Malaysia signs up for 2 ATR72 MPA, 3 Anka UAS, lease for 4 UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopters

 

The TAI Anka UAS. 

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence has signed contracts with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the acquisition of an Anka multirole unmanned combat systems (UAS) for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

Separate contracts were also signed with Leonardo for the acquisition of two ATR-72MPA maritime patrol aircraft, also for the RMAF, as well as for the lease of four UH-60A+ Black Hawk multirole helicopters for the Malaysian Army. 

All three contracts were signed at the backdrop of the recently concluded Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition 2023 (LIMA 2023) in Malaysia. 

The deal for the Anka UAS involves 3 aircraft and a control station valued at MYR 423.8 million (US$91.6 million) and is said to be only the first of three UAS acquisition phases for the RMAF, with a target of having 3 UAS with 3 aircraft each.

These UAS will be primarily used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, and can also be used for strike missions using a variety of Turkish air-to-ground munitions.

The Anka would be the first of its kind in the Malaysian Armed Forces, which only have previous experience in operating smaller unmanned aerial systems.

Meanwhile the contract for the ATR-72MPA maritime patrol aircraft also includes integrated logistics support (ILS and training services according to Leonardo’s official statement.

Leonardo added that the maritime patrol aircraft will be based on the baseline ATR-72-600 turboprop regional passenger aircraft and will be equipped with a flexible mission system, advanced sensors and communications suite for C4ISR missions over land and sea. Its role will include maritime patrol, electronic intelligence (ELINT) gathering, sea surface and submerged target detection and tracking, search and rescue, countering illegal activities, and protecting territorial waters. 

The ATR-72MPA will be complementing the RMAF’s existing fleet of maritime patrol aircraft consisting of CN-235-220MPAs.

The contract for the lease of four Sikorsky UH-60A+ Black Hawk multirole helicopters was signed with local company Aerotree Defence & Services. 

The helicopters, which are upgraded UH-60A Black Hawk utility helicopters, will act as stop gap replacements for the Malaysian Army’s fleet of Sikorsky S-61A Nuri medium helicopters in the transport role, and will be used for training as well while the Malaysian government looks for a long term solution.  

[1] Flight Global

[2] Janes

[3] Leonardo