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| Foto:47th asean Summit and Relationship |
VISTORBELITUNG.COM,Jakarta - The bilateral relationship between South Korea and Malaysia has officially been elevated to a Strategic Partnership. One of the main pillars of this enhanced relationship is cooperation in the defense industry, which encompasses not only the sale of military equipment but also joint weapons development. This agreement was reached during a meeting between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Seoul in November 2024.
In a joint statement following the summit, both leaders agreed that defense industry cooperation symbolizes trust built upon a solid strategic partnership. They committed to continuing to explore various cooperation schemes, including in the fields of research and development (R&D), military technology, and the defense industry. This step serves as a foundation for integrating the supply chains and defense technology innovation of both countries in the future.
The foundation for this cooperation was actually laid in 2022 through the signing of a defense Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement was subsequently strengthened by the realization of a contract for the procurement of 18 FA-50M light combat aircraft, manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), valued at USD 920 million. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim even requested that the delivery process, scheduled to begin in 2026, be accelerated.
This joint weapons development cooperation becomes more concrete with an offer from KAI to enhance the capabilities of the FA-50 fighter jets to be purchased by Malaysia. During the Singapore Airshow 2026, KAI stated its readiness to integrate the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) onto the second batch of FA-50s currently under negotiation with Malaysia.
The integration of this US-made missile would significantly enhance the FA-50's combat capability beyond visual range (BVR). Currently, the first batch of Malaysia's FA-50 aircraft, equipped with advanced PhantomStrike AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, is still in production and scheduled to arrive in 2026. This offer to integrate AMRAAM is seen as KAI's effort to "sweeten" the follow-up deal to win over the Malaysian government, which is planning to expand its light combat aircraft squadron.
Interestingly, this offer comes amidst a situation where the United States had previously denied a similar permit for AMRAAM integration on FA-50 aircraft ordered by Poland. This indicates different negotiation dynamics and an opportunity for Malaysia to gain technology transfer and enhanced combat capabilities through its industrial cooperation package with South Korea.
The elevation of the relationship to a Strategic Partnership brings cooperation between the two countries beyond just the defense sector. South Korea and Malaysia also agreed to:
· Accelerate negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) targeted for completion by 2025.
· Collaborate in the fields of the digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and green initiatives.
· Sign a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on critical minerals, given Malaysia's significant rare earth mineral deposits.
From a geopolitical perspective, both countries also agreed to continue condemning North Korea's ballistic missile program and expressing concern over the increasingly close military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. Malaysia, which will chair ASEAN in 2025, received full support from South Korea in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, aligning with the principles of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
With a commitment to jointly develop military technology, this South Korea-Malaysia defense cooperation is expected not only to strengthen each country's defense capabilities but also to open up greater opportunities for strategic industries and knowledge transfer in the future.