The 2017 Langkawi International Marine and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) attracted 555 exhibiting companies and more than 40,000 trade visitors and witnessed deal signings worth a reported RM3.8 billion ($860 million). This enabled Malaysian defense minister Hishammudin Hussein to declare the show “a big success.” But there was no disguising the fact that most of the signing ceremonies during LIMA were small-scale, and that none of Malaysia’s supposed requirements for new military aircraft were firmed up.

The main reason has been the national economy slowdown, lowering GDP growth to 4.2 percent in 2016, much below earlier expectations. Speaking at the show opening, Prime Minister Najib Razak repeated that a total of RM26 billion ($5.9 billion) had been allocated under the 11th national economic development plan to bolster defense, public order and enforcement. Most of that money, however, is already spent, leaving little room for follow-on acquisitions, such as the long-discussed maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) and medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned air vehicle.

However, Malaysia might soon seek surplus jets and helicopters from Saudi Arabia according to Hishammuddin, who spoke following a visit by the Saudi monarch King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud and his entourage to Kuala Lumpur in late February.

The MRCA debate continues, with no apparent progress since 2015. Marketing teams from BAE Systems, Dassault and Saab again came to LIMA to press the respective merits of the Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale and Gripen, with the latter two also present in the form of actual hardware. Senior RMAF officers gave mixed signals about the air arm’s future fighter plans. Although the RMAF commander Gen. Affendi told AIN that the dwindling operational fleet of MiG-29s might be upgraded, his assistant chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Kamalruzaman, told AIN that the type will be decommissioned.

Kamalruzaman further told AIN that the RMAF could streamline its future inventory as a new strategy to increase fighter availability and reduce costs.

The RMAF currently operates four front-line combat aircraft: the Su-30MKM, MiG-29N, Boeing F/A-18D Hornet and the BAE Hawk 208. The latter will undergo upgrades by this year to its self-defense and mission-planning systems, although the airframe, engines and radar are now more than 20 years old.

Kamalruzaman said that the RMAF’s eight F/A-18D Hornets still have plenty of flying hours and can serve until 2030. They have already been upgraded with GPS, color cockpit displays, joint helmet-mounted cueing systemand IFF; and integrated with JDAM bomb kits. A Boeing spokesperson said that Malaysia had the option to transition to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, since “customers around the world are benefiting from the capabilities and affordable lifecycle costs and experiencing a leap in capability between the platforms.” But Kamalruzaman noted that the avionics of the RMAF’s current D-models “are almost equivalent to [those of] the E/F.”  

Although unofficial sources reported in mid-2016 that the Typhoon and Rafale had been shortlisted for the MRCA requirement, Boeing, Saab and Russia’s Rosboronexport are still hopeful since neither a contract nor a budget has been signed and allocated. The Swedish firm is especially keen since the RMAF is now considering leasing fighters as a more economical solution. Saab hopes that its success with such leases in the Czech Republic and Hungary will be a strong incentive for the Malaysians to consider the Gripen. The Russians would like to boost the RMAF’s Su-30MK fleet, as well as proceed with the MiG-29 upgrade.

Currently the RMAF is upgrading its elderly fleet of Sikorsky S-61 Nuri helicopters and transferring them to the Malaysian army’s air wing, especially for counter-insurgency operations in Eastern Malaysia. Delivered between 1967 and 1978, the Nuri were planned to be retired by 2012, but with only 12 Airbus Helicopters EC725 Cougars acquired, the service life of the S-61s was extended. “Once the upgrade program is completed, it is envisioned that the mix of EC725s and S-61As can continue to provide for CSAR/SAR capabilities until the financial situation can allow us to meet our future capability requirements,” Affendi said. Malaysia previously announced an intention to acquire 27 more new medium-lift helicopters. An S-61A that had been reworked by Airod was handed over to the RMAF during the show. 

However, two Sikorsky S-70s are operated by the RMAF for VIP transport and four S-70A have been transferred from Brunei. More Black Hawks from the large fleet in Saudi Arabia might just be the wild card to meet the Malaysian army’s urgent helicopter requirements. Kamalruzaman acknowledged this possibility, but he stressed that there is not yet any formal proposal from either country. Some years ago, Malaysia rejected a proposal from Rosboronexport for 60 Mil Mi-17s to be acquired, and assembled by Airod.

The RMAF’s last big deal was the $1.1 billion acquisition of four Airbus A400M airlifters, the last of which was handed over at LIMA and took part in the flying display. This aircraft is in the tactical configuration 2.5, which includes the installation of a Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS), para operation for sticks of up to 30 troops or cargo up eight tonnes each; as well as air-to air refueling. The first RMAF A400M is already in Spain to be upgraded to configuration 2.5 and the second and third airframe will follow suit.

The A400M has already conducted aerial refueling tests with Spanish F/A-18 in 2015 and will likely see that capability mirrored in RMAF. The RMAF should not have difficultly with its Russian-made fighters since its MiG-29N has also conducted refueling with both RMAF and American KC-130. According to Col. Masro Kaliwon of No. 22 Squadron, the service will now test all capabilities of the A400M and expects to attain full operational capability in 2019.

Now that the RMAF has an air-to-air-refueling aircraft, observers wonder whether it will address another gap in capability, namely an airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. But Kamalruzaman said that such an expensive platform is not a high acquisition priority.

 Additional reporting by Chris Pocock