TURIN — Malaysia will receive its first P-72M Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) from Italian defence firm Leonardo by the end of 2026, with the second unit arriving three months later, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. Part of a RM900 million deal signed in 2023, the aircraft will boost Malaysia’s maritime surveillance and defence capabilities—especially in the South China Sea. Outfitted with advanced anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare systems, the aircraft are over 60% complete and remain on schedule. The procurement falls under the Royal Malaysian Air Force's CAP55 plan for phased MPA acquisition.
