Defence

Composite Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM), Ikramatic and System Consultancy Services (SCS) have agreed to set up a joint venture company to develop a mini unmanned air vehicle for the Malaysian army.

The three Malaysian companies signed a memorandum of understanding at LIMA establishing Malaysian Unmanned Systems (MAUSB). CTRM intends to hold the majority stake, but the three companies are still negotiating an exact breakdown.

MAUSB plans to begin developing, early next year, a mini-UAV based on a tactical air vehicle developed by CTRM subsidiary Excelnet that never became operational. CTRM chief executive Rosdi Mahmud says government funding has already been secured for development of the UAV, slated to fly in mid-2006, but it will be up to the army to decide whether to acquire the vehicle to meet its tactical UAV requirement.

The new UAV is expected to have a gross weight of 150-200kg (330-440lb), a payload of 25-50kg and a range of about 200km. Earlier this year CTRM enlisted Ikramatic to develop a new control system for its original tactical UAV, which used a commercial off-the-shelf control system.

Ikramatic will now be responsible for the control system on the new, larger tactical UAV, and the fuselage will be manufactured by CTRM or SCS. Privately owned SCS has previously developed a UAV technology demonstrator, but is yet to sell any aircraft.