RMAF FA50 Programme - Next?

The Malaysian Government's decision to procure the FA50 Fighting Eagle for Royal Malaysian Air Force's Light Combat Aircraft programme provides a new opportunity for the service branch to fix an oft-unspoken problem faced by the service. 

South Korean Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) FA50. Source: RoKAF.

They Spied for the Enemy - Stories of Traitors

Amidst the war in Ukraine between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, British news outlets published a piece of small yet possibly significant news. On Friday, the 17th of February 2023, British High Court found David Ballantyne Smith guilty of charges of spying for Russia. Smith, a former aircraftman with the Royal Air Force (RAF), worked as a security guard at the British Embassy in Berlin when he committed the offence.

Smith, photo taken by undercover agents during the sting operation. Photo credit: The Guardian.

 

RMAF to get FA50 for LCA Programme

Yesterday (24th February 2023), Korean Aerospace Industries Co. (KAI) announced that they had won the bid to supply 18 units of FA50 to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) for its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme. The RM 4.1 billion (about USD 920 million) contract will see KAI deliver the combat aircraft to Malaysia beginning in 2026. 

South Korean Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) FA50. Source: RoKAF.

High-Altitude Spying

It has been about half a month since the United States accused China of sending spy balloons into its airspace and spying on its critical military installations. The US had since downed the alleged spy balloon. Together with it, the US had also shot down three other unknown flying objects. US President Joe Biden on 17 February announced that the three objects downed later were not related to the first alleged spy balloon and were civilian. For the record, the three objects had been flying between the height of 20,000 to 40,000 feet and were a potential threat to civilian air traffic.

A screenshot of the alleged spy balloon.

Navy Chief Intends to Upgun the LMS

Recently, the new Chief of the Navy, Datuk Abdul Rahman bin Ayob hinted that he intends to procure a new batch of armed Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) as part of his plan to rejuvenate the Navy.

Laksamana Datuk Abdul Rahman saluting the Guard of Honour at MINDEF. Photo credit: Cawangan Komunikasi Strategik, Markas Tentera Laut