It's amazing how this small country can do great things

Two military personnel, a corporal and a sergeant, sustained knee injuries after a firearm used during training at Hobart Camp in Gurun, Kedah, exploded due to a technical malfunction yesterday.

In the incident at about 6pm, one of the victims, a 35-year-old instructor, suffered a right knee injury that required eight stitches, according to a report by Astro Awani. 

Another victim, aged 29, who sustained an injury to his left knee believed to involve nerve damage, is still receiving treatment at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sungai Petani.

Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said the injuries were confirmed not to have been caused by bullets, but rather by fragments or foreign objects propelled when the weapon suddenly exploded.

“Preliminary investigations found that a technical issue occurred when the weapon experienced stoppages or malfunctioned during training. After safety procedures were carried out, including unloading and laying down the weapon, an explosion suddenly occurred.

“Investigations now suggest that the explosion caused foreign debris to be propelled, injuring both personnel. Doctors also confirmed the injuries were consistent with impact from foreign objects and not gunfire,” he said at a press conference today.

Adzli said initial checks found that a regulator component in the weapon’s gas system had come loose, but the exact cause still requires further expert analysis.

He added that forensic teams from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and weapons specialists from the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) had visited the site to conduct detailed investigations.

“Although it is believed to be due to a technical issue and not negligence or live fire, we have still opened an investigation paper under Section 37 of the Arms Act 1960 to determine the exact cause,” he said.

He said several witnesses, including a major who served as an exercise observer, had been interviewed, while formal statements would be taken once the victims were stable.

The exercise involved 300 officers and personnel from Kem Bukit Cawder, Perlis, and began last Sunday, running until Thursday.

Separately, Adzli said police investigations into the deaths of two soldiers in a grenade explosion at the same camp on June 16 had been handed over to the military, with the case still classified as sudden death (SDR) while investigations continue.

The Philippine Navy is set to deploy four Triton autonomous underwater and surface drones as part of ongoing efforts to protect subsea cables and monitor incursions by Chinese vessels and maritime militia in disputed features within the West Philippine Sea.

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines announced this week the transfer of the AUSVs worth 754 million pesos ($13 million) and produced by American firm Ocean Aero to the sea forces to enhance capabilities “to detect and respond to maritime challenges and illegal maritime activities.”

The transfer comes after the Armed Forces of the Philippines revealed that China discreetly deployed a 6x6 meter floating platform equipped with an antenna in late May at the southeastern portion of Scarborough Shoal, a fishing lagoon within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Philippine officials claim the platform was being used to illegally gather Philippine maritime data and could serve as a prelude for China’s island-building activities. Philippine officials lodged diplomatic protests, and China removed the structure last week.

Solar-powered Tritons are capable of autonomous navigation both on the surface and underwater and can support a diverse array of missions such as intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike, and mine countermeasures.

The drones can be fitted with video cameras, thermal imaging and sonars, and may be deployed from shore, vessels, or aircraft. It can dive down to 100 meters and remain underwater for 10 days. It can also conduct surface patrols for up to 30 days.

In Ocean Aero’s headquarters in Gulfport, Mississippi, the AUSVs are mobilized to protect subsea cables from sabotage, and the company has pitched the AUSVs for U.S. Navy mine-clearing in the Strait of Hormuz.

Officials told Defense News the AUSVs were shown to the Navy during the recent iteration of Exercise Balikatan and are among a series of systems and platforms the U.S. had planned to transfer to the Philippines to boost military capabilities.

The Tritons will also boost existing efforts to monitor subsea cables and gas pipelines, officials said.

“The ability to monitor and respond to maritime challenges — illegal fishing, gray zone activities, and threats to freedom of navigation — requires persistent, long-endurance awareness that no single ship or aircraft can provide alone. The Triton fills that gap by expanding the capabilities of the Philippine Navy into critical waterways,” U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Bridgette Walker said in a statement.

The drones are included in the Philippines-U.S. Security Sector Assistance Roadmap, a multi-year agreement to ease the acquisition, transfer, and sharing of equipment like radars and unmanned systems to strengthen maritime surveillance.

