Only 4 out of 28 Su-30s and MiG-29s in RMAF can fly vs 100 F-15s and F-16s in RSAF

via TheOnlineCitizen.com

It was reported in the Malaysian media last Tue (31 Jul) that only 4 out of the 28 Russian fighter jets owned by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) are able to take to the skies.

This is according to the new Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, after doing a review of his ministry when he took over.

Mr Sabu told the Malaysian Parliament last Tue that the RMAF had 18 Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30MKM and 10 MiG-29 jet fighters.

“Only four of the Sukhois are able to fly well,” he said, adding that the remaining 14 are under repair.

He said that the RMAF was unable to properly maintain the fighter jets’ airworthiness under the previous government.

His ministry had terminated the contractor engaged by the former administration and was looking at replacing them with local contractors, he told Parliament.

The 10 MiG-29 multi-role jets entered service in 1995, while 6 Sukhoi Su-30MKM Air-Superiority Fighter were delivered in 2007 and the remainder in 2009.

Not more than 25 Malaysian combat aircraft can fly

Indeed, according to FlightGlobal which provides aviation intelligence through data and analytics for over 100 years supporting the aviation industry, it’s latest publication, ‘World Air Forces 2018‘, did indicate that Malaysia only has 28 Russian-made combat aircraft. Together with 8 F/A-18Ds and 13 British made Hawks, Malaysia has 49 combat aircraft:

Story here. 

Maintenance is the burning issue of our time.  As air forces world wide obtain newer, high performance aircraft the issue of keeping them flyable is the secret sauce that appears to have escaped the attention of many.

Which is more valuable.

A high tech airforce that you can get only 25% of the airframes into the air OR a slightly lower tech airforce that you can keep airborne 75% of the time?

The truth?

Artillery will probably remain the king of battle going into the future.  Tubes are easier to maintain than aircraft.  Rocket artillery is usually in range of friendly forces.  No threat to pilots, ready regardless of weather conditions and cheaper to operate.

Hopefully Ground Commanders are paying attention to this disturbing trend that has even hit US airpower hard.