The Langkawi International Marine and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) opened with a crash and little expectation of major orders or other announcements. The show billing is “Delivering Asian Markets,” but in reality, LIMA is primarily a showcase for doing business in the Malaysian market. However, the organizers have delivered an impressive collection of aircraft and ships, and the location on a sun-kissed tropical island is guaranteed to appeal, specially to winter-weary exhibitors from Europe or North America.

All four pilots from The Jupiters, the Indonesian air force aerobatic team, ejected safely when their KT-1B Wong Bee turboprop trainers collided during an opposition pass while practicing for the show. No one on the ground was injured, even though one of the pair crashed into a rural home. The team was subsequently withdrawn from the show and flew home on press day. The Jupiters made their international debut at the Singapore Air Show last year.

The show was opened by a formation flypast from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), led by its latest acquisition, the Airbus A400M airlifter. The RMAF’s Mig-29 fighters were noticeably absent from the flypast and the static display, and there has been much talk of their replacement by a new multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA). The Boeing F-18E Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Saab Gripen are in contention. However, Malaysia’s stated intent has still not progressed from an RFI to an RFP for the MRCA, and there is no money in current budgets for this expensive acquisition. Malaysian air force commander Gen. Roslan Saad told AIN that the MiGs are still operational, although spares support is a concern. “We are in discussion with RAC MiG about how to extend their service,” he added.

In fact, the RMAF seems likely to prioritize new AEW and maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) in the country’s next five-year defense spending plan. Boeing has brought the Challenger MSA to the show, and the U.S. Navy has sent a Boeing P-8 Poseidon MPA. Other MPAs are also on display at the show. Saab is another prominent contender with the Swordfish, a new name for the MPA conversion of the Saab 2000 airliner, on which the Swedish company’s EriEye AEW system can also be mounted. With today’s radar technology offering the possibility of a combined AEW/MPA platform, the Malaysians may be the first to benefit.

Some of the RMAF’s new fleet of Airbus EC725 Caracel helicopters are at the show. Twelve are being acquired, and some are being armed with machine guns, although Malaysia has a long-standing dedicated attack helicopter requirement. Like the MRCA, this has yet to be funded, although Airbus helicopters is offering the Tiger; Bell is touting AH-1s or armed UH-1Ys; and Boeing has the AH-64 or lower-cost AH-6i.

The EC725s were supposed to replace the air force’s long-serving Sikorsky S-61N Nuri helicopters. However, at least some of the remaining 26 are now being transferred to the Army and kept in service. During the show, Malaysian MRO Airod is expected to receive upgrade contracts for the Nuris, and also for the RMAF’s 14 C-130H Hercules transports.