Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad may decide on today whether or not to buy Russian rather than US-made aircraft for the Malaysian air force. Mahathir arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, and today Kremlin officials have arranged for him to watch a special demonstration flight of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI multipurpose fighter aircraft.
A Kremlin source told Asia Times Online that "the fact that the prime minister is accompanied by Malaysia's defense minister is a sign of the growing interest of Malaysia in buying the Russian warplane".
"The negotiations have been going on for a long time now," the source added. "Malaysia is close to choosing a Russian aircraft."
Mahathir had been scheduled to discuss the defense deal during a previously planned visit to Moscow on Sept 11.
However, that was postponed after the terrorist attacks in the United States. According to the Kremlin source, it was then decided to despatch the Su-30MKI for a demonstration flight at Malaysia's Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition last October.
Pressure from Washington
After several years of negotiations in the early 1990s, which saw intense pressure from Washington for Malaysia to buy the F-18 Hornet, Mahathir split his air force acquisition into two, buying 18 Mikoyan MiG-29s, and an equal number of Hornets. The Malaysian air force has been considering a follow-on order, and the Boeing-built F-18, in a modified form, is again competing against the Russians.
Government officials in Moscow told Asia Times Online that the Su-30MKI flight in Malaysia last year was its first outside Russia. China's air force has contracted to buy the Su-30MKK, which is equipped with Russian avionics.
The model to be offered to Malaysia is equipped with Israeli and French avionics, and is more suited to English-speaking pilots.
This version of the aircraft has been licensed for manufacture and use in India.
Sukhoi has a RM5.7 billion to RM6.8 billion deal to supply 40 Su-30MK to India.
The cost of one Su-30MKK fighter jet is estimated at RM133 million to RM140 million.
