BUTTERWORTH, Nov 14 (Bernama) — Malaysia and Australia continue to strengthen their defence cooperation with the first ever combination of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) PARADISE exercise with the ELANGAROO exercise, which sees the participation of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Air Region 1 Commander Maj Gen Datuk Mahadzer Amin said the 12-day exercise, from Nov 7 to 18, involved 1,150 officers and personnel along with 30 aircraft.
“The PARADISE exercise by the RMAF is also joined by the Malaysian Army and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), and for the first time, the ELANGAROO exercise, last held in 2018, is combined together to strengthen defence cooperation and air force integration between the RMAF and the RAAF,” he told reporters after attending the exercise’s media day at the RMAF Butterworth airbase here today.
He said the exercise focused on RMAF’s main roles, including Air and Surface Control, Force Application, Intelligence and Situational Awareness, Force Enhancement dan Force Sustainment.
“Air operation training exercises implemented include Large Force Employment, Combat Search and Rescue, High Value Airborne Asset Protection, Air to Air Refueling, Anti Surface Warfare dan Maritime Counter Terrorism Mission, in line with contemporary doctrine used by the RMAF.
“These exercises indirectly boost our credibility and confidence in tackling national security issues,” he added.
The RMAF assets used in the exercise include the Su-30MKM, F/A-18D, Hawk, A400M, C-130H, CN-235, EC-725 AP and AW-139 along with the RMAF special forces (PASKAU), with the assistance of Malaysian Army and RMN assets, while the RAAF contributed six F-35A aircraft.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency