Cambodia and Vietnam still using RPG-2 in large number and Cambodia still produce them in large number, besides RPG-7 

The need to enhance the base’s defenses is understandable. The RMN Kota Kinabalu is the only base with the facilities to host the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN’s) two prized Scorpene-class submarines. Malaysia’s naval capabilities have also been increasingly stretched. The country, which is surrounded by strategic sea lanes and is heavily dependent on seaborne trade, faces a range of challenges to secure its interests, as Hishammuddin himself pointed out, including the South China Sea disputes, the Islamic State and the security situation in Sabah.

While he was predictably silent on the specifics of those challenges, close observers know what they are. The 2013 invasion of Sabah by Filipino militants – known as the Lahad Datu incident – followed by a series of 2014 kidnappings involving Chinese nationals there, have revealed Malaysia’s vulnerability in the east. Meanwhile, rising incursions from China into Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea have exposed the country’s naval limitations. The threat of the Islamic state also looms large. Having any of these threats disrupt Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship year would be a disaster, particularly as it prepares to usher in the ASEAN Community with great fanfare.

January 28, 2015 1:00 pm JST

Indonesia's defense spree

Swelling budget beckons global contractors

SADACHIKA WATANABE, Nikkei staff writer

JAKARTA -- Eyeing China's maritime presence, Indonesia is attempting to convert growing economic clout into greater military power. For the world's defense contractors, this means there is a competition to be waged and money to be made.

     The Indonesian military celebrated its 69th anniversary in October with some muscle flexing in Surabaya, the country's second-largest city. Soldiers marched through the streets and military equipment was put through its paces. The army showed off its latest acquisition: German-made Leopard 2 tanks.

     On the sidelines of the festivities, Joko Widodo, then the president-elect, met with incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and promised to continue efforts to bolster the country's armaments.

     A month later, in Jakarta, the Indo Defence 2014 military equipment expo attracted nearly 700 exhibitors from about 50 countries; more than 20,000 visitors attended.

     The Eurofighter consortium made its presence felt at the biennial event. It went so far as to put up advertising billboards in the city center, hoping to generate a buzz about its Eurofighter Typhoon jet.

     The consortium hopes to break the grip the U.S. and Russia hold on the Indonesian market. Since 2011, aircraft from those two countries have been equally represented in exhibition flights during Indonesia's independence day celebrations.

     "We want Indonesia to switch from U.S. and Russian fighter jets," a Eurofighter consortium public relations official said. "We will propose technology transfers and joint production to make it happen."

     Other European manufacturers were also on hand at Indo Defence. Airbus Helicopters announced during the show that Indonesia had ordered 11 of its AS565 MBe Panthers. Sweden's Saab unveiled a prototype unmanned surface vehicle called the Bonefish; a briefing by a Saab representative appeared to catch the interest of Gen. Moeldoko, commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces.

     Indo Defense featured hardware from Japanese contractors as well, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. With the Japanese government having eased restrictions on weapons exports last year, the manufacturers are hunting for orders. They are represented in Indonesia by a company called Nippon Denki Sangyo; NDS, in turn is majority owned by Garda Persada, an Indonesian maker of military and police gear.

     Hideki Iida, the president of NDS and an executive at the Indonesian parent, said the goal is to link the two nations' defense industries.

     This would seem to be an opportune time to do that, given Indonesia's uneasiness about its current capabilities.

Stretched thin

Indonesia consists of a massive number of islands spanning more than 5,000km. Its position on the eastern side of the Indian Ocean makes it an increasingly important waypoint for international trade of energy and goods.

     "The world's political and economic power is shifting from the West to the East," Widodo said while campaigning for the presidency. "And Indonesia is at the heart of it."

     Yet the Southeast Asian country's defenses lack the scope to cover its vast land and maritime territory. It has just two submarines.

     When AirAsia flight QZ8501 disappeared within Indonesia's jurisdiction late last year, Jakarta immediately asked neighboring countries to help with the search and rescue efforts. "We need foreign assistance because we don't have sufficient equipment," a high-ranking Indonesian official said.

     At 95 trillion rupiah ($7.61 billion), the country's 2015 defense budget is double the figure seen five years earlier. But the government is still playing catch-up: The amount equates to less than 1% of gross domestic product. Vietnam's ratio is slightly more than 2%, while Thailand's is around 1.5%.

     "We can triple our defense budget if we achieve 7% economic growth," Widodo said.

     If the government succeeds, foreign contractors stand to benefit, though Widodo also wants to nurture the domestic defense equipment industry. That could mean new opportunities for companies like PAL Indonesia, a state-run shipbuilder, which on Thursday announced that it had received a $90 million order to supply two 120-meter vessels to the Philippine Department of National Defense.

It can show that we are trying to collaborate with china but also want a piece of the pie in the spratlys
If we buy western sams to put in kk it sends a very negative message to china which might affect the relations that the government wants to have with china

which is why i dun like the idea of malaysia buying china made stuff beyond tactical level(atgm, manpads, rpg rounds,etcetc). not only they tend to be inferior in quality,there is also the added risk of conflicting interest between us and them.

