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Malay Mail
41 minutes ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
LCS project progress at 73pc, slightly behind schedule, says defence minister
KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 — The littoral combat ship (LCS) project is behind schedule at 72.9 per cent completion as of June 25, short of its 76.1 per cent target, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said. In a written parliamentary reply, Khaled attributed the shortfall to necessary rework on piping and cabling systems, following observations by the project's design authority, France's Naval Group. 'The delay was caused by rework on piping and extended cabling following comments by the design authority,' Khaled stated. 'Nevertheless, the ministry remains committed to ensuring all ships are delivered within the updated timeline.' According to Khaled, LCS1 entered its Setting to Work (STW) phase in May and is slated for its first sea trial in December. LCS2 underwent a 'technical downslip' in May and is expected to be handed over to the Royal Malaysian Navy by April 2027. He added that the construction of LCS3 to LCS5 is proceeding according to schedule, with deliveries planned every eight months from 2027 until the final vessel is completed in 2029. The minister also updated the Dewan Rakyat on other key procurements, including the acquisition of three ANKA drones from Turkish Aerospace Industries, which are expected to be delivered by February 2026. 'Assembly has reached 99 per cent, and aircraft system integration is at 85 per cent,' he said, calling the drones a major boost for the country's surveillance and border-monitoring capabilities. Khaled also assured Parliament that mechanisms are in place to prevent a repeat of past procurement failures. 'We've established various levels of monitoring, from contract administration to ministerial oversight, with involvement from the Finance Ministry, the Economy Ministry, the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU), and the Attorney General's Chambers,' he said.
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
‘Malaysia moving at own pace'
The TAI Anka is a series of UAVs developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries chiefly for the Turkish Air Force. Malaysia has bought three units for military use. — Wikicommons COUNTRIES like Singapore and South Korea have integrated artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance, predictive logistics and cyber command structures into their militaries. How does Malaysia's cyber and AI modernisation trajectory compare with regional peers and strategic partners, and what best practices or models can be realistically emulated? Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia's cyber and technology policy programme director Farlina Said says Malaysia is moving at its own pace, especially given fiscal, strategic priorities and policy considerations. Best practices from efforts like Singapore's Digital Defence and Nato's DIANA (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) 'are the interlinkages between basic cybersecurity practices, the need to ensure system and society resilience is high in times of conflict and times of peace, in addition to the role R&D and innovation would play for force development', she says. 'However, Malaysia would have to be prudent with adoption and projects so developments could grow at a measured pace.' Farlina says AI and cyber capabilities are no longer optional. — How will military modernisation transform the existing command structure? Farlina says AI can be employed in a number of ways to assist with decision-making and operational effectiveness. 'It can analyse images, detect threats, analyse data, conduct administrative tasks, generate efficient logistics suggestions, or support training in intuitive ways. 'As such, the military would have to develop the digital ecosystem and talent to operate and address these challenges. 'There are challenges in regard to talent, especially to train and sustain. Preparing for an AI-ena-bled or AI-combat ready proficiency does require preparing the ecosystem so it is capable of searching for and exploiting vulnerabilities which strengthens AI usage.' But it may not absolutely change command structures, says Farlina. 'Battlefield dynamics for joint operations may have greater considerations for sovereignty, and experts have already noted the difficulty in shared assets for the digital ecosystem, especially on the interoperability of algorithms.' Farlina says Malaysia has to consider both strategic and tactical goals in realising AI ambitions. 'Malaysia passed the Cyber-security Act last year which addresses protection of critical infrastructure. This also recognises the defence sector as critical thus mandating cybersecurity standards, processes and obligations in the supply chain.' On the types of AI-enabled or cyber-resilient equipment that should be prioritised in Malaysia's procurement strategy, Farlina says Malaysia 'may be in a place for talent acquisition and development'. However, she says Malaysia would have to consider the role of building or customising AI which could strengthen the armed forces' ability to achieve goals during operations. 'Tactics and strategy can change with ICT because perhaps there are assets you would have to protect that may not have been there before. Mapping strengths, weaknesses and functions of AI within specific teams could be useful to understand interoperability.'
