Weststar GK-M1

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

Weststar GK-M1
The side view of the Weststar GK-M1 4x4 vehicle
TypeMilitary light utility vehicle / Light tactical vehicle
Place of originMalaysia
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

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 include the M134D-H minigun.[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. "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. "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.
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