US Sailors and Marines join the Malaysian Armed Forces for CARAT 2015

Sandakan, Malaysia (NNS) -- The 21st annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the Malaysian Armed Forces began Aug. 17 with opening ceremonies in Sandakan, Malaysia.

CARAT Malaysia 2015 consists of five days of shore-based and at-sea training events, designed to address shared maritime security concerns, build relationships, and enhance interoperability among participating forces. 

Royal Malaysian Navy Missing Boat with Four Crew Found Safe

KUALA LUMPUR, August 16 - The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) offshore station boat which went missing with its four crew last Thursday was found safe today.

The boat was found by RMN KD LEKIR vessel at 10.30 am.

According to the statement from Defence Ministry's Naval Base today, the RIB boat went missing while on duty last Thursday.

The search and rescue operation to find the boat and its crew was called off at noon. (Bernama)

Cubic Wins $18 Million Contract for Australian Defence Simulation and Training Centre Simulation

SAN DIEGO –  Cubic Global Defense (CGD), a business unit of Cubic Corporation recently announced the selection of Cubic Defence Australia as the primary contractor to provide a managed workforce solution for the Australian Defence Simulation and Training Centre (ADSTC) Simulation Support Services (SSS). The four-year contract is valued at $18 million with options for extension. ADSTC and the contracted services are based in Canberra, Australia, but will be distributed throughout the country and the Pacific to coalition partners.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Deploys Navy Troops to Ayungin Shoal

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has responded to China’s threatening moves around Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea by sending fresh Navy troops to replace the Marines pulled out from a grounded ship that serves as the base of Filipino troops in the disputed area.

Sources said the Marines at Ayungin Shoal have been pulled out from the grounded BRP Sierra Madrea and another unit of the Philippine Navy took over their maritime and territorial duties at the shoal.

Russia Plans to Offer Advanced Su-35 Fighters for Indonesia Tender

Russia has announced plans to compete for an Indonesian Air Force contract to purchase fighter planes; it hopes to export Su-35 jets.

Russian-made Su-35 fighters are due to compete for a forthcoming tender; the Indonesian Air Force is considering purchasing these multi-role aircraft to replace its aging fleet of US-made jets, according to Sergey Kornev, a spokesman for Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport.

He made the statement during the 2015 Le Bourget Airshow, which is currently underway near Paris, France.

Air Commandos Complete Teak Mint 15-1

Joint HALO jumps durings Exercise TEAK MINT 15-1 (Source: US Air Force)

SUBANG AB, Malaysia -- Members from the 353rd Special Operations Group along with members from the 36th Airlift Squadron conducted multinational and bilateral training during Joint Chief of Staff Exercise Teak Mint 15-1 in Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan, Malaysia, May 26 through June 13.

“This exercise has been a great opportunity for our Airmen to learn,” said Maj. Michael S. Perry, Teak Mint 15-1 mission commander. “For the past two weeks, we had the opportunity to build a mutually beneficial relationship between U.S. and Malaysian Air Forces. Each group came here with a diverse perspective shaped by their unique history. I was happy to see how both countries took full advantage of building partnerships and learning from each other. ”

Malaysian Hijacked Oil Tanker Rescued, Pirates Flee

Kuala Lumpur, 19 June 2015 -- Pirates who hijacked a Malaysian oil tanker last week have fled on the ship's lifeboat after being pursued by a Malaysian navy ship, officials said Friday.

Navy chief Abdul Aziz Jaafar said the eight pirates, believed to be Indonesians, abandoned the MT Orkim Harmony late Thursday. All 22 crew members were safe, except for an Indonesian cook who was shot in the thigh, Abdul Aziz tweeted.

He said three navy ships and two helicopters are searching for the pirates. The ship is sailing back to Malaysia's northern Kuantan port, escorted by a naval ship, he said.

The tanker, carrying 7.5 million liters (2 million gallons) of gasoline worth 21 million ringgit ($5.7 million), was headed to Kuantan when communications were lost June 11. The crew consisted of 16 Malaysians, five Indonesians and a Myanmar national.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said earlier that the ship was detected in waters off southern Vietnam late Wednesday and had been repainted black from blue. Abdul Aziz also tweeted pictures of the tanker, showing some letters of the name of the ship painted over to give it a new name, "Kim Harmon."

He said the eight pirates were armed with pistols and machetes, and spoke with Indonesian accents.

The maritime agency said the hijacking was believed to be the work of a syndicate targeting vessels for their cargos of fuel. It said this was the fifth theft in waters off southern Malaysia this year.

It was the second tanker hijacked this month. Another Malaysian tanker carrying diesel fuel was hijacked June 4 in the same area and was released after its fuel was siphoned off.

Maritime officials have said it is more difficult to steal gasoline because it is highly flammable and requires special safety equipment.

The International Maritime Bureau says attacks against small tankers off Southeast Asia's coasts have been rising since last year.

Pirates have been particularly active near Indonesia's Bintan island and in the South China Sea, where 11 vessels were hijacked last year, the bureau said. (AP)

Boustead Naval Shipyard to Build 6 RMN Warships

LUMUT, 12 June 2015 – Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd today began construction of six Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) warships costing RM9 billion under the Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) project. 

Defence Deputy Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said the LCS project was one of the government’s efforts to strengthen the country’s maritime defence system, apart from boosting the economy, especially the shipbuilding industry. 

Dayak Community Urged to Join Army

SIBU, 11 June -- Dayak youths have been encouraged to join the army and carry on the community’s legacy of heroic service and loyalty to the country. 

Malaysian Army chief General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor said the Dayak community being the second largest racial group to serve in Malaysian Army, were feared by the enemy for their bravery and intrepidity. 

Philippines, Japan to Hold Fresh Naval Drills

MANILA: The Philippines and Japan will hold their second joint naval drills this year, the Filipino military said on Tuesday (Jun 9), as the World War II foes deepen security ties while China aggressively develops islands in disputed waters.

The June 22-26 joint manoeuvres with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force would be the second this year, after a one-day exercise in the flashpoint South China Sea last month, Philippine navy spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo said.