SACHEON (South Korea): Malaysia is interested in the progress and development achieved by South Korea in the aerospace industry, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.
Speaking during a visit to the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) facility here today, Mahathir said South Korea had made great strides in the highly technological field since the last time he visited the country.
He last visited South Korea as prime minister in 2002.
“I have always been interested in fighter planes and indigenous planes. I want to see how they perform and advancement of your aircraft industry, ” he told KAI’s CEO Ahn Hyun-ho, who received him at the facility.
A qualified pilot and an avid follower of aero technology, Mahathir arrived at the aerospace and defence facility by helicopter at about 10.30am local time.
Sacheon is about 100km from Busan, the host city of the Aseran-South Korea Commemorative Summit 2019, which Mahathir is scheduled to attend.
The prime minister spent more than two hours at the facility, where he met the company’s top officials.
He was briefed on KAI’s FA-50 Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft (LCA).
Present during the visit were Foreign Affairs Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking, Malaysian Ambassador to Korea Mohd Ashri Muda and Malaysian Defence Attache in Seoul Mohd Sobirin Mohd Yusof.
Malaysia is considering purchasing light combat aircraft and is expected to formally launch a procurement effort to enable the RMAF to keep up with advanced technology and capability.
According to defence publication Jane’s Defence Weekly, the RMAF plans to procure up to 36 such aircraft with an option for 26 more to complement its current batch of Hawks, Sukhoi SU-30MKM and FA-18D Hornets fighter jets.
Governmental approval is expected in the first quarter of 2020.
The LCA is expected to serve several roles in the air force, including as lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT).
Among the other types of LCA under consideration, besides KAI’s A-50 Fighting Eagle, are the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Teja, the Leonardo M-346, the Aero Vodochody L-39NG, the CAC L-15A/B, the CAC/PAC JF-17, the Saab Gripen and the Yakovlev Yak-130.