SHAH ALAM: Tunisia is reportedly in talks with Kuwait to purchase its Hornet fleet, an African based blog is reporting. Military Africa on its Twitter handle stated:
Tunisia in talks with Kuwait for the purchase of the Kuwaiti F-18 Hornets. The F-18 Hornets will likely be modernized in the United States before integrating the Tunisian Air Force.
I cannot confirmed the veracity of the report but it appears that Military Africa is good in getting stories about African defence scene so it is likely the report is correct though it does not mean that a contract will be sign in the immediate future. It must be noted that Tunisian Air Force is reportedly set to take delivery of 14 Lockheed Martin F-16V fighters in 2023 though I have not seen any US official notice for purchase of the Vipers.
The US State Department in February announced that it had approved the possible Foreign Military Sale to Tunisia of four AT-6C Wolverine Light Attack Aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $325.8 million. The Tunisian military also have received a number of military equipment gifted from the US including 24 OH-5D Kiowa light helicopters.
So there is a possibility that if the Tunisian government to reduce the cost of buying new fighters – the air force still operates F-5s – by getting them at friendly prices from another Arab government. They will only need to pay for upgrade and other works on the Hornets, a cheaper option than buying new F-16s.
As you are aware the Kuwaitis are getting Eurofighter Typhoons and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to replace their Hornet fleet.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (35)
Going... going... going,.... gone?
Once again TUDM has lost the initiative to get tested aircrafts thats proven to be effective in our service
RMAF is considering getting the ex Kuwaiti Hornet or not?
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Nope
To put this into perspective.
Currently the only fighters Tunisia has are 15 units of F-5E/F. They have said to be interested in buying 14 brand new F-16V from USA, but no contract has actually been signed to date. Probably they are looking at the Kuwaiti legacy hornets as a cheaper alternative to buying the F-16V.
TUDM on the other hand, we are currently operating 18 units of an advanced version of the Flanker, the SU-30MKM. Our most urgent need for TUDM in the near future is not for more MRCA's, but to recapitalise our aging LCA and LIFT fleet. Yes it is nice to have those legacy hornets, but getting those right now instead of new LCA and LIFT will have a grave consequence to TUDM overall capability and readiness. With our tight budgetary situation, it is not possible to get and operate both additional legacy hornets plus new LCA and LIFT at the same time in the near future.
Lee - “Once again TUDM has lost the initiative to get tested aircrafts
It not a question of “tested” but a question of the RMAF and government being reluctant to acquire aged pre owned airframes which will get increasingly maintenance/resource intensive as they aged further ....
The priority now is the LCA programme : period/full stop.
A - “we are currently operating 18 units of an advanced version of the Flanker, the SU-30MKM”
The Hornets have better serviceability rates and is something we rate higher (on account of several factors).
The MKMs by right should undergo an upgrade sooner rather than later and the missing element which prevents us from exploiting what we face is the lack of a AEW.
If we have fund, it's better with new built fighters in enough numbers
Remember A4-PTM Skyhawk?
That's why RMAF avoided 2ndhand aircrafts
Go for Super Hornet then for MRCA requirements..
Actually second hand aircraft is not an issue. The A4PTM has always been used as an example. Singapore also bought second hand Scooters. But Singapores Scooters lasted n performed well
There is no such thing as upgrading the SU-30MKM "by right"
As it is right now, it is still a very potent piece of machinery. Among the most capable fighter aircraft in our region.
The problem with TUDM is that there is nobody engineering-wise that is as good as say what TLDM got. Somebody that can think out of the box and does not just toe the contractors line. We got the bulk of our fleet "grounded" a few years ago when we could have immediately implemented IAF new limits for the Flanker.
We need to concentrate on getting our LCA and LIFT first. When that is signed and done for, then we could look at upgrading the SU-30MKM. By the next one or two years, a much more clearer upgrade path would be available. Upgrades that we could piggyback with the SU-30SM2 such as the more powerful AL-41F1S engines, also with upgrades done to the Rafale such as the Talios targeting pod. The SU-30MKM will still be a capable and supportable platform for many years to come, the same cannot be said with our legacy hornets, with its end of official support deadline rapidly approaching and other current operators has already planned their phase out of their legacy hornet fleets.
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Of course lah TLDM is better at reengineering they got 50 years to do it. TUDM on the other hand have about 10 years or so to do it