Article Posted on : - Apr 17, 2014

The STARStreak high velocity missile. A Thales photo

KUALA LUMPUR (BNS): European defence firm Thales has teamed up with Malaysia's Global Komited Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Weststar Group of Companies, to develop, promote, market, and distribute a wide range of ground-based air defence systems for the Malaysian Armed Forces.

The partnership agreement was inked on the inaugural day of the Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition on April 14 in Kuala Lumpur.

The event marked the appointment of Global Komited Sdn Bhd as a key industrial partner agent for Thales in the region, Thales said.

Global Komited is exhibiting a wide range of military vehicles, including the flagship GK-M1, at the defence show.

The GK-M1 is capable of mounting a lightweight multiple missile launcher that can fire the Thales-built STARStreak high velocity missiles.

The STARStreak is the latest addition to Thales-developed Ground Based Air Defence systems.

The new missile will enable the Malaysian Armed Forces, particularly the Royal Malaysian Air Force, to replace the previously commissioned Starburst missile system, according to Thales.

With this new collaboration, Thales will facilitate Global Komited in further incorporating a more comprehensive range of allied defence systems, such as a Command and Control radar system to support and protect all important government and military assets, the company said.