Japan's RM40mil counter-drone system to cover Sepanggar, Labuan

KUALA LUMPUR: Components of a counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) supplied by Japan under its Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme will be deployed at several locations, including Sepanggar and Labuan, to strengthen Malaysia's defences against drone attacks.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the system was needed amid a changing geopolitical environment and the need to safeguard Malaysia's land and maritime domains, particularly amid overlapping territorial claims and rivalry among major powers in the South China Sea.

"We are facing a different geopolitical situation, and we are in a region with significant challenges.

"As I have often said, we are a maritime nation. We protect our land, but we must also protect our entire maritime domain. We need to safeguard our waters, including the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea.

"We also know that the South China Sea is an area of overlapping territorial claims. We must ensure that we can maintain control over our maritime domain.

"We also know that the South China Sea is an area of conflict or rivalry among major powers. We must be prepared," he said at a press conference after the opening ceremony of the 100th National General Assembly of the Armed Forces Veterans Association.

Japan will provide Malaysia with a C-UAS system worth about RM40 million under its 2026 OSA programme, following an agreement signed by Khaled and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi during Khaled's recent working visit to Japan.

Khaled said Malaysia and Japan had longstanding bilateral relations, with defence cooperation gaining momentum in recent years following changes in Japan's defence policy.

During the visit, Malaysia urged Tokyo to continue the OSA programme and ensure future assistance was aligned with the country's priority defence needs, particularly maritime security.

"We hope the OSA programme will continue and not be discontinued, as it is helping us develop our capabilities," he said.

Khaled said Malaysia had also requested that future assistance focus on strategic priorities, including strengthening its ability to safeguard its maritime domain amid geopolitical challenges and overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea.

He said Malaysia's defence preparedness depended not only on its military assets and personnel, but also on trusted partners willing to help build its capabilities.

Japan's OSA programme provides security and defence assistance to partner countries, with Malaysia among its early recipients.

Khaled said stronger defence capabilities would enable Malaysia to contribute more effectively to regional security. He also stressed the importance of regular bilateral and multilateral military exercises, saying continuous training was essential to preparing personnel for operational demands.