KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy marked an important milestone when its Fennec helicopter fleet recorded an unblemished 20,000 flying hours over the past 18 years.
Airbus Helicopters honoured the RMN to celebrate their excellent flight operations record for the AS555SN Fennec fleet at a ceremony during the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2022 and National Security Conference Asia (NATSEC) 2022 being held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) in Dutamas.
Airbus Asia Pacific sales head Fabrice Rochereau presented the award to RMN Air Wing commander First Admiral Ahmad Shafirudin Abu Bakar to commemorate its achievement.
Present were Airbus Helicopters Malaysia managing director Gerard Pau and RMN Air Wings Squadron 502 commanding officer Commander Fairul Mohd Shukor.
Shafirudin said the award was in recognition of the RMNs good track record in operating and maintaining the Fennec fleet.
We are proud of the capabilities of our flight and ground crews in safely and securely handling the helicopters. We wish to continue doing so, he said.
He added that the RMN believed in developing its human resources so they were adequately equipped with knowledge, technical skills and competency.
At the same time, the RMN also wanted to retain a good maintenance culture for its assets, Shafirudin said.
RMNs fleet of six AS555SN helicopters have been in service since 2004.
The two-tonne multirole helicopters are primarily deployed for lead-in training and to support naval flying operations, he said.
The RMNs Fennecs are reportedly equipped with the Telephonics 1500 radar and forward-looking infra-red LEO II for surveillance tasks.
It can also be equipped with rocket launchers for light attack missions.
On the Air Wings future plans, Shafirudin said they were looking at acquiring anti-submarine warfare helicopters to bolster its strike capabilities.
Apart from the 502nd Squadron, the RMNs Air Wing also consists of the 501st Squadron comprising six Super Lynx Mk100 helicopters.
The main role of this squadron is to fulfil the anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare operations, he said.
The Super Lynx can be equipped with A244-S torpedoes for anti-submarine and Sea Skua missiles for anti-surface missions.
The 503rd Squadron operates three Leonardo AW139 maritime operation helicopters, while the 601st Squadron is equipped with the ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance duties.
In service since 2004, the 502nd Squadron participated in hundreds of operations involving intra-RMN, inter services, bilateral and multilateral exercises.
It also was involved in Operation Fajar, which was carried out in the Gulf of Eden to secure trading ship routes, Shafirudin said.
Among other successes, he added, the Fennec had participated in defeating Somali pirates who attempted to rob the Indian ship MV Abul Kalam Azad.
In January 2011, the MV Bunga Laurel chemical tanker that was hijacked by Somali pirates was successfully over-powered by RMN special forces.
An RMN Fennec took off from its auxiliary ship MV Bunga Mas Lima to provide the ground troops with fire support.