KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is diligently pursuing the acquisition of three major assets to bolster its maritime surveillance capabilities.
Newly-appointed RMAF chief General Datuk Seri Ackbal Abdul Samad said the assets comprised unmanned aircraft systems, maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and ground-based radars.
“These are vital elements to shore up the air force which needs such requirements to meet the challenges ahead.
“We are in the process of procuring the assets in due course under our ‘Capability Development 2055’ or ‘CAP 55’ programme (transformation plan on new procurement, enhancement and upgrading of assets by the year 2055),” he said in his maiden media briefing as the 19th RMAF chief at the RMAF Subang base near here.
Ackbal, who turns 58 on Sept 4, succeeded General Tan Sri Affendi Buang, who was appointed the new armed forces chief on Thursday.
The RMAF was reportedly seeking up to four MPAs, six medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and several ground-based radars.
Among the MPAs the RMAF was believed to be considering were France’s Airbus C-295, the ATR 72 from Italy’s Leonardo, the United States’ Boeing P-8A Poseidon, Japan’s Kawasaki P-1 and CN-235 from Indonesian Aerospace.
The MALE UAV contenders appeared to be from China’s Wing Loong II from AVIC, the US’ General Atomics MQ-9 Guardian, Turkish Aerospace’s Anka and Falco from Leonardo.
It was also reported that the US would be furnishing Malaysia with 12 ScanEagle drones by 2022 through a maritime security initiative to boost the country’s reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities.
It is learnt that the RMAF was also trying to procure Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), multi-role combat aircraft and ground-based missiles to replace its ageing assets.
These would ensure it stays relevant by shaping its war-fighting capabilities to deter and contain threats.
Earlier, Affendi took the salute as the outgoing RMAF chief during a parade in his honour.
He later presented Ackbal, who was previously RMAF deputy chief, with the rank of lieutenant-general, his promotional “four-star” rank and the baton of command.
Affendi said the appointment of Ackbal and the impending appointment of RMAF education and training commander Lieutenant-General Datuk Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan were most appropriate for the country’s air force, given their experience and service records.
Affendi, along with Ackbal and Asghar, are trained jet fighter pilots.