RMAF to buy 17 ex RNZAF MB339C trainer/light attack aircraft

• HARIMAU

  27 May 03, 20:23

  Posted: 27 May 2003 08:19 pm Post subject: TUDM beli 17 ex RNZAF MB339C
  
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  May 27 , 2003 19:04PM
  
  M'sia Accepts New Zealand's Offer To Sell 17 Aermacchi
  
  KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has accepted an offer by the New Zealand Air Force to sell 17 of its Aermacchi jet fighters and trainer aircraft, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Tuesday.
  
  He said Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) was short of trainers and the purchase of the Italian-made jet trainers from New Zealand air force would overcome the problem.
  
  "The project is being looked into by the Finance Ministry. We see an opportunity to acquire more trainers," he told reporters at the Subang RMAF base, here.
  
  Earlier, he accompanied the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail on a visit to the air force base.
  
  New Zealand recently offered the 17 Aermacchi MB-339 to Malaysia after its parliament decided to rely on Australia to protect its air space and to downsize its air defence capability.
  
  Najib said the Aermacchi aircraft used by the New Zealand Air Force was similar to eight of the 12 aircraft which the RMAF bought from Italy in 1983.
  
  The decision to buy the 17 Aermacchi was to train more combat pilots for Malaysia's fleet of jet fighters such as Su-30MKM and MiG-29, both Russian made, FA 18D Hornet and Hawks.
  
  He said existing RMAF bases nationwide would be expanded and modernised to accommodate its large fleet of jet fighters.
  
  "We will not build new bases because we have enough. The SU-30 will be stationed in Gong Kedak, Terengganu," he said.
  
  -- BERNAMA
  
  
• |-|05|

  27 May 03, 21:52

  Originally posted by HARIMAU:

  New Zealand recently offered the 17 Aermacchi MB-339 to Malaysia after its parliament decided to rely on Australia to protect its air space and to downsize its air defence capability.
  

  Wha.......if only there were an NZ person here.Thats not actually the official reason given but it's the most likely ahha
  Anyway thx for the info
• foga

  30 May 03, 00:05

  Originally posted by |-|05|:

  Wha.......if only there were an NZ person here.Thats not actually the official reason given but it's the most likely ahha
  Anyway thx for the info

  pardon my "sua ku-ness" (read mountain turtle-ness)
  but why is NZ so dependant on aus for their own defence?
  is it true that the upgraded A4 skyhawks that the kiwis have are used to simulate "enemy" attack on aus ships for air defence training?
  
  kind of remind me of phillipines when us built the clark naval base....
  they tot uncle sam was here to stay?
• eurofighter

  30 May 03, 02:07

  I dont think so. The Kiwis felt that there was no threat from the air since it was so isolated and so off goes their jets. I think the official reason was that they wanted to save $$$.