US Hands Over Three CN235 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft to Malaysia – Naval News

The aircraft were ceremonially handed over to the RMAF at its Subang Air Base, with U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia His Excellency Edgard D. Kagan handing over the “Universal Hand Control Unit (UHCU)” of the aircraft’s electro-optical/infra-red sensor turret to RMAF Commander Gen. Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Mohd Asghar Khan bin Goriman Khan.

The ceremony was also witnessed by the Deputy Secretary-General Policy, YBrs Mr. Mohd Yani bin Daud; Deputy Commander of the Air Force, Lt. Gen. Datuk Seri Hj Muhamad Norazlan bin Aris; Commander of Air Operations, Lt. Gen. Datak Mohd Shahada bin Ismail; Air Assistance Commander, Maj. Gen. Masro bin Kaliwon; Air Regional Commander 1, Maj. Gen. Dato’ Mahadzer bin Amin; Air Regional Commander 2, Maj. Gen. Dato’ Wan Amin Hafiz bin Wan Mahmud, other senior RMAF officers and a delegation from the US Embassy.

According to the U.S. Embassy to Malaysia, the U.S. government has provided approximately $60 million in Maritime Security Initiative grant funding for the conversion of the three cargo aircraft to maritime surveillance configuration by CN235 manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia, with the program the first major U.S. security grant program in Malaysia. Other aid supplied under the Maritime Security Initiative includes Insitu ScanEagle drones donated to the Royal Malaysian Navy.

The CN235s are equipped with maritime surveillance radars, electro-optical infrared turrets, beyond line-of sight communications and roll-on/roll-off system operator stations. While neither the embassy or the Royal Malaysian Air Force has provided details on their sensor capabilities, PT Dirgantara Indonesia claims that the maritime surveillance radar is able to detect “small” targets up to 200 nautical miles away.

Conversion work on the last CN235 was completed in June 2023, with the other two CN235s fully converted in June and October 2022 respectively. All three of the CN235s are operated by 1 Squadron out of Kucing Air Base in Sarawak, with one of them seen participating in the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Taming Sari live-fire exercise in December 2023.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force’s maritime surveillance capabilities will be further improved in the near future with the planned arrival of three Turkish Aerospace Industries Anka-S drones configured for maritime surveillance starting next year, as well as the delivery of two Leonardo-built ATR 72 maritime patrol aircraft starting in 2026.