Five-nation air defense exercise to kick off<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia is to coordinate a major air
\ndefense exercise under the Five-Power Defense Arrangement (FPDA)
\nthat groups it with Australia, Britain, New Zealand and
\nSingapore, defense officials said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The eight-day combined exercise beginning Saturday over
\npeninsular Malaysia and Singapore airspace will be conducted by
\nthe Integrated Air Defense System headquarters (IADS) based in
\nButterworth in the northern state of Penang.<\/p>\n
Codenamed "Major ADEX 96-4," the exercise is to be held under
\nthe command of Air Vice Marshal E.J. McCormack of the IADS.<\/p>\n
"The aim of the ADEX is to exercise together the air defense
\nforces of FPDA nations in preserving the integrity of Malaysian
\nand Singaporean airspace against a simulated external air
\nthreat," a ministry official said.<\/p>\n
Defense forces from the member nations will act both as
\ndefenders and aggressors during the exercise.<\/p>\n
Participants include the Royal Australian Air Force FA-18 and
\nF-III aircraft and Australian navy ship HMAS Adelaide and HS-748
\naircraft. Britain will be participating with Royal Navy ship HMS
\nExeter and a VC aircraft from its Royal Air Force.<\/p>\n
Malaysia will provide its air force Hawk, MB-339, C-130,
\nCessna and Beechcraft aircraft while its navy ships will deploy
\none battery of 35 mm Oerlikon guns and Starbust missiles.<\/p>\n
Singapore will deploy its air force's F-16, F-5E, A-4S, KC-
\n130, E-2C, C-130, F-50, Fennac and Super Puma aircraft and its
\nnavy ship RSS Valour. Its air defense artillery will also be
\ndeployed with the improved Hawk missile system and a 35mm gun
\nbattery.<\/p>\n
The FPDA was formed in the 1970s to defend Singapore and
\nMalaysia ahead of the withdrawal of British defense forces from
\nSingapore. Britain will hand its last Asian imperial bastion,
\nHong Kong, over to China in July 1997.<\/p>\n
The air drill follows FPDA's two-week combined naval defense
\nexercise, codenamed "Exercise Starfish", which began Aug. 31 and
\nis scheduled to end today.<\/p>\n
The FPDA is also planning an ambitious air and naval exercise
\ncalled "Exercise Flying Fish," scheduled for the spring of 1997,
\ndefense officials said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/five-nation-air-defense-exercise-to-kick-off-1447893297",
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