Malaysia finally chose Korean FA-50 Golden Eagle as Tender Winner for 18 planes

[IblinI]

36 FA50 planes will give them huge boost capability

View attachment 917666

List of equipment of the Royal Malaysian Air Force - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

36 trainer/light fighter would give a country as big as Malaysia a huge boast. how???

 

[Indos]

36 trainer/light fighter would give a country as big as Malaysia a huge boast. how???

Huge boost, not boast.

See their current fleet, there 36 FA50 will be good for patrol, showing their present in Malaysian Sky.

It will be a preparation as well for upcoming MRCA order that is set in 2028.

ASEAN countries have focus on the economy and their defense budget will follow their GDP growth. The party will likely happen 2028 forward

Another big market is Vietnam

 

[Indos]

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www.koreaaero.com

 

[IblinI]

Another big market is Vietnam

Agreed. VPA trio services needs some urgent update, especially their army.

 

[jhungary]

36 trainer/light fighter would give a country as big as Malaysia a huge boast. how???

They are Lead In Trainer and can be dual use as light attack/light combat aircraft.

The immediate advantage is that they can spare their line fighter for training, and also make it toward their MRCA program, which now are between Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale, Super Hornet, and JAS 39D Gripen NG, FA-50 can be used as LIFT for all 4.

 

[tonyget]

Is Malaysia intent to use T-50 as trainer or as fighter？

 

[Indos]

Is Malaysia intent to use T-50 as trainer or as fighter？

Both, this LCA can be used for training as it has double seats and also as light fighter. It is considered as light fighter since it is small plane, single engine, and use twin seats (much less fuel tank and less armament).

For Korean I heard they are going to use this order to develop F50 (single seat fighter based on T50 design with AMRAM capabilities).

I dont know for sure whether this FA50 Block 20 will use AMRAM or just AIM-9 Sidewinder.

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For Indonesian TA-50i planes, it has attack capabilities and can carry Maverick missile. At delivery, it is in TA-50i configuration (only available for land attack) but later all of Indonesian T50i uses Radar, so it could possibly be armed with sidewinder as well.

 

[Indos]

Indonesian TA-50i Golden Eagle with Sidewinder missile

 

[Ali_Baba]

This order does suggest that Malysia is a potential KF-21 customer in the future. Once this ecosystem is setup in Malaysia - then inducting the KF-21 will be much easier for them.

A good decision for Malysia - benefits them alot.

 

[Indos]

This order does suggest that Malysia is a potential KF-21 customer in the future. Once this ecosystem is setup in Malaysia - then inducting the KF-21 will be much easier for them.

A good decision for Malysia - benefits them alot.

That is also the way I look it. This is also why they delay their MRCA acquisition program into 2028 where in 2026 February KF21 program is expected to complete its development and get Type certificate inshaAllah. Block 2 is expected to complete its development in 2028 inshaAllah.

All of SEA countries that uses T50 Golden Eagle planes as their advance training platform and LCA have greater possibility to acquire KF21 for their future MRCA program. Could be the same like when Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand acquire F5 fighter from USA during 1970's, all of them end up buying F16 and F15 from USA. The reason Indonesia bought some Sukhoi in 2002 and 2009 is more due to USA and European Union embargo that only ended in 2005.

Indonesia is part of KF21 developer, then there is Thailand, Philippine, and now Malaysia who use T50/FA50.

You see Australia and Singapore are the only countries in the region eligible to acquire F35, so the rest of nations in the region will have more urge to balance their capabilities with those countries. More over, both Indonesia and Thailand gets rejected to acquire F35.

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Basically Malaysia LCA tender is only a competition between FA50 and Tejas. Malaysia, a country who has dispute with China in SCS is unlikely to acquire any Chinese planes and fighters, including China-Pakistan JF17.

 

[Indos]

Unlike in South Asia, South East Asia region has been starting to induct 5 generation fighters. Other countries who cannot get F35 will likely catch up with plane that has closer capabilities to that plane.

Within ASEAN 5 major countries (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippine, Vietnam), only Vietnam who dont order T50/FA50, but Vietnam close cooperation with South Korea investment and good relation with USA still give room for possible KF21 acquisition some day in the future if KF21 development inshaAllah is completed in 2026. I need to inform as well that Vietnam is also unlikely to induct China 5 generation planes like J35 due to its dispute in SCS.

 

[Indos]

Malaysia orders 18 FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea​

 

[Indos]

LIMA 2023: KAI says Malaysia keen to order 18 additional FA-50s​

23 MAY 2023

by Akhil Kadidal

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said that Malaysia's order of 18 FA-50 light combat aircraft will be followed by a second order of an additional 18 aircraft.

Speaking to Janes at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2023 in Malaysia, a KAI spokesperson said the Malaysian government has approved the acquisition of a second batch of FA-50s.

“It is only a matter of time before the second contract is formalised,” the spokesperson added.

This announcement follows KAI's 24 February announcement of a USD920 million deal with Malaysia's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) to supply an initial batch of 18 FA-50 LCA.s

The spokesperson told Janes during LIMA, that KAI is preparing to deliver the first FA-50 for Malaysia 42 months after the signing of the contract. “The remaining aircraft of this first order will be delivered within 10 subsequent months,” the spokesperson said.

Janes

LIMA 2023: KAI says Malaysia keen to order 18 additional FA-50s

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said that Malaysia's order of 18 FA-50 light combat aircraft will be followed by a second order of an additional 18 aircraft.

www.janes.com