Lease Contract for Four UH-60A Black Hawk Helicopters for Malaysian Army Likely to Be Cancelled
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated that the decision on whether to cancel the helicopter lease contract will be finalized after the delivery deadline for the four helicopters passes next Wednesday.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA)— The lease contract for four UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters for the Malaysian Army (TDM) is likely to be cancelled if the awarded company fails to deliver the aircraft by the end of this month.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated that the final decision on the contract will be made after the delivery deadline, which ends next Wednesday.
The army has already been instructed to explore alternatives in the event of a cancellation.
“By October 30, the contract will most likely be cancelled, and we will need to identify alternative solutions.
“It’s important to understand that the Black Hawks were leased only for five years and not purchased permanently,” the minister explained after attending the *Eksesis Padang Jaguh* Series 2/2024 exercise at the Tanjung Logok firing range today.
The Ministry of Defence signed the lease agreement for the four Black Hawk helicopters during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2023 (LIMA ‘23) in May.
The contract, valued at RM187 million, was awarded to the local company Aerotree Defence & Services Sdn Bhd, with a lease period of five years.
The helicopters are intended to serve as platforms for the Army Air Corps (PUTD) to conduct training and operational flight tasks.
As part of preparations, TDM pilots were sent to Turkiye for Black Hawk simulator training.
On July 16 this year, Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari stated that Aerotree Defence & Services had cited the prolonged conflict in Ukraine as a factor contributing to delays in delivering the helicopters.
The UH-60A Black Hawk is capable of transporting 11 to 20 fully armed soldiers, along with a pilot, co-pilot, and one crew member.
Powered by two General Electric T700-GE-701 turboshaft engines and carrying a 450-gallon fuel tank, the helicopter has a range of up to 1,200 nautical miles.
Additionally, the Black Hawk can be equipped with an External Stores Support System (ESSS), resembling wings, which allows it to carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles.
The ESSS enables the aircraft to reload mid-mission, further enhancing its combat effectiveness.
In addition to missile payloads, the helicopter can also be outfitted with machine guns for added firepower. — DSA
