SRI AMAN, April 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel and officers will receive new uniforms boasting digital prints six months after it is approved by the Finance Ministry under the newly formed government after May 5, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the ministry, which submitted an application before Parliament was dissolved, had issued an open tender and will appoint a distributor to replace the existing camouflage uniforms.
"The new uniforms made of a fabric that is cooling and repels mosquitos will be an upgrade to military operations," he told reporters after attending a wearing of ranks ceremony for five members of the 13th battalion Royal Malay Regiment Pakit Camp, here Monday.
He said 86,000 MAF officers and personnel will enjoy automatic promotion after eight years of service as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the 2013 Budget last year.
At the same time he reminded soldiers not to fall for the opposition's promises, saying the continuation of the government and peace managed by Barisan Nasional is needed to develop the country.
Ahmad Zahid also stated his appreciation and gratitude for Lahad Datu heroes who were involved in Ops Daulat in Sabah recently.
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QUOTE(noavatar @ Apr 22 2013, 10:35 PM)
New Uniforms For Armed Forces Soon - Zahid
SRI AMAN, April 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel and officers will receive new uniforms boasting digital prints six months after it is approved by the Finance Ministry under the newly formed government after May 5, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the ministry, which submitted an application before Parliament was dissolved, had issued an open tender and will appoint a distributor to replace the existing camouflage uniforms.
"The new uniforms made of a fabric that is cooling and repels mosquitos will be an upgrade to military operations," he told reporters after attending a wearing of ranks ceremony for five members of the 13th battalion Royal Malay Regiment Pakit Camp, here Monday.
He said 86,000 MAF officers and personnel will enjoy automatic promotion after eight years of service as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the 2013 Budget last year.
At the same time he reminded soldiers not to fall for the opposition's promises, saying the continuation of the government and peace managed by Barisan Nasional is needed to develop the country.
Ahmad Zahid also stated his appreciation and gratitude for Lahad Datu heroes who were involved in Ops Daulat in Sabah recently. Source: BERNAMA Army gonna get digital camo n promotion after 8 yrs service
The reason why digi camo are not integrated into the MAF earlier is cepat koyak hahaha waktu jungle testing!
huhu good we get Smart-S Mk2 3D medium to long range surveillance radar
captes towed array sonar
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KUALA LUMPUR: Boustead Heavy Industries Corp. Bhd (BHIC) has accepted two contracts from Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) for two projects under the littoral combat ships programme.
BHIC said on Monday its sub-subsidiary, Contraves Advanced Devices Sdn Bhd had accepted the contracts from BNS for the programme which will be carried out over 10 years.
The first contract is for the Thales underwater systems CAPTAS towed array sonar complete with simulators valued at RM287.02mil.
The second is the Thales Nederland BV SMART-S main surveillance radar with simulators worth RM227.97mil.
Indonesia plans to have a full squadron of 16 Sukhoi Su-27/30 fighters by the end of 2013.
Jakarta received two Su-30MK2s in February 2013, and expects four more by the end of the year, says deputy defence minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. These six were originally ordered in December 2011.
The Indonesian air force's current Sukhoi fleet comprises 12 aircraft: two Su-27SKs, three Su-27SKMs, two Su-30MKs, and five Su-30MK2s, with the latter including the two aircraft delivered earlier this year.
The Indonesian air force will also obtain a simulator in 2014 to train its pilots. At present, Indonesian Sukhoi pilots undergo simulator training in China.
ABS-CBNnews.com Posted at 04/22/2013 5:07 PM | Updated as of 04/22/2013 5:07 PM
MANILA - The Department of National Defense (DND) is in the last stages of procuring 12 fighter jets from South Korea worth P18 billion.
Some of the hitches that authorities saw in the transaction can be ironed out by May.
DND spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said the terms of reference could be finished by next month. The terms of reference contains provisions on the delivery, technical specifications, payment scheme, among others.
“It’s in the final stages of crafting, in preparation for the procurement of the jets…After that (crafting of TOR), the contract follows, the negotiations for the contract (starts)," he said.
DND undersecretary for finance, munitions, installations and materiel Fernando Manalo said issues will need to be clarified before a contract is pursued.
"Within the month of May, the issues may be resolved…(We're hoping) that the issues will be settled within the month of May," said Manalo.
Asked when the contract will finally be signed, he said: "We are following a process.”
The purchase of the fighter jets is part of the military's modernization program.
It is also a signal that the country will finally have a "credible external defense."
The Air Force decommissioned its F-5s in 2005, leaving the country without a legitimate fighter aircraft to address external threats, such as in the West Philippine Sea.
Drone operators fly an MQ-9 Reaper training mission from a ground control station at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, in this U.S. Air Force handout photo taken October 3, 2012.
Capt. Richard Koll, left, and Airman First Class Mike Eulo monitored a drone aircraft after launching it in Iraq. Credit: U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Steve Horton
Airman 1st Class Caleb Force assists 1st Lt. Jorden Smith, a MQ-1B Predator pilot, in locating simulated targets during a training mission conducted inside the simulators at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force / Senior Airman Nadine Y. Barclay)
A pilot flies a drone in Afghanistan from Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in suburban Syracuse, New York
Introduced in August 1963, five French built Alouette IIIB marked the formation of No. 3 Squadron.
Alouette III first entered service of the RMAF in 1963 and built by Sud Aviation Aerospatiale, France.This was the most powerful Alouette III gunship helicopter in the RMAF's inventory of the 70s. Powered by 870shp Turbomeca Artouste turboshaft, the SA316B cruises at 115 mph (185km/hr), while the SA319B cruises at about 120 mph (190km/hr). Its capability in changing to multi-roles that made it popular in many countries. The gunship role fitted with a single 20mm Cannon MG151 and supported by two ammo bins of 200 rounds of 20mm bullet in either ball(AP) or standard high explosive(HE) for each bin. HE is a bullet that will explode again on impact and has a killing radius of 10 feet. The ammo are link directly from the ammo bin to the cannon. The gunship has two crews, one a gunship pilot and the other, a qualified air-gunner.
RANGOON, Burma (AP) — Burma's military acknowledged launching airstrikes against ethnic Kachin rebels in the north and said it captured a hilltop post from where the insurgents had attacked government supply convoys.
The statement broadcast on state television Wednesday contradicted government claims two days earlier that the military was not carrying out offensive air attacks on the Kachin, raising questions about how much control the elected government of reformist President Thein Sein has over the army.
The United States said Wednesday the use of air power in Kachin state was "extremely troubling." In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland urged the government and the Kachin rebel group to cease their conflict and begin a real dialogue for peace.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon called on Burma, also known as Myanmar, "to desist from any action that could endanger the lives of civilians living in the area or further intensify the conflict in the region," U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said. Ban called on the government and rebels to work toward political reconciliation.
Burmese state television, quoting the Defense Ministry, said the military on Sunday occupied a Kachin Independence Army hilltop post during a mopping-up operation of the area where attacks had been launched against supply convoys.
The government has been seeking to supply a base at Lajayang very close to KIA headquarters at Laiza, the rebel group's last major outpost.
The government delivered an ultimatum to the Kachin to clear a road by Christmas Day so it could supply its base. The Kachin rejected the ultimatum for fear of a government attack on their own outpost.
KIA spokesman La Nan charged Monday that the supplies being sent to government troops included ammunition as well as rice.
" We will obstruct any army convoy that carries arms and ammunition that will be used against us, " he said. " This is the nature of war. "
Each side blames the other for intensified fighting that began a little over a week ago.
The Kachin said Monday they were being attacked by helicopter gunships and fighter jets, but President's Office director Maj. Zaw Htay said the aircraft were being used mainly to supply government units whose access to supplies by road had been cut off by the Kachin guerrillas.
" During the attack, the army used air support, " Wednesday's report said. It added that the military did not want to launch an offensive but attacked the outpost to maintain security and stability.
The report said government troops seized weapons including mortars, hand grenades, mines and 4,000 rounds of ammunition.
The military announcement highlights a seeming disconnect between the government and the military, which retains much power behind the scenes. An order late last year by Thein Sein to halt offensive operations against the Kachin was not honored in practice.
The Kachin, like Burma's other ethnic minorities, have long sought greater autonomy from the central government. They are the only major ethnic rebel group that has not reached a cease-fire agreement with Thein Sein's government, which came to power in 2011 after almost five decades of military rule.
His government has been hailed for instituting democratic reforms.
But tension with ethnic minorities, evidenced by the fighting with the Kachin, is considered a major long-term problem for the government and a threat to the nascent democracy.
Fighting erupted in Kachin state in June 2011 after the KIA refused to abandon a strategic base near a hydropower plant that is a joint venture with a Chinese company. There have been off-and-on skirmishes between the KIA and government troops, often escalating into serious bombardment by government troops.
VRHNIKA, Slovenia -- Soldiers of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Joint Forces Command Headquarters here stand in formation during an operational brief for Admiral James G. Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. European Command commander, Nov. 13. the Admiral made a two day visit to the country to meet with the top defense leaders
VRHNIKA, Slovenia -- Soldiers of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Joint Forces Command Headquarters here stand in formation during an operational brief for Admiral James G. Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. European Command commander, Nov. 13. the Admiral made a two day visit to the country to meet with the top defense leaders