Royal Malaysian Air Force - Modernization
The 1990's saw the arrival of much larger aircraft, first with the Hawk Mk108/208 replacing the T/A-4PTM's with 6 Skn and 9 Skn in 1994, followed by the MiG-29N/NUB in 1995 forming 17 Skn and 19 Skn, and finally the F/A-18D forming 18 Skn in 1997. In 1998, the locally manufactured MD3-160 was added to the training fleet, and in August 1999 21 Skn was formed on the CN235-220M bought from Indonesia.
However, in 2000 the F-5 fleet was grounded and stored as an operational reserve. In May 2003 seventeen former RNZAF MB339CB's were earmarked to supplement the surviving MB339AM's with 15 Skn. On August 5th, 2003 a contract was signed worth $900 million for eighteen Su-30MKM's, to be based at the reserve base Gong Kedak, Terengganu. Deliveries were expected between June 2006 and late 2007. The 17 Skn (MiG-29N/NUB) was disbanded by July 2003, with all the MiG's concentrated in 19 Skn. It is reported that 11 Skn and 17 Skn will receive the Su-30's.
The Malaysian Air Force was well equipped, with two squadrons of MiG 29 and asquadron of 8 F/A 18 Hornet fighter aircraft and 4 KC 130 H tankers. ATM's modernisation in the early 1990s, which saw it acquiring the R-77 Beyond Visual Range (BVR) guided missile from Russia for its MiG-29N/UB, had led defence analysts to regard Malaysia as starting an arms race with Singapore and Thailand. None of the other countries in the region had the BVR system. The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) received and commissioned the first six Sukhoi Su-30MKM, which arrived in the country in June 2007. A dozen more Sukhois arrived before the end of 2008. With the addition of the Sukhois, the RMAF had about 60 combat aircraft in service, which included the BAE Systems Hawk 108/208s, Boeing F/A-18D Hornets and MiG-29 Fulcrums.
With the commission of new strike fighters, the service mulled whether its plans to have 72 combat aircraft in its fleet would be approved by the government. If the budget for the additional fighters is approved, Sukhoi will face a tough battle with Boeing, which had been promoting the F-18E/F Super Hornets to replace the eight Hornets in service with RMAF.
By late 2017 the service grounded its remaining airworthy MiG-29s instead of upgrading them, although the government had not made a final decision about their future.
Transport Aircraft
Malaysia will be among the first in the world to use the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft. The Royal Malaysian Air Force has ordered four A400M aircraft costing RM2.8 billion (US$840 million), to be delivered in 2015. Problems with the Airbus A400M transport program resulted in the RMAF having to accept up to a two-year delay in delivery (falling from 2013-2014 to 2015-2016). Germany and South Africa also ordered the aircraft which useful for humanitarian missions. An RMAF spokesperson said the aircraft could reduce flying time when sending troops to overseas missions. Previously the RMAF had to use commercial aircraft for foreign missions. He also added that although the RMAF would have the larger aircraft, the existing 20 Hercules transport aircraft would still be in service for domestic usage.
Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft (AEW&C)
While focus has primarily been on the MRCA program, the RMAF still has an outstanding requirement for up to four airborne early warning and control aircraft (AEW&C). However, funding for the program has yet to be officially allocated. Northrop Grumman has been strongly marketing the E-2D Hawkeye, while rival Saab has also been pushing the Erieye AEW&C system, which would be installed on a platform of Malaysia’s choice.
Both the entire existing RMAF C-130 Hercules fleet and a significant portion of the S-61A Nuri helicopter fleet will continue to be in service and are slated for an upgrade and service life extension program. Despite the purchase of 12 EC725s, Malaysia has laid down the requirement that the RMAF must have a fleet of 27 medium-lift helicopters. With no funding available for additional EC725s, the RMAF is pursuing a service life extension and upgrade for 15 of the current 28 S-61 helicopters to keep them in service.
Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA)
Malaysia is moving ahead with its plans to acquire much-needed maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial systems to enhance maritime security, announcing 25h August 2020 that it will be issuing separate tenders for each type. According to the tender announcement, Malaysia is seeking two maritime patrol aircraft. The announcement was sent to “selected embassies” and published in two of Malaysia’s national newspapers as well as the government’s online tender portal.
Under its Capability 55 plan, the Royal Malaysian Air Force has an eventual requirement for four maritime patrol aircraft. Potential manned aircraft in the running include Leonardo’s ATR 72MP, Airbus’ C-295, PTDI’s CN-235, Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon and Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ P-1. However, it’s unlikely P-8A or P-1 will be chosen due to their respective costs.
Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) UAV
Malaysia is moving ahead with its plans to acquire much-needed maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial systems to enhance maritime security, announcing 25h August 2020 that it will be issuing separate tenders for each type. According to the tender announcement, Malaysia is seeking three medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial systems. The announcement was sent to “selected embassies” and published in two of Malaysia’s national newspapers as well as the government’s online tender portal.
Under its Capability 55 plan, the Royal Malaysian Air Force has an eventual requirement for six UAS to improve maritime domain awareness. The drone requirement is likely to attract interest from General Atomics with its MQ-9 Reaper; Aviation Industry Corporation of China with its Wing Loong family of systems; Leonardo with the Falco; and Turkish Aerospace Industries’ Anka series.
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