Malaysia’s Weststar partners with Australia’s RTI to build rocket production facility, strengthening sovereign defence capability under DIPN policy.
KUALA LUMPUR: A strategic partnership between Malaysia’s Weststar Defence Industries Sdn Bhd and Australia’s Rocket Technologies International Pty Ltd (RTI) will strengthen Malaysia’s sovereign defence capability and advance its domestic defence industry, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said.
He said the collaboration marks a significant step in developing Malaysia’s rocket and missile capabilities and aligns with the National Defence Industry Policy (DIPN), which seeks to enhance local expertise in the development and manufacture of defence systems.
Under the partnership, Weststar will establish a production facility in Malaysia, with rocket manufacturing expected to begin within two years before expanding into missile production.
“The investment by Weststar will also enable Malaysia to join RTI’s global supply chain, creating new opportunities for local companies to participate in the international defence ecosystem,” Mohamed Khaled said in a statement.
The agreement was signed at the National Convention Centre in Canberra by Weststar Group founder and group managing director Tan Sri Dr Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim and RTI founder Allan James Payne during Mohamed Khaled’s three-day working visit to Australia, which began on Wednesday.
In the statement, Mohamed Khaled thanked the Australian government for its support and approval of the collaboration, while congratulating Weststar for its commitment to investing in the strategic sector.
“This investment will not only generate significant returns for Malaysia’s defence industry but also represents a strategic investment in strengthening the nation’s sovereign defence capability for future generations,” he said.
During the visit, Mohamed Khaled and his delegation toured the Institute for Space, Defence and Advanced Technologies (ISDAT) at the University of Southern Queensland to explore advances in rocket and missile technologies through industry-academia collaboration.
The delegation, which included Royal Malaysian Air Force chief General Tan Sri Muhamad Norazlan Aris, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) vice-chancellor Lt Gen Datuk Wira Arman Rumaizi Ahmad, and National Aerospace Industry Corporation Malaysia (NAICO Malaysia) chief executive officer Prof Shamsul Kamar Abu Samah, also visited advanced composite manufacturing and hypersonics laboratories developed in collaboration with defence companies, including RTI.
Mohamed Khaled said the visit demonstrated how Australia’s defence industry leverages academic expertise to develop advanced defence technologies and products.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled said he also met Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles to discuss strengthening bilateral defence ties and exploring new areas of strategic cooperation for mutual benefit.
He expressed hope that defence relations between Malaysia and Australia would continue to deepen, contributing to shared interests as well as regional peace and stability.
As part of the visit, Mohamed Khaled, along with Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul and Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Australia Datin Paduka Sharrina Abdullah, received an official welcome at Parliament House in Canberra.
They also convened a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick and several Australian parliamentarians.
“Such a meeting reflects the enduring commitment of Malaysia and Australia to further strengthening their longstanding friendship and strategic partnership,” Mohamed Khaled added.
