SHAH ALAM: Work on the radar station in Bintulu is expected soon with the delivery of the Thales GM400 Alpha long-range radar expected in mid to end of 2026. The LRR station is expected to be operational by the end of 2026, Thales Malaysia country director François-Xavier Boutes said in a recent interview with Malaysian Defence.
He said work on the site is expected soon as the company and its partner, Global
Komited Sdn Bhd, are expecting to get the approval from the local authorities in Bintulu
in the coming weeks. Thales signed the Letter of Award (LOA) with the Malaysian
government for a single Ground Master 400 Alpha long-range radar, and the associated
work, on December 8, 2023. Thales is responsible for the radar while the civil works will
be conducted with Global Komited. The radar is expected to be fully operational in
Bintulu by mid to late 2026. Work has begun on administrative tasks and authorisations,
with construction set to start next year.
“We have started the work on the site, but the building itself is currently in its preliminary
phase undergoing the necessary authorisations and administrative works,” he said.
Thales will be delivering a GM400 Alpha completed with radar station infrastructure,
including access roads, power source, air conditioning systems, radome and associated
logistics, to the end user, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). The LOA for the radar
and associated work was signed during the visit of the French Minister of Defence to KL
in December 2023.
Additional points from the interview:
What is Thales’ footprint in Malaysia?
Thales has a balanced portfolio of activities globally and in Malaysia, operating equally
in the civil and defence sectors.
In the defence sector, Thales has been present in Malaysia for 50 years, starting with
radar installations on Royal Malaysian Navy ships in 1972. Since then, we have
collaborated across all branches of the Malaysian Armed Forces, becoming a trusted
partner. Beyond being a major OEM, we are a strong local partner to the defence
ecosystem.
In recent years, Thales has supported major projects, such as equipping Gempita
vehicles with advanced systems and supplying the Starstreak (VSHORAD GBAD) air defence system through ForceShield. For the Air Force, we have delivered long-range radar, air defence systems and onboard systems for aircraft like the Sukhoi 30 and A400M. For the Navy, we provide radar, communication, electronic warfare and sonar systems for ships and submarines.
We also operate local support centres: one in Lumut for the Navy, another in Kota
Kinabalu for submarines, a third for Communications solutions that was previously in
Pekan, close to DEFTECH, but recently shifted to Kuala Lumpur. We are also looking
to build local expertise to support the Air Force on solutions related to air surveillance
and air defence.
In civil aviation, Thales provides air traffic control systems in Eastern Malaysia. Thales is
the exclusive supplier of avionics for AirAsia’s Airbus fleet and we also provide long-
term maintenance of these systems. For Malaysia Airlines, which operates a mix of
Airbus and Boeing aircrafts, we are providing cockpit avionics and have recently signed
a long-term maintenance contract to support them.
Beyond aviation, we also support the banking and telecommunications sector with
security and personalisation solutions for credit cards and SIM cards, including nano-
SIMs and e-SIMs, all produced in our Puchong facility.
We are keen to extend our expertise into new areas including border surveillance and
protection, as well as in digitalisation and cybersecurity, aligned with Malaysia’s
strategic ambitions.
What is the delivery timeframe for the GM400 Alpha radar in Bintulu, as the LOA
was signed last year (in 2023)?
The LOA for the GM400 Alpha long-range radar was signed in December 2023. The
project includes civil works, for which we are partnering with Global Komited. The radar
is expected to be fully operational in Bintulu by mid to late 2026. Work has begun on
administrative tasks and authorisations, with construction set to start next year.
Have you received any feedback from the Army since you delivered the
Starstreak missiles and launchers?
Feedback on the Starstreak missiles and ForceShield system has been positive,
highlighted by recent successful test firings in Johor where the missiles were spot-on in
hitting its targets. Observed by the Defence Minister and the MINDEF KSU, these
results demonstrate the system’s precision and reliability. Thales and Global Komited are finalising a support contract to address maintenance needs and upgrades, ensuring competitive and efficient solutions that meet the users’ operational needs.
