SHAH ALAM: Three MD530Gs helicopters ready. Defence Minister DS Ismail Sabri told Parliament today that MD Helicopters had completed the manufacture three out of six MD530G light scout attack helicopters contracted for the Army.
He said the helicopters however has yet to be certified due to the travel restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. The certification of the helicopters was supposed to be conducted by this month but had postponed indefinitely due to the travel restrictions.
RMAF’s Directorate of General Technical Airworthiness (DGTA), which certified all government operated aircraft had been given the task of certifying the MD530Gs.
Ismail also said that the three other MD530Gs have yet to be completed though he did not say why. The pandemic is also likely the reason the three other MD530Gs has to be be fully manufactured though MD Helicopters financial difficulties may well also be the reason why. It is also likely the company had not started working on the helicopters due to the hold put on the contract by the previous government.
Ismail told Parliament that the Cabinet had on 18 December, 2019 had approved the resumpition of the MD530G contract.
The minister also told the Parliament that RMAF is planning to retire its three Beechcraft King Air 200T maritime surveillance aircraft in 2024. By that time, he added the King Airs would have been in service for 30 years. RMAF had four King Airs but one was written following a crash in December, 2016.
Ismail said the crash was a classified as a training hazard. The King Airs will be replaced by a new MPA which procurement has been approved by the government, he added.
— Malaysian Defence
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In the bigger scheme of things, do we really require those MD530G? What missions that the MD530G can do that our current AW109LOH cannot do?
Tenders for Australian Army’s Special Forces Support Helicopter project (Land 2097 Phase 4) was closed on 10 July 2020. Lets see which helicopters will get the win. I was really hoping that our government could be proactive and offer the unwanted MD530G to australia for the Land 2097 phase 4 requirement in exchange for australian S-70A-9, which would be very useful to us to cover for our abrupt retirement of our Nuri fleet that is still without any replacements to date.
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQGLCxwXkAAHDJj.jpg
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If its unwanted by us why do you think Oz wants them?
After the Covid-19, please Just buy the Attack Helicopter. Anything also can. Cause after 4-5 years we wait to get the Md-530G
Good news for the army..thank you :)
ok. LCS mostly is die or half die... just let DCNS finish the job
With USA COVID cases still shooting up, better to wait for all 6 choppers to be completed before going over there and take delivery. Usually many would clamour for such an assignment, but this time I think they would be afraid to go there even when its possible.
Marhalim, any idea if these choppers were to be based at ESSCOM theater or at Peninsula?
@...
Yeah, there must be another reason why MDH didn't join in the bid if their choppers were perfect for Aussie needs. The ADF must be ruing on that missed opportunity.
Safran - “After the Covid-19, please Just buy the Attack Helicopter””
Attack helicopters are not on the shopping list; nor should they.
There are other more vital things to be funded for ....
@ marhalim
" If its unwanted by us why do you think Oz wants them? "
Because the Land 2097 phase 4 requirement suits the MD530G capability.
Australian Army requires at least 16 helicopters for urban special forces operations and that can be deployed rapidly via Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A transports. The new helicopter’s primary mission will be to support small-team air assault by special forces, but will have the ability to be rapidly reconfigured for utility, ISR, and fire-support roles. It is envisaged there will be four troops of the light helicopters, each with four helicopters.
http://mobile.twitter.com/garethjennings3/status/1149026766163517440?lang=en
@Michael
If we keep changing the design specs as alleged, even DCNS would face them same problems in completing to schedule.
Due to unknown political situation here, I hope the Gowind Frigates back on track, if the Boustead fail to achieved let the Naval Groups@DCN continued the jobs...
Michael - “ok. LCS mostly is die or half die”
Well I’m not sure what “die or half die” means but we’ve invested so much in the whole programme there they have to be completed; sooner or later.
Michael - “ just let DCNS finish the job””
Maybe, maybe not.
Depends on what the actual issue is. Is it a question of money, the inability of BNS or other factors?
As it stands; irrespective of where the fault lies; this is another example of the RMN not getting something on time and on budget. The way the Kedahs were handled was a major cock up and it was hoped that the LCS programme would be different.
It is hoped that we’ll identify what went wrong and make an effort to ensure we don’t repeat the same mistake - again. A lot of soul searching is needed and some hard political decisions; the LCS programme is a reflection of our whole defence policy and how we go about doing things ....