RMAF to Receive Two New Helicopters by January Next Year

 

Two from 12 EC-725 helicopter will be delivered by year end or Januari (photo : Frederic Lert) 

BUTTERWORTH (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is set to take delivery of two Euro copter EC725 helicopters from the 12 it ordered, to replace the S61-A4 Sikorsky, by year end or January, next year.

RMAF chief General Tan Sri Rodzali Daud said RMAF pilots had also been sent to France several days ago to undergo training, using the new aircraft, before they are flown back to Malaysia.

"The last aircraft is expected to be delivered in January 2014. Two of the 12 aircraft will be placed at our base in Kuantan while the simulator for the new aircraft will be placed in Subang," he told reporters after handing flight wings to 41 officers who completed their training at the RMAF Base, here, today.

From the total, 25 of them, including two from the Royal Malaysian Navy, underwent advanced flight training for the Pilatus PC-7, and 16 in basic course for helicopter.

Three officers also received excellence awards during training, namely, Lt Muhammad Osman Mohd Sidek who received the Commander''s Cup for Education and Air Training (Best Academic), Lt Ezraini Azrin Khoo Mohamad Erwan Khoo (Air Force Commander''s Cup for Best Fixed Wing Flight) and Lt M Khairul Azwan Ismail received the (Nuri Cup for Best Helicopter Flight).

In addition, Rodzali said RMAF was expected to receive four new A400M aircraft to replace the Charlie aircraft in January 2015.

He said all the new aircraft would be delivered in stages and the last aircraft was currently still being put together in France.

In another development, Rodzali said RMAF was planning to replace its training aircraft with new ones that are equipped with the latest technology.

"Indeed, we have such a plan and are waiting for an allocation. The existing ones are old and need to be replaced," he added.

(Bernama)