Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Claims American Fighters Are Only Useful for Airshows - Why F-18s Can’t Fight Without Washington’s Permission

[khansaheeb]

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Claims American Fighters Are Only Useful for Airshows - Why F-18s Can’t Fight Without Washington’s Permission

In an interview with Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad provided insight into his country’s experience operating American

militarywatchmagazine.com

Mahathir further elaborated: “The way they treated Malaysia as a buyer of the F-18, we find that the planes are only good for airshows. But we cannot program it for, say, attacks against other countries or for any other use. That is the experience of Malaysia. But I suspect that other countries also did not get the source codes… the planes are not really a weapon that you can control. The control is with the Americans.” He noted that European states may be provided with source codes, but indicated that few non-Western states would, and that even munitions for the F-18s could not be purchased to update the aircraft without approval from the U.S. government. The interviewer thus concluded that clients for F-16 of F-18 fighters “can only use them against targets designated by the United States, not targets that they themselves would like to hit.”

Su-57 and MiG-35 Next Generation Fighters


Mahathir’s statement has considerable implications given that Malaysia is currently considering purchasing a new generation of fighter jets to replace its F-18, MiG-29 and possibly even the Su-30. Kuala Lumpur has previously indicated an interest in the Russian MiG-35 and Su-57 next generation medium and heavyweight fighters, and Russia has offered to purchase its MiG-29s second hand to help offset the cost of a MiG-35 purchase. The Su-57 is likely to replace the Su-30MKM in future, although given the older platform’s still viable capabilities there is less of an urgent need to make such a purchase. While other countries operating the F-18 have sought to replace them either with the F-18E Super Hornet or the F-35A Lightning II platforms, the former Prime Minister’s account of Malaysia’s experience with the Hornet indicates that future purchases of American fighters are unlikely. The F-18 could instead be replaced by more MiG-35 fighters, which are from the same weight range but have a lower operational cost and superior combat performance across the spectrum. Unlike U.S. aircraft, Russian fighters do not have similar restrictions on their use meaning countries can deploy them far more freely without political dependance on Moscow.

Prime Minister Mahathir (right) and Malaysian Air Force F-18D HornetIwan Shafiee (left)





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[Raj-Hindustani]

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Claims American Fighters Are Only Useful for Airshows - Why F-18s Can’t Fight Without Washington’s Permission

In an interview with Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad provided insight into his country’s experience operating American

militarywatchmagazine.com

Mahathir further elaborated: “The way they treated Malaysia as a buyer of the F-18, we find that the planes are only good for airshows. But we cannot program it for, say, attacks against other countries or for any other use. That is the experience of Malaysia. But I suspect that other countries also did not get the source codes… the planes are not really a weapon that you can control. The control is with the Americans.” He noted that European states may be provided with source codes, but indicated that few non-Western states would, and that even munitions for the F-18s could not be purchased to update the aircraft without approval from the U.S. government. The interviewer thus concluded that clients for F-16 of F-18 fighters “can only use them against targets designated by the United States, not targets that they themselves would like to hit.”

Su-57 and MiG-35 Next Generation Fighters


Mahathir’s statement has considerable implications given that Malaysia is currently considering purchasing a new generation of fighter jets to replace its F-18, MiG-29 and possibly even the Su-30. Kuala Lumpur has previously indicated an interest in the Russian MiG-35 and Su-57 next generation medium and heavyweight fighters, and Russia has offered to purchase its MiG-29s second hand to help offset the cost of a MiG-35 purchase. The Su-57 is likely to replace the Su-30MKM in future, although given the older platform’s still viable capabilities there is less of an urgent need to make such a purchase. While other countries operating the F-18 have sought to replace them either with the F-18E Super Hornet or the F-35A Lightning II platforms, the former Prime Minister’s account of Malaysia’s experience with the Hornet indicates that future purchases of American fighters are unlikely. The F-18 could instead be replaced by more MiG-35 fighters, which are from the same weight range but have a lower operational cost and superior combat performance across the spectrum. Unlike U.S. aircraft, Russian fighters do not have similar restrictions on their use meaning countries can deploy them far more freely without political dependance on Moscow.

Prime Minister Mahathir (right) and Malaysian Air Force F-18D HornetIwan Shafiee (left)





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Not really... US can only pressurized to whom.... Those ready to get pressurized by herself..

 

[Indos]

Not really... US can only pressurized to whom.... Those ready to get pressurized by herself..

What not really ?, to upgrade Indonesian F 16 inside Indonesia, we need USA approval to do so.

 

[dbc]

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Claims American Fighters Are Only Useful for Airshows - Why F-18s Can’t Fight Without Washington’s Permission

In an interview with Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad provided insight into his country’s experience operating American

militarywatchmagazine.com

Mahathir further elaborated: “The way they treated Malaysia as a buyer of the F-18, we find that the planes are only good for airshows. But we cannot program it for, say, attacks against other countries or for any other use. That is the experience of Malaysia. But I suspect that other countries also did not get the source codes… the planes are not really a weapon that you can control. The control is with the Americans.” He noted that European states may be provided with source codes, but indicated that few non-Western states would, and that even munitions for the F-18s could not be purchased to update the aircraft without approval from the U.S. government. The interviewer thus concluded that clients for F-16 of F-18 fighters “can only use them against targets designated by the United States, not targets that they themselves would like to hit.”

