Russian industry's strong presence at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 99) was marked by industrial co-operation agreements and the expectation of aircraft orders.
The Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant has partnered the Malaysian industry as expected (Flight International, 24-30 November), but the Malaysian partner is SME Aviation rather than Airod.
SME Aviation chief executive Mohamed Tarmizi says: "Initially, it was intended to be Airod. But SME was judged to be the better partner because we already have a production line for the MD3 [piston-engined trainer], and experience in assembly, flight testing and certification."
The deal involves marketing, parts manufacture and upgrade work on the Mil Mi-17, with SME to become a South-East Asian support centre for the type.
Tarmizi says SME will produce components such as the ramp and doors, and will perform avionics upgrades, including the development of a glass cockpit. No avionics supplier has been chosen, but Alenia, BAE Systems, Honeywell and Rockwell Collins are understood to be contenders.
Andrey Kharlamov, deputy chief of Ulan-Ude's commercial department, says the company expects an initial order for up to six Mi-17s early next year, probably for use in the combat search and rescue role. Malaysia has a requirement for up to 40 Mi-17-class machines.
Meanwhile, Sukhoi design bureau general director Michail Pogosyan says that Malaysia has expressed an interest in the Su-25 attack aircraft - and its developments, the Su-30 and Su-37 -and Su-27 Flanker fighter.
He says an order could be linked to local parts manufacture, or the establishment of a maintenance and support centre similar to Aerospace Technology Systems, which was created following an order for MAPO MiG-29s.
Source: Flight International
