Kuwait’s F/A-18 Hornets Have Relatively Low 1,500–3,000 Flight Hours – Malaysian Defence Minister

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Malaysia is moving closer to a strategic fighter jet acquisition that could keep the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) combat-ready until at least 2040.

A technical evaluation team from RMAF has found that the Kuwait Air Force’s (KAF) fleet of F/A-18 Hornets has logged exceptionally low flying hours — between 1,500 and 3,000 hours.

In a parliamentary reply to Oscar Ling Chai Yew (DAP–Sibu), Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin confirmed that these figures are significantly lower than the 4,000 to 6,000 hours logged by RMAF’s own F/A-18D Hornets.

He explained that the typical operational lifespan for the F/A-18C/D Hornet ranges between 6,000 and 8,000 flight hours — or roughly 30 years of active service — depending on maintenance quality, mission profile, and upgrades undertaken.

“The RMAF Technical Team conducted a physical inspection and assessment in Kuwait in June 2024. The evaluation found that KAF’s F/A-18s have relatively low flying hours of around 1,500 to 3,000 compared to RMAF’s existing F/A-18Ds, which have logged between 4,000 and 6,000 hours,” the minister said.

“If this acquisition is finalised, RMAF projects that the KAF Hornets could be operated alongside our current F/A-18Ds until at least 2040, subject to airframe and systems condition, maintenance, and operational integration with RMAF’s requirements.”

The F/A-18D Hornet is the twin-seat variant of the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet family, designed as a versatile multirole fighter capable of operating from both land bases and aircraft carriers.

RMAF’s eight F/A-18D Hornets have been a backbone of Malaysia’s tactical air power since the mid-1990s, capable of both air-to-air interception and precision strike missions.

Last month, RMAF Chief General Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris revealed that the service plans to carry out a detailed technical evaluation of 38 KAF Hornets in September this year.

He confirmed that RMAF had already obtained approval from the United States — the original equipment manufacturer — to proceed with the inspection.

“After the manufacturing country (United States) granted approval for the acquisition process, RMAF was able to access documentation and records related to the aircraft, and we have prepared a team to carry out the inspection in Kuwait,” Norazlan said at a press conference at Subang Air Base.

“They are expected to depart for Kuwait in September to assess the aircraft’s suitability for purchase. The evaluation will take around three weeks to review all documents and maintenance records.”

He emphasised that this inspection is critical to determining the jets’ maintenance standards and long-term viability for RMAF service.

Former RMAF chief General Tan Sri Asghar Khan Goriman Khan had previously confirmed that Washington had given the green light for acquisition talks to proceed.

In Parliament, Mohamed Khaled also addressed concerns about the potential mid-life upgrade (MLU) costs for the KAF Hornets should Malaysia acquire them.

“Regarding mid-life upgrade costs, RMAF currently has no plans to undertake any such programme for the KAF Hornets in the near term, as these aircraft are already equipped with the same 25X monitoring software as our current F/A-18Ds,” he said.

RMAF’s current Hornets are in the process of being upgraded to the 29C software standard, with completion targeted for the end of 2026.

The Defence Ministry is conducting a study to determine whether the KAF Hornets should also be brought up to the same configuration.

“A full physical assessment of all KAF F/A-18s is expected in September 2025 to determine technical evaluation requirements and estimated costs,” Mohamed Khaled added.

“The Ministry of Defence, through RMAF, will ensure every acquisition and maintenance programme is implemented based on cost-benefit analysis in line with operational needs and the RMAF Capability Development Plan 2055 (CAP55).”

The acquisition timeline remains dependent on Kuwait receiving its new F/A-18E/F Super Hornets from Boeing, valued at US$1.5 billion (RM7.05 billion), before the legacy Hornets can be transferred.

Under the U.S. Arms Export Control Act, any transfer of American-made military hardware — including third-party re-sales — requires Congressional approval.

Kuwait purchased 32 F/A-18Cs and eight F/A-18Ds in the early 1990s under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, following the Iraqi invasion of 1990.

For over three decades, these Hornets have been at the core of Kuwait’s air defence, performing both air superiority and precision strike missions.

They have undergone successive upgrades, including modern radar systems, advanced avionics, and enhanced electronic warfare suites to maintain combat relevance.

Kuwait’s Hornets have also participated in coalition operations and multinational exercises in the Middle East, proving their reliability and combat readiness.

Low flight hours and meticulous maintenance mean the fleet remains structurally sound despite its age.

For Malaysia, the acquisition represents a rare opportunity to expand air combat strength rapidly and cost-effectively, leveraging existing RMAF infrastructure, training, and logistics support for the Hornet platform.

It also provides a stopgap capability as Malaysia waits for the arrival of the FA-50M light combat aircraft from South Korea starting next year, replacing the retired BAE Hawk fleet.

In the broader regional context, securing additional Hornets would reinforce Malaysia’s deterrent posture amid evolving security challenges in Southeast Asia and the South China Sea.

These aircraft would allow RMAF to maintain a credible multirole combat fleet alongside the Su-30MKM, ensuring readiness for both defensive and coalition operations.

Kuwait’s transition to the Super Hornet and Eurofighter Typhoon — the latter procured under a €7.96 billion (RM39.8 billion) deal with Italy — marks a generational leap in its air power, freeing up the legacy Hornets for transfer.

Since December 2021, Kuwait has received 13 Typhoons, with the remaining 15 due by the end of this year.

All 28 Super Hornets — 22 F/A-18Es and six F/A-18Fs — have been completed and temporarily delivered to the U.S. Navy, pending final transfer to Kuwait once infrastructure upgrades at Ahmed Al-Jaber Air Base are complete.

For Kuwait, the twin-platform combination of Typhoon and Super Hornet will anchor its air superiority for decades.

For Malaysia, acquiring the KAF Hornets could be the decisive move to secure affordable high-performance jets, fully interoperable with its existing fleet, and capable of serving well into the 2040s.

Regional Air Power Balance: Strategic Implications for Southeast Asia

If Malaysia finalises the acquisition of Kuwait’s fleet of F/A-18 Hornets, it will mark one of the most significant shifts in the Maritime Southeast Asian air combat equation in over a decade.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) current operational fighter strength stands at 26 combat aircraft — comprising eight F/A-18D Hornets and 18 Su-30MKM Flanker-H multirole fighters.

The addition of low-hour Kuwait Air Force (KAF) F/A-18C/D Hornets could potentially push this figure to over 40 multirole fighters, a capability boost that few regional air forces can achieve in such a short time frame without embarking on billion-dollar procurement programmes.

This rapid expansion would not only plug existing gaps in Malaysia’s air defence coverage but also narrow the numerical disparity with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), which maintains a formidable inventory of more than 60 advanced fighters — including the F-15SG Strike Eagle, upgraded F-16C/D Block 52+, and the future F-35B Lightning II.

While Singapore retains a clear technological edge, particularly in network-centric warfare and long-range precision strike, the sheer increase in Malaysia’s ready-to-fly fleet would restore a measure of strategic balance in peacetime deterrence.

At the same time, the move would bolster Malaysia’s ability to counterbalance Indonesia’s air modernisation drive, which includes the planned acquisition of 42 Dassault Rafale F4-standard fighters, modernised F-16V Vipers, and the potential arrival of KF-21 Boramae prototypes for evaluation.

The introduction of the Kuwaiti Hornets would provide RMAF with the capacity to sustain longer and more persistent combat air patrols over the South China Sea and key maritime chokepoints, such as the Malacca and Sunda Straits.

It would also enhance the frequency and scale of joint maritime and aerial exercises with strategic partners including Australia, the United States, and potentially Japan, improving Malaysia’s readiness for coalition or combined operations.

From a technical and interoperability perspective, the F/A-18D’s proven combat record — and its inherent compatibility with U.S. and allied air forces — would strengthen Malaysia’s role within the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).

It would also ensure that Malaysia can seamlessly integrate into multinational task forces or rapid-response coalitions in scenarios ranging from maritime security patrols to high-intensity conflict.

The low utilisation rate of the KAF Hornets — between 1,500 and 3,000 flight hours — means RMAF could extract up to two decades of service life without major airframe fatigue issues or costly structural refurbishments.

This longevity buys Malaysia crucial budgetary breathing room, allowing the Defence Ministry to redirect resources towards future fifth-generation fighter procurement under the long-term RMAF CAP55 modernisation roadmap.

From a geopolitical standpoint, the move signals that Malaysia is pursuing pragmatic, high-value force multipliers rather than waiting for prohibitively expensive stealth aircraft.

It sends a clear message to both allies and rivals that Malaysia is willing to exploit rare procurement opportunities to rapidly strengthen its air combat capability at a fraction of the cost of new-build jets.

Such a step could also act as a catalyst for competitive modernisation in the region, prompting neighbours to accelerate their own fighter replacement programmes.

This is particularly relevant in light of the increasing tempo of Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF) flights near disputed features in the South China Sea.

Operationally, the integration process for RMAF pilots and maintenance crews would be relatively smooth.

Existing training pipelines, ground support infrastructure, and spares inventory for the Hornet platform are already in place, eliminating the costly learning curve often associated with new aircraft types.

In effect, the Kuwaiti Hornets would represent a plug-and-play expansion of RMAF’s combat power.

In strategic terms, this acquisition would not only sharpen Malaysia’s combat edge but also provide a flexible, high-readiness force capable of adapting to a variety of operational scenarios — from maritime interception to coalition strike packages.

Most importantly, it would buy Malaysia valuable time — perhaps a decade or more — before committing to the next generational leap into stealth fighters such as the F-35 or a sixth-generation platform, ensuring the country’s air defence remains credible in an increasingly crowded and contested regional battlespace. — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA