Malaysia's air force said Friday it expects to receive six Russian Sukhoi-30MK fighter jets in May - the first batch of 18 jets it purchased in 2003.
"It is anticipated that the first batch of Sukhoi-30MKs will be officially handed over to the Malaysian government in April 2007 in Russia, with the physical arrival in the country beginning May," the Royal Malaysian Air Force said in a statement.
The arrival of the jets - bought in a deal worth US$900 million (EUR 750 million) - is "neither premature nor delayed," it said, denying a local news report that the delivery had been pushed back by a year.
The New Straits Times newspaper reported Thursday that the jets would be delayed partly because Malaysia had asked for some Israeli components to be replaced with parts made in other countries.
The newspaper quoted unidentified sources as saying that Russian and French-made avionics had replaced an Indian-Israeli-French combination, while an Israeli electronic countermeasure system was changed to a South Africa version.
Malaysia does not have diplomatic or trade ties with Israel.
But air force public relations officer Zulkiflee Abdul Latiff said the use of Israeli components was not an issue. "The fittings are made according to RMAF requirements," he said.
The purchase of the 18 Sukhoi-30s will make Malaysia one of the largest operators of the high-tech jet in the region after India and Vietnam, officials said. Indonesia has ordered 12, while Thailand is mulling a possible purchase.

http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/...476-malaysia-0
I didn't know Su-30 is equipped with israeli components.
This is why Singapole will receive F-15E?
By the way,Russian weapons are very populor around the world.

Flanker:The Global Wing
No Flanker No victory.

Malaysia needs combat aircraft because you never know when the sultanate of Brunei is going to attack.

Has more to do with Indonesia and the Chinese incursions.

I was being sarcastic.

There are reports that Iran is going to buy Russian made Su-30 as well

Originally Posted by bulldogg

I was being sarcastic.

I have no sense of humor.
:P

Originally Posted by phoenix80

There are reports that Iran is going to buy Russian made Su-30 as well

I thought I read somewhere that they already had................hmmmmmmmmm

A little Royal Malaysian Air Force update:
Two Su-30MKMs (M52-01 and M52-02) were delivered from the Irkut Aircraft Corporation' and according to the article. Sixteen others will be delivered later this year in stages between the end of the year and mid-2008. What I though was odd about this is I read in another story about this topic is there training 72 pilots and WSO’s. Doesn’t seem a lot for just 18 aircraft? Maybe somebody with more air force knowledge then I would know if this is the norm or are they planning on placing a second or a follow up purchase? Malaysian having 40 to 50 advance Flanker’s would seem to tip the balance in that area a little. A lot depends on how well the pilots are trained and weapons they have and most important what level there maintenance is at. A couple of other places I read information this states the RMAF plan on keeping there the Mig-29s and Hornets (all D models) active. Does the RMAF have the manpower to maintain three twin engine fighters? To me at least it would make more sense to drop one type but I don't know the daily operating cost and maintenance between a Fulcrum and a Flanker. I'll willing to bet that the Hornet's have the lowest maintenance of the three types. Does anybody know or think this is possible for the RMAF to take on?




One of the stories I read on this topic

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=263981

They've got the budget and manpower to maintain them Rock. They're oil rich and don't have a soaring debt like most of the Asian nations. They bowed out of the "recovery" packages offered after '98 and they have been all the better for it. There is a very credible danger that they may have to square off against the Indonesians and they view China as a threat to their interests. I wouldn't be surprised to see further purchases but as they are a frugal nation I wouldn't be looking for them to buy the next round until they have the cash in hand for them.

Hi Bulldog
I have a few questions to ask you on your answer. I don't know what the "recovery package" is? Can I assume China's government kind of favors Indonesian or is I wrong in thinking that? If like you said there oil rich then yes I see what you mean they can afford it. I guess that makes them the only users of Flankers and Hornets in the world. Do you think there spring for more Hornets as there next aircraft purchased? I quickly look at Indonesian air force and see they have both F-16s and Flankers. I can't believe I didn't know that a country with Vipers and Flankers, wow. Have you ever read anything about mock training between the two Vipers vs. Flanker? If you know of any aircraft training between the countries of that region that I could read about please tell me and I’ll look it up. You mention China as a possible viewed threat I guess over oil drilling right? China has a lot of Flankers too and locally producing the J-11B (not sure how good they are) but have a huge need for oil, second only to the United States. So China aircraft have the range to be a little dangerous in the waters around there country I need to look up bases now on a map. I can’t just see it in my head I need base locations and ranges between them to figure out how effective air power can be. This opens a new can of worms for me I don’t know this region well and I just found another article about possible sale or request in the future for Super Hornet, I’ll post it if you want. Can you give me if you know a quick breakdown on who is friendly with who and stuff like that? Nothing in great detail it will just help me with my searches and save time. One last question I thought Vietnam was a player in the oil too drilling rights issue I seem to remember reading something about a while ago. Is Vietnam more US friendly or more Chinese friendly? Thanks for answering my post and hope I didn’t kill you with my string of endless questions. I have tons to learn and I’m all ears.