KOTA TINGGI: Malaysia will receive four more FA-50M light combat aircraft in April next year, bringing the total number of jets delivered to the Air Force to six.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the four aircraft, developed by South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), were expected to arrive ahead of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) 2027.
He said the remaining aircraft would be delivered in stages, with all 18 jets expected to be received by March 2028.
“The ministry received two of the aircraft at the end of October.
“Before Lima, we will receive four more. After that, the remaining aircraft will be delivered in stages, with all 18 expected by March 2028,” he said.
Mohamed Khaled was speaking to reporters after launching the Malaysia Defence Intelligence Organisation (MDIO) Adopted School programme at Sekolah Kebangsaan Panchor here on Saturday (Nov 14).
He added that all 18 FA-50M aircraft would be based at the Air Force base in Kuantan, Pahang, as the existing Hawk aircraft were still in service.
Mohamed Khaled said further decisions on the deployment of light combat aircraft would be considered once the Hawk fleet was commercialised.
On Oct 30, Mohamed Khaled received the first two FA-50M aircraft acquired by the Air Force, marking a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen the country’s air defence capabilities.
The aircraft arrived at the Air Force base in Labuan after being flown from Sacheon, South Korea.
Mohamed Khaled had previously said the official handover ceremony for the aircraft was scheduled to take place in mid-November at the Air Force base in Kuantan.
Malaysia is acquiring 18 FA-50M aircraft under the Fighter Lead-In Trainer-Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA) programme as part of the Air Force’s plan to phase out its Hawk aircraft by 2028.
