The Malaysian Ministry is currently holding a fighter competition to replace
the role of the Aermacchi MB-339CM.
The Malaysian Ministry of Defense has issued a tender advertisement for the
procurement of 18 Fighter Lead-In Trainer/Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT/LCA)
aircraft for RMAF use.
Various countries have participated and are competing to win the country's
aircraft competition.
Previously, the Leonardo company offered the M-346 Fighter Attack aircraft
which was considered the strongest candidate for the Malaysian competition.
The M-346 FA has also been used by several countries such as Singapore,
Poland, Israel and Qatar.
According to Defense News, Qatar has acquired six M-346 FA aircraft as an
aircraft procurement agreement signed in 2010.
Not inferior to Leonardo, the aerospace company from South Korea, Korean
Aerospace Industries (KAI) is trying hard to win the competition by
proposing the latest variant of the F-50 aircraft.
KAI itself is currently developing the KF-21 Boramae aircraft with
Indonesia.
The KF-21 Boramae aircraft is rumored to be making its maiden flight in
June.
Although busy with the development of the KF-21 Boramae, KAI also offers
Malaysia the newest and most affordable variant of the aircraft, the FA-50
Block 20.
"If the FA-50 Block 20 aircraft is chosen, Malaysia will be the first
country to use its variant which is equipped with equipment for air
refueling," said Major (B) Mohd Iswandi Mohd Sharif as quoted by
Zonajakarta.com from Defense Security Asia.
The ability to refuel in the air is indeed one of the aspects desired by the
RMAF.
The Air Forces of other countries such as Thailand operate 14 T-50 variants.
The Philippine Air Force uses 12 FA-50 LCA variants, and the Indonesian Air
Force uses about 22 T-50 aircraft.
In addition to training pilots, the latest variant of the aircraft offered
to Malaysia is considered more capable because it has been updated and is
equipped with various equipment to carry out missions and operations.
To win the tender, KAI did not hesitate to equip the F-50 Block 20 with
various advanced equipment.
According to Mohd Iswandi, the FA-50 Block 20 aircraft offered by KAI to
Malaysia are equipped with various capable equipment.
The equipment includes the 20mm Sniper Advance Targeting Pod, AIM-9
missiles, GBU-12 LGB Integration, GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions
(JDAM), and AGM-65 Maverick missiles.
The FA-50 Block 20 aircraft will also be equipped with an Air-to-Air
Refueling Probe (AAR Probe) for air refueling.
The convenience of the AAR Probe will allow the FA-50 Block 20 aircraft to
operate at longer and longer distances.
If the FA-50 Block 20 aircraft is selected in the Malaysian Ministry of
Defense competition, KAI offers to be ready to build a final aircraft
assembly facility in Malaysia.
The offer is also part of an industry collaboration partner program with
KAI's local partner in Malaysia, Kemalak Systems.
The existence of the FA-50 final assembly facility in Malaysia will have a
positive impact on the country in mastering high technology in the aviation
sector.
In addition to the final assembly center, KAI also offered to establish a
Maintenance, Refurbishment and Overhaul (MRO) center for Malaysia.
Although KAI's offer is very tempting, the other tender competitors cannot
be underestimated.
Apart from Leonardo and KAI, five other countries have participated in the
tender for the Malaysian Ministry of Defense.
