“We hope the Kuwaiti government will consider our request. We have not submitted it formally, but they are aware because we have sent our team to evaluate the aircraft,” he said.

A technical team from the Royal Malaysian Air Force went to Kuwait in June to assess the aircraft, which Kuwait is replacing with a fleet of 28 Eurofighter Typhoons and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters.

“We found that it is suitable for our use. It aligns with our plans to have air force assets capable of supporting operations and addressing the challenges we face within our country today,” Khaled said after opening an Umno meeting in Parit, Johor.

His remarks come two days after he had discussions with Kuwait’s ambassador to Malaysia, Rashed Mohammed Rashed Al-Saleh, who paid him a courtesy call.

Khaled said there are ongoing plans to acquire new military equipment for the armed forces. “With the region becoming increasingly dynamic and conflicts on the rise, Malaysia needs to ensure it is prepared… so we can maintain peace and sovereignty,” he said.

Kuwait is seeking to dispose of its fleet of F/A-18C and F/A-18D multirole combat aircraft, 40 of which were acquired in the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War.

The Malaysian air force currently operates eight F/A-18D twin-seat fighters alongside 18 Russian-built Sukhoi Su-30MKM Flanker-H aircraft, all acquired in the 1990s.