Malaysia deploys Bombardiers to fight forest fires in Indonesia

Malaysia has sent three assets to Indonesia to assist in fire-fighting missions in South Sumatera, Indonesia.

Deputy Director of Operations, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Vice Admiral Maritime, Datuk Che Hassan Jusoh said the deployment involved two Bombardiers CL 415 MP and an AS 365 N3 Dauphin.

"The first operation is expected to take five days. A total of 25 MMEA enforcement officers will be involved in this operation," he told reporters here today.

In addition to the Bombardiers, a C130 transport plane belonging to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has also been also mobilized to assist in the mission.

The mission, costing RM1.5 million, was initiated after the Indonesian government asked for Malaysia’s assistance from Malaysia in battling the haze which continues to envelope the region.

Malaysia is the only country in Asia that has a Bombardier which is capable of landing on water and putting out fires from the air using the water bombing technique.

The aircraft can suck in as much as 6,137 litres of water in 12 seconds.