Malaysia could be edging closer to acquiring F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets from Kuwait, following assurances from the Gulf nation that it has no objections to Malaysia’s request for the purchase. 

Kuwaiti authorities have assured Malaysia that they have no issues with the potential sale of these aircraft, as Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced.

The Defence Minister arrived in Kuwait on October 6, accompanied by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chief, General Tan Sri Asghar Khan Goriman Khan, to strengthen bilateral relations and explore opportunities for defense cooperation.

During the visit, Khaled met several key Kuwaiti officials, including the country’s deputy prime minister and defense minister, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

These discussions yielded a promising outlook for Malaysia’s request to purchase the Kuwaiti F/A-18 jets. “Kuwait has shown a positive response to Malaysia’s request for the purchase of these assets,” Khaled revealed.

However, the acquisition is contingent upon approval from the United States, the original supplier of the F/A-18 jets. Further, Kuwait must acquire new fighter aircraft, including the F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornets and Eurofighter Typhoon, before the sale can proceed.

Khaled expressed his appreciation for Kuwait’s willingness to facilitate the deal once these prerequisites were met.

“We are grateful to the Kuwaiti government for their affirmative indication, especially as they recognize this is an urgent need for Malaysia,” Khaled said, acknowledging the importance of this acquisition for the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

These jets are crucial, as delays could set back Malaysia’s defense capabilities by several years. Both countries have agreed to form a special committee to ensure the procurement process moves swiftly once the conditions are met.

This committee, comprising Malaysian and Kuwaiti officials, will supervise discussions and negotiations concerning the procurement of the F/A-18 Hornets.

Khaled highlighted the importance of this process, noting that if Malaysia fails to secure the Kuwaiti jets, it would face a major delay in strengthening its air force capabilities. “If we do not succeed in obtaining Kuwait’s jets, this will significantly delay it,” he remarked.

In addition to the jet procurement, Khaled and the Kuwaiti leadership discussed broader defense and security cooperation. Both sides also expressed a mutual desire to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defense, a move Khaled described as beneficial to both nations.

“Just as Kuwait views the South China Sea as an important area, Malaysia also pays attention to the Middle East because whatever happens there can impact the world. Therefore, it is important for Malaysia to understand and be aware of the issues in the Middle East,” he added.

Malaysia’s Interest In Kuwaiti Hornets

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) maintains a fleet that includes eight F/A-18D fighter jets. Although these aircraft play a crucial role within the air force, the backbone of Malaysia’s aerial capabilities is predominantly supported by 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKMs.

However, the Su-30MKMs have reportedly been facing maintenance and sustainment challenges.

Additional combat assets in the RMAF’s inventory include 12 BAE Systems Hawk 208s. Kuala Lumpur has ordered 18 FA-50 light attack jets from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and the order could be increased by an additional 18 aircraft.

In 2022, concerns were raised about a potential “capability gap” for the RMAF if three key programs were not executed.

These programs included the proposed mid-life overhaul and upgrade of the existing F/A-18D Hornets, the acquisition of additional aircraft to supplement these jets, and the selection of a new multirole combat aircraft (MRCA) to either complement or replace the Sukhoi Su-30MKMs.

Malaysia has been actively working on improving its F/A-18 fleet. The latest advancement was the US government’s approval in May of this year for acquiring new targeting pods for its fighter aircraft.

Malaysia is keen to acquire second-hand F/A-18s from Kuwait to enhance its aerial defense capabilities. Reports of this potential procurement surfaced in June this year following a visit by an RMAF technical team to Kuwait for discussions.

Although the exact number of jets Malaysia is interested in acquiring remains unclear, it is estimated that the country could purchase between 24 and 33 airframes. This potential acquisition is part of Malaysia’s effort to bridge its air force’s capability gap coinciding with Kuwait’s ongoing modernization of its air force.

Kuwait’s air force currently operates 28 single-seat F/A-18Cs and seven two-seat F/A-18Ds, and it plans to replace these with Eurofighter Typhoons and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.

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