KUALA LUMPUR: The Air Force is expected to receive its FA-50M light combat aircraft from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) as scheduled, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Defence Minister said the arrival date of the aircraft would be announced soon, adding that he had not received any information indicating a delay in delivery.
“According to the schedule, the aircraft will arrive this month or next month. I will announce the arrival date later.
“So far, I have not received any information that there will be a delay in the delivery of the aircraft,” he told reporters after the launch of the Tabung Pahlawan 2026/2027 campaign on Monday (Oct 12).
Also present were campaign patron Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Army chief Jeneral Tan Sri Azhan Md Othman, Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Dr Zulhelmy Ithnain and Air Force chief Jeneral Tan Sri Muhamad Norazlan Aris.
In May 2023, Malaysia signed a contract worth nearly RM4bil with KAI to acquire 18 FA-50 Block 20 light combat aircraft, subsequently designated FA-50M
The Malaysian variant is more advanced and has greater capabilities than the FA-50 aircraft operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force and other countries, including Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia.
In June, the Air Force confirmed that the first two FA-50M aircraft were scheduled to arrive in Malaysia this month, with the remaining aircraft to be delivered in stages until March 2028.
