THE ROYAL MALAYSIAN Air Force (RMAF) is giving support to an industry-led initiative to upgrade its Northrop Grumman F-5E/F as lead-in fighter trainers.
The RMAF has carried out a cost study of the proposed F-5 revamp and forwarded its conclusions to the Malaysian Government, say senior air force and industry sources. Its recommendations are believed to call for the upgrade of a limited number of aircraft.
The study is a response to an unsolicited proposal submitted to the Government by Malaysia Airlines' (MAS) engineering subsidiary MAS Aero-technology (MASA) for an F-5 avionics and structural upgrade.
Newly established MASA is keen to expand into military work. It has held initial talks on F-5 collaboration with Bristol Aerospace of Canada (Flight International, 28 February - 5 March).
The aircraft would provide lead-in training for RMAF pilots moving to the service's new McDonnell Douglas F-18Ds. Bristol Aerospace has already modified earlier-build CF-5A/Bs to support the Canadian Air Force's CF-18A/Bs.
Work could include retrofitting the F-5 with a GEC head-up display and weapons-aiming computer, a new inertial-navigation system (INS), multi-function cockpit displays and in-flight recorder.
Malaysia's 15 surviving F-5s are around 20 years old and would require extensive structural re-working. Life-extension modifications would consist of replacing the aircraft's upper and lower cockpit longerons, dorsal longerons and manufacturing new wings.
RMAF interest in an F-5 upgrade has been strengthened by "teething problems" with the introduction of 28 new British Aerospace Hawk 100/200 advanced trainer/light strike aircraft (Flight International, 29 November - 5 December, 1995).
Recent top-level discussions between BAe and Malaysia, together with the UK's Defence Export Services Organisation, have taken place in an effort to resolve the problem of spares shortages and climate-induced system failures.
According to acting chief of the RMAF, Maj Gen Ahmad Saruji, BAe is working to improve the seals on some avionics systems, including the Hawk's INS, to guard against the effects of high humidity. The provision of spares is also being increased to provide improved coverage at the three airbases from which the Hawks are operated.
Source: Flight International
