strong>KUALA LUMPUR: Hornets Always Flying. Despite the initial higher procurement cost, RMAF Hornet fleet continues to serve with distinction and are expected to be around for another decade or so.
US Navy C/D versions have a 20-year service life (based on 100 carrier landings annually).
img src=”https://www.malaysiandefence.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/img_0699.thumbnail.JPG” alt=”RMAF F/A-18D Hornet” title=”RMAF F/A-18D Hornet” width=”128″ height=”96″ class=”aligncenter size-thumbnail wp-image-411″ />
The air force chief was quoted by the local Press in June that RMAF Hornets are scheduled to fly to the US next year (I cannot exactly recalled what exercise, most probably Red Flag).
I believed this is also part of the continuing support package that was signed when the Hornets were purchased back in 1993. The link below has the details especially the Feb 13/09 and Dec 19/08 entries.
It was for this reason MeesterT had stated before that the Hornets are the best asset (based on cost effectiveness and availability) in the air force. I totally agree with him although I would quick to add the Hercules and Nuri too! Just wish we are already flying the Super Bug already.
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (27)
Which is precisely the reason the RMAF should have been allowed to get Super Hornets instead of the SU-30 which remains unproven in combat and has higher operating costs. With certain quarters believed to favour the Gripen, the million dollar question is whether the Super Hornet will ever fly in RMAF markings.
Marhalim: I do not know the precise reason for favouring the Super Hornets instead of the Flanker. One thing for sure is that the fact the Super Hornet variant meant for Malaysia meet all the requirements for the RMAF MRCA programme. Of course one can say that the requirement was written with the Super Hornets in mind, but if you ask me if one specify for an orange, one should get an orange, not a lemon or other citrus. Yes, I know the air force requirements should have been better specified but we lacked the budget to conduct a much thorough study to do that.
After being very satisfied with its F/A-18Ds,I believe it would have been expected that the RMAF would have wanted the Super Hornet. Especially in light of the problems with spares and the reported low operational rates of the Fulcrum fleet. Similiarly, the Algerians are reported to be facing low operational rates with its Fulcrums. Like the Fulcrums, I believe the MKMs were forced on to the RMAF [Dzirhin would have more knowledge of this], so I dont think it was so much of a budget issue. As Dizirhan pointed out elsewhere, during Mahathir's era, all major defence buys were meant to benefit the country in offset deals and transfers of technology, operational readiness was secondary. After the cost of integration, surely the MKM deal can hardly be described as cheap. I dont have the figures for the first Boeing offer for 12 Super Hornets, as opposed to what was paid for the 12 MKMs. Perhaps Marhalim has the figures? My preference for the Super Hornet, apart from it already being combat proven is that all integration work has or is currently being done by the USN, unlike the MKM which was a variant created specificlly for the RMAF.
Marhalim: The price for 18 Hornets as listed in the DSCA statement to Congress was USD1.483 billion, so it will be around 500 million more than the Flankers. With integration costs of around another USD300 million, we only saved USD200 million. But one must remember with the Flanker purchase, at least 10 per cent was paid to the local agents. We would have gotten 12 Hornets for the price of the 18 Flankers, as the list price for the Super Hornet is USD95 million each.
IIRC Hornet airframe life is rated minimum of 6000 flight hours under carrier operation conditions (cat launches + hard landings).
Since RMAF dont do carriers and I dont think fly as hard as USN/USMC, we can expect our Hornets to fly for the next 30~ years.
Anyway, Marhalim, whats going to happen to ATSC now the MiGs are going to be retired? I understand that the Sukhoi upkeep will not be "in house". Is ATSC going to be another example of "tech transfer" offset gone to waste?
Marhalim: Your guess is as good as mine. I am told more will be revealed during LIMA....
I'm really looking forward to seeing photos of RMAF F/A-18Ds next year at Red Flag! Unlike the IAF MKIs who had to operate their Bars radar on training mode at Red Flag to prevent anyone else from picking up the frequencies, the RMAF Hornets wont have to. I think Tempur in 2007 reported in its editorial that a surveillance platform from a 'neighbouring country' was flying during the Merdeka fly-past in an attempt to listen in on the MKMs. Did anyone recall reading this? Lets see whether any reports emerge in the press about attempts to listen in on the Scorpene acoustics when its nears the Singapore straits on its way to Teluk Sepanggar.
Marhalim: I did not read the Tempur editorial. There is no need for them to fly an ELINT plane to do that. They could have redo a Tour Bus and fill it with ELINT equipment and no one here will be the wiser! On the Scorpene acoustics, I think they will have the data already from the time the subs went taken on trials in Spain and France. And BTW the Govt had given the go-ahead for other friendly subs to be berth at Teluk Sepanggar on ad-hoc basis. The US had requested for it and I believed one sub had already been there early this year.
The Bugs came with a complete USN standard FMS support and maintenance package. Kinda like having your Toyota serviced at UMW.
The Superbugs were similarly set up and included weaps which the MKMs do not.
Thats right, I've got a dirty feeling that some Alamos and Archers have been taken from the Fulcrum squadron and sent to Gong Kedak.
Though the MKM deal included flying training by Suhkoi test pilots, the RMAF is going to have to develop a combat doctrine for its MKMs
as the Russians cant help in the area because neither the MKM or MKI is in Russian service. Which makes me wonder how much littoral training was provided by the French for the Scorpene crews as unlike the Swedish and Germany navy, French subs operated mostly in deep waters. Years of experience gained in Cold War ASW littoral operations by the Swedes are being shared with the RSN, I dont see the French being able to provide the same for the RMN, unfortunately.
Boleh....but have to pay (in Euros) of course.
I prefer 36 Grippen + 18 Su 30 MKM. Tunggu la kalau ada fullus kita beli 18 F 18 Super Hornet. Singapore will laugh because they will have 100 Stealth F22.
Mana boleh lawan F18 dgn f22...
Boikot US
Marhalim: Singapore is not buying the F22. The US will not sell them the F22, only the F35s. If we buy the Gripens, we will also buying a US product, its engines are licensed from GE. The problem with the Sukhois is that the spares and support are archaic, we might end up with no fighter cover at all....
Dear En Azlan,
The Alamos and the Archers are still di rumah Fulcrum. Pondok Archer dan Alamos di Kelantan banjir. Dok leh guna. Soja AIR dok leh pitih bikin tambatan. Ground refuelling point dok leh guna besi paip melendut. Tu nok beli lori tangki.
Syukur... Kah, kah, kah. Mana nak cari duit untuk 36 Gripen? Ada inferiority kompleks dengan jiran ke? Apa nak buat...jiran tu rumah kecil, tanah tak de, keluarga pun kurang, tapi giat kerja dan tak kerap rasuah. Probelm bukan jiran ler, problem di sebelah pagar diri.
Marhalim....hey, kalah tak ape, gaya yang penting. As long as can show at LIMA and M-Day dah cukup. God help us from the fanboys and their adequacy issues as well as their strutting for street cred amongst audiences that have no intrinsic value to the nation.
Lepas syiok sendiri, then wonder where the money went.