On the surface, Malaysia’s planned purchase of Hornet fighter jets from Kuwait looks prudent. But there are deeper considerations to mull over, says this former RSIS researcher.
Malaysia is planning to purchase secondhand F/A-18C/D Hornets from Kuwait . This file photo is of a Swiss Air Force F/A-18C Hornet in Payerne, Switzerland Apr 12, 2019. ABU DHABI: Malaysia has finally received the “green light” from the Kuwait i government for the acquisition of secondhand Kuwait i F/A-18C/D Hornets for the Malaysia has reportedly sought the Kuwait i jets since at least 2017.
Nevertheless, Kuwait greenlit the possible sale of the Hornets during the Malaysian Ministry of Defence’s official visit in October. In June, an RMAF technical team visited Al Jaber airbase in Kuwait to evaluate the suitability of the aircraft. They found the Kuwaiti jets to be technically in good condition. They also have lower flight hours than the RMAF’s Hornets.The two governments agreed to establish a committee to begin negotiations on the procurement of the Hornets.
Malaysia is looking to buy the Kuwaiti fighters as a “stop-gap measure” as the RMAF waits for the conclusion of its long overdue MRCA programme. The Hornet represents ageing technology, which is increasingly difficult to keep relevant. Moreover, the Kuwaiti Hornets are of an earlier block, whereas the Malaysian fighters are among the last Hornets manufactured. This may cause incompatibility issues when it pertains to spare parts. In addition, the aircraft have received differing upgrades to their systems. This will compound maintenance complexity.
In comparison, despite its small numbers, Malaysia’s Hornet fleet has performed admirably with strong support from industry and contractors. Therefore, it is conceivable that an expanded Hornet fleet could be sought to become the mainstay of the RMAF’s fighter force while it waits for the acquisition of future combat aircraft.
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