Number of contenders for MRCA requirement (175 words)

Published: 8/1/2001

Russian producers are eagerly awaiting the anticipated tender for the Royal Malaysian Air Force's MRCA (multi-role combat aircraft) requirement. According to reports, the new aircraft will have a longer combat radius than the MiG-29 and F/A-18D currently in Malaysia and both AVPK Sukhoi and RSK MiG have offered variants of the Su-30MK and MiG-29, designed to meet the requirement. The MiG offering is the MiG MRCA: a development of the carrier-based MiG-29K and featuring the Phazotron-NIIR Zhuk-MS multi-mode radar. The Sukhoi offering is likely to be a development of the Su-30MK, already in service with Malaysia. The Indian MKI variant is reported to be considered the best fit, in terms of the Malaysian requirements, having the advanced NIIP N-011M radar with phased array antenna, enabling it to shoot at four aerial targets simultaneously or scan the air for threats when flying a strike mission. The Su-30MKK might also be considered, but it carries less advanced N-001M radar with limited ground surveillance capability.

Article ID: 2675