MoD decides to upgrade MiG-29Ns for continued operation until 2015

06:42 GMT, March 1, 2010 defpro.com | The Malaysian Government last week announced that it would continue to operate ten of its 16 MiG-29N interceptors, reversing plans announced late last year to decommission the entire fleet of by the end of 2010. The original plan by the Ministry of Defence to replace the MiG-29N fighter jets with the 'Multi Role Combat Aircraft' (MRCA) has been delayed by the economic downturn, a ministry official told reporters. As defpro.com previously reported in November last year, the Royal Malaysian Air Forces’ (RMAF) plan to purchase a new fleet of fighter aircraft faced serious financial obstacles (see: http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/438/). On Wednesday last week, the defence ministry confirmed that due to the postponement of the purchase of new fighter jets, the retirement of its Russian-made MiG-29N would be delayed for at least five years.

“We have decided to continue using ten of the 16 MiG-29N jet fighters after sending them for repairs and upgrades,” the New Straits Times quoted Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying. “We initially wanted to ground the [MiG] jets and sell them to a third country, but after much thought and deliberation, we have decided to hold on.”

The global economic downturn appears to have put a damper on Malaysian defence procurements. Since 2008, Kuala Lumpur has been careful not to announce any major orders but, rather, proceed with ongoing commitments. The defence procurement budget remains under strain as the government focuses on economic recovery.

The 10th Five-Year Malaysian Plan (2011-1015), which is to be submitted to Parliament in June 2010, is expected to propose procurement and development funding of RM7 billion ($2.07 billion / €1.51 billion) for the entire defence and security sector, with approximately RM5 billion being allocated for defence proper. It is further understood that nearly half the total amount would be invested to replenish war stocks (missiles, bombs and ammunition), with relatively little money being left for new procurement efforts. Also, at least 30 per cent of the available money would be reserved for purchases from the national defence industry. Clearly enough there is no way the purchase of 18 new generation aircraft could be financed under these conditions.

The MiG-29N aircraft played the role of interceptor jets and 18 of the fighter jets were purchased for the RMAF in 1993 for $380 million. However, two of the aircraft crashed in 1998 and 2005 while six others have been decommissioned. Malaysia was the first non-Soviet block country to acquire Russian combat aircraft and was expected to float a request for proposal (RfP) for 18 new-generation fighter aircraft to replace the MiG-29Ns.

In December last year, former premier Mahathir Mohamad criticised the phasing out of the jets as a waste of money. In his blog, he said the aircraft have a life span of at least 20 years and could remain in service till 2013/2014. He also compared the purchase of the MiG fleet to the Boeing F/A-18D Hornets, which are also in service with the RMAF. He said that the US fighters have longer life spans but are too costly compared to Russian aircraft and have too many restrictions, as the entire technology of the aircraft is kept secret.

However, by keeping ten MiG-29s in service the Defence Ministry will have major expenditures for repairs and upgrades of the aircraft, as well as costly maintenance. The aircrafts’ engines need to be overhauled every year and the maintenance costs may rise to over €60 million (~$82 million) annually. Beyond that, the weaponry for the fighter jets has reached the end of its life span and extending the life span would not be viable.

Further, the plan to acquire new aircraft could be back on the table in 2015, the Defence Minister said. “After the global economy shows signs of recovery, we may be able to proceed with the plan,” he noted.


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By Luca Bonsignore, Publisher