KUALA LUMPUR: The story from Bernama is self-explainatory. Najib did not specify how much is the budget although he did mentioned that they were looking for 12 helicopters. Malaysian Defence hopes this contract will be managed competently unlike the NGPV project.
Malaysian Defence will be looking at the project in detail in the future.
International Tender For New Copters To Replace Nuri
General
October 03, 2007 22:14 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 (Bernama) — The tender to supply helicopters to replace the Nuri for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will be opened in stages after Aidilfitri, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“We will invite international tenders very soon. Probably after the Hari Raya. It involves 12 units (of helicopters). Not replacing all (the Nuri) but progressively.
“Everyone can participate in the international tender which means companies from any country,” he told reporters after launching the book entitled “Your Rights and the Law” written by the Judge Advocate General of the Defence Ministry, Teo Say Eng, here today.
He was asked to comment on the latest development in the efforts to replace the American-made Nuri or Sikorsky which would be completely phased out in 2012.
On the new helicopter, Najib said it would meet the criteria such as the utility-type of helicopter which would also have the ability to undertake search and rescue operations.
The government had suffered losses of RM86.9 million following 15 Nuri crashes since the helicopters were first used in 1968, killing 70 military personnel and 19 civilians.
The latest crash was at Genting Sempah, in Gunung Bunga Buah, near here on July 13 which killed its pilot Capt Nor Azlan Termuzi, 29, co-pilot Capt Nor Intan Asykeen Mohd Arof, 27, Air Sergeant Khsunizaim Ariffin, 34, Sergeant Mohd Azmi Md Yassin, 35, Senior Airman Saifulizam Alias, 28 and Senior Airman Muhammad Ridzuan Ahmad, 27.
Meanwhile, Najib said Malaysia’s involvement in the mission to monitor the conflict in Mindanao might be extended but not indefinitely.
“They will be extended but the extension cannot be indefinite. So, we want to see progress in the talk,” he said.
Members of the Malaysian Defence Forces had been in Mindanao since 2004, participating in the International Monitoring Team-Mindanao (IMT-M) aimed at obtaining security information in the southern region of the Philippines.
The southern Philippines had been embroiled in political dispute and power struggle between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which had continued for more than 30 years.
— BERNAMA
— Malaysian Defence
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Selamat Hari Raya.
It would be nice if in addition to the transport helo, the Ministry Of Defence would consider 3-4 medium lift helicopters dedicated towards the Special Forces (shared by all 3 branches of the military) or alternatively a gunship. I wonder whether in view of the A400M purchase made, some of the current C130 could be upgraded and converted into a gunship for the Special Forces, like the AC-130 currently in use by the US military.
A Hercules gunship is too expensive to maintain and keep up. Where we should use it? Perhaps the money could be use for something else, for example for better border security.