Irkut closes in on Yak-130 opportunities in Southeast Asia
Russian aerospace group Irkut has outlined additional export opportunities in Southeast Asia for its Yakovlev Yak-130 'Mitten' advanced jet trainer/light-attack aircraft.
Speaking at a media briefing at the LIMA 2019 exhibition in Langkawi on 27 March, Irkut officials confirmed that the aircraft is positioned to bid for Malaysia's requirement to procure a light combat aircraft (LCA) or a fighter lead-in trainer (FLIT). Officials also indicated a possible opportunity in Vietnam.
Irkut said it has recently responded to the Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF's) request for information in support of the LCA/FLIT procurement, which officials said features 18 initial aircraft and 36 in total. Officials said Irkut is preparing a bid for the tender but did not elaborate.
Irkut also confirmed that regional exports of the Yak-130 include sales to Bangladesh, Laos, and Myanmar. Officials did not provide a breakdown of sales, only stating that each regional country had ordered "more than 10 aircraft each". Irkut said that in total it has sold more than 160 Yak-130s to six countries. Other operators include Algeria, Belarus,and Russia.
According to Jane's All the World's Aircraft , Myanmar has ordered 12 Yak-130 aircraft, all of which were scheduled for delivery by the end of 2018. Laos received an initial four Yak-130s in late 2018 after having ordered the aircraft one year earlier. The number of aircraft purchased by Laos has not been confirmed but the country has reportedly ordered 10 in a deal worth about USD300 million including spares, air-launched munitions, ground equipment, and training.
Bangladesh has confirmed its delivery of 16 Yak-130s, the last of which was handed over in 2016.
Irkut also identified Vietnam as another possible customer. "We are working with our friends in Vietnam, which is a long-term partner of Russia," said an Irkut official.
Japan, Malaysia deepen defence R&D ties
Japan and Malaysia are negotiating a project to jointly undertake research and development (R&D) in technologies to support maritime surveillance and disaster relief, an official from the Japanese Ministry of Defense’s (MoD’s) Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has told Jane’s.
Tomohiro Sasaki, deputy director of ATLA’s equipment policy division, said at the LIMA 2019 exhibition in Langkawi on 26 March that the joint project is intended to support both government and industry-level co-operation between Japan and Malaysia, extending previously signed bilateral defence agreements.
Sasaki said the collaborative programme could lead to Japanese export opportunities, although the aim of the project is to co-develop technologies that would boost Malaysia’s stated intention to enhance capabilities to secure offshore assets and provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Pratt & Whitney, Airod sign engine support deal
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC), a United Technologies company, and Malaysian aerospace firm Airod signed an agreement on 27 March to support the P&WC PT6A-25C engines that power the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF’s) fleet of Pilatus PC-7 Mk II trainer aircraft.
Under the memorandum of understanding (MOU), which was signed at the 2019 LIMA exhibition in Langkawi, the two companies will collaborate on providing “performance-based support and maintenance” for the engine.
Officials confirmed to Jane’s that while Airod has previously offered maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) support for the engines, the new agreement covers additional engines and includes options for ‘pay per hour’ for MRO and logistics support.
27 March 2019
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