Malaysia to Lease 28 Helicopters from Leonardo

Leonardo and its Malaysian partner Weststar Aviation Services have signed an agreement for the delivery of up to 28 leased helicopters to the Malaysian government of various types, in a mix of firm orders and options,  between 2026 and 2027.

The order is billed as  the most significant Government helicopter fleet expansion and modernization program ever for Leonardo in the country, intended to meet a wide range of national requirements for defence, security and the support of communities.

The programme represents a significant growth of Leonardo Helicopters’ presence among several Malaysian military, homeland security. and public service operators. It includes various types for the Royal Malaysian Police and Bomba for law enforcement, utility, transport, firefighting, EMS/SAR, and disaster relief missions. Among the different models, the programme  comprises AW149 helicopters for the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Army, for Combat Search and Rescue and utility applications, marking the entrance of the latest generation multirole military helicopter in Malaysia and further growing the success of the type among defence operators in the international market.

Leonardo's vision is to position the country at the core of its expansion strategy and as a regional champion for rotorcraft and greater capabilities in the aerospace sector.

With a regional hub for customer support and training near Kuala Lumpur, Leonardo is the only helicopter Training Academy outside its home markets. Leonardo serves more than 70 operators in Malaysia, which use over 240 helicopters, amassing more than 40,000 flight hours a year. Over the last ten years, the number of students trained locally has more than doubled, logging hundreds of flight hours annually. This makes Malaysia one of the most active operational bases in the world, demonstrating the country’s strategic roles for highly skilled professional development.

Leonardo is now ready to expand its localized industrial activities in Malaysia with new and cutting-edge simulation and training capabilities, including additional Full-Flight Simulators and Interactive Trainers for helicopter operations. The company also plans to enhance or introduce MRO infrastructures for advanced blade repair, electronic system servicing and mission system integration, boosting Malaysia role as a global support hub for Leonardo.

Said Gian Piero Cutillo, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters, " Malaysia continues to be a critical hub for us to serve the country and the greater region, and we’re committed to staying beside its authorities to ensure our technology and services perform at their very best.”