RMAF to retire Hawk jets in phases starting 2027

KUALA LUMPUR: All Hawk 108 and Hawk 208 light combat aircraft will be retired from service in phases starting in 2027, after the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) receives and begins operating the FA-50M aircraft from South Korea by the end of next year.

The retirement of the ageing Hawks by the RMAF is expected to be fully completed in 2028, a year after the 18 FA-50M fighter jets reach a stable operational stage.

RMAF chief General Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris said the Hawks are now over 30 years old. Although they are still operational, their use is limited.

He added that the RMAF would face difficulties finding repair facilities if any of the aircraft were to sustain damage, as most modern fighter aircraft systems now use new technology.

"Now we are seeing the challenges of maintaining Hawks that are over 30 years old. It is no longer cost-effective, although they can still be used in a limited capacity.

"At the same time, we will receive 18 FA-50M fighter jets from South Korea by the end of next year to replace the Hawks with aircraft of similar size but higher capabilities.

"The FA-50M system is more advanced with superior specifications. We will train pilots to operate these jets, and once everything is stable, we will retire the Hawks by 2028 at the latest," he said.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin had said in May this year that the RMAF had launched a probe into the safety of its Hawk fighter aircraft fleet.

The investigation followed an incident on 6 May, when a Hawk fighter jet skidded off the runway while landing at Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Kedah.

Malaysia has owned and operated Hawk Mk108/Mk208 fighter jets since 1994 and 1995, with a fleet of 12 Hawk 208s and four two-seat Hawk 108s.

In May 2023, Malaysia and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a contract worth nearly RM4 billion for the procurement of 18 FA-50 Block 20 light combat aircraft, later designated as FA-50M (Malaysia).