KAI to export 18 FA-50 fighter jets to Malaysia

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Tue, September 26, 2023 | 07:55

Defense

KAI to export 18 FA-50 fighter jets to Malaysia

Posted : 2023-02-24 17:01

Updated : 2023-02-24 19:47

KAI CEO Kang Gu-young, right, and Datuk Muez bin Abd Aziz, secretary general of Malaysia's defense ministry, sign the FA-50 aircraft deal in the ministry office in Malaysia, Friday. Courtesy of KAI

By Jung Min-ho

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the nation's sole aircraft maker, has won a 1.2 trillion won ($920 million) deal to export 18 FA-50 light attack aircraft to Malaysia, the company announced Friday.

KAI signed the contract with Malaysia's defense ministry after beating rival bidders, including India's Tejas, Pakistan's JF-17, Russia's MIG-35 and Turkey's Hurizet. The achievement is the company's latest expansion into the Southeast Asian market after Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

At the request of Malaysia, KAI will modify the model by adding an aerial refueling system and expanding its weapons capacity, a KAI official told The Korea Times. The goal is to start delivering them in 2026.

Malaysia is considering procuring an additional 18 FA-50 aircraft, the company noted.

KAI attributed the success to the superior quality of its aircraft and the follow-up support, which has been demonstrated in partner countries.

Buoyed by the latest good news, KAI is trying to expand its overseas business to other parts of the world including the United States and Australia.

Last year, the Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province-based company signed a deal to export 48 FA-50s to Poland.

In 2022, KAI's sales surged to 2.78 trillion won from 2.56 trillion won the previous year. This year, it aims to boost the amount to 3.83 trillion won.

mj6c2@koreatimes.co.kr