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia to receive ANKA MALE-UAS next year
ISTANBUL: Malaysia is expected to receive the Turkish-made ANKA Medium Altitude Long Endurance-Unmanned Aerial System (MALE-UAS) by March 2026, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. He said the ANKA MALE-UAS, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), is currently undergoing radar system integration and radio communication installation, with the equipment sourced from Germany. "Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officers who will operate ANKA are currently undergoing training with the supplier. "When we acquire assets like this, operational training is also provided by the supplying company," he told reporters here on Thursday. On the possibility of acquiring additional ANKA MALE-UAS units, Mohamed Khaled said future procurement of defence assets will be decided by the government based on the 13th Malaysia Plan, scheduled to be tabled on July 31. Defence Ministry and TAI signed the contract for the procurement of three units of the ANKA MALE-UAS, along with associated support equipment, during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) in May 2023. Malaysia is believed to have selected the ANKA-S variant, capable of operating at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet for 24 to 30 hours, with a payload capacity ranging from 250 to 350 kilogrammes. Beyond Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the advanced ANKA MALE-UAS could also be armed with four MAM Smart Micro Missiles, developed by Türkiye's defence company, ROKETSAN, for precision ground-attack missions. Mohamed Khaled, who concluded a three-day official visit to Turkiye today, attended the 2025 International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) and inspected the construction of the second batch of three Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) by Savunma Teknolojileri Muhendislik (STM). – Bernama
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia to receive ANKA MALE-UAS drones by March 2026
ISTANBUL: Malaysia is set to receive the Turkish-developed ANKA Medium Altitude Long Endurance-Unmanned Aerial System (MALE-UAS) by March 2026, according to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. The drones, produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), are undergoing radar system integration and radio communication installation, with components sourced from Germany. Mohamed Khaled confirmed that Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel are currently training with the supplier to operate the ANKA drones. 'When we acquire assets like this, operational training is also provided by the supplying company,' he told reporters during his visit to Turkiye. The Defence Ministry signed a contract with TAI in May 2023 during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) for three ANKA MALE-UAS units and related support equipment. Malaysia is expected to receive the ANKA-S variant, which can operate at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet for 24 to 30 hours and carry payloads between 250 to 350 kilogrammes. Beyond intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) roles, the ANKA drones can be armed with four MAM Smart Micro Missiles, developed by Turkish defence firm ROKETSAN, for precision ground-attack missions. Mohamed Khaled also inspected the construction of three Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) by Savunma Teknolojileri Muhendislik (STM) during his visit to the 2025 International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF). Future defence acquisitions will be determined under the 13th Malaysia Plan, set to be tabled on July 31. - Bernama
AllAfrica
27-06-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
Malaysia quietly flying Turkish drones over South China Sea
In June 2025, Malaysia took a decisive yet understated step in fortifying its maritime domain awareness by confirming the deployment of three Turkish-made Anka‑S unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drones will operate from Labuan, with the first sorties expected to commence later this year over the South China Sea. Yet the symbolism of such deployments—especially in a region as fraught and strategically sensitive as the South China Sea—must be carefully interpreted. This is not about picking sides between the United States and China. Nor is it a belligerent signal to any one power. Instead, Malaysia's choice reflects a doctrine of quiet diplomacy: one that prioritizes sovereignty without provocation, and preparedness without escalation. Whenever the South China Sea is invoked in regional headlines, it is often painted as a zero-sum contest between China and Southeast Asia. That portrayal misses the nuance of Malaysia's approach. For decades, Malaysia has pursued a policy of principled engagement—asserting its maritime rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) while maintaining constructive, often warm, ties with China. Malaysia's procurement of surveillance drones does not undermine that tradition. Rather, it reinforces our commitment to defend our interests with clarity and calm—not capitulation, nor confrontation. The Anka‑S, designed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), was chosen through a transparent international tender that included bids from the United States' General Atomics (offering the MQ‑9 Reaper) and China's AVIC (offering the Wing