HAL signs MoU with RMAF, to open an office in Kuala Lumpur
India’s public sector company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), expected to bag the contract of exporting 18 indigenously designed and manufactured Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to Malaysia, will now set up an office in Kuala Lumpur. The public sector HAL is manufacturing Tejas LCA is now engaged in bagging contracts with Argentina, Australia, Egypt, USA, Indonesia, and the Philippines have also shown interest in procuring the Tejas. If the contract goes through with Malaysia, it will be the first big export order of the Tejas LCA, showcasing India’s capability in manufacturing state-of-the-art fighter jets and related equipment.
The HAL had submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Malaysia in October 2021 for the supply of 18 FLIT LCAs (Tejas) against a global tender issued by the Malaysian Air Force. The final winner of the tender is expected to be declared soon by Malaysian authorities. LCA Tejas stands a fair chance of selection in the bid as it meets all the parameters sought by RMAF.
Giving details of setting up an office in Kuala Lumpur, the HAL said on Thursday it inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)in this regard in Bengaluru. The MOU was signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar. The MoU was signed by Ravi K, General Manager, LCA, HAL, and Major (R) Mohd Husairi Bin Mat Zain of Forte Drus, the official representative of HAL in Malaysia. High Commissioner of India in Malaysia B N Reddy, Sanjay Jaju, Additional Secretary (Defence Production), and others was present on the occasion.
The office in Malaysia will help HAL in tapping the new business opportunities for Fighter Lead-in Trainer (FLIT) LCA (Tejas) and other requirements of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) like Su-30 MKM and Hawk upgrades. It will reinforce the commitment of India to supporting the Malaysian Defence Forces and industry for sustainable aerospace and defence landscape in Malaysia.
Further, being one of the largest producers of Russian-origin Su-30 aircraft, the HAL has the capabilities to extend the required support to RMAF for the Su-30 MKM fleet which is facing low serviceability issues due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis.
The HAL can support RMAF in upgrading their Hawk fleet as well. Other HAL platforms like HTT-40, Do-228, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) have the potential to be inducted by RMAF in the future. Considering the above factors, HAL’s office in Kuala Lumpur will take up the market promotion of HAL’s range of products and services not only in Malaysia but in the entire South East Asia.
The office will also contribute to increasing the serviceability of existing platforms being operated by RMAF and for neighboring Air Forces in the region. It will reinforce the commitment of India to supporting the Malaysian Defence Forces and industry for sustainable aerospace and defence landscape in Malaysia, the HAL said. The HAL is now manufacturing 83 Tejas jets for the IAF after it was awarded the contract by the Indian government last year. The order is worth over Rs.47,000 crores. The delivery will start next year.
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I don’t think M’sia will ever buy Indian. Its an Islamic thing.Final negotiations going on to buy Turkish in a deal to set up a manufacturing plant by Turkish Aerospace Industries, in a deal to buy the latest TAI TF-X fighters.