Malaysia’s Acquisition of Kuwait’s F/A-18C/D Hornets Enters Final Stage, Awaits US Approval

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Malaysia’s efforts to acquire more than 30 second-hand F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets from the Kuwait Air Force (KAF) are now in the final stages, pending approval from the United States (US), the original manufacturer of the aircraft.

Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Chief, General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan, stated that Malaysia’s efforts to acquire the  “Legacy Hornet” fighter jets, including discussions with the Kuwaiti government, have shown positive progress.

“All necessary documentation has been completed and is currently under US review. We are now awaiting their approval, and so far, there have been no issues,” he stated during a press conference after officiating the RMAF Excellence Awards Day.

He added that a committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Defence, the RMAF, and the Kuwait Air Force has been formed to oversee subsequent steps, including the acquisition process, once approval is granted.

The addition of the Kuwaiti F/A-18C/D Hornets will enhance the RMAF’s operational capabilities, particularly for patrol missions.

Should the acquisition materialize, these jets will complement the RMAF’s existing fleet of 18 Su-30 MKM fighters and eight F/A-18C/D Hornets operated by the 18th Squadron.

This acquisition will nearly double the RMAF’s current fleet of F/A-18C/D Hornets, significantly bolstering the nation’s defense capabilities.

In October, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin visited Kuwait to discuss the proposed acquisition with Kuwaiti officials.

During his visit, he inspected the condition of the KAF’s F/A-18C/D Hornets and noted positive feedback from the Kuwaiti government regarding Malaysia’s interest in purchasing the Legacy Hornets.

Earlier, the Minister had announced that Malaysia and Kuwait had agreed to establish a joint committee to facilitate negotiations over the fighter jet acquisition. In June, an RMAF technical team traveled to Kuwait to assess the aircraft and initiate discussions.

General Mohd Asghar Khan previously reported that the Kuwaiti Hornets are in good condition, with lower operational hours compared to the RMAF’s existing F/A-18C/D fleet.

Malaysia plans to acquire the Kuwaiti F/A-18C/D Hornets as a “stop-gap measure” until the RMAF is equipped with new Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA).

The Kuwait Air Force is retiring its F/A-18C/D Hornets following the acquisition of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and Eurofighter Typhoons.

Kuwait’s new fleet includes 28 Super Hornets, consisting of 22 single-seat F/A-18Es and six dual-seat F/A-18Fs, which will be based at Ahmed al-Jaber Air Base.

Additionally, Kuwait has purchased 28 Eurofighter Typhoons developed by BAE Systems, valued at approximately $8.7 billion (RM38.73 billion). — DSA