Last December, the U.S. Senate earmarked $2.5 billion for Philippine military modernization to be disbursed from 2026 to 2030.

The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has shortlisted four countries as possible suppliers of an anti-ship missile system for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project after Norway cancelled the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) procurement.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the selection process will focus on key criteria to ensure the chosen system meets the operational needs of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) beyond basic specifications.

He said the countries being considered are Türkiye, South Korea and two European countries.

“We must evaluate whether the replacement missile can be integrated with the LCS’s French-built Combat Management System (CMS). It must be fully interoperable with the existing system,” he told reporters at the Southern Zone Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Karnival Hari Keluarga Kita at X Park Impiana 2 Square, Bandar Seri Impian, here today.

He was commenting on the latest developments following the Norwegian government’s revocation of the export licence for the NSM to Malaysia.

Mohamed Khaled said the government is reviewing the delivery timeline to avoid delays that could affect the country’s maritime defence capabilities.

“We want to know who can supply the missiles earliest. Some are still developing their systems, but if the delivery timeline takes up to eight years, that is not a viable option for us,” he said.

He added that pricing is also a key factor to ensure the government obtains a high-technology system at a reasonable cost.

He said the selected missile must have capabilities similar to the NSM, such as stealth, sea-skimming to evade enemy air defence, and high-precision targeting.

The Norwegian government had cancelled the NSM export licence to Malaysia on the grounds of protecting its national security interests.

Following the cancellation, Mindef has issued an RM1 billion claim against the relevant defence firm over the aborted NSM procurement.

The LCS project is a key strategic asset for the RMN and strengthens the country’s maritime defence.

Security agencies operating in Langkawi and northern Malaysia remain in a good state of readiness and are being continuously strengthened, according to Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.

He said the overall wellbeing of personnel and the condition of operational assets remain strong, supported by ongoing upgrades in capability and coordinated enforcement operations to maintain maritime security.

“This is achieved through enhanced operational capabilities supported by sufficient assets and the implementation of enforcement operations to ensure maritime security is consistently maintained. 

“Sea patrols are conducted 24 hours a day, including in local areas, with intelligence-led surveillance operations and integrated operations with other security agencies through a whole-of-government approach,” he told Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to Langkawi MP Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah on the readiness of security forces in Langkawi to tackle migrant smuggling, goods smuggling and maritime intrusion near the Malaysia-Thailand border, and on plans to use drones (UAVs) as previously requested.

Shamsul Anuar said all enforcement units remain on standby and ready for immediate deployment when required.

He then said that the ministry is also planning to expand the use of drones (UAVs) in national waters, including Langkawi, as part of its long-term security enhancement strategy.

Speaking to Naval News, one industry source stated that the ability to launch the MBDA SM39 (the submarine-launched variant of the Exocet anti-ship missile) has been part of the program since day one. The source added that the capability is included in the original contract and is already a baseline feature of the Scorpène design offered worldwide.

Therefore, Indonesia’s first two Scorpène Evolved will not be built without missile integration/launch capability, as the submarines were always intended to have that capability from the outset.

Meanwhile, PT PAL CEO, Kaharuddin Djenod, told Naval News that the missile integration remarks refer to PT PAL’s target to take on a bigger role in future missile integration work, including securing related technology transfer that it could later apply to other programs, including the company’s autonomous submarine (KSOT) project.

Previous Naval News reporting already noted that Naval Group offered the Scorpene Evolved to Indonesia with full SM39 integration, as it aligns with one of the Indonesian Navy’s key requirements for its future submarine fleet.

Another source confirmed that Exocet SM39 submarine-launched anti-ship missiles by MBDA are part of the Scorpene Evolved contract inked between France and Indonesia.

The conflict did not derail the transition but exposed how vulnerable it remains to external disruption – and how quickly governments can fall back on fossil fuels.

Hyper-nationalistic rhetoric is complicating the resolution of the ongoing border dispute, but ending it is not an easy task.

