It better to have both earplug and ear muffs. Especially those low level fly by. I don't how near the aircraft are to the spectators.

Last time when I still civil servant sometimes my department will be invited to PDRM shooting event. I once fired M16 full mag, made the mistake of not wearing ear protection.

I went like 'what? can repeat ah?' to every person that tried to speak to me for a week after.

Maritim Malaysia Official Youtube Channel


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpOkP0Vgoc6FNRqzdOV4pLg

Heckler & Koch HK433 Assault Rifle

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HOUTHI FORCES DOWN SAUDI ATTACK HELICOPTER IN YEMEN’S HUDAYDAH PROVINCE





[sos]

Country’s first two submarines commissioned



Update : 17:53, Mar 12, 2017






Bangladesh Navy has started its journey as a “three-dimensional force” as two submarines were commissioned in its fleet for the first time today (Sunday).

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina formally commissioned the twin submarines named “Nabajatra” and “Joyjatra” in the navy at a colourful ceremony in the Chittagong Naval Berth this noon.

She handed over the “commissioning formans” to the commanding officers of the submarines procured from China and formally unveiled their name plaques as per the rules of the navy.

“With the induction of the submarines, Bangladesh Navy has started its fresh journey with a new shape and strength alongside the progress of the country,” Sheikh Hasina told the commissioning function of two submarines.

The prime minister said a few countries of the world operate submarines, and Bangladesh has been placed in the list from today. “As a nation, it’s a matter of very much honour and dignity for us,” she said.



Sheikh Hasina expressed her firm belief that the newly-commissioned submarines would play an important role in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty during any crisis period.

“The two submarines have added unprecedented capability to strengthening the defence system to save the country from the aggression of external enemies,” she said.

The prime minister later witnessed an introduction exhibition on achieving capability of a three-dimensional force by the navy with the participation of BN Ship Bangabandhu, two helicopters, two MPAs and an all-round naval commando team.

She also inaugurated various base support facilities constructed for the submarines and laid the foundation stone of BNS Sheikh Hasina, a full-fledged base for the submarines.

A documentary on the long work for the acquisition of the two submarines was screened at the function. A munajat was also offered on the occasion seeking continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation as well as further development of the armed forces.

Ministers, parliament members, the chiefs of three services, diplomats and high civil and military officials were present on the occasion.
A ship brought Bangladesh’s first submarines to Chittagong Port from China on December 22. Earlier, the submarines were handed over to Bangladesh on November 14.





On behalf of the Chinese government, Rear Admiral Liu Zizhu handed over the submarines to Bangladesh Navy chief Admiral Mohammad Nizamuddin Ahmed at a function at a Dalian city shipyard in Liaoning province.

The conventional diesel electric submarines are 76 metres in length and 7.6 metres in width and are equipped with torpedoes and mines, which are capable of attacking enemy warships and submarines. The highest speed of the submarines is about 17 nautical miles per hour and their displacement is 1609 tonnes.

The naval personnel of both the countries completed a sea trial and real training to operate the submarines, an ISPR release said.


Sources : http://en.prothom-alo.com/



Bangladesh navy inducts first ever submarines


Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says Bangladesh navy enters 'new era' with induction of 2 Chinese-made submarines


asia - pacific 12.03.2017 By Sorwar Alam






Bangladesh's military has inducted its first ever submarines since the country gained its independence in 1971, the Bangladeshi Defense Ministry announced Sunday.

“First ever in its history, Bangladesh's navy has inducted two submarines ‘BNS Nobojatra’ and ‘BNS Joyjatra’ to its fleet,” the military’s media wing -- the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate -- said in a statement.

Speaking at a handing over ceremony at a naval base in the southeastern port city of Chittagong, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangaldesh's navy had now entered “a new era” after the induction of the two Chinese-made 035G diesel-electric submarines.

“This day is very much a special day, not only for Bangladesh navy or Bangladesh armed forces but also for entire Bangladesh,” Hasina added.

The premier later laid the foundation stone of a submarine base in Pekua in the coastal city of Cox’s Bazar.

The 76-metre long and 7.6-metre wide submarines can achieve a top speed of 17 nautical miles per hour, according to the military statement.

Armed with torpedoes and mines, they are able to track and attack enemy ships and submarines, it said.

As part of Bangladeshi governments’ initiatives for reinforcement of its naval forces, the country bought the submarines from China for $203M in November last year, it added.



Sources : http://aa.com.tr/

Indonesian Marines new BTR-4M Amphibious IFV on parade during handover ceremony of the new Indonesian Marine Corps Commander. Credit to Angkasa.



http://angkasa.co.id/galeri/foto/sertijab-...-penuh-atraksi/

Malaysia to send troops to Somalia on humanitarian mission

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will send troops to Somalia as part of a humanitarian mission following prolonged drought in the country, says Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

The Defence Minister said the troops, along with assets, will be sent from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

"The decision (to send the troops) was reached after my meeting with Somalia Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Omer Arteh Ghalib on Tuesday.

