Malaysians to fully man Sukhois

Asia One Online ^ | 4/19/2010 | Asia One Online

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

By September, operations at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base here are expected to be an all-Malaysian affair.

Gone will be the 50-odd Russian and Indian technical crew, engineering officers and instructor pilots following the end of their two-year service tenure.

RMAF chief Gen Datuk Seri Rodzali Daud said the departure of the expatriates would pose a strong challenge to the local airmen and women to stand on their own and operate the Sukhoi SU-30MKM flanker multi-role combat aircraft.

"We are confident (that we can) run the base and flight operations by ourselves, by which time there will be proper 'life support' maintenance and support facilities available," he said following a visit there by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on April 10.

During the visit, Zahid went on a demonstration flight on the Flanker, piloted by 11th Squadron executive officer Lt Col Muhamad Norazlan "Giro" Aris.

It is learnt that the RMAF will still utilise the services of 300-odd staff from local maintenance company ATSC Sdn Bhd to support a similar strength of its own crew to continue running the base.

The New Straits Times understands that two dozen RMAF pilots will by then be fully trained to fly the SU-30MKM.

"These pioneer RMAF crew members will train younger batches to replace them," said Rodzali. This will pose a stiff test for RMAF base commander Col Mohd Faudzi Ahmad, 11th Squadron commanding officer Col Suri Daud and their team.

While the Indians provided flight instructors, engineering officers, technical experts and administrative staff here, the Russians provided their test pilots and engineers to verify, certify and standardise the Flanker.

The base here is now Malaysia's foremost jet-fighter facility.