Airbus Commitment To Malaysia Stronger Than Ever
AIRBUS is showcasing a static display of an A400M from the German Luftwaffe and another A400M from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), as well as the luxurious ACH160 corporate helicopter at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2025). Meanwhile, two additional RMAF A400Ms are taking part in a flying display, highlighting the aircraft’s capabilities. At Airbus’ stand B-16 are scale models of the A220, A400M, H225M, Pleiades Neo Earth Observation satellite, Zephyr high-altitude platform station (HAPS), and the Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS).
Airbus Asia-Pacific president Anand Stanley said: “Our commitment to Malaysia is stronger than ever. We are proud to support the country’s economic development, defence priorities and sustainability ambitions through long-term partnerships, local investment and high-value job creation.”
This year, the RMAF marks its tenth year of operating its fleet of four A400Ms, responsible for countless humanitarian and logistics operations over the years. Last August, two RMAF A400Ms airlifted 127 Palestinian patients and relatives from Egypt’s Al Maza Air Base to Subang Air Base. Malaysia was the first export customer of the A400M.
In 2021, the Indonesian defence ministry ordered two A400Ms in multirole tanker and transport configuration at the Dubai Airshow to boost the Indonesian Air Force’s operational flexibility, supporting strategic and tactical missions, humanitarian assistance, medical evacuation, and aerial refuelling. Indonesia also signed a letter of intent for potentially four more A400Ms. Indonesia would be the second operator of the A400M in Southeast Asia once the first airframe is delivered later this year.
Meanwhile, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is looking at Airbus’ C295 and Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon to replace its Fokker-50 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). Airbus has also been marketing the smaller C295 mid-sized airlifter to go hand-in-hand with the RMAF A400M while simultaneously looking to solve the country’s much-needed medium-lift helicopter requirements especially for the Malaysian Army. The RMAF has been operating 12 H225M helicopters from its Kuantan and Labuan airbases which have logged over 30,000 flight hours, making them the world’s highest military flyer since it entered RMAF service in 2012. Its Southeast Asia user ecosystem includes the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU), and the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF).–shp/adj/dl (Pix:AIRBUS, BUNDESWEHR)