NATIONAL SPACE DEFENCE SYSTEM PLAN BEING FORMULATED - ADLY

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) is formulating a long-term plan to strengthen the country's space defence system capabilities, said Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari.

He said the plan, which will start from 2030 until 2044, includes the launch of National Military Satellites to support the Space Defence System.

The system, he said, includes various elements including satellite defence which protects satellites from anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) threats, space debris and cyber attacks as well as Space Situational Awareness (SSA) which monitors space to track objects and detect activities.

"In addition, it is also equipped with Space-Based Sensors which use sensors in space to detect missile launches, nuclear explosions and other threats to provide early warning and increase situational awareness to the country," he said during a question and answer session at Dewan Negara today.

He was responding to Senator Datuk Lim Pay Hen's original question, which asked how far the ministry was moving towards developing a space defence system, given that space defence technology based on satellite technology and artificial intelligence is now widely developed and adopted by the world's major powers.

Adly said that to prevent and destroy incoming threats, the development of rocket and missile systems capable of operating in space would also be given focus so that the country had defensive capabilities.

"Taking into account the country's financial capabilities, the plan to have a space defence system in the near future will focus on defensive capabilities first.

"Considerations to have offensive capabilities such as space-based missile attacking systems require a larger allocation and need to be implemented when the country has better financial capabilities in the future," he said.

Responding to a supplementary question from Senator Mohd Hasbie Muda who asked whether there were local companies with expertise to offer satellite technology solutions for space defence, Adly said it certainly existed, not only involving industry but also in government-linked companies (GLCs).

"Actually, the expertise exists, and if someone asks whether Malaysia is capable of building defence satellites, the answer is yes, we are capable. However, among our challenges is how much we want to spend on it while also having to take into account other aspects including the impact of the expenditure on other defence elements," he said.

-- BERNAMA