Malaysia’s military acquisition mayhem and malfeasance (Opinion)
Malaysia made a sharp change in direction when it bought Russian-built fighters like the Su-30MKM.
May’s LIMA exhibition in Langkawi witnessed some important steps forward for the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), whose modernisation has languished for years amidst political scandal, revolving-door governments, systematic corruption and a budget squeeze.
At LIMA 2023, the Malaysian MoD signed up for two Leonardo ATR 72 MPA maritime patrol aircraft, three Turkish Aerospace Anka-S MALE UAVs and 18 FA-50M light combat aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries. The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has been awaiting these much-needed platforms for a considerable amount of time.
Note how these procurements all come from overseas. LIMA 2023 has rammed home some salient
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