Malaysia opts for Pilatus PC-7 follow-on buy and rejects KT-1 offer without informing KAI
Malaysia plans to confirm the purchase of another 10 Pilatus PC-7 MkII basic trainers, despite a protest from South Korea, which had been trying to persuade its air force to instead acquire Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KT-1s.
Kuala Lumpur signed a letter of intent (LOI) for an additional nine PC-7s last December and industry sources say this will be converted into a 10-aircraft contract to be signed late this month. To be delivered next year, the trainers will meet about half of the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s requirement for PC-7 MkI replacements.
Malaysia in 2001 took delivery of nine PC-7 MkIIs under an uncontested attrition purchase to replace MkIs lost from a 44-aircraft acquisition completed in the early 1980s.
KAI last year submitted an unsolicited offer for KT-1s and flew the basic trainer at the Langkawi air show last December. But at the end of the show Malaysia signed the LOI with Pilatus without informing KAI. Sources say the South Koreans were further embarrassed the following week, when the country’s president pitched the KT-1 in a meeting with Malaysia’s prime minister without realising that KAI had already lost the competition.
Industry sources say KAI launched an internal investigation and asked Kuala Lumpur to reconsider the acquisition, but that Malaysia has decided to go forward with its selection.
Malaysia also has an unfunded requirement for new jet trainers, and Aermacchi and BAE Systems have already made unsolicited proposals for their MB339CD and Hawk trainers. KAI has not yet offered its T-50 Golden Eagle, but plans to engage Malaysia on the requirement after the basic trainer contract has been awarded.
Malaysia currently does not have enough aircraft in its fleet of Hawk, MB339A and PC-7 trainers to meet pilot training requirements ahead of the introduction of new Sukhoi Su-30 fighters. Kuala Lumpur had planned to acquire 17 used MB339CDs from New Zealand, but these were instead sold to a private US operator and the funds were reallocated to cover the 10 additional PC-7s. Malaysia still needs to find funds to acquire about eight more PC-7s to entirely phase out its ageing MkIs, and to cover a potential follow-on Hawk purchase.
BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
