ANDREW DOYLE / KUALA LUMPUR
Defence ministry ponders increase in procurement spending after unsolicited proposal
Malaysia's increasingly urgent requirement for maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) is being addressed, with the defence ministry looking to increase procurement spending.
The country has limited MPA capability, with four Raytheon Beech King Air 200s and some Lockheed Martin C-130s, although these lack a mission system.
The defence ministry is expected to start evaluating proposals after it decides whether the four MPA sit requires will be operated by the country's air force or navy, which does not operate fixed-wing aircraft.
L-3 Communications Integrated Systems has submitted an unsolicited proposal offering to equip two air force C-130s with Raytheon SeaVue radars and a "mini-portion" of its Integrated Data Handling System (IDHS) mission system. The upgrade would include the installation of a keyboard, mouse and monitor at the navigator's station.
Integrated Systems director Bill Fritz says acoustic and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors and electronic support measures can be added to the suite when required.
Malaysia is also believed to be considering installing the SeaVue radar and FLIR sensors on two of the Beech King Air 200s.
The IDHS could also be installed on the air force's six Indonesian Aerospace-built CN235s if they are chosen as the platform, as could the EADS' Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS). However, the air force is understood to be opposing modifying these aircraft, despite having previously supported the idea.
Alenia Aeronautica is offering the ATR 42MP with a Galileo Avionica mission system. The Italian company is "not interested in upgrading an existing platform", says Alenia Aeronautica's head of international markets development Paolo Pozzessere.
EADS Casa regional director Asia and Pacific Ramon Rexach says the company will look at upgrades "if the platform is something we know". It will also propose new FITS-equipped C295s.
Thales says that it could upgrade the CN235s in partnership with Indonesian Aerospace, or the C-130s. The French company is offering its Ocean Master new-build solution based on the Bombardier Dash 8 Q300, says Thales airborne systems operational adviser Michel Perennes.
Source: Flight International
