Growing up beside Butterworth air force base since the days of the Royal Australian Air Force, developed the interest in military technology, aviation and air defence. The MH370 episode revealed our northern region radar non-capabilities rather than its abilities. The same hardware has been in use for decades, plainly visible at the runway across a wire fence where I bike to fish for the occasional haruan. Considered a low profile hardware (never in the limelight, cant exhibit in LIMA, and cant spend budget to keep buying jetty fuel, missiles, cannon ammo, spare parts and other consumables) the replacement has been long long overdue. The limited range using obsolete pulse radar technology of the 60s coupled with lack of AWACS and inflight refueling capabilities of our fighters, the loitering duration for any combat air patrol and reach are severely diminished. Means our northern border wasnt greatly covered in the first place. Cant blame RMAF for not able to identify the blip nor send up an intercepting aircraft for a visual ID. Luckily Thailand is a friendly party. ***Singapore has 4 AWACS aircraft able to detect aircraft of jet fighter radar cross section from at least 200km away***
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 06:38:24 +0000
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