SUBANG, June 18 — The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) plans to replace its existing C-130 Hercules transport aircraft in line with growing operational demands and the ageing condition of the fleet.
Its chief, Gen Tan Sri Muhamad Norazlan Aris, said the plan is receiving special attention, as of the 10 C-130 aircraft they currently operate, the earliest unit they received is now 50 years old, while the latest is 31 years old.
Rising maintenance costs for ageing aircraft, coupled with the technological advantages and greater payload capacity of newer-generation aircraft, make replacing the C-130 necessary despite the proven capabilities of the current model.
“The RMAF’s responsibilities are becoming greater and more challenging, therefore we need assets capable of carrying out those tasks,” he told the media after the 68th Royal Malaysian Air Force Anniversary Parade today.
Norazlan added that the RMAF is also conducting studies to replace its multi-role combat aircraft and to increase the number of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) by 2035, as existing assets are expected to become obsolete and face maintenance support issues by then.
They have yet to decide whether to acquire 4.5-generation, fifth-generation, or sixth-generation aircraft, as any new procurement must take into account the defensive nature of the National Defence Policy.
Meanwhile, he said infrastructure facilities at Kuantan Air Base to handle the operation of the FA-50 LCA are expected to be fully completed by October.
Six RMAF pilots are currently undergoing FA-50 flight training at Gwangju Air Base in South Korea together with a technical support team, with two of them scheduled to complete training in October and the remaining four in December.
“Once they return, they can begin flying immediately. We only need to establish the squadron and prepare the standard operating procedures according to RMAF requirements,” Norazlan said, adding that the arrival of the FA-50 would enable RMAF to train more pilots locally before they progress to more advanced aircraft.
The Defence Ministry signed a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries in 2023 to acquire 18 FA-50 aircraft, with the first two expected to be delivered to the RMAF in October, and the remainder to follow in stages.
