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| RMAF Departs to South Korea for Physical Inspection of FA-50 Light Fighter |
Seoul - The evaluation team of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is already in South Korea to physically inspect the FA-50 aircraft. The team was flown in to perform a physical evaluation of the aircraft. In addition, they also reviewed the capabilities of the FA-50 aircraft through a flight evaluation session.
Quoted from Defense Security Asia, RMAF officers visited the 8th Fighter Wing air base in Wonju, Gangwo-do. "The physical assessment phase (of the FA-50 aircraft) has been completed and starting next week they (RMAF physical assessment team) will conduct a flight assessment in Wonju," the source told Defense Security Asia.
In the evaluation of the flight, RMAF officers will also board an FA-50 aircraft belonging to the South Korean Air Force. The flight evaluation phase will use ROKAF's FA-50 Block 10 aircraft. This is because the FA-50 Block 20 aircraft are still being developed by KAI with Poland as the first user.
If Malaysia chooses the FA-50 Block 20, it will be the second user of the light fighter variant. The FA-50 Block 20 aircraft variant offered to Malaysia will be equipped with an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar.
The FA-50 Block 20 to be used by Poland and Malaysia (if those countries opt for a light fighter) will be equipped with an AESA radar made by US defense company Raytheon.
The FA-50 Block 20 will most likely use the Raytheon APG-79 AESA radar which is the same AESA radar used by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft. The APG-79 AESA radar has a “detection range” of 150km and is said to be a high-capacity type of radar with the ability to detect multiple targets instantly.
Quoted from radartutorial.eu, the AN/APG-79 is an AESA radar made by Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems as the main contractor. Then there is Northrop Grumman who is responsible for the design and construction of the X-Band phased array antenna.
The AN/APG-79 radar is also referred to as an advanced derivative designed to suit the F/A-18C/D fighter/attack aircraft. Where it is used as part of a modernization program for existing customers such as the US Navy and Air Forces of Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, or Switzerland.