All three RMAF CN 235-220 transport aircraft were converted into Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA)

A commemorative ceremony was held at Subang Air Force Base, Malaysia on June 27, 2024.

The conversion program began in 2018 and totaled approximately $60 million under the Maritime Security Initiative. The initiative served as the first major US security grant program in Malaysia.

The CN-235s are now enhanced with maritime surveillance radars, electro-optical infrared turrets, beyond line-of-sight communications and roll-on/roll-off system operator stations.鈥� The aircraft are attached to Squadron 1 at Kuching Airbase in Sarawak.

According to the US Embassy in Malaysia, the US government has provided more than $240 million in total security assistance to the country between 2019-2023.

鈥淲ith all three aircraft converted and incorporated into Malaysia精东影业 overall maritime domain awareness architecture, we know that Malaysia is better able to maintain vigilant watch over activities within its Exclusive Economic Zones, and better postured to secure the maritime environment,鈥� US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan said in a statement.

The security cooperation between the US and Malaysia includes 11 bilateral and five multilateral defense exercises, the most Malaysia has with any country. The exercises help enhance Malaysian defense readiness, strengthen multinational relationships, and demonstrate the United States鈥� resolve to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Two Royal Malaysian Navy helicopters collide mid-air, killing all 10 onboard

• Aviation Safety
• Defense

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-04-23

The three-week exercise is the culminating phase of part of a series of exercises that comprise the six-month long Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC). 

AWIC encompasses a range of academic activities and practical exercises that expose the candidates to complex scenarios, broadening and improving their skills.

Exercise Diamond Storm tested the planning and decision-making skills of candidate Air Warfare Instructors across nine distinct roles and categories, including fighter combat, surveillance roles, air mobility, intelligence and combat control teams.

During the course of Exercise Diamond Storm 24, flying missions were conducted in the air spaces around Darwin, Tindal, Curtin, Bradshaw Field Training Area, and Delamere Air Weapons Range. 

AWIC candidates have gone through immersive training environment to conduct complex mission scenarios, integrating platforms including F-35A Lightning II, F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, E-7A Wedgetail and ground-based C2 capabilities, C-130J Hercules, P-8A Poseidon, KC-30A, and Combat Controllers.

鈥淧eople are our most important capability, and AWIC graduates aviators who are world-class air power practitioners,鈥� Air Commodore Adrian Maso, Commander of Air Warfare Centre said in a statement.

鈥淒uring Exercise Diamond Storm 24, the candidate instructors combined their own experience with what they have learned in AWIC精东影业 academic study, and practiced through a live training curriculum,鈥� Maso added.

According to the Australian Department of Defence, the instructors will return to their respective workforces as 鈥渉umble, knowledgeable, and approachable experts within their fields of expertise.鈥�

鈥淭he skills and experience they gain on Exercise Diamond Storm 24 give us confidence that we can credibly respond to contemporary threats in our region, in accordance with Australia精东影业 strategy of denial,鈥� Maso said.

Generations of navigation cross paths as graduates reunite at RAAF 40 years later

• Defense
• This is interesting!

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-06-20

The drill was performed on June 5, 2024, where eight McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets landed and took off on a section of the A1 motorway between the towns of Avenches and Payerne in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.

The section of the motorway was closed for 36 hours and cordoned off.

The F/A-18 is a multirole aircraft, originally designed for use from US Navy aircraft carriers. Switzerland currently operates around 25 Hornets fighter jets, which it will eventually replace by Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft.

According to the Swiss Air Force, the goal of 鈥楢lpha Uno鈥� is to test whether its fighter jets can take off and land at improvised locations. SwissInfo reported that the Air Force wants to strengthen its defense capability due to the 鈥渄eteriorating security situation鈥� in Europe, largely due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The last time that the Swiss Air Force performed this type of operation was more than 30 years ago in 1991, in the midst of the Soviet Union collapse.

The use of motorways as runways has gained popularity among NATO air forces. Called Agile Combat Employment (ACE) by the US Department of Defense, the operation is designed to improve resilience and survivability by dispersing air combat power from home bases to geographically dispersed locations, such as highways. 

The practice gained prominence during the Cold War era, and has experienced a resurgence of interest in the doctrines of Western armed forces as they prepare for high-intensity conflicts.  

The Finnish Air Force, which annually holds a road base exercise, performed the drill in September 2023, where F/A-18 fighters and various other Finnish Air Force aircraft took off and landed on a road base in Tervo. They were joined by Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35s and British Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons.

