Buying used assets 'common practice' in defence sector – minister

PARLIAMENT | Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin today said purchasing used assets from other countries is a common practice in the defence sector and is neither unusual nor detrimental.

Khaled, in his winding-up speech at the end of debates on the Supply Bill 2025, responded to MPs who questioned the Defence Ministry’s plan to purchase used F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets from Kuwait.

“In general, the F-18 Hornets are in excellent condition, with a 90 percent serviceability rate.

“Furthermore, their operational configuration is 90 percent identical to the air force’s Hornets, meaning they can be operated without additional training and with minimal configuration adjustments.

“We can also continue using these aircraft until 2035,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Khaled pointed out that other countries, including Indonesia and Thailand, have also previously acquired second-hand assets, such as aircraft and combat vehicles, from foreign nations.

He explained that, fundamentally, the procurement serves as a “gap filler” (a temporary measure before acquiring new aircraft) to meet the air force’s needs.

At the same time, Khaled noted that with this “gap filler” approach, Malaysia does not need to wait long to secure assets compared to a new acquisition process, which could take up to 10 years.

Cost-effective

He added that procuring the F-18 Hornet fighter jets is more cost-effective because the package includes compatible spare parts.

“We will leverage our good relations with the US to secure approval from their government for this acquisition.

“This is necessary because, for this procurement, we must obtain consent from the country of origin, which is the US,” he said.

Earlier this week, Khaled had reportedly met with Kuwait’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Rashed MR Al-Saleh, for a follow-up discussion on Malaysia’s interest in acquiring fighter jets from the Kuwait Air Force (KAF).

Previously, Zulkafperi Hanapi (Independent-Tanjong Karang) in his debate on the Supply Bill said the used F/A-18 Hornet fighter would be no match for neighbouring Singapore’s state-of-the-art jets.

Earlier this year, Singapore was reported to be one of four countries in the Indo-Pacific region to acquire F-35s, along with Australia, Japan, and South Korea.

It is a US fifth-generation fighter featuring stealth characteristics, improved sensors, and the ability to share and receive sensor data with other platforms in order to build a comprehensive view of the battlefield. The F-35A first entered US Air Force service in 2015.

In contrast, the F/A-18 Hornet is considered a fourth-generation fighter that first entered US service in 1983 and has since been replaced by the larger “Super Hornet” variant and the stealthy F-35.

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