January 12, 2026
KUALA LUMPUR – The Defence Ministry will continue to modernise and strengthen the readiness of the nation’s defence assets in line with the development aspirations of the Future Force.
Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the ministry has been allocated RM21.74bil under Budget 2026, a 2.92% increase compared with 2025.
“RM6bil has been set aside specifically for the procurement of assets and equipment for the Armed Forces,” he said in his New Year’s address at Wisma Perwira on Monday (Jan 12).
Several new assets are expected to be delivered this year, including four Fighter Lead-In Trainer–Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA), three ANKA Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Systems (MALE-UAS), and five Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC), Mohamed Khaled said.
“We will also begin procuring new strategic assets this year, among them Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) systems, Short Range Air Defence (SHORAD) systems, a Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS), and Medium Range Air Defence (MERAD) systems,” he said.
The ministry would also continue to elevate the concept of total defence, emphasising that national defence is a shared responsibility of all segments of society, not solely the Armed Forces, he said.
“To this end, the ministry will mainstream the Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society (WOGOS) approach in national defence, as outlined in the Defence White Paper.
“This initiative has already begun with the implementation of a WOGOS pilot model on Pulau Banggi, Sabah, last year, serving as tangible proof of how the military has translated the Defence White Paper into practical measures that enhance security while supporting rural community development,” he added.