Royal Air Force joins Finland for agile combat employment exercise

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2023-09-21

Exercise Red Flag is a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise held several times a year by the United States Air Force (USAF). It is considered to be the toughest air combat training exercise in the world and aims to offer realistic training for military pilots and other flight crew members from the US and allied countries. 

The exercise makes use of enemy hardware and live ammunition for bombing exercises within the adjacent Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR)

Each year, three to six Red Flag exercises are held at Nellis Air Force Base, while up to four more, dubbed Red Flag 鈥� Alaska, are held at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. 

The Red Flag exercises have been in place for 48 years, with the first exercise launched in November 1975.

This year saw six Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs participate in the exercise for the first time.

On its website, the Nellis Air Force Base said the focus of the January 2024 Red Flag is on Indo-Pacific Theater and combating the pacing challenge alongside its allies and partners.

鈥淭he mission scenarios require coordination to overcome a highly sophisticated air defense network, or precise integration across many domains for us to reach a distant target, all in the face of live and simulated threats,鈥� Wing Commander Adrian Kiely, RAAF Commanding Officer of No. 3 Squadron, said in a statement.

鈥淓xercise Red Flag Nellis provided a highly challenging environment for the participant nations involved, testing our interoperability and allowing us to better understand what we each bring to the fight,鈥� Kiely added. 

As well as Australia and the United Kingdom, other countries that have participated in the Red Flag Exercises include: Argentina, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia, NATO, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, and Venezuela.聽

Australian F-35As to participate in Exercise Red Flag Nellis for the first time

• Defense

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-01-16

Exercise Red Flag Nellis is a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise held several times a year by the US Air Force. The RAAF considers the exercise the world精东影业 toughest air combat training environment.

Around 150 RAAF personnel have joined their counterparts from the US and the United Kingdom in the exercise, which began January 15, 2024 and runs until February 2, 2024. 

The RAAF team consists of approximately 150 aviators supporting six F-35A Lightning II aircraft and a tactical command and control team.

Exercise Red Flag was established by the US Air Force in 1975 after the Vietnam War showed that the first 10 combat missions are the most dangerous for aircrews. 

The first 10 missions of a modern air campaign are recreated during the Red Flag Nellis exercise. The exercise is renowned for its use of aggressor forces, including enemy fighter aircraft, ground-based radars and simulated surface-to-air missiles, as well as cyber and space-based elements that simulate threats for each mission.

鈥淕enerations of RAAF aviators have come to this exercise since 1980, and it continues to evolve and reflect the threats and challenges faced on modern operations,鈥� RAAF Wing Commander Adrian Kiely, Commanding Officer of No. 3 Squadron said in a press statement.

鈥淓xercise Red Flag Nellis will test every facet of our F-35A capability, allow us to integrate with our American and British allies, and practice how we project force on combat operations,鈥� Kiely said, adding that this is the RAAF精东影业 F-35精东影业 first time participating in the exercise.

In total, Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1 will involve approximately 3000 personnel and 100 aircraft conducting large force employment missions.

Australia sends RAAF aircraft and military personnel to Middle East

• Defense

byEmilia Stankeviciute

2023-10-25

In an interview with Philippine media, Brawner said that two Chinese jets encircled the Philippine Air Force精东影业 A-29B Super Tucano 鈥� a light attack, combat and reconnaissance aircraft 鈥� for approximately 15 minutes. 

鈥淭here were two Chinese jet fighters that circled our plane. They just circled,鈥� Brawner said. 

He also added that the Chinese jets only shadowed the Philippine aircraft, and steered clear of the Australian ones.

Philippine media outlet ABS-CBN released a video of the incident and posted it to X (formerly known as Twitter). 

However, the angle and the long-view distance makes it almost impossible to determine what type of PLA aircraft circled the Philippine planes.

The incident comes shortly after tensions between China and the Philippines arose when the Philippine government lodged a diplomatic protest with China in response to maneuvers by Chinese vessels on October 22, 2023 that led to collisions with Philippine ships on a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal (international name: Second Thomas Shoal).

Brawner said that despite the interference, the Armed Forces of the Philippines was able to carry out and finish its air and maritime patrol mission with the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The three-day activity, which featured exercises in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone from November 25-27, 2023, saw participation from Philippine Navy vessels BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Davao Del Sur; Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba; Philippine Air Force’s A29B Super Tucano and N-22 Nomad, Philippine Navy’s BNI2A aircraft; and Royal Australian Air Force P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft.

The Maritime Cooperative Activity between the Philippines and Australia demonstrated both countries’ shared commitment to improve maritime interoperability, foster camaraderie among the participants and to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law for a peaceful and secure Indo-Pacific.

China incensed at presence of carrier USS Ronald Reagan in Southeast Asia

• Defense

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-10-24

According to the United States European Command, the five service members suffered a 鈥渕ishap鈥� during a routine air refueling mission as part of military training.

According to an report, the aircraft was an MH-60 helicopter, although this has not been confirmed by the US government. 

鈥淥ut of respect for the affected families, and in accordance with Department of Defense policy, the identities of the crewmembers are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notifications have been completed,鈥� the US European Command said in a press statement.

The US government also said that search and rescue efforts began immediately, including nearby US military aircraft and ships. It also said that the crash did not show any indication of 鈥渉ostile activity鈥�.

The incident occurred just a day before Veteran精东影业 Day. 

In early October 2023, the US Department of Defense ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean to provide assistance and support to Israel after Hamas carried out deadly terror attacks on October 7.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is the US Navy fleet精东影业 largest, newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier. The carrier strike group is deployed with more than 6,000 sailors across all platforms.

It can carry more than 75 aircraft, including several squadrons of Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters.

US sends aircraft carrier group to the Mediterranean to assist Israel

• Defense

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-10-09

The incident occurred during a nighttime intercept on October 24, 2023.

According to the Pentagon, the Chinese pilot flew the Shenyang J-11 twin-engine fighter 鈥渋n an unsafe and unprofessional manner” and “demonstrated poor airmanship by closing with uncontrolled excessive speed.”

“We are concerned this pilot was unaware of how close he came to causing a collision,” the US military stated, adding: 鈥淢ilitary aircraft, when intentionally approaching another, shall operate with professional airmanship and give due regard for the safety of other aircraft.鈥� 

The US Indo-Pacific Command released footage of the video, which it uploaded to social media.

The video shows how dangerously close the two aircraft came to making contact with one another.

The US Department of Defense claims that there have been more than 180 instancesof Chinese military aircraft flying dangerously close to US aircraft since 2021.

US President Joe Biden is expected to speak with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi when he visits the White House on October 27, 2023, as per a .

This latest incident comes just days after China expressed its disapproval of the presence of US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in Southeast Asia, describing the US as a 鈥榯roublemaker鈥� in the region.

China incensed at presence of carrier USS Ronald Reagan in Southeast Asia

• Defense

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-10-24

Flight TR16 took off at 16:11 local time from Singapore精东影业 Changi Airport (SIN) bound for Perth Airport (PER) on October 12, 2023.

Scoot told local media outlets that a 鈥減recautionary decision鈥� to head back to Singapore was made one hour into the flight 鈥渄ue to a bomb threat鈥�. 

Two of Royal Singapore Air Force精东影业 F-15SG fighter jets were then activated to escort the Boeing B787 aircraft back to Changi Airport. The flight landed back in Singapore at 18:27 local time.

People on the ground were able to film video footage of the return flight, in which the two fighter jets can be seen.

Security checks were carried out when the plane landed, and though no explosives were found, an Australian male was arrested for 鈥渃riminal intimidation鈥�. Further investigations are ongoing.

“Scoot is assisting the authorities with their investigations. As this is a security matter, we regret that we are unable to provide further details,” the airline told local media outlets.   

“Scoot sincerely apologizes for the disruption and inconvenience caused. The safety of our customers and crew is our top priority, and we will continue to provide assistance to our customers,” the airline said.

Avelo Airlines passenger faces up to 15 years in jail for bomb threat聽

• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2023-09-07

The attack has so far claimed over 700 lives, with over 2,200 wounded, and over 100 kidnapped. At least four US nationals were killed in the attack.

The Israeli government has now formally declared war on Hamas and given the green light for 鈥渟ignificant military steps鈥� to retaliate against the Palestinian Sunni-Islamic group.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is the US Navy fleet’s largest, newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier. The carrier strike group is deployed with more than 6,000 sailors across all platforms. It can carry over 75 aircraft, including several squadrons of Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters.

鈥淚 have directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean,鈥� Lloyd J. Austin III, US Department of Defense secretary said in a . 

鈥淭his includes the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), as well as the Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80).鈥�

In addition to the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, the US Air Force is also augmenting its F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

The US government said that it will also be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions.

Israel attacks, a look at the aerial dimension

• Defense

byMiquel Ros

2023-10-08