SHAH ALAM: RMAF upgrades are on track. Upgrade programs for three RMAF aircraft – the Bae Systems Hawk Mk 208 light jet, Hercules C-130H transporter and Nuri helicopters are on track and expected to commence as scheduled, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.
He said the upgrade programs will be conducted in stages to ensure the aircraft could fulfilled its operational requirements and ensure RMAF was ready and capable in protecting the country’s airspace.
A Hawk Mk 208, Hercules and Nuri helicopter on display at Subang to represent the aircraft to be upgraded.
“The full details of the programs will be announced when the project commences,” he said yesterday following a visit to the Subang airbase here for a briefing on the upgrade programs . He says the upgrade programs was also to ensure that the aircraft remained viable for operations pending their replacement in the future.
The Nuri and Hercules at Subang yesterday with two A400Ms in the background
Asked when the contract of the upgrade programs will be signed, Hishammuddin declined to give a specific date apart from assuring that the work will commenced.
Hawk Mk 208 M40-33 from 6 Squadron at Subang airbase yesterday. The aircraft has just completed its second line maintenance at the Airod facility at Subang. It is expected to return to Labuan airbase next week.
He earlier said the RMAF MPA project was going on well and the service was expected to receive the aircraft “soon”. Asked how soon, he said there was no need to specify such details apart from the fact that the aircraft will boost the capability of the RMAF to patrol the maritime areas of the country.
The altitude/decompression chamber at the RMAF Aviation Medicine Institute at the Subang airbase.
Earlier, Hishammuddin also visited the Aviation Medicine Institute also located in the airbase. The institute now has new facilities following its relocation to Subang from the Kuala Lumpur airbase.
An airman demonstrating the hypoxia training at the altitude/decompression chamber
The new facilities are an ejection seat simulator and an altitude/decompression chamber. The simulator offers a realistic ejection experience from a distressed aircraft for RMAF pilots and weapon systems office.
The ejection seat simulator.
The altitude/decompression chamber allows RMAF aircrew and other personnel undergo hypoxia (lack of oxygen) training, to understand the ill-effects of the silent but deadly hazard of in-flight hypoxia. The institute also offers high-G training with its High Performance Human Centrifuge and Spatial Disorientation training on a flight simulator.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (20)
Just a normal politician talk with no specific details whatsoever. This is as good as no information at all.
MPA "soon"? Without even any contracts signed? That is really just an answer for the sake of answering reporters question.
Upgrades is 1 thing, what about additional hawks (if we really want to have a viable hawk force).
Btw some comments on the hawk. It sports inert aim-9m sidewinder training rounds on the wingtip (identified by the blue band the front of the missile).
Comments on the ejection seat simulator. The proper term of that system is Egress Procedure Trainer. Built by a Polish company ETC-PZL Aerospace Industries.
Just thinking what color/camo will be use by Nuri for RMAF after upgrade?still dark green or grey?
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Dark green. Otherwise 37 which had undergone the digital cockpit would have been painted in another colour
Just wondering if there is a date and time for the departure of the Hawk. Would love to catch it.
I've never seen a pic of a Hawk with a live Sidewinder. From the 1990's Hawks have always been seen with blue training rounds.
The RMAF in the past had a need for 5 100s to serve as attritional replacements. Perhaps the idea at present is just to have the present number upgraded and replaced in the next decade without the need for additional air frames - given out present operational needs/tempo we probably can just - barely - make do with the current numbers of Hawks.To me what will really make the fleet ''viable'' would be a full upgrade but guess even if sufficient funding were available the RMAF would rather spend the bare minimum.
Iwan - ''Just wondering if there is a date and time for the departure of the Hawk.''
If you mean ''retirement''. At minimum in 10-12 years time ......
I think Iwan is either a plane spotter or a photographer.Presumably he wants to take pictures of the Hawk on departure from Subang.
On C-130 upgrades
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/17465/usaf-eyeing-new-props-and-upgraded-engines-to-breathe-extra-life-into-old-c-130hs
Engine modifications and 8 bladed propellers
https://media.defense.gov/2009/Jul/02/2000532573/-1/-1/0/090624-F-5350S-201.JPG
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AFAIK the proposed remained the same of what had been signed in 2014 which were for avionics and communications systems to meet international aviation traffic standards. The only difference is likely the foreign vendor.
Marhalim,
Do you remember the Adnan fitted with an AGL/HMG is a Sharpshooter seen at Merdeka Day 2014? I've always wondered if the variant actually existed in numbers or whether the vehicle was a just a one off thing for trials. Given that there is already a support variant fitted with a AGL/HMG combo in a Helio turret; I can't figure out why the same would be done with a Sharpshooter.
Also, do we know who supplied the thermal imagers for the AV-8?
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I think I remember I am not sure about whether there are any more variant of the Adnan AGL/Sharpshooter turret in service. No idea about the thermal imagers in AV8, most likely Safran or Thales
Probably TUDM cougars are too early to be upgraded, but just found this picture of Aselsan HEWS - Helicopter Electronic Warfare System that functions as an integrated self protection system. Installed on Chilean Cougars.
https://i.hizliresim.com/g9RE8N.png
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WyH9nmNqnAQ/Wgon1bcpnQI/AAAAAAAAXUw/n2IrTdBaDE00bPBs0S9lCpIHfIAJg8UBQCLcBGAs/s1600/3.jpg
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OjVGognbTNo/Wgon5lGpZyI/AAAAAAAAXVE/_F1XEf_sdlYwsjeJdFcTJgZjejaDbObpwCLcBGAs/s1600/6.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q__N5KckCIc/Wgon7hclN-I/AAAAAAAAXVI/JRbpXWjibLIyi55KkIo1bQAbQCnRzR8-wCLcBGAs/s1600/8.jpg
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AFAIK the Cougar is fitted for but not equipped with the SPS so it's just the matter of fitting the sensors and countermeasures already. As does the refuelling probe.
@ azlan
You meant this picture right?
http://media.themalaymailonline.com/uploads/gallery/2014-08/SF_Merd
eka_parade_3_3108.jpg
I think it is probably from the last batch of 48 ACV-300 Adnan order. So there would be 2 types of turret available with the AGL.
https://btdmonline.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/1355914.jpg
Look at the number plate. ZC2046. Most of the 1st batch Adnan has ZB number plate.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YtnccXUyLvU/WSVM2uuYi0I/AAAAAAAAJ38/_oRrcVUoC-06L51H-rNjvkbvrR5Y8-pkgCLcB/s1600/LKT8.jpg
No doubt the RMAF has plans on paper to install a self defence suite [hopefully this will also include a means to deal with beam riders] to the Cougars but at present justifying the expense will be problematic. With the A400Ms it will be easier, as an argument can be made that they might in the future deploy to out of area, high risks spots in support of MALBATT or on humanitarian ops.
The A-109s have a IR jammer but I haven't spotted any flare/chaff launchers on them. Strangely, given that they fly low, there aren't any wire cutters fitted - the South African ones have a wire cutter.