mixed nature of its combat fleet despite its small size. The country operates F/A-18Ds, MiG-29s and Sukhoi Su-30s, but despite the issues this has reportedly caused, Daud appears committed to relying on fighters from more than one country.

 

"The requirement of a mixed fleet of fighters is important to the nation to mitigate international politics that could disrupt the required support in times of hostilities or war," he said. "The key learning experience is to ensure the continued development of a local defence industry and self reliance in the major portion of the maintenance activities."

 

Kuala Lumpur's other high-profile planned purchase is for four Airbus Military A400M transports. Owing to the aircraft's testing schedule an A400M will not be at the Langkawi International Martime & Aerospace Exhibition, but Malaysia still seems to be committed as the type's first Asian user. Daud noted that the nation's current airlift fleet is not capable of operating in hostile environments.

 

"Efforts are under way to improve our [airlift fleet's] protection system and capability to participate in United Nations-sponsored activities," he said. "The A400M is a very capable transport with more tactical capabilities. The aircraft will definitely be utilised for peacetime roles."

 

Daud said Malaysia's first airborne early warning and control system aircraft will be enshrined in the 11th Malaysia plan, making the acquisition unlikely until the second half of the decade. Reflecting this, potential candidates were other notable absentees at the show.

 

Malaysia also has a requirement for new maritime patrol aircraft. One industry source noted that as the programme falls under the auspices of the air force and not the navy, this purchase is pushed "continuously to the right".

 

The country is also in the process of retiring its Pilatus PC-7 Mk I trainers, which will be 30 years old in 2013. Daud said the air force is steadily inducting the PC-7 Mk II, and there are no immediate plans for other new turboprop or lead-in fighter trainers.

 

Source

[Abdul Rahman Hussin 0]

I will be there too with 9 family members.Arriving @5 pm 8 Dec. n puttting up in Twin Peaks.Hope to meet some of u there but how?somebody suggested a MW Cap for members sometime ago but it didn't materialised.seems that we r keeping isolated btw us.

[iwan 3]

ive arrived in langkawi!looking forward to tomorrows airshow.feel free to DM me if any of you wanna meet up

[flee 5]

Boeing to upgrade Malaysian F/A-18Ds

 

Boeing will upgrade the Royal Malaysian Air Force's eight F/A-18D Hornet fighter aircraft, with the updates intended to improve the type's interoperability with other nations and also to increase the situational awareness of its pilots.

 

The US manufacturer said the deal is the first major upgrade for Malaysia's Hornets, which were delivered in the mid-1990s. The upgrade includes improvements to the global positioning system and the addition of identification friend-or-foe interrogation capabilities and the joint helmet-mounted cueing system, as well as maintenance and training services.

 

"The upgrades also make the F/A-18Ds more compatible with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which Boeing is offering to meet Malaysia's multi-role combat aircraft needs," the company said.

 

Although Boeing did not give a value or timeline for the work, a 28 November contract statement on the US Deparment of Defense's website said the company had been awarded $17.3 million for activities to be performed on Kuala Lumpur's F/A-18Ds by 2015. The DoD said 70% of the work will be undertaken at Boeing facilities in St Louis, Missouri, with the remainder to be performed at the Royal Malaysian Air Force's Butterworth air base.

 

Source

[xtemujin 0]

LIMA 2011 a soaring success

By ANDREA FILMER

andrea@thestar.com.my

 

Sunday December 11, 2011

 

LANGKAWI: The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) Exhibition 2011 has been declared the most successful in its series, gaining itself an entry into the Malaysia Book of Records for the largest aerospace exhibition ever organised in the country.

 

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said an estimated 120,000 visitors had flocked to the biennial event a significant increase compared with the 71,000 who attended Lima 2009.

 

“As of noon, 34,000 trade visitors and 75,000 members of the public have attended Lima.

 

“Taking into account the number of (entry) wristbands distributed, we expect this number to reach 120,000 by the closing airshow at 4pm,” Dr Ahmad Zahid told a press conference on the fifth and final day of the exhibition yesterday.

 

He added that the maritime base located in Awana Porto Malai had attracted a sizeable crowd, recording 21,000 visitors to the Royal Malaysian Navy's career exhibition centre and 14,000 who boarded ships.

 

Dr Ahmad Zahid congratulated the Lima organisers as well as members of the navy, army and air force on a job well done. He, however, criticised the absence of MISC Bhd, the nation's largest shipping company.

 

“MISC needs to remember that it is a subsidiary of Petronas, which is owned by the Government, and Lima is a government programme.”

 

Dr Ahmad Zahid also urged more commercial vessels, as well as companies involved in oil and gas fabrication, to participate at the next Lima.

 

On Lima 2013, Dr Ahmad Zahid said the event would be scheduled in the first quarter of the year, with March 26-30 as the tentative dates.

 

He said feedback from exhibitors had shown that December was too near Christmas and exhibitors preferred Lima to be closer to the Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition in Kuala Lumpur slated for April.

 

“Furthermore, many companies would have exhausted their budgets by the end of the year. Therefore, it may be better to have it earlier,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, Lima closed with an aerial display by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

 

Thousands of visitors waited on the tarmac to witness a fly-by by 13 of the RMAF's top pilots who soared past in the MiG29, F5E Tiger II, Hawk 108 and F18 Hornet aircraft in a 15-minute display.

 

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/11/nation/20111211071238&sec=

 

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It will be close to the Avalon Airshow Australia 2013.

 

Edited December 14, 2011 by xtemujin