NEWS Security

Japan Hands Over Official Security Assistance To Malaysia

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JAPAN handed over 14 units of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to Malaysia as part of Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme. The handover ceremony at the Ministry of Defence was attended by the Malaysian defence minister Khaled Nordin, chief of the Malaysian Army General Hafizuddeain Jantan representing Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Gen Mohd Nizam Jaafar, Deputy Chiefs of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Vice Admiral Shamsuddin Ludin and Lieutenant General Nur Hafis as well as Japan’s Ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata.

The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) received 14 units of the Japanese-made Aerosense Aerobo Wing (AS-VT01), to which the Malaysian Army and RMN would each receive six of the fixed-wing vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAVs while two more are earmarked for the MAF Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Division (DCED). Several units have been received with more to arrive in the coming weeks with seven more rescue boats on the way as well, making Japan’s assistance a total of US$3 million.

According to the defence minister, twelve MAF personnel have already completed the training of operating the UAVs in Japan while further training are to be conducted in Sabah and Selangor. He also added that Malaysia is set to receive more assistance in 2026.

The OSA programme established in 2023 is a cooperation framework to provide equipment and supplies as well as assistance for infrastructure development, for the benefit of the armed forces and related organisations of like-minded countries, based on Japan’s National Security Strategy. Malaysia was one of the first recipients of Japanese assistance.

Japan has provided non-lethal equipment to partner countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Fiji.

Under the Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership between Japan and Malaysia, Japan will contribute to strengthening security cooperation with Malaysia through OSA and bilateral engagements.-–shp/adj/dl (Pix:ADJ)