Malaysia inks light combat jet, maritime patrol aircraft deals

LANGKAWI, Malaysia — Malaysia has signed more than 40 agreements worth $2.2 billion for confirmed and potential defense acquisitions, including for light combat aircraft, armed drones and maritime patrol aircraft, at the ongoing Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace, or LIMA, exhibition here.

The largest of the contracts was a deal for 18 Korean Aerospace Industries FA-50 light combat jets. The Royal Malaysian Air Force will use these jets for the fighter lead-in training and light combat roles.

In February, it was announced that Malaysia had selected the FA-50 as its light combat aircraft, with KAI stating at the time the value of the order was $920 million. Malaysia has an eventual requirement for up to 36 jets.

Speaking to Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama, KAI chief executive officer Kang Goo-young confirmed the RMAF will begin receiving the FA-50 Block 20 “Fighting Eagle” aircraft in 2026, with the first four jets built in South Korea while the remaining 14 will be assembled locally.

He added that the jets will come with active electronically scanned array, or AESA, radars, although he did not identify the radar model.

South Korea’s LIG Nex1 is developing the ESR-500A AESA radar for the FA-50, while Raytheon Technologies announced earlier this month its PhantomStrike radar will be equipping the FA-50.

Among the other contracts signed at the LIMA ceremony was a deal for two maritime patrol aircraft from Italy’s Leonardo for $150.78 million.

Malaysian defense minister Hishammuddin Hussein in October announced the selection of the ATR-72MP, which is based on the ATR-72 twin-turboprop regional airliner, for its longstanding requirement.

Leonardo says the ATR-72 is equipped with its Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance mission system, which integrates the aircraft’s sensor suite that includes a Seaspray 7300E V2 and enables it to perform a variety of missions, including maritime patrol, anti-submarine, airborne surveillance and intelligence gathering.

A deal with Turkish Aerospace Industries for its Anka medium-altitude long-endurance drones will see Malaysia buy three of the unmanned aircraft, which can be armed with guided bombs and missiles.

Malaysia’s acquisition of the drones is valued at $92 million and will be the first armed drones to enter service with the RMAF.

It was also announced at LIMA that Malaysia will lease four Sikorsky UH-60A+ Blackhawk transport helicopters from local company Aerotree Defence and Services. The helicopters are secondhand aircraft and will be flown by the Malaysian Army’s air wing for training and operational duties.

Mike Yeo is the Asia correspondent for Defense News.

马来西亚兰卡威——在正在兰卡威举行的兰卡威国际海事与航空航天展（LIMA）上，马来西亚签署了超​​过 40 项协议，总价值达 22 亿美元，涉及已确认和潜在的国防采购，包括轻型战斗机、武装无人机和海上巡逻机。

其中最大的一笔合同是向马来西亚皇家空军采购18架韩国航空航天工业公司（KAI）生产的FA-50轻型战斗机。马来西亚皇家空军将使用这些战机进行战斗机进阶训练和轻型作战任务。

今年2月，马来西亚宣布选择FA-50作为其轻型战斗机，韩国航空航天工业公司（KAI）当时表示订单价值9.2亿美元。马来西亚最终需要多达36架该型战机。

韩国航空航天工业公司（KAI）首席执行官姜九永在接受马来西亚国家通讯社马新社采访时证实，马来西亚皇家空军将于2026年开始接收FA-50 Block 20“战斗鹰”战斗机，首批四架飞机将在韩国制造，其余14架将在马来西亚本地组装。

他还补充说，这些喷气式飞机将配备有源电子扫描阵列（AESA）雷达，但他没有透露雷达型号。

韩国 LIG Nex1 公司正在为 FA-50 开发 ESR-500A AESA 雷达，而雷神技术公司本月早些时候宣布，其 PhantomStrike 雷达将装备 FA-50。

在 LIMA 仪式上签署的其他合同中，还有一份价值 1.5078 亿美元的合同，从意大利莱昂纳多公司购买两架海上巡逻机。

马来西亚国防部长希沙姆丁·侯赛因于 10 月宣布，已选定 ATR-72MP 来满足其长期以来的需求。ATR-72MP 是以 ATR-72 双涡轮螺旋桨支线客机为基础的。

莱昂纳多公司表示，ATR-72 配备了其机载战术观察和监视任务系统，该系统集成了飞机的传感器套件（包括 Seaspray 7300E V2），使其能够执行各种任务，包括海上巡逻、反潜、空中监视和情报收集。

马来西亚与土耳其航空航天工业公司达成协议，将购买三架安卡（Anka）中空长航时无人机，这些无人机可以配备制导炸弹和导弹。

马来西亚此次采购的无人机价值 9200 万美元，这将是马来西亚皇家空军首批投入使用的武装无人机。

在兰卡威国际海事及航展（LIMA）上还宣布，马来西亚将从当地公司Aerotree Defence and Services租赁四架西科斯基UH-60A+“黑鹰”运输直升机。这些直升机是二手飞机，将由马来西亚陆军航空兵用于训练和作战任务。

Mike Yeo 是《防务新闻》的亚洲通讯员。