KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 — From a supersonic jet to cardboard drones, a few of the world’s most cutting-edge defence tech landed in Kuala Lumpur this week, providing a uncommon look inside a fast-growing world trade.
Listed here are a few of the applied sciences that caught Malay Mail’s eye on the nineteenth Defence Providers Asia (DSA) and Nationwide Safety (Natsec) Asia 2026 exhibition:
Turkiye’s supersonic Hurjet
The only-engine supersonic Hurjet, one of many crown jewels of Turkish Aerospace Industries, made its debut look in Malaysia on the bottom flooring of the Malaysia Worldwide Commerce and Exhibition Centre (Mitec).
The Hurjet, which made its first flight in 2023, is designed to interchange ageing coach fleets whereas supporting the transition to fifth-generation fighter plane.
The plane measures 13.6 metres in size and 4.1 metres in peak, with a wingspan of 9.5 metres.
Turkish Aerospace Industries president and chief govt officer Mehmet Demiroğlu stated the Turkish Armed Forces — the second-largest army in Nato — will obtain Hurjet deliveries in 2027, whereas the Spanish Armed Forces are anticipated to start receiving the fleet in 2028.
At the moment within the testing part, the jamming-resistant Hunterex-Darkish and Hunterex-Fibre drones are designed for offensive covert operations. — Image by Dhesegaan Bala Krishnan
Hungary’s kamikaze mini-drones
Drones stole the limelight greater than the large weapons, with dozens of firms competing to showcase their indigenous know-how to world militaries.
One standout on show in a quiet nook on the third flooring was the all-black Hunterex kamikaze mini-drones from Hungary.
Developed over a 12 months in the past, the jamming-resistant drones are available two variants: the Hunterex-Darkish and the Hunterex-Fibre.
The Hunterex-Darkish is designed for night time operations, that includes an built-in thermal digital camera and night time imaginative and prescient techniques, whereas the Hunterex-Fibre is constructed with fibre optics and marketed as having a complicated spoofing system.
At the moment in testing, in keeping with the corporate, each fashions are suited to offensive covert operations in difficult terrain.
The AirKamuy 150, constructed from commonplace cardboard, is a military-grade drone, which the corporate stated is at the moment deployed by the Japanese Navy. — Image by Dhesegaan Bala Krishnan
Japan’s cardboard fight drones
Overlook carbon fibre or titanium — one Japanese firm offered military-grade drones created from cardboard.
The AirKamuy 150, constructed from commonplace cardboard and coated with a water-repellent layer, could be assembled on website in simply 5 minutes, very similar to origami.
Priced at solely US$2,500 (RM6,000), AirKamuy Inc chief engineer Naoki Morita stated the low-cost drones are 90 per cent cheaper than fixed-wing unmanned aerial automobiles (UAVs) and may fly twice so long as typical electrical multicopters.
He additionally stated the drones, developed in 2024, can carry payloads of as much as 1.5kg for offensive missions and are at the moment deployed by the Japanese Navy.
Nesa Havacilik enterprise improvement specialist Salih Selek presents tactical oxygen turbines developed after a devastating earthquake struck Turkiye in 2023. — Image by Yusof Isa
Turkiye’s tactical oxygen generator
Turkiye-based Nesa Havacilik ve Mühendislik A.Ş. showcased its newest tactical oxygen turbines, which attract surrounding air and convert it into high-purity oxygen for instant medical use.
Weighing round 60kg, the gear was developed a couple of 12 months and a half in the past and is claimed to be among the many most transportable oxygen converters at the moment obtainable.
Nesa Havacilik enterprise improvement specialist Salih Selek stated the corporate started growing the gear after an earthquake that struck Turkiye in February 2023 hampered the transport of oxygen cylinders to subject hospitals.
“At the moment, we’ve got two fashions — one which generates oxygen on-site for medical use and one other to refill oxygen cylinders.
“The gear operates on electrical energy and may dispense oxygen for 4 individuals at anyone time,” Salih defined.
Navy eyewear from Taiwan, which QEF Design stated was examined utilizing fragment-simulating projectiles and precise shotguns fired from 20 yards (roughly 18m), on show on the exhibition. — Image by Dhesegaan Bala Krishnan
Taiwan’s ballistic-resistant eyewear
Fancy military-grade spectacles? Taiwan-based QEF Design has rolled out an array of trendy eyewear designed to resist ballistic fragments.
QEF Design undertaking supervisor Catalina Lai stated the corporate has been producing army eyewear that meets the American ballistic eye safety requirements of MIL-PRF-32432A since 2014.
Lai stated the spectacles could be manufactured inside 60 to 90 days and have been examined utilizing fragment-simulating projectiles and precise shotguns fired from 20 yards (18 metres).
If it wasn’t already apparent, the glasses won’t defend you from a headshot — however they may assist protect towards shrapnel, with type.
