THE Defence Ministry will begin the evaluation process for the acquisition of Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) in the 2030s to replace the nation's ageing frontline fighter jets.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the process is aligned with the planned retirement timeline of the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s current frontline fighters, including the F/A-18 Hornet and the Sukhoi Su-30MKM, which are expected to be phased out around 2035.
“We have the F-18 and Sukhoi aircraft, which are expected to be decommissioned in 2035. This means that by 2030, we need to begin evaluating which aircraft we intend to acquire to replace these assets,” he said.
He made the remarks after officiating the MADANI Economy programme for the Malaysian Armed Forces at Kem Batu 3 in Kluang.
On the transition away from the Hawk training and light combat fleet, Mohamed Khaled said the Royal Malaysian Air Force will receive 18 FA-50 light combat aircraft in stages beginning at the end of this year.
The acquisition involves the FA-50 Golden Eagle, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries, which will serve both as a replacement for the ageing Hawk fleet and as a supplementary platform to support existing fighter operations.
“The FA-50 has better technological capability compared to the Hawk. It will not only replace the Hawk but also complement the F-18 and Sukhoi fighter aircraft currently in service,” he said.
The government previously signed a letter of acceptance for the FA-50 acquisition valued at RM4.08 billion with Korea Aerospace Industries in February 2023, with the agreement formalised during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2023 (LIMA’23).
The minister also addressed earlier plans to acquire additional F/A-18 aircraft from Kuwait, stating that the proposal had been cancelled due to unspecified reasons.
Despite that, he said the 18 FA-50 aircraft scheduled for delivery would be sufficient to meet current national air defence and sovereignty requirements.
Mohamed Khaled added that his recent working visit to Russia provided an opportunity for Malaysia to evaluate a range of modern military technologies, including combat aircraft, naval vessels, missile systems and radar equipment, as part of efforts to ensure future defence acquisitions align with national defence doctrine.
He said such assessments were crucial for comparing the best available technologies in the global defence market and supporting informed procurement decisions for the country’s long-term security needs. - May 12, 2026
