Awaiting authorization from the United States, the Malaysian Air Force seeks to move forward with the purchase of F-18C/D Hornet fighters from its Kuwaiti counterpart, stating that these jets still have a considerable number of flight hours remaining compared to the aircraft currently in the country’s fleet. This information comes from statements made by officials from Malaysia’s Ministry of Defense, following a visit to Kuwait to assess the condition of the aircraft to be acquired.
On this matter, Malaysia’s Defense Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, stated last Tuesday: “Kuwait gave a positive response to Malaysia’s request to purchase these assets, but we understand that it is subject to two conditions. The first condition is that the acquisition must be approved by the supplying country, and then the delivery process can only take place after Kuwait receives its new fighter jets.”
It is worth noting, closely related to the second condition mentioned, that the Kuwaiti Air Force has a total of 39 F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets. As previously reported, the Arab nation has already begun the acquisition process for their replacements: the F/A-18 Super Hornet and Eurofighter Typhoon, both in single-seat and twin-seat versions. Although no specific timelines for this plan have been detailed, it was mentioned as a topic of discussion between the visiting Malaysian delegation and their Kuwaiti hosts, with the Malaysians expressing their agreement with the points raised during those talks.
Furthermore, it is important to consider that the purchase of F-18C/D jets is intended as what has been termed a “temporary measure,” given that Malaysia has expressed its intentions to acquire new multirole combat aircraft (MRCA). This is a long-standing process, which in the past has rejected a wide range of aircraft, including the French Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, and even the Super Hornet. This can be attributed to budgetary constraints, limiting Malaysia’s options and affecting the number of units to be acquired.
Finally, it should be noted that the potential purchase, though limited, is undoubtedly focused on the increasing tensions in the South China Sea. In this regard, the Malaysian defense minister himself stated: “We therefore thank the Prime Minister of Kuwait and the Defense Minister for giving a positive indication to Malaysia’s request, as the acquisition is considered very important.”
If the deal is not finalized, the Royal Malaysian Air Force would have to reshape its entire procurement process, which is estimated to take another three years. As the minister put it: “Therefore, the development is very good and positive, where both parties understand the necessity of forming a new committee to facilitate the procurement process.”
Images used for illustration purposes.
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