Su-57 and MiG-35 Next Generation Fighters


Mahathir’s statement has considerable implications given that Malaysia is currently considering purchasing a new generation of fighter jets to replace its F-18, MiG-29 and possibly even the Su-30. Kuala Lumpur has previously indicated an interest in the Russian MiG-35 and Su-57 next generation medium and heavyweight fighters, and Russia has offered to purchase its MiG-29s second hand to help offset the cost of a MiG-35 purchase. The Su-57 is likely to replace the Su-30MKM in future, although given the older platform’s still viable capabilities there is less of an urgent need to make such a purchase. While other countries operating the F-18 have sought to replace them either with the F-18E Super Hornet or the F-35A Lightning II platforms, the former Prime Minister’s account of Malaysia’s experience with the Hornet indicates that future purchases of American fighters are unlikely. The F-18 could instead be replaced by more MiG-35 fighters, which are from the same weight range but have a lower operational cost and superior combat performance across the spectrum. Unlike U.S. aircraft, Russian fighters do not have similar restrictions on their use meaning countries can deploy them far more freely without political dependance on Moscow.

Prime Minister Mahathir (right) and Malaysian Air Force F-18D HornetIwan Shafiee (left)





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Email

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A New Role for the F-22: How Effective Was the Raptor as an Aerial Sniper Against the Taliban?

Military Watch Magazine​

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this is true, every time an operator launches a weapon. Two lights flash on a desk in the Pentagon. The officer that happens to man the desk at the time has to press the RED or the GREEN button. I've seen this desk with my own eyes....trust me bro.

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

What not really ?, to upgrade Indonesian F 16 inside Indonesia, we need USA approval to do so.

Upgradation is just a different story.

This is a kind of agreement between seller and buyer... Seller wants to cash the money as much they can after selling the products.

Why would they allow someone else to get the benefits and cash the money by using their platform?

If you have a plan to upgrade the platform in the future (as definitely needed) then you must do the agreement very carefully.. Do not cry later.

 

[Indos]

Upgradation is just a different story.

This is a kind of agreement between seller and buyer... Seller wants to cash the money as they can after selling the product.

Why would they allow someone else to get the benefits and cash the money by using their platform?

If you have a plan to upgrade the platform in the future then you must do the agreement very carefully.. Do not cry later.

Well how about to change IFF instrument using our own IFF system ? Malaysia hasnt yet able to make one, but if some how they want to change current IFF instrument with those from Turkey, it still needs approval from USA, and this is where the critical areas Mahathir wants to state

That is part of upgrade as well. The best thing is to develop our own fighter planes and has the source codes.

 

[khansaheeb]

this is true, every time an operator launches a weapon. Two lights flash on a desk in the Pentagon. The officer that happens to man the desk at the time has to press the RED or the GREEN button. I've seen this desk with my own eyes....trust me bro.

Are you sure it is not a desk in Tel Aviv

 

[kankan326]

US arms trap

 

[lcloo]

What Mahathir said is true.

I still remember that after acquired the FA-18D in 1997, and during a marine strike training exercise, Malaysian airforce pilots were puzzled that they could not lock on surface targets at sea with the targeting radar from their FA-18D.

After investigation, they found there is a "fault" on the aircraft radar software that was later "solved" by Americans. (Ther is no such fault in USN or US Marine FA-18 during Gulf wars and other wars...)

Also all BVR missiles and long range Air to surface missiles bought and paid by Malaysia, are kept in US soil, and can only be sent back to Malaysia during war time , and can only be used after US approval has been given.

Also, many years later after the second Gulf war of 2003, US government offer to sell Super Hornet and buy back Malaysian airforce's FA-18D. Their offer was declined by Malaysia for obvious reasons.

 

[khansaheeb]

What Mahathir said is true.

I still remember that after acquired the FA-18D in 1997, and during a marine strike training exercise, Malaysian airforce pilots were puzzled that they could not lock on surface targets at sea with the targeting radar from their FA-18D.

After investigation, they found there is a "fault" on the aircraft radar software that was later "solved" by Americans. (Ther is no such fault in USN or US Marine FA-18 during Gulf wars and other wars...)

Also all BVR missiles and long range Air to surface missiles bought and paid by Malaysia, are kept in US soil, and can only be sent back to Malaysia during war time , and can only be used after US approval has been given.

Also, many years later after the second Gulf war of 2003, US government offer to sell Super Hornet and buy back Malaysian airforce's FA-18D. Their offer was declined by Malaysia for obvious reasons.

Surely the Malaysians aren't that foolish or corrupt?

 

[lcloo]

Surely the Malaysians aren't hat foolish or corrupt?

LCS declassified investigation report: Procurement of ships may cost govt RM11.145b

After paying out US dollar 1.5 BILLION, not a single ship has been delivered. After the world famous 1MDB, this is another billion dollar Whale case that involved in warship contract.

 

[Song Hong]

Singapore purchase 80% of weapons from US. Singapore is dead meat.

 

[qwerrty]

anyone buy weapons from the US should expect this lol

UAE found kill switch on their spy sats that they bought from the US

UAE Says US Backdoors Found In Spy Satellites

The United Arab Emirates has allegedly discovered 2 ‘security compromising components’ supplied by the US, in military satellites provided by the French. The UAE has reportedly threatened to cancel a 3.4 billion dirhams (£570m) deal to purchase 2 military satellites from France over claims that...

news.filehippo.com

 

[Song Hong]

Malaysia Airlines MH370 disappear without a trace.

I guess most Malaysian elites has already decided to pivot to China. US taking revenge downing 2 MH, and recently, subverting Sabah by supporting Sulu Sultanate, Now seems that only Mahathir is adamant to be US dog.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[aviator_fan]

A comment and a question: if this statement of kill switches is true, why would Malaysia be in negotiation with Kuwait.

More importantly, is any of this remotely true? I know of course that US can cut-off spares and weapons supplies if they are used in a manner not approved by the US but thats a gradual degredation vs. some phantom way to control the platform virtually.