"He (Mohamed Omer) requested the ministry's assistance in providing aid in terms of food, medicine and expertise of the Armed Forces' medical unit," Hishammuddin said in a statement Friday.

He added that Somalia's request was brought to the attention of and approved by the Cabinet Friday.

Hishammuddin said three officers and 17 personnel from the Armed Forces Medical Core will be sent to Somalia.

"An infantry unit, consisting of an officer and 10 men, will provide security for the Malaysian delegation.

"Food and medical supplies will be flown to Somalia via a Hercules C-130 aircraft," he said.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017...UkoBlB3H5d6A.99

So, this 31 personnel are part of Malaysian contingent in Saudi...

This post has been edited by patt_sue: Mar 17 2017, 09:16 PM

most likely

Hardly the stuff of 'Malaysian army join Saudi-led Yemen war' meme some people retardedly claim to be.

not under UN banner?

Warmonger: Military action against North Korea an 'option'



US military action against nuclear-armed North Korea is an "option on the table", Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday (Mar 17) after warning the policy of strategic patience with Pyongyang was over.

In strong statements that appear to signal a sea change in American policy towards the isolated country, the United States' top diplomat said North Korea's burgeoning missile and nuclear programmes must be halted.

"Certainly we do not want to, for things to get to military conflict," he told reporters in Seoul, but added: "If they elevate the threat of their weapons programme to a level that we believe requires action, then that option's on the table."

"The policy of strategic patience has ended," Tillerson told a joint press conference with his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-Se.

"We are exploring a new range of diplomatic, security, economic measures. All options are on the table."



"Strategic patience" is the term given to the US policy under former President Barack Obama when the United States ruled out engaging the North until it made a tangible commitment to denuclearisation, hoping that internal stresses would bring about change.

Tillerson's visit to Asia -- South Korea is the second leg of the tour -- is his first foray into crisis management.

His remarks on Friday came a day after he said in Tokyo that 20 years of efforts to denuclearise the North had "failed" and promised a new approach.

North Korea has a long-standing ambition to become a nuclear power and conducted its first underground atomic test in 2006, in the teeth of global opposition.

Four more test blasts have followed, two of them last year.

Allowing the North to retain its present level of weapons technology was not appropriate, Tillerson said in Seoul.

"That would leave North Korea with significant capabilities that would represent a true threat."



The United Nations has imposed multiple sets of sanctions on Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programmes, but its main diplomatic protector and trade partner China is accused of not fully enforcing them.

Tillerson will be going on to Beijing on Saturday to press it to do more.

"I don't believe we have ever fully achieved the maximum level of action that can be taken under the UN Security Council resolution with full participation of all countries.

"We know that other nations can take actions."

Earlier in the day, Tillerson had visited the Demilitarised Zone dividing the two Koreas to gaze on the North for himself.

Under the glaring eyes of alert North Korean soldiers, Tillerson toured the Panmunjom joint security area, guarded by both North Korea and the US-led United Nations Command since the Korean War ended with an armistice in 1953.



North Korean soldiers watched from their side of the demarcation line -- marked by cement blocks on the ground. At one point they were only a few feet from Tillerson, with one taking either video or photos.

- AFP/mn

most likely under un banner, though u dun need to be under un mission if their government personally sought help from others for humanitarian aid
there is several existing un mission operating in somalia ady and the un chief did visit the country last week to monitor the worsening food crisis

New U.N. chief confronts the ‘nightmare’ of Somalia’s food crisis
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa...m=.ae6878fce443

'A nightmare:' UN chief urges help for Somalia hunger crisis
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireSt...famine-45955003

SAF: Infantry OCS Platoon Assault Course

Suicide bomber attacks Bangladesh police special forces base




DHAKA: A suicide bomber injured two Bangladeshi police officers on Friday when he attacked a base being built for the police anti-terrorist unit, officials said.

Local media quoting the BBC Bangla service said Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the rare attack on Bangladesh's security services.

Senior Dhaka police official Krishna Pada Roy said police were investigating the incident. It occurred a day after four people linked to a deadly cafe attack in the capital last year were killed when their suicide vests exploded during a raid in the southeastern town of Chittagong.

The injured police officers were taken to Dhaka's military hospital.



Mufti Mahmud Khan, director of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), told reporters that a man aged about 25 had blown himself up when challenged as he tried to enter the police special security force's base, which is still under construction.

Initial evidence suggested he was a member of an extremist group, Khan said.

