A new high-frequency radio system demonstrated in Malaysia promises resilient, long-range communications for military and disaster response operations.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s defence sector was given a glimpse of next-generation battlefield communications with a live demonstration of the high frequency extended link (HF XL) radio system by Advanced Defence Systems Sdn Bhd (ADS) and French defence firm Thales recently.
The demonstration, held at the Defence Ministry football field on April 9, connected Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Lumut over more than 1,500km, involving 113 tactical radio stations, highlighting the system’s long-range capabilities and potential applications in military and emergency operations.
The system, if deployed by the government, is said to be the first of its kind in the region.
Designed for operations over long distances and in remote terrain, the HF XL system is intended for use in areas where conventional networks are weak or unavailable.
Thales Malaysia and Brunei managing director Florian Riou, in a written statement, said Thales would provide training and knowledge transfer covering areas such as maintenance, repair and overhaul, integration and testing, to support the system’s operational readiness.
Riou said ADS, meanwhile, would supply the accessories, with about 30% of the work and components to be sourced locally. .
On the system’s capabilities, he said the HF XL radio was engineered to transmit significantly more data than legacy high-frequency systems while remaining compatible with the army’s existing radio inventory.
“The HF XL radio system, manufactured by Thales, introduces a new generation of high-data-rate HF communications, building on Thales’ long-standing expertise in tactical radio solutions. The system is capable of delivering data rates up to 10 times higher than conventional HF systems, ensuring resilient long-range communications of up to 10,000km.
“Fully interoperable with existing radios in the army’s inventory, the solution provides secure transmissions, low operating costs and long-range coverage in constrained environments, making it ideal for Malaysia’s tropical terrain.
“Integration into existing inventory will be seamless, with plug-and-play interoperability and no requirement for additional infrastructure,” he said.
Riou said the April 9 demonstration highlighted stable connectivity, ease of deployment and adaptability across varied operating scenarios. He added that the system could also play a wider role beyond military use.
“Additionally, the radio system is resilient against jamming and supports the transmission of large data files, including images and video, serving as a reliable backup to satellite communications. This makes it well-positioned to support not only military operations but also disaster response and remote-area emergency communications.”
ADS business development director Lt Col Shane Chin said the demonstration underscored the system’s potential as a dependable backup to satellite communications, ensuring resilient connectivity during critical operations.
The demonstration was conducted simultaneously across three locations – Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu using 400W systems and Lumut using a 125W system – with live streaming between sites.