LANGKAWI INTERNATIONAL MARITIME & AEROSPACE EXHIBITION
LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA | 1 - 5 DECEMBER 2009
News & EVENTS
Nuri to make way for Eurocopter's Cougars
27 September 2008 | Source: New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Air Force will replace its ageing helicopter fleet of Sikorsky S61-A4 Sea Kings, better known as the Nuri, with Eurocopter's Cougar EC725.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced this yesterday after a parade at Wisma Pertahanan to welcome him as defence minister.
"We have signed a Letter of Intent with Eurocopter.
"Mindef has taken into consideration its needs and Eurocopter presented the best option among all the bidders."
The Eurocopter Cougar EC725 was one of four aircraft shortlisted by RMAF. The other three were the Sikorsky S92, Agusta Westland EH-101 Merlin and the Russian-made Mil Mi-17 Hip.
The manufacturers all bid for the contract in an open international tender held during the last
Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show.
It was reported that the government had allocated US$600 million (RM1.93 billion) to buy an initial fleet of 12 helicopters, which will be in service until 2050.
Eight are planned for RMAF's Nuri replacement programme.
Abdullah said he had also stressed the importance of energy efficiency to the ministry staff, especially in the construction of housing for them.
"I have asked them to utilise IBS (Industrialised Building Systems) for the ministry's housing programme.
"We will have cost savings. Houses will be built faster while maintaining the quality."
Abdullah said previous attempts at using IBS had failed as the Public Works Department was not ready to employ the technique.
He said IBS would be used on housing projects in at least 12 camps.
The IBS is a construction process has been talked about for more than a decade and it utilises techniques, products, components or building systems that involve prefabricated components like steel structures and pre-cast concrete and on-site installation.
Many developed countries, where labour is comparably more expensive, favour the IBS because pre-casting components at the factory saves costs, reduces labour and wastage and improves quality through standardisation.
The government has previously voiced its hopes that IBS would help reduce dependency on foreign workers by 30 per cent by 2015.
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