Malaysia Buying European on Air, Anti-Air, and Naval Fronts

Jernas system(click to view full) Malaysia’s Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2005 in the city of Langkaw has produced a flurry of announcements and cooperation agreements with European firms. The country is spending EUR 20 million ($23.2 million at current exchange) on two EADS’ TRML-3D air defense radars, with delivery slated for the beginning of 2008. The contract also includes options for eight more systems, to be decided next year. The TRML 3Ds will serve as long range air defense radars, and will complement Malaysia’s order for MBDA’s short range, air-mobile Jernas (Rapier FSC) anti-air systems, which are slated to begin delivery later this year. Airbus A400M Meanwhile, DID’s earlier report re: a potential EADS Airbus A400M buy instead of their planned C-130 upgrade program has come to pass; EADS hails the offset-laden agreement as a vindication of their strong Asia-Pacific market push. In a similar vein, Thales’ sharp uptick in local business led it to open its first Malaysian Naval Service Centre in Lumut, near Malaysia’s main naval base on the west coast. The move is likely to prefigure a similar approach in other countries. Details below… EADS: Long Range Air Defense Scan TRML 3D Radar(click to […]