The LCA Tejas and other highlights of LIMA 2019

The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (popularly ‘LIMA’) takes place every two years at this attractive tourist destination on Malaysia’s western periphery. The 15th edition  took place from 26-30 March 2019 and witnessed some ‘unusual’ aircraft sales contests, including those between Indian, Russian and Korean aircraft types, all vying to meet the Malaysian requirement for new light combat aircraft.  However, according to industry observers, a string of other manufacturers also responded to the requirement of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) for this requirement, including Saab which reportedly submitted its proposal to the RMAF in late February, offering the latest Gripen C MS20 sub-variant, with access to the MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile and other improved weapon systems. The Swedish National Export Credits Guarantee Board (EKN) could well offer export credit support and be the possible solution for the budgetary issues faced by the RMAF.

Russia’s Rostec and South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) are both hoping regional exports in Southeast Asia would be a good report card for the Yak-130 and FA/T-50, respectively. The former has exported Yak-130s to Bangladesh, Myanmar and Laos. Speaking to the media during LIMA, Sergey Gorbenko, Rosoboronexport’s Chief of Directorate, said it will be proposing 18 Yak-130s for the first phase with an option for 36 more in the second phase. 

A no–so–dark  horse is the Chengdu/PAC JF-17 Thunder which although not present at LIMA 2019, was subject of official discussions during the Malaysian Prime Minister’s visit to Islamabad a week earlier.  

 There was understandable excitement in India that the Tejas LCA was being displayed and demonstrated at this international airshow. Two series production LCAs from No.45 Squadron IAF, commanded by Gp Capt Samrath Dhankhar  had been ferried from Sulur in South India via Kalaikunda in Bengal and Yangon in Myanmar to Langkawi in Malaysia. The IAF contingent comprised 27 officers, 42 airmen and 11 HAL personnel, the LCAs accompanied by a C-130J and Il-76 of the IAF for logistics and spares support.  

According to reports from Langkawi Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Bin Mohamad and Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu visited the Show and  interacted with Indian Air Force officials, sat in the cockpit of a Tejas and sought some information on this aircraft.

Other highlights at LIMA

Other flying displays at LIMA 2019 included performances of aerobatic teams from the Republic of Korea ‘Black Eagles’ and Indonesia's ‘Jupiter’ team. 

Airbus was much in evidence at the show, which included static display of an A320neo operated by Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia, the new-generation tactical airlifter A400M and a CN235 medium aircraft.  This company’s rotorcraft display consisted of H225M, a Malaysian Navy AS555SN Fennec and an AS365 Dauphin operated by the country’s maritime enforcement agency. Airbus Helicopters also showcased their H145 in emergency medical services configuration.

RMAF evaluates MPAs

In recent years, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has placed maritime surveillance as one of its top procurement priorities, even ahead of other requirements including the light combat aircraft programme, so as to protect the country’s extensive maritime frontiers, especially in the contested South China Sea and pirate-infested Malacca Straits. The RMAF is considering procurement of some four maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), according to Elfien Goentoro, the President Director of Indonesia’s PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI). Options include PT DI’s CN235 MPA variant, and two more to be converted from the RMAF’s current CN235 transport fleet. In addition, the RMAF is also looking at acquiring a CN235 converted for VIP transport.

In this context, PT DI issued the Certificate of Completion and Certificate of Competency to the RMAF for the CN235 Rewiring Programme, completing the transfer of technology to the air force. RMAF’s seven CN235s will undergo a Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP), under which the first three airframes will go through processes such as structural inspection, rewiring, and replacement of obsolescent equipment by the end of 2019, with the remainder following in 2020.

Meanwhile, Boeing is hopeful that the P-8 Poseidon’s successful campaign around Asia-Pacific will continue to spill into Southeast Asia, and has offered the P-8 Poseidon to the RMAF. 

