has offered a financial package with a ten-year repayment loan from a French commercial bank and guaranteed by the government of France to assist procurement of their fighter. This offer was countered by BAE Systems' Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab JAS 39 Gripen, which have offered competitive leasing deals instead. EADS and BAE Systems has each offered to set up joint venture companies for maintenance and repair of its aircraft if it is selected, along with competitive financial support extended by the United Kingdom government. Russia is ready to offer their jet fighters to meet Malaysia's requirements. The Russian defence export corporation, Rosoboronexport, which supplied the Royal Malaysian Air Force with the Sukhoi Su-30MKM, expressed its readiness to discuss the prospect of establishing joint licensed production facilities in Malaysia. The Russians have argued that despite some initial advantages, especially in terms of meeting the high cost for maintenance, fuel, parts and insurance in the short term, the lessors of the aircraft will require frequent checks to be assured that the terms of the lease are upheld, and the aircraft will eventually have to be returned after the lease period is up. As such, leasing a fighter aircraft will have significant drawbacks in the defence of the sovereignty of the nation. Instead, the Russian are offering their Sukhoi Su-35 at lower prices than their western rivals. However, according to the Malaysian Ministry of Defence, the race for new fighter jets has narrowed down to the Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon instead. Following a visit by the French President also in early 2017, Malaysia said they remained undecided whether to buy the French fighter, although it had become the leader on the list of all jet fighters suggested, with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak assuring the French President that they were considering to buy. The French government confirmed that negotiation was on the way, although no final deal has yet been signed. Due to the delay in the MRCA program and also an increase of China's aggression in the South China Sea dispute, it was believed that there was an immediate requirement for new fighters. Following the visit of the Saudi King in early 2017, Malaysia was reportedly seeking to buy excess Royal Saudi Air Force or other Arab nation's jet fighters and helicopters. Light combat aircraft In 2019, Malaysia formally launched its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program. The major contenders of this