New wings for the AFM
The Armed Forces of Malta’s brand new King Air B200 maritime patrol aircraft, suitably equipped to meet Malta's requirements for offshore patrol arrived this afternoon.
This AFM-operated aircraft will augment the current fixed wing fleet and perform an additional role in the protection of the southern external borders of the EU, through missions which include detection, identification and coordination operations. In a secondary function, the aircraft will perform search and rescue flights.
The KingAir B200 is manufactured by Hawker Beech Corporation, based in Wichita, USA.
The specialised mission system equipment, sourced from Europe and America, integrates a Telephonics RDR 1700B 360° belly mounted radar, a Wescam MX 15i Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) system, SAR direction finder plus a number of other sensors and communication equipment, including satellite communication and data transmission.
Earlier this year, the AFM signed a contract for the provision of another new King Air B200, complete with integrated systems, training and a service support package.
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F J Scicluna
Feb 25th 2011, 18:36
The sooner the neutrality pact is scrapped the better for the country. Authorities in Malta, please open your eyes.
Ksciberras
Feb 25th 2011, 17:22
Its high time the EU recognises that Malta's importance has NOT diminished in the last 500 years and treat her for the strategic gem that she is. In light of our EU Membership and what is going on south from us is Neutrality truly relevant? At the same time we must ask ourselves will the EU defend us if we are ever attacked? 5 countries do not want to enter burden sharing, would they defend us? EU ideals and Member State intentions are not on the same wavelength On a lighter side, I propose now that we have 2 Mirages (and most likely gain a warship or 2) the Government dedicate more spending on Defense and less on gimick projects. We can take up Isreal's policy on making it mandatory that everyone over 16 must go thru military training. Within 6 months we can have an army of 200,000 - 300,000 defending our shores! :)
Mark Seychell
Feb 25th 2011, 19:49
I assume you are over 16, Mr Sciberras, will you allow yourself to be put through such training?
C Cassar
Feb 25th 2011, 20:08
You've got to be kidding. Malta has the highest obesity rate in Europe. The majority of people between 16-40 are not even fit enough to walk 200m, let alone take any kind of military training. Malta is a tiny island, it will always need to rely on larger, professional forces from other parts of the EU. The Maltese have to accept this fact.
E Gatt
Feb 25th 2011, 20:27
Well mr.Cassar maybe the military service training would decrease these statistics in obesity. i think its an idea !
J.Borg
Feb 26th 2011, 00:45
I am all for military training in Malta !
J Herrera
Feb 25th 2011, 17:05
Wicked .... matches perfectly with the new Mirage Fighters we just acquired :D ... All we need are some warships now :D
R Borg
Feb 25th 2011, 16:55
Who needs them now that we have the Mirage fighter jets :-). Do we have any trained fighter jet pilots on the island?
J. Attard
Feb 25th 2011, 17:22
Yes we do have a Maltese trained fighter Jet pilot as my son is trained and licensed to fly, and in fact flies a privately owned L39 Albatros. But unfortunately he is not based in Malta.
Timothy Cachia
Feb 25th 2011, 16:49
For a moment I thought they were going to mention 2 mirage fighters :P haha
E. Abela
Feb 25th 2011, 16:48
Dan x'nambuh issa m'ghandniex il-jet fighters ta' Gaddafi!! :)
v sammut
Feb 25th 2011, 17:47
good point here bix ha nabu qas machine gun mandu l aircraft