Malaysia activates ScanEagle squadron
Malaysia stands up a ScanEagle squadron in East Malaysia, followed a day later by the commissioning of a Keris-class vessel.
The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) activated its UAV-operating 601 Squadron on 4 March. Equipped with Insitu ScanEagles provided by the US under the Maritime Security Initiative, 601 Squadron is based at RMN Kota Kinabalu in East Malaysia.
The first batch of ScanEagles, comprising six UAVs, two launchers, two SkyHooks and three ground control stations, was delivered in May 2020.
However, the RMN only carried out its first UAV operations on 5 February as it wanted US support personnel on hand to provide technical assistance. However, COVID-19 travel restrictions in both countries resulted in American personnel only being able to
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