ASELSAN Arms Malaysia’s TARANTULA APCs with Advanced Battlefield Systems in Major Defence Breakthrough
Malaysia’s TARANTULA armoured personnel carrier receives a major combat upgrade with ASELSAN’s next-generation battlefield systems, marking a regional defence milestone.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — ASELSAN continues to grow its presence in the Asia-Pacific with a major step in the Malaysian Army’s TARANTULA Project.
Through a strategic partnership with MILDEF International Technologies, ASELSAN will deliver advanced weapon, command-and-control, communication, and electro-optic systems for the TARANTULA armored vehicle, which recently passed a key technical inspection ahead of its Proof of Concept.
This collaboration, formalized through a teaming agreement at LIMA 2025, reflects ASELSAN’s commitment to export-based growth and local capacity building.
The systems delivered by ASELSAN to be integrated into the TARANTULA vehicles will enhance operational functionality and support Malaysian Army’s modernization goals.
TARANTULA is a 4×4 mine-resistant armored personnel carrier developed locally by MILDEF in cooperation with STRIDE and the Malaysian Armed Forces.
With 136 units planned for acquisition, the platform features 70 percent local content, high mobility, and NATO STANAG 4569 Level 2 protection standards.
This milestone consolidates ASELSAN’s position as a trusted defense technology provider and a key contributor to indigenous defense solutions in international markets.
Last year Defence Minister Datuk eri Mohamed Khaled Nordin in a response during Parlimentary session said that the High Mobility Armoured Vehicle (HMAV) 4×4 “Tarantula” meets the technical specifications set by the Malaysian Army.
In addition, the vehicle manufacturer, MILDEF Technologies Sdn Bhd, has been found capable of supplying the “Tarantula” as a locally-produced product and has the necessary manufacturing facilities, he said.
“Based on the testing protocols for an armoured vehicle, the Army has determined that the Tarantula 4×4 armoured vehicle offered has met and complied with the technical specifications required.”
The company is also deemed capable of supplying this vehicle as a locally-produced product with the necessary manufacturing facilities,” the Defence Minister said in his verbal response to a question from Datuk Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (PN-Tanah Merah).
According to Mohamed Khaled, “Tarantula” has undergone several evaluation processes to meet the operational requirements of the Malaysian Army.
“The evaluation process was carried out by a team appointed from STRIDE together with the Army, covering the following tests:
a) Vehicle Capability Assessment in Malaysia’s operational terrain conducted in early 2021;
b) Company Capability Evaluation in February 2023;
c) Ballistic Test conducted at the Defence Technology Institute in Bangkok, Thailand, in July 2023; and
d) Mine/Underbelly Test conducted at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria, South Africa, in October 2023,” said the Defence Minister.
