Rajmund

"**Eye-Opening Reality — A Lesson for African Leaders** Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says: In 2004, Malaysia purchased 8 F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets from the United States, which were among the most advanced aircraft at the time. The value of this deal exceeded $640 million. After receiving the aircraft, Malaysia formed a team of experts and engineers to conduct a detailed study of their features and combat capabilities. 👈 The Malaysian experts discovered that the aircraft was transmitting every flight's information to a US military base, such as: - Flight altitude - Speed - Location - Route - Mission details - And the pilot's communication with the ground control room Not only that, but the aircraft's operating system and autopilot feature could also be controlled from the US base. This means that if a US officer on the ground simply presses a button, the aircraft's route can be changed, it can be crashed, or even the target of its attack can be altered. When Malaysia tried to modify the aircraft's operating system, the United States and manufacturer McDonnell Douglas strongly objected. They even threatened to stop supplying parts and maintenance, and impose restrictions. Even when Malaysia requested specific parts to activate certain capabilities of the aircraft, the company rejected that as well. Ultimately, Malaysia realized that it had bought aircraft that could not be used in actual combat without US approval. This issue is not limited to Malaysia alone; many Arab and Muslim countries face the same reality. **The lesson is clear:** Until a nation develops its own defense technology, it will remain dependent on others." (Source: TV interview on Al Jazeera with Mahathir Mohamad)