SHAH SALAM: RMN AW139 MUH rendered. Galaxy Aerospace – part of the Gading Group – the company that won the contract to supply three maritime utility helicopters (MUH) to the RMN has published the CGI renderings of the helicopter. The helicopter in question is of course the Leonardo AW139. From the CGI rendering we can surmised that the helicopter will have similar paint and markings to the Super Lynx and Fennec rotor craft already in service with the RMN.
RMN AW139 MUH CGI Galaxy Aerospace
The CGI also revealed that the RMN MUH will be fitted with electro-optics, radar and a rescue hoist. It also finally confirmed that the RMN is getting the AW139s for its maritime helicopter requirements.
RMN Super Lynx M501-03 taken in late 2013. Note the inert Sea Skua ASM and A244/S torpedo
Earlier this year, Malaysian Defence reported that
RMN chief Admiral Reza Sany today announced that the service has sign the contract to purchase three maritime operations helicopter (MOH) on September 20 last year. The first helicopter will be delivered on October 20, 2022; second on May 31, 2023 and the third on February 28, 2024.
He did not named the helicopters contracted though it is likely to be the Leonardo AW139 as hinted previously.
The RMN project team for the AW139 project had left for Italy earlier this year and they are expected to be there until all three helicopters are delivered in 2024.
The RMN MUH also looked very similar to Italian Air Force AW139s, designated as HH-139B, 17 of which to be delivered by this year.
The Italian Air Force also operates older versions of the helicopter, designated as HH-139A and VH-139As.
HT to EL.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (23)
Quite a fresh look of 'maritime camo' for TLDM there.
Long overdue - good news. The RMN has badly needed a platform with a superior lift capacity compared to what it currently has. These new assets will be able to lift PASKAL teams; as well as perform resupply and other things.
Love them camo..put them on future asw heli too..but if possible please put tldm instead of navy although they mean the same
Why would RMN staff has to stay until 2024? Cant they be trained in Malaysia??
Reply
The project team oversees the manufacturing process to ensure the helicopters are done right. We also did the same thing for other foreign buys.
For me the key question is not why a RMN team has to be there until the third example is delivered but why deliveries of the 3 are staggered over a 3 year period? A OEM issue or something we specified in the contract for financial reasons?
By 2024 when all 3 are delivered; the RMN will have 15 helicopters; more than the RMAF.
Imma sad they didn't go for Blackhawk (not sure if it was offered), but at same time elated that something is finally moving. Hopefully this deal won't be sunk.
But 3 years, wow! Nice working holiday for the project team. Perhaps some of them might bring back Italians wives and not just only the choppers. *wink*
BTW the render kinda reminds me of Airwolf.
No lah, they wont stay there for the whole duration, new people will be rotated in annually
"RMN will have 15 helicopters; more than the RMAF."
The RMAF wanted more than 12 Cougars, but we all know what happened.
Question is whether the RMAF wants or needs more helicopters, since they want to get out of the army utility lift business. Of course they will have to shoulder it until the army has its own utility helos, and they have utility lift of their own.
AM,
There was I believe a requirement for 36; an initial 24. Problem is only an initial 12 was approved for the first batch.
Yes it has a requirement for at least another squadron’s worth. The plan as laid out many years ago was for the army to assume the utility role whilst the RMAF focussed in SF insertion and SAR/CSAR. The problem is even if cash was made available there is no way the army will be able absorb more than a squadron’s worth: simply doesn’t have the resources.
Azlan
Sf insertion with another new squadron/new helicopters you mean? Or using the existing h225m?.or you are proposing scout/recon heli like md530g equivalent? All armed force Sf insertion or just RMAF sf the paskau,or the skuadron sayap tempur
I too love if RMAF can their own scout/recon/sf insertion squadron heli with maybe just 4-6 units cuz although H225m can do all that job they are just too valuable/overqualified to do the scout/recon jobs..
But if and only if cash are available for RMAF to spend on few utility heli,they can go for utility variant of h215m or blackhawk just to support transport roles in times for about mybe 4-6 units..assuming the main transport role will be transfered to PUTD
@Firdaus
We don't have the luxury to replicate functions for each of the services with chopper fleet. Certain operational functions will have to be dependent on the branch with the appropriate type of chopper and ultimately they'd have to learn to work and interoperate with each other, ie Special forces insertions at EEZ territory via TUDM Caracals with gunship support from PUTD Little Birds and TLDM Fennecs providing surveillance & reconnaissance.