Russia and Malaysia Continue to Discuss the Supplies of MiG-35 and Yak-130 Aircraft

07 Oktober 2019

MiG-35 is a medium combat aircrat (photo : Defensepost)

Say No to Foxtrot Fulcrum

Russia is intensifying its pressure to sell its RAC Mig Mikoyan Gurenvich Mig-35 (NATO Reporting Name : Fulcrum F) Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) to Malaysia.

Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov hosted the 1st Joint Russia-Malaysia Commission for Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation (JCESTC) meeting held in Moscow, Russia where a Malaysian delegation led by Minister of Economic Affair on October 2, 2019.

While the Malaysian Prime Minister and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed many issue, the most talked about bilateral matters resulted from the two state leaders meeting in Vladivostok was the plan to trade in 10 MIG-MAPO built Mikoyan Gurenvich Mig-29N/NUB (NATO Reporting Name: Fulcrum) and 18 KNAAPO built Sukhoi Su-30MKM (NATO Reporting Name : Flanker) for up to 36 Mig-35s.

Minister Manturov was not shy at all to disclose that “Russia and Malaysia continue to discuss the supplies of MiG-35 and Yak-130 aircraft”.

He further elaborates, “There are commissions for military-technical cooperation which discuss such issues. I am sure we shall continue to discuss the issue, as Malaysia has a major experience in operating MiG-29 and Su-30”

Russia has yet to seal any export deal for the Foxtrot Fulcrum. It is eyeing on Malaysian Fulcrums and Flankers due to their extensive modifications and considered as peculiar variant that could benefit the Russians to study the Western origin avionics, electronic counter measures and weapon system fitted on the two.

The Mig-35 proposal has received negative response from many Malaysian observers stating that these aircraft would only cause logistical support and spare part supply chain problems, hampered existing synergy of Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) combat fleet and undermining the strategic plan for RMAF comprehensive and structured modernisation as stipulated under Air Force Next Generation (AF-Next Gen) and Capability 2055 (CAP55) strategic plans.

See full article MalaysiaFlyingHerald