BAE Systems plans to set up MRO facility
Plan will depend on Malaysia’s decision on new combat aircraft purchases
BAE Systems Inc, the subsidiary of British defence, security and aerospace company BAE Systems Plc, is planning to set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility and a vocational training centre in Malaysia.
BAE Systems International Ltd South East Asia managing director John Brosnan said the conditional assessment would depend on the country’s decision to choose the company’s Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft for the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) multi-role combat aircraft programme.
“Both developments will be based on a joint venture with local players. It will also provide economic value to the local market about five times of the value of the aircraft purchase,” he told NST Business in an exclusive interview recently.
Brosnan said the investment’s facility would be spent over 25 years, creating more than 20,000 highskilled jobs for the locals, and including the establishment of vocational training centre for the local aerospace sector.
He said BAE Systems had been working with the RMAF for nearly five years to test its combat aircraft.
The fighter jet delivery could be made in about four years, subject to outcome of negotiations and RMAF requirements, he added. The fighter jet package could include the unit, support services including maintenance and repair as well as training modules for local technicians.
Malaysia has been considering replacements for its ageing combat fighters , Russianmade MiG-29s, which are currently not in service. However, the decision to acquire new 18 fighter jets has yet to materialise as the country is focusing on the 14th General Election, which will be held on May 9.
It was made to understand that the decision with regards to potential purchase of either Eurofighter Typhoon or France’s Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter jet could only be finalised after the election.
He said Malaysia is certainly an important defence-military market in Southeast Asia for BAE Systems, which has had an established presence in the country for more than 50 years.
BAE Systems International sales director (Typhoon and Hawk) Andy Lavin said the company provides the cheapest cost of ownership to operate the Eurofighter Typhoon.
“Currently we have over 520 units in service from eight countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
Lavin said Eurofighter Typhoon sales could reach 1,000 aircraft globally in the next five years, backed by ongoing active campaign promotion in countries including Belgium, Finland, Poland, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Malaysia and Canada.