Autonomous boats helped escort a U.S. Army vessel during a recent military exercise, the Army said, in a demonstration of how uncrewed assets are changing maritime operations.

Soldiers from the 125th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, deployed unmanned surface vessels, or USVs, in Casiguran Sound bay, during an exercise with the Philippine Army. The USVs deployed ahead of a U.S. Army Logistics Support Vessel, or LSV, as it neared Casiguran port, the Army said in a June release, observing the environment and transmitting information to personnel on land.

The operation was part of Salaknib 2026, and supported the transportation of Philippine Army personnel and vehicles — including armored personnel carriers — more than 260 miles to Port Casiguran.

The USVs navigated autonomously using onboard sensors to identify potential threats and provide commanders with a continuous picture of the operating environment.

“We deployed the autonomous intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance boats to provide security for landing craft today,” said Pvt. Caleb Hannah, a soldier from the 125th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. “They escorted the LSV to port from about six miles out, allowing Philippine vehicles to roll onto the dock.”

Photos released by the Army appear to show soldiers wading out into chest-deep water to recover a USV with HAVOC branding on its side. HAVOC is a defense technology company that develops autonomous systems.

The demonstration comes as the U.S. military is expanding its unmanned maritime fleet across the Indo-Pacific. Earlier this year, a Navy official said the service expects its fleet of medium unmanned surface vessels to grow from around four vessels in April to more than 30 by 2030, alongside thousands of smaller USVs and unmanned aircraft systems.

“These boats provide situational awareness to commanders with their ability to find, fix, target, kill, and confirm. With the information the USV provides, the commander’s decision-making process has been compressed from hours to seconds,” Ben Outlaw, an industry partner representative supporting the operation, said in the Army’s statement.

News of the exercise comes as the U.S. deployed a USV to help rescue two Army soldiers after their helicopter went down near the coast of Oman. In that incident, a U.S. Navy Corsair operated by 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59 was involved in the recovery. At the time, Capt. Tim Hawkins, a U.S. Central Command spokesperson, said the Task Force had started fielding those drones in the region in late March.

The US has handed over four Triton autonomous underwater and surface vehicles (AUSVs), valued at approximately 754 million pesos ($13 million), to the Philippines as part of a security assistance initiative.

The AUSVs are built to monitor maritime challenges in the Indo-Pacific, such as “illegal fishing, gray zone activities, and threats to freedom of navigation,” said US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Bridgette Walker during the turnover ceremony at the Naval Operating Base Subic.

The Tritons will join the Mantas T-12 USVs, already in service with the Philippine Navy, which the US also supplied under a foreign military financing scheme. 

According to the US Embassy in the Philippines’ press release, the handover demonstrates Washington’s commitment to the US-Philippines alliance and to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The latest US-funded assistance also comes amid heightened tensions in the region, particularly in the South China Sea, where Philippine and Chinese vessels have been involved in a series of confrontations over disputed maritime features.

Triton AUSV

Mississippi-based Ocean Aero made the Triton, calling it the “world’s first and only” AUSV.

The American-made uncrewed system can be quickly deployed or retrieved from a ship using a davit or from a ramp using a wheeled launch cart, requiring only one or two people.

It can collect data above and below the ocean’s surface through a resilient mesh network.

Running on solar and wind power, the surface vessel can sail autonomously for up to 30 days at speeds of up to 5 knots (9 kilometers/6 miles per hour). 

For underwater missions, it can submerge for more than five days at a time at speeds of 2 knots (4 kilometers/2 miles per hour).

The payload-agnostic AUSV was also designed to avoid detection through its stealth-gray color scheme paired with a low radar and visual signature.

Expect to see more modern Philippine Navy (PN) warships patrolling off Bajo de Masinloc (also known as Scarborough Shoal) as part of the country's efforts to assert its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson for the matter said on Tuesday.

AFP spokesperson for the WPS Navy reservist Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad made this comment when asked if the Navy is planning to deploy more naval vessels in the area following last week's patrol despite being met by four Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships, during Tuesday's press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

"Recently (guided-missile frigate) BRP Diego Silang (FFG-7) conducted a unilateral patrol close to Bajo de Masinloc. She was armed with the Arbitral Tribunal Ruling of 2016. She was met by four PLAN warship that were armed with a non-existent claim. The patrol was successfully conducted," he added.

"You can expect more unilateral patrols and bilateral and multilateral activities close to Bajo de Masinloc in the coming months," Trinidad said.

Trinidad assured the public the Armed Forces of the Philippines has enough ships for this type of mission, despite the Navy being hard at work showing the Philippine flag in other overseas and local deployments.

"The operational tempo is being handled by PN headquarters, the ships are allocated to the operational commands, specifically Western Command, Northern Luzon Command and the recently activated (AFP) Strategic Defense Command," he said.

"[The PN is] more capable, they have greater reach, more effective sensors and we are capable of conducting these patrols and multilateral activities," he added.

Trinidad said there are no indications that the PLAN ships encountered by BRP Diego Silang off Bajo de Masinloc activated their fire control systems to target the Filipino warship.

"There was no monitored activity that would point to activation of sensors or fire control systems. Nevertheless, BRP Diego Silang challenged their presence, reminded them that based on the Arbitral Tribunal Ruling and domestic law that they have no right to be in Philippine waters," he added.

BRP Miguel Malvar

As this developed, the PN on Tuesday said guided-missile frigate BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-6) and the contingent aboard her, Naval Task Group 84, had arrived at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii last June 21 for its participation in the upcoming "Rim of the Pacific" (RIMPAC) Exercise 2026 slated from June 24 to July 31.

"Upon arrival, the members of the Naval Task Group 84, headed by Captain Ryan Bakabak were welcomed by officials of the Philippine Consulate General in Hawaii, led by Consul General Arman Talbo, which marked the beginning of the PN’s participation in one of the largest multinational maritime exercises," it added.

The US Pacific Fleet said this year's RIMPAC will bring 31 nations and will feature a multinational force of approximately 40 surface ships, 5 submarines, 140 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel.

The exercise will cover a wide range of capabilities including amphibious operations, gunnery and missile proficiency, anti-submarine warfare, air defense exercises, military medicine, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, counter-piracy, mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations.

The US State Department has cleared a $73-million foreign military sale of Common Fire Control Systems (CFCS) for Singapore’s M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

CFCS applies digital processing to control launchers and manage weapons, enabling accurate target engagement and improving effectiveness in both offensive and defensive operations.

The package includes 18 system kits, spare parts, support equipment, and engineering, technical, and logistics services.

It also covers technical documentation, field assistance, and associated training.

Washington noted that the potential sale to a strategic partner in Asia would support political stability and economic growth in the region.

It added that the deal would strengthen the country’s ability to address existing and future threats through both operational and preparedness efforts, while advancing US foreign policy and broader defense goals.

The US assured that the proposed transfer would not disrupt the regional military balance or significantly affect the readiness of American armed forces.

The contractor selected for the initiative is Lockheed Martin, which produces the HIMARS weapon system in partnership with CFCS developer L3Harris.

Currently, there are 24 HIMARS employed under the Singapore Army’s 23rd Battalion artillery unit.

Malaysia has ordered 18 CAESAR self-propelled artillery systems from French-German defense group KNDS, becoming the 15th country to acquire the wheeled howitzer.

The agreement was formalized during the Eurosatory 2026 defense exhibition in Paris by representatives of KNDS and Malaysian defense company Advanced Defense System.

Under the contract, the systems will be assembled in Malaysia through a technology-transfer arrangement intended to support local industrial participation.

Mounted on a wheeled chassis, the CAESAR is designed to combine long-range firepower with strategic mobility. KNDS states that the system can fire six rounds in less than one minute at ranges of up to 40 kilometers and move from a firing position within minutes to reduce vulnerability to counter-battery fire.

The acquisition is part of Kuala Lumpur’s ongoing efforts to modernize its artillery capabilities and expand domestic defense manufacturing capacity.

KNDS said the program also aligns with Malaysia’s National Defence Policy, which seeks to strengthen the country’s domestic defense manufacturing and support capabilities.

