Updated

Senior officials from Malaysia, Australia and China will meet in Canberra early next week to decide on the next step in the search for the Malaysia Airlines jet.

Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in Kuala Lumpur on Friday that the challenges are huge and the search may take another eight to 12 months. He told reporters: "I believe we will find MH370 sooner or later."

Hishammuddin says he will travel to Canberra for the meeting on Monday.

An unmanned sub is continuing to scan the Indian Ocean floor while the aerial search for surface debris ended this week.

Angus Houston, head of the search operation, says he is confident the wreckage is in that area based on the most promising leads.