Despite the financial challenges, the Royal Malaysian Air Force has taken measures to enhance its capabilities
The core of the Malaysian Air Force is currently the Su-30MKM fighters
which are currently undergoing a major refurbishment program domestically to extend their operational lifespan
Currently, the Malaysian Air Force is operating two squadrons of multi-role fighters
one is Russian-made Su-30MKM fighters and the other includes the US F/A-18D Super Hornet
The Sukhoi Su-30MKM (NATO reporting name: Flanker-H)
is a variant of the Su-30 series specifically developed for RMAF featuring many significant improvements over the original Su-30MK export version
Developed by Sukhoi Design Bureau, the Su-30MKM is based on Su-30MKI operated by the Indian Air Force
The first two aircraft were handed over to the RMAF on May 2007 at Irkut’s aircraft manufacturing facility at Irkutsk, Russia
The two aircraft were later delivered to RMAF on June 2007
By December 2007, seven months after the delivery of the first two aircraft, the RMAF had taken delivery of six Su-30MKMs
The eighteenth and last aircraft arrived at RMAF on August 2009
Malaysian Su-30MKM and Indian Su-30MKI both have common airframe, thrust vectoring engines and digital fly-by-wire system
however the MKM version differs from the MKI mainly in the composition of the onboard avionics
At the time of delivery the Su-30MKMs were the most advanced and heavy fighters in Southeast Asia
Su-30MKM inherits the super maneuverability of the Sukhoi family via digital fly-by-wire, canards
and two Saturn AL-31FP engines with thrust vectoring, producing 27,500 lb thrust each with afterburners
This gives them an edge in close-in dogfights
allowing the pilot to rapidly point the plane at potential targets to draw them within the AA-11/R-73 Archer’s wide infrared seeker cone
then launch and quickly change energy state and direction
The electronic warfare systems, phased array radars, optical-location systems with laser rangefinder were all produced by leading Russian manufacturers
At that time, officers from RMAF formed a Su-30MKM Project Team which was based in Moscow
the team had actively participated in the integration of all the avionics systems
The aircraft is capable of conducting Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses mission when equipped with two SAP-518 jamming pods
and Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles
It is equipped with N011M phased array radar for long range aerial combat which can track up to 15 targets and engage 4 targets simultaneously
It can also be equipped with a Thales Damocles Laser Designation Pod for precision ground attack
Missile Approaches Warning System & laser warning sensor supplied by Saab Avitronics of South Africa
In 2018, there were reports that only four Su-30MKM fighters that could fly
Despite financial difficulties, the Malaysian Air Force affirmed that the Su-30MKM fighters will still play a pivotal role in the future
It is addressing the maintenance issues
with the Sukhois currently undergoing a major refurbishment program domestically to extend their operational lifespan