TUDM LCA/FLIT recent happenings July 2021

 
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There is a flurry of recent news on the global tender for Light Combat Aircraft / Fighter Lead-In Trainer (LCA/FLIT) for Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM). The global tender which was released in June, is expected to be closed on 22 September 2021. 



ROKAF FA-50 with USMC F/A-18C. Picture: USMC

In April 2021, a news release from South Korea (here, the original was taken down) mentions that the JF-17 Thunder is the front running variant, followed by the FA-50. The article mentioned that the JF-17 is the front runner due to "a better mid-range weapons capacity which is a requirement of the Malaysian Air Force". In my opinion, weapons capability is just one of many requirements of the LCA/FLIT, among others such as the need to be a capable Lead-In Fighter Trainer for example.



JF-17 Block III prototype. Picture: chinese internet


Recently there are plenty of news of the HAL Tejas will be offered for the LCA/FLIT global tender (here , here , here and here). From the news it is said that the Tejas will cost about USD41 million each, which is a bit more expensive than the FA-50 sold to The Philippines (around USD34 million each). The HAL Tejas also has not been fully operational (FOC) even with Indian Air Force themselves is still reequipping the 2nd Tejas squadron (18 Squadron in Tamil Nadu) with Tejas Mk1 FOC version.



HAL Tejas Mk1. Picture: Twitter


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The front runners for the LCA/FLIT requirements for TUDM would be in my opinion the Tejas, FA/TA-50 and the JF-17. Tejas and JF-17 main advantage would be the political ability to take Malaysian Palm Oil (MPO) as part payment of the deal. The JF-17 is a fairly mature LCA platform, with more than 50 operational and now in its Block III configuration with AESA radar and a twin seat version. The Tejas as a platform is still a work in progress, with overweight issues, aircraft performance shortfalls and other issues that is to be solved with the Tejas Mk1A. The problem is that the Tejas Mk1A is untill now still not built yet! Another issue with both JF-17 and Tejas is that both of them are not designed as a Fighter Lead-In Trainer that is one of the main requirements by TUDM. The Tejas, with its delta wing configuration, is not an easy and forgiving configuration for a pilot to learn their first landing in a fighter aircraft for example (high landing speeds). TA/FA-50 on the other hand, was designed from day one as a Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) with dedicated ground training aids. Not to mention the build in Embedded Training Systems (ETS) build into the actual aircraft to simulate combat functions, that is not available with either the Tejas or the JF-17.


 FA-50 ground training systems with the Philippines Air Force


Another major point that has been raised is the rumors about the requirement of the 50% payment that must be done in Malaysian Palm Oil (MPO). This has been raised by a few (here and here) and one of them even written off KAI TA/FA-50 chances in the LCA/FLIT global tender due to the rumored MPO requirements. Unbeknown to them, in April 2021, KAI representatives has already met with Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) to discuss on MPO. In a way, this shows that KAI also is ready to take MPO as partial payment of the LCA/LIFT.
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KAI visit to Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). Picture: MPOB FB


It would be very interesting to see which parties that will officially reply to the LCA/FLIT global tender when it closes on 22 September 2021. Hopefully it will provide TUDM with the most capable LCA and LIFT that it badly needs.  
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