The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will send its eight Boeing F/A-18D Hornet multirole fighters to Australia where they will undergo depot-level maintenance work aimed at allowing the aircraft to operate until 2035.
The maintenance work will be conducted on two aircraft at a time at the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF's) Williamtown airbase where Boeing Australia has also maintained the RAAF's F/A-18F Super Hornet fleet.
A pair of RMAF Hornets is expected to be flown aboard RMAF A400M airlifters later this year to start the fighters' 10-year maintenance programme.
Jane's understands that the maintenance work in Australia, which is expected to be completed in four years, will mainly involve work being done on the Hornets' airframe and engines, although the aircraft are also expected to be fitted with new cockpit displays, a tactical datalink and associated hardware.
(Jane's)