Airbus Helicopters is committed to providing multirole military helicopters and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) that address Malaysia’s defence and security requirements.
Speaking to the media at the 2025 Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA), Airbus emphasised the company’s commitment to ensuring Malaysia’s armed forces have access to reliable aircraft and training capabilities.
“Malaysia’s defence market is evolving, with greater demand for special operations, combat search-and-rescue, tactical transport, and specialised training capabilities. This is where Airbus’ combat proven multirole military helicopters are well-suited for such missions, offering demonstrated success in demanding operations and environments,” said Thomas Zeman, Head of Sales and Marketing, Asia-Pacific, Airbus Helicopters.
With over 180 units delivered globally and 40 on order, the H225M remains a key asset in military operations. The widespread use of the H225M underlines the success of this force multiplier which enables operators to deploy rapidly in all-weather environments. This is in addition to the large number of H225 operators utilising the versatile helicopter for various civil and parapublic missions.
In Malaysia, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) operates 12 H225M helicopters, which have consistently demonstrated their versatility and reliability across military exercises, humanitarian efforts, and disaster relief, accumulating nearly 40,000 flight hours.
The RMAF’s exceptional deployment of the H225M was recently recognised with the Wings of Valour award, underscoring the helicopter’s vital role in lifesaving and humanitarian missions across Malaysia and the region.
Airbus sees strong potential to expand Malaysia’s H225M fleet to further enhance operational effectiveness.
“As the security challenges evolve, the H225M remains indispensable, enabling rapid response in high-stakes missions. Its combat-proven capabilities, all-weather performance, and mission adaptability make it a critical force multiplier, strengthening Malaysia’s defence posture,” added Zeman.
“Malaysia has witnessed the H225M’s impact firsthand, with the RMAF demonstrating its operational readiness over the past 13 years,” said Zeman.
“With its proven track record in defence and humanitarian missions, we see opportunities to further integrate the H225M into Malaysia’s fleet. As operational demands evolve, the H225M will continue to be a key enabler, ensuring the nation’s defence forces remain agile, responsive and operation-ready for the future.”
In addition to crewed helicopters, Airbus is advancing uncrewed capabilities, reinforcing its commitment to next-generation defence solutions. The Flexrotor — a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAS, offers up to 14 hours of endurance for intelligence surveillance, target acquisition and recognition (ISTAR), search and rescue, law enforcement, and border patrol missions.
“Flexrotor is mission-proven, accumulating 3,700 flight hours in high-threat, GPS-denied environments, making it an ideal asset for Malaysia’s evolving defence and security landscape.”
Airbus also shared that the company is actively investing in crewed-uncrewed teaming (CUC-T) solutions, connecting helicopters with UAS to enhance operational effectiveness in contested environments.
With a strong foundation in defence aviation and security, Airbus is well-positioned to support Malaysia’s evolving operational requirements.
“As defence forces continue to adapt, Airbus remains fully committed to delivering cutting-edge technologies and mission-ready solutions for sustained effectiveness,” said Zeman.
Source – Airbus
Flexrotor