Following the signing of a contract between the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and the Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) during the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace (LIMA) 2017 show, all seven remaining CN-235-220M tactical transport aircraft and CN-235-100M VIP transport aircraft will undergo Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) that will extend the lifespan of the Indonesian made aircraft to another 15 more years.
The centrepiece of the life extension program will be the rewiring works of the first batch of CN-235s. Since 1999, the RMAF has six CN-235-220M. The 220M variant differs superficially with the 100M variant especially with the distinguished radome fitted on the former.
After 20 years, there is a great need in terms of flight safety to replace the wiring system as well as to ensure that the aircraft’s electrical system is always reliable. Rewiring will also ensure the fleet readiness is high as rectification downtime has been eliminated.
Rewiring works had began in October 22, 2018 involving the technology demonstrator, a CN-235-220M from No 1 Skn with serial number M44-05. The handing over of the aircraft during LIMA 2019 marks the end of Phase 1 of the rewiring works involving a mobile team from the IAe and seventeen On the Job aircraft technicians from No 1 Skn.
Phase 2 has began with M44-03 being rewired by the technicians from No 1 Skn under close supervision by the IAe team. Phase 3 on the other hand will only involve the men from No 1 Skn.
As a result, SLEP works at IAe facility in Bandung will only include Structure Inspection, Rewiring/Harnesses, and Replacement of Obsolescence Equipment. It also covers fuel, engines and avionic systems of the aircraft.
According to the initial plan three CN235s will undergo SLEP in 2019 with another four in 2020. Two of the aircraft destined to fly to Bandung later this year will be retrofitted with Merlin maritime surveillance system developed by Integrated Surveillance and Defense, Inc (ISD).
The Merlin mission equipment includes a maritime surveillance radar, an electro-optical (EO) sensor turret, and an electronic support measures (ESM) system.
It is not known however if the coronavirus outbreak has affected the RMAF CN235 SLEP program but a picture of a CN235 identified as M45-03 has been circulated in Twitter, seen at IAe facility in Bandung.
(MFH)