South Korea, Malaysia Sign FA-50 Jet Final Contract at LIMA 2023

Malaysia’s defense minister Mohammad Hassan has signed the final contract for South Korean FA-50 combat trainer aircraft on May 23 at the ongoing Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) exhibition.

Kuala Lumpur inked an initial contract for 18 FA-50s worth over $900 million this February.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said back then that the first aircraft will be delivered to Malaysia by 2026. Malaysian FA-50s will be modified by adding an aerial refueling system and expanding its weapons capacity.

Malaysia joins countries in South East Asia such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand which have previously ordered the FA-50. Poland placed a 48 unit order for FA-50s worth $3 billion last year.

In this tender to buy light combat trainers, the FA-50 has got the better of India's LCA and Pakistan's JF-17 which were earlier considered favorites to bag the order.