The launch was held in conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA’25) at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre.
Ribat, the name chosen by the prime minister, refers to the spirit of guarding and defending the country based on faith, patriotism, and technology.
It also refers to the practice of guarding and controlling the border to defend the safety of the people, symbolising preparedness, courage, and the spirit of sacrifice for the sake of the country.
At the event, Anwar witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Mildef and major Indonesian defence company PT Pindad, which is set to open up opportunities for exports, technology transfer, and system integration between the two nations.
He also witnessed the inking of a memorandum of agreement between Mildef and the Defence Science and Technology Research Institute – a research agency under the defence ministry.
The MoA is aimed at efforts to develop two more tactical vehicle platforms to be domestically designed.
Mildef said Ribat was developed by local engineers with the support of industrial-grade engineering facilities in Seremban and Sepang.
It is equipped with a modular ballistic protection system and designed for missions such as patrols, convoys, and special operations.
Mildef managing director Mohd Nizam Kasa said the launch of Ribat not only illustrated the capability of the local industry but was also a manifestation of the success of the government’s policy to empower a self-reliant and high-impact defence ecosystem.
“Ribat is the result of local innovation, which proves that Malaysia is capable of being not only a user of defence systems, but also a creator of strategic technology trusted by both the government and the global community,” he said.
Since its establishment in 2005, Mildef has grown from a group of young engineers to a key player in the national defence industry with its success in building assets such as the high mobility armoured vehicle Tarantula, the Rentaka 4×4, and now Ribat.