The head of the Office of Defense Acquisition Programs of the Republic of Korea, Seok Chong Gon, and the Minister of Defense of Malaysia, Mohamed Khaled Nordin, talked about the possibility of new deliveries of South Korean FA-50 aircraft and the export of the Cheonmu MLRS. The department reported this on its website.
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The meeting happened at the military-industrial complex exhibition in Kuala Lumpur on May 7. Seok Chong Gon and the minister evaluated the progress on the export of FA-50 aircraft – in May 2023, the parties agreed on the supply of 18 fighters.
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“They discussed proposals for the export of the second batch, as well as proposals for the construction of infrastructure for the subsequent logistics of aircraft in Malaysia in order to continue bilateral cooperation,” the press release said.
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The Minister of Defense and the head of the department “agreed to actively consult on the export of weapons,” such as the Cheongmu multiple launch rocket systems and the Cheongun-2 air defense systems. Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Seok Jung Gon were present at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Hanhwa and WBG “for the export of Cheonmu units.” Malaysia plans to replace the outdated MLRS in its arsenal, manufacturers will submit final proposals to the authorities in the second quarter of 2025.
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Seok Chong Gon also discussed opportunities to “strengthen cooperation in the military-industrial complex” with representatives of other Southeast Asian countries.
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“The Philippine side showed interest in the KF-21 and FA-50 aircraft. It was decided to provide information about the K-9 howitzer, which Vietnam showed interest in acquiring,” the statement said.
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This year, the Republic of Korea expects to conclude arms export deals worth $20 billion. Last year’s contracts were estimated at $14 billion.
