Defence Ministry finalise contracts worth RM10.128 billion

LANGKAWI - Defence Ministry Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan has witnessed the signing ceremony of 20 contract documents, eight Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), 21 Letters of Acceptance (LoAs) and two Letters of Intent (LoI) by his ministry at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2023 (LIMA’23), recently.

A total of 43 contracts worth RM10.128 billion were finalised at the event.

The Defence Ministry Secretary-general Datuk Seri Muez Abd Aziz represented the Malaysian government to sign the agreements.

The ceremony was also witnessed by Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) Chief General Tan Sri Affendi Buang.

As stated in the contract, the Malaysian Army would receive four Sikorsky UH-60A+ Black Hawk Helicopters to be used by the Nucleus Team for training and operational flight assignments through a lease from Aerotree Defence & Services.

Additionally, the government had also approved the second series of Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) which will be equipped with more advanced weapons systems to complement the four existing LCS in the Eastern Fleet.

For the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), the ongoing procurement includes 18 units of the FA-50 Fighter-Lead-In-Trainer/Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA) which will be obtained from Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd (KAI).

Moreover, RMAF will also receive three units of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Associated Support Category Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Phase 1 from Turkish Aerospace Industries and two units of Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) Phase 1 and associated equipment from Leonardo S.P.A.

In addition, the Defence Ministry is currently planning to acquire more defence assets under the next Malaysia Plan.

Although the country is still facing economic impact due to the pandemic and to stay within the budget allocated by the government, the ministry and ATM remain committed to working together to ensure the country's defence level and preparedness are at the optimal level.

Also in the same ceremony, eight memoranda of understanding were also signed between Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) and the stakeholders.

UPNM Vice Chancellor Lieutenant General Datuk Hasagaya Abdullah represented UPNM whereas the signing ceremony was witnessed by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and the Higher Education Secretary-general Datuk Seri Abdul Razak Jaafar.