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Two interesting defence news I would like to share: News no.1: China soldiers too big for outdated tanks: Report Soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army march during their drill ahead of their year-end review in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province on November 2013. A survey found that Chinese soldiers have become much taller and fatter in the recent years. AFP Wednesday, Feb 19, 2014 BEIJING - Chinese soldiers have become so much taller and fatter in recent years that they often find themselves cramped in tanks designed three decades ago, state media reported. A survey found that People's Liberation Army troopers were on average two centimetres (0.8 inches) taller and five centimetres (two inches) fatter around the waist than 20 years ago, the military's official PLA Daily reported Tuesday. As a result, it is harder for soldiers to squeeze into a tank designed for smaller personnel 30 years ago, it said. Rifle stocks are also too short for some, limiting their accuracy, it added. The findings of the survey, which began in 2009 and included more than 20,000 soldiers, suggested an upgrade to the military's equipment was necessary, the newspaper said, citing Ding Songtao, head of the poll project. "Equipment must be in the right size for the battlefield, as clothes have to be in everyday life," Ding was quoted as saying. Obesity rates have almost doubled in China since 1980, according to a recent report by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), a London-based think tank. The rise was attributed to diets changing with incomes rising, it said, and lifestyles become increasingly sedentary. (source: http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/china-soldiers-too-big-outdated-tanks-report ) Comments: Heng ours is now German Leopard 2A4s (dun pray pray still U-lopian wan hor) and no longer the outdated, outgunned French AMX13s if not our modern (and errr...well-fed) tankees like their Chinese counterparts may not be able to cramp into the French ones News no. 2 (this one I read liao cannot stop ) Malaysia Malaysia to lease fighter jets amid money issues, says report February 16, 2014 Singapore Air Force aerobatics team 'Black Knights' flies in formation at the Singapore Airshow on February 14, 2014, where multibillion-dollar deals were made showing the Asia Pacific region's importance as the growth driver of global aviation. – AFP pic, February 16, 2014. Defence industry executives have revealed that Malaysia was looking to lease fighter jets instead of purchasing them as the country faces shortage of funds, according to US-based military journal Defensenews. It said Putrajaya had put off plans to purchase multi-role combat aircraft on ice last year due to fiscal and political reasons. Aircraft manufacturers Boeing, BAE Systems and Saab are reportedly preparing to submit leasing proposals in the hopes of reviving the deal and making it palatable, the report added. The journal quoted industry executives who attended the Singapore Airshow last week that Dassault Aviation and Sukhoi could offer leasing deals to Malaysia. "Competitors are offering leasing proposals as Putrajaya appears to be mindful of the need for an affordable solution," said BAE's group business development director Alan Garwood. "The entire programme is now centred around affordability," he added. Defensenews said the Royal Malaysian Air Force was looking for a straight purchase of a new jet to replace its aging MIG-29 fighters, which are due to leave the service next year. Putrajaya has come under pressure over escalating living costs following its subsidy rationalisation programme, which saw prices of essential items such as fuel and sugar going up. "This makes it politically difficult to approve a multi-billion ringgit deal for the purchase of aircraft fighter jets," Defensenews reported. The journal also quoted another industry executive who wondered whether Malaysia had the political will to make any kind of selection at this time, leasing or otherwise. "The current political debate is about the rising cost of living, so is this the best time to go looking for investment in defence equipment? "Timing is difficult. Moreover, do they care about this problem higher up in Putrajaya?" he asked. – February 16, 2014. (source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/malaysia-to-lease-fighter-jets-amid-money-issues-says-report ) Comments: If the above is true then we should not be looking to upgrade our existing F16 fleet, not buy the F15SGs in the first place and do not even consider let alone touch F35s at all. Ok ok still need to maybe upgrade the Vipers to watch over our friends down south.