MILDEF, ASELSAN Agreement To Advance Defence Technology Integration In Malaysia
MALAYSIAN defence vehicle manufacturer MILDEF International Technologies (MILDEF), and Turkish defence technology giant ASELSAN yesterday entered into a strategic Teaming Agreement at the MILDEF Pavilion during LIMA’25. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the minister of defence Mohamed Khaled Nordin, alongside the secretary-general of the Ministry of Defence Malaysia, Lokman Hakim Ali. Signing on behalf of ASELSAN were its CEO Ahmet Akyol and vice-president Zekeriyya Sahin. MILDEF was represented by its managing director Mohd Nizam Kasa and general manager Salimuhar Ali.
This partnership marks a key milestone in strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, specifically in the integration of high-end military technologies into the Tarantula 4×4 High Mobility Armoured Vehicle, a platform designed, developed and manufactured locally by MILDEF for the Malaysian Army. The collaboration also incorporates cost-saving measures and the transfer of technology, contributing added value to the advancement of the national defence sector.
Under the agreement, MILDEF will assume the role of prime contractor and vehicle platform provider, while ASELSAN will serve as the key systems integrator, delivering advanced subsystems including Remote Controlled Weapon Stations (RCWS), communication equipment, electro-optical sensors, and command-and-control solutions.
“The agreement reflects a shared commitment to collaborate exclusively in delivering comprehensive and integrated solutions for the Malaysian defence sector. It also outlines general principles related to roles, confidentiality, legal compliance, and the protection of proprietary technologies,” MILDEF stated.
“As an active and fast-growing player in the Malaysian defence ecosystem, MILDEF continues to champion homegrown innovation and engineering excellence. The company’s expanding portfolio of armoured and tactical vehicles underscores its ambition to support Malaysia’s defence self-reliance agenda and elevate the nation’s standing in the regional defence industry. This collaboration exemplifies the synergy between local industrial capabilities and globally-recognised technological expertise, aligned with Malaysia’s aspiration to build a resilient and future-ready defence industry.”
MILDEF also launched its latest fully-indigenous High Mobility Light Tactical Vehicle (HMLTV) which was then officially named “RIBAT” by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.–shp/adj/adj (Pix:MILDEF)
