LIMA Air Show Opening Day: Typhoon Setting the Pace
Wednesday 07.11.2011
Malaysia considers itself as the heart of Asia, the essence of Asia and an excellent example of balanced economic, cultural and social growth. Langkawi, a small island part of an archipelago made up of 99 islands in front of the Thailand coast, is a popular holiday destination worth visiting all year round and famous for its peaceful resorts and popular small handy-craft shops. A tax free heaven for tourists, it is also a heaven for wild animals. From your hotel room you can see monkeys, weasels and flying squirrels which are very much interested in the food left on your balcony after an open air breakfast on the hotel veranda.
Every two years the island transforms itself into an aircraft enthusiasts paradise for a week. And as usual in recent times, it becomes a forum for the harsh battles fought between the fighter manufacturers on the global market. In what is probably the hottest time ever for the fighter market, Malaysia plays an important role with its requirement to replace its fleet of Russian made MiG-29 in the short term. The requirement is for a multi role fighter to compliment the fleet of powerful Sukhoi Su-30MKK in service and integrate the small fleet of F-18C used for maritime and all weather attack.
Yesterday at the show the Malaysian Defence Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was very clear: the key to the fighter tender is offset and technology transfer. Malaysia wants to invest its money to support the so called Vision 2020 program set to enhance the industrial knowledge, skills and the development of high technology capabilities of the nation.
For this fighter program Malaysia is currently carrying out evaluation studies about the competitors: F-18 Super Hornet, Rafale, Saab Gripen, Eurofighter and - also under consideration - another batch of Su-30. Hamidi last June was quoted as saying the Eurofighter was the best fighter jet available on the market, something we knew already!
Malaysia will probably reduce the number of competitors in the race soon, issuing a new, more detailed Request for Proposal to a limited number of manufacturers. Key to the future of the tender could be the upcoming decisions about fighters in the pipeline on the global market: India and Japan. Both will set a sort of standard for Medium Multi Role fighter requirements (a category where the light, simple, poor performing Saab Gripen and the heavy Su-30 shouldn't be considered). We will know more next year. In the meantime, we have enjoyed the sequence of fighter displays at Langkawi air show: The RAF Eurofighter Typhoon opened the show, there was a French Air Force Rafale, US Navy F-18, F-16 from the Singapore Air Force and Malaysian Su-30. A noisy time, but such a pleasure to watch with the special mountainous rainforest as a backdrop!
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