Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1528842
KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt 11 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 NOVEMBER 2024 order form info@kitegroup.com.mt 9993 2592 www.kitegroup.com.mt Name & Surname Address Email Mobile Send the order form together with a cheque payable to Kite Group, 13, Triq il-Franġiskani, Ħamrun or order your copy online www.kitegroup.com.mt NEW TITLES 6-10 November MFCC - Ta' Qali Available also The Way Ahead, The Gozo Business Chamber in the light of Gozo's recent history, Michael Refalo Blaming it on Eve, Giovanni Bonello Napoleon, Malta or War, Victor Aquilina Bridges in Malta, Alex Attard Lino Briguglio, No Man is an Island Caged Spaces, Patrick J. Fenech €30 €55 €40 €85 €35 €50 Tick box No. of Books AFM still studying implementation of air defence system THE Armed Forces of Malta has yet to conclude a study on the implementation of a national air defence system, a spokesperson has told MaltaToday. The study is one of the commit- ments listed in the AFM's 10-year strategy published in 2016 and covering the period until 2026. Beneath the heading Opera- tional Reforms, the AFM pledged that 'a study shall be initiated to consider the implementation of a National Air Defence System'. "The study has not yet been concluded," an AFM spokesper- son said when asked for the sta- tus of this pledge. The AFM has very limited air defence capabilities, which are currently provided by the 1st Regiment's D Company. The military has no missile systems, drones or combat aircraft and air defence equipment is limited to mortars, RPGs and heavy an- ti-aircraft artillery guns. In recent comments to Mal- taToday, former AFM deputy commander, Col David P. Attard, pointed out that the conflict in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine have laid bare the im- pact the proliferation of ballistic missiles and drones is having on conflict. Presumably, any study focusing on air defence will have to keep in mind the heightened security scenario in Europe and the Medi- terranean region. Indeed, the 2016 policy paper, while acknowledging the difficul- ty to plan for a decade in the 'cur- rent fluid security environment' stresses the need to have a medi- um to long term plan to cater for the time needed to 'design, gen- erate and implement new mili- tary capabilities'. The policy document also says that 'individual weaponry will be upgraded and modernised while legacy items shall be disposed of in an appropriate manner'. Asked for the status of this exer- cise, the AFM spokesperson said the military was "currently in var- ious talks with other NATO allies to evaluate the best viable course of action for the best weaponry upgrade which fits AFM needs". No further detail was provided but when asked whether AFM's weaponry is in line with NA- TO standards, the spokesperson said: "There are numerous NA- TO calibres, but the most widely used include 5.56 x 45mm, 7.62 x 51mm, and 9 x 19mm. AFM does make use of such calibres." One aspect listed in the policy document was the need to cre- ate a Special Operations Unit to 'consolidate all special warfare tasks' within the AFM. This unit was set up in 2017. The 1st Regiment's D Company is responsible for air defence among other jobs