SHAH ALAM: LIMA 2021 canceled. Its official, LIMA 2021 has been canceled. The Defence Ministry issued a statement today confirming the cancellation of LIMA 2021 scheduled for 16 to 21 March, 2021. The release said the decision to cancel the event was made by the Cabinet at its meeting on 8 July.
It said the decision to cancel was made basically due to the Covid 19 and its medical and economic impacts of the pandemic. What is interesting is that the statement did not state if the event will be held in the future, two years later down the road.
RMAF EC725 flying at the opening ceremony of LIMA 17.
I am of the opinion that the LIMA series was never beneficial to the Malaysian aerospace and defence industries. It might had helped Langkawi developed as a tourist destination but apart from that, I was never convinced of its viability. That said I always tried to be at the show for the last twenty years or so, as a reporter I need to meet the people involved in both industries, even if some of them do not want to speak to me.
French AF Rafale meets up with the PACAF F-16 during the daily display at LIMA 2015.
Apart from Covid 19, the biggest issue for the LIMA series were the cost, the government spends around RM10 million to RM15 million for each show, a princely sum in this times. Some might point out that Langkawi, its people and tourism and support industries have benefited from the show. However as the cost of staging the show came from the Defence Ministry, no one has been able to show how it and the Armed Forces have benefited, from it all this years.
Mig-29N M40-08 at LIMA 2009. last hurrah at Lima
Some might argue, as I pointed out before, that the cancelation could be linked to politics – PM7 is the Langkawi MP – it must be said the viability of most regional defence and airshows are up in the air in the moment. Most would not survived the economic and other impacts of the pandemic.
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (30)
Someone will be murka. Veeerrryyy murka.
@Marhalim
"It might had helped Langkawi developed as tourist destination"
I think that is the main point really.
"Most would not survived the economic and other impacts"
Yeah but none of them are the baby of a twice (maybe thrice?) ruling PM. See what happened to the last person who dared touch his sacred babies.
It's a right decision...
For that matter even the Malaysian Defence Exhibition which is not open to the public has brought no noticeable economic benefit. That too should be cancelled. Its not even doing any good to tourism as that exhibition is closed to the public
Reply
No I have not organised any defence shows, LOL. You must be referring to the DSA series exhibitions.
Most defence exhibitions worldwide are also not open to the public, only airshows have public days.
I suggest next time setup at Labuan.... Labuan International Maritime Aerospace 2025....
Recently, I heard Indonesian gov interested to procured 15 ex Austrian Typhoon, sound interesting....
@ fadiman
http://www.vienna.at/indonesien-an-eurofighter-kauf-interessiert/6681900
Macam ni lah menteri pertahanan yang proaktif!
We should do the same for the Australian Army Blackhawk helicopters, Lake class IPV from Royal New Zealand navy for MMEA, MiG-29N swap with a few used MKI for TUDM, used Pilatus PC-7 Mk II from South African Air Force to beef up TUDM trainer fleet, getting the MHS EC225LP fleet for TUDM to mention a few.
On the Indonesian intent on the Austrian Typhoons.
Indonesia has the money and needs an advanced air superiority fighter to enlarge its air force to meet its MEF (minimum essential force) requirements. The Su-35 looks to be a dead end, and those used Typhoons would be a good alternative. Indonesia could go the way of Pakistan (with mirages), scooping up all the used tranche 1 typhoons. Right now there are other tranche 1 typhoons to be disposed of, especially from germany and italy. It would be a great way to quickly increase their air superiority capability. Getting used typhoons from austria, germany and italy would probably be enough for 3 squadrons. Recently used typhoons have been offered to Colombia (germany 2020) and Bulgaria (italy 2018)
@ ...
Those Austrian Typhoon have very low flying hours.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/nations-typhoon-fighter-jets-can-only-fight-between-800-am-and-400-pm-146082
Don't forget Spain gov also offering their typhoon t.1 to Peru previously...
@ fadiman
That offer was in 2013 for about euro 60+ million each. But now spain has decided to keep all the tranche 1 typhoons, as is UK.
@ D.W.
Yes low flying hours but not as upgraded as other countries typhoon tranche 1.