Source: DTN News By Roger Smith(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 4, 2010: Malaysia wi
ll take part in the Cobra Gold joint military exercise by Thailand and the US armed forces from next year.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia’s participation in the bi-annual military exercise was agreed upon during his meeting with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates in Pentagon last week.
“Following the agreement, Malaysia will join the exercise as a participant.
“We will benefit directly in terms of using the latest and most sophisticated military techniques and strategies available,” Zahid told reporters after the launch of his ministry’s transformation day here yesterday.
Other participating nations in the joint multi-lateral military exercise are Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Indonesia, while more than 20 countries would take part as observers.
He said Gates also agreed to work with Malaysia in the upgrading of the Royal Malaysian Air Force Nuri helicopter and the Hercules C-130 transport aircraft after 2014, as well as to intensify training for Malaysian armed forces personnel in the United States.
“The MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) programme of the aircraft are now being carried out by Airod and ATSC (Aerospace Technologies Systems Corpo-ration).
We will take over the programme by 2014.
“We will also acquire the Airbus A-400M transport aircraft by 2012,” he added.
Zahid said that 25 US defence industry companies had agreed in principle to invest in the Defence Industrial Park in Sungkai, Perak, following his meeting with captains of US defence industry.
He said it was anticipated that an es
timated US$2.5bil (RM8.1bil) in investments would flow in for the park.
ll take part in the Cobra Gold joint military exercise by Thailand and the US armed forces from next year.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia’s participation in the bi-annual military exercise was agreed upon during his meeting with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates in Pentagon last week.
“Following the agreement, Malaysia will join the exercise as a participant.
“We will benefit directly in terms of using the latest and most sophisticated military techniques and strategies available,” Zahid told reporters after the launch of his ministry’s transformation day here yesterday.
Other participating nations in the joint multi-lateral military exercise are Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Indonesia, while more than 20 countries would take part as observers.
He said Gates also agreed to work with Malaysia in the upgrading of the Royal Malaysian Air Force Nuri helicopter and the Hercules C-130 transport aircraft after 2014, as well as to intensify training for Malaysian armed forces personnel in the United States.
“The MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) programme of the aircraft are now being carried out by Airod and ATSC (Aerospace Technologies Systems Corpo-ration).
We will take over the programme by 2014.
“We will also acquire the Airbus A-400M transport aircraft by 2012,” he added.
Zahid said that 25 US defence industry companies had agreed in principle to invest in the Defence Industrial Park in Sungkai, Perak, following his meeting with captains of US defence industry.
He said it was anticipated that an es
timated US$2.5bil (RM8.1bil) in investments would flow in for the park. Malaysia's armed forces, which encompasses three major branches, originate from the formation of local military forces in the first half of the 20th century, during British colonial rule of Malaya and Singapore prior to Malaya's independence in 1957. The branches have undergone several restructuring, but fundamentally includes the army, navy and air force.
The role of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) is to defend the sovereignty and strategic interests of Malaysia from all forms of threat.
It is responsible to assist the civilian authorities to overcome all international threats, preserve public order, assist in natural disasters and participate in national development programs.
It is also sustaining and upgrading its capabilities in the international sphere in order to uphold the national foreign policy of being involved under the guidance of the United Nations (UN).
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment