Malaysia’s FA-50M Fighter Enters Final Assembly: Air Force Chief Visits South Korea as Delivery Countdown Begins

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Royal Malaysian Air Force chief General Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris recently visited Korea Aerospace Industries in Sacheon, South Korea to review progress on Malaysia’s FA-50M light combat aircraft acquisition programme.

According to a statement released on the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s social media channels, the visit was intended to provide the air force chief with the latest briefing on the implementation status of the programme and the development progress of the FA-50M directly from the project team and the manufacturer.

The statement was accompanied by several newly released photographs showing Malaysia’s FA-50M aircraft already completed on the production line by KAI.

The briefing delivered by KAI covered aircraft development, systems integration and delivery scheduling in order to ensure that the procurement programme remains on track.

“During the visit, the Air Force chief also physically inspected the aircraft assembly process and the systems integration work for the FA-50M at KAI’s facilities,” the statement said.

“The visit reinforced confidence in the programme’s level of progress and in the manufacturer’s commitment to ensuring that the aircraft to be delivered will meet the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s operational requirements.”

General Muhamad Norazlan also held discussions with KAI on the potential for future upgrade programmes for the aircraft.

The discussions also examined challenges affecting programme implementation and the mitigation measures required to ensure the smooth execution of the FA-50M acquisition effort.

The visit reflects the continuing commitment of the Royal Malaysian Air Force leadership to ensure that every aspect of the development and procurement of new air assets is implemented carefully, systematically and according to plan.

The move is also in line with the first and second pillars of the Air Force chief’s command philosophy, namely achieving the highest levels of capability and readiness while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the nation’s air defence assets against current and future security challenges.

READ: Malaysia Signals FA-50M Phase 2 Expansion as RMAF Prepares to Double Light Fighter Fleet to 36 Jets

Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence and Korea Aerospace Industries signed a contract in 2023 worth almost RM4 billion for the acquisition of 18 FA-50M light combat aircraft.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force is expected to receive the first batch of six FA-50M aircraft by the end of this year, with four aircraft scheduled for delivery in October and the remaining two in December.

The other 12 aircraft built by KAI will be delivered in stages during the following year.

Malaysia’s FA-50M configuration is regarded as the most advanced and capable variant of the FA-50 family currently ordered by any operator, including South Korea and several Southeast Asian air forces.

Only the Polish Air Force’s FA-50PL is considered broadly comparable to the Malaysian version.

One of the most significant differences between Malaysia’s FA-50M and other FA-50 variants operated elsewhere is that both the Malaysian and Polish aircraft are expected to be fitted with the PhantomStrike AESA Radar, along with a range of modern avionics and an aerial refuelling capability.

The PhantomStrike radar was developed by RTX and is designed around a low size, weight and power, or SWaP, architecture.

The radar is intended for integration across multiple platforms, including light fighters, fixed-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems and ground-based towers, providing long-range detection and tracking capability.

PhantomStrike AESA Radar uses gallium nitride technology, digital beamforming and steering, a digital receiver/exciter and Raytheon’s “Chirp” processing architecture.

RTX states that the radar offers users significantly improved battlefield awareness at a fraction of the cost of more traditional radar systems.

Malaysia’s FA-50M will also be equipped with the ability to employ precision-guided missiles and bombs.

The aircraft will additionally carry the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod developed by Lockheed Martin.

Weighing approximately 200kg, the Sniper ATP gives its operator enhanced capability to detect, identify and continuously track targets across all mission sets, including close air support operations for ground forces.

The Sniper ATP has already been combat-proven on multiple platforms used by the United States and international operators, including the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, B-1B Lancer, A-10C Thunderbolt II, Harrier GR7/9 and F/A-18 Hornet.

Its “plug-and-play” architecture allows the pod to be integrated across multiple aircraft types without requiring major software modification.

Among the Sniper ATP’s capabilities are a high-definition mid-wave forward-looking infrared sensor, HDTV, dual-mode laser, laser spot tracker, laser marker, video data link and digital data recorder.

The pod also enables pilots to track tactical targets through real-time imagery displayed directly in the cockpit.

The system is particularly well suited for use with the latest J-Series precision-guided bombs against both moving and fixed targets.

Malaysia’s decision to equip the FA-50M with the Sniper ATP also creates valuable commonality with the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s existing F/A-18D Hornet fleet, which is also expected to be fitted with the same targeting pod.

In January, the Ministry of Defence said it would focus on acquiring additional FA-50M aircraft under the FLIT-LCA Phase 2 programme as part of a broader effort to modernise the Royal Malaysian Air Force combat fleet.

In a parliamentary reply on January 22 to a question from Onn Abu Bakar, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the FLIT-LCA Phase 2 procurement effort formed part of a longer-term plan to meet the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s medium- and long-term operational requirements in a phased and structured manner.

“The approach under consideration includes accelerating plans to procure a Multi-Role Combat Aircraft under the 13th Malaysia Plan while also focusing on the acquisition of the FLIT-LCA Phase 2 aircraft,” he said.

The minister’s remarks appear to confirm that Malaysia intends to proceed with plans to expand its FA-50 fleet at a time when speculation has already emerged that the Royal Malaysian Air Force and KAI have begun preliminary discussions on a second-phase purchase.

READ: Six FA-50M Fighters to Arrive by 2026: KAI Confirms Accelerated Delivery Timeline for RMAF

Under the second phase, the Ministry of Defence is expected to acquire a further 18 FA-50M aircraft, bringing the total Malaysian fleet of South Korean-built light combat aircraft to 36.

According to the Defence Minister, the modernisation of the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s combat fleet is being implemented in stages under the CAP55 development plan, which serves as the long-term framework for replacing the service’s existing combat aircraft.

He added that the Royal Malaysian Air Force has also identified alternative measures to ensure that the continuity of Malaysia’s air defence capability is not affected.