IN today’s rapidly evolving security landscape, the traditional concepts of warfare are no longer confined to tanks rolling across borders or fighter jets dominating the skies.
Instead, the battlefield has expanded to include invisible digital fronts and subtle psychological operations that can cripple a nation without a single bullet fired.
These two overarching categories, namely kinetic and non-kinetic warfare, serve as the dual foundations of contemporary conflict.
For Malaysia, a nation situated in a region rife with geopolitical complexities, understanding and preparing for both forms of warfare is no longer optional; it is imperative for national survival.
Understanding kinetic warfare
Kinetic warfare is what most people traditionally think of when they hear the word “war”. It encompasses the use of direct, physical force through missiles, artillery, infantry, naval battleships, and aerial bombardments.
This form of warfare seeks to destroy or incapacitate the enemy’s physical capabilities such as military infrastructure, personnel, or critical assets.
Recent conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, demonstrate that kinetic warfare remains a dominant factor. The destruction of military equipment, airbases, and infrastructure through coordinated strikes or drone attacks clearly illustrates kinetic action.
Nonetheless, despite the evolution of methods, including the deployment of drone swarms and precision-guided munitions, the fundamental aspect continues to be the tangible effect on the opponent.
For Malaysia, kinetic threats are very real. From territorial disputes in the South China Sea to the potential for terrorism and insurgency within its borders, physical confrontations and security breaches remain plausible risks.
Our armed forces must maintain strong, well-equipped conventional capabilities to deter and respond to such threats.
The rise of non-kinetic warfare
However, kinetic warfare is only one half of the equation. Non-kinetic warfare operates in the realm of information, cyber, economic pressure, and psychological operations.
These tactics aim to weaken an adversary without engaging in open combat, often by targeting a society’s trust in its institutions, disrupting critical infrastructure through cyberattacks, spreading misinformation to sow discord or leveraging economic vulnerabilities.
Non-kinetic warfare can be subtle, hard to detect, and devastatingly effective. The cyberattacks on critical infrastructure such as power grids, financial systems, and communication networks can bring a nation to its knees without a single missile launch.
The weaponisation of social media to spread false narratives can divide a population and destabilise governance.
Malaysia, with its rapidly digitising economy and society, is especially vulnerable to these threats. Cyberattacks on government databases, financial institutions, or energy supplies could cause widespread chaos.
Moreover, the proliferation of misinformation and influence campaigns can exacerbate ethnic and religious tensions, undermining social cohesion and political stability.
Why Malaysia must address both fronts
Ignoring either kinetic or non-kinetic threats in today’s interconnected world would be a grave mistake. Malaysia’s strategic position, diverse population, and economic ambitions make it a potential target for a wide array of hostile actions.
The hybrid nature of modern conflicts means adversaries may blend physical attacks with cyber and psychological tactics, exploiting weaknesses wherever they find them.
The use of drones (kinetic tools) controlled via sophisticated software over mobile networks (a non-kinetic communication medium) exemplifies this fusion.
Such operations challenge traditional defence strategies that focus mainly on physical borders and military hardware.
Building a holistic defence strategy
To safeguard its sovereignty and citizens, Malaysia must develop a comprehensive approach that integrates kinetic and non-kinetic defence measures.
On the kinetic side, modernising and enhancing the Malaysian Armed Forces with advanced surveillance, missile defence systems, and rapid response capabilities is critical.
The emergence of drone warfare, as shown by recent conflicts, demands the establishment of specialised units trained to detect, intercept, and neutralise unmanned aerial threats.
Such capabilities are vital to protecting military assets, critical infrastructure and urban centres from sudden kinetic attacks.
On the non-kinetic front, Malaysia needs to strengthen its cybersecurity infrastructure. This means not just investing in firewalls and encryption, but also creating proactive intelligence units capable of anticipating and countering cyber threats before they manifest.
Public-private partnerships will be crucial, as much of the country’s critical infrastructure is managed by private entities.
Equally important is enhancing resilience against information warfare. Malaysia’s social fabric is delicate, and the weaponisation of social media to spread disinformation could have serious consequences.
Investing in media literacy campaigns, improving government transparency, and fostering trust between the state and its citizens can reduce the effectiveness of psychological operations aimed at sowing division.
The role of intelligence and coordination
Effective defence against modern threats requires seamless coordination between Malaysia’s intelligence agencies, military, law enforcement, and civilian sectors.
Intelligence must go beyond traditional espionage and border surveillance; it must include cyber intelligence, social media monitoring, and analysis of emerging technological threats.
Malaysia should consider establishing a dedicated special task force focusing on drone warfare and cyber defence.
This unit would bring together experts in electronics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and psychological operations to detect, analyse, and respond rapidly to both kinetic and non-kinetic threats.
A call to action
Kinetic and non-kinetic warfare are no longer distinct realms, but interconnected aspects of a new, multifaceted battlefield.
Malaysia stands at a crossroads where preparedness and innovation will determine its ability to safeguard national security and maintain peace.
The time to act is now. Failure to adapt will leave Malaysia vulnerable to the very kinds of hybrid attacks already reshaping the global order. In this new era of warfare, a proactive, integrated approach is not just wise as it is essential. ‒ June 16, 2025
R. Paneir Selvam is the principal consultant of Arunachala Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd, a think tank specialising in strategic national and geopolitical matters.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image: Octopus Institute
