RMAF Future; need opinions

[Ananda]

That's part of prediction. However I also heard potential scenario of 3 Sq Hornet C/D each of 12 Fighter. 2 for F-18C and 1 for F-18D. This related with talk on potential winding down their MKM and focus to F-18C/D and FA-50 that use similar engines.

The assesment so far that Kuwait F-18C/D are in good condition with relatively low flying hours. While their MKM consider expensive to maintain as have some bespoke avionics and problem on Russia supply chain.

 

[Ananda]

Malezya'dan Çin Denizi'ne Anka-S önlemi

TUSAŞ tarafından Kraliyet Malezya Hava Kuvvetleri için üretilen ilk üç ANKA-S, Güney Çin Denizi'nde kullanılacak.

www.haberdenizde.com

RMAF receive the first batch of Anka-S they have order from TUSAS.

 

[Ananda]

Video of RMAF F-18D crash.



Already circulated on online forums photo claim to be the Pilot that survive after ejecting.

This already seen at some corner to intensifies the negotiation with Kuwait to get batches of their C/D Hornet faster. However also talk in other corner to scuttle the Hornet program entirely and goes straight to new Fighters program.

Pesawat F-18 yang bakal dibeli dari Kuwait boleh diguna sehingga tahun 2040 - UtusanTV

TENTERA Udara Dirajaya Malaysia (TUDM) mengunjurkan pesawat F/A-18C/D Hornet yang bakal dibeli dari Kuwait boleh dioperasikan sehingga tahun 2040 tertakluk kepada kerangka dan sistem, penyelengaraan serta penyesuaian dengan operasi semasa TUDM. Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled...

utusantv.com

Still officially TUDM and Malaysia MinDef quite upbeat on the prospect for ex Kuwait Hornet. The assessment find out it is have lower flying hours compare to TUDM own Hornet. Thus capable to be flown more than a decade from now up to 2040.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Video of RMAF F-18D crash.

View attachment 53366

Already circulated on online forums photo claim to be the Pilot that survive after ejecting.

This already seen at some corner to intensifies the negotiation with Kuwait to get batches of their C/D Hornet faster. However also talk in other corner to scuttle the Hornet program entirely and goes straight to new Fighters program.

Pesawat F-18 yang bakal dibeli dari Kuwait boleh diguna sehingga tahun 2040 - UtusanTV

TENTERA Udara Dirajaya Malaysia (TUDM) mengunjurkan pesawat F/A-18C/D Hornet yang bakal dibeli dari Kuwait boleh dioperasikan sehingga tahun 2040 tertakluk kepada kerangka dan sistem, penyelengaraan serta penyesuaian dengan operasi semasa TUDM. Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled...

utusantv.com

Still officially TUDM and Malaysia MinDef quite upbeat on the prospect for ex Kuwait Hornet. The assessment find out it is have lower flying hours compare to TUDM own Hornet. Thus capable to be flown more than a decade from now up to 2040.

It is really good news that no lives are lost in this accident.

At this moment the TUDM is dependent on only 18 Su-30MKM and 7 F-18D for the protection of its airspace. It ill take some years until the 18 FA-50 on order are delivered, so in my opinion it will be a good choice to add the Kuwaiti F-18s.

I saw on internet that Malaysia planned to buy some 30 years old UH-60s, but the king didn't approve/rejected this plan. Is that correctly?

 

[Ananda]

saw on internet that Malaysia planned to buy some 30 years old UH-60s, but the king didn't approve/rejected this plan. Is that correctly?

Malaysia scraps plan to buy Black Hawk helicopters derided by its King as ‘flying coffins’

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar said those deciding on military acquisitions must be transparent. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

Already being scrap, seems the Political pressure after the King criticism become too obvious. I sense some political rivalry happening before the King put that criticism.

 

[koxinga]

Malaysia scraps plan to buy Black Hawk helicopters derided by its King as ‘flying coffins’

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar said those deciding on military acquisitions must be transparent. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com

Already being scrap, seems the Political pressure after the King criticism become too obvious. I sense some political rivalry happening before the King put that criticism.

