KUALA LUMPUR: The decision to acquire F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets from the Kuwait Air Force (KAF) is a strategic move to complement Malaysia's broader modernisation plans for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).
Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman said the acquisition aligns with the financial realities and immediate operational needs of the country.
"The acquisition of the Kuwaiti Hornets is a step to complement our broader modernisation plans for RMAF.
"If we look at our current assets, some will be decommissioned soon. Given our financial capacity, we considered the affordability of second-hand fighter jets from Kuwait," he said.
Mohammad said the characteristics and specifications of these jets are also similar to the RMAF's eight F/A-18D Hornets which are currently in service.
"We already have experience operating and maintaining these aircraft. We have the infrastructure and the knowledgeable personnel required for their maintenance.
"We also have an inventory of spare parts, so this makes the whole process highly cost-efficient and convenient.
"As a result, from a maintenance and operational perspective, they are much more economical."
However, Mohammad said they are also planning to procure other fighter jets in the future and as such, the Kuwaiti Hornets serve as a stop-gap solution for the time being.
"These jets have a lifespan of around 10 years, which gives us enough time to plan for the acquisition of better fighter jets.
"That's the reason we opted for the Hornets from Kuwait."
Previously, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin had said that the acquisition of the KAF fighter jets for the country was needed to ensure the alignment of RMAF modernisation plans.
He had said that each service branch of the armed forces had drawn up its plans, and the acquisition of the KAF fighter jets served as a stop-gap measure before Malaysia decides to order new aircraft, which could only be in 2035.
Earlier this month, Kuwait said it had no objections to Malaysia's request to procure its Hornet fighter jets.
The procurement, however, is subject to approval from the supplier country, the United States, and can only be done once Kuwait has received all of its new fighter aircraft, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, as well as the Eurofighter Typhoon.
The nod followed Khaled's official visit to Kuwait this month.
Malaysia currently has eight F/A-18D Hornets and 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKMs in its Multi-Role Combat Aircraft fleet following the retirement of its 16 Russia-made MiG-29N Fulcrums, seven years ago.
Commenting on the priority of assets of the service branches of the armed forces, Mohammad said no single branch of the service can operate independently.
"We need to work together so that any mission we carry out is more effective and efficient. No single service can claim to have the leading role in this matter.
"Since Malaysia is a maritime nation, of course, the navy and the air force play important roles because of the greater distances they need to cover.
"However, without the army to guard our borders and islands, we wouldn't be able to protect our borders or sovereignty effectively. Therefore, neither the navy nor the air force can claim to be the most important. We have to work together."
Mohammad said all three services are currently in a state where some assets are new and some are old.
"I'm thankful that the government recognises the importance of replacing our existing assets with newer ones, especially for the air force and navy.
"However, I'm not saying that the army's assets are all new either — they are all in a similar state. But the air force and navy have a more pressing need for assets to carry out their tasks more effectively."