SHAH ALAM, June 1 — Almost half the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) assets are over 20 years’ old and beyond their peak combat effectiveness, said Tan Sri Affendi Buang.

In a press conference ahead of the air force’s 60th anniversary today, the Air Force Chief said the ageing assets were in pressing need of replacement to maintain Malaysia’s ability to effectively defend its airspace.

"If I were to put a figure on it, I would say around 40 per cent is older than 20 years’ old,” he said.

"Our need for an upgrade to the assets is very high, if not it will cost us more to maintain these older assets.”

Those most in need of renewal were the air force’s planes, he said, which must either be upgraded or replaced.

Among the oldest in the RMAF stable were the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighters, the BAE Systems Hawk trainers, the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transporters and the Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri troop carrier helicopters.

Affendi explained that while new planes would appear costly in the beginning, they would work out to be cheaper in the long run as older aircraft needed more intense maintenance schedules to remain airworthy.

"Just like a new car, same as the logic with most mechanical things, older assets will incur higher costs to maintain them,” he explained.

According to Affendi, the RMAF was able to extend the effective life of its F/A-18s through regular upgrades, saying the out-of-production fighter still operated as though new.

The same programme could be extended to other RMAF planes to lengthen their serviceable lifespans, he said.

The Air Force Chief conceded that his proposal would require extensive evaluation and cost-benefit analysis, but stressed that it was imperative to keep Malaysia’s airspace secure.

"To plan to move forward, we have to look at what we have and what is needed in the future,” he said.

Affendi also acknowledged that the proposal may not be well received by the government that is on an austerity drive, noting that the RMAF”s previous plans for aircraft upgrades and purchases were put on hold even by the previous Barisan Nasional administration.

This included plans to acquire four Maritime Patrol Aircrafts and Multi-Role Combat Aircrafts, and upgrades to their now grounded MiG-29 combat planes.

"It doesn’t mean the plans were scrapped completely. The acquisition could be made at a later time when the government’s financial situation is healthier,” he said.