SHAH ALAM: Pros and cons of the LCA/FLIT candidates. As reported previously, the RMAF is planning the procurement of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)/Fighter Lead-In Trainer (FLIT) within the next five years. RMAF had said that it had been given the go-ahead with the programme though it is still yet unclear when it will be green-lighted.
One of the two RTAF T-50 at Kuantan airbase in Jan,. 2018. via @KaptRahmat
Anyhow we know that the details of eight aircraft had been submitted to RMAF following the issuance of an RFI in late 2018 which made LIMA 19 a more lively event than it should have been. The eight aircraft list (in alphabetical order) are:
Aero Vodochody L-39NG
Boeing T-7 Red Hawk
CATIC L-15B
HAL Tejas LCA
Irkut YAK-130
KAI T/FA-50
Leonardo M-346/FA
PAC JF-17
The Outsiders
Despite what has been said here or elsewhere, Malaysian Defence can surmised that – the L-39NG, T-7, L-15B, YAK-130 and the JF-17 – are ranked outsiders for the requirement for various reasons from being relatively new aircraft to subject to sanctions if purchased (CAATSA).
Favourites
With five of the eight in the outsiders category we are now left with three most likely candidates, the T/FA-50s, M-346 and the Tejas. The Tejas is the dark horse as it will be the one having the highest national interest quotient.
On technical specifications, numbers in service and maturity, the T/FA-50 has the highest ranking with the M-346 coming in a distant second. It is ranked higher than the Tejas as it has been in service much longer and in more countries. Its LCA offering the FA, however, is the least mature of the three candidates though it ranked higher than the Tejas for FLIT as it was designed from the start as the South Korean candidate.
It must be noted that the Tejas will be part of the outsiders grouping if not for the fact that India may well offer barter trade for palm oil for the aircraft. That is good enough to put it in the favourites group.
Conclusion
I have no idea which aircraft will be selected for the LCA/LIFT programme though personally I am incline to the KAI aircraft. It may well be that RMAF has a pretty good idea of its preferred candidate as well but again it will not solely the one making decision.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (40)
Interesting, I agree with your first two choices but consider L15b as the darhorse and not the tejas. China can similarly offer barter trade with palm oil as apart from India and Pakistan, they also a large importer of our palm oil. Except for the engine which uses a Ukrainian engine which last I check is not subject to caaTsa, the rest of the match 1.4 plane are indigenous to China. Plus it already had an export customer being an African country. But other politician and SCS issues would complicate the matter
But Gripen Is on the list right ?
Reply
Nope
Marhalim - “ though personally I am incline to the KAI aircraft”
Agreed. From a logical and practical perspective it should be the one selected. If course I’m assuming that the RMAF satisfied with the overall capabilities as both a LCA and a LIFT.
The only issues - apart from the price tag - is integrating a suitable radar and targeting/navigational pod and our planners not being bothered that it’s operated by several immediate neighbours. .
In my mine is T-7, M-346 or T-50...that it..
Though I personally think the M346 will win but the price tag which is about usd 35 mil a piece based on the Italian army order of 9 for 300 mil euro, is almost the price of Russian mig29 m of Egypt and j10 of China, but off course none of those are LIFT
No preference; I trust that the RMAF knows what it wants. What I do hope that the selected aircraft is the result of careful technical deliberation and assessment and less of political influence.
In terms of barter trade, the Italians too had a precedent when selling the M346, and with commodity prices going up again, there is chance they might be interested in some of our agricultural produces. Learn from the best in the region, there must be some reasons they chose M346 over T/FA-50.
Am inclined to agree with joe's last comment. I do feel M346FA is not exactly the best out there for our needs but it does have many positives compared to even the hot favourites, the KAI offering, FA50. And definitely the final decision makers has got to be BARMY if the Tejas is chosen when even the IAF is said to be vociferously against the Tejas. Or unless as mentioned, the Indians can be cajoled to complete the 'purchased' planes on time and via barter trade for our palm oil🤪!
ASM - “No preference; I trust that the RMAF knows what it wants”
Agreed. By this stage it has a pretty good idea as to which platform comes closest to meeting its requirements. The RMAF’s requirements will differ from other air arms as each will go about things differently. The problem or rather the challenge is the need for a common platform.
Depends on the trade offs RMAF is willing to make; the platform it wants might meet all its requirements as a LCA but less as a LIFT it vice versa. Others might choose a particular platform because it’s ideal as a LIFT and because it has no need for a LCA. For the RSAF it’s LIFTs serve primarily as LIFTs but for others a LIFT also must have a combat utility.
Any news on mpa and drone tenders?