this one got my attention as normally new subs into greenfield or less experienced operators are sold with a training package. In this case I would have expected French training (after all, they did it for the Pakistanis). Considering the amount of effort that was made to get French gear into the Malaysian military, I would have thought that training would have been numero uno as its a huge revenue component that can be factored in at build.
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Submarine crew to get US training
PORT KLANG: The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) is negotiating with its US counterparts to have its submarine crew undergo training onboard American submarines.
Assistant Chief of Staff Planning And Operations Laksamana Pertama Datuk Jamil Osman said the two parties were working out details on the types of training.
“Our submarines will be ready in 2009 and we are hoping to make use of the US Navy’s 60 years of experience in operating submarines to train our crew on operational and safety aspects,” he said during a press conference here yesterday.
Also present during the press conference was Commander of Submarine Group Seven Rear Admiral Doug McAneny.
Laksamana Pertama Jamil said the RMN was looking at getting formal as well as on-the-job training for its personnel who would placed onboard the two Scopene submarines being built by a joint-venture firm comprising French company DCN and Spain’s Navantia.
Malaysia bought the two submarines in 2002 which will be commissioned into the navy’s fleet in 2009.
Among the topics of discussion were ways to strengthen bilateral ties through discussions at the working level of both navies, learning and understanding strategies, and future directions and cooperation in operation of submarines. He said the RMN also raised issues like exchange of personnel, planning of operations and exercises aimed at increasing interaction and inter-operability between the two navies, and current issues that needed joint solutions or need help in terms of expertise, experience or information.
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