Malaysia received its first South Korean-made light combat jet on Friday under a nearly 4 billion ringgit (US$990 million) procurement, in what analysts describe as welcome relief for an ageing air force still years away from replacing its frontline fighters. The FA-50M Block 20 jet arrived at the air force base in Labuan, off Borneo, with a second expected in Kuantan on the peninsula’s east coast next Monday. They are the first of 18 aircraft ordered from Korea Aerospace Industries under a deal
Saviour or stop gap? Malaysia’s South Korean jets arrive to relieve ageing fighters
The ordered planes mark the Malaysian air force’s first fleet renewal in 19 years since the delivery of Russian Sukhois in 2007
The remaining aircraft are scheduled to arrive in stages through March 2028 – beginning the first fleet renewal in 19 years since the delivery of Russian-built Sukhoi Su-30MKMs in 2007.