Malaysia Takes Delivery Of First Two FA-50M Light Combat Aircraft From South Korea

LABUAN, Oct 30 – Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin officially received the first two FA-50M light combat aircraft acquired by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) at RMAF Labuan base on Friday, October 30, 2026.

The two multi-role aircraft, manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), arrived in Labuan after a ferry flight directly from Sacheon, Republic of Korea.

Speaking to reporters at the air base, Khaled confirmed that an official handover ceremony will be hosted at RMAF Kuantan Air Base in mid-November.

The acquisition forms part of a contract for 18 FA-50M jets procured under the RMAF’s Fighter Lead-In Trainer / Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA) program to replace the retiring fleet of Hawk 108/208 aircraft scheduled for decommissioning in 2028.

Under the delivery schedule, the RMAF expects to receive six FA-50M units by April 2027, with the remaining 12 aircraft delivered by early 2028. The ministry will decide on the final unit allocation for Labuan once the Hawk fleet is retired.

Khaled noted that the procurement aligns with the RMAF Capability Development Plan 2055 (CAP55). He added that the government is open to evaluating a second batch of advanced fighter aircraft in future defense procurement budgets.

To support operational readiness, a cadre of 57 core personnel—including six pilots, six engineering officers, and 45 technicians—completed specialized training in South Korea. The aircraft will be operated by No. 15 Squadron based out of RMAF Kuantan.

FA-50M Specifications, Delivery Timeline, and Personnel Training

Key aircraft capabilities, delivery milestones, and operational details include:

• Aircraft Performance: Two-seat light combat aircraft capable of speeds up to Mach 1.2 for advanced fighter training and operational strike missions.
• Delivery Timeline: First two units delivered on October 30, 2026; six total units expected by April 2027; remaining 12 units delivered by early 2028.
• Fleet Replacement: Replaces the RMAF’s aging Hawk aircraft fleet ahead of its planned 2028 decommissioning.
• Squadron & Personnel: Assigned to No. 15 Squadron at RMAF Kuantan; supported by 57 South Korea-trained core personnel, including six pilots who completed training on October 21.

–NMT