Malaysia is to acquire additional Pilatus PC-7 Mk IIs rather than upgrade its ageing fleet of 33 PC-7 Mk Is or introduce a new primary trainer.
A contract for up to 16 further PC-7 Mk IIs was expected to be signed at LIMA 2005 on 10 December. The aircraft will be delivered from 2007 in the same configuration as the eight Mk IIs acquired in the late 1990s and will replace the 33 Mk Is that remain from the 44 PC-7s purchased in the early 1980s. Malaysia determined it was more economical to buy replacement aircraft rather than upgrade the earlier model PC-7s.
The contract is a blow to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), which earlier this year handed Malaysia an unsolicited offer for KT-1s and flew the aircraft at LIMA. Embraer had promoted the Super Tucano, but its campaign in Malaysia was not active in recent months because it expected Kuala Lumpur to opt for a cheaper option. Malaysia also decided the Pilatus PC-21 was too advanced for its needs.
Industry sources say the decision to acquire more PC-7s was also driven by budget constraints. Malaysia had earmarked funds in its 2006-2010 budget plan to acquire and upgrade 17 ex-New Zealand Aermacchi M339CBs. But the New Zealand purchase fell through earlier this year when the aircraft were instead sold to a training company in the USA. Sources say the funds have been reallocated to the PC-7, but may not be sufficient to cover all 16 to 20 primary trainers Malaysia requires, which could force Kuala Lumpur to purchase them in two batches.
Sources say the funds were also not enough to buy intermediate or advanced trainers. Malaysia requires more advanced trainers to better prepare pilots for its fleet of RSK MiG-29s and Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets and future fleet of Sukhoi Su-30s. Kuala Lumpur is still expected to eventually acquire new advanced jet trainers, but budget constraints seem to preclude any near-term purchase.
The Aermacchi M346, Russian Yak-130 and KAI T-50 are being promoted for the role, while BAE Systems also hopes to sell Malaysia additional Hawks. The Yak-130 made its international air show debut at LIMA 2005. Yakovlev design bureau deputy director general Gurtovoy Arkady says flight testing with two prototypes is to be completed at the end of 2006. The manufacturer is confident of an order from Kuala Lumpur.
Source: Flight International
