Army To Feature CBRNE Capabilities At DSA, NATSEC 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Army will feature a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) segment at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security Asia (NATSEC) 2026 exhibitions from April 20 to 23.

Army Chief Gen Datuk Azhan Md Othman said the segment, introduced for the first time, will showcase the Malaysian Army’s preparedness in addressing threats involving such hazardous materials.

“In the CBRNE Arena, we will demonstrate our readiness in terms of detection in contaminated areas as well as how we carry out deactivation or decontamination processes.

“In addition, there will be talks and demonstrations by relevant agencies involved in CBRNE handling,” he said when appearing as a guest on Bernama TV’s talk show, Apa Khabar Malaysia, at Wisma Bernama here today.

He said this year’s DSA and NATSEC are expected to bring together about 1,400 international companies from more than 60 countries and attract over 50,000 visitors from more than 100 countries.

Among the main highlights is the opening ceremony by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on April 20, as well as the Putrajaya Forum themed ASEAN Security in the Age of Emerging Technologies, featuring a keynote address by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah.

Azhan said the exhibition will also feature several new segments, including firearms and tactical gear as well as the DSA & ASEAN Lab, in addition to a combined pavilion of the local defence industry involving 57 companies.

“Through this platform, we are not only showcasing assets, but are also providing opportunities for discussions and engagement with foreign delegations to deliberate on current developments and the future direction of defence,” he said.

He said DSA and NATSEC, which integrate conventional defence and internal security dimensions, enables the implementation of a more comprehensive security approach .

According to him, the platform also serves as an important avenue to strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations, particularly among ASEAN countries, through meetings, forums and strategic dialogue sessions.

Commenting on the conflict situation in West Asia, Azhan said it has not affected the organisation of DSA and NATSEC 2026 so far, with no withdrawals reported among participating countries.

He said that Malaysia will continue to act as a neutral and trusted convener in bringing together policymakers, industry players and research and development (R&D) stakeholders to strengthen the national defence industry ecosystem.

Meanwhile, he said the national defence industry policy, which stipulates 30 per cent local content in every procurement, has had a positive impact on the development of the domestic industry.

“This is highly beneficial to our defence industry as all future procurements must meet the local content requirement.

“Investment in the defence industry is a crucial investment to safeguard national sovereignty while also generating economic growth,” he added.

-- BERNAMA