Malaysia has not ruled out the possibility of acquiring fifth-generation (5G) fighter jets from France, the United States or Russia if the process of purchasing used F/A-18 Hornet from Kuwait takes too long.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the move was in line with the long-term plan to replace the country's entire fighter jet assets by 2040.
He explained that the acquisition of used jets from Kuwait was only a temporary measure, while the fifth-generation aircraft could be considered although the evaluation process is expected to take a long time.
So far, the delivery of the F-A-18 Hornet can only be done after Kuwait receives its new aircraft from the United States. Technical evaluation by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is scheduled to begin next month.
At the same time, efforts to ensure that all 18 Sukhoi jets owned by the country are fully operational by 2030 are also continuing.
For the record, Malaysia had previously decided to acquire 30 used F/A-18C/D Hornets from Kuwait with the deal expected to be finalized in 2025. The aircraft will serve as an interim multi-role fighter to replace the retired Russian-made MiG-29.
The shift reflects a change in the country's defense strategy which seeks to standardize its air fleet with Western platforms, thus simplifying logistics, maintenance and increasing the level of interoperability with allied countries.
However, the question that continues to be debated is why Malaysia did not choose to invest in new fighter aircraft, rather than relying on used assets for the sake of long-term savings and a stronger guarantee of security?
