South Korea and Malaysia Sign Defence-Industry MoU to Expand Arms and R&D Partnership
In a move that signals a progressive shift in defence-industrial collaboration across the Asia-Pacific, South Korea and Malaysia have formalised a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening their arms industry cooperation. The agreement was signed on 27 October 2025...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
In a move that signals a progressive shift in defence-industrial collaboration across the Asia-Pacific, South Korea and Malaysia have formalised a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening their arms industry cooperation. The agreement was signed on 27 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, between Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Minister Seok Jong-gun and Malaysian Defence Chief Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
Under the terms of the MoU, the two nations will not only bolster procurement cooperation but also embark upon joint research and development of defence technologies and co-production of military materiel. According to DAPA’s public statement, Seoul intends to serve as a "genuine partner" to Kuala Lumpur, assisting not only with arms exports but also with advancing Malaysia’s indigenous defence-industrial capabilities, and thereby contributing to regional peace and stability in Southeast Asia.
The MoU builds on a history of defence trade between the two countries: in 1993 South Korea supplied the K200 armoured personnel carrier to Malaysia. More recently in 2023 Korea achieved a US $920 million deal to export 18 FA-50 light attack aircraft to Malaysia. With this latest agreement, Seoul has now signed arms-industry cooperation agreements with 52 nations, underscoring its ambition to become one of the world’s leading defence exporters.
Malaysia’s decision to formalise such a defence-industrial MoU with South Korea reflects Kuala Lumpur’s strategic interest in diversifying its arms-supply and industrial-partners beyond traditional Western sources.
For Malaysia, the MoU offers a pathway to cultivate its domestic defence industry, potentially integrating Malaysian firms into Korean-led supply chains or co-production lines. For South Korea, it opens the door to deeper access to Southeast Asia’s market, offering the scope for larger-scale industrial collaboration rather than one-off export deals.
In a significant move for South Asian air power dynamics, the United States State Department has approved a Foreign Military…
The flare-up of hostilities along the Thai-Cambodian border earlier this week has provided military analysts with the first high-intensity operational…
In a move that significantly alters the strategic calculus of the Central Pacific, the People's Republic of China is reportedly…
Leonardo, the Italian aerospace and defense firm, reaffirmed its commitment to the Philippines' long-term capability development and modernization goals. In…
The U.S. Navy recovered the two aircraft that crashed into the South China Sea earlier this year while operating off…
Airbus Defence and Space has entered into a new collaboration with global chocolate producer Barry Callebaut to provide satellite-based monitoring…
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has selected Thales to strengthen air traffic surveillance in the southern Johor Bahru…
In a significant statement to the Dewan Negara, Malaysia’s Senate, the nation’s Defence Ministry has outlined a comprehensive and long-term…
Rotron Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with LIG Nex1 to collaborate on the development and integration of unmanned…
MAAS Aviation has extended its multi-year aircraft painting agreement with easyJet, continuing a partnership that began with a new programme…
Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have carried out an air-to-air autonomous weapon engagement using an MQ-28 Collaborative…
Less than ten days after the official launch of Leonardo’s Michelangelo Security Dome, the advanced integrated defence system, the company…
The Australian government will allocate A$18 million (₱699.7 million) for civil maritime investment in the Philippines starting next year.According to…
In a striking demonstration of strategic agility and financial robustness, Vietjet Aviation JSC has achieved an unprecedented milestone within the…
In a move that highlights the increasingly global nature of defence supply chains, a United Kingdom-based subsidiary of Raytheon has…
The United States State Department has approved a significant Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Bahrain, authorising a sustainment…
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is set to significantly expand its inventory of precision-guided munitions following the United…
The tenuous peace along the Dangrek Mountains has been shattered this week, marking the most significant escalation in the Thai-Cambodia…
The already volatile security environment in the Asia-Pacific region has witnessed a serious escalation following claims by Tokyo that a…
Semi Conductor Devices (SCD), a defence technology company specialising in cooled and uncooled infrared detectors, has received a strategic contract…
Orbit Communication Systems has received an order worth about USD 7.5 million from a major US aircraft manufacturer that also…
Airbus has closed the transaction with Spirit AeroSystems for the acquisition of industrial assets dedicated to its commercial aircraft programmes.…
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced in Jakarta on Friday (Dec. 5) that the government plans to procure 200 helicopters starting…
The Organising Committee of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026) has signed an agreement with Al…
Space is no longer a distant frontier — it is the future of defence, communications, mobility, and economic growth. The…
Amidst the crisis caused by the cancellation of thousands of flights over the last week by IndiGo, India’s Directorate General…
Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company EHang has completed unprecedented point-to-point urban flights of its EH216-S pilotless eVTOL, in the city…
Archer Aviation has revealed its plans for a Miami metropolitan area based air taxi network. The company's goal is to…
Eve Air Mobility has selected BETA Technologies to supply electric pusher motors for its conforming prototypes and production aircraft. The…
The Department of National Defense held the fourth iteration of its Cyber Exercise, or CYBEX 2025, to strengthen the country’s…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.