Article Posted on : - Dec 10, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR (BNS): Malaysia has received three AW139 helicopters from AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company.

The aircraft were handed over to Admiral Maritime Datuk Mohd Amdan bin Kurish, Director General of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), in the presence of Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Muhyiddin Yassin, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, on Wednesday.

The MMEA’s AW139 are fitted with latest mission equipment including a FLIR, NVG compatible cockpit and a 4-axis Automatic Flight Control System with SAR modes.

The aircraft will be used to perform search and rescue, coastal patrol and law enforcement duties around Malaysia's extensive coast line.

AgustaWestland Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of AgustaWestland, will also provide support and maintenance services for the MMEA’s AW139 fleet.

The MMEA signed a contract for the AW139s plus options for additional aircraft in October 2008, marking the entrance of the AW139 helicopter into the Malaysian government market following earlier success for the aircraft in the Malaysian commercial market.

Two AW139s were also delivered to the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) in April 2010.