(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The first group of six Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officers for the FA-50 Block 20 light fighter aircraft acquisition project will be sent to South Korea in November.
The RMAF, in a Facebook post yesterday, stated that this matter was discussed during a meeting between RMAF Chief General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan and General Jung Sanghwa, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF CoS).
The RMAF’s social media statement read: “During this meeting, the discussions revolved around the strategic defense cooperation of the RMAF with ROKAF, especially involving the Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) for the FA-50 aircraft towards realizing the acquisition of the FA-50 aircraft for the RMAF.”
“The RMAF has made plans for the delivery of the first group of six (6) RMAF personnel for the FLIT-LCA FA-50 aircraft project to South Korea, scheduled for November 2023. In addition, discussions were also held regarding the plans for bilateral cooperation between the two air forces, the RMAF and ROKAF.”
The FA-50 Block 20 Light Fighter Aircraft is produced by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).
The RMAF Chief is currently in Seoul, South Korea to attend the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition 2023 (Seoul ADEX 2023), which takes place from October 16 to 22, 2023.
During the meeting with General Jung Sanghwa, the RMAF Chief also expressed appreciation and gratitude for the involvement of the ROKAF Aerobatic Team, known as the Black Eagles, in the LIMA ’23 Exhibition.
He also hopes that the participation of the Black Eagles aerobatic team will continue in future editions of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA).
During the LIMA exhibition held in Langkawi in May, the Malaysia Ministry of Defense and KAI signed an agreement to acquire 18 FA-50 light fighter aircraft for the RMAF, estimated to be worth RM4 billion.
The RMAF will acquire the latest variant of the FA-50 fighter aircraft, the FA-50 Block 20.
The Block 20 variant of the FA-50 aircraft to be owned by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is the most advanced and capable variant, surpassing other variants, including those used by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) itself.
Only the RMAF and the Polish Air Force have chosen to acquire the FA-50 Block 20 variant.
Poland signed an agreement with KAI last year to purchase 48 FA-50 aircraft.
As reported by Defense Security Asia earlier, the Block 20 variant that Malaysia and Poland own by the two air forces will be equipped with the “PhantomStrike” AESA radar developed by Raytheon from the United States.
It will also be equipped with the “Chobham Mission System” and “Sniper” Advanced Targeting Pod for aerial refueling.
All of these features are not present in other T-50/FA-50 variants, including those owned by the ROKAF and the air forces of Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Information also confirms that the FA-50 Block 20 aircraft offered to the RMAF will be equipped with U/VHF radio equipment similar to that used in the latest F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft.
Furthermore, the FA-50 Block 20 aircraft offered to the RMAF will also feature “Link 16 Block Upgrade 2.”
Previous reports also mentioned that 14 of the FA-50 Block 20 light fighter aircraft acquired by the RMAF will undergo final assembly work in Malaysia, while four of the Malaysian-owned FA-50 Block 20 fighter aircraft will be fully assembled in South Korea.
According to sources informed by Defense Security Asia, the final assembly program for the 14 FA-50 Block 20 fighter aircraft is part of the Industrial Collaboration Program (ICP) agreement with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the manufacturer of the aircraft. — DSA
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