Saviour or stopgap? Malaysia’s South Korean jets arrive to relieve ageing fighters

AI Summary

Malaysia has received its first FA-50M light combat aircraft from South Korea under a nearly 4 billion ringgit procurement contract. The delivery begins an 18-jet order intended to provide interim support for an ageing air force while Malaysia awaits longer-term fighter replacements.

Malaysia received its first South Korean-made light combat jet on Friday under a nearly 4 billion ringgit (US$990 million) procurement, in what analysts describe as welcome relief for an ageing air force still years away from replacing its frontline fighters. The FA-50M Block 20 jet arrived at the air force base in Labuan, off Borneo, with a second expected in Kuantan on the peninsula’s east coast next Monday. They are the first of 18 aircraft ordered from Korea Aerospace Industries under a deal...