KUALA LUMPUR – With a relatively small fleet of fighter jets, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) must maximise the capabilities of its aircraft, often undertaking manoeuvres that other militaries might shy away from, according to former US Navy fighter pilot Trevor Hartsock.
Hartsock, who trained Malaysia’s F/A-18 Hornet pilots from the 18th Squadron in Butterworth, explained that adjusting to the RMAF’s approach required a shift in mindset, given the differing military philosophies between the two nations. While the US adopts both defensive and offensive stances, Malaysia’s strategy is primarily defensive.
“The US practises power projection. Malaysia doesn’t send their air force halfway around the world because their mindset is more defensive.
“Once I understood that, I could see that the RMAF and the Malaysian military in general is quite effective with the way they train and what they do,” Hartsock told Scoop.
Malaysia operates only 39 fighter jets, significantly fewer than its regional neighbours, with Singapore boasting 60 state-of-the-art F-16 Falcons and 40 F-15 Strike Eagles, Indonesia fielding 60 Western and Russian jets, and Thailand possessing 92.
Given the limited variety of aircraft, the RMAF must fully utilise every aspect of its assets. Hartsock noted that Malaysia’s military training includes exercises that the US military typically avoids. For example, the RMAF conducts low-level night training with their Hornets—an exercise that Hartsock had not encountered in the US.
“I received a qualification in Malaysia that I didn’t get in the US—low-level night vision goggles training. It’s a challenging exercise, especially in Malaysia, where the jungles are dark and often foggy. When Malaysia first acquired the F/A-18s, they had the US Marines teach them this technique, but the US Navy doesn’t include it in their training,” Hartsock said.
He also highlighted that Malaysia incorporates Maverick air-to-surface missile training into their syllabus, something that is less emphasised in the US. “They use every capability the Hornet offers,” he added.
The RMAF’s limited number of aircraft also means that only a few aviators are qualified to fly them, fostering a passionate and competitive fighter pilot culture in Malaysia. Hartsock, who trained Malaysian aviators from 2012 to 2015, observed that the RMAF pilots possess a “warfighter spirit” that he feels is waning in the US.
“In the US, the warfighter spirit isn’t what it used to be. In Malaysia, though it’s been several years since I left, I saw pilots who were proud of what they did. Their warrior spirit was evident in how they flew and interacted with each other. They are proud of their country, and if called upon to fight, they will do so,” he said.
Hartsock, currently an adversary pilot with the US Air Force Reserves and a former US Navy fighter pilot who saw combat in Iraq and Afghanistan under the callsign ‘Gonky’, co-hosts The Mover and Gonky podcast with fellow aviator C.W. Lemoine.
In a previous interview with Scoop, Hartsock mentioned that Malaysia’s potential acquisition of additional F/A-18 Hornets from Kuwait would greatly benefit the RMAF, given the aircraft’s durability and relatively low maintenance costs.
He added that the newer fifth-generation fighter jets might not be necessary for Malaysia, considering the country’s defence philosophy. Instead, he suggested that 4.5th generation jets such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet or the F-15 Strike Eagle would be more suitable.
In June, reports indicated that the RMAF planned a technical visit to Kuwait to discuss acquiring the Hornet jets, which are reportedly in good condition with low operating hours compared to the existing Malaysian Armed Forces aircraft. The RMAF currently operates only eight Hornets.
Although the costs of the potential acquisition have not been disclosed, the price of a new F/A-18 Hornet is estimated at US$66 million (RM295 million) per unit. However, as these are used aircraft, the expenditure is expected to be significantly lower.
The Kuwaiti jets, purchased in 1991, are being retired in favour of the more modern F/A-18 Super Hornets, a larger and more advanced version of the legacy Hornets. – September 1, 2024
