RMAF to lost half of its F5 fighters
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RMAF plans to sell seven of its F-5E fighter jets
KANGAR, Mar 3:
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Half of the RMAF's existing fleet of 14 F-5E Eagles fighter jets will be disposed of, Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin said today.
The decision to sell the seven fighter jets was made about two months ago, and was based on advice from aero technology experts, he added.
"There was a need to replace these jets which are now more than 20 years old. We were provided with an option to upgrade or replace them. We chose the latter," he said.
He was speaking after attending the launching of the Northern Malaysia University College of Engineering's army reserve unit by the Regent of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra.
The US F-5E fighter jets are currently based at the Butterworth air base.
"There is nothing wrong with these aircraft. We are replacing them due to our military upgrading programme."
Zainal Abidin also said the jets would be replaced by the Russian Sukhoi Su-30 MKM Flanker fighter jets.
He added there was a RM3.42 billion (US$900 million) agreement with the Russian Government to supply Malaysia with 18 of these Sukhoi fighter jets.
The SU-30 MKM is due to be delivered next year and in 2007.
The RMAF has also expressed interest in purchasing FA18F Super Hornets in the near future. As for the remaining seven F-5E fighter jets, Zainal Abidin said they were being upgraded
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Why don't singapore seek to profit by offering to upgrade their F5-E jets for them? Like applying what we did for Taiwan's F-5..
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With the type relation of SG / My have , near zero possiblityOriginally posted by SMAPLionHeart:Why don't singapore seek to profit by offering to upgrade their F5-E jets for them? Like applying what we did for Taiwan's F-5..
Singapore maybe willing but Malaysia side NO way .
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Originally posted by sg1960:
WHAT'S an F-5E Eagles fighter jet?
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RMAF plans to sell seven of its F-5E fighter jets
KANGAR, Mar 3:
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Half of the RMAF's existing fleet of 14 F-5E Eagles fighter jets ....
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I thought they were F-5E Tiger and F-15 Eagles. -
some sick malaysian pride crap.....haiz...*shakes head*Originally posted by sg1960:With the type relation of SG / My have , near zero possiblity
Singapore maybe willing but Malaysia side NO way .
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makes u wonder...singapore is always willing to help....no questions asked.......but....oh nvm.... -
Singapore only converted the Taiwanese F-5Es to RF-5Es. Btw, the Taiwanese AF think it is a bad idea now that the RF-5Es constantly got "shot down" by SAMs during exercieses. They need something that fly faster and more agile. The RocAF is in fact converting some of their Vipers to carry a Recce pod.Originally posted by sg1960:With the type relation of SG / My have , near zero possiblity
Singapore maybe willing but Malaysia side NO way .
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On the other hand, RMAF can sell their 7 to RSAF or ST Aero for attrition, or why not just sell all 14 to the Phillippines, ST Aero can convert them to the S/T version before handling them to the PAF. It is a win win situation...
ha ha -
RMAF have 2 RF-5E plus 14 F-5E/F.
They going to sell off 7 of them, so it make 2 RF-5E and upgrade 7 F-5s.
The qn is what kind of upgrade?
Currently most F-5 upgrade are avionics and radar, and most nations like Turkey, Brazil,Chile etc are going for Israel's Elbit/Singapore's ST option.
RMAF will never take up this option. Their loss.
Then there is Northrop-Grumman option(F-20?),not sure any nation have taken up this, maybe it cost more than Israel/Singapore option.
Next qn is why only 7?
7 F-5s is only 1/3 of a full sqn, unless they are not upgrading them as fighters.
I suspect they are going to be converted to RF-5 recon a/c , in view of the small number.
Singapore ST has converted some to RF-5s for RSAF as well as for Taiwanese AF, most likely RMAF will not go for this option as well.
Then they have to go for the more expensive route by having them converted by the US's Northrop-Grumman.
My 2 cents worth. -
There's another option from Belgium.....Sabena or Sabca. I think the Indonesians have that and the Thais maybe a US upgrade.
The MAF are really very unconventional. They are really zinging it.
Gotto understand their mindset. Singapore don't have monopoly of smart scholars in this region.
What's their plan?