Malaysia inks light combat jet, maritime patrol aircraft deals

LANGKAWI, Malaysia — Malaysia has signed greater than 40 agreements price $2.2 billion for confirmed and potential defense acquisitions, including for light combat aircraft, armed drones and maritime patrol aircraft, at the continued Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace, or LIMA, exhibition here.

The most important of the contracts was a deal for 18 Korean Aerospace Industries FA-50 light combat jets. The Royal Malaysian Air Force will use these jets for the fighter lead-in training and lightweight combat roles.

In February, it was announced that Malaysia had chosen the FA-50 as its light combat aircraft, with KAI stating on the time the worth of the order was $920 million. Malaysia has an eventual requirement for as much as 36 jets.

Chatting with Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama, KAI chief executive officer Kang Goo-young confirmed the RMAF will begin receiving the FA-50 Block 20 “Fighting Eagle” aircraft in 2026, with the primary 4 jets in-built South Korea while the remaining 14 will likely be assembled locally.

He added that the jets will include energetic electronically scanned array, or AESA, radars, although he didn’t discover the radar model.

South Korea’s LIG Nex1 is developing the ESR-500A AESA radar for the FA-50, while Raytheon Technologies announced earlier this month its PhantomStrike radar will likely be equipping the FA-50.

Among the many other contracts signed on the LIMA ceremony was a deal for 2 maritime patrol aircraft from Italy’s Leonardo for $150.78 million.

Malaysian defense minister Hishammuddin Hussein in October announced the number of the ATR-72MP, which relies on the ATR-72 twin-turboprop regional airliner, for its longstanding requirement.

Leonardo says the ATR-72 is provided with its Airborne Tactical Remark and Surveillance mission system, which integrates the aircraft’s sensor suite that features a Seaspray 7300E V2 and enables it to perform a wide range of missions, including maritime patrol, anti-submarine, airborne surveillance and intelligence gathering.

A take care of Turkish Aerospace Industries for its Anka medium-altitude long-endurance drones will see Malaysia buy three of the unmanned aircraft, which may be armed with guided bombs and missiles.

Malaysia’s acquisition of the drones is valued at $92 million and will likely be the primary armed drones to enter service with the RMAF.

It was also announced at LIMA that Malaysia will lease 4 Sikorsky UH-60A+ Blackhawk transport helicopters from local company Aerotree Defence and Services. The helicopters are secondhand aircraft and will likely be flown by the Malaysian Army’s air wing for training and operational duties.