Budget Squeeze but MAF Development Continues

In 9/2009, the Royal Malaysian Navy received the first of two Scorpene class SSKs, with the second expected to arrive in 2010. The submarine is undergoing final tests before being commissioned into service. The service also took delivery of the first of three indigenously built New-Generation Patrol Vessels (NGPV); the first three ships in the class of six were assembled in Germany and fitted out locally, at Boustead Naval Shipyard. Russian-based Irkut has handed over the last of 18 Su-30MKM fighters to the Royal Malaysian Air Force, while Alenia Aermacchi is supplying the service with eight MB-330CM trainers featuring embedded simulation, digital map and updated safety devices. The Army is inducting 48 Polish-built PT-91M MBTs along with six WZT-4 ARRVs, three MID-M armored engineering vehicles and five PMC-60 armored vehicle launcher bridges (AVLB).