No big ticket buys doesn't mean no buys at all. Not as if suddenly Malaysia declare 0% military budget for the next 5 years.

Also no offense, but I seriously think if PRC is serious in taking the SCS by force and US by some reason decides not to intervene, i 'd say the whole of ASEAN can't do jack to repel them.

That's why I don't like this type of alliances. Too many interest and too many issues.

This type of alliance is like a group of mountain climbers that tie themselves together with rope to keep safe. In some situation it is useful but if one screws up and slips down a cliff, he can potentially take everyone down with him whether they like it or not. 

Airod, in partnership with Sukhoi technical team, has offered MiG-29 life extension program (MiG-29NM), which includes engine replacement, new MFD and CFT that will increase its range up to 30% and makes it compatible with Su-30MKM.

We still need MiG-29 to make up the numbers

US to deploy advanced weapons near China



US Defense Secretary Ash Carter in a speech on Sunday has unveiled the Pentagon’s plans to deploy advanced weapons, including the newest stealth destroyer, near the borders of China.

The Wall Street Journal has said reported on Sunday that during his visit to Singapore on Sunday, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter named new weapons systems the United States plans to move to Asia as "part of its longer-term rebalance of military assets to the region,"

One of the weapons in the artillery is the military’s newest stealth destroyer, the Zumwalt.

The 610-foot-long Zumwalt is named after the late Admiral Elmo “Bud” Zumwalt Jr. It will have nearly 10 times more available power than its predecessors.

The vessel could become the first ship carrying next-generation weapons like electromagnetic railguns, which use a strong electromagnetic pulse, rather than gunpowder, to shoot projectiles.

Washington is stepping up its pressure on China after Beijing decided to build artificial islands in the South China Sea.

China has warned that coming too close to the islands would be provocative.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying expressed concern over US plans to bolster its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/160022/u...pons-near-china

basically now not the right time to purchase

- High USD rate, 15% higher, hopefully next year at RM3.30 to usd 
- purchase weapon = wasted rakyat money, will get heavy critics from politic party.  specially with GST, debts and IMBD now.
- no solved crime issue.

only next year is last year can make weapon/asset procurement,  2017/2018 is close to next General Election, is risk to make procurement.

it's always wise to engage at foreign's soil than own soil..

PH, Vietnam can wipe out Chinese forces in Spratlys – ex-USPACOM chief



IT will be unfavorable to China if it would launch military action in the Spratlys (Kalayaan Island Group) in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), as it is too far away from mainland to reinforce itself during conflict, a former chief of US Pacific Command and Director of National Intelligence said.

“The Spratlys are 900 miles away from China, for God’s sake. Those things have no ability to defend themselves in any sort of military sense,” said Adm. Dennis Blair, who is now a director at the National Bureau of Asian Research, said in an interview with Wall Street Journal recently.

As a former USPACOM chief, he used to be responsible for the American forces in the Asia-Pacific region.

“If the Chinese were ever so foolish as to try to take any sort of actual military action from those islands, they’re completely indefensible militarily. Heck, the Philippines and the Vietnamese could put them out of action, much less us,” he added.

Blair resigned in 2010 as the US intelligence director over alleged rift with the White House.

Blair was USPACOM chief in 2001 when a Chinese fighter jet clashed with a US spy plane over South China Sea. It killed the Chinese pilot and the US plane made emergency landing on Hainan.

China has made significant progress in its reclamation projects in recent months, turning islands and reefs to artificial islands believed to be military installations. But China

It has also warned US and Philippine planes on patrol over the disputed waterway recently. This was seen by some as China’s attempt to set up an Air Defense Identification Zone.

At a security summit in Singapore over the weekend, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter called for an end to all reclamation activities by all claimants in the South China Sea, including by China who has made the most developments.

The former USPACOM chief also accused the US of planning “whack-a-mole” in dealing with China over the sea dispute and suggested for diplomacy rather than military actions.

“We shouldn’t be leading with the aircraft carriers down there,” he said.

Blair said the main problem in the disputed waters would be Spratlys, where China is doing massive construction activities.

“The only thing I can think of there is you divide them up: Okay, Philippines you get 20, Malaysia gets 15, China gets 10,” he said.

Some of his proposals to the problem include a ban on military forces and agreement to jointly develop fishing and other resources, adding that US and its allies would likely agree.

China claims most parts of the disputed South China Sea, a major trade route believed to be rich in resources. AC

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/123794/ph...x-uspacom-chief

OI WAT THE F*CK HAPPEND HERE!!!

V-22 Osprey vs CH-47F Chinook
if price not take to consideration.... which one your prefer?

not only low cost, but mainly Hawk (like other traning jet) have higher Airframe/fuselage usage hours,  Hawk have 20,000 hrs, than extend to 30,000 hours.
F18 still have design 6000 hours, than can extend to 8000, maximum should be around 10,000 hrs.
so Hawk as buruh kasar is very true,

haha, just easy to talk,
some more cost each Hawk around usd 30 million for now.
we no have so many pilot, logistic, maintenance capability for 1000 jet, than just make our air-force bankrupt on operation cost.
we have around 100 fighter than already very good liao. every 3 squadron for West/East malaysia.

Not only that. If it comes to a war of attrition, Malaysia has a disadvantage against most of our neighbours and especially against the guy we are facing in SCS right now. Personally, I believe our best bet is to go for quality (in hardware, personnel, training, etc.).

ya loh... 30 million .。。。

well not put too much high expectation on our AirForce, we not enough fighter for long endurance air combat. and to coverage sabah/sarawak
As RMAF they need 6 squadron means 18 x 6 = 108 fighter. 
Than upto date RMAF only have 36 jet= Su30+F18+Mig29(10 unit working) 
as compare to Singapore they have 80 unit F15+F16 combine. 
as compare to Thailand they have 67 unit = JAS39+F16
as compare to Indonesia have about 50 unit = Su27/30/F16
(only 3 Gen fighter calculate)

ideally (depend budget)
2 squadron su-30 or Su-50/55 (future) heavy fighter
2 squadron F18/rafale/Typhoon/f35 medium class fighter 
2 squadron JAS39 for light fighter (FA50 can be consider)

seems like indon administration is getting worse under jokowi...

KC-130B....bought in 1964

Even C-130H that replaced C-130B has started to retire....in turn already replaced by C-130J...true granddaddy of C-130

May the souls of the deceased rest in peace......