I Never Said 70 Military Personnel Involved In IS - Rahim

KOTA KINABALU, April 13  - Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri denied that he said 70 military personnel in the country had joined the IS militant group.

"The news portal distorted my statement. What I said was that according to the police, almost 70 Malaysians of various background had joined the IS. I never said they were military personnel," he said in a statement Monday night.

"This report is malicious and aimed at tarnishing the image of the Malaysian Armed Forces," he said, referring to the news portal report quoting him as saying that 70 military personnel had joined the IS.

Abdul Rahim said the police are still investigating the background of Malaysians involved in the IS and only they can to decide on the matter. (Bernama)

Raytheon Awarded $35 Million Stinger Contract for Republic of Korea Delivery

Stinger (Source: Raytheon)

Raytheon Company signed a $35 million contract to deliver Stinger missiles and air-to-air launchers to the Republic of Korea Army in support of their recent procurement of AH-64 Apache helicopters.

Under the previously announced foreign military sale, Raytheon will begin deliveries of the Stinger weapon systems in 2017. 

Raytheon, Kongsberg Team on Naval Strike Missile

Naval Strike Missile (Source: tu.no)

Raytheon Company and Kongsberg have formed a teaming agreement for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM). The pact represents a second step in the companies' efforts to offer world-class Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) solutions to the many governments interested in this warfare mission. Raytheon and Kongsberg formed a similar agreement last year to develop the Joint Strike Missile, the air-launched version of the NSM.

Royal Australian Navy Formally Begins MH-60R Seahawk Training

MH-60R tactical operational flight trainer for the Royal Australian Navy (Source: CAE)

CAE recently announced that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has accepted into service the first of two MH-60R Seahawk Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFT) along with an MH-60R Avionics Maintenance/Weapons Load Trainer (AM/WLT). The MH-60R simulators are located at HMAS Albatross, which is near Nowra in New South Wales and home of the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Air Arm.

India to Announce its Intention to Acquire 36 Rafale Aircraft

Dassault Rafale for India (Source: Dassault Aviation)

Paris, 10th April 2015 - Dassault Aviation, which is the Indian Air Force supplier for more than 60 years, is honored of the repeated trust of the Indian Government and welcomes its intention to finalize the acquisition of 36 Rafale aircraft at conditions that will allow to meet rapidly the security needs of India.

KONGSBERG Receives Letter of Award for NSM Ships Equipment with Boustead Naval Shipyard

KONGSBERG recently announced that it has received a Letter of Award worth approx. 20 MEUR with Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BN Shipyard) in Malaysia, for NSM (Naval Strike Missile) ships equipment.

USS Peleliu to Decommission After More Than 34 Years of Service

USS Peleliu (Source: US Navy)

SAN DIEGO - The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) is scheduled to be decommissioned after more than 34 years of service in a ceremony on Naval Base San Diego.

The last general-purpose amphibious assault ship of the Tarawa class, Peleliu's decommissioning marks the end of a career comprising multiple deployments to US 7th and 5th fleets, humanitarian efforts and peacekeeping missions.

Two RMAF Aircraft Now In UAE To Evacuate More Malaysians

C-130 of the RMAF (Source: Youtube)

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8  -- Two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) aircraft are standing by in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to evacuate more Malaysians from strife-torn Yemen, Chief of Armed Forces, Tan Sri Zulkefli Mohd Zin said Wednesday.

He said the Hercules C-130 aircraft, with 43 armed forces personnel, flew to the UAE Tuesday night from the RMAF airbase in Subang.

Exercise Cope Tiger 15

US and Thai air forces conduct a High Altitude Low Opening
jump from a US C-130 during Exercise Cope Tiger 15
near Udon, Thailand, March 11, 2015. Source: PACAF

KORAT ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE BASE, Thailand -- The skies over central Thailand are a little quieter now that Exercise Cope Tiger 15 has ended.

The exercise, which ran from March 9 through 20, focused on multinational interoperability and regional partnerships.

Aviation and ground units from the United States, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Republic of Singapore participated in the annual multilateral aerial exercise.

US Navy Issues Contract Modification to Lockheed Martin to Construct, Procure Littoral Combat Ships

Photo credit EagleHerald

The US Navy has issued a Lockheed Martin-led industry team a contract modification for one fully funded 2015 Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) valued at $362 million, along with $79 million in advanced procurement funding for a second ship. The balance of the second ship will be funded by Dec. 31, 2015.