KUALA LUMPUR: DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech) has unveiled two variants of AV8 Gempita armoured-wheeled-vehicle for the Malaysian army at the ongoing 16th Defence Services Asia (DSA 2018).
The two, Gempita Surveillance (SURV) and Gempita Remote Control Weapon Station (RCWS), were part of 12 variants of the 259 Gempitas that Deftech is developing under a contract awarded in 2011.
Deftech group chief executive officer Lt Kol Datuk Amril Samsudin said the SURV would be employed by both the army’s Armoured Regiment and Mechanised Infantry Unit.
“This weapon system will provide both units with an organic surveillance capability to detect any aggressor tank or armoured formations.
“We are proud to be part of this successful programme that will provide Malaysia with key deterrence capabilities,” he said after the unveiling of the two variants here today.
Deftech started delivering the vehicles since 2014 and has delivered 118 units to-date.
They included the Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) 25mm, Armoured Fighting Vehicle 30mm, Armoured Command Vehicle, Armoured Vehicle Signal, ATGW (Anti-Tank Guided Weapon) and RCWS.
The SURV comes with a telescopic radar mast, which will provide battlefield commanders better situational awareness on the enemy’s disposition and the position of friendly forces.
The on-board radar system is highly-classified and is a key enabler in compressing the cycle between target acquisitions and neutralising it.
SURV will be an integral part of time-sensitive targeting which is the new dynamics in warfare.
Meanwhile, the RCWS is equipped with 12.7mm gun to be used mainly in the Mechanised Infantry, in efforts to use autonomous technology to reduce the risk of soldiers on-ground as the RCWS can be operated by the crew from inside the vehicle.
The DSA 2018 was earlier officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who later made visited a display of the world’s sophisticated hardware and electronic warfare in land, air and sea defence, battlefield healthcare products and technology, training and simulation systems and police and security peripherals.
About 43,000 visitors from 70 countries are expected during the four-day conference and exhibition at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre.