Malaysia to Buy Russian SU-30 MK Fighters

Malaysia to Buy Russian SU-30 MK Fighters

Malaysia is likely to buy advanced Russian-made jet fighters to boost its air
defense, making it only the fourth Asian country to have such aircraft, a news
report said on Monday.

The Utusan Malaysia daily quoted unidentified defense sources as saying that the
government was in final stages of closing the deal for the purchase of
Sukhoi-30MKM fighters.

The report did not say how many aircraft Malaysia planned to buy nor pricing
details.

A defense official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, confirmed
Malaysia's interest in buying the Su-30 but said no decision had been reached.

Utusan Malaysia said the aircraft has medium-range missile capabilities and was
far superior to the MiG-29 fighter jets that are currently used by the Royal
Malaysian Air Force. The daily said that in Asia, only China, India and Vietnam
had Su-30 aircraft.

Malaysia bought 16 MiG-29s and two MiG-29UB trainers under a 1994 contract and
has since indicated it may also acquire Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters to
replace an aging fleet of U.S.-made Sikorskys. Russia and Malaysia signed an
agreement in 1999 to increase defense cooperation, including training and joint
production of defense material.

/AP/
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Malaysia to Compare Sukhoy and Boeing Fighters and Make Procurement Choice

The Government of Malaysia intends to send two groups of specialists to Russia and the U.S. in order to evaluate and compare of the advantages of the Su-30MK fighters of the Russian Sukhoy concern and the F/A-18F Super Hornet fighters of the American Boeing /BA/ company.

As a result of the comparison, the government of Malaysia will make a choice in favor of the procurement either of a number of Russian fighters or in favor of the American, the Malaysian newspaper The New Straits Times reported on Saturday /02.02.02/ with a link to the Malaysian Minister of Defense, Najib Razak.

The first team of specialists, which will go to Russia, will begin execution of the task in the middle of February. The second team will go to the U.S. in March.

/K2Kapital /

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