The Royal Malaysian Air Force will receive three Turkish-made Anka drones in February to enhance maritime surveillance, particularly in northern Sabah.
SUBANG: The Royal Malaysian Air Force will receive three Turkish-made Anka drones next February to boost its surveillance capabilities in the South China Sea.
RMAF chief General Datuk Seri Muhamad Norazlan Aris said the three Medium Altitude Long Endurance drones and their Ground Control Station are currently en route by sea from Turkiye.
“The journey is expected to take about 45 days and God willing, by the end of January, the three aircraft along with the GCS will arrive in Labuan,” he said at a press conference today.
The drones will be stationed at the Labuan Air Base to complement the RMAF’s existing CN-235 maritime surveillance aircraft.
Muhamad Norazlan said the CN-235 has limitations, making the Anka drones a crucial capability enhancement for monitoring northern Sabah.
“With this manoeuver, we will be able to monitor the surrounding area and take effective follow-up action if necessary,” he said.
He added that the RMAF intends to procure more drones under Phase Two of its Capability Development Plan 2055.
The initial target is nine drones, with the final number to be determined after evaluating the performance of the first three.
In a separate development, Muhamad Norazlan said the Leonardo ATR-72 maritime patrol aircraft project is 60% complete.
Modification work is underway, with completion expected before April 2027, pending delivery of two key systems from the United States.
The aircraft is scheduled to be unveiled at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in 2027.
