An Cosantóir

tutela bellicae virtutis | 17 live-fire tactical training was brilliant. We do not have the space for it in Malta." Maritime Squadron (AFM), based in Floriana, has a wide range of duties, including coast guard, customs, marine police, fisheries protection and search-and-rescue (SAR). Malta's territorial waters extend to 12nm, its economic exclusion zone to 25nm, and its SAR area of responsibility is 250,000nm2. 2/Lt Rene Aquilina is I/C of a rapid deploy- ment team (RDT). The squadron has recently undergone a modernisation phase and now operates one modified Diciotti-class offshore patrol vessel, two Protector-class coastal patrol boats, two CP800 Vittoria Melita-class SAR launches, and four Austal-class inshore patrol craft. The vessels are purposely designed for operating in the Medi- terranean and around the Maltese archipelago, where the coastline, with huge sea caves and secluded bays, provides plenty of opportunity for smugglers. While the off-shore patrol vessel is not too dissimilar to our own, the four Austal-class vessels are fast interceptor craft that can de- ploy rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs). Helicopters can also land on these craft. "The RDT is tasked with maritime law enforcement operations and counter-terrorism interventions at sea," Lt Aquilina told me. "It's very much a maritime police role, which also includes anti-narcotics and anti-contraband. At present, members of the RDT, including three of my team, are taking part in anti-piracy duties with EU NAVFOR's Operation 'Atalanta', providing protection for cargo vessels. "Members of the RDT are seamen first but are specially trained in vessel boarding, search-and-seizure (VBSS) opera- tions. We use fast PO1-class RHIBs and we are also trained to fast-rope from helicopters. My men spend a lot of time on the ranges as they have to be excellent marksmen. There is a certain element of risk with this job; most of the time crews are compliant but sometimes they are not. "Our duties also extend onshore, where we check for registration and cargo documentation. RDT operators are also trained in SAR, so if a vessel is in distress and our SAR boat is not in the area we are able to assist. "Members of my team have also taken part in the EU mission 'Fron- tex', a rule-of-law mission in the Mediterranean aimed at stopping illegal immigration. Missions like this help us in terms of interoperability and in playing our part in the EU. I learned a lot about the importance of interoperability dur- ing my deployment to Ireland." 2/Lt Christian Grech is an aircraft engineering officer based at Luqa international airport. The AFM Air Wing has responsibility for the security of Maltese airspace, maritime patrolling, SAR, and the provision of military assistance to other government departments. Two Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 Islanders used for maritime patrol are currently being replaced by two Beechcraft B200 King Airs. Three Scottish Aviation Bulldog T1s are used for pilot training and three Aerospatiale SA 316B Alouette IIIs make up the rotary fleet providing SAR, army co-operation and aid to the civil THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE Lt Gen Sean McCann (COS) visits Malta power. The Italian government provide a military mission to assist the Maltese and as part of this mission two Italian Air Force Agusta-Bell AB212 helicopters are attached to the Air Wing on SAR duties. "Before I joined the AFM, I did four years training as an aircraft engineer," Lt Grech told me. "The Air Wing is start- ing to undergo a replacement programme with our two Islanders being replaced. Our Alouettes are old and have limited SAR range and will have to be replaced eventually. "I miss Ireland - not the weather - and I made some very good friends there. I learnt a lot on my course. As well as learning how the Defence Forces go about their job I also picked up skills I can use every day in my job, like man management and leadership." *We would like to thank Major Ivan M Consiglio (Public Information and Press Officer) and his Public Relations team, for allowing us access to the AFM; Staff Sergeant Mario Borg (mass communications specialist); Lance Bombardier Michael Formosa (videographer); and Lance Bombardier Justin Gatt (photographer).

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