Malaysia selects ATR-72MP maritime patrol aircraft, Anka unmanned aerial system

 

The Leonardo ATR-72MP maritime patrol aircraft. Photo c/o Leonardo.

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence has selected the Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) models for acquisition for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has confirmed that the Ministry of Finance (MOF) has finalized the international open tenders for MPA and UAS projects.

He also confirmed that the Malaysian Government has agreed to an offer from Italian defense conglomerate Leonardo for the supply of two Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and also agreed to an offer from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the supply of three Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Systems (MALE-UAS).

A formal Letter of Award will be released by the Malaysian Government to both companies soon.

Leonardo has offered the ATR-72MP maritime patrol aircraft, while TAI offered the Anka unmanned aerial system

A formal Letter of Award will be released by the Malaysian Government to both companies soon, with both assets to be procured using funds from the Malaysian Government’s FY 2023 budget 

The RMAF has previously indicated that it intends to acquire up to six Maritime Patrol Aircraft spread over several years under several 5-year Malaysia Plans.

Meanwhile the RMAF wanted to procure three UAS under the current 12th Malaysia Plan, and another three UAS under the 13th Malaysia Plan.




[1] Defence Security Asia
[2] Malaysian Defence