Longstanding Malaysian joint force requirements for UAVs are being filled through a service arrangement, but plans for an acquisition remain on the books. Since November 2008, Malaysia's Unmanned Systems Technology (UST) Sdn Bhd has been quietly providing security surveillance and imaging services to the Malaysian military's joint forces command under a private finance arrangement using its Aludra Mk1 tactical UAS. The service deal, coordinated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), is intended to help meet the Malaysian forces' longstanding intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance requirements, ahead of a proposed Aludra fleet acquisition to fill that capability need. This acquisition effort, however, may well remain some time in development, with the Malaysian economy hit hard by the global economic downturn.
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