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I always liked the Agusta A109 Power and hope this aircraft is chosen for the ADF's new training/light utility helicopter under the Air 9000 project...
Malaysian Order of Battle
- Thread starter Paxter
- Start date
DRB-Hicom eyes 60 Agusta helicopters in ASEAN for maintenance
MILAN July 6 - The DRB-Hicom is bullish about the service and maintenance market for its proposed regional after sales centre as there are at least 60 Agusta helicopters operating in South East Asia currently.
Its chairman, Tan Sri Saleh Sulong said this was excluding the 18 Italian-made helicopters purchased by Malaysia for its navy (five), fire and rescue department (two) and the army's air wing (11).
Saleh said Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech), a unit of DRB-Hicom, hoped to set up its proposed regional operations centre in Kepala Batas, Penang within two years.
"The 11 A109 helicopters will start arriving beginning November, 2005. So we have to be ready to handle service and maintenance of all the Agusta helicopters in Malaysia," he told Malaysian journalists here.
Monday, Saleh accompanied Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who visited Agusta's plant in Cascina Costa and Vergiate, about 40 km from here.
Last month, Deftech and the world's leading helicopter manufacturer, AgustaWestland signed a memorandum of understanding to set up the centre which will provide after-sales service and maintenance and assembly plant.
Deftech, which has a paid-up capital of RM10 million, currently makes and refurbishes military vehicles for the Malaysian Armed Forces and for export.
Saleh said the centre, set up to tap the region's market potential worth US$1 billion (RM3.8 billion), would be developed in two phases, with the first for after sales service and maintenance and then an assembly plant.
Asked about the estimated cost of setting up the centre, Saleh said it has not been finalised yet but it would occupy an area not less than 50 acres in Bertam, Kepala Batas.
"Two of my officials will stay back here to discuss with Agusta and determine what would be the appropriate area, investment required in term of factory building, plant machinery and equipment as well as manpower resources," he added.
"We need to learn from the Italians as Deftech has no experience before this in term of anything that flies..all the while we have been involved in land based-vehicles and weaponry," said Saleh.
He said this was the first time they are setting up an aviation divison for the purpose of undertaking helicopter business, adding that the company would market Agusta helicopters, not only in Malaysia but also in South East Asia.
Saleh said their ultimate aim was to assemble the Agusta helicopters in Kepala Batas but this was subject to availability of economic volume or demand.
He said there are big potential for such helicopters due to Agusta's reputation as the world's largest producers of helicopters in that class.
Asked about competiton from another Agusta plant in Japan, Saleh said Deftech was concentrating on the regional markets, adding that a team has been set up to market Agusta helicopters among private sectors in South East Asia.
"They (Agusta) have relationship with Kawasaki in Japan...but it's far away (from Malaysia). Previously, there was one more plant in the Philippines but it was closed down. They are looking forward to set up in Malaysia," he added.
According to reports, the local helicopter market was estimated at 100 units, worth US$500 million to US$1 billion, every six to seven years.
MILAN July 6 - The DRB-Hicom is bullish about the service and maintenance market for its proposed regional after sales centre as there are at least 60 Agusta helicopters operating in South East Asia currently.
Its chairman, Tan Sri Saleh Sulong said this was excluding the 18 Italian-made helicopters purchased by Malaysia for its navy (five), fire and rescue department (two) and the army's air wing (11).
Saleh said Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech), a unit of DRB-Hicom, hoped to set up its proposed regional operations centre in Kepala Batas, Penang within two years.
"The 11 A109 helicopters will start arriving beginning November, 2005. So we have to be ready to handle service and maintenance of all the Agusta helicopters in Malaysia," he told Malaysian journalists here.
Monday, Saleh accompanied Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who visited Agusta's plant in Cascina Costa and Vergiate, about 40 km from here.
Last month, Deftech and the world's leading helicopter manufacturer, AgustaWestland signed a memorandum of understanding to set up the centre which will provide after-sales service and maintenance and assembly plant.
Deftech, which has a paid-up capital of RM10 million, currently makes and refurbishes military vehicles for the Malaysian Armed Forces and for export.
Saleh said the centre, set up to tap the region's market potential worth US$1 billion (RM3.8 billion), would be developed in two phases, with the first for after sales service and maintenance and then an assembly plant.
Asked about the estimated cost of setting up the centre, Saleh said it has not been finalised yet but it would occupy an area not less than 50 acres in Bertam, Kepala Batas.
"Two of my officials will stay back here to discuss with Agusta and determine what would be the appropriate area, investment required in term of factory building, plant machinery and equipment as well as manpower resources," he added.
"We need to learn from the Italians as Deftech has no experience before this in term of anything that flies..all the while we have been involved in land based-vehicles and weaponry," said Saleh.
He said this was the first time they are setting up an aviation divison for the purpose of undertaking helicopter business, adding that the company would market Agusta helicopters, not only in Malaysia but also in South East Asia.
Saleh said their ultimate aim was to assemble the Agusta helicopters in Kepala Batas but this was subject to availability of economic volume or demand.
He said there are big potential for such helicopters due to Agusta's reputation as the world's largest producers of helicopters in that class.
Asked about competiton from another Agusta plant in Japan, Saleh said Deftech was concentrating on the regional markets, adding that a team has been set up to market Agusta helicopters among private sectors in South East Asia.
"They (Agusta) have relationship with Kawasaki in Japan...but it's far away (from Malaysia). Previously, there was one more plant in the Philippines but it was closed down. They are looking forward to set up in Malaysia," he added.
According to reports, the local helicopter market was estimated at 100 units, worth US$500 million to US$1 billion, every six to seven years.