The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is confronting a pivotal moment in its modernisation trajectory, as efforts to acquire surplus F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets from the Kuwait Air Force (KAF) encounter mounting delays and uncertainties. What initially appeared to be a cost-effective “capability bridge” solution now increasingly underscores structural vulnerabilities in Malaysia’s airpower planning amid a rapidly evolving Indo-Pacific security landscape.
RMAF Chief, General Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris, has openly acknowledged the growing risk that Malaysia may have to pivot toward alternative plans should the Kuwait acquisition fail to materialise. “We are evaluating contingency options to ensure Malaysia’s airspace readiness is not compromised,” he said, stressing that reliance on second-hand fighters as an interim solution is no longer a guaranteed pathway.
The F/A-18C/D Hornet acquisition was long viewed as a pragmatic approach to extend the operational relevance of Malaysia’s existing Hornet fleet, minimise infrastructure upgrades, and smooth the eventual transition toward a future Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA). The Hornets promised operational continuity into the 2030s while avoiding the disruptions and costs associated with immediate fifth-generation fighter procurement.
However, this “window of opportunity” is narrowing as Kuwait itself delays its transition to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Initially, Kuwait had considered divesting its legacy Hornet fleet roughly 12 to 18 months after receiving its new Super Hornets. That timeline has since become opaque. Although all 28 Kuwaiti Super Hornets—22 single-seat F/A-18Es and six twin-seat F/A-18Fs—have been built, they remain in U.S. Navy custody pending Kuwait’s operational readiness. This creates a strategic limbo for Malaysia, as the release of Kuwait’s F/A-18C/Ds is dependent on Kuwait completing its generational fleet transition.
Compounding the uncertainty are U.S. defence export control regulations. Even if Kuwait’s Hornets were physically transferred, Malaysia would not be permitted to operate them immediately without extensive avionics, mission software, and cryptographic modifications to meet U.S. specifications. General Norazlan revealed that these modifications could take an estimated 15 months, effectively eroding the rapid-response value of second-hand aircraft. Additional considerations—including pilot retraining, maintenance certification, and spare parts provisioning—could further inflate costs, potentially making the seemingly “affordable” Hornets significantly more expensive than originally projected.
This dual challenge—delays in Kuwait’s fleet release and U.S. export restrictions—highlights a broader strategic lesson for Malaysia: reliance on another nation’s transitional assets as a stopgap carries significant risk. The Hornet impasse exposes inherent vulnerabilities in Malaysia’s medium-term airpower planning, which relies heavily on factors beyond the country’s direct control. Extended dependence on ageing platforms without a guaranteed replacement timeline threatens pilot proficiency, sortie generation, and overall operational credibility.
Malaysia’s airpower readiness is under growing scrutiny in a region moving rapidly toward modern, networked combat architectures. Singapore is set to receive its first F-35 stealth fighters by the end of 2026, joining the ranks of elite fifth-generation air forces. Thailand is acquiring Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F jets, with up to 12 expected by 2034. Indonesia is integrating Dassault Rafales into its air force, while the Philippines is reportedly negotiating for Korea’s KF-21 Boramae, and Vietnam may be acquiring advanced Su-35 fighters. In this context, delays in the RMAF’s fleet renewal risk creating a capability asymmetry that could weaken Malaysia’s deterrence posture.
Under the RMAF’s Capability Development Plan 2055 (CAP55), the existing F/A-18D Hornets are scheduled for retirement around 2035, with the Sukhoi Su-30MKM fleet following by 2040. Both aircraft have formed the backbone of Malaysia’s air superiority, maritime strike, and air defence missions for more than two decades. Any lapse in timely replacement risks generating a capability gap amid intensifying regional challenges such as airspace incursions, grey-zone activities in the South China Sea, and the growing presence of sophisticated foreign air assets.
Recognising the need for a longer-term solution, Malaysia is evaluating fifth-generation MRCA options from several countries, including the United States, France, and Russia. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin has confirmed that the MRCA evaluation process will be protracted, with a final selection expected around 2034 and full operational capability projected for approximately 2040. These platforms require not just acquisition funding, but comprehensive transformation of doctrine, training, infrastructure, and sustainment ecosystems. Fifth-generation fighters now function as central nodes within network-centric warfare, integrating sensors, data fusion, unmanned systems, and multi-domain assets.
Meanwhile, Kuwait is emerging as a highly advanced regional air force, operating Eurofighter Typhoons equipped with Captor-E AESA radars alongside Super Hornets capable of long-range strike missions. Ironically, this generational transition that initially offered Malaysia a rare opportunity to acquire surplus Hornets is now the principal source of uncertainty undermining its acquisition plan.
The Hornet dilemma underscores a deeper strategic imperative: the RMAF must ensure coherent airpower continuity in an era defined by time, integration, and information dominance. Capability gaps rarely emerge abruptly; they materialise gradually through declining sortie rates, shrinking training hours, and reduced confidence in sustained operations. Delayed decisions today risk locking the RMAF into a prolonged period of strategic ambiguity, constraining operational options well into the 2040s.
Non-traditional threats, such as airspace violations and the proliferation of advanced regional combat platforms, further raise the stakes. Maintaining credible deterrence requires not just the number of aircraft, but the capacity to generate sorties, integrate systems, and sustain operational readiness under pressure. Any gap in continuity could have cascading effects on training, force generation, and operational resilience.
Malaysia’s experience with the Hornet acquisition also offers lessons in strategic foresight. Overreliance on transitional solutions from third-party nations introduces vulnerabilities in timing, political alignment, and technological compatibility. The situation highlights that contemporary airpower procurement is increasingly determined not by technical specifications alone, but by geopolitics, export controls, and strategic calculations of external actors.
Ultimately, the RMAF faces a critical choice: continue pursuing uncertain interim solutions or accelerate investment in long-term platforms capable of sustaining Malaysia’s operational relevance in a rapidly evolving security environment. Preserving airpower continuity is not simply a matter of replacing aircraft; it is about safeguarding the nation’s freedom of action, deterrence credibility, and strategic autonomy in the contested skies of the Indo-Pacific.
As neighbouring air forces advance toward networked, data-centric architectures, Malaysia’s challenge is not just catching up in terms of aircraft technology but ensuring that its airpower remains integrated, credible, and operationally relevant. The Hornet impasse, while rooted in procurement complexities, ultimately reflects broader questions of strategic resilience, foresight, and national defence prioritisation. Failure to address these issues could have far-reaching implications for Malaysia’s security posture well beyond the 2030s.
The RMAF’s Hornet dilemma serves as a stark reminder: in modern air warfare, continuity and integration often matter more than raw numbers. Strategic ambiguity, if left unmitigated, risks eroding institutional momentum, tactical currency, and regional credibility. The coming years will be decisive in determining whether Malaysia can maintain a credible airpower deterrent amid a region in rapid military transformation, or whether delayed decisions will compromise its ability to safeguard sovereign airspace in a new era of great-power competition.
