Malaysia expects to receive its full fleet of 18 FA-50M light combat aircraft from South Korea by March 2028.
The delivery schedule, confirmed on November 14, 2026, by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, follows the arrival of the initial two aircraft at the RMAF Labuan Air Base on October 30. The procurement is part of a nearly RM4 billion contract signed in 2023 under the 12th Malaysia Plan to bolster national air defense capabilities and replace the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) aging Hawk fleet.
“MINDEF received two of the aircraft at the end of October. Before LIMA, we will receive another four,” said Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The four additional jets are scheduled to arrive in April 2027, ahead of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2027. Following that delivery, the remaining 12 aircraft will be phased in over the subsequent months.
“After that, we will receive all 18 aircraft in phases by March 2028,” Mohamed Khaled told reporters during a launch event for the Malaysia MADANI Adopted School programme in Kota Tinggi.
All 18 FA-50M aircraft, which are manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), will be stationed at the Kuantan Air Base in Pahang. The Defence Minister said that deployment decisions will follow the decommissioning of the current Hawk fleet. “All the aircraft will be based in Kuantan, Pahang, while their subsequent deployment will be considered after the Hawk aircraft are decommissioned,” Mohamed Khaled said.
While the contract was valued at nearly RM4 billion in local currency, international reports have valued the 18-aircraft deal at approximately $920 million. The agreement covers the airframes, equipment, crew training, and logistics support.
The aircraft are intended to serve both as advanced trainers for fighter pilots and as light combat assets. As of mid-November 2026, the first two aircraft remain in the final acceptance testing phase and are not yet part of the operational inventory.
The planes arrived in Kuantan on November 1 after a multi-leg flight from Sacheon, South Korea, which included stops in Jeju, the Philippine city of Laoag, and Labuan. The transition to full operational status remains dependent on the completion of the acceptance tests, ongoing crew training, and the successful integration of systems and weapons.
These jets advance the country's military modernization under the CAP55 plan, which outlines RMAF procurement goals through 2055.
