Korea’s FA-50 also vying for a place in TUDM fleet
The South Korean FA-50 is said to be vying for a place in the Royal Malaysian Air Force fleet.
PETALING JAYA: A dogfight seems to be shaping up in the skies over Malaysia.
A new light combat aircraft is now said to be in contention for a place in the fleet of fighter aircraft in the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM).
Earlier reports have said that the Indian-made Tejas was the fighter jet of choice, but a new report on Singapore-based GBP (gbp.com.sg), an aerospace and defence news website, said the South Korean built FA-50 Golden Eagle is also in the battle to join the TUDM fleet.
The Tejas is built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). Early this month, HAL chairman and managing director R Madhavan was quoted in an Indian Express report as saying that negotiations were almost in the final stages.
According to Madhavan then, a team of Malaysian officials and experts were expected to visit India “soon” to finalise the deal.
The offer was to include the setting up of a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Malaysia that will also offer support to Malaysia’s fleet of Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft.
The report on GBP quoted an unnamed official saying that RMAF chief Asghar Goriman Khan “has evinced keen interest in the FA-50 compared to the other vying aircraft”, alluding to the Tejas.
The report also said that the deal would be expected to go through if the current government returns to power in the next general election. The elections are not due until September next year but there is strong speculation that it will be held much earlier.
The GBP report said defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein “also seems to be interested in acquiring the FA-50” after he said that the aircraft was “a reliable platform based on good reputation”.
The FA-50 is built by the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).
The report also said that a senior KAI official also confirmed that Malaysia was already in “advanced talks” with the manufacturer.
“The two countries believe that bilateral cooperation in the defence industry can become a symbol of mutual trust and a robust strategic partnership,” the official was quoted as saying.
At a meeting between Hishammuddin and his South Korean counterpart Suh Wook in April when the two signed a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation, Suh also took the opportunity to promote the FA-50.
PETALING JAYA: A dogfight seems to be shaping up in the skies over Malaysia.
A new light combat aircraft is now said to be in contention for a place in the fleet of fighter aircraft in the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM).
Earlier reports have said that the Indian-made Tejas was the fighter jet of choice, but a new report on Singapore-based GBP (gbp.com.sg), an aerospace and defence news website, said the South Korean built FA-50 Golden Eagle is also in the battle to join the TUDM fleet.
The Tejas is built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). Early this month, HAL chairman and managing director R Madhavan was quoted in an Indian Express report as saying that negotiations were almost in the final stages.
According to Madhavan then, a team of Malaysian officials and experts were expected to visit India “soon” to finalise the deal.
The offer was to include the setting up of a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Malaysia that will also offer support to Malaysia’s fleet of Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft.
The report on GBP quoted an unnamed official saying that RMAF chief Asghar Goriman Khan “has evinced keen interest in the FA-50 compared to the other vying aircraft”, alluding to the Tejas.
The report also said that the deal would be expected to go through if the current government returns to power in the next general election. The elections are not due until September next year but there is strong speculation that it will be held much earlier.
The GBP report said defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein “also seems to be interested in acquiring the FA-50” after he said that the aircraft was “a reliable platform based on good reputation”.
The FA-50 is built by the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).
The report also said that a senior KAI official also confirmed that Malaysia was already in “advanced talks” with the manufacturer.
“The two countries believe that bilateral cooperation in the defence industry can become a symbol of mutual trust and a robust strategic partnership,” the official was quoted as saying.
At a meeting between Hishammuddin and his South Korean counterpart Suh Wook in April when the two signed a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation, Suh also took the opportunity to promote the FA-50.
FA-50 looks very impressive , and South Korea has been very innovative in developing the fighter at a far lower cost than Western designs.
ReplyDeleteHowever, key advanced avionics and weapons systems in the FA-50 involve Wankee designs and/or systems and subject to Wankee End Use restrictions.
These are similar to the restrictions that Malaysia strongly objects to and a key reason why Malaysia abhors buying Wankee military equipment.
Up to about 1980, Malaysia still mainly sourced its military equipment from USA and Britain, but it's a totally different attitude now .