The aircraft arrived Sunday after departing Sacheon, South Korea, on Oct. 29 and flying through Jeju, Laoag in the Philippines and Labuan in Malaysia. KAI pilots were accompanied by Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) pilots from the 15th Squadron during the final flight from Labuan to Kuantan.
The two jets will undergo final acceptance tests before being formally handed over to the Malaysian Air Force in late November.
The delivery is part of a contract signed in May 2023 to supply 18 FA-50M aircraft worth nearly 4 billion Malaysian ringgit. The remaining aircraft are expected to be delivered in stages through 2028.
Malaysia is modernizing its air force under a long-term program known as Capability Development Plan 2055, or CAP55, which aims to replace aging aircraft and strengthen its operational capabilities.
The FA-50M will replace the British-made Hawk 108 and 208 aircraft, which have served Malaysia as advanced trainers and light combat jets. The Hawks are scheduled to be retired by 2028.
The replacement comes as Malaysia seeks to strengthen its ability to defend airspace across the Malay Peninsula and Malaysian Borneo, two regions separated by the South China Sea.
The FA-50M is equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which improves target detection and tracking, and a Sniper targeting pod for identifying and engaging targets during day and night operations.
The aircraft also features an aerial refueling system and newly introduced 275-gallon external fuel tanks, extending its operational range and flight endurance compared with earlier FA-50 variants.
Malaysia's 15th Squadron will operate the aircraft from Kuantan Air Base, with pilot training and maintenance preparations already underway.
"The arrival of the FA-50Ms marks an important step as the project jointly pursued by the two countries since the contract was signed enters the actual delivery stage," a KAI official said.
The official added that KAI would support the acceptance process, subsequent deliveries and maintenance to help strengthen the Malaysian Air Force's operational capabilities.
Beyond the initial contract, KAI is seeking opportunities to supply another 18 FA-50M aircraft and potentially its more advanced KF-21 fighter jet.
The company is also exploring a performance-based logistics (PBL) arrangement, under which maintenance support is linked to operational performance, as part of its efforts to expand long-term cooperation with Malaysia.
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