Advanced Defence Systems Strengthens Malaysian Defence Communications with Advance HF XL Radio Live Streaming Demonstration
The live demonstration conducted by ADS and Thales showed how the new HF XL tactical radio can maintain secure long-range communications even when satellites, GPS and conventional networks are disrupted.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Advanced Defence Systems Sdn. Bhd. (ADS) in collaboration with its strategic partner Thales successfully conducted a live demonstration of its High Frequency (HF) XL Radio which was conducted at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) football field, highlighting its advanced communication capabilities designed to meet modern defence and security requirements.
The demonstration showcased the HF XL Radio’s long-range communication performance, reliability in challenging environments and secure data transmission features.
The system is engineered to support beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communications, making it an essential solution for military operations, disaster response and remote connectivity.
The demonstration is carried out across three locations – 400W HF XL radio in Kuala Lumpur, the 400W HF XL in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and the 125W HF XL in Lumut, Perak with a live demonstration being broadcast within three locations.
“The HF XL radio demonstration marks the first of its kind in the region, showcasing this advanced new technology.”
“It also serves as a reliable backup to satellite communications, ensuring continuous and resilient connectivity in critical operations,” said Lt Col Shane Chin (R), ADS’s Director of Business Development.
The equipment introduced is a 400W HF XL tactical radio system, manufactured by Thales, configured as a station with ANT 308 antenna.
The company intends to demonstrate the longrange communication capabilities of this next-generation HF XL tactical radio, which is set to be adopted by the Army.
This radio system is capable of transmitting data and supporting live video streaming.
During the session, attendees were given a comprehensive overview of the radio’s key features, including its robust design, ease of deployment and adaptability to various operational scenarios.
The Thales HF XL Radio demonstrated stable voice and data communication across extended distances, even in demanding terrain and adverse weather conditions.
“This joint demonstration showcases Thales’ expertise in tactical radio communications in Malaysia, dating back over 30 years.”
“We are grateful for the support of a strong partner like ADS and the trust in our technologies from the Malaysian Armed Forces,” said Florian Riou,
Managing Director, Thales Malaysia and Brunei.
The event was attended by representatives from defence agencies, industry partners and also additional support from Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), further reinforcing ADS’s role as a trusted provider of advanced defence and security solutions in the region.
ADS and Thales remain committed to supporting national defence initiatives by developing and delivering cutting-edge technologies tailored to operational needs.
On the first day of DSEI 2025, Thales and local Malaysian partner Advanced Defence Systems (“ADS”) Sdn. Bhd. sign a contract for the delivery of HF XL TRC 3900 complete vehicle-mounted radio stations, including radios, amplifiers and antennas.
With this contract, Malaysia becomes the first country in Asia to benefit from innovative HF XL technology, first unveiled at Eurosatory 2024.
HF XL provides ten times the data rate of current HF systems and ensures resilient long-range communications in constrained environments, perfectly suited to Malaysia’s tropical terrain.
This solution provides the full advantages of HF, including secure transmissions, low operating costs and long-range coverage in remote areas or environments poorly served by satellite.
It enhances resilience against jamming and enables the transfer of large data files such as images and video streaming.
The complete range of TRC 3900 HF XL radio stations also includes 20W manpack solutions for long-range mobile autonomous force needs up to 1000km, as well as 400 W & 1KW radio solutions, that enable deployed command posts to communicate with command headquarters and with other units in remote areas of the theatre of operations, over distances of up to 5,000 km.
Thales deep expertise in tactical and sovereign communications in Malaysia is undisputed, with more than 10,000 radios delivered to the Malaysian Army to-date.
The HF XL radios will be fully interoperable with existing radios in the Army’s inventory, positioning Thales as a key partner to Malaysia in secure communications.
This position is reinforced with the support of ADS, an established Malaysian champion in the defence and security sectors, with both parties committed towards strengthening long-term support and services to the Malaysian Defence Forces.
“This first export success confirms the relevance of HF XL in meeting the needs of armed forces operating in constrained environments.”
“By combining innovation with interoperability with existing fleets, Thales provides its customers with a robust, high-performance and future-ready solution,” said Christophe Groshenry, Vice President Business Line Radiocommunications Products, Thales.
High frequency (HF) transmissions, fully secure and with low operating costs, are still essential for armed forces, particularly in areas with poor satellite coverage (polar regions, for example, or in constrained environments) or where there is a high risk of jamming.
However, HF is limited in terms of bandwidth, and can no longer meet the growing needs of armed forces for data exchange.
By developing high-frequency broadband communication capabilities (HF XL), Thales is offering a 10-fold increase in bandwidth and a significant improvement in quality of service, while still benefiting from HF’s advantages of long range and operation in constrained environments.
This technological feat is made possible by a cognitive engine that automatically selects frequencies throughout the communication.
Jammed frequencies are automatically rejected and replaced by free frequencies, ensuring link stability and optimized data rates.
This makes the radios easy-to-use.
The 1 kW and 400 W radios, fully interoperable with all wideband HF radios, enable deployed command posts to communicate with command headquarters or with other units in remote areas of the theatre of operations, over distances of up to 10,000 km.
To the two stations currently available, 1kW and 400W, new radios for vehicles and soldiers will be added in 2025 to complete the tactical range.
In addition to land and naval environments, it is planned tp extend HF XL technology into the aero and infrastructure domains.
“These new radios are the culmination of several years of consistent innovation and design efforts to provide our customers with a mature solution that represents the state of the art in wideband HF technology”, said Christophe Groshenry, Vice-President Radiocommunication Products, Thales.
