The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is to receive the first of two ATR 72 MPA platforms, ordered in a deal worth US$170 million, next year. Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) had ordered the new-generation Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) at...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is to receive the first of two ATR 72 MPA platforms, ordered in a deal worth US$170 million, next year. Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) had ordered the new-generation Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) at LIMA 2023. Malaysia had announced the selection of the type in October 2022.
Minister of Defense Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin recently visited Leonardo’s facilities in Turin, Italy to receive updates on the programme. He was accompanied by Commander of the Air Force, General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Mohd Asghar Khan bin Goriman Khan TUDM. Malaysia’s MINDEF had stated that the first aircraft would be delivered by the end of 2026, with the second aircraft to be delivered early in 2027. The announcement related to the timely commencement of deliveries indicates that all is well with the programme that is expected to boost Malaysia’s maritime defence capabilities. “As a maritime nation, Malaysia must have assets like these aircraft to carry out patrols. They will be equipped with state-of-the-art systems. More importantly, the aircraft will be fitted with anti-submarine systems, enabling them to respond to related activities,” MINDEF stated.
The ATR 72 MPA is a twin-turboprop aircraft that can undertake a wide range of missions including maritime surveillance, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface unit Warfare (AsuW), Search & Rescue (SAR), environmental monitoring, medical evacuation and transport of personnel and materials. The platform also has significant growth potential to evolve into a fully-fledged Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface unit Warfare (AsuW) platform. The ATR 72 MPA can also perform Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) gathering, sea surface and submerged target detection and tracking, SAR and be used for countering illegal activities (drug trafficking, piracy and smuggling).
The aircraft is a baseline commercial ATR 72-600, which will be modified to meet military standards and Leonardo will equip with a flexible mission system, advanced sensors and a complete communications suite for Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) missions over land and sea. The sensors and mission systems will be able to operate in stand-alone and net-centric modes, enabling the collection, processing and sharing of strategic data among operators, while providing complete situational awareness about the operational scenario. Key to the capability of the RMAF MPA’s will be Leonardo’s Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance (ATOS) mission system. On-board sensors include Leonardo’s Seaspray 7300E, part of the highly successful Seaspray Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar family and the. integrated acoustic sensor system Ultra-LIght SonicS Enhanced System (ULISSES). Other sensors integrated into the ATOS system include an electro-optical sensor turret with colour and monochrome cameras, electronic warfare sensors offering wideband electronic surveillance capability, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) and an Airborne Search and Rescue System Direction Finder (ASARS DF)
Airbus has had a hugely successful week, racking up almost US $21 billion in deals and contracts at the Paris…
MTU Aero Engines closed its participation at this year’s edition of the Paris Air Show with record engine orders worth…
Indian state-owned airframer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has entered into an agreement with Safran Aircraft Engines, for the industrialization and…
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and Electra.aero, Inc. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore opportunities for Electra's EL9 ultra-short…
As demand grows and talent pipeline pressures mount, the need to drive at least 30 to 40 per cent greater…
With airframers not able to meet production targets this year and unlikely to do so in the next two years…
Leonardo and Avioane Craiova have signed a "Technological and Industrial Cooperation Agreement" during the Paris Air Show, aimed at deepening…
De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited has confirmed the sale of one Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft to the United…
The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has selected Daher as one of five companies to develop a Medium Altitude Long…
The Norwegian Air Ambulance has entered into a new frame contract with Airbus for up to eight H145 helicopters, including…
Eve Air Mobility has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Future Flight Global, a pioneer in electric aircraft, for…
EGYPTAIR has disclosed a firm order for an additional six A350-900s as part of its expansion strategy to meet growing…
Embraer has received a firm order from SkyWestfor 60 aircraft with purchase rights on 50 additional aircraft. Deliveries of the…
Four French aerospace companies - Daher, Safran, Collins Aerospace and Ascendance - are joining hands to study and define a…
The French defence procurement agency, Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), has inked a joint declaration of intent with Saab regarding…
Airbus Helicopters and Leonardo announced at the ongoing Paris Air Show that they would join forces to carry out an…
Sikorsky and CAE announced at Le Bourget on the third day of the Paris Air Show that they would be…
Aerospace and national security company, SNC, and Lufthansa Technik have announced a strategic partnership to enhance their combined capabilities in…
STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan has signed a firm order with Airbus for the purchase of ten additional A350-1000 aircraft, taking…
The Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania has chosen the Embraer C-390 Millennium as the country’s next-generation military transport aircraft.…
Embraer signed Component Pool Program contracts with multiple airlines on the third day of the ongoing Paris Air Show. Currently,…
Embraer and Amelia, an airline operated by the France based Regourd Aviation Group, has signed an extensive services agreement, including…
Embraer and CAE are expanding their full-flight simulator network with the deployment of a state-of-the-art E2 full-flight simulator (FFS) at…
Airbus and MTU Aero Engines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technology, a…
Lockheed Martin has confirmed a major advancement in the structural longevity of its C-130J Super Hercules, following a wing durability…
Airlink, Southern Africa’s leading full-service carrier, has announced plans to lease 10 new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft from Azorra, a US-based…
Dassault Aviation and Reliance Aerostructure Ltd (RAL), a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, unveiled a strategic partnership to manufacture Falcon 2000…
In a move to bolster European defence capabilities, Quantum Systems and Airbus Defence and Space have signed a Memorandum of…
Air Astana Group carriers have continued their winning streak at the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards, held during the Paris…
Embraer has secured a firm order from SkyWest, Inc. for 60 E175 aircraft, with options for an additional 50. Deliveries…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.