KL interested in S. Africa weapons

KL interested in S. Africa weapons

JOHANNESBURG (UPI): Malaysia is interested in buying South African weapons and is particularly impressed by the Rooivalk attack helicopter, visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Wednesday.

"South Africa has a lot of original technology which we are interested in," Mahathir said in Cape Town after a meeting with South African Deputy President Thabo Mbeki.

Mahathir said he was impressed with the Rooivalk -- Afrikaans for Red Falcon -- helicopter, which despite being highly rated by defense experts has yet to find an international buyer.

The visiting prime minister told the South African Press Association the only problems concerning the Rooivalk was whether his country could afford the estimated US$5 million price tag for each helicopter and whether Malaysia's purchase of such a helicopter would make its neighbors nervous and spark a regional arms race.