Weststar GK-M1

Weststar GK-M1
The side view of the Weststar GK-M1 4x4 vehicle
TypeMilitary light utility vehicle / Light tactical vehicle
Place of originMalaysia
Service history
In serviceMalaysia
Production history
Designed2012[1]
ManufacturerWeststar Defence Industries
Produced2015–present
Specifications
Mass4 tonnes
Length5.7 meters
Width1.8 meters
Height2 meters
Main
armament
See variants
Suspension4×4
Maximum speed 110 km/h

Weststar GK-M1 is a Malaysian military light utility vehicle or light tactical vehicle designed and manufactured by Weststar Defence Industries.

History

Weststar delivered an unknown quantity of the GK-M1 in 2015.[2] On April 20, 2016, Weststar received another contract from the Malaysian Armed Forces to equip them with 44 Weststar GK-M1 Rapid Rover vehicles.[3] An additional 44 were also to be ordered.[4]

During the Defence & Security Exhibition 2015 convention, Thales announced that it had signed a contract to supply the Malaysian Armed Forces with ForceSHIELD anti-air defense system which is consist of Starstreak missiles, Control Master 200 radar and weapon control system. This system will be install on Weststar GK-M1.[5][3]

Design

The GK-M1 is outfitted with a Toyota engine.[6]

Variants

Weststar GK-M1 light tactical vehicle armed with M134D-H minigun

Fitted For Radio

Command and communication vehicle to accommodate communications equipment.

Ambulance

Ambulance vehicle with accommodation of stretchers in the rear compartment.

Special Operation Vehicle

An off-road vehicle for special forces units made with COTS parts, unveiled in Defence Service Asia 2016.[7] Offered to the Grup Gerak Khas under the light strike vehicle procurement program.[8]

Weapon Carrier

A variant equipped with weapons on top of the vehicle. Weapons mounted includes the M134D-H minigun, machine gun and grenade launcher.[9]

Air Defence

Air defence variant equipped with Starstreak surface-to-air missiles.[5] They're installed through a Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML).[10]

Operators

  •  Malaysia: 100+ GK-M1s reported in service with the Malaysian Army as of 2020.[11][12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "DSA 2018: Testing times ahead for Malaysian SOF vehicles - Special Operations - Shephard Media". www.shephardmedia.com.
  2. ^ Abas, Marhalim. "Weststar GK-M1 Weapon Platform - Malaysian Defence". Retrieved 2018-12-15.
  3. ^ a b "DSA 2016: GK-M1 trials continue - LWI - Land Warfare - Shephard Media". www.shephardmedia.com.
  4. ^ "DSA 2016: GK-M1 trials continue - Shephard Media - Aerospace, defence and security news and analysis". 14 June 2017. Archived from the original on 14 June 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Malaysia's Global Komited and Thales sign partnership agreement for distribution of Ground Based Air Defence systems in Malaysia - Thales Group". www.thalesgroup.com.
  6. ^ says, Marhalim Abas. "Weststar GK-M1 Weapon Platform - Malaysian Defence".
  7. ^ "New Weststar 4x4 Defence Special Operations Vehicle SOV at DSA 2016 11904165". www.armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
  8. ^ "Asian SOF looks for Protected Mobility". January 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "DSA 2018: Dillon Aero's Prospects in Asia Pacific". www.monch.com.
  10. ^ "MALAYSIA TESTS STARSTREAK MISSILES | Article - Fri 02 Nov 2018 08:41:00 AM UTC | airsoc.com. on airsoc.com". Airsoc.com.
  11. ^ "Home - Ministry of Defense Malaysia".
  12. ^ "Our Five Favourite Vehicles Of The Malaysian Army - Insights - Carlist.my". Carlist.my - Malaysia's No.1 Car Site.