Page 21 - ADT APRIL 2022 Online Magazine

matically enhanced. The Indian light fighter also features a very
high percentage of Carbon Fibre Composite (CFC) materials, which
make up approximately 45 per cent of its airframe, including in the
fuselage (doors and skins), wings (skin, spars and ribs), elevons, [ AIR ]
tailfin, rudder, air brakes and landing gear doors. Tejas Mk1 and
Mk1A fighter jets are powered by GE F404-IN20 engines.
Turkey Makes Strong Push
Turkey already has a strong existing defence partnership with
Malaysia and is pulling out all stops to ensure that its new Hurjet
advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft emerges as the winner
of the RMAF requirement. The newest aircraft amongst all the
contenders, the Hurjet is slated to make its maiden flight shortly.
Though originally designed as a jet trainer, the single-engine,
tandem-seat jet will also be equipped with modern avionics and
high-performance components to conduct combat missions. The
Hurjet programme was launched by Turkish Aerospace in 2017 and
is expected to enter series production in 2025.
Turkish Aerospace President and CEO Prof. Temel Kotil, speaking
on the eve of the DSA exhibition in Malaysia said, “Malaysia is
increasing the importance in the field of technology among Asian
countries. In our technology center located in Malaysia, further to
our R&D activities, we would intend to carry out important studies to
increase the capacity in the aviation and space industry of the two
countries with our Malaysian engineer colleagues. In a short time,
we have signed important collaborations. We will continue these Turkish Aerospace is pursuing the sale of the
initiatives in the coming period. We are competing with our HÜRJET jet trainer with the possibility of local produc-
platform in Malaysia's Jet Trainer tender process, which is closely tion in Malaysia. Turkish Aerospace also signed
followed by the world. Regardless of the outcome of this tender a cooperation agreement with Malaysian firm
process, we aim to continue to contribute to the development of DEFTECH at the recently concluded DSA 2022,
the capacities of aviation technologies between the two countries.” on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) activities in
Malaysia. Turkish Aerospace has also invested
in setting up its engineering and design office
in Southeast Asia, which is located in Malaysia.

Korean FA-50 Enters Fray
Another contender for the RMAF requirement
is the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50
light attack aircraft, which has been deployed
and operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force
(ROKAF) since 2013. Other variants of the type
are, the T-50 advanced jet trainer and TA-50
Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT). This family of
aircraft has met with strong export success
and Indonesia is slated to take delivery of two
more T-50TH by November 2023.

Indonesia selected Korean type to replace its
Hawk trainers and has placed orders for 20
T-50s. KAI has exported over 70 T-50 family
aircraft, to the Philippines, Iraq, Thailand and
Indonesia. KAI also received another order for
the TA-50 lead-in fighter for the Republic of
Korea Air Force (ROKAF) in 2020. Under the
terms of the deal, KAI was to deliver TA-50
trainers along with an integrated logistics
support system by 2024. The T-50 has been
operational with the ROKAF since 2005.

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