Malaysia-based manufacturer wants expanded relations with Airbus and Eurocopter to secure government contracts
Composite Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM) is proposing solutions to Malaysian army requirements for training helicopters and tactical unmanned air vehicles as part of an effort to expand its small defence business.
The manufacturer's only current defence product is the Malaysian air force's Eagle aerial reconnaissance vehicle, developed with BAE Systems. However, it is trying to sell a newly developed UAV, expand into military helicopters by refurbishing Eurocopter BO105s, and begin manufacturing flight data recorders.
Chief executive Rosdi Mahmud says the new projects support a goal of expanding CTRM's defence business from 5% to 20-25% of revenues, or 52-66 million ringgit ($14-17 million) annually. CTRM's primary business will continue to be supplying Airbus with composite components for the A320 and later the A380 and A400M. "We are very established in the composite business and we need to diversify and go into the defence market," he says.
CTRM last year forged a relationship with Eurocopter, which has already resulted in the refurbishment of a BO105 demonstrator. The company aims to open a military and civil helicopter refurbishment line at its Malacca factory, but the Malaysian army has not yet agreed to lease 10 BO105s on offer. These would fill the gap between the service's two Eurocopter EC120 primary trainers and 11 AgustaWestland A109 light utility helicopters that will equip a new army aviation unit from late 2005. Malaysia's Aviation Academy Integrated Training and Services, hired by the army to train its pilots using the EC120s, would also operate the BO105s under the CTRM proposal.
If the BO105 programme does not go forward, CTRM will look at other potential helicopter projects, and Rosdi says the company hopes to eventually manufacture components for Eurocopter.
The tactical UAV has already flown using a flight control system purchased abroad, but CTRM has also tapped Malaysia's Ikramatic to develop a control system that will be demonstrated next year. CTRM believes the army has a requirement for up to 12 aircraft. The flight data recorder proposal involves building systems to be certificated by Malaysian authorities and installed initially on Pilatus PC-7s.
BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
