cant agree more with what's mentioned...

Philippine soldier kills 5 at prayer meeting



Nine other people were also wounded in the rampage at the army camp on the southern island of Basilan.

MANILA: A Philippine soldier opened fire on a prayer meeting at a military base on Thursday (Oct 22), killing five of his comrades before troops intervened and shot him dead, an army spokesman said.

Nine other people were also wounded in the rampage at an army camp on the southern island of Basilan, a hotbed for Muslim extremist groups, said Colonel Benjamin Hao.

"There was a bible study (session). He went there, to back (of the room) and then suddenly opened fire," Hao told reporters.

Responding soldiers shot the gunman dead but the motive for the attack remained unknown.

"His battalion commander said that he had changed after going on vacation. He was surprisingly quiet. Before that, he was talkative, kind of jolly, but when he came back, he was different," Hao said.

The gunman, who he identified only as corporal in the mortar section, was not a member of the bible study group, Hao added.

"We believe it is an isolated incident but we will look closer into its medical and psychological aspect in order to determine the root cause," he said.

Soldiers in the island of Basilan face numerous threats, battling Muslim armed groups like the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, which has been blamed for the Philippines' deadliest terror attacks.

The group, which hides in the thickly-forested hills of Basilan, has been behind beheadings and kidnappings of foreign tourists and Christian missionaries as well as bomb attacks.

- AFP/ec

Yesterday, Commander 3rd Singapore Division, BG Ong Tze-Ch'in and Panglima Kodam I/Bukit Barisan, MAYJEN TNI Lodewyk Pusung co-officiated the closing ceremony of the 12-day Exercise SAFKAR INDOPURA (XSI), a bilateral exercise with our professional counterparts from the Indonesian National Army (TNI-AD).

Both armies had great professional exchanges and training which included live firing and an Urban Operation exercise.

Chief of Army, BG Melvyn Ong also surprised the troops by visiting them in the midst of the exercise. He even interacted with the troops in Bahasa Indonesia!

Here are some of the highlights of the Exercise!


Our Army Chief, BG Melvyn Ong, visited the troops on one evening of the exercise. In his interaction with the TNI-AD soldiers in Bahasa Indonesia, he emphasised the need for both armies to remain committed to ensure our neighbourly relationship remains strong. He shared, “The relationship between both armies must be nurtured and though there may be peaks and troughs, we must all have the commitment to strengthen it because our countries are neighbours and will always need each other”.


End of Exercise SAFKAR INDOPURA!


Combined Urban Operation exercise at the Murai Urban Training Facility - Operating side by side. The TNI-AD soldiers covering fire, while the SAF soldiers approach the next building.


Commander 3rd Singapore Division, BG Ong Tze-Ch'in and Panglima Kodam I/Bukit Barisan, MAYJEN TNI Lodewyk Pusung co-officiating the closing for XSI.


Technical handling lesson conducted to familiarize the TNI-AD troops with the SAR 21 assault rifle prior to the live firing exercise.

peenoise surprised? lelz... always so of themselves

am more surprised with saudi there having spend so much $$$

why cant buy direct?

mig29 how

f15 air superiority fighter.. a threat to their ally

f18 got what

it is not only them..

jgn jelly

not much development... not easy... jap/tw too...

no underground facility? gg

what do US expect.... in an all out war everything goes... hopefully not the nukes

whoa... sure bo...

lelz... indian airforce... india takbuli pakai... where arjunk n duv are best duds

more like 4.5++

must keep military happy so no coup

betol tu...

but will the missile's geometry help with its objective after being fired?

suck thumb...

the question is, can it be before and after?

Philippines' Aquino welcomes US warship's deployment in disputed sea





Philippine President Benigno Aquino says he welcomes the patrol of a US warship near islands claimed by China in the disputed South China Sea, calling it a "balance of power."

MANILA: Philippine President Benigno Aquino has welcomed the passage of the USS Lassen in the disputed South China Sea, and the balance of power it brings with it.

Early on Tuesday (Oct 27), the US warship sailed too close for China's comfort to its man-made islands in the contested waters, drawing an angry rebuke from Beijing.

Speaking to foreign correspondents at a forum on Tuesday, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said he welcomed the patrol of a US warship near islands claimed by China in the disputed South China Sea, calling it a "balance of power."

