Posted on 10/26/2002 5:17:32 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
LOS CABOS - American aircraft company Boeing is offering to sell between 12 and 18 FA-18 F Superhornets to Malaysia.
It is now engaged in talks with a Malaysian company, the Sapura Group, for the latter's involvement in the offset programme of the aircraft.
The Superhornets are the US Navy's newest fighter jets.
'We are talking with Sapura and we are still in the process of defining our relationship with them,' Boeing manager for Malaysia Joseph Flaherty told Bernama news agency during Malaysia's recent trade and investment mission in St Louis.
The eight-day mission which ended on Tuesday also covered Toronto and New York. It was led by International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz.
At present, the fighter aircraft fleet in the Malaysian Air Force comprises the MiG-29N, British-made Hawks and eight of Boeing's FA-18/D.
'The portion of the offset programme where Sapura will probably be involved is in the field of logistics and some other areas in support of the aircraft,' said Mr Flaherty.
Logistics covers maintenance, support and organising supply of parts.
Apart from Sapura - with which Boeing is negotiating to work for the first time - other companies or parties could also be roped in for the offset programme.
'We have been talking about this programme for one year plus. It covers information and communication technology, biotechnology, health care, human resources development, aerospace as well as science and technology,' he said.
'Malaysia should take advantage of these technologies,' he added. --Bernama
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