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Malaysia Scraps Plan to Acquire Ex-Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornets Amid Rising Costs and Delays

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 August 2025 – Malaysia has reportedly shelved its long-awaited plan to acquire surplus Kuwaiti Air Force (KAF) F/A-18C/D Hornets, ending years of negotiations and uncertainty surrounding the deal.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), which currently operates a fleet of eight F/A-18D Hornets, had initially viewed the Kuwaiti jets as a cost-effective way to bolster its numbers. However, sources confirmed to Twentytwo13 that the proposal has been deemed increasingly unfeasible due to a combination of technical, financial, and logistical challenges.

A Deal Years in the Making

First mooted in 2017, the acquisition hinged on Kuwait phasing out its Hornets after the delivery of 28 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and a similar number of Eurofighter Typhoons. Yet the transition suffered repeated setbacks, initially caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and later compounded by the US Navy’s own priority orders for Super Hornets.

As a result, Kuwait’s fleet remained in service, delaying Malaysia’s prospective purchase until at least 2026.

Technical and Cost Concerns

Even if the aircraft were released, the Kuwaiti Hornets presented significant hurdles. Though relatively low in flying hours, the jets are over 30 years old and equipped with outdated software. Analysts estimated that upgrading each airframe to RMAF standards—including AN/APG-73 radar and Link-16 datalink compatibility—would cost up to US$4 million per jet, with integration potentially taking more than a year.

The RMAF’s own fleet has undergone several upgrades, including a structural life extension in 2011, weapons systems modernisation in 2017, and heavy maintenance in 2022, ensuring that Malaysia’s Hornets remain combat-ready. Integrating older, less advanced Kuwaiti models risked straining resources further.

Spotlight After Kuantan Crash

The debate over the acquisition intensified after an RMAF F/A-18D Hornet crashed on 21 August 2025 during a night training exercise at Kuantan Air Base. The aircraft caught fire shortly after take-off, marking the first total loss of a Hornet since its induction in 1997.

Both crew members – Major Mohamad Azhar Alang Kamarudin and Captain Mohamad Izzuddin Mohamad Salleh – ejected safely and sustained only minor injuries. The incident renewed public focus on the ageing Hornet fleet and its long-term sustainability.

Strategic Priorities Ahead

While the RMAF plans to operate its Hornets until 2032–2035, analysts stressed that investing heavily in second-hand fighters nearing obsolescence offered little return on investment. Critics argued that funds would be better channelled into Malaysia’s CAP55 modernisation roadmap, which seeks to transition the air force to more advanced, future-proof platforms in line with regional developments.

“There’s no real ROI here,” one defence source noted. “By the time the ex-Kuwaiti Hornets arrive and are made operational, they’ll only have a few short years left before retirement.”

The cancellation now clears the path for Malaysia to reallocate its limited defence budget towards acquiring next-generation aircraft that can ensure the country’s long-term air combat capability.

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