The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is continuing its evaluation process before making a final decision on whether to acquire surplus F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets from Kuwait, despite reports claiming the deal had been abandoned.
RMAF chief General Datuk Seri Muhammad Norazlan Aris, in comments to the New Straits Times, rejected speculation that the plan had been canceled.
“We are looking into all aspects before making any decision. Delivery date, cost, maintenance, logistics — all of these have to be considered,” he said.
Norazlan confirmed that an RMAF delegation is scheduled to visit Kuwait in September as part of the ongoing assessment. The statement follows recent reports quoting unnamed sources who alleged the acquisition was derailed by costly upgrade requirements and uncertainty over delivery timelines.
The long-anticipated deal, involving around 30 Hornets — a mix of single-seat F/A-18Cs and twin-seat F/A-18Ds — has been under discussion since Kuwait began transitioning to newer F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. Delivery would only be possible once Kuwait’s Super Hornet fleet is operational, a process delayed until at least 2027–2028 due to supply chain issues, COVID-19 impacts, and U.S. Navy procurement priorities.
Washington previously approved Malaysia’s proposed acquisition. Then-RMAF chief General Tan Sri Asghar Khan Goriman Khan confirmed that the U.S. government had cleared the transfer, a requirement for all sales of American-made military hardware. By law, such transfers must also be reported to Congress, which retains authority to block them.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said during his visit to Kuwait last year that the Gulf nation had no objection to transferring the jets. He emphasized that while the aircraft date back to the 1990s, they remain in good condition with relatively low flight hours, ranging between 1,500 and 3,000.
Malaysia currently operates eight F/A-18D Hornets alongside its fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKM Flankers. The Hornets are regarded as one of the service’s most reliable assets, regularly deployed for patrols in the South China Sea. Additional aircraft could expand operational flexibility, though integration challenges remain.
The Kuwaiti Hornets are equipped with the older AN/APG-65 radar and different software configurations compared to Malaysia’s upgraded F/A-18Ds, which use the AN/APG-73 radar with Link 16 data links. Analysts note that standardizing the fleet would require substantial investment in avionics and systems upgrades, in addition to the logistics of bringing the older jets into operational service.
Financial considerations also weigh heavily. Critics have warned that diverting funds to acquire and upgrade aging airframes could weaken Malaysia’s longer-term modernization programs. Defense planners are weighing whether it is more cost-effective to extend the Hornet fleet or wait to procure a more modern platform.