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

Technology

25th August 202526th August 2025

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

Why Does Malaysia Still Operate Only Eight F/A-18D Hornets After Nearly 30 Years?

Technology

23rd August 202523rd August 2025

Kuantan, 22 August 2025 – The recent incident involving a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) F/A-18D Hornet that caught fire during take-off at Kuantan Air Base has reignited public debate about Malaysia’s fighter jet fleet. Although both aircrew ejected safely, the crash has sharpened focus on why Malaysia still operates

RMAF Chief Visits Site of F/A-18D Hornet Crash in Kuantan, Crew Safe

Ops & Training

22nd August 202522nd August 2025

KUANTAN, 22 August 2025 – The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has confirmed that both crew members of the F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet involved in last night’s crash at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport successfully ejected and escaped serious injury. RMAF Chief, General Dato’ Sri Haji Muhamad Norazlan Aris, told a

RMAF F/A-18D Hornet Crashes in Runway Incident at Kuantan Airbase

Ops & Training

21st August 202523rd August 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 August 2025 — The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) confirmed that an F/A-18D Hornet fighter jet was involved in an incident at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport runway in Kuantan at 9.05pm. RMAF Chief, General Datuk Seri Muhammad Norazlan Aris, acknowledged the occurrence and stated that an

Malaysia’s Strategic Move to Acquire Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet Jets: A Step in RMAF Modernisation

25th October 202426th October 2024

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is set to strengthen its capabilities with the planned acquisition of F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets from the Kuwait Air Force (KAF), a move Defence Force Chief General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman calls a "strategic step" in the broader modernization initiative for the RMAF.

Malaysia’s Bold Pursuit of Kuwait’s F/A-18 Fighter Jets

Technology

7th October 20248th October 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuwait has confirmed it has no objections to Malaysia's request to procure F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, as stated by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. The procurement is contingent upon two key conditions: approval from the United States, the supplier nation, and the completion of Kuwait's own fighter

Royal Malaysian Air Force Chief Attends F/A-18D M45-07 Handover Ceremony at Butterworth Air Base

Technology

29th April 202429th April 2024

BUTTERWORTH, 29th April 2024 – The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Chief of Air Force, General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Mohd Asghar Khan bin Goriman Khan TUDM, attended the handover ceremony of the F/A-18D M45-07 aircraft which underwent Local Planned Maintenance 12 Years (LPM12Y) by Rosebank Engineering Company. The ceremony,

Exercise ABABIL 2021 to Assess and Test the Capability, Competency and Readiness of RMAF

Ops & Training

14th September 202114th September 2021

KOTA BELUD, 14 Sep 21 - The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has conducted Exercise ABABIL 2021 from 7 September 7 to today. The ABABIL exercise includes Air to Air Missile Firing (AAMF), Air to Surface Missile Firing (ASMF) and Air to Ground (ATG) training. A series of AAMF and ASMF

RMAF Air Operations Commander Witness Air-to-Air Missile Firing (AAMF) Validation Program

Ops & Training

20th November 202020th November 2020

The Air Operations Commander, Lt Gen Dato' Hj Mohammad Salleh bin Hj Osman RMAF today, 18 Nov 2020, conducted a working visit to PU Butterworth to see the development of the Air-to-Air Missile Firing (AAMF) Validation Program involving RMAF fighter planes. The Air Operations Commander witnessed more closely the air-to-air

Senior Minister of Defence Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob Visits Butterworth Air Base

20th June 202020th June 2020

BUTTERWORTH, June 20, 2020 - The Butterworth Air Base (PU Butterworth) becomes the first air base visited by Senior Minister of Defence YB Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob during his working visit to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). This Working Visit is a manifestation of his mandate focusing on