Y-12 production in Malaysia

A joint venture between Malaysian company UA Aerospace and the investment arm of the government of Kedah, Menteri Besar Kedah Incorporated (MBI Kedah), signed a partnership contract with China’s biggest defence enterprise, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) during LIMA 2019. Foong Peng Hoong, the president of UA Aerospace, stated, “Under the new partnership contract, UA Aerospace and MBI Kedah will receive technologies and training from AVIC to facilitate the Malaysian production of two major Chinese platforms. These comprise the Y-12 light transport aircraft, developed by AVIC subsidiary Harbin Aviation Group, and the AC312 light twin-engine civilian helicopter, developed by subsidiary AVICopter. The Y-12 and AC312 have been designed by AVIC for commercial and military applications.”

Although the HAL-built Tejas LCA was one of the stars at LIMA 2019, why did the Government of India and the mandarins at its Ministry of Defence not know about the Malaysian interest in maritime patrol aircraft ?  The HAL-built Dornier 228 is arguably the world’s most cost effective maritime patrol aircraft, with well over 60 aircraft serving in this demanding (and other) role with the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. Why is it that the Malaysians are looking at the far less capable Chinese Y-12 to meet its requirements ? Ed.   

The Maritime Dimension

Amongst a number of warships of various Navy’s was the INS Kadmatt, a  Stealth Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) corvette, which was in Langkawi waters for seven days.  Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, FOC-in-C, Eastern Naval Command headed the Indian Navy Delegation.

The largest presence was that of the Americans, both the USAF and US Navy at LIMA 2019. "LIMA is a phenomenal multinational event which also showcases the military-to-military ties between the US and Malaysian armed forces," said Col Scott Humphrey, US Mission Commander with the Washington Air National Guard. 

United Colours of the RMAF

For real ? RMAF A400M, with PC-7s in unlikely formation flyover a pair of Su-30MKMs flying lower in the opposite direction at start of LIMA 1019 

The RMAF have a small batch of Boeing F/A-18 Hornets and  Sukhoi Su-30MKMs in their fighter inventory

Tejas vs Thunder vs Golden Eagle

On arrival at Langkawi : pilots of the two Tejas LCAs with other IAF officers

In his well read column, Ajai Shukla writes that many aviation experts believe Malaysia will choose between three light fighters: Tejas, the South Korean FA-SO Golden Eagle, and the Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder.   

Since the RMAF is still deciding between a supersonic LCA and a sub-sonic  lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT), three additional jet trainers are also regarded as contenders, including the  Leonardo M-346FA aircraft, the South Korean T-50 Golden Eagle and the Russian Yakovlev Yak-130. 

In January 2019, Malaysia issued requests for information (RFI) under its LCA/LIFT procurement programme, expressing interest in acquiring an initial 12 fighters by 2021-22, with an option for 24 more in the future.   This would be under a its ‘Capability SS’ modernisation programme, which envisages adding a single-engine, supersonic fighter to the current RMAF fleet, which consists mainly of twin-engined fighters, including the Boeing F/A-18D Hornet and the Russian Sukhoi-301V1KM and MiG-29.

The Government of Malaysia has projected that the procurement would cost some $300 million, or $25 million per aircraft. That is the estimated cost of the JF-17 Thunder, with the Tejas and the Golden Eagle priced slightly higher at about $30 million each. However, there are apprehensions over the JF-17's engine, the Russian Klimov RD-33, which requires heavy maintenance and is rather ‘smoky’ which the RMAF is well aware of since its MiG-29s have the same engine. 

In contrast, the Tejas and the Golden Eagle both use the highly reliable General Electric F-404 engine, which also powers the RMAF's F/A-18s. In design and materials, the Tejas is the most advanced of the three light fighters, having an unstable design and a quadruplex fly-by-wire system controlled through a sophisticated mission computer. While the JF-17 and FA-50 are mostly metallic, the Tejas's fuselage and wings feature advanced composite materials, which reduces the aircraft's weight and allows it to carry more weapons and fuel. 

However, the Tejas's big drawback is the IAF’'s reluctance to back it. In contrast, the JF-17 and FA-50 are strongly backed by the Pakistani and Korean air forces, respectively. The PAF already flies six squadrons of JF-17s.  "It would be a travesty if the Malaysian Air Force likes the Tejas, but decides against it because it sees IAF reluctance to back the fighter. The sooner the IAF throws its weight behind the Tejas, the earlier it will crack the international market, where there is already drawing significant interest," said strategic affairs expert Bharat Karnad.