Marhalim Abas, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, covers Southeast Asian defense. He has worked as a journalist specializing in Southeast Asia defense and security since 1994, initially with the New Straits Times newspaper.
Malaysian private aviation company Sapura Aero has taken delivery of an MD Helicopters MD 600N, the first helicopter without a tail rotor to be operated in Southeast Asia.
The Indonesian Navy’s chief of staff, Adm. Ade Supandi, accepted delivery of the three aircraft at a ceremony at the Juanda naval airbase in Surabaya on Oct. 13.
Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia have launched the air surveillance operations to complement existing maritime patrols in an area that overlaps the territorial waters of each country.
