Malaysia and Thailand Relooks Their Defence Procurement

13 April 2020

Second LMS KD Sundan (photo : LoongNavy)

Thailand is considering to postpone military procurements in response to the expected economic impact of coronavirus which originated from Wuhan, China.

Unlike many of its ASEAN counterparts, the country does not look to procure defence equipment through credit provided by international suppliers. Instead, it looks to spread the cost of procurement through defence budgets over several fiscal years.

Among those thought to be in the pipeline for cost cutting measures are the second and third S26 submarines from China as well as two South Korean built KAI T-50TH Golden Eagle Lead-in Fighter Trainer (LIFT) aircraft.

MD-530G helicopter (photo : MD Helicopters)

It is not just Thailand which has to review its defence procurement. Its neighbour, Malaysia for example is expected to experience delay of delivery of its second Keris-class Littoral Mission Ship (LMS), the KD Sundang due to flight restriction to China.

The second batch of 45 Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) personnel were sent to Qidong, Shanghai, on November 5, 2019 for familiarisation training and to sail the Sundang to its home base in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, by the middle of April, 2020.

All personnel have since returned to Malaysia.

Also at risk of delay is the delivery of six MD Helicopters MD-530G Block I Defender Light Scout/Attack Helicopter (LSAH) which were supposed to be delivered by the end of the year.`

T-50TH fighter trainer aircraft (photo : AAG)

According to Marhalim Abbas, with Type certification of the aircraft and training for the Army Aviators and aircraft maintainers destined for the new helicopter have yet to commenced plus the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic in the United States causing travel restrictions, it is likely that delivery date for these attack helicopters would be flushed even further back.

For the record, the Malaysian Army Aviation Force (Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat – PUTD) is expected to receive six MD-530G.

Other tenders seem to have either cancelled, postponed or lapsed. These include the RMN’s Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) and Maritime Utility Helicopter.

S-26T diesel submarine (photo : AAG)

The Wuhan virus outbreak also highlights the need for the new Government to expedite the leading of 8 and 4 utility helicopters to temporarily replace the 12 Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri helicopters operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and PUTD.

Due to urgent operation requirement, the Army had roped in the assistance from Sarawak State owned aviation company Hornbill Skyways to assist a lone Eurocopter EC-725AP Super Cougar Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR) helicopter from RMAF’s No 5 Skn.

The two Eurocopter EC-135s have been lifting foodstuff to people in remote areas of Sarawak. While these could only carry only a tenth of the loads carried by the Super Cougar daily, their high altitude performance plus the provision of rear door have eases the burden of the RMAF.

(MFH)