Page 20 - ADT APRIL 2022 Online Magazine

Target is nearly 30 years old and in urgent need of replacement, in view [ AIR ]

of the proliferation of advanced manned and unmanned aircraft
in the region. The RMAF acquired a total of 18 Hawk 208s (single
seat) and 10 Hawk 108 (twin-seat) aircraft manufactured by BAE
Systems, to meet its requirements for a light attack aircraft.
in Sight The RMAF inducted the aircraft into three squadrons (No. 6, No. 9

and No.15) at the rate of two aircraft each month, with first deliveries
in April 1994. “The Hawk is still capable of delivering and remaining
relevant. We are planning to use it for 10 more years and there will
be upgrades,” then RMAF Chief General Tan Sri Affendi Buang,
had said at the 2019 LIMA Airshow, indicating that the aircraft will
remain in service, till the end of the decade.
THE RMAF IS CONSIDERING A
RANGE OF OPTIONS TO MEET Tejas LCA Enters Fray
ITS LIGHT ATTACK AND TRAINING India’s state-owned airframer, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
REQUIREMENTS (HAL) again made a strong case for the indigenously developed
Tejas light fighter at DSA 2022. A high-level Indian delegation met
with Malaysian authorities on the offer of the ‘Tejas’ (Radiance in
Atul Chandra Sanskrit) Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). HAL had brought two Tejas
aircraft (LA 5009 & LA 5010) belonging to the IAF’s No.45 Squadron
‘Flying Daggers’ to the 2019 LIMA Airshow. Tejas aircraft operating
The competition is heating up for Malaysia’s by the Indian Air Force (IAF) were also part of the flying display
requirement to acquire a new lead-in trainer/ at the Singapore Airshow. In-service Tejas aircraft with the IAF,
light combat aircraft (FLIT-LCA) to replace its have demonstrated high serviceability rates and precision attack
Bae Systems Hawk Mk 108 and Mk208 fighters capability. At the DSA exhibition, HAL showcased new munitions
and Aermacchi MB-339 trainer aircraft. The for use on Tejas, such as the American Joint Direct Attack Munition
Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is expected (JDAM) and French Hammer AASM. The version of the light fighter
to acquire 18 aircraft, once a procurement deci- that will be offered for export will be the Tejas Mk1A, for which the
sion is made. IAF has placed orders for 83 aircraft (73 single seat & 10 twin seat).
The Tejas Mk1A will be equipped with ASRAAM missiles, indig-
The RMAF’s MB-339s which entered service enously developed ASTRA BVRAAMs, BrahMos-NG supersonic
in 2009 have been grounded since 2018 and cruise missiles (two per aircraft), a pod mounted Self Protection
the fleet of seven aircraft has not flown since Jammer (SPJ) and In-Flight Refuelling. The Tejas also has ‘Hot
then. The trainer type was originally to have Refuelling’ capability, where the aircraft can be refuelled with the
been retired by 2028. The RMAF’s Hawk fleet engines running. This allows the sortie generation rate to be dra-

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