Is Malaysia Ready to Buy Rafale Fighters?

[Zarvan]

Planform of Dassault Rafale B-10 (Image: Ronnie Macdonald via Wikimedia Commons)

Sale of Dassault’s Rafale fighter aircraft to Malaysia could be on agenda during the French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian’s visit to Kuala Lumpur this weekend.

The French media has reported that Le Drian is expected to visit the South East Asian nation on August 30. In the past, sudden visits by the French defence minister have resulted in contracts signing as in the case of Egypt and Qatar.

Dassault had offered a 10 year financial package to Malaysia from a French bank guaranteed by the government of France for procurement of its Rafale fighter jet at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition earlier this year.

Dassault Chief Executive Officer Eric Trappier had expressed willingness to have a long term business deal in Malaysia. He had said that Dassault is looking at different types of industrial packages that includes final assembly line of aircraft, production of some parts, development, maintenance and support to local industries if they were willing to collaborate with them.

"We believe we can succeed in Malaysia. We have a good aircraft to offer and as far as I am concerned, good government-to-government relations as well," Trappier had said during the exhibition.

Malaysia is eyeing to replace its fleet of Russian MiG-29 fighters. Boeing's F/A-18, Saab's Gripen and the Eurofighter Typhoon are the other alternatives that Malaysia may eye.

With fiscal troubles due to low oil and commodity prices, Malaysia might delay its decision to buy fighter jets, local reports said. However a French government financial package, along the lines of what sealed the deal with Egypt might tempt Kuala Lumpur which needs new aircraft to serve as deterrence against Chinese aggressive maneuvers in the South China Sea.

Is Malaysia Ready to Buy Rafale Fighters?

 

[Nike]

Not, not yet. Malaysia is in condition when they can't afford such a move which need a huge political will from their lawmaker, at time when their people no longer trust their leader.

 

[70U63]

Too many incompetent politician and naive citizen in the country.
There are a lot of military hardware need to be upgraded, while we don't have a lot of money, but the politicians will always want a cut in almost every deal...
That's why no one give a shxt about Chinese coast guard parking nearby as everyone is enjoying internal political festival.

Not, not yet. Malaysia is in condition when they can't afford such a move which need a huge political will from their lawmaker, at time when their people no longer trust their leader.