SHAH ALAM: Exercise Elangaroo 2022 – the air to air interaction exercise – between the RMAF and RAAF ends today at the Butterworth airbase. The exercise started on November 7. Release from RAAF on the exercise, published on November 7.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel and aircraft have deployed to Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Butterworth Air Base to participate in Exercise Elangaroo, an air-to-air fighter interaction exercise.
This year’s exercise involves Australian F-35A Lightning II and C-27J Spartan aircraft for the first time.
RAAF Co-Exercise Director, Group Captain Ravinder Singh, said the aim of the exercise would be to test and improve force integration and combined readiness between the nations.
“Australia and Malaysia have a long-standing relationship and a history of conducting military exercises together,” Group Captain Singh said.
“Exercise Elangaroo features the return of RAAF’s 75 Squadron to its old home in Butterworth, where it spent 16 years living and working alongside RMAF counterparts from 1967 to 1983.
“This particular exercise will feature a range of modern air combat platforms integrating across the diverse and challenging geography and weather patterns of the Malay peninsular.
“Crews will use RMAF and RAAF tactical assets, including the application of strike and air control missions, to continue the great mutual understanding that exists between our nations.”
Exercises such as Elangaroo are pivotal to ensure Air Force is ready to respond, and support the ongoing commitment to regional stability within the Indo-Pacific region.
Group Captain Singh said the training and integration during the exercise would directly support Air Force’s ability to conduct operations.
“Elangaroo will further advance our capability to project air power at short notice,” Group Captain Singh said.
“The employment of a potent, integrated force requires careful planning and training to ensure that if called upon, our efforts are safe, efficient and effective.”
Exercise Elangaroo is being held from 7 to 18 November 2022.
Malaysian Defence was invited to the media day at the airbase on November 14 but was unable to take part due to a scheduling conflict. If you want to check out the event that day, go here
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (6)
Nice to see the F-35A flying about over here.
If we get our F35s or equivalent in 2040 , we will be 18 years behind in term of skills, technologies and processes
Hasnan,
Even if we get F-35s two weeks from now we will still be "behind in term of skills, technologies and processes".
The RAAF has a larger procurement budget; it's a network centric air arm; has a government and public which understands the value of a strong defence; has an existential threat it can focus on and is part of the Western/blue eyed alliance.
Thing is what's the point of having an airforce thats not capable of anything except bombing terrorists. Might just as well buy some COIN propeller aircrafts or gunships. Very old expensive jets we have.
The same with our navy.
@Hasnan
Very few regional AF can hope to take on a fleet of 5th gen planes without having one, the issue is the price for buy into this 5th gen stuff not only that the maintenance for them is just as costly for everyone else that are not First Worlds, so we aren't alone in this matter.
Yes it will take us some time to get there but hopefully, eventually we will get there as most makers will switch to 5th gen for new plane designs anyhow.
The biggest problem with 5th gen jet is availability really. US is the only sellers at least until the 2040s and anyone who wants one should know what they need or need not do to get one.
UAE ain't getting one anytime soon as they are now on US naughty list, Thailand is trying to get themselves off the naughty list by cancelling the Chinese subs purchase.
If not mistaken h20 suggestions during FPDA Q&A session with the press for a joint exercise with 5th gen platforms seem to caught everyone by suprise.
Personally I still think we could get a few by 2027 if we play our cards right or we actually want one anytime soon because that's a whole lots of kaching