Duncan Looi
MALAYSIA’S first two FA-50Ms from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) have arrived at their new home base of Kuantan Air Base, arriving together from Labuan Air Base where both trainer jets conducted a transit. The arrival of the RMAF’s latest air assets for the 15th Squadron were welcomed by the service chief General Muhammad Norazlan and KAI executives.
The second aircraft arrived in Labuan around noon today from the Philippines before continuing on towards Kuantan with the first aircraft. Both FA-50Ms were due to transit in Labuan on Oct 30 before heading to Kuantan but only one aircraft arrived in Labuan as the second aircraft experienced technical issues. The first aircraft was welcomed in a ceremony attended by Malaysia’s defence minister Khaled Nordin, Gen Muhamad Norazlan, defence ministry secretary-general Lokman Hakim Ali alongside senior RMAF officials as well as KAI executives.
Malaysia’s FA-50M variant features significant upgrades compared to earlier FA-50 variants, equipped with RTX’s state-of-the-art PhantomStrike active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and sniper advanced targeting pod as well as a probe-and-drogue in-flight refuelling system. Furthermore, the variant is powered by GE Aerospace’s F404 engine assembled by South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace. KAI was awarded a contract worth an estimated US$920 million in 2023 for 18 units of the FA-50M as the Fighter Lead-In Trainer-Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT/LCA) under the force’s CAP55 (Capability Development 55) modernisation programme.
The defence minister said on Oct 30 that the second FA-50M had been delayed due to a technical issue and that delivery of the 18 aircraft is scheduled to be completed in phases by March of 2028. When asked on the possible procurement of further aircraft, the minister clarified that though plans for a second batch of FLIT/LCA aircraft is planned, the decision on either a second batch of FA-50Ms or a different type of aircraft has yet to be finalised, stating that the decision lies with the RMAF.
The FA-50Ms will replace the Hawk aircraft which is being retired in 2028 to carry out the light strike role and training role while simultaneously complementing the F/A-18D Hornets as well as Su-30MKMs by delivering precision-guided munitions and stand-off weapons. On top of that, the FA-50M will also take on the training role previously held by the retired Aermacchi MB-339 trainer to facilitate training of fighter pilots.-–shp/adj/dl (Pix:RMAF)
