Malaysia’s interim fighter jet plan from Kuwait underscores strategic balancing

Malaysia’s Interim Jet Acquisition from Kuwait Highlights Strategy, Not Strategy Shift

Mohd Hanif Ismail - : Oct 12, 2025 - : 11:39 am

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Malaysia has reiterated that its plans to acquire second-hand F/A-18 fighter aircraft from Kuwait are intended purely as a stopgap measure rather than a pivot in its long-term defence strategy. According to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the deal is designed to plug an immediate capability gap while Malaysia prepares for a more sustainable, modern multirole combat aircraft (MRCA) acquisition under its 14th Malaysia Plan.

In a parliamentary written response issued on 10 October, Khaled stressed that the Kuwaiti jets remain under review and that any final decision hinges on a forthcoming technical assessment by a joint RMAF (Royal Malaysian Air Force) team. He emphasised that the legacy Hornets will not supplant Malaysia’s aspiration to acquire new and more advanced platforms down the line.

Observers note that Malaysia’s support for the transfer of Kuwaiti jets already depends on broader geopolitical and logistical constraints. The United States granted formal approval earlier this year under the US Arms Export Control Act, allowing Malaysia access to technical documentation and facilitating trilateral discussions involving the US, Kuwait, and Malaysia. Yet, diplomatic and financial sensitivities remain. Sources indicate that Kuwait’s own transition to F/A-18E/F Super Hornets must be completed before it can relinquish its legacy fleet.

Background on the RMAF’s procurement challenges puts this interim move in context. Malaysia’s air force currently operates a handful of F/A-18D Hornets and 18 Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighters, many of which have undergone service life extension and are due for mid-life upgrades. Malaysia’s push to reinforce its fleet coincides with intensifying regional competition in South China Sea airspace, where growing Chinese assertiveness has revived defence urgency in Southeast Asia.

Critics have raised valid concerns about the wisdom of acquiring older jets whose configurations diverge from Malaysia’s existing assets. Reports suggest that Kuwait’s F/A-18s use older avionics software and radar systems compared to Malaysia’s upgraded fleet, complicating integration and increasing the cost of refurbishment. Structural fatigue and maintenance burdens also remain central risks in any ageing-aircraft deal. In fact, some Malaysian media outlets have reported that the Kuwaiti jet acquisition has already been cancelled because of logistical complications and misaligned timelines.

From an Asia-Pacific trade and defence perspective, Malaysia’s handling of this interim acquisition offers insight into the constraints and dynamics shaping military procurement in the region. Unlike larger regional powers, many Southeast Asian states must juggle tight budgets, export control dependencies, and platform compatibility challenges when sourcing defence systems. In this case, Malaysia is navigating US oversight, Gulf state timelines, and domestic procurement plans in parallel.

Khaled has warned that protracted delays in delivery from Kuwait may prompt Malaysia to explore alternative options. In early September he acknowledged that uncertainty in when the jets might be handed over—possibly as late as 2028 or 2029—could undermine the cost-effectiveness of the acquisition. Meanwhile, Malaysia is slated to receive 18 FA-50M light combat aircraft from South Korea beginning in 2027, though defence analysts contend that these will not be sufficient to close the capability gap.

The question remains whether Malaysia’s interim solution will hold or be overtaken by evolving geopolitical pressures and defence priorities. For now, the government maintains that its eyes remain fixed on a longer-term MRCA procurement, with the Kuwaiti jet deal serving only as a tactical bridge—not a redefinition of strategy.