NEW OPERATIONS CENTRE FOR THE ARMED FORCES OF MALTA
Over the years the tasks and responsibilities that emerged from the ever widening roles of the AFM developed in such a way that the need was felt to improve the capability of the Operations Centre in terms of equipment and professionally trained personnel. April 1979 proved a most important milestone for the Force, where following the withdrawal of the British Forces from the Island, the AFM took on the mantle of responsibility for the whole Search and Rescue Region in the centre of the Mediterranean. Substantial upgrading of the capability of the operations Centre thus became imperative.
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The responsibilities which then developed on the Department of Civil Aviation were passed on to the Armed Forces of Malta. Along the years, it became apparent that the AFM could not continue to operate with rudimentary communications with its air and maritime assets on a single frequency channel. Therefore, about five years ago, a study was initiated as to how the Operations Centre was to be upgraded to better meet present day requirements.
An important development in the upgrading of the Operations Centre was when last year a microwave link network was procured and eventually installed in the beginning of this year. The considerable investment in the new microwave link network soon started to pay dividends. It was immediately apparent that it was not only advantageous to have such a network for radio communication but also for remote communication with AFM Coastal Radar surveillance posts located around the island.
Plans are also being projected to improve the coastal radar surveillance capabilities in the shortest possible time.
The Prime Minister thanked the Italian Government represented at the inauguration ceremony by the Italian Ambassador for Malta Dr Alvise Memmo and other Senior Officers from the Stato Maggiore della Difesa (SMD) and the Italian Coast Guard Command, for the generous donation of communications equipment to AFM. He also thanked the Italian Military Mission in Malta for their assistance in the setup of the new Operations Centre, and the Italian Airforce for providing technical expertise for the installation of the donated equipment.
Thursday 18th July 2002
