Page 8 - LIMA 2023 - DAY 1 | DAILY NEWS

US DEFENCE FIRMS EYE MALAYSIAN CONTRACTS,

BUT SOUTH KOREA GAINING TRACTION

Defence ties between Malaysia and the nations are increasingly turning to South strengthened their maritime security coop-
US, which has largely remained low pro- Korea for its weapons; countries in the eration by participating in Cooperation
file, is set to receive a fillip with Malaysia region bought nearly US$2 billion of military Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) in
planning to increase spending on arms as equipment manufactured by South Korean Malaysia. The CARAT programme, which
part of its defence modernization plans and companies between 2017 to 2021. Last has been held in Southeast Asia for almost
in view of regional tensions. However, US year, Malaysia and South Korea signed a three decades, involved a U.S. Navy P-8A
defence firms face a major challenge as defense industry agreement, becoming the Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnais-
South Korea has emerged as a major arms fourth country in the region to do so, after sance aircraft providing airborne training
exporter to countries in the region. Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. featuring the first LINK-16 military tactical
The popularity of South Korea arms in the data link network engagement between
After a multi-year lull, Malaysia’s defense region and elsewhere is not only because the Royal Malaysian Air Force Air Defense
budget is to increase consistently over they are significantly less expensive than Squadron and a U.S. Navy P-8A since the
the next few years to reach US$5.2 bil- weapons made by companies in countries installation of the U.S.-funded Link-16
lion in 2027. High on the wish list of the such as the US, UK, France or Germany; the ground stations in September last year. In
country’s military are six units of Boustead country is well known for the high quality addition, the US Naval Special Warfare’s
Naval Shipyard’s second-generation patrol of its military products and the willingness Unmanned Aircraft Systems unit and the
vessel – littoral combat ships (SGPV-LCS) to conduct technology transfers through littoral combat ship USS Charleston con-

and four littoral mission ships (LMS), and defense industrial cooperation. ducted joint maritime security training with
ground-launched anti-ship cruise missiles. the Royal Malaysian Navy and Air Force.
Defence cooperation between Malaysia and In April 2021, the Malaysian Air Force had
Weapons made by US defence contractors the US has a long history, including training conducted massive joint drills alongside
remain in high demand in Malaysia, but courses for Malaysian officers in US mili- the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike
the growth of other arms exporters, espe- tary colleges, and joint military exercises. In Group in the South China Sea.
cially South Korea, has made the market addition to providing the Malaysian Armed
increasingly competitive in recent years. Forces (MAF) more than US$1 million In September 2021, Lockheed Martin
With Malaysia loosening its purse strings, annually for military training and education was awarded a US $25 million contract
US defence contractors will be hopeful courses, the US also gives grants worth for the Malaysia Ground Based Radar
of making fresh inroads into the market, nearly US$200 million in grants to the MAF System. The work is expected to be com-
but they will have to contend with South to enhance maritime domain awareness. pleted by Sept. 30, 2025. In April last year,
Korea, which has grown to become one of In March 2021, The Royal Malaysian Navy ThalesRaytheonSystems, a joint venture
Malaysia’s top suppliers. Earlier this year, (RMN) launched its first ever Unmanned between Raytheon and Thales Group,
Malaysia decided to buy 18 FA-50 fighter Aerial System (UAS) Squadron - Squadron won a contract to upgrade the Malaysian
jets made by Korean Aerospace Industries 601 – after taking delivery of the first batch Air Defense Ground Environment system,
for a total cost of US$910 million. Industry of six ScanEagle UAVs that were donated including the creation of an air defense
analysts expect more arms deals involving by the United States under the Maritime sector operations center and installation
the two countries. Security Initiative (MSI) programme. The of a new long-range air defense radar.
UAVs are produced by Boeing Insitu. ThalesRaytheonSystems had installed
According to Stockholm International Peace the first automated command and control
Research Institute (SIPRI), Southeast Asian In November 2022, U.S. and MAF system for the RMAF in Butterworth.

8 MAY-23-2023 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS