KLUANG – The Defence Ministry (Mindef) is currently in the final process of issuing a letter of award regarding the procurement of maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and the Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aircraft System (MALE-UAS).
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the letter would be issued after all terms, clauses, and specifications are agreed upon by the government and related companies.
He also said that the Finance Ministry had finalised the tenders for both procurements.
“For the procurement of two MPAs, the government has agreed to an offer by the Leonardo company while for the procurement of three MALE-UAS, the government has decided to sign a contract with Turkish Aerospace Industries,” he said in a statement today.
The minister said the assets were procured through financial planning under the 12th Malaysia Plan given that the allocation under the annual budget was limited and insufficient, especially for the procurement of strategic assets.
“The procurement of all these assets has been carried out through international open tender to ensure its transparency,” he said.
Hishammuddin also said that in order to improve the army’s capabilities, Mindef would procure 136 Type A 4WDs as well as Type B vehicles worth a total of RM2.049 billion.
On the maintenance of existing armed forces assets, Hishammuddin said one of the main focuses is the maintenance of the F/A-18D aircraft.
“For this purpose, approximately RM2.4 billion has been allocated to improve the capability of the F/A-18D aircraft system as well as the F/A-18D Sustainment Programme.
“The maintenance of this F/A-18D aircraft will also be carried out through close cooperation between Malaysia and the United States,” he added. – Bernama, October 9, 2022
