WEDNESDAY, 12 August 2026 – The Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (SHHBIDSS), Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Rabdan Security and Defence Institute (RSDI), United Arab Emirates, jointly hosted a webinar entitled “Air Power” as part of the ongoing cooperation between the two institutes.
The webinar brought together subject matter experts from RSDI and the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF). Representing RSDI was Dr. Olli-Pekka Suorsa, Assistant Professor at RSDI, who discussed the various roles of air power, the impact of advanced technologies on air power development, the growing complexity of air-based threats, and options for air force modernisation. Meanwhile, Major (U) Emad Hamdi bin Haji Sawal @ Shawal, Commanding Officer of No. 1 Wing, Operations Group, RBAirF, presented on the RBAirF’s role and contributions in supporting Brunei Darussalam’s defence and security interests at both the national and regional levels. The webinar was moderated by Mr. Mohammad Umair Akmal bin Haji Noor Ahsffian, SHHBIDSS Research Officer.
The webinar provided a platform for the exchange of perspectives and insights on the evolving role of air power in modern military capabilities. Discussions also explored the considerations of small states in developing and modernising air power capabilities amid rapid technological advancements, increasingly complex air-based threats and an evolving strategic environment.
Present during the session were representatives from the Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force, Joint Forces Headquarters (JFHQ) Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Defence Minister’s Office and Directorate of Strategic Planning, Directorate of Intelligence, Centre of Science and Technology Research and Development (CSTRAD), Directorate of Force Capability Development, Directorate of Defence Policy. Representatives from other government agencies, including the Department of Civil Aviation, National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), and Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI), were also present, reflecting the broader cross-sectoral relevance of discussions on air power and defence and security.
The webinar forms part of the ongoing cooperation between SHHBIDSS and RSDI, contributing to the strengthening of institutional ties and the exchange of perspectives between Brunei Darussalam and the United Arab Emirates on contemporary defence and security issues. Following the Closed-Door Roundtable on “MENA Regional Security Outlook”, the webinar on Air Power represents a further thematic engagement between the two institutes, including Total Defence and Energy Security, as well as Disinformation as potential areas for future collaboration. The cooperation also provides opportunities for further joint research, co-organised activities and other forms of cross-regional engagement, contributing to broader understanding between Southeast Asia and the Gulf region.
IPPSSHHB DAN RABDAN SECURITY AND DEFENCE INSTITUTE (RSDI) MENGANJURKAN BERSAMA WEBINAR BERTAJUK ‘AIR POWER’
Rabu, 12 Ogos 2026 – Institut Pengajian Pertahanan dan Strategik Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (IPPSSHHB) dan Rabdan Security and Defence Institute (RSDI) telah menganjurkan bersama webinar bertajuk “Air Power” sebagai kerjasama yang berterusan antara kedua-dua institut.
Webinar tersebut menghimpunkan pakar bidang khusus daripada RSDI dan Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei (TUDB), Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB). Mewakili RSDI ialah Dr. Olli-Pekka Suorsa, Penolong Profesor RSDI, yang membincangkan kepelbagaian peranan dalam kuasa udara, kesan teknologi canggih terhadap pembangunan kuasa udara, ancaman berasaskan udara yang semakin kompleks, serta opsyen bagi pemodenan tentera udara. Sementara itu, Mejar (U) Emad Hamdi bin Haji Sawal @ Shawal, Pegawai Pemerintah Cawangan No. 1, Kumpulan Operasi, TUDB, ABDB membentangkan peranan dan sumbangan TUDB dalam mendukung kepentingan pertahanan dan keselamatan Negara Brunei Darussalam di peringkat kebangsaan dan serantau. Webinar tersebut dikendalikan oleh Awang Mohammad Umair Akmal bin Haji Noor Ahsffian, Pegawai Penyelidik SHHBIDSS selaku moderator.
Webinar tersebut menyediakan platform bagi pertukaran pandangan dan perspektif mengenai peranan kuasa udara yang semakin berkembang dalam keupayaan ketenteraan moden. Perbincangan turut mempertengahkan pendekatan yang boleh dipertimbangkan oleh negara-negara kecil dalam membangunkan dan memodenkan keupayaan kuasa udara di tengah-tengah kemajuan teknologi yang pesat, ancaman berasaskan udara yang semakin kompleks dan persekitaran strategik yang terus berkembang.
Webinar tersebut dihadiri oleh wakil-wakil daripada Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei, Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei, Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei, Markas Angkatan Bersama (MAB) Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei, Jabatan Menteri Pertahanan dan Jabatanarah Perancangan Strategik, Jabatanarah Perisikan, Pusat Penyelidikan dan Perkembangan Sains dan Teknologi, Jabatanarah Perkembangan Keupayaan Tentera, Jabatanarah Dasar Pertahanan. Wakil-wakil daripada agensi-agensi kerajaan lain, termasuk Jabatan Penerbangan Awam, Pusat Pengurusan Bencana Kebangsaan dan Autoriti Industri Teknologi Infokomunikasi Brunei Darussalam turut hadir, mencerminkan kepentingan perbincangan mengenai kuasa udara serta isu-isu pertahanan dan keselamatan yang merentas sektor.
Sesi webinar ini merupakan sebahagian daripada kerjasama yang berterusan antara IPPSSHHB dan RSDI, yang menyumbang kepada pengukuhan hubungan institusi serta pertukaran pandangan antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Emiriah Arab Bersatu mengenai isu-isu pertahanan dan keselamatan semasa. Susulan daripada Sesi Meja Bulat Tertutup mengenai Tinjauan Keselamatan Serantau MENA, webinar mengenai kuasa udara ini menandakan satu lagi usaha penglibatan tematik antara kedua-dua institut, termasuk Pertahanan Menyeluruh dan Keselamatan Tenaga, serta Disinformasi sebagai bidang-bidang berpotensi untuk kolaborasi di masa akan datang. Kerjasama ini turut membuka ruang bagi penyelidikan bersama, penganjuran aktiviti bersama dan penglibatan rentas serantau, yang dapat menyumbang kepada pemahaman yang lebih luas antara Asia Tenggara dan rantau Teluk.