SHAH ALAM: Hardly believe it. It appears that the government is warming up to the idea of getting the Hornets soon to be retired by Kuwait. This is the impression I got when told that the proposal to get the Kuwaiti Hornets was being discussed during the various events held to discuss the Defence White Paper (DWP).
Don’t count your chickens though, as it remained part of the discussions and yet to be codified in the document with the funding approved. However, as I was told that during the discussions that funds for new airframes will not be available until 2030, it is likely that going the Kuwaiti way is still the best option for the moment to boost our combat aircraft fleet.
Kuwait AF F/A-18C Hornet. USAF
As for the Aussie Hornets, it will be a source of spares only as reported previously.
That said all of this planning will come to nothing if indeed Malaysia is going to have a security and defence cooperation with Iran. From Bernama.
KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama) — Malaysia and Iran are taking steps to fine-tune security and defence cooperation involving both countries.
The matter was discussed at a bilateral meeting between Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu and Iran’s Defence and Armed Forces Logistics Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami.
The meeting took place in conjunction with Mohamad’s working visit to Tehran from April 26 to May 1, according to a statement by the Ministry of Defence today.
He was accompanied by Malaysian Ambassador to Iran Datuk Rustam Yahaya and several senior officials of the ministry and the Malaysian Armed Forces.
— BERNAMA
If the above come to pass, we will probably have to return our F-5Es back into service including Lucky 19 pictured above. Or go full monty with Russian and China arms.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (21)
Good news if we can get those Hornet ASAP. At least Kuwaiti Hornets still young and compatible (or more advance) if compared with some of ASEAN air forces fighters.
If I'm not mistaken Kuwaiti Hornets far younger than Indonesia F-16 Block32ID.
CMIIW.
Possible to do defense cooperation with Iran? With economic sanction even try to do insurance with Iranian citizen or company prohibited
Just what I m expected... the idea of getting those Kuwaiti Hornet...
Well, let's hope YB Mat Sabu, MinDef and PM is listening to our discussions here and sign on to the idea of procuring those Kuwaiti Hornets. We need those and that can be had in a jiffy if the nod if given. Just as soon as the Kuwaitis retire them they should be winging their way back to Boeing or to Malaysia for an overhaul.
Be damned that majority are C single seater airframes. Enough dawdling on the subject.
"that funds for new airframes will not be available until 2030"
Sigh. As I have stressed before, beggars can't be choosers and sometimes we have to consider making do with what we already have, even if they are obsoleted. Yet some are still dreaming and pushing to get new toys.
Good to know. Hope that this logic grow within the government and we actually get to count those chicken ;)
"...funds for new airframes will not be available until 2030" - Does this mean we won't be shopping for the LCA anytime soon?
Reply
See the last line...
I had no idea why we need military corporate with Iran. Yes, make a friend better make an enemy but problem you may lead to others unfriend u...
if Kuwait accept 50 to 80% the deal using our palm oil, i think we will get it. After get it, will we upgrade? Or just life extension without change latest down grade AESA?
i think RMAF hardly get any new airframe unless someone accept a lot of palm oil from us. Hawk upgrade and MPA also fail to proceed, so I dun see much hope on this?
We might still able get few UAV for operation, maybe we can look for china make Wing Loong.
“…funds for new airframes will not be available until 2030”
We cannot afford not to buy LCA/LIFT, MPA and AWACs before 2030.
Just want to remind KEMENTAH that our neighbours starting next year are steadily increasing their defence budget. If you dont plan to spend on major items in the next 10 years, we will surely be the Philippines of nowadays in 2030, the weakest military in SEA. And be prepared to lose our oilfields and fishing areas to the 9-dash line.
This didn't really suprise me since mat sabu is well known for his limited ability 2 think.lol.This problem r hidden all these years becoz he is in the opposition Camp n all they have 2do is criticize. But now he in the gov his incompetence shines.
Malaysia usually operating 2 seat airfighter, while Kuwait's Hornet is C version, a single seat version.
I'm wondering if there is change of direction for RMAF.
Marhalim, what is your thought about this?
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Its not a problem for RMAF