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 Philippine Navy’s two Leonardo AW159 Wildcat multirole helicopters will be armed with the LIG Nex1 Blue Shark lightweight torpedo as its main anti-submarine weapon, the South Korean company says.
The Philippine Coast Guard has placed an order for an Airbus H145 helicopter, making it the first government customer of the rotorcraft in the country.