Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE
Helicopter manufacturers are converging on Malaysia to meet an army light observation helicopter (LOH)requirement, and an emerging naval requirement for an operational training helicopter.
Malaysia has already issued a request for tenders (RFT) on the LOH calling for 11 airframes, although the full requirement is understood to be for 25 aircraft. These will replace the Malaysian army air arm's 10 ageing SA316B Alouette IIIs, which are now based at Kelung.
Candidates for the LOH include the Agusta Westland A109, the Eurocopter A355 Fennec and the MD Helicopters MD900 Explorer.
The navy has not yet issued a formal request for proposals for its operational trainer, but sources close to the programme say the requirement is for six helicopters. So far, the navy has left details of the requirement vague, with the manufacturers still unclear what operational capability is required.
According to an industry source in Kuala Lumpur, the two strongest candidates to meet this requirement are the Fennec and the MD900.
However, Eurocopter is also offering its BO105, and Kaman is arguing that the requirement demands greater operational capability than the other candidates can offer, and is proposing ex-US Navy SH-2F Seasprites.
Kaman's bid is seen as an attempt to gain early leverage on a long-anticipated requirement for some 30 naval helicopters to equip Malaysia's expected buy of 27 offshore patrol vessels, to be delivered from 2005.
Kaman lost an earlier Malaysian showdown with Agusta Westland, which won an order for six Super Lynx 300s to equip the navy's Yarrow-built Lekiu class frigates.
Super Lynx deliveries are expected to begin in 2003, and the operational training helicopter requirement is seen in part as a stop-gap to provide an initial helicopter capability for the frigates KD Lekiu and KD Jebat.
Source: Flight International