Page 13 - DSA 2024 - DAY 3 | DAILY NEWS

Spotlight on H225M as of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF)
fleet. Burhanudin Noordin Ali, Airbus Chief
Malaysian PM Visits Airbus Representative for Malaysia, was also
present.
In March this year, RMAF’s H225M fleet,
Helicopters Booth known locally as EC725 Caracal, crossed a
major landmark by achieving 30,000 flight
hours – one of the highest in Asia-Pacific.
The service’s 12-strong H225M fleet has
been in service since 2012, with the heli-
copters being used for various exercises
and humanitarian missions, including flood
rescue and lifesaving operations.

Airbus Helicopters has an ironclad grip on
the Malaysian market, having delivered
about 50% of the 190 helicopters currently in
service throughout the country. The 11-met-
ric-tonne H225M helicopter has proven to
be popular across regions with 10 military
forces worldwide using more than 170 of
the type. Over 40 H225M helicopters are
currently on order. Apart from Malaysia, the
company has three other military customers
- Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand - in the
Asia Pacific region.
The H225M is capable of operating both
As far as high-profile visits go, this one was country’s Minister of Home Affairs Datuk from ships and land, even in icing condi-
right up there on the list. Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Vincent tions. It has an all-weather capability sup-
Dubrule, Head of Asia Pacific at Airbus ported by night vision goggle compatibility.
After speaking at the opening ceremony of Helicopters, gave the two dignitaries a The helicopter, which is powered by two
the ongoing show, Malaysia’s Prime Minister detailed presentation about the merits of Makila 2A1 turboshaft engines, has a 700
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stopped by the the combat-proven multi-role H225M he- nautical mile range can be extended with air-
Airbus Helicopters booth, along with the licopter, which is one of the mainstays to-air or hover in-flight refuelling capabilities.

Malaysia to Get Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods

Malaysia will buy 10 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper proposed sale will support the foreign policy future operational requirements.
Advanced Targeting Pods from the United goals and national security objectives of
States. The proposed sale will improve the United States by improving the security
Malaysia’s capability to meet current and of a key partner that is a force for political According to the official, Malaysia will have
future threats by modernising its current stability and economic progress in the Indo- no difficulty absorbing this equipment into
F/A-18D platform with a common targeting Pacific region. This proposed sale will also its armed forces. There are no known offset
pod. mitigate future obsolescence concerns and agreements proposed in connection with
allow the Royal Malaysian Air Force to meet this potential sale, the official informed.
The U.S State Department has made a de-
termination approving the possible Foreign
Military Sale at an estimated cost of US$80
million. The principal contractors will be
Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

The Defence Security Cooperation Agency
delivered the required certification notifying
Congress of this possible sale on May 6.
The Government of Malaysia had requested
to buy the AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced
Targeting Pods along with technical data
and publications; personnel training; soft-
ware and training equipment.

According to a U.S. government official, the

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