PETALING JAYA: The Royal
Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) latest asset, an Airbus A400M airlifter aircraft,
is not meant to replace the C130 Hercules aircraft, said RMAF chief Jen Datuk
Seri Roslan Saad.
Each aircraft had a
different role to play, he said.
“The C130 has its own
role and so does the Airbus (A400M). The C130 is still strong. It is still our
airlift,” he told reporters after a ceremony at the Subang Air Force Base
yesterday to receive the A400M, which was flown in from Seville, Spain.
The RMAF received
delivery of the first of four such aircraft on March 9 after they were
purchased in 2005.
Malaysia is expected to
receive two more of the aircraft by the end of this year and the last one next
year.
Jen Roslan said the targeted initial operating capability was in three months’ time.
“That’s the time that we need as we are talking about capability to operate the aircraft at maximum. So it will take about three months,” he said.
He added that the A400M would be operated by RMAF’s newly formed No. 22 Squadron with 16 officers comprising pilots and engineers, as well as 30 personnel consisting of load masters and technicians who had undergone basic courses at the International Training Centre in Seville.
The first aircraft was flown to Malaysia by a team headed by Lt-Col Masro Kaliwon. The aircraft left Seville on Thursday before flying to Abu Dhabi and arriving in Malaysia yesterday.
“We are very excited with this new aircraft. It will give us an increase in load capacity and a further range,” he said, adding that the aircraft would also increase the capabilities of the RMAF for strategic airlift as well as tactical airlift.
He said the aircraft was capable of performing missions that include assignments related to medical evacuation, air-to-air refuelling, aerial delivery paratroop and logistics, and humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations.
The A400M is also set to star at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2015.
