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Malaysia plans to buy 18 Russian fighter jets

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MOSCOW, November 15 (RIA Novosti)- The Malaysian defense ministry plans to buy 18 Russian Su-30MKM fighters fit to carry Russian-Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, the Izvestia daily said on Tuesday.

 

The paper said, citing military sources, that Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi plans on Tuesday to visit the Irkut aviation plant, producing Su-30MKI fighters for India. According to Izvestia, one such aircraft would cost Malaysia about $50 million, future maintenance included.

 

During the visit, the minister "may sign a contract to buy 18 Su-30MKM multirole fighters," the paper said.

 

The defense minister also plans to discuss installing new missiles, including BrahMos, on the 18 Su-30MKM fighters that Malaysia received in August 2009 under the $900-million contract signed in 2003.

 

Malaysia's mixed fighter fleet also includes Russian MiG-29N Fulcrum and the U.S.-made F/A-18D Hornet and F-5 Tiger in service.

 

The Su-30MKM is a multi-role Flanker version based on the Su-30MKI model and features a customized avionics package built to Malaysian specifications. Su-family fighters constitute the bulk of Russia's arms exports.

 

Source

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Malaysia's proclivity towards Russian jets baffles me. Why? Why not European ones? Would be interested in knowing how the defense ministry draw up their specs.

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Here we go again...

 

Either another jet engine missing or this time...a supersonic cruise missile missing! :rofl:

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The Su-30MKM is an obvious choice to replace the Mig29N since RMAF already operate 18 Su-30MKM. However, as someone has pointed out previously, any major defence purchase should be postponed until after the 13th General Election

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..... any major defence purchase should be postponed until after the 13th General Election

If the country is run properly, should not make any difference :pardon:

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If the country is run properly, should not make any difference :pardon:

 

Indeed.

 

I think Russian fighters are good looking. European fighter jets are hmm... US fighters are nice looking as well... Well, I'm just talking about nice looking-ness, so Russian jets are good options. :-)

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Russians have a history of poor after sales support. The MiG-29's have proven that beyond doubt. No spare parts, expensive spare parts.

 

On the other hand, look at the F-5E and BAe Hawks. They are old but still flying due to good availability of spare parts and after sales service. The F/A-18s were bought at roughly the same time as the MiG-29s and there are no maintenance issues either.

 

The verdict on the Su-30 MKMs is still pending since the aircraft are still very new.

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trouble is the RMAF or govt's decision to buy fighter aircrafts like these russian ones are based on their or someone's agenda. The russian planes have a long history of maintenance issues, and spares and the main thing being "russian" which is still not very familiar esp in maintenance and the russian fighters' operational readiness have been at 50% or even less!

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Zahid not in Russia to sign arms deal

Posted on 18 November 2011 - 05:28am

Last updated on 18 November 2011 - 10:21am

 

PETALING JAYA (Nov 18, 2011): An aide to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied claims that he was in Russia to sign a deal to purchase fighter jets.

 

His media director Kol Fadzlette Othman Merican told theSun in a text message yesterday that Zahid was invited to visit Russia by its government.

 

"It's a long overdue visit. He was not there to sign any deal," she said.

 

Fadzlette declined to state if any negotiations took place during the visit. It is believed that this was Zahid's first visit to Russia since being defence minister.

 

The Russian state news agency Ria Novosti had created a stir when it reported that Zahid might sign a contract to buy 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighters during the visit.

 

Zahid had recently been reported as saying that plans to purchase 18 new multi-role combat aircraft for the Royal Malaysian Air Force had been postponed due to the lack of funds.

 

The Russian news agency cited a report in the Izvestia daily which said that Malaysian had plans to buy 18 fighters fit to carry the Russian-Indian Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles.

 

The paper, citing miitary sources, reported that Zahid would visit the Irkut aviation plant, producing Su-30MKI fighters.

 

Izvestia reported one such aircraft would cost Malaysia about US$50 million (RM150 million).

 

The minister "may sign a contract to buy 18 Su-30MKM multirole fighters," the paper said.

 

The paper had said that Zahid also plans to discuss installing new missiles, including the BrahMos, on the 18 MKM fighters that Malaysia received under the US$900 million (RM270 million) contract signed in 2003.

 

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/212319

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total waste of public money sigh........... not based on real operational needs as its history of russian planes' operational availiability is 50% or less!

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We are all very naive.

 

At the end of the day, the winner will be the one who best meets the Defence Minister's needs. ;)

 

Remember, he is still new to the cabinet and still hungry! :rolleyes:

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We are all very naive.

 

At the end of the day, the winner will be the one who best meets the Defence Minister's needs. ;)

 

Remember, he is still new to the cabinet and still hungry! :rolleyes:

 

You need to be explicit who is actually the Defence Minister, and be clear on the gender too.

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