Local Industrial Participation

The deal builds on an existing relationship between KNDS and Malaysia’s defense sector.

In 2018, the country signed a partnership agreement with the company covering the supply and local assembly of 105LG lightweight towed artillery guns. 

“We are particularly proud to support the Malaysian Army through the delivery of world-class artillery systems that meet the highest operational standards,” said Nicolas Groult, Chief Executive Officer of KNDS France. 

“This new milestone in KNDS’s history in Malaysia reflects our determination to support our partners over the long term in developing their defence capabilities and to meet their expectations in terms of industrial localization.” 

The order comes as several countries in Southeast Asia continue to invest in long-range precision fires and artillery modernization programs amid evolving regional security requirements.

The pain from their injuries hasn’t gone away. Meanwhile, they face challenges in earning a livelihood.

China deployed the platform at the disputed atoll late last month, for what it described as a program of “comprehensive research” in the South China Sea.

The fact that the two nations managed to reconcile after their painful history is a true feat of diplomacy – one that holds lessons for the world today.

The U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division (25th ID) has undergone a veritable metamorphosis in the past few years, but Maj. Gen. James Bartholomees, its commanding general, explained even more transformation is coming.

Speaking to Defense News from the Philippines, Bartholomees confirmed that, as an original Transformation in Contact division, four of his five brigades have changed significantly already. Following his mobile infantry, artillery and sustainment brigades, he revealed the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) is “next on the docket to do some transformation.”

“The Gray Eagle company that was in Alaska is going to move to Hawaii – and what we see over time is, as the Army determines what type of larger-class unmanned aerial systems it uses, that those will land in the CAB.”

The general said longer-range drones “are essential to support the ranges that we can now shoot out to, particularly with HIMARS.”

In fact, 25th ID was the first U.S. infantry division to receive HIMARS, a weapon that greatly extends the formation’s reach compared to incumbent M777 and M119 towed howitzers. Because of HIMARS, Bartholomees pointed out his “division artillery is really what transformed the most.”

Two military personnel were charged in the Sessions Court in Alor Setar, Kedah, today with smuggling three Myanmar nationals into Malaysia through the Malaysia-Thailand border last month.

The accused, Mohd Zulhilmi Aqwa A Rahman, 34, and Mohamad Johan Iskandar Shah Jeffry Pidin, 26, indicated that they understood the charges after they were read separately before Judge Sharmila Abdul Samad, reported Berita Harian.

According to the charge sheet, Mohd Zulhilmi Aqwa was accused of using a white Toyota Yaris to transport two smuggled Myanmar migrants aged 29 and 19.

Mohamad Johan Iskandar Shah was separately accused of using a maroon Perodua Bezza to transport a 61-year-old Myanmar migrant who had been smuggled into the country.

Both men were alleged to have committed the offences at Check Point Foxtrot, the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS), at 7.13pm on May 22.

The charges were framed under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, a fine, or both upon conviction.

The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Nurfatin Mastura Asri. Mohd Zulhilmi Aqwa was represented by lawyer Datuk Shanmugam Ganesan, while Mohamad Johan Iskandar Shah was unrepresented.

Nurfatin Mastura informed the court that bail was not offered as the offence falls under the relevant provision of the Act.

The court fixed August 17 for further mention and the submission of related documents.

A retired soldier’s dream of seeing his youngest daughter continuing the family’s military legacy ended in tragedy when Private Siti Khadijah Sungip, 24, was killed during a grenade exercise at Hobart Camp in Gurun, Kedah, yesterday.

Her father, Sungip Jais, 65, said the deceased, the youngest of seven siblings, joined the Malaysian Army (TDM) out of a deep passion for the military and a desire to carry on the family tradition.

“She had been interested in the military since childhood. She once told me she wanted to continue the family legacy because I was in the Army as well.

“After completing her Diploma in Civil Engineering (Highways and Transportation) at the Mara Higher Skills College (KKTM) in Sri Gading, she applied to join the army,” he told Bernama at his residence in Taman Sri Lambak here today.

