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10 Januari 2019 Tejas will compete with JF-17 and F/A-50 for Light Combat Aircraft (photo : Rana) Malaysian interest in Tejas combat aircraft boosts HAL morale Much-maligned public sector aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has got a morale booster with Malaysia evincing interest in its light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas. It is even more satisfying for HAL engineers, many of who went without salary on the New Year's Day, that the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) wants to evaluate Tejas after extensive trials of JF-17 Thunder developed by China and built in Pakistan. Malaysia wants India to send a Tejas fighter to the March 26-30 Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2019 (LIMA'19) for evaluation, Business Standard website has said. Apparently, the Malaysian defence minister is keen on trying out the Tejas. Indian sources believe the South East Asian nation is thinking of adding 30 Tejas to its air force. Designed and developed jointly by Aerona...

07 Januari 2019 Royal Malaysian Army Special Forces (photo : EyeEm) KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) will establish a special forces operation command that combines elements of special forces from the Army, Navy and Air Force. MAF chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin said the team would carry out special tasks involving national and strategic interests. Without stating when the team would begin operating, he said it would also deal with matters such as training and MAF doctrines involving other countries. “The Joint Force Headquarters (MAB) and MAF Headquarters need to strengthen their role as the major platforms in mobilising this military unit together and enhancing the ‘joint’ element in all aspects including training, exercise and operations. “The establishment of these ‘regional commands’ will be reviewed in detail from various aspects including organisation, structure, and composition,“ he said during his new year’s address at Wisma Pertahanan here, today. Also ...

31 December 2018 Kawasaki P-3C Maritime Patrol Aircraft (photo : Tomo Papa) KUALA LUMPUR: Japan is willing to offer new defence equipment and technologies, including military aircraft to Malaysia as part of enhanced bilateral security ties, Japan’s envoy to Malaysia said. Dr Makio Miyagawa told the New Straits Times the offer by Tokyo would help strengthen Malaysia’s capability of “maintaining peace and stability” in Southeast Asia. He said in an interview that in this regard, Japan was “willing to offer our equipment and technologies to Malaysia, which include aircraft, vessels, radar and other items”. Japan and Malaysia had, in September, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to intensify defence and security cooperation. The MoU was signed in Japan on Sept 11 by Japan’s then defence minister Itsunori Onodera and his Malaysian counterpart, Mohamad Sabu. Tokyo has said the MoU provided a structure for expanded collaboration across a range of activities, including defence equipmen...

25 Desember 2018 JASDF F-15 (photo : hyakuri ) Japan wants to sell old F-15s to US to fund F-35 purchases TOKYO -- The Japanese government is considering selling some F-15 jets to the U.S. to raise funds for purchases of cutting-edge F-35 stealth fighters, Nikkei has learned, with Washington in turn weighing the sale of those outdated planes to Southeast Asian countries. Several Japanese officials have revealed that discussions are underway for what would be the nation's first sale of used defense equipment to the U.S. Tokyo sounded out Washington on the possibility of such a sale as part of negotiations to purchase 105 F-35 jets from the U.S. The two sides are trying to iron out such details as the number of F-15s to be sold and their prices. By arranging such a sale with Washington, Tokyo hopes to quell public criticism of expanding defense spending amid efforts for fiscal consolidation. Turning to Washington would also help Japan, as it lacks experience in selling defense equipm...

21 Desember 2018 FV-101 Scorpions light tanks of the Malaysian Army (photo : Gempurwira) SHAH ALAM: Scorpions to be retired. The Army has recommended that it’s fleet of Scorpion light tanks be retired due to the high cost of maintenance and obsolescence issues. Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong told Parliament on Dec. 18, 2018 that none of the Scorpions were no longer operational.  The recommendation to retire the Scorpions was made after the Army conducted a study on its armoured vehicles requirements for the long term. The Scorpions it seemed are not compatible with the Army’s plans, directions and further more being costly to maintain. He said the Scorpion fleet entered service in 1981 and were placed in service with the Armoured Squadron of the 10th Para Brigade. The fleet had undergone a Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP) and upgrades from 2007 to 2011 and the Army decided to continue the service of the vehicle until 2018. Liew said none of the Scorpions are currentl...

17 Desember 2018 Kendaraan AV8 Gempita (photo : GokcelerMakina) KUALA LUMPUR – Peruntukan Belanjawan 2019 bagi Kementerian Pertahanan kini ditambah selepas Kementerian Kewangan menyalur peruntukan tambahan di bawah Belanjawan Mengurus sebanyak RM1.45 bilion. Dengan penambahan itu, peruntukan Belanjawan 2019 bagi Kementerian Pertahanan kini berjumlah RM15.37 bilion. Menurut kenyataan Kementerian Pertahanan semalam, pertambahan peruntukan ini sepertimana diumum Menteri Pertahanan Mohamad Sabu pada 19 November  lepas. Ini bermakna perbezaan Belanjawan 2019 berbanding 2018 yang memperuntukkan sebanyak RM15.49 bilion adalah satu peratus secara keseluruhan. “Kementerian Pertahanan akan menyusun semula keutamaan perbelanjaan dengan beberapa langkah seperti mengkaji semula skop dan kos kontrak serta mengamalkan perbelanjaan berhemah tanpa memberi kopromi kepada isu-isu keselamatan, kesiapsiagaan aset ketenteraan, kebajikan dan kesejahteraan warga ATM termasuk keluarga mereka dan veteran,” ...

15 Desember 2018 Beechcraft Super King Air B200T TUDM (photo : AstroAwani) KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM) amat kritikal memerlukan pesawat rondaan maritim (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) berspektrum penuh sejajar dengan perkembangan geostrategik serantau dan kepentingan ekonomi negara, persidangan Dewan Negara diberitahu hari ini. “TUDM turut menggariskan keperluan ‘Unmanned Aerial Vehicle’ (UAV) yang akan digandingkan bersama pengoperasian pesawat rondaan maritim bagi pemantauan dan pengawasan kawasan tanggungjawab maritim negara secara lebih efisien dan efektif,” kata Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan Liew Chin Tong.  Pada masa ini, operasi pemantauan di kawasan Laut China Selatan dilaksanakan oleh pesawat TUDM daripada jenis Beechcraft B200T, katanya. Beliau menjawab pertanyaan Senator Datuk Razali Idris yang ingin tahu sama ada kementerian bercadang mendapat pesawat pemantau (reconnaissance aircraft) TUDM bagi melakukan operasi pemantauan kedaulatan negara ...