ALOR STAR: The Leonardo AW149 helicopter, which has been selected to replace the Sikorsky S-61 or Nuri helicopter by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), will be equipped with military-grade specifications to meet operational needs.
RMAF Chief General Tan Sri Asghar Khan Goriman Khan said the military specifications for the helicopters were entirely different from those designed for civilian use.
He said the helicopter was well-suited for three types of operations, namely search-and-rescue (SAR), combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) and utility missions.
"In this regard, we have outlined specifications from a certain baseline up to a higher standard to execute these tasks. Upon assessment, the military-spec Leonardo AW149 was found to meet the necessary criteria.
"If we opted for a different helicopter, we might need to spend more. Moreover, the operational costs of the Leonardo AW149 could be lower than other types of helicopters.
"Proper considerations have been made in this matter, and on our side, the RMAF has no issue with it. This helicopter meets the specifications we set and is capable of performing the tasks mentioned," he said during a press conference today.
Recently, former deputy defence minister Datuk Seri Ikhmal Hisham Abdul Aziz questioned the choice of the Leonardo AW149 to replace the Nuri, claiming that the helicopter was more suited for civilian use, such as transport to oil rigs, rather than combat.
The Tanah Merah member of parliament claimed that the H225M (EC725 Caracal) helicopter had better capabilities compared with the Leonardo AW149 and should be prioritised if acquiring the United States-made Sikorsky UH60 Black Hawk proved difficult.
Meanwhile, Asghar said the Leonardo AW149 would be acquired through a lease-purchase agreement, with the RMAF not required to handle maintenance.
"If the lease-purchase contract is signed for a 15-year period, we will own the asset after that term. We will not be responsible for its maintenance, instead, the contractor will handle it.
"At the same time, the RMAF will send crew members for training on the helicopter. This means that if the helicopter needs to be deployed elsewhere, we can perform maintenance without the presence of the contractor," he added.
Commenting further, Asghar said the RMAF had submitted a request for the government to procure a medium-range air defence system (MERAD) in the Budget 2025.
"We submit requests every year, planning the procurements or proposals we aim to implement for the next budget.
"Insyaallah, the next step is to acquire medium-range air defence, so that's the plan," he added.