Malaysia has secured a candidate for the procurement of RMAF FLIT/LCA aircraft. There are at least two candidates that caught the attention of the Malaysian Air Force. The two aircraft are the FA-50 Block 20 aircraft produced by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and the M-346FA (Fighter Attack) developed by Leonardo.
The two planes were chosen after Malaysia expressed no interest in the fighter aircraft made by the French company, the Rafale, and the South Korean and Indonesian project aircraft, the KF-21 Boramae.
Reporting from the Defense Security Asia page, the Italian-based company Leonardo is no stranger to Malaysia and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).
The reason is, the Leonardo company has long been established in the country with several products that have been and are being used by its customers in the country such as the AW139 helicopter including the Aermacchi MB-339CM trainer aircraft which was recently dismissed by the RMAF.
Leonardo, one of the companies participating in the competition to supply 18 units of Fighter Lead-In Trainer (FLIT)/Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to RMAF) has offered the latest variant of the M-346 aircraft, namely the M-346FA (Fighter Attack).
Currently, the M-346 aircraft has three variants, namely M-346 AJT (Advanced Jet Trainer), M-346 FT (Fighter Trainer) and M346 FA (Fighter Attack).
Among regional countries, the M-346 Advanced Jet Trainer is no stranger because the Regional Republican Air Force has been a customer since 2012 with 12 aircraft as well as several air forces of other countries including Italy and Israel.
. Due to its familiarity with the RMAF and the Malaysian market, Leonardo's company is one of the leaders in the competition to supply FLIT/LCA aircraft to Malaysia.
Although the early termination of service of the Aermacchi MB-339 advanced training aircraft somewhat tarnished its reputation.
The RMAF used nine Aermacchi MB-339CM advanced training aircraft from 2009 before discontinuing service in 2019. This follows a plane crash in Kuantan in 2019 and several other technical problems.
Recently, the Ministry of Defense confirmed it had discontinued the service of the advanced trainer, even though it had only been in use for 10 years.
For the TUDM FLIT/LCA tender, Leonardo is reportedly offering the M-346FA (Fighter Attack) variant which was introduced around mid-2019 for its customers who want an M-346 aircraft that is more capable in carrying out various missions such as the mini MRCA.
The variant offered to Malaysia is different from the M-346 AJT variant used by the Republic of Singapore Air Force which is dedicated to providing advanced training to the country's fighter pilots.
In addition, the aircraft also has an LCD multi-function display, head-up display, night vision goggle (NVG), voice command system, self-protection system, helmet-mounted display system (HMD), navigation and communication as well as a traffic collision avoidance system. cross.
The aircraft is also equipped with a four-channel fly-by-wire flight control system which enhances flight safety and reliability of the mission being carried out. As for the aircraft engine, it is powered by two Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofan engines which each provide 2,850kg of thrust.
Using internal fuel tanks, the aircraft can operate for two hours and 40 minutes, but operating time can be extended to four hours when using three external fuel tanks containing 630 liters of oil each. If you want to fly longer and fly further, the M-346FA aircraft is capable of air-to-air refueling, one of the specifications outlined by the RMAF.
This Leonardo M-346FA aircraft uses the Grifo radar which is widely used by other aircraft on the market. It is also equipped with seven pylon stations to allow it to carry various types of weapons including Iris-T, AIM-9L air-to-air missiles, small diameter bombs, JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munitions) of various sizes, Paveway and regular bombs.
Previously, Malaysia had openly rejected the Rafale, a fighter aircraft that Indonesia had long wanted.
Malaysian media Defense Security Asia said Dassault Aviation tried to sell the Rafale to Malaysia but was unsuccessful for several years. The variant offered to the RMAF is categorized as a mini MRCA (multi-role fighter).
. According to the Leonardo company, the latest variant of the M-346FA is designed to provide increased capabilities for military forces in the field.
Leonardo said the FA (Fighter Attack) variant offered to meet the needs of the RMAF can be deployed to perform various tasks on the battlefield such as ground support, including for air-to-ground, tactical, close air support (CAS) and counter insurgency missions (COIN). .
The two-engine aircraft can also be equipped with precision guided munitions (PGM).
In addition, the M-346FA variant was developed to provide pilot training, air combat, airspace enforcement and control as well as tactical monitoring.
Leonardo's two-seater M-346FA variant also features a digital glass cockpit.
In every edition of the LIMA exhibition in Langkawi, the Rafale has never failed to appear on the resort island in an attempt to lure Malaysians into buying the fighter.
However, when there are signs that Malaysia is not interested in buying Rafale aircraft, then Dassault Aviation is unlikely to be seen in Malaysia.
Even though it doesn't have the Rafale, Malaysia has apparently been offered a new variant of the plane from Leonardo, the M-346FA (Fighter Attack).
In addition, compared to the FA-50, Malaysia admits that it is not yet interested in owning the KF-21 Boramae, a fighter aircraft project from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Indonesia.
East Asian defense and aerospace giant Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the same company that produces the FA-50 aircraft, is being marketed to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).
Through an interview with the defense magazine Asia Defense Journal published in July-August, the Commander of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) General Tan Sri Ackbal Abdul Samad was also asked whether Malaysia was interested in the KF-21 Boramae aircraft.
According to him, the planner of the RMAF CAP55 development plan always monitors the latest market developments and system evolution.
However, he said, it was still too early to determine whether the 4.5-generation joint venture fighter aircraft between South Korea and Indonesia was suitable for the RMAF and the country.
Currently, the RMAF is focused on ensuring that existing fighters namely the Sukhoi Su-30MKM and F/A-18D Hornet continue to operate through 2035 and 2040 through various engineering efforts that will also ensure that they remain venomous and relevant.
