Malaysia Issued Tender for 18 Light Combat Aircraft

23 Juni 2021

Favorite contenders for LCA are JF-17 Thunder and FA 50 Golden Eagle (photo : Sina)

LCA Tender Is Out

The much awaited and anticipated international tender for the Light Combat Aircraft/ Fighter lead in Trainer (LCA/FLIT) program has been officially begin following the issuance of call for bid by MINDEF on June 22.

Tender documents could be procured beginning from June 29. A tender clarification briefing will be made on July 28. All bid shall be submitted before or on September 22, 2021.

The tender will see the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) procuring an initial batch of 18 LCA/FLIT to replace 8 Alenia MB-339CM FLIT and 10 BAe Hawk Mk 108 advanced jet trainer (AJT). This means that the final batch of 18 LCA to replace the remaining BAe Hawk Mk 208 Fighter Ground Attack (FGA) aircraft will be made at later date in different tender exercise.

FA-50 Golden Eagle (photo : Yunjaekim)

The RMAF has a requirement for 36 LCA/FLIT to fill in 3 squadrons namely No 6 Skn, No 9 Skn and No 15 Skn as part of Capability 2055 (CAP55) strategic plan. Recently, during his speech in conjunction with the RMAF Day on June 1, the Air Force Chief has announced that the 3rd Flight Training Centre (Pusat Latihan Terbang 3 – PULATIBANG 3) at Kuantan AFB will be disbanded and replaced by No 15 Skn which will hand over its Hawks to No 6/9 Skn at Labuan AFB once it received the first LCA/FLIT in few years time.

The LCA/FLIT program is one of the priority program under the 12th Malaysia Plan that runs until 2025.

(MFH)