Airbus Eyes Malaysian Rotorcraft, UAS Requirements

Our Bureau - : May 21, 2025 - : 3:22 am

Airbus Helicopters, which is participating at the ongoing airshow, is eyeing Malaysian multirole military helicopter and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) requirements that will address the nation’s defence and security requirements. Speaking to the media at Langkawi, company officials emphasized the company’s commitment to ensuring Malaysia’s armed forces have access to reliable aircraft and training capabilities.

“Malaysia’s defence market is evolving, with greater demand for special operations, combat search-and-rescue, tactical transport, and specialised training capabilities. This is where Airbus’ combat proven multirole military helicopters are well-suited for such missions, offering demonstrated success in demanding operations and environments,” said Thomas Zeman, Head of Sales and Marketing, Asia-Pacific, Airbus Helicopters.

The H225M remains a key asset in military operations with over 180 units delivered globally and 40 on order. The widespread use of the H225M underlines the success of this force multiplier which enables operators to deploy rapidly in all-weather environments. There also a large number of H225 operators utilising the versatile helicopter for various civil and parapublic missions.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) operates 12 H225M helicopters which have accumulated nearly 40,000 flight hours. The RMAF’s exceptional deployment of the H225M was recently recognised with the Wings of Valour award, underscoring the helicopter’s vital role in lifesaving and humanitarian missions across Malaysia and the region.

Airbus sees strong potential to expand Malaysia’s H225M fleet to further enhance operational effectiveness. “As the security challenges evolve, the H225M remains indispensable, enabling rapid response in high-stakes missions. Its combat-proven capabilities, all-weather performance, and mission adaptability make it a critical force multiplier, strengthening Malaysia’s defence posture,” added Zeman. “Malaysia has witnessed the H225M’s impact firsthand, with the RMAF demonstrating its operational readiness over the past 13 years,” said Zeman.

“With its proven track record in defence and humanitarian missions, we see opportunities to further integrate the H225M into Malaysia’s fleet,” he said. “As operational demands evolve, the H225M will continue to be a key enabler, ensuring the nation’s defence forces remain agile, responsive and operation-ready for the future.”

Airbus is also showcasing its uncrewed capabilities at the airshow, reinforcing its commitment to next generation defence solutions. The Flexrotor -- a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAS offers up to 14 hours of endurance for intelligence surveillance, target acquisition and recognition (ISTAR), search and rescue, law enforcement, and border patrol missions.

“Flexrotor is mission-proven, accumulating 3,700 flight hours in high-threat, GPS-denied environments, making it an ideal asset for Malaysia’s evolving defence and security landscape.”

Airbus also shared that the company is actively investing in crewed-uncrewed teaming (CUC-T) solutions, connecting helicopters with UAS to enhance operational effectiveness in contested environments.

Uas / Lima /