DSA 2024: MBDA offers short-range air-defence systems to Malaysia

MBDA showcased the scale models of its Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions and VL MICA New Generation system at the DSA 2024 exhibition. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)

European missile maker MBDA has offered its Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions (EMADS) self-propelled surface-to-air missile (SAM) system and VL MICA New Generation (NG) SAM to the Malaysian Armed Forces, a spokesperson of MBDA told Janes at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.

“[MBDA has] proposed the systems to the Malaysian Army and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF),” the spokesperson said.

However, it is still unclear when the systems will be tested by these services, the spokesperson added.

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) seeks to procure a short-range air-defence (SHORAD) system as a part of the 12th Malaysia Plan, which runs from 2021 to 2025.

Both the EMADS and VL MICA are short- to medium-range air-defence systems developed and are primarily intended for defending ground formations or static assets against common aerial threats such as fighter and multirole aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and cruise missiles, according to the spokesperson.

According to Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence, the EMADS is a multiplatform ‘system of systems' using a range of launchers, sensors, and supporting assets to operate. The EMADS can be armed with either the CAMM short-to-medium-range or CAMM extended-range (CAMM-ER) missile.

CAMM missile is capable of engaging targets at ranges from 1 km to 28 km and at altitudes from 15 m to 10 km, while CAMM-ER can engage targets at ranges from 1 km to 45 km and at altitudes from 15 m to 10 km.