Singapore Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen’s presence at the ongoing show and his meeting with Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as well as Malaysian Minister of Defence Dato' Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin underscores the healthy and long-standing relationship between the two countries in the defence sector.
During their meeting, the leaders discussed regional security issues, and reaffirmed their commitment to enhance defence ties by strengthening practical cooperation between the two defence establishments. The ties between the two countries in the defence sector include bilateral and multilateral exercises, visits, professional exchanges, and the cross-attendance of courses.
The thriving relationship between the two countries is just one of the many examples of growing cooperation between Southeast Asian countries in the defence sphere. In December last year, a delegation led former Malaysian Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan visited Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance defence cooperation was signed during the trip. The two countries had established a Strategic Partnership for defence in 2015.
A deal signed last year between South Korea and Malaysia illustrates the potential for growth of regional defence industry ties. While four out of 18 Korea Aerospace Industries-made FA-50 Block 20 light combat aircraft will be completely made in South Korea, the remaining 14 aircraft will be assembled in Malaysia with technical help from the aircraft manufacturer. With over 100 T-50/FA-50 jets currently in use by Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, Malaysia’s decision to assemble the aircraft locally will help it move closer to the goal of becoming the regional Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub for users of the aircraft.
Other countries in the region have woken up to the need to depend more on each other and less on countries in other regions for their defence needs. While Indonesia’s state-owned shipbuilder, PT PAL Indonesia, is constructing two landing platform docks for the Philippine Navy, PT Dirgantara Indonesia has won a contract to supply six NC-212i light transport aircraft to the Philippine Air Force. The company is also upgrading three CN-235-220 aircraft for the Royal Malaysian Air Force. Vietnam and Indonesia are mulling cooperation in the field of MRO for Russian-made Su-27/30 fighter aircraft that is in use in both countries; Vietnam’s Helicopter Technical Services Corporation has serviced the Indonesian Army’s Mi-17V helicopters.
The Indonesian Armed Forces has procured weapons such as machine guns, grenade launchers and howitzers from Singaporean defence companies. The Ultimax 100 light machine gun, also developed by ST Engineering, is a mainstay of the Indonesian Navy’s Kopaska tactical diver group and the Indonesian Army’s Kopassus special forces group. Indonesian defence firm PT Pindad has inked a contract with ST Engineering, manufacturer of the Ultimax 100 light machine gun, to make the gun in Indonesia. The company has an agreement with ST Engineering to make two of its products - the STK 50 heavy machine gun and the STK 40 automatic grenade launcher – in Indonesia. Until recently, Singapore’s ST Engineering provided MRO services to the Indonesian Air Force’s C-130 aircraft fleet.
The strengthening of defence ties between members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comes at a time when many of them are currently engaged in the active modernization of their armed forces. Due to the sanctions that the U.S. has imposed on Russia because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, many countries in the region have found it increasingly difficult not only to do business with Moscow but also to keep Russian-made weapon systems operational. Defence industry analysts are of the opinion that the time is ripe for countries in the region to enhance regional defence industry cooperation, thereby reducing their dependence on other nations for arms.
The U.S. Army has awarded L3Harris Technologies full-rate Manpack and Leader radio production orders under the Handheld, Manpack & Small…
L3Harris recently attached an advanced multirole electronic warfare (EW) capability to a T7 robot and demonstrating it at Vanguard 2024,…
Airbus Helicopters secured 455 gross orders (450 net) in 2024, demonstrating robust market growth with notable demand for its light,…
Piaggio Aerospace, encompassing Piaggio Aero Industries and Piaggio Aviation, has signed a preliminary contract to transfer its business complexes to…
Calian Group Ltd. has announced the appointment of Major-General (Ret.) Roch Pelletier to the newly established position of Regional Vice…
Airnguru, a provider of airline fare management and pricing optimisation solutions, has announced significant financial progress and growth milestones. The…
AMMROC, a UAE-based provider of military maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with…
The Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD has signed a contract worth about $80 million with Elbit Systems for the development…
As part of the Italy-Saudi Arabia institutional round table, ELT Group has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with SAMI Advanced…
Leonardo, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment (MISA), and General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding…
Airbus delivered 766 commercial aircraft to 86 customers around the world in 2024. The commercial aircraft business registered 878 gross…
The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has concluded the Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP) for its fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKM…
Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to deliver propulsion and manoeuvring systems for two new KCR-70 Fast Attack Craft (FAC)…
Representatives from KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, and Thales gathered in Paris to formalise the creation of the "MGCS…
ST Engineering's Commercial Aerospace business has signed a five-year CFM LEAP engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) contract with new…
Embraer is working with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) to expand the use of renewable energy at its U.S.…
The use of the combat-proven Rafael Spyder air defence system in the ongoing war in Israel has created interest in…
The delivery of Elbit Systems PULS artillery systems and the company's Hermes -900 UAV to Serbia is expected to begin…
Indonesian private defence firm PT Sentra Surya Ekajaya (PT SSE) has introduced a new version of its P2 Tiger 4×4…
Schiebel has been awarded a new multi-year contract by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to provide services using the…
BlackSky Technology Inc. has shipped its first Gen-3 satellite to launch provider Rocket Lab. The satellite is scheduled to be…
SITA and Cathay Pacific have entered a new agreement aimed at significantly boosting network bandwidth at Cathay Pacific’s airports. The…
Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $270 million contract by the U.S. Air Force to integrate next-generation infrared defensive sensors…
Malaysia Airlines, in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM), has launched a Private Terminal Transfer Service aimed at providing seamless and…
Fly Jaya, a new entrant in Indonesia’s aviation industry operated by PT Surya Mataram Nusantara, is set to launch domestic…
The first Austrian Airlines Boeing 777-200ER equipped with AeroSHARK surface technology has successfully completed its maiden flight. The long-haul aircraft…
Vietnam and South Korea are reportedly finalising an agreement for the acquisition of 20 K-9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers (SPH) for…
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is anticipating the final delivery of three AT-6TH Wolverine light attack aircraft by April…
Ukraine's largest airline, SkyUp Airlines, has successfully transitioned to IBS Software's iFly Res Passenger Services System (PSS) to support the…
Experia Events has announced the confirmed exhibitors for the inaugural Business Aviation Asia Forum and Expo (BAAFEx), which will take…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.