Navy launches Unmanned Aerial System Squadron 601

KOTA KINABALU, March 4 -- The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) based in Teluk Sepanggar here today launched Squadron 601, which will operate the ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial System (UAS).

The launching ceremony was officiated by Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Reza Mohd Sany, while ​​Senior Defence Attache for Malaysia at the United States (US) Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Capt Muhammad Muzzafar Feroze Khan was also present.

Mohd Reza said in the first year, the UAS will be operated on land as a training phase for operators to master the system before being placed on RMN ships.

"During the first year, we want to achieve competence and proficiency before we assign them for actual operations," he told reporters after the launch of Squadron 601 and the conferment of badges for submarine expertise.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Muzzafar said another 12 ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) would be delivered to Malaysia sometime between the middle of this year and early 2022.

He said the US had delivered six ScanEagle UAVs to Malaysia as part of its efforts to help the Malaysian Armed Forces.

Boeing Insitu makes the ScanEagle, and the UAVs have been sent by the United States to Malaysia through the Maritime Security Initiative programme beginning May 6 last year.

It consists of six aircraft, two launchers, two skyhooks and three ground control stations worth RM180 million.

Earlier, Mohd Reza conferred submarine expertise badges to nine RMN personnel who successfully completed the training over almost 18 months.

The best participant in the training, Left Quek Teck Gee, 32, said trainees had to undergo several phases of theoretical training at the training centre and practical training onboard a submarine.

He said mental resilience is very important, especially when working on a submarine due to its confined space, besides not knowing the time of day or night.

-- BERNAMA