Malaysia to receive Japanese anti-drone systems for Sepanggar and Labuan

Malaysia will be among the first countries to receive Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) from Japan through the Official Security Assistance (OSA) program. Defense Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced that the anti-drone systems will be deployed in strategic locations, specifically Sepanggar, Sabah, and Labuan, to strengthen the nation's ability to counter drone threats.

The C-UAS system, valued at approximately 1.65 billion yen (roughly RM43 million), is scheduled to be supplied to the Royal Malaysian Navy for the 2026 fiscal year. The agreement was signed by Mohamed Khaled and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Tokyo on October 20.

The Minister emphasized the necessity of these assets due to challenging geopolitical situations, noting the importance of maintaining control over maritime domains, including the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea. He highlighted that the South China Sea remains an area of overlapping territorial claims involving China, Vietnam, and the Philippines, making readiness essential.