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
Malaysian F/A-18D Hornet fleet to undergo depot maintenance and upgrade in Australia
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February 19, 2020
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