Sounds to me that RMAF can’t afford the others, so the criteria have been changed so that Gripen DOES meet requirements. Wonder if this selection will go the way the Swiss one went – get some temporary C/D’s to allow Fulcrums to be retired in 2015 then buy some E/F’s when the budget is there.

That’s true, money is the main issue. The bulk of the next defence budget has been allocated for 6 frigates and 250 APCs. Under original plans, cash was also supposed to have been allocated for a C-130H and S-61 upgrade. Super Hornets have always been the favourite due to commonality reasons but a lack of funds may force the RMAF to go for the Gripen, which it never really wanted as its a single engine platform. Back in 2002, the Super Hornet was the favourite but politics intervened and the Su-30MKM was selected instead.

Isn’t cheaper to buy a few more Su-30MKMs or some advanced trainers like Yak-130 or T-50 that can be used as a light strike aircraft if needed or in air policing roles for less money and with a longer service life?

There were unconfirmed reports a couple of years ago that the RMAF had proposed swapping the Fulcrums for 6 newly built Su-30MKMs. There is a requirement for additional MBB-339CMs to add to the 8 currently operated and for additional PC-7 Mk2s to replace the 35 surviving PC-7 Mk1s and supplement the PC-7 Mk2 currently operated.

Retiring Hawks and any F-5 left could also ease the burden of maintenance.

The Hawks are unlikely to be retired anytime soon given that the RMAF is short of fighters and that contracts were recently awarded to Rolls Royce to overhaul the Adour engines and to BAE Systems for a spares package. A study was done a few years ago to fit the Selex Vixen AESA to the Hawk 200s. The Hawk 100s have recently been cleared for Paveway 1, with the first launches being performed early this year.

The F-5E/F/RF-5E is still operational albeit the numbers now is around 8.

These are operated by 12 Squadron at Butterworth. The F-Es are mainly used as escorts for the RF-5Es and for pilots to maintain currency. In the 1990’s the F-5Es were used as ‘aggressors’ and in the 1980’s appeared in BAT-21 [Danny Glover and Gene Hackman]. The RF-5Es have undergone a minor upgrade [digital cameras and some avionics, as have the F-5Fs. The intention is to retire the F-5s when the new MRCA enters service.

Malaysian defense minister visited Irkut some time ago, and said it was very likely they would be working with the Yak-130.
Also that they would likely do something similar to India regarding Su-30 modernization.

The RMAF is very unwilling to go for anything Russian, not due to the actual product but for reasons to do with logistics, etc. An upgrade for the MKM is indeed in the cards but is not likely to happen anytime soon. As feasibility study has been done to fit the MKMs with an EASA, towed decoy and a full glass cockpit.

air force doesnt like its MiG-29s, they are not trying to retire the Su-30MKM

The RMAF is actually quite fond of its Fulcrums, what it dislikes very much is the lower MTBF and MTBO of the engines and other parts on the Fulcrums compared to Western types operated. To suit the RMAFs operational requireents, the Su-30MKMs were fitted with a number of non-Russian stuff, which made the Russians unhappy as it lowered their profit margin :]. SAABs main advantage is that it can offer the Gripen, along with the Ericsson Eriye in one package – the RMAF has had a pressing requirement for AEW aircraft since the 1980’s.

Greetings everyone.

Malaysia bought the MKM because the Russians offered a better off-set deal, plus internal politics. It had nothing to do with improving relations with Russia. Malaysia has a history of spreading out whom its buys from, its prefers not to rely too much on a single supplier to meet its needs. As part of the original deal offered by Boeing, the 8 F/A18Ds were to have been traded in as part payment for 18 F/A-18F Block 1s for US1.5billion. Though most reports have said that the USMC would have received the ex-RMAF Hornets, another report has said that the Swiss would have received them after an overhaul at RUAG. Included in the proposed Super Hornet deal were 3 spare F414-GE-400 engines, AN/ALR-67[V] 3 dispensers, 12 ALQ—214 [V] 2 ECM pods, 72 LAU-127B/A launchers, support and test equipment and a logistics and support package. Boeing is reported to have changed its offer to Block 2s. From the start, the RMAF had made it clear that its prefered option were Super Hornets but were overuled by the government. The point to remember is that for a small air arm like the RMAF, an important consideration is always the availability of enough flight crews and support personnel. The current favourite at the moment is the Gripen with a deal only expected in 2-3 years, minimum. Another longstanding requirement, that for an AEW platform, appears to have been stalled again due to finance.

According to Russian aviation writer Yefim Gordon in ‘Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum’, the Fulcrums [izdeliye 9-12SD] were manufactured from 1988 to 1990 and were stored at Lookhovitsy airfield after the Soviet Air force was unable to pay for them.

Though integration work and simulated launches during the Churinga 96 air exercise with the Royal Australian Air Force were performed, the RMAF has never confirmed receiving the R-77/RVV-AE active radar homing beyond visual range [AA-12 Adder/AMRAAMSKI]. In 1995 however, the AGAT Research Institute, designers of the active seeker head for the AA-12, disclosed that the RMAF would be receiving a modified version of the AA-12. Speculation that the RMAF would receive the Adder, led to Thailand making a request for AMRAAMs to arm the 8 F/A-18Ds ordered in 1997. Speaking at the Cobra Gold 1999 annual tri-services exercise in Thailand, US Commander In Chief Pacific Command [CINPAC], Admiral Blair said that the introduction of the Adder posed no threat to the balance of air power in the region.