INGENIEUR
Malaysia has the capability to design and develop our own UAVs.
itself, we have to consider the additional cost for
operation, service, maintenance and repair. In
most cases the refinement and modifications of
an OEM designed UAV is limited and restricted.
It is also relatively costly because it is subject to
proprietary and commercial issues.
Based on available local resources (expertise
and facilities), Malaysia has the capability to
design and develop our own UAVs. However, in
order to be self-sufficient, we need to strengthen
our local resources and development capabilities
with supportive financial, human resource and
technology ecosystems. The most important
areas of expertise required in UAV technology
are the airframe, powerplant, autopilot, data-link
and sensor technologies. The percentage of local
content can be increased if we could integrate
these areas of expertise. Then Malaysia could
be on its way to be able to design, develop and
manufacture our own indigenous UAVs.
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Conclusion
The systematic design process helps to
optimise UAV configurations to meet end-user
requirements and missions, not forgetting
training, operation, service, maintenance and
certification. Well organised and strategic
planning of the UAV operational procedure
will result in cost savings and safer operations
which also include service and maintenance.
Systematic documentation control and database
will help the UAV certification process and also
support future UAV design activities. Malaysia’s
UAV Regulation and Airworthiness Requirement
have to be improved to assist UAV design and
certification activities. Hence, in-house UAV
design development with system-integration
and a multi-disciplinary approach will increase
local content and UAV capacity building with a
sustainable ecosystem.