ROYAL MALAYSIAN NAVY AVIATION (RMNA)

ROYAL MALAYSIAN NAVY AVIATION (RMNA)

ROYAL MALAYSIAN NAVY AVIATION (RMNA) • Unit Udara Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia

Navy 18,000 personnel. Naval Aviation ε160 personnel.

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
Naval Aviation Command

• HELICOPTER 6 combat capable. Total 12 Helicopters.

Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) with 1 squadron:

• 6 AgustaWestland Super Lynx 100/300.

Transport & Multi-role (Helicopters) with 2 squadrons:

• 4 Eurocopter AS555 Fennec;
• 2 AgustaWestland AW139.

• PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS (Aviation-Capable) Frigates with 2 vessels:

• 2 Lekiu-class (FFGHM) (Capacity: 1 Super Lynx 300 hel).

Corvettes with 8 vessels:

• 2 Kasturi-class (FSG) (Capacity: 1 hel landing platform);
• 6 Kedah-class (FSH) (Capacity: 1 hel landing platform).

• LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT (Aviation-Capable)

• 2 Mahawangsa-class (AFS) (Capacity: 1 hel landing platform);
• 2 Bunga Mas Lima-class (AG) (Capacity: 1 hel landing platform);
• 2 Gagah Samudera-class (AX) (Capacity: 1 hel landing platform).

Armament

• Anti-Ship Missiles (AShM): Sea Skua (Air-launched); MM40 Exocet Block 2/3 (Ship-launched).
• Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM): Sea Wolf; Aspide; Mistral (Ship-launched).

Note: By 2026, the Royal Malaysian Naval Aviation wing remains a specialized rotary-wing force focused on Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Maritime Intelligence. While the core combat capability is centered on the Super Lynx fleet, the Navy has increasingly integrated the AW139 for utility and search and rescue (SAR) roles to address capability gaps. Under the ongoing modernization plans, Malaysia aims to acquire a further 24 new helicopters starting from 2026 to replace aging assets across the services. For long-range fixed-wing Maritime Patrol (MPA) support, the Navy relies on the Royal Malaysian Air Force's newly inducted ATR 72 MPA and CN235 aircraft.