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Malaysia Holds Largest International Arms Exhibition. PHOTOS/MGAS
LANGKAWI – With increasing geopolitical tensions around the world, exhibition weapon latest international in Malaysia has attracted enormous interest. Country representatives from around the world reportedly attended this event.
This year’s Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition is the largest in the country, with more than 500 companies from around 30 countries showing off their latest technologies, both in hardware and software.
The event, which was held again after a four-year hiatus, caught the attention of defense chiefs from across the region as they looked to increase their arms production.
Deals and pledges worth around USD 4 billion are expected during the five-day exhibition which will end on Friday (27/5/2023). In his opening speech at the event, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the success of LIMA 2023 would “strengthen Malaysia as a regional hub for the aerospace and maritime industries”.
Malaysia, which has traditionally kept defense spending at no more than 1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), increased its budget by 10 percent this year.
This is because its military and civilian defenses are in dire need of system upgrades, with current assets said to be old and outdated. They have ordered 18 FA50 fighter jets from South Korea.
“We were able to make our first delivery in 42 months. And the first shipment will be made to Malaysia in 2026,” said Korean Aerospace Industries CEO Kang Goo-Young.
Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand have made similar purchases from South Korean aerospace companies, as defense spending has increased amid global geopolitical tensions.
Closer to home, Malaysia continues to make efforts to keep its borders safe as the former Sulu attacks in the East Malaysian state of Sabah remain. The Lahad Datu attack in 2013 by followers of the last sultan from the remote Sulu region of the Philippines killed at least 70 people, including 10 Malaysian security personnel.
(esn)
