RIMBA AIR FORCE BASE, Thursday, 16 September 2021 – Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohammad Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim, Commander Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), attended the 18th ASEAN Air Force Chiefs Conference (AACC) conducted virtually.
With this year’s theme ‘Optimizing Capabilities and Cooperation Against New Challanges’, the event was hosted by the Royal Thai Air Force, Kingdom of Thailand. Also in attendance were the RBAirF Acting Chief of Staff and RBAirF Staff Officers Grade 3 Intelligence and Security.
The conference was attended by the 10 ASEAN Air Force Chiefs and began with welcoming remarks from the 18th AACC Chairman, Air Chief Marshal Airbull Suttiwan, Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Air Force. This was followed by a presentation on the outcomes of the 8th ASEAN Air Force Education and Training (AAFET) Air Working Group meeting, which took place from 31st August to 1st September 2021.
During exchange of views session, the RBAirF Commander shared about the impacts and challenges of COVID-19 towards RBAirF by acknowledging on the adoption of new norms, the establishment of RBAirF Task Force and employment of RBAirF personnel to assist the government effort in battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, RBAirF maintains a high level of readiness to carry out Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations such as MEDEVAC in accordance with Ministry of Health Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and guidelines.
In addition to the current situation, technology is also a rising demand due to the need to conduct video teleconference as virtual meetings to adhere to the SOP to decrease physical contact and meet ups. This makes cyber security a significant factor in ensuring the secure usage of the network.
Commander RBAirF also shared his views from the outcomes of the 8th AAFET that through this viable platform, collective sharing of best practices and collaboration among the ASEAN Air Forces would be beneficial in moving towards a more practical cooperation. He also touched on the initiatives outlined during recent 15th ADMM on the establishment of regional ASEAN Cyber Defence Network (ACDN) which also complemented by the new ADMM Cyber Security and Information Centre of Excellence. These initiatives could be utilised as an exchange platform for knowledge and best practices by the ASEAN Air Forces to build confidence and preparedness as well as maintaining collaboration and developing new avenues.
The conference concluded with the handing over of the AACC Chairmanship to the Lao Air Force, scheduled in Lao People's Democratic Republic in 2022.
PEMERINTAH TUDB HADIRI MESYUARAT ASEAN AIR FORCE CHIEFS KALI KE-18 SECARA MAYA
Pangkalan Tentera Udara Rimba, Khamis, 16 September 2021 – Brigedier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohammad Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim, Pemerintah Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei (TUDB), telah menghadiri Mesyuarat
ASEAN Air Forces Chiefs (AACC) kali Ke-18 yang dikendalikan secara dalam talian.
Dengan bertemakan ‘Optimizing Capabilities and Cooperation Against New Challanges’, mesyuarat ini dihoskan oleh Tentera Udara Diraja Thailand, Thailand. Turut hadir bersama ialah Pemangku Ketua Staf TUDB dan Penolong Pegawai Turus Perisikan dan Keselamatan TUDB.
Mesyuarat dihadiri oleh Pemerintah Tentera Udara dari 10 buah negara ASEAN dan dimulakan dengan ucapan pembukaan dari Pengerusi Mesyuarat Air Chief Marshal Airbull Suttiwan, Commander-in-Chief, Tentera Udara Diraja Thailand. Mesyuarat diteruskan dengan taklimat hasil dari Mesyuarat
ASEAN Air Force Training and Education (AAFET) kali Ke-8 yang diadakan dari 31 Ogos hingga 01 September 2021.
Semasa Sesi Pertukaran Pandangan, Pemerintah TUDB mengongsikan mengenai impak dan cabaran COVID-19 kepada TUDB dengan penerapan norma baharu, penubuhan Task Force Bantu TUDB dan pengerahan anggota-anggota TUDB dalam usaha membantu Kerajaan dalam membendung wabak COVID-19. Walaupun begitu, TUDB sentiasa di dalam tahap kesiapsediaan yang tinggi bagi menjalani Bantuan Operasi Kemanusiaan dan Bencana Alam seperti Evakuasi Perubatan (MEDEVAC) dengan mengikut Prosedur Operasi Standard (SOP) dan Garispanduan yang selaras dengan Kementerian Kesihatan.
Sebagai tambahan kepada keadaan semasa, teknologi juga merupakan permintaan yang semakin meningkat kerana perlunya mengadakan telekonferensi video sebagai perjumpaan secara maya bagi mematuhi SOP iaitu mengurangkan kontak dan perjumpaan secara fizikal. Ini menjadikan keselamatan siber sebagai faktor penting dalam memastikan penggunaan rangkaian yang selamat.
Pemerintah TUDB juga mengongsikan pandangan dari hasil AAFET kali Ke-8 bahawa melalui platform yang tersedia, perkongsian amalan terbaik dan kolaborasi di antara Tentera-tentera Udara ASEAN akan memberikan manfaat dalam menuju ke arah kerjasama yang lebih praktikal. Beliau juga menyentuh mengenai inisiatif yang digariskan semasa ADMM ke-15 iaitu penubuhan ASEAN
Cyber Defence Network (ACDN) di peringkat serantau dan ADMM
Cybersecurity and Information Centre of Excellence. Inisiatif tersebut dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai platform bagi pertukaran pengetahuan dan amalan terbaik di antara Tentera-Tentera Udara ASEAN untuk membina kepercayaan dan kesiapsiagaan serta memperluaskan kerjasama ke hala baru.
Mesyuarat diakhiri dengan penyerahan Pengerusi Mesyuarat AACC kepada Tentera Udara Laos, yang akan diadakan di Republik Demokratik Rakyat Lao pada tahun 2022.
