KUALA LUMPUR: DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech) and Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) will be collaborating on research and development (R&D) for the automotive, systems integration sectors and unmanned systems technologies.
Both parties today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), and the exchange of documents was witnessed by the Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Affendi Buang at the Deftech Pavilion during the Defence Services Asia 2022 (DSA 2022) at MITEC.
Deftech group chief executive officer Fazley Ariffin said that the MoU signifies the company's commitment to embark on strategic R&D collaborations with local research entities.
"We hope the smart partnership with UPNM will be able to nurture and develop local talents and allow for indigenous technologies to thrive.
"This is key to strengthening our local defence industry, which is synonymous with the government's aspirations to increase local defence talent and capabilities," said Fazley in a statement today.
Representing Deftech was its chief operating officer Lt General Datuk Hanafiah Jaafar, while UPNM was represented by its vice-chancellor, Lieutenant General Datuk Hasagaya Abdullah.
Deftech is not new to partnerships with local research entities. For example, its subsidiary Deftech Unmanned Systems Sdn Bhd has successful collaborations with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM).
The collaboration with UTHM has contributed to the development of Malaysia's first locally designed tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
Deftech hopes to emulate and expand the success of local research entities by embarking on an exciting new path with UPNM.
The company collaborates on UPNM's enhanced combat tactical operation response system (VECTORS) programme, an integrated tactical solution for vehicle operation offering command, control, communication and coordination (C4) capabilities.
UPNM's designer and developer of VECTORS, Associate Professor Captain Syed Nasir Alsagoff Syed Zakaria (Rtd), said that UPNM is excited to be given the opportunity to work with Deftech on the VECTORS programme.
"Deftech, as the premier defence company for design, development, manufacturing and supply of armoured and logistics vehicles, has vast experience and skillsets to bring UPNM's VECTORS program to the next level and beyond.
"The first step in the smart collaboration will be to conduct live trials with the Malaysian Army," said Syed Nasir.
VECTORS is on display at DEFTECH Pavilion during the 17th DSA 2022 at MITEC, from 28 to 31 March 2022.