Armed Forces maps out 5D strategy to counter future threats [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: The armed forces are sharpening a strategy for the future with a five-pronged approach — from diplomacy and detecting threats early to deterring, denying and, if necessary, defeating them.

Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman said the strategy was aimed at ensuring the force remained credible and prepared to deal with threats across the land, sea, air, cyber and electromagnetic domains.

He said this year's 93rd Armed Forces Day theme, "Armed Forces' Resilience, the Nation's Defence Bastion" (Ketahanan ATM, Benteng Pertahanan Negara), reflected the importance of resilience in enabling the force to fulfil its core responsibility of safeguarding national security and sovereignty.

"Resilience is important because it determines whether the armed forces can fulfil the main duty of safeguarding the security and sovereignty of the country.

"Without resilience, trust in our ability to carry out that task may be weakened.

"Resilience is not limited to physical strength or military assets, but is built on three values under the 'ATM' approach – Akhlak Teras (Core Character), Tatakelola Tuntas (Comprehensive Governance) and Martabat Tempur (Combat Readiness)."

He said Akhlak Teras formed the foundation through the strength of character among personnel and formations.

Tatakelola Tuntas covered the management of people, assets, procurement and finances, with integrity, honesty, sincerity and trust at its core.

"After we have strong character and good governance, we have Martabat Tempur.

"This supports our mission to safeguard security and sovereignty and gives our stakeholders the assurance that we are ready to carry out our responsibilities."

THE 5D STRATEGY

Malek said the 5D strategy — Diplomacy, Detect, Deter, Deny and Defeat — provided the strategic approach for developing a credible "Future Force".

He said Diplomacy involved using diplomatic channels to reduce risks before resorting to other measures, while Detect focused on building the knowledge and early-warning capability needed to identify potential threats.

"Diplomacy is important because before we take physical action, we must first reduce the risk through diplomatic channels.

"Then, through Detect, we must know and understand the threat before it arrives or builds up its strength.

"The Detect component requires stronger detection, communications and intelligence systems, while Deter is aimed at imposing costs on potential threats and preventing them from escalating."

He said such costs could involve time, space, assets and sustainment, creating sufficient deterrence for anyone with hostile intent against Malaysia.

"When we talk about Deter, we must make sure the cost is there for the adversary — the cost in terms of time, space, assets and sustainment. You don't play around with Malaysia."

Malek said Deny involved preventing an adversary from achieving its objectives if it entered Malaysia's forward, extended or core areas, requiring the army, navy and air force to perform their roles across different operational domains.

He said Defeat would come into play if a threat reached the point where it had to be confronted, with the armed forces required to have the capability to defeat threats across all domains.

"If they enter, we must have the force to defeat them.

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"This is not only about cyber, electromagnetic, media and information warfare, but also air, sea and land combat. We have to be ready across all domains."

The 5D approach was not merely an aspiration, but formed part of the Future Force strategy for dealing with current and future threats until 2055, he said.

"This is not just a hope. We have made it the Future Force strategy to face whatever threats and situations that exist now and in the future.

"We have to look at what is expected through 2055 and make sure the force we develop is credible and capable of facing it."

He said the Future Force programme began in 2021, with its first phase focused on designing the force, including its structure, organisation and strategy, while identifying gaps and weaknesses.

The second phase, from 2026 to 2030, focuses on force development, with the ultimate aim of creating a credible joint force that can respond to future threats.

BUILDING THE FORCE FOR FUTURE THREATS

Malek said capability development under the 2026-2030 phase of the Future Force would focus on ensuring readiness translated into credible deterrence.

"Readiness is deterrence. If you want to do something bad to Malaysia, you should think two or three times, maybe 10 times, before you come."

For the army, he said, priorities included mobility, protection and firepower, with new vehicles and systems to replace ageing platforms.

He added that the force also needed improved mortar and artillery firepower, short-range and very short-range air defence systems, communications, logistics and ammunition.

"The conflicts that we see, whether in the Middle East or Ukraine, show us that air defence is important, especially against missiles and drones.

"We have to make sure our air defence capability can counter the threats that we may face."

For the Royal Malaysian Navy, capability development includes the Littoral Combat Ship, Littoral Mission Ship Batch 2 and Fast Interceptor Craft programmes.

Malek said the Multi-Role Support Ship was particularly important for moving troops and assets between the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak and was expected to be considered under the 13th Malaysia Plan.

"It gives us the strategic mobility to move the force where it is needed."

He highlighted plans for a new naval base in Bintulu to support operations in the country's fourth maritime region and strengthen the navy's presence in the South China Sea.

For the Royal Malaysian Air Force, the next five years will focus on a modernisation exercise to replace obsolete fighter aircraft, with the FA-50M forming part of the replacement programme.

Malek said the air force was also pursuing a Medium Range Air Defence System programme and additional radar capabilities to address surveillance gaps, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.

He said three Anka unmanned aerial systems (drones) had already been activated in Labuan to strengthen forward surveillance in Sabah and Sarawak, while additional units could be considered under the next phases of the 13th Malaysia Plan, subject to government approval.

"We already have three Ankas in Labuan and they are being used for forward surveillance.

"For additional units, the requirement has been submitted and we are waiting for the government's approval."

He said the Bintulu Bare Base would serve as a forward operating base, allowing aircraft to operate closer to areas of interest without having to return to the main base in Kuching.

He said the facility was expected to be completed in 2028.

"We need a forward operating base so that our aircraft can move forward and operate closer to the area of operations.

"They do not have to return all the way to the main base every time, so this gives us greater operational flexibility."

On Station Lima on Pulau Layang-Layang, Malek said the armed forces would continue to improve facilities and infrastructure, including to the jetty, while maintaining the presence and readiness needed to safeguard Malaysia's extended maritime area.

He said the overall objective was to ensure the armed forces could translate its strategy into operational capability across the country's forward, extended and core areas.

"We have to make sure whatever strategy we adopt, we have the capability to execute it.

"That is what the Future Force is all about — making sure we are ready for the threats of today and tomorrow."