Finance
The Tejas light combat aircraft from India has emerged as the top choice for Malaysia as the Southeast Asian nation looks to replace its ageing fleet of fighter jets, and the two sides are currently negotiating to move the procurement process forward.
Malaysia has narrowed its focus on the Indian aircraft despite stiff competition from China’s JF-17 jet, South Korea’s FA-50, Russia’s Mig-35, and the Yak-130 plane, according to R. Madhavan, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
As part of the deal, India has offered to establish an MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facility in Malaysia for its Russian-origin Su-30 fighter fleet, which is having difficulty obtaining spares from Russia due to Western sanctions against Moscow.
“I am very confident,” Mr. Madhavan said when asked if the mega-deal would be completed soon.
The state-run aerospace behemoth’s top executive stated that if the deal is completed, it will send a “very good signal” to other prospective buyers of the aircraft and increase its overall export potential.
“It (negotiation) is almost in the final stages. We are the only country which is offering them the support for their Su-30 aircraft as well as other than Russia, we are the only one who can support them to the extent that they require for that fleet,” Mr. Madhavan said.
The Chinese JF-17 was cheaper, but it couldn’t compete with the technical parameters of the Tejas Mk-IA variant and India’s offer of Su-30 fleet maintenance.
A delegation of high-ranking officials and experts is scheduled to visit India soon to continue the procurement process.
Mr. Madhavan stated that the Tejas is a far superior aircraft to the JF-17 and FA-50, and that the choice of the Indian aircraft would give Malaysia the option to upgrade its fleet in the future.
HAL’s Tejas is a single-engine, highly agile multi-role supersonic fighter capable of operating in high-threat air environments.
The defence ministry signed a 48,000 crore deal with HAL in February last year for the procurement of 83 Tejas fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
India has begun work on the Tejas MK 2 as well as a $5 billion project to develop a fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
“We actually are the only one who covered everything that they require and we met their budget requirements as well,” Mr. Madhavan said.
“Nobody will offer them upgrades so fast as we would offer. They will have an alternative available in Tejas Mark 2 and they can even think of AMCA,” the HAL chief added.
The number of aircraft Malaysia is considering purchasing is not immediately clear. He stated that HAL will continue to provide the same level of service to Malaysia as it has to the Indian Air Force.
When asked if the Malaysian contract would affect the supply of Tejas jets to the IAF, Mr. Madhavan said production would be ramped up depending on demand.
According to the plan, HAL will begin delivering the jets (Mk-IA variant) to the IAF in 2025, with all 83 jets required to be delivered by 2030.
Mr. Madhavan stated that if the deal with Malaysia is completed, it will signal the aircraft’s acceptability, resulting in the opening up of many other options.
“We now have a very good platform. It is the best in this category,” he said.
Source:OP
