Thales is expanding its role in Malaysia’s military communications sector through a series of industrial and supply projects linked to ongoing modernization efforts.

A key element is the creation of a local assembly line for military radios in Segamat, a town in Johor state in southern Malaysia.

The facility will produce SYNAPS radios, secure communication systems used by armed forces, operating on very high and ultra-high frequencies.

Production is expected to exceed 1,000 units over the next six years, supporting Malaysia’s objective of increasing domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on imported systems.

More than 100 radios will also be delivered to the Malaysian Army under the self-propelled howitzer program, which involves mobile artillery systems mounted on vehicles.

The equipment includes radios operating on different frequency bands, such as very high frequency for short- to medium-range communication and high frequency for long-distance links.

These are complemented by newer digital systems designed to maintain communication between command units, vehicles, and troops.

Across Land and Air Domains
In parallel, Thales is providing trial communication and battlefield management systems for the AV4 armored vehicle program.

The tests will assess how digital tools can work with existing vehicles, particularly by improving how information is shared and how units track events on the ground in real time.

Air capabilities are also included, with Thales supplying 16 TRA 6036 radios for helicopters operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force in partnership with Weststar Aviation Services.

The systems are designed to ensure secure and reliable communication between aircraft and ground forces.

“With the rise in asymmetric threats, interoperability for missions in the sky or on land is critical,” said Florian Riou, Country Director of Thales in Malaysia.

• The Defense Post