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26 DEF EN SEH ER E L I M A 2 0 2 3 E D I T I O N DEF EN SEH ER E L I M A E D I S I 2 0 2 3 27

RMAF Butterworth; Butterworth is ing to natural disasters; maritime shore patrol vessels, as well as its
set to be modernised in 2023-25. security has received increased 2 attack-type submarines; in ad-
Malaysia’s defence industry focus- emphasis in recent years, partic- dition, the Navy conducts air and
es mainly on providing maintenance, ularly anti-piracy operations in the naval patrols with Indonesia and
repair and overhaul services, and Strait of Malacca and countering the Philippines; it also cooperates
on naval shipbuilding and land ve- foreign incursions in Malaysia’s with the US military, including on
hicle production via offset agree- Economic Exclusion Zone, as well maritime surveillance and training;
ments with European companies. as addressing identified short- the Army’s force structure reflects
falls in maritime capabilities; as its traditional focus on counterin-
MILITARY EQUIPMENT such, Malaysia has undertaken ef- surgency operations and terrorist
INVENTORIES AND forts to procure more modern ships, threats; its 4 divisional commands
ACQUISITIONS improve air and maritime surveil- are comprised largely of infantry
The military fields a diverse mix lance, expand the Navy’s support brigades; it also has 2 security
of older and more modern imported infrastructure (particularly bases/ brigades, an airborne brigade that
weapons systems from a wide va- ports) and domestic ship-build- serves as a rapid-reaction force,
riety of suppliers across Europe, ing capacities, restructure naval and a special operations brigade;
Asia, and the US; in recent years command and control, and increase Malaysia does not have a marine
it has received military equipment naval cooperation with regional corps, but places considerable em-
from approximately 20 countries and international partners; as of phasis on amphibious capabilities
with South Korea as one of the 2023, for example, the Navy had 5 for some of its Army ground units;
leading suppliers (2023) frigates on order, which would in- the Air Force has a mix of about 50
crease the number of operational combat aircraft and helicopters.
NOTES frigates from 2 to 7, and comple-
The MAF is a professional force ment its small inventory of littoral
primarily focused on internal and combat ships (comparable to light Source: Military Balance 2023,
maritime security and respond- frigates in capabilities) and off- CIA World Factbook, SIPRI

ARMY MILITARY EXPENDITURES
ACTIVE 113,000 (Army 80,000 Navy 18,000 1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Air 15,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 22,500 1% of GDP (2021)
1.1% of GDP (2020)
RESERVE 51,600 (Army 50,000, Navy 1,000 1% of GDP (2019)
Air Force 600) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 244,700 1% of GDP (2018)

DEFENCE BUDGET PER YEAR
2022 was $3.9B, a 1.8% increase from 2021.
2021 was $3.83B, a 13.5% increase from 2020.
2020 was $3.37B, a 3.35% increase from 2019.
2019 was $3.27B, a 5.22% decline from 2018.
2018 was $3.45B, a 1.42% decline from 2017.