Malaysia Puts C-130 Upgrades on Hold, Considers A400M
Airbus A400M
The Malaysian government has put its “high-priority” C-130 Hercules modernization program on hold, following intense lobbying by France to consider the purchase of new Airbus A400M military transports instead.
Malaysian government officials admitted that, due to pressure from some segments of the Royal Malaysian Air Force to acquire eight new Airbus A400Ms from France to meet long-term requirements (at est. $90-100 million each), the government decided at the last minute to put the C-130 upgrade program on hold. A contract for the C-130 upgrade program was to have been awarded in April 2005.
Additional Readings & Sources
- Aviation Today – Airbus A400M
- Canadian American Strategic Review – Airlifter Comparisons – Airbus Military A400M
