KUALA LUMPUR: The fate of the retired Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) F-5 Tiger II fighter jets has been sealed, with the phased decommissioning process underway, based on their condition and current evaluations.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin told the Dewan Negara on Thursday that the decommissioning process includes several methods, such as converting the jets into monuments, using them as teaching aids, and salvaging parts for other equipment still in service.
"The Defence Ministry has also proposed a barter trade arrangement for six of these aircraft, a proposal approved by the Finance Ministry on Oct 8.
"This barter trade will be conducted through an open tender, inviting all interested companies.
"At the same time, several purchase offers from foreign companies have also been received for these jets.
"However, any decommissioning or sale must be conducted meticulously, adhering to established government procedures and obtaining approval from the United States government, as per agreements made during the acquisition of these aircraft," he said.
As such, Khaled added, every step is taken with due care to ensure that the decommissioning of the jets aligns with national interests while strengthening Malaysia's defence readiness.
He also said that currently, the F-5 fighter jets are located at Butterworth Air Base with the initial acquisition in 1974 comprising 24 units.
"Out of the 24 airframes, five were involved in accidents, one has been used as teaching aids, 10 have been turned to monuments and two units were previously barter-traded with the Royal Thai Air Force in 1982."
The RMAF previously operated various variants of the F-5, including the F-5B, F-5E/F, and RF-5E, which were received in phases between the 1970s and 1980s.
The aircraft previously sold to the Royal Thai Air Force were of the F-5B variant.
The F-5 fighter jets were also made famous by the 1987 Malaysian action movie "Wira Angkasa."