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.
The Singapore armed forces has set up a high-readiness unit, the Army Deployment Force (ADF), to bolster its ability to respond to terrorism and other security challenges.
At least two Southeast Asian air forces have grounded their Airbus H225 Super Puma helicopters in response to a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) order that does not apply to military operators.
KUALA LUMPUR—Deliveries of Malaysia’s four Airbus A400M Atlas airlifters should be complete this year, following acceptance of the third aircraft June 9.