This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on April 19, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has extended its contract with Malaysia's defence ministry (Mindef) for the provision of support services for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) A400M airlifters.

Under the contract, which was signed yesterday at the Defence Services Asia 2018 exhibition, Airbus will continue to provide performance-based services including material support, engineering services, flight operations and maintenance support for the RMAF A400Ms.

"The agreement also covers additional spare parts and ground equipment, as well as training courses, to support A400M air-to-air refuelling operations," Airbus said in a statement, adding that it will work with the local industry to deliver the services.

Airbus Defence and Space head of military aircraft services Stephen Miegel said the current existing contract has been effective, proven by the excellent aircraft availability of the RMAF A400M fleet.

"We are strongly focused on continuing to build the RMAF’s expertise on the A400M and transferring the support activity to the air force itself and the local workforce," he said.

Airbus noted that its personnel will continue to be deployed at RMAF No 22 at the Subang air base to support the service, but their numbers will gradually reduce as RMAF officers and other locally-hired personnel will take over the work.