Malaysian aviation company Weststar Aviation Group (Weststar) has entered into ‘sale and purchase agreements’ with Leonardo SpA to supply the Malaysian Armed Forces and government bodies with 28 new helicopters within three years.
The agreement, which was announced during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2025 on 20 May, launches the “most significant government helicopter fleet expansion and modernisation programme” for Leonardo in Malaysia, the company said in a press statement.
LIMA 2025 is being held on the Malaysian island of Langkawi from 20 to 24 May 2025.
Within the framework of the programme, Weststar “foresees” the delivery of up to 28 helicopters “of various types, in a mix of firm orders and options”, Leonardo said, adding that most of the helicopters will be provided to the Malaysian military and government between 2026 and 2027.
“Weststar will lease the aircraft to the Malaysian government for 15 years, with dedicated localised support and training services to the operator,” Leonardo said.
According to Weststar, the support arrangement will “ensure long-term operational readiness”.
The arrangement is intended to meet a “range of [Malaysian] national requirements for defence, security, and the support of communities”. According to Weststar, the supply of the helicopters “is in line with the concession agreement signed between Weststar Aviation Sdn Bhd and the government of Malaysia in November 2024”.
Neither Leonardo nor Weststar has commented on the value of the leasing agreements. However, Malaysian government officials have said in November 2024 and in early 2025 that the lease arrangement would have a value of MYR16.5 billion (USD3.5 billion).