The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MOD) signed a lease agreement with Malaysia-based defence services provider, Aerotree Group, for the supply of four second-hand Sikorsky UH-60A+ Black Hawk battlefield utility helicopters, which will be operated by the Malaysian Army Aviation (PUTD).
The contract, which is worth $40m, was signed during the final day of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) 2023 exhibition in Langkawi, Malaysia, on May 27 and comes as part of the nation’s planned $3.3bn overhaul of its armed forces. While it has been confirmed that Malaysia will lease four second-hand UH-60A+ Black Hawks, it remains unclear as to when these helicopters will be delivered, how long they will be operated for and which unit they will be assigned to.
It has been reported that these Black Hawks will only serve as a stop-gap solution to plug the PUTD’s reduced airlift capabilities in light of the retirement of its Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri transport helicopter fleet – which was operated by Rejimen 882 (882 Squadron) – in 2020. Rejimen 882, along with Rejimen 881 and 883, continues to support the Malaysian Army, operating the MD Helicopters (MDHI) MD530G, which entered operational service in January 2022, and AgustaWestland AW109 LUH, which entered PUTD service in December 2005. It is likely that the newly acquired Black Hawks will remain in operational use until a more permanent solution can be sought.