The plan was already scrapped before it made the news. The company in question won a leasing contract and he deadline was extended multiple times, but they never delivered.

 

[koxinga]

At this moment the TUDM is dependent on only 18 Su-30MKM and 7 F-18D for the protection of its airspace. It ill take some years until the 18 FA-50 on order are delivered, so in my opinion it will be a good choice to add the Kuwaiti F-18s.

The FA-50s are on schedule to be delivered starting 2026 and will finish delivery 2028. The Koreans are rather dependable on the schedule side of things and the production line is hot so it is very achievable.

Re Kuwaiti Hornets, they make sense if they are delivered between now - 2028.. If TUDM does end up ordering the next batch of 18 x FA-50s in the next 1 - 2 years, the case for those ex Kuwaiti jets is much reduced. Maybe not all of them, just the dual seats to beef up their existing squadron.

 

[koxinga]

Hmm - Unconfirmed given the Defense Minister only recently made statements contrary to this, but the points are valid. If the Kuwaitis delay the transfer, then it will make lesser sense.

No-go: RMAF’s planned acquisition of surplus Kuwaiti Hornets aborted - Twentytwo13

Malaysia’s plan to boost its Hornet fleet with surplus Kuwaiti jets has collapsed under the weight of delays, costly upgrades, and shrinking support. The deal, years in the making, would have left the RMAF with ageing fighters for only a handful of years before retirement.

twentytwo13.my

 

[koxinga]

And immediately rebutted, not to my surprise.

RMAF chief: Kuwaiti Hornet jet deal still on the table | New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Air Force is examining all aspects before making any decision on whether to procure F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets from Kuwait.

www.nst.com.my

 

[Ananda]

There are rumours that the team that will go to Kuwait next month, also going to talk on procure the Hornet in batches. Begin with D version first then C. Either way the talk of ditching the procurement and RMAF rebuttal, seems shown potential conflicting political talk of getting second hand assets.

There are 5 F-18D in Kuwait inventory, and seems Malaysia want to get it those first to augment their existing now 7 F-18D. The rumours in Malaysian enthusiats forums believe that getting by Batches is more plausible then acquired all at once due to Kuwait schedulling delivery of Typhoon and Super Hornet.

 

[Ananda]

Malaysia considering alternatives to F/A-18 jet delivery from Kuwait

JOHOR BARU: Malaysia is considering its options following the long-delayed acquisition of F/A-18 Legacy Hornet fighter jets from Kuwait, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

www.thestar.com.my

Thus if Kuwait will only let their Hornet goes before all their Shornet arrive, then it could be 2028-29. Seems Malaysia won't wait for that long as they expect to get some of the Hornet by 26-27. They still want MRCA ASAP.

So which options to get MRCA soon ? I smell some thinkin that happen in Indonesian MinDef. Both MinDef want MRCA soon, and J-10 seems increasingly become attractive offer. China do already shown their J-10C to Malaysian brass before.

Other option is to get ex Qatar and UAE Mirage 2K. If Indonesia seems more attracted to.J-10C, perhaps those Mirage 2K can be attractive now to RMAF. Either thar or some Arizona desert mothballed Hornet. Well those Gulf Mirage 2K just like Kuwait Hornet are have one thing in common. Relatively low flying hours.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Personally i think second hand Mirage 2000s are only attractive for countries which already have the Mirage III/V/2000 in their fleet. For an F-18 country like Malaysia the best solution is still Kuwaits F-18C/D or second hand JAS-39, if the Malaysians needs more fighters in a short period.

Malaysia can buy the HAL LCA Tejas from India and trade in their Su-30MKM, but the production of the Tejas is very slow, and i have the feeling that the Tejas is qualitative below the JAS-39 and FA-50.

 

[Ananda]

Indeed, Kuwait Hornet is the best choice for RMAF MRCA for near future availability. However I can understand also increasing frustration within RMAF and Malaysian MinDef on protracted acquisition for Kuwait Hornet.

