THE navy (TLDM) will receive three Italian-made maritime operations helicopters in April and September as scheduled, navy chief Mohd Reza Mohd Sany said today.

The AW 139 utility helicopter is equipped with an RDR 1700A search radar and a 12.7mm engine.

Reza said two of the helicopters will arrive in April.

“The remaining one will arrive in September. The three helicopters will be based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah,” he told The Malaysian Insight at the Asian Defence Services Exhibition and Conference 2022 and the Asian Security Services Exhibition (NATSEC) 2022.

TLDM currently has six Super Lynx and AS555SN Fennec helicopters.

The acquisition of the three HOMs with an allocation of about RM220 million will further double the capacity of the TLDM air unit, including air delivery operations.

The AW139 model is the best medium-size helicopter in its class, with over 900 aircraft built.

It is also used by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the police.

Commenting further, Reza also revealed that there are plans to add a second group of coastal mission ships (LMS).

“TLDM and Defence Minister Hishammudin Hussein are working on the budget this year.

“We expect three LMS and the list of producing countries is already on the shortlist, among them, China, the Netherlands, and Turkey,” he said. – March 28, 2022.