"Freedom of navigation has been expounded and propounded by all parties to the issues of the South China Sea/West Philippines Sea,” said Aquino. “Everybody seems to be guaranteeing freedom of navigation, so I see no issue as to this US naval ship traversing under international law in waters that should be free to be travelled upon by any non-belligerent country"

The patrol by the USS Lassen breached the 12-nautical mile zome that China claims around Subi and Mischief Reefs in the Spratly group of islands. Beijing has declared this a violation of its laws.

Under international law, a state's territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles from its shore. However, the US and others argue that this rule cannot apply to artificial islands.

The episode comes amid mounting tensions between the Philippines and China over disputed reefs in the South China Sea.

Beijing is transforming these reefs into small islands capable of supporting military facilities. In response, the Philippines has been beefing up its surveillance systems, and has also embarked on a modernisation programme for its military.

The tensions between both countries have also renewed interest in the Philippine-US Enhanced Defence Corporation Agreement (EDCA), a military-to-military treaty signed shortly before the visit of US President Barack Obama to the Philippines in 2014.

President Aquino reiterated his support for the agreement during the forum saying it was necessary as the country embarks on its modernisation programme. He said the Philippines would also aid the US in the event they need logistical support for their operations in the contested waters.

Meanwhile, world leaders have been invited to the November’s APEC leaders' summit in the Philippine capital but there has been no confirmation yet if Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend.

President Aquino said he would be a warm host to his Chinese counterpart if Xi does decide to attend.

The Aquino administration has been very vocal in its views on Chinese activity in the South China Sea. However, it will only be 7 months before President Aquino steps down and a new administration will then dictate the future of Chinese-Philippine relations.

- CNA/ec

pootang peenoise playing with faiya?

Taiwan military says China preparing for possible attack




The mainland's annual military spending has grown on average by double-digit rates over the past decade, second only to the United States, said Taiwan's 2015 National Defence Report.

TAIPEI: China is actively building up its armed forces and they would be strong enough by 2020 to launch an attack on Taiwan, a military report said on Tuesday (Oct 27).

Despite closer political ties China is "continuing to accumulate large-scale war capabilities, with the threat of a cross-strait military conflict continuing to exist", according to the island's 2015 National Defence Report.

The mainland's annual military spending has grown on average by double-digit rates over the past decade, second only to the United States, it said.

The biennial report published by the defence ministry said China was strengthening its naval and air forces in the region to deter foreign forces from intervening in any invasion.

"China believes foreign interference would be its biggest concern if it attacks Taiwan," it said.

China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949. Relations have warmed since current Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang party came to power in 2008.

But China still sees Taiwan as a breakaway territory and refuses to renounce the use of force should it declare formal independence. The defence ministry said there was a risk of Taiwan letting its guard down because of increased economic and cultural exchanges in recent years.

"Overall (China) is diversifying its Taiwan strategy, forging positive developments in the cross-strait situation, giving them an advantage for any future attacks on Taiwan," its report said.

Taiwan will elect a new president in January, with the candidate of the pro-independence opposition Democratic Progressive Party, Tsai Ing-wen, tipped to win.

She has pledged to maintain the status quo if she wins but some analysts have questioned whether cross-strait peace could be maintained.

The defence ministry report also questioned China's reported military spending, which it said was significantly understated. The actual budget is estimated to be two to three times the reported figure, putting it on par with the US and Russia, it said.

The US is Taiwan's main ally and sells weapons to the island, a source of discontent for China.

- AFP/ec

spot anything?

in msia... are heli pilots officers?

SAF Pioneers - Our Country, Our Stories

The new cyberpioneerTV series, "SAF Pioneers - Our Country, Our Stories" is finally here!

In this new 6-part series, we honour the SAF Pioneers who helped build up Singapore's defence force during the early years of our history. Through their stories, we see determination and courage, but most of all, the unwavering belief that only we can protect what is ours.

In episode 1, we journey with SAF Pioneers COL (Ret) Goh Lye Choon and LTC (Ret) Albel Singh as they share their experiences of Konfrontasi - fighting infiltrators in the jungles of Sabah, and staring down the gun barrels of Indonesian warships off Changi Beach.

Watch Episode 1 to hear their stories!

Subscribe to PIONEER Magazine at http://mindef.sg/subscribe2pioneer
Read PIONEER Singapore on Magzter: http://mindef.sg/1NK2oVX

View more videos, photos and stories of the SAF at the links below!