Malaysia’s Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) received its first KAI FA-50M light combat aircraft on 30 October, when the aircraft arrived at Labuan air base after flying from Sacheon, South Korea. Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin took delivery. The arrival was of one aircraft, not two; a formal handover ceremony is planned for mid-November at RMAF’s Kuantan base.
Malaysia has ordered 18 FA-50Ms under a programme combining fighter training and light combat capabilities. Khaled expects six aircraft to arrive by April 2027, with the remaining deliveries due in early 2028. The fleet is intended to support the replacement of the RMAF’s Hawk aircraft, which are scheduled to retire in 2028.
The FA-50Ms will be operated by No. 15 Squadron, based at Kuantan. The number eventually assigned to Labuan has not been determined. Fifty-seven Malaysian pilots and technical personnel have completed training in South Korea; six pilots finished flight training on 21 October. The acquisition forms part of Malaysia’s long-term CAP55 capability plan. No contract value was provided.