LImA 2017 3rd Day : Lima 2017: Malaysia officially receives its latest RMAF A400M aircraft

Wednesday, 22 March 2017 

LANGKAWI: The fourth and final Airbus A400M military aircraft was officially delivered to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) by Airbus Wednesday.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein took delivery of the A400M from Head of Military, Airbus Defence and Space Fernando Alonso on the sideline of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace 2017 (Lima 2017) exhibition here.

Also present at the ceremony was Air Force chief Jen Datuk Seri Affendi Buang.

According to Affendi, the A400M fleet ensures that the RMAF is well placed to respond to, and undertake a wide range of military and humanitarian operations within Malaysia and in the Asean region.

"We are very proud to take this delivery of our fourth A400M, which is equipped with the latest tactical capabilities," he said.

The first RMAF's A400M was delivered to Malaysia in 2015 and had performed a special fly-past at the opening ceremony of LIMA'15.

LIMA '17 is the 14th edition since its inauguration in 1991.

It has gathered 520 companies from 35 countries representing more than 55 per cent of the world's top 100 maritime and aerospace companies.

More than 300 defence and security delegations, 55 visiting warships and boats, and 106 aircraft were at the event. - Bernama

Malaysian Fourth A400 Handed Over At LIMA 2017

Malaysian Minister of Defence took the official delivery of Royal Malaysian Air Force’s fourth Airbus A400M on the second day of Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2017.

Hishammuddin Onn, Minister of Defence of Malaysia, took delivery of the fourth Airbus A400M military transport aircraft today on behalf of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Airbus said in a statement Wednesday.

Malaysia is the A400M’s first export customer outside of the original European launch nations. Malaysian deputy Defense Minister DS Johari Baharom signed an acceptance document marking the clearance to embark the ferry flight to Subang on March 12. M54-04 was supposed to be delivered in late 2016 but it was delayed following problems affecting the A400M program.

The RMAF previously received its first of four A400M military transport aircraft on March 17, 2015 during the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace (LIMA) 2015. The second one on January 13, last year. The third and fourth aircraft were to arrive in April and November to be operated by RMAF's 22 Squadron.

Fernando Alonso, Head of Military Aircraft, Airbus Defence and Space, gave a plaque to the Minister to symbolize the official handover of the aircraft.

“With this delivery, the RMAF now has a fleet of four aircraft, and can start to fully benefit from the A400M’s unique capabilities. We look forward to seeing the aircraft in action in the region, and will provide our full support as the RMAF expands its use of the A400M,” said Fernando Alonso.

The occasion also saw the RMAF’s No 22 Squadron commemorate the completion of 2,000 flight hours on the A400M. To mark this milestone, Fernando Alonso presented a plaque to the Chief of Air Force and the Commanding Officer of No 22 Squadron, Colonel Masro Kaliwon RMAF.

Three RMAF A400Ms performed a special fly-past at opening ceremony of LIMA 2017. One 

RMAF A400M is on static display throughout the show from March 21-25, 2017.