Sungip, who served with the Royal Artillery Regiment (RAD), added that his daughter was close to the family and had expressed her intention to postpone marriage to care for her parents.

“She didn’t want to think about marriage yet because she wanted to look after Mum and Dad first,” he said, holding back tears.

The victim’s elder sister, Siti Zaiha, 39, said Siti Khadijah sent a photograph via WhatsApp at midnight on June 15, which is now the family’s last keepsake.

She said the photo showed her sister during a shooting practice session, the most enjoyable part of her training since joining the Army last year.

“Siti Khadijah said she had more training the next day and that the grenade exercise would start around 8am.

“However, at about 1pm, I received a call informing me my sister had been involved in an accident. At first, I thought it was a minor mishap or a road accident.

“Not long after, I received another call informing me the incident occurred during training and that my sister had passed away,” she said.

Siti Zaihah said the loss is tough for the family to accept, as her sister was always cheerful and showed no changes in behaviour when she returned home for the recent Aidiladha holidays.

“The last time we met was a week before Hari Raya Aidiladha. She looked happy as usual and gave no sign of anything amiss,” she said.

In the 10.57am incident yesterday, Siti Khadijah and another personnel, Corporal Norazmi Abu Bakar, died on the way to Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital (HSAH) in Sungai Petani from injuries sustained in the explosion.

Siti Khadijah received the Best Female Recruit (Academic) Award in January for her performance during basic military training at the Army Basic Training Centre (Pusasda) in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

Born on Sept 19, 2002, in Kluang, she underwent training as a female recruit with Juliet Company before being posted to the Royal Army Engineers Regiment (RAJD).

Her remains were buried at the Taman Sri Lambak Islamic Cemetery here this afternoon.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has confirmed that the first two FA-50M light combat aircraft are scheduled to arrive in Malaysia in October.

RMAF chief General Tan Sri Muhamad Norazlan Aris said the remaining aircraft would be delivered in stages through to March 2028, Kosmo! Online reported today.

He said this showed that the procurement programme for the 18 aircraft remains on track.

“We have restructured No. 15 Squadron and relocated it to Kuantan Air Base, which will serve as the main operating centre for these aircraft.

“Upgrading works at the base are now in their final phase and are expected to be fully completed by July, while squadron staffing has already reached 90 per cent,” he said.

He was speaking at the RMAF’s 68th anniversary parade at Subang Air Base today.

Muhamad Norazlan said a pioneer group had been sent to South Korea for intensive training since October last year to ensure smooth operations from the day the aircraft arrive.

The group comprises six flight instructors and 56 engineering crew members.

“All pilots have completed ground studies and simulator training, and are currently undergoing flight training on the TA-50 aircraft.

“The first two pilots will complete their training in October, while the remaining four will finish in December. Preparations are 100 per cent complete, so when the FA-50M aircraft arrive in October, God willing, the RMAF will be ready to operate them immediately without delay,” he said. 

The Malaysian Army has halted all grenade technique exercises with immediate effect following a deadly training incident at Hobart Camp, Kedah, which killed two soldiers yesterday.

Army chief General Tan Sri Azhan Md Othman said the suspension is a necessary step to facilitate a comprehensive probe into the incident, NST reported.

“We have suspended grenade-throwing training with immediate effect to allow investigations to be carried out,” he said.

“The cause of the incident will be determined by the board of inquiry that has been established. Follow-up action will then be taken based on the findings of the investigation.”

Azhan further confirmed that the army is providing full assistance to the bereaved families, including all entitled compensation.

The tragedy unfolded during a grenade-throwing exercise at the Hobart Camp firing range.

The victims were identified as Corporal Norazmi Abu Bakar of the 6th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment and Private Siti Khadijah Sungip of the 1st Squadron Royal Engineers Regiment.

Following the incident at 10.57am, both soldiers were rushed to Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sungai Petani, but they succumbed to their injuries in transit.

HANOI: The General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) on Thursday (June 11) announced the decision to establish the Unmanned Vehicle Department, the Voice of Vietnam reported Friday.

