Russia Offers Advanced Warheads To Boost Malaysia’s Drone Production Capabilities

By Ahmad Syabil Sultan Noordin Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- Russia has expressed its readiness to supply advanced warheads to Malaysia to support the local production of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and loitering munitions, commonly known as kamikaze drones.

A spokesperson for Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state intermediary for defence exports, said the offer is aimed at empowering regional partners to develop their own indigenous drone capabilities.

Speaking to Bernama on the sidelines of the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (NatSec) Asia 2026 exhibition here, the spokesperson said Russia is prepared to provide a range of warheads, specifically in the 2.5-kilogramme (kg), 3kg, and 5kg categories.

“We offer these advanced warheads for the region as well. If national manufacturers, especially in Malaysia, want to produce their own UAVs or loitering munitions, the Russian side is ready to offer these effective components to ensure high-accuracy engagement,” the spokesperson said.

The move comes at a critical time as the geopolitical landscape shifts, particularly observing the current conflict dynamics between the United States-Israel and Iran.

Military analysts suggest that the escalating tensions in the Middle East have highlighted the strategic necessity for Malaysia to bolster its aerial assets, specifically drones, to safeguard national sovereignty and maintain a credible deterrent posture.

Malaysia has taken significant steps in modernising its Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) capabilities.

The Ministry of Defence recently finalised the acquisition of the Turkish-made ANKA-S Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs to enhance the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

Besides performing ISR tasks, the highly sophisticated ANKA MALE-UAS also has the capability to carry four MAM Smart Micro missiles developed by ROKETSAN for surface attack missions.

The first units of the ANKA-S drones have reportedly begun operations at the Labuan Air Base.

Deliveries are being carried out in phases, with the initial units undergoing rigorous testing and evaluation phases earlier this year to ensure seamless integration into the RMAF’s tactical framework.

The Rosoboronexport spokesperson noted that while Malaysia is currently integrating these MALE-UAS platforms, Russia’s offer focuses on the tactical end of drone warfare, enabling the development of smaller, lethal loitering munitions that have proven effective in modern combat environments.

-- BERNAMA