ANDREW DOYLE / LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA
Boeing faces a strong challenge from Russian industry as the US manufacturer intensifies efforts to sign up Malaysia as an initial export customer for its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multirole strike fighter. Industry sources say Kuwait is also seen as a potential customer.
The battle in Asia is heating up in anticipation of a purchase by Malaysia to bolster its frontline fleet, although a formal requirement has not been formulated.
F/A-18 programme vice-president Tony Parasida says Boeing's proposal is to supply a squadron of 16 two-seat F/A-18Fs and take back Malaysia's eight F/A-18Ds.
"A trade-in is not something we would normally do, but for the first international sale it's something we'd consider," says Parasida.
According to Parasida, a commitment by Malaysia by mid-2002 would allow first deliveries to be made in 2005 with Northrop Grumman's APG-79 active electronically scanned array radar.
Russia's Irkutsk Aircraft Production Organisation and export agency Rosoboron export have offered the Sukhoi Su-30MKM, based on India's MKI variant. IAPO president Aleksei Fiodorov says the cockpit can be modified to meet Malaysian air force requirements, and would probably incorporate avionics supplied by Thales.
"It is possible to install Western or third-country equipment," says Fiodorov. The Su-30MKI has French, Israeli and Russian avionics.
RSK MiG is offering multirole MiG-29M2s which would join Malaysia's current fleet.
Source: Flight International
