UK admits fault in KL Hawk jets

UK admits fault in KL Hawk jets

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): There were "problems in the serviceability" of the Hawk aircraft Britain sold to Malaysia, British Defense Secretary Michael Portillo has admitted in remarks published yesterday.

"But I think largely they have been put right," Portillo was reported as saying in the New Straits Times.

"The serviceability is pretty good and I think it can get better still. We are working together to get everything sorted out," said Portillo, who left yesterday for an overnight trip to Singapore a day after his arrival here.

Malaysian army officials had revealed in June that certain avionic components on the 28 Hawk aircraft were prone to breakdowns and their spare parts were slow in coming.

Malaysia had bought 18 Hawk 200 single-seater and 10 Hawk 100 twin-seater advanced jet trainers under a 1.2 billion ringgit (US$480 million) deal, which formed part of a 4.5-billion-ringgit Malaysia-Britain arms pact signed in 1989.