For LCA, they already in right track and other LCA like Tejas already beaten on LCA procurement selection. Problem is FA-50 already victim of their own success, and adding more FA-50 will fall back down in queue. Remember even TNI-AU additional 6 TA-50 already bit late that supposedly early 2025 to end 2025 or early 2026.

Getting second hand Gripen can be a selection if there are available ones in market. I have doubt in present condition, Sweden will want to release second hand Gripen soon.

So the choices for RMAF to get MRCA soon with relatively low flying hours is either wait few more years for Kuwait Hornet, Getting Qatar or UAE Mirage 2K or taking China surplus J-10C something that I heard China offering to both Indonesia and Malaysia.

Who knows this is also some nego tact with Kuwait to begin releasing some of their hornet. From what I gather the 33 Kuwait Hornet consist of 5 F-18D and 28 C. Malaysia seems want to get those 5 F-18D first within this year or early next year. This to enhance their own F-18D.

Either way, seems it is already in phase go or break in the negotiation. If Kuwait do not want to release some of the hornet soon, perhaps Malaysia will pull back from negotiation.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Indeed, Kuwait Hornet is the best choice for RMAF MRCA for near future availability. However I can understand also increasing frustration within RMAF and Malaysian MinDef on protracted acquisition for Kuwait Hornet.

For LCA, they already in right track and other LCA like Tejas already beaten on LCA procurement selection. Problem is FA-50 already victim of their own success, and adding more FA-50 will fall back down in queue. Remember even TNI-AU additional 6 TA-50 already bit late that supposedly early 2025 to end 2025 or early 2026.

Getting second hand Gripen can be a selection if there are available ones in market. I have doubt in present condition, Sweden will want to release second hand Gripen soon.

So the choices for RMAF to get MRCA soon with relatively low flying hours is either wait few more years for Kuwait Hornet, Getting Qatar or UAE Mirage 2K or taking China surplus J-10C something that I heard China offering to both Indonesia and Malaysia.

Who knows this is also some nego tact with Kuwait to begin releasing some of their hornet. From what I gather the 33 Kuwait Hornet consist of 5 F-18D and 28 C. Malaysia seems want to get those 5 F-18D first within this year or early next year. This to enhance their own F-18D.

Either way, seems it is already in phase go or break in the negotiation. If Kuwait do not want to release some of the hornet soon, perhaps Malaysia will pull back from negotiation.

It also makes sense that Malaysia requests to give a priority to deliver the F-18D, not only for Malaysia, but also for Kuwait, they do not need to train new pilots anymore for the F-18.

 

[Ananda]

If RMAF did manage to get all 33 F-18 C/D from Kuwait, they not only can improve their F-18 D operation to a full Sq. Also in paper can have another 2 MRCA Sq.

Eventough RMAF chief claim recent SLEP to Su-30MKM can make them still operational up to 2035 Sukhoi jets fit for service until 2035, says air force chief | New Straits Times. However if they can get all Kuwait Hornet, will those Hornet being use not only replacing Mig 29, Enhanced F-18 D, but also replacing Su-30MKM?

I know the talk in Malaysian forum more on FA-50 replacing Hawk 200, while Kuwait hornet C will only be use as Mig 29 replacement and some will be use as spares. Still I do wonder if the temptations to use all Kuwait Hornet to as replacement for both Mig29 and Su-30MKM.

 

[swerve]

Getting second hand Gripen can be a selection if there are available ones in market. I have doubt in present condition, Sweden will want to release second hand Gripen soon.

IIRC Sweden was planning to dispose of some Gripen C/D soon, but changed plans. Most of the current Gripen C/D fleet are being upgraded. They're going from 94 C/D to 60 modernised C/D & 60 E/F, & they don't want to get rid of any of the current fleet until they've got numbers up to 120.

Czech & Hungarian Gripen C/D are also staying in service for the time being, & modernised AFAIK.