Weststar GK-M1/M2

Weststar GK-M1/M2
The side view of the Weststar GK-M1 4x4 vehicle
Type	Military light utility vehicle / Light tactical vehicle
Place of origin	Malaysia
Service history
In service	Malaysia
Production history
Designed	2012 [1]
Manufacturer	Weststar Defence Industries
Produced	2015–present
Specifications
Mass	4 tonnes
Length	5.7 meters
Width	1.8 meters
Height	2 meters
Main armament	See variants
Suspension	4×4
Maximum speed	110 km/h

Weststar GK-M1/M2 is a Malaysian military light utility vehicle, or light tactical vehicle, designed and manufactured by Weststar Defence Industries.

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 delivered. ^[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]}

In Defence Service Asia (DSA) 2024, Weststar confirmed that they had delivered 50 GK-M2s to the Malaysian Armed Forces. Another 50 will be delivered in 2025 and another 50 in 2026. ^[6] It's reported that GK-M1s and GS Cargo vehicles will replace Land Rover Defenders in service. ^[7]

Design

The GK-M1/M2 is outfitted with a Toyota engine. ^[8]

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. ^[9] Offered to the Grup Gerak Khas under the light strike vehicle procurement program. ^[10]

Weapon Carrier

A variant equipped with weapons on top of the vehicle. Weapons mounted includes the M134D-H minigun, machine gun and grenade launcher. ^[11]

Air Defence

Air defence variant equipped with Starstreak surface-to-air missiles. ^[5] They're installed through a Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML). ^[12]

Operators

• Malaysia: 238 units of all variants (88 GK-M1 and 150 GK-M2). ^{[13] [14] [6]}

See also

• Cendana Auto 4x4

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. "Its the Guardian Extreme for GOF APC".
7. https://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/2024/08/treading-lightly/
8. says, Marhalim Abas. "Weststar GK-M1 Weapon Platform - Malaysian Defence".
9. "New Weststar 4x4 Defence Special Operations Vehicle SOV at DSA 2016 11904165". www.armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
10. "Asian SOF looks for Protected Mobility". January 21, 2020.
11. "DSA 2018: Dillon Aero's Prospects in Asia Pacific". www.monch.com.
12. "MALAYSIA TESTS STARSTREAK MISSILES | Article - Fri 02 Nov 2018 08:41:00 AM UTC | airsoc.com. on airsoc.com". Airsoc.com.
13. "Home - Ministry of Defense Malaysia".
14. "Our Five Favourite Vehicles Of The Malaysian Army - Insights - Carlist.my". Carlist.my - Malaysia's No.1 Car Site.