Airbus Strengthens Commitment to Malaysia’s Defense Industry

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) –Airbus has confirms Malaysia as a key market for military helicopter, defense and aerospace business, expresses commitment to strengthening its stable presence.

Speaking to the media at the Defence Services Asia exhibition this week, Airbus executives emphasized that Malaysia has become a major customer base for the company across its range of commercial aircraft, helicopters, defense, and space products.

As a strategic partner to Malaysia, Airbus has developed extensive and robust industrial cooperation that brings various benefits to the local economy.

The aerospace company aims to enhance its existing partnerships and investments in the local ecosystem.

This includes investing in the third full-flight helicopter simulator in Subang, scheduled to begin operations in 2026.

 

Recognizing the increasing demand for new helicopter assets in Malaysia to bolster national defense and security, Airbus is now gearing its capabilities towards supporting this growth.

This is where the H225M multi-role helicopter, proven in combat, can fulfill various mission requirements, including special operations, combat search and rescue (CSAR/SAR), and tactical transport.

 With 12 in its fleet, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is among the global operators of the H225M, carrying out military and humanitarian tasks. As Malaysia needs to replace some aging assets in the longer term, especially in parapublic roles such as law enforcement, the H135 model is the right solution to meet these needs.

This model is increasingly popular, with over 1,500 units in service. Of this number, about 200 units are currently used by various law enforcement agencies worldwide, including those from Australia and Japan.

Airbus also sees the potential to meet the growing demand in the region for enhanced capabilities, in addition to renewing old military transport.

This is where the company is well-positioned to offer a strong mixed fleet of A400M-C295 to Malaysia to support both strategic and tactical needs.

 

Currently, the A400M is supporting Malaysia’s strategic airlift needs, with four models in service with the RMAF.

Meanwhile, the C295 is capable of complementing the A400M, thus meeting tactical airlift requirements.

In terms of Space, the longstanding partnership between Airbus and the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) has strengthened since 1998, covering areas such as satellite imaging, systems, and services.

Malaysia is the only Southeast Asian country with the infrastructure and capability to receive SPOT, Pléiades, and TerraSAR-X telemetry.

 Malaysia also has the MEASAT-3b and MEASAT-3d satellites built by Airbus, providing broadband speeds in areas without or with limited terrestrial connectivity nationwide.

 

Regarding maritime security, Airbus has collaborated with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), where for the past 15 years, the STYRIS coastal surveillance solution has helped monitor critical areas along the Malacca Strait, as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

“Airbus has had a long and beneficial relationship with various stakeholders in Malaysia. Considering that the aerospace sector in this region is expected to grow more rapidly, we look forward to further enhancing our presence and local cooperation,” said Anand Stanley, President of Airbus Asia-Pacific. — DSA