Page 12 - DEFENSE & SECURITY 2022 - Day 1 | DAILY NEWS

MBDA

LOOKS TO

GROW

PRESENCE

IN THAILAND

European missile major MBDA is has provided to the Royal Thai Army connection with the higher level
looking at new opportunities to sup- with a medium-long range ground- of command. The TOC remotely
port the Thai armed forces for their based air defence (GBAD) capability controls a tri-dimensional radar
national defence needs. The com- based on the Vertical Launch MICA mounted on a separate vehicle and
pany has been supporting the Royal (VL MICA) system. The new GBAD three to six vertical launcher units
Thai Armed Forces for more than capability was introduced into ser- also mounted on vehicles. The missile
thirty years and is ready to offer its vice in 2019. has an interception range of up to 20
latest missile systems for the future. A typical VL MICA unit is based on a km. MBDA’s Mistral missile has been
“MBDA maintains a continuous and vehicle-mounted shelter-protected ensuring the anti-air protection of
tight relationship with its Thai cus- Tactical Operations Centre (TOC) the flagship of the Royal Thai Navy,
tomers, and we are able to propose also known as the Platoon Command the aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri
state-of-the-art weapon systems Post (PCP). The TOC is capable of Naruebet for more than 20 years.
for the future project requirements carrying out all Command, Control The company started its relationship
of the Royal Thai Armed Forces,” a and Coordination functions, includ- with Thailand with supply of the first
company spokesperson told Daily ing real-time engagement, mission generation of the Exocet anti-ship
News over email. More recently MBDA planning, system monitoring and missile.

RMAF in increasing maritime security surveillance radar, an electro-op-
and maritime domain awareness tical infrared turret, line-of-sight
RECEIVES FIRST within the Malaysian Exclusive datalink and a roll-on/roll-off
Economic Zone. “Building Partner mission system operator station.
UPGRADED Capacity programmes repre- Compatible mobile and fixed
CN-235 sent the highest level of return on ground stations are also being
engagement to the United States,” delivered to increase the RMAF’s
The Royal Malaysian Air Force said Ron Weinberger, director, ISR capability.
(RMAF) recently took delivery of Security Cooperation Office at the The CN-235 is a medium-range
the first of three CN-235 military Naval Air Systems Command. “The twin-engine transport aircraft
transport aircraft converted to a Malaysian CN-235 programme originally manufactured by
maritime patrol platform from the will be a significant force multi- Indonesian aerospace company
U.S. Navy. The delivery of the first plier to an indigenous Malaysian Perseroan Terbatas Dirgantara
aircraft took place just three-and- ISR capability and will directly Indonesia and Construcciones
a-half years after the U.S. signed support joint Malaysian and U.S. Aeronáuticas SA of Spain. The
a Letter of Offer and Acceptance efforts to ensure global security in project’s CN-235s were flown to
(LOA) to begin increasing the the Indo-Pacific Command area Indonesia for completion and
capability and interoperability of of responsibility.” testing in Sept. 2020 amid COVID-
U.S. and Malaysian forces. Work The upgrade includes a maritime 19 restrictions and first flight took
on the two remaining CN-235 air- surveillance mission suite, maritime place in Oct. 2021.
craft and multiple ground stations
continues and is slated for com-
pletion later this year.
The effort was facilitated by the U.S.
Navy’s Building Partner Capacity
program, aligned with the U.S.
government’s Maritime Security
Initiative, which is intended to
assist the Malaysian government

12 AUGUST 29 2022 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS