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KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Malaysia has achieved another milestone with the country’s first locally built armored vehicle, the Tarantula HMAV 4×4, a highly mobile four-wheel drive armored vehicle.
It is 100% made in Malaysia and produced by Mildef International Technologies Sdn Bhd, proving that a local company has the capacity and skills to compete with those of defense industry players around the world.
Defense Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that the armored vehicle, which was completed three months ago, was built by a team of eight engineers and more than 100 Ministry of Defense (Mindef) employees at a cost of RM16 thousand, including research and development, spread over four years.
“This is Malaysian-made. I have said (previously) that Mindef will focus on the fact that experts in Malaysia are capable of producing our own weapons, so that we don’t have to rely on foreign countries for military equipment,” he said during a press conference after the launch of the Tarantula HMAV 4×4 at Wisma Perwira Tentera Darat, Kem Sungai Besi here on Thursday (April 2).
According to Ismail Sabri, the vehicle had undergone various evaluations, including road durability, fuel consumption, load tests and climbing tests, which were carried out in line with international military standards.
The vehicle got its name from the Tarantula, a group of large and often hairy spiders capable of changing their color and movements to adapt to the environment around them and capable of killing animals much larger than themselves.
Ismail Sabri said the vehicle was also built to suit the Malaysian climate and climate.
He said the Tarantula had been well received by some Middle Eastern countries, however orders had not yet been placed.
“The technology (of this vehicle) will be improved if there is a need to enter the international market, and based on its existing capacity, Mildef can produce 40 tarantulas a year if there is demand,” he said.
With its durability and ability to reach speeds of up to 110 km / h, the Tarantula is also capable of executing several important military missions and protecting its crew and passengers. – Bernama
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