Malaysia’s normally tranquil tropical island of Langkawi was subjected to the thunder of dozens of fast jets from 23 to 27 May as the air displays of the LIMA 2023 defence exhibition were staged out of the adjacent Langkawi International Airport.
Arguably most favoured by the local population was the air display of the Republic of Korea Air Force’s Black Eagles, who were making their third appearance at the show. The eight Korean Air Industries (KAI) T-50B advanced jet trainers flown by the Black Eagles gave the Malaysians a taste of the 18 KAI FA-50 light combat aircraft the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will receive from August 2026 under a USD 920 M (EUR 858 M) contract finalised at the show.
Also interesting to see was the Chinese Ba Yi (August 1st) display team flying seven Chengdu J-10 fighters that were, in fact, a mix of A and C models (the latter being powered by the indigenous Shenyang WS-10 turbofan as opposed to the Russian Salyut AL-31FN turbofan that powers the J-10A). This was the Ba Yi display team’s second appearance at LIMA, having first appeared at the show in 2015, and the team’s first international performance featuring the J-10C.
Perhaps surprising to some was the appearance of the Russian Knights display team, which flew its display with six Su-35S fighters and a solo Su-30SM. The Russian team is persona non grata at many international air shows now due to Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but Malaysia has to preserve at least some form of relationship with the Russians due to the RMAF’s operation of 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighters (the RMAF also has 10 MiG-29s in reserve).
Also performing multi-aircraft displays at LIMA 2023 were the Indonesian Air Force’s Jupiter Aerobatic Team, flying with six KAI KT-1B turboprob trainers, and the Al Fursan team from the United Arab Emirates Air Force, flying seven Aermacchi MB-339NAT jet trainers.
Meanwhile, the RMAF itself put in a strong showing at LIMA 2023, with 31 of its aircraft flying during the show: three Boeing F/A-18D Hornet fighters, four BAE Systems Hawk 108/208 advanced jet trainers, four Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighters, nine Pilatus PC-7 MkII turboprop trainers, three Lockheed Martin C-130H transport aircraft, one Airbus A400M transport aircraft, four H225M (EC725) long-range multirole helicopters and three AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) AW139 medium helicopters.
Additionally, the Malaysian Army flew five helicopters at the show: two AW109 light helicopters and three MD Helicopters MD 530G armed scout helicopters.
Peter Felstead
