LANGKAWI: The Defence Ministry signed 40 contracts or Letters of Acceptance (LOA), Letters of Intent (LOI), and Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), worth RM11bil, with selected strategic partners during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA’25).
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said these contracts involved 40 LOA, two LOI worth over RM30mil, to companies that have been awarded procurement contracts by MINDEF from the end of 2023 to date, and six MoUs between the ministry and selected strategic partners.
"However, the total value of the contracts also includes 45 other procurement contracts worth between RM10mil and RM30mil signed previously," he said after the signing and handover ceremony of the contracts, LOA, LOI, and MoU at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC) here on Thursday (May 22).
Mohamed Khaled said the procurement amount increased by about RM1 billion compared to around RM10.1bil, with 43 documents, signed at LIMA ‘23.
All those acquisitions, he said, involve five main areas, namely the acquisition of strategic assets for land, maritime, air defence, cybersecurity, and the facilities and welfare of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF).
He said that this was done to enhance the readiness of the country's defence assets to the highest level and to strengthen territorial sovereignty, for example, through a LOI to Mildef International Technologies Sdn Bhd for the procurement of 136 units of Type A Armoured Vehicles (KJA) and Infrastructure worth RM1.88bil.
He said this is important in efforts to strengthen the readiness of the MAF assets to the maximum level and to support the development of defence capacity and the strengthening of local industry capabilities.
He said that the empowerment of MAF’s capabilities is also being carried out by ensuring that assets are always in good condition through the enhancement of existing asset capabilities.
"Under this aspect, among the contracts that have been sealed include the Maintenance and Repair Contract for the Prime Minister's Class Submarine, worth RM1.02bil, and the obsolescence management service procurement contract for KD Perdana, worth RM48mil," he also said.
Empowering the capabilities of the MAF is also important to address non-traditional threats through strengthening national cybersecurity and telecommunications technology such as X-Band Satellites and leasing "Secure Satellite Communication Channels".
He added that procurement also involves development and research, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and new technologies while emphasising aspects of well-being. - Bernama
