Russia offers to replace Malaysia’s ageing MiG-29 fighters, S-61 helicopters

The Russian MiG-35 Fulcrum-F fighter. Photo c/o Free Malaysia Today.

The Russian government has offered to replace ageing aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), with Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin’s close aid and Rostec State Corporation’s international cooperation and regional policy director Dr. Victor Kladov mentioning his discussion with Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahatir Mohammad on several matters.

Among those offered by Dr. Kladov during his meetings were to buy-back the RMAF’s fleet of operational and grounded MiG-29N/NUB Fulcrum fighters bought in the mid-1990s, and replacing them with two squadrons of the newer MiG-35 Fulcrum-F fighters. 

The MiG-35 Fulcrum-F are 4++ Generation fighter aircraft, which uses improved engines and fly-by-wire avionics, advanced computer systems and weapon systems compared to the 4th generation MiG-29 Fulcrum.

Another offer made by the Russian side was to replace the RMAF’s fleet of Sikorsky S-61 Nuri helicopters with the newer generation Mil Mi-171 helicopter.

Russia sees an advantage for the RMAF in terms of maintenance and logistics, as well as optimizing economies of scale via bulk purchases with purchasing products from Russian Helicopters, since the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Fire and Rescue Department are also expected to order other Russian Helicopters  products including the Ansat, the Mil Mi-8/17, and the Kamov Ka-32A11DC helicopters.


[1] New Straits Times
[2] Free Malaysia Today