Malaysia Confirms CAESAR Artillery Purchase, Plans Local Weapons for ANKA-S

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III delivers plenary remarks and meets with regional defense leaders at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 21th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore., June 1, 2024. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)

Malaysia confirmed its CAESAR artillery purchase from France and plans to develop locally made weapons for future ANKA-S drone operations through technology transfer cooperation.

Malaysia has confirmed the procurement of CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzers from France, marking a significant addition to the country’s defence capabilities.

Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced the acquisition during the launch of the National Defence Strategic Plan and the National Defence Capacity Action Plan in Kuala Lumpur. He said the procurement had been agreed upon and would strengthen the Malaysian Armed Forces’ arsenal, while details regarding the delivery schedule would be disclosed later.

Khaled also stressed that the acquisition process would be conducted transparently. The purchase follows earlier reports that the Finance Ministry approved the deal in 2024, subject to price renegotiations before finalisation.

On Malaysia’s ANKA-S unmanned aircraft systems acquired from Turkey, Khaled defended the decision to obtain the drones without offensive weaponry. He explained that the aircraft are primarily intended for surveillance and intelligence-gathering missions.

Malaysia plans to expand its ANKA-S fleet to nine units in stages. The agreement with Turkey also includes technology transfer provisions, allowing Malaysia to develop indigenous weapons that could eventually be integrated into the drone platform.