First FA-50M jets land in Labuan ahead of Kuantan handover

The first FA-50M fighter jets landed at the Labuan air base in Sabah on Friday 30 October. It flew in from South Korea via the Philippines. Labuan was a stop on the way to Kuantan.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the official handover will be in mid-November at Kuantan. Our earlier report said two jets would arrive on Friday, but only one did.

Here is what the jet does, how many are coming and what is still undecided.

What the new FA-50M jet does

The FA-50M is a two-seat, single-engine supersonic trainer and light combat aircraft. It can fly at up to Mach 1.2, the reports say.

First, it will replace the Hawk fleet of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The Hawks are due to retire in 2028.

Khaled witnessed the arrival at Labuan, with senior air force officers and the maker’s executives.

Next, the jets will serve with No. 15 Squadron at Kuantan Air Base. The squadron has more than 200 personnel.

The jets belong to the air force’s lead-in fighter training and light combat aircraft programme. In short, they will train new pilots and fly light combat missions.

The new jet joins an air force that also flies the Su-30MKM and F/A-18D fighters.

The type is built by Korea Aerospace Industries. Its engine is the GE F404, assembled by Hanwha Aerospace.

Also, defence reports list an advanced radar, a targeting pod and in-flight refuelling for the type. Those details are in a defence journal report.

How many are coming and when

Malaysia has ordered 18 jets. Six are due by April 2027. The full order is due by March 2028.

Also, Khaled said the deal with KAI was signed in 2023. Reports put its value at about US$920 million.

Next, two jets left South Korea on Thursday and stopped in the Philippines, Khaled said. Only one reached Labuan on Friday.

The purchase is part of the air force’s CAP55 plan. One report says the jets will also take over the MB-339 training role.

Meanwhile, the air force has trained its first crews. Six pilots finished flight training in South Korea on 21 October.

In all, 57 core personnel were trained there. They are six pilots, six engineering officers and 45 technicians.

What is still undecided

First, Friday’s landing was not the formal handover. That ceremony is still weeks away.

Meanwhile, the second jet was delayed by technical issues. Khaled said it may arrive as early as Saturday 31 October..

Second, the ministry has not said how many FA-50M jets will be based in Labuan. Khaled said it will decide after the Hawks retire in 2028.

He spoke about the issue at the Labuan arrival. The ministry has given no final number.

Next, the government is weighing a second batch of fighters. Khaled said they would be more modern and advanced.

Still, the type of jet has not been chosen. For now, the focus is on the first six jets and the handover.

The next date to watch is mid-November. That is when the formal handover takes place at Kuantan.

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