SHAH ALAM: Black Hawks for Nuri replacements? Back in 2015, we were told by the-then Defence Minister that the RMAF will be getting four Black Hawk S-70 helicopters gifted from Brunei. That news were tempered somewhat when it was revealed later that the Black Hawks were not to be gifted after all and we need to pay a relatively small amount to get them.
The Black Hawks for free story came unraveled in 2016 and though the Defence Ministry never say it officially, the project was over before the end of the year. Five years down the road, it was apparent the RM58 million or so needed for the initial payment of the helicopters and the yearly maintenance costs had doomed the project from the start.
RBAF S-70A Blackhawk helicopter. USAF photo
Any how, remember the leasing tender to replace the Nuri which came out last year? It appears one of the companies which took part in the leasing tender had offered Black Hawk helicopters. For starters, they are not offering the Brunei Black Hawks but ones that had been retired by the US military and had been bought by aircraft leasing companies like the ones offered by Florida based Jet Lease
The ex-US military, UH-60A Black Hawk, listed for sale or lease on Jet Lease website. Jet Lease
Jet Lease website have a number of Black Hawks for sale or lease ranging from a UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter for sale at US$3.3 million and leasing for US$61,000 to another one priced at U$6 million and a lease listing of $100,000.
Another UH-60A offered for sale or lease on Jet Lease website. Jet Lease
I was told that the Black Hawk offer was one of two shortlisted for the leasing deal with another proposal for the Leonardo AW139 helicopter.
Weststar Aviation Leonardo AW139. Picture used for illustration only. Weststar
I was told further that the Black Hawk offer was ranked higher than the AW139 as it is not a commercial (technically) helicopter.
MMEA Leonardo AW139 landing onboard a ship. APMM
Apparently the AW139 did not score points by having other services flying them. It did help that the company which offered the Black Hawks is on the right side of the current political divide. It may face a rougher ride in the near future though, if the political musical chairs are rearranged again.
The cabin of the UH-60A offered for sale or lease by Jet Lease. Jet Lease
So will we have the Black Hawks gracing the skies to replace the Nuris? Your guess is as good as mine.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (23)
As temporary lease solution yes..as permanent replacement of our legendary nuris 50-50..Yes for RMAF (They already got Caracals albeit not nearly enough) no for PUTD as they need Nuri standard helos to permanently replace them..
If the blackhawaks, why not take tge 20 odd plus being retired by Australia?
blackhawks can be had for free from many sources, like australia or even south korea if you know how to properly demand for offsets for the FLIT/LCA buy.
But that would not help to line the pockets of those that is right now on the "right" side of the political divide.
The point of leasing is that the air force wouldn't be bothered to do the maintenance as the company will do it . Getting "free" helicopter from ex australian fleet would be counterproductive since the air force had to foot the bills for not only maintenance but also training ground support, all for a couple decade old helicopters
Kamal A - “take the 20 odd plus being retired by Australia”
At the moment there is no cash allocated for the Nuri replacement and the leasing option is a short term one.
For the Nuri replacement the RMAF does not want to be straddled with 40 odd year old high mileage preowned platforms which will be maintenance and resource intensive. Leasing a small number of platforms is the most ideal option as the company is responsible for the upkeep.
gonggok - “But that would not help to line the pockets ”
Both the RMAF and the pen pushing bureaucrats - for different reasons - do not want pre owned platforms. It has to do with upkeep costs and the fact that aged platforms get increasingly maintenance intensive as they age further.
It has less to do with opportunities to make money. If one with the connections is set on making money there are various creative ways of doing so; even if the purchase entails low cost pre owned gear supplied free.
Any big procurement for now is dead to the politic... Rakyat tak dapat makan..... LCA, Nuri replacement I think is a bit hard to move on. Both engines need to replace but the situation now is unknow.
Reply
The Nuri one is for leasing, the money is already there. The LCA project just tendered out, no decision needed within the next 12 months really, notwithstanding the current situation
Michael - “ LCA, Nuri replacement I think is a bit hard to move on”
There is no intention to “move on” with the Nuri replacement at present; it’s away and the intention is to proceed with a leasing arrangement. As for the LCA; tenders have been placed : we’ll see how things pan out.
If a LCA deal proceeds as planned let’s see what reaction there is from the opposition. After all in the wake of the PLAAF incident the opposition publicly called for a non partisan discussion on defence and called on the government to meet the MAF’s needs. The government must also make its case. It has to explain in a clear and a coherent manner to an already weary, sceptical and cynical public why even in times such as this; adequate investments in the MAF are essential.
@Marhalim
Sorry which leasing tender was it again? For ATM or TUDM?
@Firdaus
In US Forces the Blackhawks have effectively replaced Sea Kings and this also extends to other ex-Sea King users as well ie Japan. Its no problem for Blackhawks to replace our Nuris.
@Kamal A
Their choppers were heavily used. No point to buy them if we can only expect few more years of use until their airframe lifespan is up.
@gonggok
Nothing is free in the world and if we have to beholden to them cuz of this, might as well save up money to get brand new choppers. A S-70i only cost USD$15mil each while Caracals were USD$25mil so its a steal for something that highly flexible and multiuseable.
@Michael
Your comment reflects what I said earlier where rakyat couldn't care less about buying for defence & security ouf our country if they suffering economically and ignoring that is politically suicidal. Doesn't matter how many times China is going to overfly our airspace, even if they park a carrier fleet off KK is not like the B40s will immediately start a donation drive for us to buy antiship missiles. And yet defence commenters here live in bubbles and they insisted strengthening defence matters more and rakyat will understand.
Reply
Its for RMAF
@marhalim
Why the wikipedia said we have 4 blackhawk helicopter and we get them from Brunei??...and they have source of receiving the blackhawks...
Better you ask Wikipedia, as I cannot answer for them nor control their content. Anyhow anyone can edit Wikipedia entry, you just need to log on