Article Posted on : - Dec 02, 2009

The MiG-29N fighter of Royal Malaysian Air Force.

LANGKAWI (BNS): The MiG-29N fighter aircraft which have enthralled audience at the ongoing Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition ’09 would bid adieu to the Royal Malaysian Air Force in 2010.

Malaysia plans to phase out the MiG-29N fleet and replace them with Multi Role Combat Aircraft.

“The MIG-29N jets will be phased out in the RMAF inventory end of next year. Therefore, this year's LIMA could be the last airshow,” RMAF chief General Datuk Seri Rodzali Daud was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

Three MiG-29N fighters are taking part in LIMA 2009.

The Russian-made fourth generation combat aircraft were inducted in the Malaysian air force in 1995. While 10 of them would retire in January, the remaining six would be phased out by the end of 2010.

Meanwhile, British defence major BAE Systems has evinced interest in the MRCA deal which would replace the MiG-29Ns. The company has offered its Typhoon fighter aircraft to replace the MiG-29Ns.

“We certainly have an interest in the MiG-29N replacement programme. We would expect that the Malaysian air force would consider every aircraft available in the market,” BAE’s Regional Director-Business Development, Dave Potter, was quoted as saying by Bernama.

The official asserted that the Typhoon is a suitable aircraft to replace the MiG-29N fighters due to its multi-role combat ability. “Once the formal requirements are set, we can obviously see if the Typhoon meets the needs of the RMAF,” Potter said.