SHAH ALAM: A Broken record. In discussions on the FLIT-LCA and RMAF plans there were also talk on the plan to buy Kuwaiti Hornets. Most of the talk falls on the US not willing to allow us to buy them for various reasons.
Actually, its not about whether the US will allow us to buy them but whether or not our government really wants to follow RMAF decision to boost its Hornet fleet from the current eight to at least 18 aircraft or more. RMAF had even stood up No 17 Squadron again in 2021 likely for the purpose of operating the new, albeit, used Kuwaiti Hornets.
In response to Malaysian Defence questions on the Kuwaiti Hornets, RMAF said it was still waiting for the government to move ahead with the process.. In fact, the same answers were given when the other media organisations asked the same thing ahead of the RMAF 64th anniversary celebrations on June 1. Still waiting for the government.
It was the same thing when I wrote about the plans in late 2021. In that post, I stated that the process will not start until the government asked for permission from the US. Only after the US gives it permission and the Kuwaiti ascends to it that talk on procuring the Hornets can start.
Again, the government has not started the process, even though getting the Kuwaiti Hornets are among the major initiatives for RMAF within the next 10 years. It is as important as buying the FLIT-LCA, MPA, UAS MALE and the medium range SAM.
If its important, why is the government sitting on its bum? I have no idea, really but as I had said before buying second-hand stuff are not exciting especially to the people selling stuff in the defence industry. Furthermore, the Defence Minister was also distracted by the Covid-stuff. And despite the talk of defence diplomacy, the minister has not shown much desire to engage with the US.
And will it be done then, finally? My guess is as good as yours. With our luck, it may end up like the Brunei OPV and the NZ MB-339s, we sat on our bum for too long that someone else swooped in to buy the whole lot. By the way, work on the first RMAF Hornet or the local SLEP, is expected to be completed by year end. Another Hornet or two will then undergo the same process.
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (36)
Unlike some here would suggest, RMAF is actually serious with getting used Hornets.
Politicians are not excited about this as there would not be much if any potential personal profits for themselves and their friends.
By the way, china is paving the way to do a Donetsk and Luhansk to Malaysia in the near future. Looking at how their foreign minister bypassing the federal government in dealing with sabah. How will malaysian armed forces maintain the integrity of malaysia in regards to this development by china?
I am a Sarawakian, born and bred. I'd like to share something that makes for interesting reading. The Chinese companies have invested heavily in Sabah & Sarawak. Some directly with the state governments. It all boils down the Chinese need to do business in the Borneo territories and the percentage of Federal involvement. For many politicians in Sarawak, the less strings attached to Putrajaya,the happier they are. The Chinese exploit this hardening of state positions. Putrajaya can do much more to get the Premier of Sarawak and the Sabah Chief Minister to reverse the unspoken 'go it alone where possible' attitude of their governments. I see little harm in Chinese businesses trying to get extra leverage in Borneo. What's of concern is the Communist Chinese government's attitude towards their LCS neighbors. And Security is still very much the Federal government's area of concern. The onus is for Putrajaya to do more for the defence of Sabah and Sarawak.
We have a defence minister that believe he is the greatest diplomat on earth than can solve everything with a small stick
Unfortunate that all the enthusiastic people that for years staunchly promoted the kuwaiti hornet solution in malaysian defence is no longer here. even the article is gone.
where are they now?
As a Sarawakian myself, I am rather lukewarm to the increased participation of Chinese investment in Sarawak, primarily as I see these (big) Chinese companies as simply the another arm of the CCP. Left unchecked sooner or later there will be CCP influenced movements, and I hope Abg Jo and his successors would be wise enough to put some safeguards. I am hoping for better (and increased) collaboration between Sarawak and Putrajaya.
I am a bit pessimistic about the Kuwaiti Hornets plan, with the raising costs and the rather unstable gov I don't think the Ismail Sabri is willing to provide more ammo for the opposition to pull a coup.
A couple of scenarios which I think might have led to this conundrum we are in:
1) Govt got no money or cannot justify to buy used. My theory: unlikely since we are buying a lot more expensive stuff anyways.
2) Govt still hoping for Saudi Father Christmas to buy these Hornets, pay for the upgrading and gift to us much like how we were told Brunei is gifting us their Blackhawks as part of Muslim brotherhood between nations. My theory: plausible as some mentioned there were backchannel discussions regarding these planes but unlikely as Saudi are not THAT best friend with us that they willing to do such thing.
