On May 8, 2024, Roketsan, the Turkish defense systems manufacturer, announced it would deliver the first batch of its Karaok portable anti-tank missile system to the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) by early 2026. This announcement was made at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 by Chumur Murat Boz, Roketsan’s Regional Manager for Central Asia and the Far East.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (NatSec) Asia 2024 exhibition, Boz emphasized the strategic partnership between Malaysia and Roketsan, rather than a mere customer-supplier relationship. “Malaysia will be our first delivery for Karaok,” Boz stated, highlighting the global demand for portable anti-tank and air defense systems.
The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) are set to replace their current Russian-made Metis-M system, which has been in service for two decades, with high-tech Karaok system. The Karaok is noted for its advanced “fire and forget” capability and can engage main battle tanks and armored vehicles up to 2.5 kilometers away using both direct and top-attack modes.
This capability puts the Karaok on par with other sophisticated systems such as the American-made FGM-148 Javelin. The decision to choose the Karaok system followed a formal selection process by the Malaysian Defence Ministry last year, aimed at enhancing the country’s anti-tank capabilities.