JINJU (South Korea): Construction of the 18 FA-50M Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has reached 39 per cent, with the first batch expected to arrive in 2026.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the production timelines for these two-seat light fighters are on track and on schedule.
The aircraft is developed by South Korea's Korean Aircraft Industries (KAI). The procurement of the FA-50M is part of the RMAF's Capability Development Plan 2055 (CAP55).
"We need to increase the number of our air assets because our airspace is vast and requires an effective air force to carry out this mission.
"We purchased the FA-50M last year, and I visited the manufacturing plant here in South Korea to see the progress of the construction, and to also understand the capabilities and advantages this aircraft offers," he said after his visit to the KAI manufacturing facility, and Hanwha Aerospace.
KAI and Hanwha Aerospace are technology partners in the development of the FA-50M.
"Although KAI is responsible for manufacturing the FA-50M, the F404 engine it uses is built by Hanwha Aerospace," he said.
The F-404 augmented, afterburning turbofan engine was developed by General Electric of the United States. Hanwha builds them under licence in South Korea.
The Defence Ministry (Mindef) and KAI signed a contract in May last year for the acquisition of 18 FA-50M, valued at roughly RM4 billion. The variant selected by the RMAF is the most advanced version, the Block 20, equipped with an inflight refuelling probe and an Active Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) radar, as well as the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP).
The FA-50M variant purchased by RMAF will also have the ability to launch precision-guided munitions (PGMs).
He said the acquisition of the FA-50M would further strengthen the armed forces, especially the RMAF, in safeguarding the security and sovereignty of the nation's airspace.
When asked whether the ministry planned to acquire additional air assets besides the FA-50M, he said that this would depend on the RMAF's plans and the country's finances.
"Under RMAF's CAP55, we have listed the requirements (for the purchase of air assets). We hope the government can meet the needs as previously planned by the ministry," he said.
Meanwhile, Khaled also witnessed the signing of the second phase of the Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP) between Malaysian company Ikramatic Systems Sdn Bhd and KAI.
In a media interview, Ikramatic executive director Syed Mohamad Ikram said the ICP allows Ikramatic and KAI to jointly develop two types of flight simulators – the Full Mission Simulator and the Operational Flight Trainer.
He said both simulators would be used to train FA-50M pilots in the country by 2026.
"One of the ICP (components) carried out is the co-development of the simulator system with a local company, which includes sharing knowledge and expertise to advance the local industry.
"We, Ikramatic, have been chosen as the ICP recipient by KAI due to our 26 years of experience in building locally-made flight simulators," he said.
Syed Mohamad added that KAI had audited his company and were confident in Ikramatic's experience and quality as a solutions provider.
In December last year, Ikramatic signed the first-phase contract and was appointed as a vendor to KAI for its overseas project.
Ikramatic completed the first phase of the FA-50M simulator design in the first quarter of this year and is now in the final stages of the second phase of design before transitioning to the construction phase.
– BERNAMA