Originally Posted by
RatherBeFlying
-- and yes, targeting assets to the T7 when it was still in range might have shed more light on the situation.
But remember that an interceptor has limited range and would have to head back home for gas.
This assumes that the Malaysian Air Force maintains an interceptor on a 15 minute alert. From the time of the turn back it would have taken only about 15 minutes before the target was back overland. It would take almost as much time to determine that a scramble was necessary.
Once the aircraft is overland the interceptor probably has no chance of catching it up because, as you point out, it is fuel limited.
Something with longer range would have to be dispatched, but most maritime patrol aircraft are turboprops and at best could only hope to pick up a blip receding at max range. However an interceptor or patrol aircraft might possibly have given us a track to work from.
What other aircraft could have been used? As you say, a turbo prop would be too slow. You also assume that one was on standby.
The highest alert for a patrol aircraft is usually no more than 60 minutes and more likely 2 hours. Even more likely is that no standby is maintained at night and 3-4 hours being a more likely reaction time.