Over the past months I have been following the pitiful situation at the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM), rather closely, to truly understand how our brave and dedicated service men and women are being deprived of the most basic resources, rendering them incapable of fulfilling their duty.

Following a series of Parliamentary Questions, unfortunately, the picture is rather stark, and it is not a pretty one. In fact, replies provided in Parliament by the Minister for Home Affairs confirm that the AFM remains in an alarming state, with the helicopter fleet still crippled and the minister unable or unwilling to offer transparency. This has only confirmed once again how the AFM remains under-resourced and operating in a state of demoralisation.

It is rather shocking how the AFM has been operating with one single solitary helicopter for many months now. That included all the summer months, when the need for open sea rescue operations is naturally on higher demand. But also, the winter months, when adverse weather conditions will undoubtedly precipitate a greater need for airborne assistance.

Yes, Malta is an island, surrounded by sea, and helicopter support is not a luxury, but an absolute must and need, required all year round.

Sadly, the state of the AFM's decimated helicopter fleet is not an unfortunate phase, nor a temporary technical hick-up, but the result of years of mismanagement, underfunding and a complete absence of strategic leadership. Earlier this year, I revealed through these very columns, how the government had allowed our military aviation capability to collapse to the point where just one helicopter out of five was truly operational.

Shockingly, the situation remains the same, as no meaningful progress has been registered, and no plan, emergency or otherwise has snapped into action in order to restore our fleet to an acceptable level of readiness.

In fact, the replies provided by the Minister raise further concerns. When I asked for a breakdown of how many helicopters are currently in servicing, how long they have been out of action, which companies are carrying out the maintenance and what each service is costing the taxpayer, the Minister refused to provide any of the information. Instead, his answer merely stated that two AW139 helicopters are undergoing intensive scheduled inspections, and that work must be subject to regulatory verification before re-entering service. Thank you very much!

Unfortunately, the vague reply says nothing about the scale of the problem, how long the aircraft have been grounded, how many remain functional today or how far we are from restoring full operational capability. We can only deduce that the situation hasn't improved at all.

Equally concerning is the fact that the minister sidestepped questions on individual service costs and timelines entirely. At a time when transparency should be the absolute minimum standard, the government continues to choose mystery.

This brand of evasiveness, so typical of successive Labour administrations, is not only unacceptable in a modern democratic country, but also deeply insulting to the men and women who rely on proper equipment to carry out life-saving missions, and to the public who depend on them. If everything were functioning as it should, the minister would have no difficulty stating how many helicopters are ready for service.

This is all symptomatic of the broader neglect the AFM has suffered under this government. While maintenance of aircraft is normal and expected, reaching a point where the majority of its fleet is grounded for extended periods is not.

The fact remains that, the AFM appears to still be operating one single helicopter. An astonishing situation for an island state with heavy maritime responsibilities, high search-and-rescue demand and long-standing commitments under international obligations. With no clear confirmation that more than one aircraft is functioning today, Malta remains dangerously exposed.

Malta and Gozo deserve better. Our men and women in uniform deserve better. When will Government snap into action, or does the unspeakable have to happen?

Dr Darren Carabott is the Chairperson of the PAC and Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Security