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.