MALAYSIA marked a milestone in its defence capabilities with the official launch of ‘RIBAT’, the nation’s first High Mobility Light Tactical Vehicle (HMLTV), fully designed and manufactured by Mildef International Technologies Sdn Bhd (MILDEF).
The launch took place during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA’25) at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC), in a ceremony officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Notably, the vehicle was named ‘RIBAT’ by the Prime Minister himself, a term that signifies vigilance, sacrifice, and national defence grounded in faith, patriotism, and technology. The word refers to the act of guarding borders and protecting the populace, embodying preparedness and valour.
During the event, Anwar also witnessed the signing of two key defence agreements. The first was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MILDEF and Indonesian defence firm PT PINDAD, intended to promote regional cooperation in exports, technology transfer, and system integration.
The second, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Science and Technology Research Institute (STRIDE), will focus on developing two additional tactical vehicle platforms, fully designed and engineered in Malaysia.
The signatories included MILDEF managing director Datuk Seri Mohd Nizam Kasa, PT PINDAD’s Sigit Puji Santosa, and the Ministry of Defence’s secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali. The signing was witnessed by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Malaysian Armed Forces chief General Datuk Mohd Nizam Jaffar.
In a statement, MILDEF declared the launch a defining moment for the local land defence sector, positioning the company as Malaysia’s leading tactical armoured vehicle manufacturer with expanding reach into regional and international markets.
The RIBAT, developed by Malaysian engineers in facilities located in Seremban and Sepang, features a modular ballistic protection system and is tailored for patrol, convoy, and special operations.
“RIBAT is the result of local innovation, which proves that Malaysia is not only capable of being a user of defence systems but also a creator of strategic technology trusted by both the government and the global community,” said Datuk Seri Mohd Nizam.
He added that the RIBAT project represents the success of national policy in fostering a self-reliant, high-impact defence ecosystem.
Founded in 2005, MILDEF has evolved from a team of young engineers into a core player in Malaysia’s defence industry, credited with developing platforms including the High Mobility Armoured Vehicle (HMAV) Tarantula, the Rentaka 4x4, and now the HMLTV RIBAT. - May 20, 2025
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