Malaysia already has a batch of 8 F 18Ds, why not add another 10 of the same said second hand models to make it 18, a perfect numbered squadron. First off all it's cheap and for all you know US or even Australia might give their retired hornets to her air force for free, subject of course to her bearing the cost upgrade that her air arms need anyway.
By doing so Malaysia can wait for the 4.5 as well as 5th generating fighter to mature and make the right decision rather than procuring something that is not fully developed. There is no guarantee what the future holds for these brand new fighters with the budget slash cuts and all. If an early aqusition is made of her MRCA, Malaysia might buy into something that misleadingly sounds good in the beginning but run the risk of having halted development in the later stage due to shortage of funds or even cancellation of related sub programs if not the programme itself.
F 18D especially a second hand unit would surely cost less but perform better than gripen, the cheapest among the 4.5 generation contenders. A future programme to add AESA capabilities and weapons to go with it on this type of hornet if there is any enough takers, and by the looks of it there are, since the are 9 countries operate them, many in large numbers. Many of them too are in a dilema of not only choosing but waiting for the right but as always delayed fifth generation fighter to come along, hence leaving a big gap in their line of defences.
F 18 C/D could be in this milineum what F 5 was in last century, a cheap easily maintained fighter, only that the hornet is more capable not only as a fighter but as a multirole with SEAD capabilities.
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