Page 15 - DEFENSE & SECURITY 2022 - Day 1 | DAILY NEWS

U.S TO EXPAND DEFENCE TIES WITH BRUNEI

The United States and Brunei are Aquilino heads the United States’ bilateral engagements”.
seeking ways to expand defence largest combatant command and The armed forces of both countries
cooperation amid rising geopolitical has been a stern critic of China’s participate in a number of training
tension in East Asia. Recently Brunei’s actions throughout the Indo-Pacific, programs and joint exercises, such
King Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah including its intercepts of US and as the annual CARAT exercise, as well
held talks with United States Indo- allied aircraft. as multilateral cooperation including
Pacific Commander Admiral John C. Brunei’s defence ministry said both Southeast Asia Cooperation and
Aquilino at Istana Nurul Iman, where sides affirmed the “long-standing Training (SEACAT), Rim of the Pacific
the latter expressed “unwavering and close defence relationship” Exercise (RIMPAC), Chief of Defence
support” of the Brunei-US security between Brunei and the US, which Conference (CHOD) as well as
partnership towards a “free and “continues to grow and strengthen through the ASEAN Defence Ministers’
open Indo-Pacific region”. over the years through extensive Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) framework.

differ, the BAE Systems OPV design or enabling the integration of locally
BAE SYSTEMS has proven that it can provide a developed systems,” said Ali Ahmad,
flexible capability to meet varying Director for Thailand and Malaysia at
TARGETING operational demands and is an ideal BAE Systems.
THAI DEFENCE candidate to support a national According to a company official,
shipbuilding agenda and directly “the M777 is the perfect solution to
OPPORTUNITIES enhance the local economy. equip the Royal Thai Army with a
Thailand can modify the design state-of-art howitzer and replace
BAE Systems is showcasing its of its own ships to install combat the M198.” BAE Systems has also
Offshore Patrol Vessels built in systems compatible with its wider supplied a number of naval gun
Thailand in addition to other systems fleet, use locally sourced materials systems which are in service with
at the ongoing Defence & Security and reduce in-service support costs the RTN including the Mk45, as well
exhibition. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) during the more than 30-year life of as Bofors 40mm and 57mm systems.
is operating the HTMS Krabi and the ship. “Customer requirements BAE Systems is also proposing its
HTMS Prachuap Khiri Khan which are vary for good reasons and that’s Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)
Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) built by why we always intended the OPV a natural potential replacement for
the Bangkok Dock Company under to be reconfigurable in many differ- the Amphibious Armoured Vehicles
licence using a BAE Systems OPV ent directions and offer a number of (AAV) in service with the Royal Thai
design. With neighbouring countries capability options. This could involve Marine Corps. These ACVs are now
all facing similar challenges but rec- anything from enhancing the flight in full rate production for the U.S.
ognising specific requirements may deck, adding to the weapons suite Marine Corps.

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