M'sia to receive first Leonardo maritime patrol aircraft by end-2026
Defence minister Khaled Nordin inspecting a maritime patrol aircraft during a visit to Leonardo's facility in Turin, Italy, yesterday. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA : Malaysia is expected to receive its first maritime patrol aircraft from Italian defence and arms company Leonardo by the end of 2026, with the second aircraft scheduled for delivery three months later.
Malaysia ordered two ATR-72 maritime aircraft from Leonardo in a RM900 million deal announced in 2023. The air force has plans to buy six maritime patrol aircraft in all, as part of its 2055 development plan.
In a Bernama report, defence minister Khaled Nordin said the aircraft would be outfitted with advanced systems including anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare capabilities before its delivery to Malaysia.
'As a maritime nation, Malaysia must have aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art systems like these to carry out patrols. The aircraft will be fitted with anti-submarine systems, enabling them to respond to related activities,' he said.
'As of now, project progress has exceeded 60% and remains on schedule. We are satisfied with the ongoing work carried out by Leonardo,' he said during a working visit to Leonardo's facility in Turin, Italy, yesterday.
He described the procurement as a strategic investment to enhance the armed forces' readiness to address regional security challenges, particularly in the increasingly complex South China Sea.
The aircrafts' primary roles include anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and electronic warfare missions.
Its secondary roles include search and rescue operations, surveillance of Malaysia's maritime zones, joint operations with armed forces units, and inter-agency enforcement with other government and security bodies.
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