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.
Singapore’s new maritime patrollers are likely to be fitted with a more robust anti-submarine warfare capability as Southeast Asia sees a proliferation of underwater forces.
Indonesia looks unlikely to induct into service a $55 million Leonardo AW101 helicopter that it received in February but now says fails to meet its specifications and was acquired in a corrupt process.
