Date: 10th Dec 2009, Thursday

Eight Aermacchi MB-339 CM advanced trainer for the Royal Malaysian Air Force pilot training school was delivered in a ceremony that was held at Langkawi International Airshow 2009.

The ceremony was chaired by the Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and was attended by Ing. Carmelo Cosentino, Chief Executive Officer of Alenia Aermacchi. The eight MB-339CM advanced trainers were ordered in late 2006. The contract, with an overall value of approximately 88 million Euro, includes the aircraft and the provision of spare parts, ground equipment and services over a two-year period. It also covered the training of Malaysian pilots, which was undertaken at Alenia Aermacchi in the early 2009.

The MB-339CM is a two-seat, aerobatic, single-engine aircraft for the Advanced and Lead-In-Fighter Training phases of the military pilot training syllabus. It is based upon the MB-339CD in use with the Italian Air Force. The CM version adds further training and operational capabilities, integrating new functions in its avionics system. These include Embedded Training Simulation, digital maps, a cockpit compatible with night vision goggles (NVG), new radios and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), a new integrated Autonomous Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation (AACMI) pod as well as modern safety equipment such as the Crash Data Recorder and Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT).

The Royal Malaysian Air Force still operates eight of the 13 MB-339A it bought in the early 1980s.

Updated On: 13.03.12