KUALA LUMPUR: The Medium-Range Air Defence (MERAD) system for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is expected to be fully operational by mid-2030, says the Defence Ministry.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the country's security, including plans to procure Short-Range Air Defence (SHORAD) systems for the Malaysian Army and MERAD for the RMAF.
It said the plans were aligned with the Mid-Term Review of the Defence White Paper and the Malaysian Armed Forces' Air Domain Strategy.
“Both projects have been approved under Rolling Plan 1 (2026) of the 13th Malaysia Plan.
“These procurements will expand the range and layers of the country's air defence system while improving the Armed Forces' ability to detect and respond to various aerial threats.
“MERAD, in particular, will be an important component in developing a more integrated, layered and credible air defence system.
“The MERAD system is expected to be fully operational by mid-2030,” it said in a written parliamentary reply on Thursday (Oct 15).
The ministry said the current ground-based air defence (GBAD) capabilities of the Malaysian Army and RMAF were focused on Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) systems.
“These capabilities provide close-range defence, but must be enhanced to counter an increasingly complex range of modern aerial threats, including fighter jets, cruise missiles and drones,” it said.
The ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to progressively strengthening the country's air defence capabilities in line with evolving threats and technological developments to improve the Armed Forces' operational readiness and national defence capabilities.
It was responding to a question by Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat), who asked about Malaysia's air defence capabilities in countering aerial threats such as fighter jets, cruise missiles and drones.
He also sought to know when the MERAD system was expected to be fully operational.
