BHIC urged to help local firms enter helicopter and weapons MRO supply chains

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has called on Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Bhd (BHIC) to help develop Malaysian companies supplying maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for helicopters and weapons systems.

In a social media post, he said BHIC's expertise covered MRO work on EC725 helicopters operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), alongside servicing Bofors guns fitted to Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) vessels.

Mohamed Khaled said BHIC was upgrading its capabilities towards depot level maintenance (D-level). He also urged the company to enter global aerospace supply chains serving original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), with the aim of strengthening Malaysia's defence industry and lessening its reliance on foreign expertise.

The minister had earlier met a BHIC delegation for a courtesy call. The delegation was headed by the company's chairman, Gen (Rtd) Tan Sri Roslan Saad.