Typhoons in Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: As I mentioned before four Typhoons of the RAF are in Malaysia for the Exercise Bersama Lima 2011. Not much pictures had been available before but thanks to BAE Systems and my colleague, Masry Che Ani in Penang, here are some pictures.

RAF Press Release on the Typhoon deployment

6 Squadron complete longest ever Typhoon trail

Number 6 Squadron (No 6 Sqn) have achieved a number of firsts for the Royal Air Force with the Typhoon multi-role aircraft by deploying to Malaysia to take part in Exercise BERSAMA LIMA 11 marking the 40th Anniversary of the Five Powers Defence Agreement (FPDA) (UK, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia).
The 7000 mile trip from No 6 Sqn’s base RAF Leuchars in Fife to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Base Butterworth in Malaysia, is the longest trail completed by the Typhoon aircraft thus far. No 6 Sqn pilots made the journey over four days with stops in Jordan, Oman and Sri Lanka, supported throughout by engineers and ground crews as well as a VC-10 aircraft of 101 Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton.
This detachment is also the first time that Tranche 2 Typhoon aircraft have deployed on an overseas exercise of this type. All of the aircraft arrived in Malaysia fully serviceable, a considerable achievement given the length of the journey. Exercise BERSAMA LIMA 11 realises a long-held aspiration of the MOD and RAF to deploy Typhoon to FPDA.
Participating in the exercise will provide Squadron personnel with valuable expeditionary training in a tropical environment as well as operating in complex packages with multi-national participants. No 6 Sqn will continue to maintain its primary Quick Reaction Alert mission at RAF Leuchars during this deployment.

Officer Commanding 6 Squadron, Wing Commander Roddy Dennis, who is leading the detachment, said:“We have made a tremendous start to Exercise BERSAMA LIMA and I am incredibly proud of all of 6 Squadron’s personnel, both on the ground and in the air, who have accomplished this long range deployment, half way around the world, within an extremely tight lead up time.

“Looking towards the rest of the exercise, we are very much looking forward to the training opportunities that EX BERSAMA LIMA 11 will offer us, particularly the opportunity to test and improve our Air Defence and Air Combat skills against other aircraft types such as the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) F/A-18, RMAF MIG 29 and F/A-18, RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force) F-15SG and F16, whilst operating with the new RAAF Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft.

We are also very much looking forward to testing ourselves in the hot and humid conditions found here in Malaysia and to interacting with our FPDA partner nations in the air and on the ground.

“I am extremely pleased that we have achieved all of this in such short order, especially in light of the recent support the Squadron gave to the Typhoon Force on Op ELLAMY and whilst maintaining our primary responsibility – Quick Reaction Alert for the Northern UK from RAF Leuchars – it is a true credit to everyone on 6 Squadron.”

–Malaysian Defence