In 1980, Malaysia purchased 88 surplus Skyhawks airframes for refurbishment, redesignated as A-4PTM (Peculiar To Malaysia), and assignment to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). However, inflationary costs eventually reduced the buy to 40 airframes.
Upgrading of the A-4PTMs by the Grumman Aerospace facility at St. Augustine, FL, included rewiring; addition of two ordnance wing stations; rework of the J65 engines; and installation of improved avionics and ordnance gear, the enlarged A-4M canopy, and a drag chute.
An undetermined number of the single-seat PTM Skyhawks were rebuilt into two-seat TA-4PTM configuration similar to the TA-4.
The PTM Skyhawks were delivered to the RMAF in late 1985 and early 1986, and had a relatively short service life. Except for six TA-4PTMs retained for aerial tanker duty, the Maylasian Skyhawks were all retired by SEP 1999.
All Malaysia Skyhawks were former U.S.N. A-4C and A-4L models.
So how much does the Skyhawk program cost?
Jadi pada permulaan kos keseluruhan pembelian Skyhawk termasuklah penambahbaikkan dan ubah suai adalah pada $1.039 billion ringgit. Malaysia membeli pada harga $7.5 juta ringgit sebuah. Kos penambahbaikan pula (ini sebahagian dari $1.039 billion tadi) ialah US$200 juta.
INI IALAH KOS BAGI 88 buah Skyhawk.
Jadi persoalan seterusnya mengapa hanya 40 buah yang di naik taraf?
Rupanya Reagan telah mengenakan Ban terhadap jualan skyhawk entah apa sebabnye. Maka itu lah kisahnya mengapa hanya 40 skyhawk diserahkan kepada Malaysia.
Sekain
GaGaK
