Malaysia has approved a limited upgrade to part of its inactive fleet of Northrop F-5 fighters, with industry sources expecting initial funds to be released to prime contractor Airod within the next few weeks, enabling it to begin acquiring equipment from suppliers.
Airod in 2004 signed memoranda of understanding with Caledonian Airborne Systems, Northrop Grumman, Smiths Aerospace and Thales to support an F-5 upgrade for Malaysia and potential overseas customers (Flight International, 20-26 July 2004).
But the programme has since been delayed by budget constraints and haggling over Airod's price, prompting the air force to instead try to sell half its fleet of around 20 aircraft.
The Malaysian company is now expected to upgrade only seven or fewer aircraft, with insufficient funds having been found to pursue the entire package. Initial plans called for new ejection seats, head-up displays, radar warning receivers and global positioning system navigation equipment, along with structural enhancements. Airod and the air force will decide over the next few months which of these elements will be completed.
Airod is also trying to convince the government to upgrade any aircraft it intends to sell in a bid to improve their sales potential.
Malaysia launched its F-5 upgrade programme in 2001 by awarding Caledonian and a now-defunct local company a contract to upgrade one prototype, but options on a further nine were never exercised and the government last year decided to seek a new contractor team.
BRENDAN SOBIE/SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
