WHAT TYPE OF COMBAT AIRCRAFT SHOULD MALAYSIA BUILD IN 2030?

Recently there are voices among Malaysians including the Minister of Defense that Malaysia should build its own combat aircraft by 2030, but what type of combat aircraft should Malaysia build?

There is a group of lecturers from a local university who are eager to build 6th generation fighter, but after realizing that such is impractical, have downgraded their eagerness to 5th generation fighter. But still, is 5th generation fighter practical for Malaysia?

Up to date, 5th generation fighters that are actively in service are the American F-35 and F-22, while the Russian Su-57 is expected to join the list very soon, and the Chinese J-20 is yet to be proven. These 3 countries are not only very large, but also have very large air force and other countries are buying fighters from them, and for them, having 5th generation fighters is not only a military combat requirement, but also a military industry requirement. For these countries, having the ability to produce 5th generation fighters not only maintain their status quo as military superpowers, but also a guarantee that they will be able to provide the advanced products and services required by their global military aircrafts markets, even though most of the markets don't even require or allowed to purchase their 5th generation fighters. Their air forces alone require thousands of fighters, and with their global markets, they have the economic of scales to support the production and sales of their fighter jets.

1. F-22 5th generation fighter.

The automotive industry understand this logic very well. They build and sell cheaper cars to big market to support the production and sales of their more expensive cars of a small market, but use their more advanced expensive cars as the design and technological icon to market their less advanced and cheaper cars. So, for the military aircraft industry, again, it is not only military combat requirement, but it is also good business.

Besides this economic fact, of course the USA, Russia and China are military superpowers that have global interest around the world that do need the services of 5th generation fighters.

As for Malaysia, not only that it does not has military combat requirement for 5th generation fighter, it also does not has the economic of scales to support the production of 5th generation fighter, and therefore, to produce own 5th generation fighter and go poor for it is out of question for Malaysia.

So, what type of combat aircraft should Malaysia build?

Malaysia do not have a military doctrine that indicate aggressiveness or territorial. We do not have plans to attack neighboring countries, but only interested to defend ourselves from both internal and regional potential enemies. The most recent incidents that have required the extensive service of our military aircrafts was the Lahat Datu incident in 2013 where only 200 very lightly armed "Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo Army" had landed in Lahat Datu, Sabah, and our combat aircrafts were used against them who did not even have proper anti-aircraft weapons. Such operation is properly called COIN or counter-insurgency, or low intensity warfare, where the most suitable aircraft for such is an LCA or light combat aircraft. 

Such aircrafts are usually ground attack aircrafts, as their targets are on the ground, un-armored or well-armored, including underground bunkers and tanks. Depending on their targets, the most effective aircrafts can range from single engine propeller driven aeroplane like Super Tucano that has been very effectively used by USAF against the freedom fighters in Afghanistan to the twin turbofan engined A-10, considered as the most lethal ground attack aircraft.

2. Super Tucano COIN aircraft.

3. A-10 ground attack aircraft.

However, there may be requirement to destroy targets in the air too, as the enemy may also operate combat aircrafts including helicopters and other LCAs. Therefore an LCA may also have air-to-air capability which include, not only air-to-air weapons, but also capability to fly faster and higher. This lead to the practical operation of light fighter, which can destroy targets both on the ground and in the air. An example of a modern light fighter is the Russian Yak-130 . Such light fighter has very advanced avionics similar to those of air superiority fighter and can carry anti-shipyard missiles to destroy targets at the sea too.

4. Yak-130 light fighter.

Such 2 seater light fighter can double as advanced trainer too, as in the Italian M-346.

5. M-346 light fighter & advanced trainer.

These is the type of combat aircraft that Malaysia should build if it wishes to build one, based on its military combat requirement. They are 10 times cheaper than 5th generation fighter to produce and operate, multi-purpose and suitable for Malaysian military combat requirement.

But, what about the economic of scales of such light fighter if it is to be practically produced by Malaysia? This is not easy as Malaysia does not have large air force to provide big enough market for even a self produced light fighter, as the greatest number of light fighters can be operated by the Malaysian air force will not exceed 50 or equivalent to 2 squadrons. Furthermore Malaysia is not known as a combat aircraft manufacturer, and therefore it will not be easy for Malaysia to market its light fighter to other nations.

