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 will buy four Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) for initial testing, with an option for eight more, its defense minister says.
Vietnam is to acquire Insitu ScanEagle surveillance drones, Textron T-6 Texan II trainers and a coast guard cutter from the U.S, according to the top American military officer in the Indo-Pacific region.