Future discussions are focused on upgrading the missiles towards the newer Light Multi-role Missile (LMM) technology while retaining existing launchers, addressing the need to replace missiles used in firing exercises. Thales is also exploring the expansion of ForceShield and short-range air defence systems to other regions and MERAD projects. By integrating systems like the GM200 and GM400 with new platforms, Thales ensures compatibility, efficiency, and seamless collaboration with various missile
manufacturers.
Overall, the feedback highlights strong user satisfaction with Starstreak and
ForceShield, alongside a forward-looking approach to upgrades, support and broader
system integration.
Do you think there will be another tender for replacing old radars, like the ones in
Peninsula?
It remains to be seen if upgrading those radars will be at the top of Malaysia’s list but
replacing them would significantly enhance air and maritime surveillance and strengthen
border protection. Modern systems like the GM400 Alpha provide superior situational
awareness (>500km range), which is crucial for monitoring borders and protecting
sovereign space from foreign incursions.
Globally, there is increasing demand for air defence and surveillance systems, driven by
regional tensions and security needs. Even smaller nations, such as Georgia where I
was posted before, have prioritised air defence over other military capabilities. Closer to
home, Indonesia recently acquired 13 GM400 radars last year, including partnering with
local industry for maintenance and support. The GM family of radars are also in use with
a range of European nations including Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany and the
Netherlands. The system is also combat-proven in battle, where two complete Air
Defence systems with the GM200 and its C2 are being used in Ukraine.
Similarly, we stand ready to support Malaysia if they would like to upgrade their
systems. We are particularly proud of the GM400 success story in Malaysia and the
fact that the RMAF was the launch customer for the GM400 way back in 2009.
Does Thales have a maintenance contract for the Gempita systems, or is it on an
ad-hoc basis?
Thales supports the Gempita programme, which concluded in 2021, through an as needed maintenance framework in collaboration with Deftech. This partnership ensures system interoperability with future vehicle programmes like the AV4 or Adnan or the HMLTV.
Thales also operates a radio lab in Kuala Lumpur to support the Army’s communication
systems. By fostering long-term partnerships with local entities such as Deftech,
Global Komited, and ADS Sdn Bhd, Thales wants to ensure seamless integration, user-
friendly systems and to strengthen local capabilities through consistent procurement
and technology transfer.
What are the prospects of the Starstreak Programme?
The Starstreak missiles delivered in 2018-2019 have been successfully integrated and used in various exercises and the Army has expressed interest in deploying additional short-range air defence systems in other regions. There is also growing interest in medium-range air defence systems, aligning with global trends of enhancing air surveillance and defence capabilities.
Thales offers a unique advantage as a master systems integrator, ensuring compatibility and seamless integration with existing systems like the GM200 and GM400. This approach provides a winning offer to Malaysia, as we’re able to provide synergies, reduce costs and streamline maintenance, thereby making it very operationally efficient for the end users. We are well-positioned to collaborate with any missile manufacturer to meet Malaysia’s specific needs.
How is Thales building local expertise in Malaysia?
The Malaysian Ministry of Defence's strategy aims to foster local expertise by designating champions in specific areas, such as air defence or naval systems. Over the past 14 years, Thales has collaborated with Global Komited and we operate local centres of expertise, starting with the first GM400 radar in 2012 and continuing through projects like ForceShield and the 2023 GM400 contract. We are particularly proud that the RMAF was the launch customer for the GM400 way back in 2009.
Thales is dedicated to strengthening Malaysia’s defence capabilities and establishing a
strong local footprint. Our strategy has always been one of localisation and partnership.
By operating these local centres of excellence, we are enabling the building of local
indigenous capabilities through training and transfer of knowledge and technology.
In addition, Thales has been recognised through the Industrial Collaboration
Programme (ICP) as being a leading defence partner dedicated to helping Malaysia build its defence expertise. One of our collaborations was with the UPNM-Warwick
Manufacturing Group for an MSc in Technology Management for Defence & Security. 46
students have graduated from this programme since its inception five years ago,
Tell us about the divestment of the joint-venture with STE.
