Royal Malaysia Police Launches Tender for Tactical ISR Drones to Bolster Border Security

Royal Malaysia Police Seeks New Fleet of Tactical ISR Drones to Strengthen Border Overwatch

Mohd Hanif Ismail - : Nov 21, 2025 - : 12:28 pm

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The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has launched a fresh procurement drive to expand its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities, seeking to acquire 58 new surveillance drones to support tactical intelligence operations. The tender, valued at an indicative RM5.26 million (approx. US$1.27 million), signals a continued push by the Malaysian government to digitise its border control and internal security apparatus amidst evolving transnational threats.

This latest procurement comes against the backdrop of Malaysia’s 2025 federal budget, which allocated substantial funding to the Ministry of Home Affairs for asset modernisation. As security challenges along the porous Thai-Malaysia border and the dense rainforest frontiers of Sabah and Sarawak intensify—ranging from smuggling to illegal migration—the PDRM is increasingly pivoting towards unmanned systems as a cost-effective force multiplier to supplement traditional manned patrols and rotary-wing assets.

According to the official tender documents released by the PDRM’s Department of Logistics and Technology, the procurement is divided into two primary categories. The tender, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closes on 11 December 2025, specifies a requirement for 18 units of high-specification ‘Tactical Intelligence Drones’ and 40 units of portable ‘Small Drones’. The documentation explicitly requires bidders to be registered with the Malaysian Ministry of Finance under the defence and security surveillance code.

High-Spec Requirement for Tropical Operations

The technical specifications revealed in the tender point to a requirement for robust, enterprise-grade platforms capable of operating in Malaysia’s challenging tropical climate. The 18 Tactical Intelligence units must be quadcopters with a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of under 16kg but possessing a transmission range of at least 18km. Crucially, these airframes must support a flight time of no less than 59 minutes while carrying payloads. The optical requirements are stringent, demanding a 34x optical zoom camera, a 48MP wide-angle sensor, and a high-resolution thermal camera (1280 x 1024) with a laser range finder capable of identifying targets at 3km.

The secondary requirement for 40 'Small Drones' appears to target rapid-deployment field units. Despite a lighter MTOW of under 2kg, these units demand an impressive video transmission range of 30km and a flight endurance exceeding 45 minutes. Both categories require advanced obstacle avoidance, wind resistance of at least 12m/s to handle monsoon gusts, and integration with local telecommunications frequencies approved by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

The Asia-Pacific Shift to Unmanned ISR

From a regional perspective, this procurement reflects a wider trend across the Asia-Pacific where law enforcement agencies are bridging the gap between ground patrols and expensive manned aviation. In Borneo, where the PDRM maintains a significant presence to monitor the borders with Indonesia and Brunei, the logistical cost of helicopter surveillance is prohibitive. The tender explicitly lists delivery locations including the specific material stores in Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) and Kuching (Sarawak), confirming that these assets will be deployed to forward operating bases in East Malaysia as well as the central hub in Shah Alam.

The procurement also emphasises long-term sustainability and skills transfer. The winning bidder must provide extensive training for 20 officers and further instructional training for 60 personnel, ensuring the PDRM can internalise the capability. Furthermore, the contract mandates a 'one-to-one' replacement policy for any drone lost due to technical failure during the warranty period, a clause likely inserted to mitigate the operational risks inherent in complex jungle operating environments.