Brunei Confirms Transfer of Blackhawks to Malaysia

Marhalim Abas January 28, 2015 Malaysia - RMAF

SHAH ALAM: BRUNEI Defence Ministry has confirmed the transfer of its S-70A Blackhawk helicopter to Malaysia, in a statement released on its website today.

The statement did not say how many helicopters will be transferred but since Brunei operates four S-70A Blackhawk helicopters it is likely that the whole fleet will be involved in the transfer as reported by Malaysian Defence previously.

Among others the statement said that both countries had a long term collaboration and defence ties through various exchanges and training and involvement in foreign missions.

“The collaboration is expected to be enhanced with the planned transfer of the S-70A Blackhawk helicopter of the Royal Brunei Air Force to the Malaysian Armed Forces.”

“The helicopter is still in service with TUDB and it is expected to be transferred at the earliest in September when the new S-70i helicopters of TUDB are fully operational. The process of transfer will be discussed further by both parties.”

“The Defence Ministry is hopeful that the transfer of the helicopter will contribute in improving the capabilities of the Malaysian Armed Forced and the efforts of both countries to protect the peace and security of the region.”

The release:
KERJASAMA PERTAHANAN ANTARA NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM DAN MALAYSIA

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Rabu 28 Januari 2015 – Kementerian Pertahanan sukacita memaklumkan bahawa hubungan pertahanan antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Malaysia semakin bertambah erat terutama dengan adanya rundingan rapat antara kedua negara; pertukaran latihan dan latihan bersama ketenteraan; pertukaran maklumat; penyertaan kedua negara dalam operasi antarabangsa seperti United Nation Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) dan International Monitoring Team (IMT); dan sebagainya.

Kerjasama ini akan dipertingkatkan lagi dengan rancangan penyerahan Helikopter Blackhawk S-70A kepunyaan Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei (TUDB) kepada Angkatan Tentera Malaysia.

Helikopter tersebut masih beroperasi dalam TUDB dan dijangka akan sedia untuk diserahkan seawalnya dalam bulan September apabila helikopter baru Blackhawk S-70i TUDB beroperasi sepenuhnya. Keterangan bagi penyerahan tersebut akan dibincangkan selanjutnya oleh kedua belah pihak.

Kementerian Pertahanan berharap penyerahan helikopter tersebut akan menyumbang kepada peningkatan keupayaan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia dan usaha kedua negara untuk menjaga keamanan dan keselamatan serantau.

Fighter jet falls on biker in Rajasthan


The MiG-27 was on a routine sortie from the Jodhpur air base to Uttarlai base at Barmer. PTI.

A MIG-27 fighter jet crashed in Rajasthan's Barmer on Tuesday and a part of it fell on a passing motorcyclist.

Twenty-six-year-old Loon Singh was on his way to a village to distribute invitation cards of his wedding when the jet crashed around 3 pm. Singh had a miraculous escape though he suffered burns and injuries on his hand. His bike was completely burnt.

According to defence ministry spokesperson Lt. Colonel Manish Ojha, the pilot ejected safely before the crash at Mahabar village, around four km from the Barmer city. Later, helicopters were flown to the crash site for rescue operations. The MiG-27 was on a routine sortie from the Jodhpur air base to Uttarlai base at Barmer in western Rajasthan.

The Indian Air Force has ordered a court of inquiry into the incident.

[India Today]

can upgrade to UH-60L ah?
the free choppers i mean

KERJASAMA PERTAHANAN ANTARA NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM DAN MALAYSIA

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Rabu 28 Januari 2015 - Kementerian Pertahanan sukacita memaklumkan bahawa hubungan pertahanan antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Malaysia semakin bertambah erat terutama dengan adanya rundingan rapat antara kedua negara; pertukaran latihan dan latihan bersama ketenteraan; pertukaran maklumat; penyertaan kedua negara dalam operasi antarabangsa seperti United Nation Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) dan International Monitoring Team (IMT); dan sebagainya.

Kerjasama ini akan dipertingkatkan lagi dengan rancangan penyerahan Helikopter Blackhawk S-70A kepunyaan Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei (TUDB) kepada Angkatan Tentera Malaysia.

Helikopter tersebut masih beroperasi  dalam TUDB dan dijangka akan sedia untuk diserahkan seawalnya dalam bulan September apabila helikopter baru Blackhawk S-70i TUDB beroperasi sepenuhnya. Keterangan bagi penyerahan tersebut akan dibincangkan selanjutnya oleh kedua belah pihak.

Kementerian Pertahanan berharap penyerahan helikopter tersebut akan menyumbang kepada peningkatan keupayaan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia dan usaha kedua negara untuk menjaga keamanan dan keselamatan serantau.

[Mindef Brunei]

upgrade more money..

Boss LTZ, ada pasang?



anyway.. subtics combat management system, so this is what ltz been training