Marhalim Abas, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, covers Southeast Asian defense. He has worked as a journalist specializing in Southeast Asia defense and security since 1994, initially with the New Straits Times newspaper.
The company will not comment on specific prospects or national requirements, but the scheduled stops of the aircraft indicate where Airbus expects it has chances of making sales: Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and South Korea.
The Thai cabinet has approved the purchase of an additional eight Korean Aerospace (KAI) T-50 jet trainers that will supplement four ordered two years ago.
