Defence plan begins

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32702, 3 September 1971, Page 3

Defence plan begins

W.ZJ’.A.-Reuter—Copi/riohU KUALA LUMPUR, September 1. The integrated air defence system to provide a protective air umbrella against external aggression aimed at Singapore or Malaysia became operational today under the terms of the fivePower defence arrangement linking Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia. In the Malaysian capital, the Five-Power Air Defence Council met for the first time to issue the necessary directions to the air commander of the system, Air Vice-Mar-, shal R. T. Susans, a 54-year-old Australian who commanded a Spitfire squadron in the Pacific theatre in World War 11. The meeting was held un-

der the chairmanship of the Malaysian Secretary-General at the Ministry of Defence (Tan Sri Samad Noor). The representatives of the other four Governments were Mr Pang Tee Pow, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Singapore, the Australian High Commissioner to Singapore (Mr N. Parkinson), and Sir John Johnston and Mr R. L. Hutchens. the British arid New Zealand High Commissioners to Malaysia. A statement by the Ministry of Defence said: “The opportunity was taken to discuss the work and establishment of the joint consultative council of senior officials as agreed at the flve-Power : Ministerial meeting in London.” Air Vice-Marshal Susans i heads a team housed in a complex of white buildings ■ in a comer of Butterworth i. Air Base in north-west MalI aysia. The main component of the • air umbrella will be two Mir-

age squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force, based at Butterworth, under Air Commodore I. S. Parker. In an emergency, Air ViceMarshal Susans can be assigned aircraft from the R.A.A.F. squadrons, the Sabre squadron of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, the Malaysian squadron of Canadian-built TL4I Tebuan Jets, and the jet Prooosts Strikemasters, and Hawker Hunters of the Singapore Armed Forces. His authorisation would come from the Air Defence Council after consultation between the five Powers. Britain and New Zealand are not basing strike aircraft in the area, though Royal Air Force planes might be contributed in an emergency. Britain will contribute helicopters and a detachment of Nimrod long-range maritime reconnaissance planes, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force will provide transport planes. These be part of the A.N.Z.U.K. force based in Singapore.