05 Desember 2017 A35-003 takes off from Fort Worth. (photo : AustralianAviationCarl Richards) The Royal Australian Air Force’s third F-35A Lightning II, A35-003, has completed its first flight. Photographer Carl Richards captured these images of A35-003 taking off on its first flight, from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, on December 1. The aircraft is due to be delivered to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona in early 2018 to be used for pilot and maintainer training, before being permanently relocated to Australia in 2020. A35-003, known to its manufacturer Lockheed Martin as AU-3, had its RAAF markings, including its 3 Squadron tail flashes, applied in early November, the final phase of the aircraft’s production process. 3 Squadron is due to become the first RAAF F-35 operational unit. ( AustralianAviation )
28 Oktober 2017 2018 Budget for Mindef (image : Mindef) The Malaysian government has announced that defence spending will increase by 5.3% under the 2018 budget. Total spending on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will rise from MYR15.1 billion (USD3.6 billion) to MYR15.9 billion. Spending will decline marginally against GDP, remaining at a level of around 1.1, and as a share of overall government spending from 5.8% to 5.6%. Despite that, the MoD’s budget allocation is still around 7% lower than in 2015 following a large cut to military spending in 2016. The additional funding will be allocated within the recurrent budget which incorporates the operating costs of the MoD and the armed forces, with related spending rising by 7.6% from MYR11.7 billion to MYR12.6 billion. ( Jane's ) Budget 2018 Allocations Enhances MAF's Capabilities - Armed Forces Chief KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- The RM14-billion allocation to the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) in Budget 2018 will enhance the capabiliti...