SHAH ALAM: And then there was eight. Some eight months after Defence Minister Mat Sabu told the nation that only four RMAF Sukhoi Su-30MKM Flanker can fly, eight of them are preparing for LIMA 19, later this month.
The Flankers flew in in a formation over Butterworth air base according to a social media post by TUDM. The post stated that the Flankers were ready for LIMA 19.
A flock of Flankers soaring Butterworth Hot Airspace” Su-30MKM ready for @LimaExhibition
Several days after the statement by Mat Sabu, RMAF chief Gen. Affendi Buang clarified that six of the Flankers were capable of flight operations.
Affendi said the air force began exploring other options, including the possibility of working ‘in-country’ through smart partnerships with local maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organisations and aerospace industry players.
“An Su-30MKM was used as a testbed to validate the programme. We found that we could do it at a fraction of the original cost. It also reduced our dependence on the Russian OEM.”
Affendi was confident that this option would enable the air force to follow through with its maintenance programme, within the budget allocated by the government.
“We are fine-tuning our requirements for the programme, but I have to say that we are severely constrained by our very tight annual operational budget.
It is likely that the other two Flankers flying could be ones that had undergone testing as part of the RMAF plan to conduct the life extension programme in country. I was told that two Flankers will be on static/flight displays during LIMA and eight others will fly in formation during the opening ceremony and likely at the public days.
RMAF Sukhoi Su-30MKM M52-18 during its display at LIMA 17
I guess we will find out later this month, hopefully.
#updated with new information on the number of Flankers at Lima
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (23)
Its good that the Menhan highlighted problems that the Suks are facing in which only 4 are flying months ago, at least the Russian have released the parts for the suks. Then we have 6 flying and now its going for 8 .. not bad.
My guess?
TUDM got wind of the MKI 14 years or 1,500 hours increased overhaul limit, got the green light from irkut and applied this to the MKM. Instant additional MKMs without putting out any ringgits!
https://wap.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/hal-gives-first-overhauled-sukhoi-30-to-iaf-115011000028_1.html
Nice..at least slowly we can do maintenance of our Sukhoi 30MKM in country.
Combat ready =/= flight capable
Hopefully Mat Sabu just meant the former.
8 out of 16 or 50%..not great but better than few months ago of around 37%. My personal opinion a 75% fly worthy is good considering our budget predicament.
Just out of curiosity, our Migs used AAM not from Russia but from Ukraine (The R73 and R27A). The Ukrainean companies could relife them (as not part of US sanction) and even maybe upgrade the R27 to an active seeker version at a fraction of the cost?
If it is possible then I hope similar upgrades can be done on the MIGs by Ukraine or Poland
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Ukraine are trying to sell us the missiles but I guess Russia is playing hardball to prevent it
If based on the article, India spent RS110 crore per aircraft for the overhaul, thats about USD15 million per aircraft..so will be about USD270 million around RM1.1 billion at current exchange rate. So it needed 3 overhauls during the 25 years life, so actual purchase cost of SU30 is around USD95 million, almost similar to the Super Hornet should we have chosen them in 2002, except the super hornet does not need 3 time overhoul as its MTBO i thing around 4,000 hr and you pay the USD95 mil up front.
@ kamal
If it costs the same, but you can pay it not totally upfront, but bit by bit as you use them, which one would you prefer?
BTW hornets does not have a hard MTBO, but lots of its components is rated "on condition". It just means that if it is worn out, it would be replaced, but it does not mean it is maintenance free.
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It also means that if in a pinch one can borrow a part from a carrier strike group operating near your waters without waiting for months to get the part
“We are fine-tuning our requirements for the programme, but I have to say that we are severely constrained by our very tight annual operational budget."
The key is here. Is the MKM way expensive than western jet when performing overhaul? or it just simply because we are small in budget and Russia no give much discount on it?
Dr. M request Mr. Putin help on this. no more news?
Be what it may, I am just glad that TUDM and its maintenance units had the guts to see thru the maintenance program on its own terms. Forced on them, YES, but if it did work out successfully, well, that's all good. I personally don't care for Russian stuff except the AK47 and T34 :-), but feel if TUDM can undertake a major maintenance program in a pinch, we are way ahead of the Indonesian who operate with a bigger budget. BTW, there was some heehaw down in Jakarta that the Russians have teamed up with 'them' to do SU27/30 servicing in-country. Well, TNI-AU has the money to spend on 'Russian expertise'. We don't. Good luck to them!
...,
You understanding of OC is completely false. The Hornets has "Hard MTBO".
Taib,
The TUDM maintenance unit do not have much influence of the outcome.
The whole MKM saga is either poor planning or money disappeared. Don't blame the Russians.