Thales and STE had a strong collaboration which lasted for over 20 years and this past
year, we parted ways amicably for both parties to respectively focus on different
strategies in the radio communications business.
Throughout it all, we ensured that our commitment to the Army and our local presence,
including the transfer of technology, remained unchanged and will even be reinforced in
the coming years with our new partner ADS Sdn Bhd. Thales retained industrial tools,
intellectual property, and maintenance facilities, ensuring no loss of technical capability.
In fact, we remain very competitive on the radio market. Earlier this year, we announced
at DSA 2024 the contract to provide VHF and HF radios to the Army, which have
recently cleared acceptance tests and are on track to be delivered. We continue to
reinforce our position in this domain promoting the latest radio technologies in Malaysia.
Do you have any closing remarks?
Thales remains deeply committed to Malaysia, with a presence spanning five decades.
Through strategic collaborations and cutting-edge technology, we aim to support the
nation’s ambitions for a modern and integrated defence system. Our partnerships and
local initiatives reflect our dedication to building a robust defence ecosystem that aligns
with Malaysia’s long-term goals.
Do note that the interview was done before the tender for the eight VSHORAD GBAD was published in Eperolehan.
–Malaysian Defence.
” I think the priority for Malaysia is really to, as a maritime country, to get a very good picture of their border, of their aerospace and maritime space and the context that we perfectly know, the incursion from foreign countries in their sovereign space ”
This ⬆️
Global Komited is under Weststar Defence Industries right?
For context, when the guy said they were in Malaysia for 50 years, they meant Thomson CSF Radar on Perdana clas FAC. Thales was known as Thomson CSF before the name change
I wonder why they are pushing to replace Starstreak with LMM. Isn’t Starstreak (Mach 3) better than LMM (Mach 1.5), at least for air defence?
I believed both are part of the Weststar Group.
“With quantity it will also come with local production capability”
This is what the Defence Ministry should do. Buy in bulk for cheaper prices & boost local expertise. Too bad we tend to buy in little quantity, bit by bit. Why not negotiate a 10-20 year contract for air defense & commit? Altenative or progressive payment. We dont have to pay for the whole cost now.
” I wonder why they are pushing to replace Starstreak with LMM. Isn’t Starstreak (Mach 3) better than LMM (Mach 1.5), at least for air defence? ”
The LMM is significantly cheaper, also easier for the operator to control to the target (the operator needs to manually place a laser dot on the target by using their thumbs on a toggle, this is not a fire and forget weapon like Iglas, Anza Mk2 or FN-6). That is at the expense of the speed, will be a worse weapon for fast flying targets, but a non issue for slow UAVs and shahed-like attack drones.
“So why we are today in this medium range competition”
Sounds like the MERAD have been tendered out or at least a bidding was put out.
“I believed both are part of the Weststar Group.”
With chopper leasing, light trucks, starstreak, and now radar, GK/Westar is becoming the big crony of this current generation.
@Qamarul
“Why not negotiate a 10-20 year contract for air defense & commit?”
Can the Govt commit to a 10-20 year procurement plan? No point to plan something the beancounters wont willing to put their money into or put to somewhere else which piques the ministers interests.
“Altenative or progressive payment.”
The only alternative plan we like is partial bartering for our palm oil. However the other side will need to agree and not always they do or can do or even willing to do (ie FMS). Same goes with payment by installments unless we take loan from external parties which opens a bigger can of worms.
We buy in bits & pieces at long intervals because we simply dont have enough money to buy sufficiently of anything. If you have 10 kids and only 1 food portion you aint going to feed 1 and let the others starve rite? You would break that and give to all 10 yet all of them will not be full and be unhappy but they wont die either. Were in that situation now. Sadly.
No lah, MERAD has not been tendered out. Its an open secret though and many companies have made their representations to RMAF and Army.