The best-selling jetliner is considered for a wide range of ISR and transport operations

Having made its mark in the commercial airline sector, the A320neo is now being considered by Airbus for new applications: as a highly-capable and cost-effective platform for ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) duties and as a military transport.

The variant – designated A320M3A – would be designed to fulfill a range of ISR roles, particularly maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare. It also can be outfitted with modular roll-on/roll-off payloads for airlift missions ranging from carrying passengers, troops and VIPs to medical evacuation (medevac) and transporting cargo.

Airbus’ consideration of the A320M3A is in response to market demand, spurred by the growing use of more capable ISR systems – which require physically larger host platforms with increased electrical power and more efficient cooling systems than previously were the case for C4ISR aircraft. 

A proven, low-risk solution

One of the biggest applications of the A320M3A is for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare, with countries in Europe and elsewhere seeking replacements for ageing aircraft – many of which will be encouraged to develop fleet commonality driven by the intensive growth of joint operations with member nations of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).

Advantages in offering the new engine option (NEO) version of Airbus’ A320 commercial jetliner include an extensive capability for growth in a fuselage cross-section that is wider than its competitor in the same size category, the long range and endurance, as well as the lowest operational and life-cycle costs in its class. Other pluses for the A320M3A are the aircraft’s high reliability (proven in airline service), and the resources of an established worldwide supply chain and training network.

The A320M3A also benefits from being a low-risk solution: being based on Airbus’ highly-mature A320 airliner family in high-rate production; and building on the company’s proven capabilities in producing military derivatives of its commercial aircraft – such as the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), which is in use by military services around the globe.

SHAH ALAM: Future Plan, RMAF Cap 55. RMAF has published a graphic of its Capability 55 program detailing its plans up to 2055. The existence of the plan was first made public during the media interview ahead of this year’s anniversary celebration.

Based on the graphics, RMAF future fast jet fleet will be two types, a multi role combat aircraft (MRCA) and the light combat aircraft (LCA) divided into five squadrons. Based on past and current squadron strength I am assuming that the MRCA will have 36 aircraft while the LCA 54.
From the 54 LCA, it is likely that around 12 will be used as the lead-fighter-trainer (LIFT).

The transport squadron will be reduced to three squadrons from the current four while the type will be reduced from four to two. The first transport squadron will be for the strategic/MRTT roles while the two others will be tactical airlifters.

Under the plan, there will be only two helicopter squadrons with the type reduce to one. There will also be one squadron of MPA, long endurance UAS and AEW. The RMAF of the future will operate nine ground based air defence radars as well as one regiment of ground based air defence (GBAD) system. As the air force did not identify the types of the aircraft and ground based systems.



RMAF says the plan’s main impact will be the optimisation of the budget for most maximum impact. This is the first long term plan from the service which had been made public in recent memory. It goes to show that the RMAF and its sister services always had their plans despite claims otherwise.
The biggest question, will the plan survives the first contact with the politicians, remained unanswered. Hopefully by October, we will have some hints, at least.
— Malaysian Defence

SHAH ALAM: RFI for LCA and UAVs. On Feb 1, I wrote for Aviation Week,

Malaysia has begun a quest to purchase light combat aircraft (LCA) and unmanned surveillance and attack aircraft, issuing requests for information (RFIs) from selected manufacturers despite uncertainty about when funding will be available.

In a written reply, Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Gen. Affendi Buang said the service issued the RFIs in January.

For the LCAs, RFIs were issued for the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Tejas and the Sino-Pakistani JF-17; for the latter, the RFI was addressed to the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.

All are single-engine aircraft. The FA-50, available only as a two-seater, is designed for light attack, while the Tejas and JF-17 are fighters with single-seat versions.

As for the unmanned aircraft, RFIs were issued for the General Atomics MQ-9B Sea Guardian, Avic Wing Loong II and the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) Anka.

Analysis

Yes one could be cynical about the RFI with LIMA 2019 about to start on March 26. Anyhow so far only the Tejas, Reaper and the Wing Loong II have been confirmed for the show.

Despite lacking funds, both the LCA and UAV are mentioned in RMAF CAP 55 though I have been told that no funding have been approved yet. I guess we will have to wait until the Defense White Paper is published this July to see what things are being funded by the government.

Although the Defense Minister and deputy had stated that the defense white paper will be modelled after the ones by Australia and others, I am not convinced that it will also specifically stated the funding for the programs approved; the Australian one clearly included the funding. The industry is hoping that the white paper will include funding provisions for green lighted programme as it will bind the government to fund them as it will a parliamentary document.

I am not convinced it will be the case however as I have been told that the government will not commit itself. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

–Malaysian Defence
KAI T-50/FA-50


JF-17


TEJAS


MQ-9B SEAGUARDIAN


WING LOONG


ANKA