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.