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• In the wake of China's rejection of the UN-backed tribunal's verdict on SCS, it will be interesting to know their respond to this exercise as anything involving uncle sam in this area definitely will trigger edginess on PLA forces there.

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  Cope Taufan is conducted over the peninsula and Straits of Malacca so its kosher even to China. Doing it over SCS especially in Sabah will be quite different though!

• Possible for us to study and evaluate the e-3 AWACS? Though the price tag may turn us away but at least it a good idea on what the pointers to have an awacs. Though smaller one like globleeye might appeal more to us.

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  Yes it will be an opportunity for RMAF to learn about AWACs

• So, its the guys from Kadena AB?

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  Kadena and Misawa ABs

• AEW aircraft in the form of RAAF Wedgetails have already participated in FPDA exercises in Malaysia. If I'm not mistaken, an RAF E-3 has also been here : whether for an FPDA exercise or on transit, I'm not sure. In the past, when hosted from Singapore, FPDA exercises have also included the participation of RSAF E-2s but whether the E-2s had any ''interaction''with participating RMAF assets is unknown. During a visit to Singapore, when he was Defence Minister, Najib when on a flight aboard an E-2.

  By now the RMAF will already have a pretty good idea as to how AEWs operate and the contribution they can offer; not only from exercising with AEWs during FPDA exercises but also from briefings by OEMs. It is often not realised that the RMAF first registered a requirement for 4 AEWs in the mid-1980's :[

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  Yes RAAF Wedgetails taken part in FPDA exercise. Not sure about the E2 or Gulfstream of the RSAF.

• Azlan,

  The 1997 financial crisis kill thought i believe e-3 was one of the candidate for the program. No other plane have comparable capacilities during that period.

  Now we can fit smaller system into business jet which make thing more compact and easier to maintain than a converted passenger jets but likewise white paper capabilities and range is cant match those like wedge tail or even modernize e3

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  The E-3 AFAIK was never in the mix for the RMAF AEW requirements, it was too expensive and was not cleared for export for many countries including Malaysia. It was the E-2 Hawkeyes were being considered. The Hawkeyes is still in the mix for the AEW requirement though its not an official slug=fest yet as RMAF had not called for one as it is not listed in RMK-11 goodie bag.

• Wah, an E3? then OPFOR will have to be creative to beat a strike package with AWACS in control. Maybe RMAF return the favor with MKM joining th EX.

• sim - ''but likewise white paper capabilities and range is cant match those like wedge tail or even modernize e3''

  True but in line with our operational needs, do we need the capabilities offered by the likes of an E-3 or a Wedgetail, plus the range and endurance those platforms offer? Unlike Australia and the U.S., we don't have far to go before we reach our operational areas and we are unlikely to be involved in a protracted high intensity conflict with a state actor. In addition to having the capability, operating and support costs are also a factor in what we eventually select.

• nimitz - ''Wah, an E3?''

  I would think the real significance is not the participation of an E-3 or even last year's participation of F-22s but how we've been steadily increasing the level of defence cooperation with the U.S. Sure, we go all the way to be friendly with China, we are not a non NATO U.S. ally like Thailand, we don't have a colonial like dependency like the Philippines [as a former U.S. colony and country with a very neglected military] does and unlike Singapore we don't openly declare how close we are with Uncle Sam but the fact remains that of all the countries we have defence ties with; the most comprehensive is with the U.S.

  Ironically, Mahathir was known to be very openly critical of U.S. policy but it was Mahathir who signed an agreement in 1984 [during a visit to the Pentagon] that enabled cross training and visits by U.S. ships. Despite all the criticism - he said that the invasion of Afghanistan would affect ordinary Afghans and wouldn't totally eradicate terrorism [he was right here]; he said the invasion of Iraq would create a bigger mess [he was right here]; he accused the U.S. of being a bully and being hypocritical when it came to human rights and trade talks [a lot of truth here] and he spoke of how big powers manipulated the UN for their own needs [a lot of truth here] - he fully understood that it was in our national interests to have good defence relations with the U.S. Off course he also ensured that we didn't get too tied down with any big power.

• @ azlan

  And dr. M was one of the earliest person to understand about the implications of eez to national sovereignty and secured most of the outermost islands like pulau perak in selat melaka, pulau layang2 and sipadan. He also signed a very important treaty with Indonesia enabling unrestricted aircraft and ship access from West and east malaysia through the natuna islands. The importance not seen by most at the time (as most dr. M decisions, he is a master chess player, which can see the future most people don't see), but is something very important now.

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  It was not about foreign but mostly in preparation for domestic concerns. And anyhow it also make money for some people

• Speaking of Training Exercise. Thought that if Nexter want offer Ceasar SPH to Malaysian Armed Forces so bad then Malaysian want the Artillery system on Handalan Chassis with 8x8 wheel. What do you think Marhalim?

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  Its the other way around. Nexter could do it but we need to pay for it first