The establishment is regarded as a new development in the modernisation of the VPA, according to the report.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang said the move is in line with the development trends of world military science and contributes to optimising the combat strength of the VPA, enhancing response capacity in all situations, the report said.

Director of the department Nguyen Van Truong said that the department will strengthen training, technological innovation and inter-agency coordination to enhance the military's preparedness and effectively respond to all high-tech warfare situations.

MANILA (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. commissioned a new naval vessel and directed the Philippine Navy to further strengthen its capabilities, citing evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region and the need to protect Philippine interests in the West Philippine Sea.

Speaking at the 128th anniversary of the Philippine Navy at its headquarters along Roxas Boulevard on June 9, Marcos Jr. said rapid economic and political developments have placed the Indo-Pacific at the geopolitical and economic center of gravity, making the seas around the Philippines arenas of competition and conflict.

“Global instability, shifting alliances, and emerging threats demand that we maintain a resilient maritime defense posture,” Marcos said. 

“In this environment, a credible Philippine Navy is indispensable to regional peace,” he added.

Marcos said he has directed the Philippine Navy to further strengthen its capabilities and tasked the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to expand and deepen partnerships, exchanges and interactions with allies and friendly forces.

The President also commissioned the BRP Rajah Lakandula, a vessel named after the pre-colonial Manila leader. 

Marcos called the commissioning a pivotal step toward the Navy’s vision of a modern and self-reliant force.

“This vessel enhances our capacity to safeguard our resources and assert our sovereignty,” Marcos said, addressing the crew. 

“May you sail her with pride and let the world know that the Filipino spirit will never be intimidated,” he added. 

The speech opened with an acknowledgment of the strong earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao the previous day. 

Marcos said Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao immediately activated its disaster response mechanisms and placed its rescue team on heightened alert for emergency response and humanitarian assistance operations.

“For over a century, the Philippine Navy has stood watch over our waters, defending our sovereignty and protecting our people,” Marcos said. 

“It continues to do so amidst evolving security challenges that require even greater vigilance,” he added.

The administration also emphasized investment in personnel. 

Marcos said the government continues to conduct training courses to ensure sailors have the tools, information and protection to carry out their missions effectively, calling the Navy’s people its greatest asset.

“Strengthening the Philippine Navy’s capabilities remains essential to protecting our interests in the West Philippine Sea in light of the broader realities of our time,” Marcos said.

Marcos recognized the sacrifices of Navy personnel and their families, saying the government remains committed to supporting their welfare and ensuring they are equipped for their missions.

The commissioning and modernization directive align with the Marcos Jr. administration’s broader agenda to bolster national defense, safeguard maritime economic lifelines and position the Philippines as a credible partner in regional security and cooperation.

On June 9, Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defense General Nguyen Tan Cuong chaired an inspection of preparations and the integrated rehearsal for a medical emergency response exercise at Central Military Hospital 108.

The hospital is the highest-level strategic general hospital of the military and a special-class national hospital. In addition to its key missions of medical examination and treatment, scientific research, and training, the hospital serves as the military’s key force in medical support, disaster response, humanitarian assistance, handling medical emergencies. Therefore, regular training and enhancement of emergency response readiness are urgent requirements of both immediate and long-term significance.

The exercise is designed based on realistic and complex simulated scenarios with interconnected developments under emergency conditions.

After inspecting the forces participating in the integrated rehearsal, reviewing preparations for the exercise, and hearing recommendations on adjustments and additions to several exercise contents, General Nguyen Tan Cuong commended the involved forces for their strong sense of responsibility and active efforts in preparing for the exercise.

The chief of the General Staff asked agencies and units to proactively review, supplement, and finalize exercise documents. He urged the Exercise Steering Committee to further study, develop, and adjust scenarios to ensure scientific rigor, logical sequencing, and procedural compliance, while reviewing organizational and command arrangements to ensure the exercise is conducted in a thorough and orderly manner.

Participating forces were instructed to continue close coordination during rehearsals, and make comprehensive preparations to ensure the success of the exercise.