RM12,000 RMAF innovation delivers nearly RM150m in potential savings

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has prevented at least six costly bird strike incidents involving its Su-30MKM fighter jets, potentially saving nearly RM150 million in engine repair expenses, according to General Tan Sri Muhamad Norazlan Aris. This saving was achieved through a locally developed innovation by Puspeka, No. 12 Squadron, Malaysian firms, and universities, which involved a low-cost Air Intake Screen (AIS) modification.

The AIS reduces the risk of birds and other debris entering the Saturn AL-31FP engines during take-off and landing. This modification costs only RM12,000, offering significant savings in engine repair costs should damage occur. Last August, an RMAF F/A-18D Hornet crashed in Kuantan following ingestion of a bird into its left engine.

The Su-30MKM, equipped with the AIS, shields its engines from foreign object damage on the ground. However, the protective screen typically opens once the aircraft is airborne, increasing the risk of bird ingestion due to the high suction generated during take-off. To mitigate this vulnerability, RMAF engineers delayed the AIS's opening until after the aircraft has reached an altitude of 1,000-1,500 feet and closed it earlier during landing.

This innovation has already been proven effective, with instances where birds were caught on the screen, preventing them from entering the engines. The innovation not only protects the aircraft but also enhances the operational availability of the Su-30MKM fleet.