F/A-18D Hornet TUDM - Royal Malaysian Air Force

Product description

The F/A-18s first flew in November 1978 and the first
production flight on April 12, 1980. The first 380 aircraft were F/A-18As and in September
1987 production switched to the F/A-18C. Variants A and C are single-seat aircraft while B
and D are tandem-seats. The Hornet can operate from either aircraft carriers or land bases
with the capability of in flight refueling. A total of 1,480 A-D variants were built.

In early 1997 the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM - Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia)
received the first four F/A-18Ds followed by four more in August 1997. Malaysia is the first
Southeast Asian nation to receive the F/A-18D. These aircraft would equip the newly formed
No. 18 Squadron (Hornets) stationed at the former RAF Butterworth AB. Since the F/A-18Ds
are multi-role aircraft they would be used for ground and maritime strikes as well as air-to-air
missions. Ironically the aircraft first arrived with the Malaysian national insignia painted
incorrectly.