RMAF’s LPM12Y F/A-18D Maintenance Program Slashes Government Spending by a Staggering 25 Pct
"Conducting maintenance domestically allows the government to reduce costs by approximately 25 percent compared to outsourcing it overseas," said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The implementation of the Local Planned Maintenance 12 Years (LMP12Y) program for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF)’s F/A-18D Hornet fighter jets, utilizing local expertise, has resulted in a 25 percent reduction in government expenditure.
According to a statement on his official Facebook page, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin highlighted that by leveraging local capabilities under LMP12Y, the government successfully reduced costs by 25 percent compared to outsourcing the maintenance overseas.
He further noted that the mandatory depot-level maintenance of the F/A-18D Hornets at Butterworth Air Base has also significantly shortened the turnaround time to just one year—a notable improvement compared to the longer duration required if the aircraft were serviced abroad.
“Conducting maintenance domestically enables the government to cut costs by approximately 25 percent compared to sending the aircraft overseas,” he stated.
Beyond the substantial cost savings and reduced turnaround time, LMP12Y also supports the development of local aerospace talent and industry, he added.
Prior to this, Mohamed Khaled visited Butterworth Air Base as part of his official working visit, where he assessed the progress of the LMP12Y program undertaken by local aerospace company G7 Global Aerospace Sdn Bhd (G7GA).
He explained that the depot-level maintenance program for the F/A-18D Hornets will run for five years, from 2024 to 2029.
The first Planned Maintenance Interval is required after 12 years of aircraft operation to ensure continued airworthiness, he said.
During his visit, the Defence Minister was briefed on the status and future direction of the LMP12Y program and expressed satisfaction with the progress, which remains on track with the designated milestones.
The LPM-12Y program is a Depot-Level Maintenance (DLM) initiative for the F/A-18D Hornet, conducted domestically since 2021.