There are however few methods to overcome this. When Tesla enter the very well established premium car market, it already knew that it will compete against the giants such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi and Jaguar, and realizing this, Tesla has decided to be different, that is to produce similar premium cars, but powered by electric instead of petrol or diesel, and in doing so, manage to secure its own exclusive market among the premium cars. Today, if one is to buy premium electric car, one goes for Tesla.

This can be done by Malaysia on its light fighter program too. Malaysia can produce electric light fighter, and being electric, it does has both military and economic advantages over the conventional light fighter. 

Obviously electric light fighter is stealthier than conventional light fighter because electric engine produces less acoustic and infrared signatures. This electric aircraft will be effective for COIN operation as it has the element of surprise for being quieter, and will be less prone to heat-seeking missiles for producing less infrared signature.

If this aircraft is equipped with solar panels, its battery can be charged using solar energy and this is a marketing strength to sell the aircraft to countries near the equator which receive high intensity of solar energy, including the countries in South East Asia, Middle East, North Africa and Latin America, which are the most probable market for Malaysian light fighter.

An electric light fighter program will also enable Malaysia to develop its own electric propulsion, and this propulsion will be not only for the light fighter, but also other electric aircrafts of similar weight and size including for general aviation. Being able to produce own propulsion is very important for a combat aircraft program, as imported military-rating engines will have restriction or second rate specification, as the most advanced version will not be made available by the manufacturer.

By developing own electric engine, it is also easier for the light fighter to be VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) capable because such engine can be specially designed for VTOL operation. By being so, it will have larger market, including naval operation, where the VTOL light fighter may operate from Malaysian navy frigates and destroyers if not from mini aircraft carriers.

Therefore, such solar rechargeable VTOL electric light fighter can be operated by both the Malaysian air force and Malaysian navy and also exported to the air forces and navies of other nations, particularly those in the South East Asia, Middle East, North Africa and Latin America. This will allow the practical economic of scales for the production and sales of the aircraft, as the Malaysian air force may operate 2 squadrons (50 units), the Malaysian navy may operate a squadron (25 units), and at least the same number of aircraft can be operational at the global markets (75 units), totaling at least 150 units of the first badge of the aircrafts.

To double as trainer, and be multi-purpose, the light fighter should be of 2 seater. This will also open other market frontiers including air police, air patrol, research, sports, recreational and even the innovative personal aviation, such as for aircraft similar to Saker S-1 concept which looks like a fighter, but actually is a 2 seater personal jet.

6. Saker S-1 2 seater personal jet concept.

With this extra market, there may be another 10% increase in sales, totaling up to 165 units.

Conventionally, such VTOL light electric fighter concept can have 3 "swing engines", where the engines are located at the centerline of the propellers and swing with the propellers. However, this configuration restricts the mass and power of the engines.

 7.1. Swing-engine version of a VTOL electric light fighter concept in vertical flight.

7.2. Swing-engine version of a VTOL electric light fighter concept in horizontal flight.

A "fixed-engine" version will be able to carry more massive and more powerful engines because the engines are fixed inside the fuselages, but connected to the propellers via shafts.

8.1. Fixed-engine version of a VTOL electric light fighter concept in vertical flight.

8.2. Fixed-engine version of a VTOL electric light fighter concept in horizontal flight.

8.3. Fixed-engine version of a VTOL electric light fighter concept in horizontal flight with the engines visible. The engines are connected to the propellers via shafts. This configuration enables the employment of larger, heavier & more powerful engines.

Another version with a cabin instead of a 2 seater cockpit can also be produced using the same airframe. Such cabin will be able to carry a pilot and 3 passengers. Having such cabin will make the aircraft become more multi-purpose and can be useful as air ambulance and for search and rescue mission. This version will also be effective for general aviation for carrying passengers and cargoes.

 9.1. The "cabin version" of a VTOL electric light fighter concept in vertical flight.

9.2. The "cabin version" of a VTOL electric light fighter concept in horizontal flight.

With the addition of the "cabin version" of the VTOL electric light fighter, the total number of possible sales of the aircraft can be expected to increase up to 100%, totaling to 330 units.

Being modular and multi-purpose will only increase the market size and enable better economic of scales of the aircraft. Therefore, the most suitable combat aircraft for Malaysia to build if it wishes to do so, that is suitable for Malaysian military combat requirement and have the required economic of scale, is VTOL electric light fighter.