Headquarters Integrated Area Defence System (HQIADS)

Mission: To provide relevant and effective combined and joint military activities, liaison and training, in order to strengthen the defence of Malaysia and Singapore through the FPDA

The FPDA remains unique as the only multilateral defence arrangement in the region with an operational element in HQIADS featuring high-end conventional warfighting elements.

HQIADS was established in 1971 under the command of a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) officer and staffed by personnel from all five nations. HQIADS was to provide the headquarters for the coordination and control of the air defence for Malaysia and Singapore.

Based at RMAF Butterworth in Penang, Malaysia, the role of HQIADS has evolved from an operational Air Defence HQ into a Joint Training support HQ. HQIADS now primarily plays a coordination and planning role for FPDA combined and joint exercises and activities.

HQIADS’ peacetime function is to exercise the FPDA forces in the coordinated defence of Malaysia and Singapore, and contribute towards enhancing practical cooperation under the FPDA. It does so by developing doctrines and standard operating procedures to build interoperability, and providing operational level control and coordination. CIADS’ operational responsibilities are as assigned by the FPDA member-nations. In the event of external aggression, the FPDA member-nations will consult to determine the necessary measures to be taken.