The Weststar Group selected to provide Malaysian military with STARStreak VSHORAD systems 20308151

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The Weststar Group selected to provide Malaysian military with STARStreak VSHORAD systems
The Weststar Group has been recently appointed as the main contractor for Ministry of Defence Malaysia, (MINDEF) procurement of the latest state-of-the-art STARStreak Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) system from Thales Air Defense Limited UK, the Malaysian company announces today.
     
GK-M1 Lightweight Multiple Missile Launcher STARStreak air defense missile system Malaysia 640 001GK-M1 4x4 tactical vehicle with a Lightweight Multiple Missile Launcher armed with STARStreak missiles at DSA 2014, International Defense Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
     
The system is a leading VSHORAD system available in the market today, therefore providing MINDEF enhanced capability to protect key national assets against both established and emerging threats.

Witnessing the contract handover at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) were Malaysian Defense Minister YB Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and United Kingdom Minister of State for Defence Procurement, Philip Dunne.

The Weststar Group Managing Director, Tan Sri Syed Azman said, “The deal involves MINDEF upgrading their existing missile defense system by capitalizing on the trade-in opportunity for the previous Starburst missiles with the much-improved Starstreak missiles. This has enabled MINDEF to realize substantial savings in the process.”

"MINDEF is delighted with the procurement of the system, as it will be a key part of augmenting the capabilities of the nation’s air defense forces as a whole. The system is being procured in part of a trade-in program of the decommissioned Starburst missiles," said the Weststar Group in an official release. The delivery of the integrated air defense system will come in a complete package that includes an air surveillance/engagement radar as well as a command and control system.

The Malaysian defense industry will benefit through the offset program offered by THALES. Among the benefits to be reaped is the transfer of technology in hardware and software applications that correlate to the system as well as in other related fields. In addition, THALES has also offered training packages for the operator and technicians to ensure smooth operation over the life cycle of the system.

The STARStreak is a short range surface-to-air missile or MAN Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) designed and manufactured by Thales United Kingdom. The missile, which travels at more than three times the speed of sound, uses a system of three dart-like projectiles, allowing multiple hits on the target.

The lightweight multiple launcher (LML) has an automatic fire unit and can be carried on light wheeled vehicle as Land Rover.

Thales has addressed the needs of military users around the world and introduced major improvements to provide increased range beyond 7 km, increased coverage and altitude and improved guidance precision against small targets.

The STARStreak hittiles are designed to defeat both heavily armoured and light skin aerial targets. On penetrating the targets the hittiles will inflict high levels of kinetic energy damage and each hittile also has a fragmenting warhead which detonates inside the target to maximise lethality. The strike is highly precise yet collateral damage is minimised.