DTN News - SINGAPORE DEFENSE NEWS: Inauguration Of The SAF's Naval Helicopters Into 123 Squadron

DTN News - SINGAPORE DEFENSE NEWS: Inauguration Of The SAF's Naval Helicopters Into 123 Squadron

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources MinDef Singapore dated Jan 18, 2011

(NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - January 21, 2011: Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen officiated at the inauguration ceremony of the Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopters into 123 Squadron at Sembawang Air Base this afternoon.

The 123 Squadron is the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) first naval helicopter squadron. The squadron will join the Helicopter Group under the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) Participation Command, which was set up in 2007 to develop and deploy air power in support of land and maritime operations.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Dr Ng highlighted that 123 Squadron's past experience in supporting Army's operations will provide an advantage in this new role in air-sea operations. He said: "I am confident that 123 Squadron will continue to build on its tradition of cross-service integration as it embarks on a new chapter of air-sea operations." Dr Ng also commended RSAF and RSN personnel for their professionalism which has enabled the SAF to build up a high level of operational proficiency and readiness in its integrated naval helicopter and frigate capability.

The SAF had earlier acquired six Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopters. All six naval helicopters have returned to Singapore last year after a one-year deployment in San Diego, USA, with the RSAF's Peace Triton detachment. The integration of the naval helicopters with the frigates enables the SAF to undertake anti-surface and anti-submarine missions at longer ranges. Each frigate's sophisticated Command, Control and Communications suite allows it to network with a wide variety of SAF assets to increase force level awareness and mission effectiveness. The inauguration of the S-70B Seahawk naval helicopters into 123 Squadron marks a significant milestone in the SAF's transformation into an integrated and networked force.

Speech by Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Inauguration of the S-70B 123 Squadron, Sembawang Air Base News Video: Inauguration of Naval Helicopters

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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

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DTN News - BREAKING NEWS: Tell Pakistan To Stop Exporting Terror To India: BJP Tells China

DTN News - BREAKING NEWS: Tell Pakistan To Stop Exporting Terror To India: BJP Tells China

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources China National News Friday 21st January, 2011 (IANS)

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 21, 2011: China has an influence over Pakistan and the BJP expects Beijing to put pressure on Islamabad to stop exporting terror to India and to act against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack, Nitin Gadkari, the chief of India's main opposition party, told Chinese leaders here Friday.

Gadkari, who is the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president to visit China, conveyed to the Chinese leaders his party's serious concern over Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism and told them that there was strong public opinion in India against Beijing's development projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Gadkari, in his wide-ranging talks with leaders of the Communist Party of China, also told them that Beijing's reported attempts to block Pakistan-based terrorist outfits like Jamaat-ud-Dawah from being black-listed by the UN was having an adverse impact on the BJP's efforts to improve people-to-people contacts between the two countries, a statement said. The BJP president is on a five-day goodwill visit to China along with a delegation of senior party leaders. He held discussions with Ai Ping, the Chinese vice-minister in the international department of the Communist Party of China, and also met Li Changchun, a senior leader of the nine-member Standing Committee of the political Bureau of the CPC. Gadkari told the Chinese leadership that terrorism was a common concern for mankind. 'Terrorism does not recognize any boundaries and there are very strong growing inter-linkages amongst terror groups,' Gadkari said, and hoped that both India and China would work closely with the international community to strengthen the global framework against terrorism. To Gadkari's urging China to use its good offices with Pakistan to pressure it to stop exporting terror to India and act against the perpetrators of all acts of terrorism on Indian soil, including those behind the Mumbai attack, the Chinese leaders shared the BJP leader's concern. The Chinese leaders said Beijing 'understands the importance of all the issues raised by the BJP president'. Gadkari also took up with the Chinese leaders the issue of stapled visas for the people of Arunanchal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir and conveyed his party's strong position on the issue. He hoped Beijing would resolve the matter at the earliest as it was damaging China's image among the Indian people. Gadkari also took up China's military assistance and the supply of nuclear reactors to Pakistan and said these did not augur well for strengthening bilateral relations between India and China. The BJP chief told the Chinese leaders that the party believes that the festering boundary issue should be resolved through peaceful negotiations and in a fair, reasonable, mutually acceptable and pro-active manner. The BJP delegation includes two general secretaries, Thawarchand Gehlot and Vijay Goel, joint-organizing secretary, Saudan Singh, and secretaries Arti Mehra and Laxman Kova, Vinay Sahasrabudhe and Vijay Jolly.

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

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