Loong II). That Malaysia selected Turkey was not a rejection of the US or China per se—it was a choice based on strategic fit, affordability, reliability, and non-politicized defence procurement. The Anka‑S platform, with its 24–30 hours of endurance, encrypted satellite communications, synthetic aperture radar, EO/IR cameras, ground-moving target indicators (GMTI), and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, provides a vital capability in monitoring activity across Malaysia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) without compromising our diplomatic equilibrium. It is also essential to note that these drones are unarmed. They are surveillance platforms, not strike systems. Malaysia is not militarizing its maritime space; it is strengthening maritime situational awareness in a region with complex and overlapping claims, illegal fishing, piracy, and growing commercial activity. The message is straightforward: Malaysia is watching—not menacing. Malaysia is asserting its rights, not staking new claims. More than a defense acquisition, the Anka‑S symbolizes a maturing partnership between Malaysia and Turkey. As a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN and NATO's second-largest military force, Turkey stands at a unique intersection of East and West. It maintains a robust relationship with both the United States and China and has earned a reputation for pursuing independent diplomacy. Turkey's strategic balance, reflected in its engagement with Russia, Europe, and the Muslim world, resonates with ASEAN's own non-aligned but active diplomacy. In many ways, Türkiye is a mirror of Malaysia's geopolitical posture: firm in its sovereignty, flexible in its partnerships. Turkey's defense industry also offers something often missing in dealings with traditional great powers—mutual respect and shared technological growth. The Anka‑S is a product of indigenous Turkish development, allowing greater room for customization, training, and potential co-production. In Malaysia's case, the infrastructure and training for the drones are being carried out in collaboration with local firm G7 Aerospace, enabling knowledge transfer and economic spillover benefits. Future upgrades, including weaponization (if Malaysia ever chooses that path), can be managed with full transparency and independence. So why Turkey and why now? The answer lies in both regional and global dynamics. ASEAN member states are becoming increasingly cautious in navigating the intensifying US-China rivalry. On one hand, the United States has urged allies and partners in Asia to increase defense spending and adopt its Indo-Pacific strategy, often with veiled suggestions of containment. On the other, China has expanded its military and coast guard presence in regional waters, testing the boundaries of maritime diplomacy. Yet Malaysia remains steadfastly neutral committed to peace, but not pacifism. The selection of Turkey is a clear signal that Malaysia can strengthen its defence posture without falling into the orbit of either superpower. The Anka‑S is not part of any military bloc or encirclement agenda. It is a tool of sovereign surveillance, rooted in international law and national interest. Türkiye also offers strategic reliability without overreach. It has forged strong defence ties with both NATO and non-NATO countries, including Pakistan, Qatar, and Indonesia. Its drones, including the Anka‑S and the famed Bayraktar TB2, have been combat-proven in multiple theatres—from Syria and Libya to Nagorno-Karabakh and Ukraine. While Malaysia is not adopting these UAVs for combat, the reliability and endurance of the Anka‑S speaks volumes about its maturity as a platform. Moreover, Türkiye is not just a defence provider—it is a geopolitical partner. Its increasing engagement with Southeast Asia through trade, cultural exchange, and religious diplomacy—particularly as a Muslim-majority nation—makes it a natural fit for deeper strategic relations with Malaysia and ASEAN. Its presence offers a third way for countries seeking alternatives to the binary of Washington and Beijing. In this context, Malaysia's decision to field the Anka‑S is not merely a technical or tactical decision. It is a quiet yet profound statement of national resolve. Malaysia seeks not to provoke, but to protect. Not to align blindly, but to cooperate wisely. We remain firm in our rights under UNCLOS, especially in defending our maritime zones—but we will continue to engage China, the United States, and all partners through dialogue and diplomacy. Let there be no misreading: Malaysia's vision of the South China Sea is not as a flashpoint of rival empires, but as a shared space requiring shared responsibility. With the Anka‑S circling above, Malaysia does not signal hostility—but capability. This is what sovereign agency looks like in the 21st century—eyes wide open, posture firm, diplomacy intact. Malaysia's approach to the South China Sea is neither naive nor aggressive. It is rooted in quiet strength, strategic foresight, and a refusal to be drawn into great power theatrics. By working with Turkey, a bridge between the Atlantic and Asia, Malaysia is building more than defense capacity—it is shaping a future where ASEAN nations assert their own narratives, on their own terms. Phar Kim Beng, PhD, is professor of ASEAN studies, International Islamic University Malaysia . Luthfy Hamzah is senior research fellow, Strategic Pan Indo Pacific Arena, Kuala Lumpur .
