Quora Answer: Is the Sole Purpose of Malaysia's MiGs to Attack Singapore?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Is the sole purpose of the MiGs, in Malaysia, to attack Singapore?”

The Malaysian MiG-29s were multi-role combat aircraft.  Like any airforce, these are supposed to be the mainstay of their air defence, being employed more in a ground attack role.  The F-18Ds were also MRCA, but employed more for air to air interdiction.  Malaysia has not had the air superiority to sustain an attack on Singapore since the mid-1970s.  In fact, their airforce does not even have a dedicated air superiority fighter.  The MiGs-29s have been retired as of 2017, because they simply did not have the funds to maintain them.

Malaysia has stated a desire to increase their F-18 fleet with the proposed acquisition of a different variant, but there has been no progress on that front.  Again, they do not have the funds to maintain what they already have, let alone acquire new aircraft.  There was also talk about a light combat aircraft for border defence.  They are cheaper to operate, and require less training.  Malaysia has not even set aside funds for regular air exercises, so this is why LCA are attractive.

Due to corruption in the procurement process, incompetence in negotiating the support package, and a lack of technical expertise, Malaysia’s current fleet is essentially grounded.  They bought planes without considering the supply of parts, access to ECM technology, and even the costs of pilot training and flights.  It can be argued that among the major economies of ASEAN, Malaysia’s air force has the least capability.  Let alone thinking of attacking Singapore, which has an air force that outnumbers theirs by over a hundred to one, Malaysia cannot even secure her own airspace.  An example is the fact that MH370 flew untracked in Malaysian airspace because the radar at Butterworth was not switched on.  Malaysia is all bark but no bite.