waiting for a newly ordered aircraft to be commissioned. As of March 2022, the procurement process of the MPA is still at the Ministry of Finance level, and there are several candidates (aircraft companies) who have been shortlisted for further action. In October 2022, the Malaysian government has finalised a tender to procure two maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) for the country's air force and will soon award a contract for this programme to Leonardo. Malaysia's defense minister, Hishammuddin Hussein made no mention of the aircraft types in his announcement but Leonardo has proposed its ATR 72MP twin-turboprop aircraft for Malaysia's requirements. Airborne early warning and control aircraft Malaysia has also planned to acquire airborne early warning and control aircraft. Saab is pitching their airborne early warning and control aircraft, the Global Eye, which is the Bombardier 6000 equipped with Erieye radar system and is looking for local partners in Malaysia for manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul. Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle As a part of the modernization program, Malaysia also intends to acquire six MALE UAV. Malaysian government has issues a MALE UAV tender in 2020 and it is expected the procurement will take place in 2021. The major contenders of this project would be the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, TAI Anka, Bayraktar TB2, Safran Patroller, Thales Watchkeeper WK450, Kronshtadt Orion, CAIG Wing Loong and CASC Rainbow. As of March 2022, it is reported the program is currently undergoing physical evaluation stage which has been shortlisted by the Procurement Board of the Ministry of Defence, and this process is still ongoing. In October 2022, Malaysia's Defence Minister, Hishammudin Hussein announced that the Turkish Aerospace Industries is selected for the procurement of three (3) MALE-UAS units. Utility helicopter In 2007, Najib Razak announced that the Sikorsky S-61A4 Nuri helicopter in service since 1968 would be phased out by 2012 and replaced by the Eurocopter EC725. Deputy RMAF Chief Lieutenant General Bashir Abu Bakar told the media after opening Heli-Asia 2007 that tender assessment for the replacement of the Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri would occur in early 2008. At the 12th Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition 2010, a Letter of Agreement (LOA) was signed for 12 EC725 helicopters to be supplied to the RMAF. With that, EADS, (the European Aeronautical Defence and Space Company), pledged 100 million Euros to set up a comprehensive helicopter centre in Subang for an aeronautical academy, training,