Malaysian F/A-18D Hornet fleet to undergo depot maintenance and upgrade in Australia

RMAF F/A-18D Hornet. Photo c/o Boeing 

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) fleet of eight (8) Boeing F/A-18D Hornet multirole fighters will be undergoing depot-level maintenance work in Australia, Jane’s reported on 18 February 2020.

The works will be undertaken by Boeing Australia, which has facilities in Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Williamstown airbase , which is also in charge of maintaining the RAAF’s fleet of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.

Aside from the maintenance work, it is believed that upgrade works will be undertaken including improvements in the cockpit displays, installing a new tactical data link, and improvements on its existing hardware.

The works would be undertaken in batches of 2 aircraft, and will start this year and complete the works on all 8 aircraft by 2024. Upon completion, the RMAF F/A-18Ds are expected to be operational until 2035.

Malaysia ordered the F/A-18Ds in 1993, and were all delivered by 1997. They are currently operated by the RMAF’s 18 Squadron based in RMAF Butterworth Air Force Base in Penang.


[1] Jane’s Defence Weekly