Kuala Lumpur, May 29: Malaysia has decided to purchase 17 Aermacchi jet fighters and trainer aircraft from the New Zealand Air Force, Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak has said. The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) was short of trainers and the purchase of the Italian-made jet trainers from New Zealand Air Force would solve the problem, Razak said on Tuesday.
"The project is being looked into by the finance ministry. We see an opportunity to acquire more trainers," he told newspersons here. Razak said the Aermacchi aircraft used by the New Zealand Air Force was similar to eight of the 12 aircraft, which the RMAF bought from Italy in 1983.
The decision to buy the 17 Aermacchi planes was to train more combat pilots for Malaysia's fleet of jet fighters such as SU-30MKM and mig-29, both Russian made, FA 18D Hornet and Hawks.
He said existing RMAF bases nationwide would be expanded and modernised to accommodate its large fleet of jet fighters. "We will not build new bases because we have enough," he said.
New Zealand recently offered the 17 Aermacchi MB-339 to Malaysia after its Parliament decided to rely on Australia to protect its air space and to downsize its air defence capability. Bureau Report