Malaysia gets offers for Maritime Patrol Aircraft from Airbus, PAL Aerospace-De Havilland Canada

 

A CGI of the Dash-8 P-4 maritime patrol aircraft from PAL Aerospace and De Havilland Canada. Photo c/o De Havilland Canada.

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been offered several maritime patrol aircraft models to meet the requirements of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), including offers from Airbus Defence and Space and the partnership between PAL Aerospace and De Havilland Canada.

Airbus confirmed its participation in a tender for Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) for the RMAF, with the Airbus C295MPA, which was being touted as the best combination of value and capability.

According to Airbus, the C295MPA offers the lowest risk and the best acquisition, operating and life cycle costs in its category.

The aircraft is equipped with a fully integrated tactical system (FITS) integrating the controls and displays of mission sensors.

Another offer made was from Canada’s PAL Aerospace, which is working together with De Havilland Canada (DHC) in pursuing the development of a Dash 8 P-4 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and offering it to the RMAF for its MPA requirement.

The platform is based on DHC’s successful Dash 8-400 aircraft, with PAL Aerospace providing the mission systems and integrating it with the platform.

According to DHC, the Dash 8-400 aircraft has high efficiency but low impact on the environment, while having high productivity and jet-like performance, making it a versatile and formidable special mission aircraft. 

Aside from the offerings from Airbus and PAL Aerospace-DHC, other potential competitors for the RMAF’s Maritime Patrol Aircraft project are Leonardo’s ATR-72MPA, Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon, the PTDI CN-235MPA and Kawasaki’s P-1.




[1] Bernama
[2] De Havilland Canada