Malaysia shows interest in acquiring retiring F/A-18C/D Hornets from Kuwait

Kuwaiti Air Force F/A-18C Hornet, among those scheduled for retirement by 2021. Photo c/o Air Force Technology.

With funding issues continue to affect the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) plan to modernize its fleet and replace aging assets, it was announced that they are now looking at possibly acquiring Kuwait's retiring fleet of Beoing F/A-18C/D Hornets.

RMAF chief Gen. Affendi Buang confirmed that they are looking at possibly acquiring some of the aircraft to increase its fleet size until it can implement its Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) acquisition in the next decade.

The RMAF currently has a fleet of eight (8) F/A-18D Hornets, which is a small fleet that RMAF wants to expand.

Aside from the Hornets, the RMAF also has 18 units of Sukhoi Su-30MKM Flanker-E heavyweight fighters, a fleet of 10 MiG-29N/NUB Fulcrum fighters which are the remainders of 18 originally bought in the mid 1990s. 

It also currently operates light co bat aircraft in the form of BAE Hawk 109 and 209 aircraft.

So far the Malaysian and Kuwaiti governments have not made any formal discussion regarding the possible transfer.



[1] Free Malaysia Today