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28 D EF EN S EH ER E D S A 2 0 2 4 E D I T I O N

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

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.