MARK-II的觀點﹐我也覺的非常有趣。在東南亞諸國當中﹐無可否認新加坡在制空權和制海權上擁有較高的優勢。以 ...
edwardtan_24 发表于 26-7-2011 12:15 AM
Typhoon on our radar despite hefty price tag
2011/07/25
By Syed Umar Ariff
news@nst.com.my
The Typhoon is said to be a highly agile, air-superiority multirole aircraft, making it among the best frontline combat aircraft available. — AP picture
KOTA TINGGI:
The Defence Ministry has set up an evaluation team to look into the possibility of purchasing the Eurofighter Typhoon, the first choice on the list, as the third batch of multirole combat aircraft for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the hefty price of the aircraft was a concern.
The development and production cost alone is estimated to be a whopping RM600 million per unit. Ahmad Zahid said the purchase, if approved, could affect the government's funding for other defence development programmes.
The aircraft, built by a consortium of three companies, EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems, through holding company Eurofighter GmbH, is being used by the air forces of Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy, among others.
"The aircraft (Typhoon) is the best multirole aircraft there is. However, the hefty price tag is something of a concern, since the government is also focusing its allocations on other (defence) development programmes.
"We are looking into whether a deal, or packages in technology and skills training, can be included (in the purchase of the Typhoon). We want a deal that benefits us the most," he said yesterday at the Kota Tinggi Umno Carnival here.
The Typhoon is said to be highly agile and is tasked primarily in the air-superiority role with an additional air-to-ground capability. This flexibility gives the Typhoon a "swingrole" capability and makes it among the best frontline combat aircraft available.
It was reported that the RMAF required 18 new fighters to replace its existing assets.
It is learnt that more than 700 Typhoons are under contract and 280 have been delivered.
Ahmad Zahid said the government was also considering other multirole aircraft, such as those already in its inventory, namely the Sukhoi Su-30 MKM. Another contender is Sweden's JAS-39 Gripen.
On whether the move to study the purchase of new MRCA would serve as "cannon fodder" for the opposition, Ahmad Zahid said it was the government's responsibility to continue improving the nation's defence.
He sarcastically "congratulated" pro-opposition bloggers in particular for their detailed "background work" on the country's military purchases.
"Well done for the efforts to dig up details of the purchases. Maybe they want our defence to remain stagnant."
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