THE proposed acquisition of used F/A-18 fighter jets from Kuwait is only a short-term measure to address a capability gap in the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin confirmed in a parliamentary written reply.
He clarified that the move was “part of a stopgap plan” and should not be seen as a replacement for Malaysia’s long-term defence strategy.
“The procurement of multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) will take place under the 14th Malaysia Plan,” he said in the reply dated Friday.
The Minister added that the plan to acquire the Kuwaiti aircraft remains under review. “A decision will only be made after the RMAF joint committee or technical team makes a working visit to Kuwait to comprehensively assess the aircraft,” he said.
His comments came in response to a query by Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim, who had asked whether the ministry intended to invest in modern, new-generation fighter jets instead of relying on “second-hand and outdated” platforms, following the crash of an F/A-18D Hornet in Kuantan on 21 August.
On the incident, Mohamed Khaled said investigations confirmed the crash was caused by a bird strike and not due to technical failure.
“As such, the F/A-18D remains safe to operate until around 2035 to 2040,” he added.
He also noted that the RMAF’s fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKM aircraft, which are now 18 years old, had already undergone a service life extension programme and will soon undergo a mid-life upgrade to ensure continued operational relevance until at least 2040.
These measures are part of the broader RMAF Capability Development Plan 2055. - October10, 2025
