RMAF Conduct Tests On KAI FA-50 Fighting Eagle

22 Oktober 2019

RMAF delegation with the F/A-50 (photo : MFH)

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has recently conducted flight tests on the South Korean-made KAI FA-50 Fighting Eagle as part of its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program. The flight test was conducted at the backdrop of Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ADEX 2019) held in Seoul where the Chief or the Air Force and the Commander of 1st Air Region have made paid a visit to Republic of Korean Air Force (ROKAF)’s 8th Fighter Wing in Wonju.

The 8th Fighter Wing is responsible for 103rd Fighter Squadron and 239 Special Flying Squadron (better known as the Black Eagles Aerobatic Flying Team). These squadrons respectively operate the KAI FA-50 Fighting Eagle and KAI T-50B Golden Eagle.

The Black Eagle had performed in Malaysia during the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace (LIMA) 2017 show using the  T-50B variant with smoke generators. The B variant is specially modified from the T-50A Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) and is equivalent to the Malaysians’ BAe Hawk Mk 108 trainers.

Having said that, the battle proven FA-50 is the armed variant of the T-50 which is equipped with radar as well as the ability to fire and dispense AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air-missile (AAM), AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground-missile (AGM) and Mk 80 series unguided bombs. The FA-50 has prove its ability in combat over Marawi in the Philippines. A similar variant, the T-50IQ has also being involved in combat operations over northern Iraq.

The FA-50 is seen as possible candidate to replace the BAe Hawk Mk 208 Fighter Ground Attack (FGA) aircraft which has also seen combat actions over Lahad Datu, Sabah during Ops Daulat in 2013. Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is also operating BAe Hawk Mk 209 but has planned to replaced them either with additional T-50/FA-50 or F-16V ‘Viper’ Falcon in the next decade.

Under the LCA program, the RMAF intends to replace its Alenia MB-339CM LIFT with trainer variant of the LCA by 2025 and its BAe Hawk Mk 108/208 by 2030. It has already tested Russian made, Irkutsk built Yakovlev Yak-130 (NATO Reporting Name: Mitten) during the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace (LIMA) 2019 show last March.

The test over Wonju was conducted by the Commander of 1st Air Region, Mej Jen Dato’ Zahani Zainal Abidin TUDM, a former instructor pilot of Boeing F/A-18D Hornet strike fighter.

(MFH)