Vader - '' china is paving the way to do a Donetsk and Luhansk to Malaysia''
A personal opinion or one based on actual facts? 'Donetsk and Luhansk'' are possible because a lot of ethnic Russians are there; was part of the former Soviet Union; is literally next to the border and because of shared cultural/personal/family ties....
Vader - "How will malaysian armed forces maintain the integrity of malaysia in regards to this development by china"
If indeed the Chinese are doing this requires a concentrated diplomatic and political approach to deal with what is a diplomatic and political challenge; the MAF taking a vital but nonetheless back seat.
Taib - The onus is for Putrajaya to do more for the defence of Sabah and Sarawak"
Which it has been to a large extent doing; large resources have been placed into ESSCOM; the creation of a new area command; the construction of a large naval base which is the only sub facility; a permanent detachment of Hawks; a 5th Division raised; plans for a RMAF FOB base in Bintulu; etc
It is the onus and care of duty of the government to ensure that the armed services are adequately funded to meet the type of challenges we are likely to face; whether in East Malaysia or the Peninsular; whether in a village 3 hours drive way from Miri or a island off the Johore coast.
As it stands what we need is not just increased focused and increased funding but a change of mindset; a review of our defence policy which is highly flawed, politically driven and self defeating and sustained funding over a certain period. We need to also ensure we get the maximum value of what we spend rather than what we've long been doing at great cost to the armed services and taxpayer.
3) No local middleman involvement so not interested. My theory: this is more plausible but not so much in the way readers here might expect. What I think is happening, the Govt are waiting for the outcome on local SLEP of our legacy Hornet. I suspect that in view these 2ndhand Hornets need to be upgraded in line to our own, the Govt are trying to justify this job to be done locally for this deal to go thru in order to fulfill the ICP Program, where buys must be justified with local industrial involvement. The middleman thus will be that company doing the SLEP.
"a change of mindset;
a review of our defence policy which is highly flawed, politically driven and self defeating.
to get the maximum value of what we spend"
What kind of mindset do we need? what kind of mindset must we remove? We must have a defence policy that puts malaysian sovereignty as a non-negotiable matter. Capability must be the utmost importance of anything that we spend for defence, not job creation.
mokka - ''so why can’t the many so called defence experts in malaysia come out with a more practicle and implementable alternative to the 15/5 and CAP55? ''
Because the government wants to spend the bare minimum and wants to drag funding for as long as possible. Offering an alternative plan; one which requires the government to commit to a higher level of spending is not what it wants a to hear.
It's not about ''so called defence experts'' but about about policy; a policy in which defence is not a priority based on the premise that the chances of a full blown high intensity state on sate war in unlikely. The only reason the government approved the 15/5 and CAP 55 is because both are stretch over a long period and require minimal funding - anything else would not have been approved and the RMN and RMAF realise this; why do you think they came up with such an unrealistic, flawed and modest plan?
Like the white Paper; both the 15/5 and CAP 55 are PR driven; window dressing based on the prevailing political climate.
vader - ''Unlike some here would suggest, RMAF is actually serious with getting used Hornets.''
It has it reservations; to be expected given it's an air arm with tight resources and that 30 odd years old platforms [which will age] tend to get more expensive to run/sustain due to inherent issue related to age and wear/tear. If the government can make certain commitments the RMAF has no objections but it doesn't want to be straddled with something it can't sustain and doesn't have the needed ordnance and ground support gear for.
joe - ''unlikely since we are buying a lot more expensive stuff anyways.''
Despite whatever announcements which have been made there are certain reservations about the pre used Hornets amongst the government. As it stands we ae under no illusions that anyone is going to pay for the Hornets; it's about us making up our minds and taking a had look at where the Hornets stand in relation to other things we re doing or plan to do.
joe - ''Saudi are not THAT best friend''
Nothing about ''best friend'' but about self interests and how hard we push certain things. The fact remains we have benefited from Gulf Arab largesse before in various ways.
ASM - ''eft unchecked sooner or later there will be CCP influenced movements''
A case of history repeating itself; in the past we had the NKCP and various leftist Chinese [China] influenced and dominated groups. As it stands all this talk of the CCP gaining leverage in Sarawak is premature and exaggerated; though it may be sensational to some..