KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has received its first FA-50M light combat aircraft, which touched down on Malaysian soil today.

The grey aircraft, bearing RMAF markings, arrived from South Korea and made a transit stop at the Labuan Air Base at noon.

Its arrival was witnessed by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali and RMAF chief General Tan Sri Muhamad Norazlan Aris.

Khaled at a press conference later said Malaysia had signed a contract with South Korea's Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in 2023 to procure 18 FA-50M aircraft, which would serve as both fighter pilot training jets and operational combat aircraft.