Announcing a change to its existing MiG-29 fleet, the Malaysian Air Force will choose from a Korean FA-50 or JF-17 Thunder aircraft for the new platform.
A total of 18 jets will reportedly be purchased, while Rafale, Eurofighter and F-18 aircraft were first offered for Malaysia. Faced with budget problems in the program for new procurement, Malaysia changed its platform to a light attack aircraft.
There had previously been an embargo from the UK for exports of the FA-50, developed under the main contractor of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).
In 2019 KAI signed a $200 million deal with Argentina, but England, which produces several components of the FA-50, did not approve the sale of the components to Argentina.
The Lockheed Martin-made X band AN/APG-67 radar on the aircraft can detect an air target with a cross-sectional area of 5 square meters from a range of 148 kilometres.
The aircraft’s weapons include AIM-9 air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 air-to-surface missiles, rocket pods and bombs.
Developed in partnership with China and Pakistan, the JF-17 uses AIM-9, PL-5, PL-9, PL-12 air-to-air, MAR-1, Exocet AM-39, Hatf 8 ALCM air-to-surface missiles, rocket pods and bombs.
211216-N-QI061-1222 NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (December 16, 2021) An MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), assigned to Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 (VUP-19), sits on the flight line at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Dec. 16, 2021. VUP-19, the Navy’s first Triton squadron, will continue to maintain and operate the aircraft off the East Coast to further develop the concept of operations and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan T. Beard/ Released)