The bomb was homemade but very powerful, he said. Police had recovered another bomb from inside a bag carried by the bomber.

Police said there could have been many more casualties if the bomber had not struck while most base staff were at the mosque for Friday prayers.

The RAB base is located in a secure area of the capital city, close to several army barracks.



Civil aviation and police officials said airports and prisons had been put on alert and security stepped up across the country. Interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan said the situation was under control.

Ishfaq Elahi Chowdhury, a retired air commodore and security analyst, said Friday's attack on counter-terrorism forces was "a new dimension" in the fight against Islamist militancy in Bangladesh.

Suicide attacks in the country are rare but there have been major incidents such as the attack in July last year on a Dhaka cafe in which 22 people, mostly foreigners, were killed.

Separately, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged parents on Friday to remain alert to the risk of their children becoming radicalised.

(Editing by Catherine Evans)

- Reuters

Philippines to strengthen military facilities in South China Sea

MANILA: The Philippines said on Friday it would strengthen its military facilities on islands and shoals in the disputed South China Sea and announced initial plans to build a new port and pave an existing rough airstrip.



Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana had been scheduled to inspect an outpost on Thitu, one of the disputed Spratly Islands, but his trip was canceled because of "safety issues" and he spent the day instead at a military base where he unveiled the development plans.

"We will build a runway and a port, a pier, for our ships" on Thitu, Lorenzana told troops at the Western Command's 41st anniversary. "We are a bit blind in that area."

Thitu is close to Subi Reef, one of seven manmade islands in the Spratlys that China is accused of militarizing with surface-to-air missiles and other armaments.



The Philippines has squabbled with China for years over the South China Sea, but relations appear to have improved under President Rodrigo Duterte, who was scheduled to meet Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang in Davao City in the southern Philippines on Friday.

The minister said Duterte had given approval to upgrade facilities not only on Thitu but on the eight other features in the South China Sea it occupies.



Defense ministry spokesman Arsenio Andolong said landing on a porous runway on Thitu after heavy rains would have been dangerous.

A senior Philippine general said, however, the military also blocked a planned trip by a group of lawmakers to Thitu on Thursday, more because of concern over how China would react.



"That is a contested area, that is not 100 percent ours," Lieutenant-General Raul del Rosario told a Congressional hearing on Thursday.

"That's why we are concerned if you fly there. Every time an aircraft flies there, it gets a warning and there are times they fire flares towards the aircraft."

The military declined to comment on Rosario's statement.

A fishing community of about 110 people live on Thitu. China has troops on islands it occupies but not civilians.

China claims most of the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which about $5 trillion of goods passes each year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

- Reuters/am

New batch ferry flight delivery to Indonesia of the Indonesian Air Force F-16C/Ds from Hill Air Force Base. Credit to Hill Air Force Base.













http://www.hill.af.mil/News/Article-Displa...esian-air-force

This post has been edited by azriel: Mar 18 2017, 11:12 AM

March 17, 2017
Outdated air force leaves Malaysia vulnerable, says retired brig-gen
Robin Augustin
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arshadraji-airdcraftPETALING JAYA: A retired brigadier-general has launched a tirade against the government in the wake of a report that budget cuts are preventing the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) from getting new fighter jets, helicopters and maritime patrol craft.

Speaking to FMT, Mohd Arshad Raji said the government’s inability to maintain the integrity of the armed forces gave a clear sign that the nation was “in trouble”.

“In modern warfare, the air force plays a vital role,” he said. “When air superiority is lost, the land battle becomes worthless.

“The Malaysian Armed Forces’ preoccupation in times of peace is to train for war. War tactics and techniques are highly dynamic. Any new innovation or invention in the weapons system demands new operational tactics and techniques.”

He said upgrades and the acquisition of new assets were essential to keeping the RMAF abreast with the region’s other air forces.


A nation with obsolete and outdated air force assets would be exposed to aerial threats from potential enemies, he added.

DefenseNews reported yesterday that major procurement programmes for the Malaysian Armed Forces had mostly been put on hold. It said this meant that “badly needed” fighters, trainers, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft would unlikely be acquired by the RMAF in the short to medium term.

With more kidnappings taking place off Sabah and Sarawak, the RMAF recently moved a squadron of BAE Hawk 108/208 light attack aircraft to East Malaysia.

Concerns have been expressed that the thinning of resources comes amid threats arising from lawlessness in the southern Philippines and China’s aggressive stance on issues over disputed islands in the South China Sea.

The government allocated RM15.1 billion to the Defence Ministry under Budget 2017. Of this, RM1.8 billion is for asset maintenance. DefenseNews noted that the 2017 allocation represented a 13% drop in 2016 budget.

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category

http://www.monch.com/mpg/news/14-land/995-...rm-for-mpf.html