Contents[hide] |
[edit] Early years
The first aircraft for the fledgling air force was a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer named “Lang Rajawali” by the then Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman. Several Malayans serving with the Royal Air Force transferred to the Royal Malayan Air Force. The role played by TUDM was limited initially to communications and the support of ground operations against Communist insurgents during the Malayan Emergency. TUDM received its first combat aircraft with the delivery of 20 Canadair CL41G Tebuans (an armed version of the Canadair Tutor trainer). TUDM also received Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopters, to be used in the liaison role.
With the formation of the Malaysian Federation on 16 September 1963, the name of the force was changed to "Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia" or Royal Malaysian Air Force". New types introduced into service included the Handley Page Herald transport and the De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou. TUDM received Sikorsky S-61A-4 helicopters in the late sixties and early seventies which were used in the transport role. TUDM gained an air defence capability when the Australian Government donated 10 ex-RAAF CAC Sabre fighters. These were based at the Butterworth Air Base.
After the withdrawal of British military forces from Malaysia and Singapore at the end of 1971, a five-nation agreement between Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom was concluded to ensure defence against external aggression. The Royal Australian Air Force maintained a Mirage IIIO squadron at the Butterworth Air Base as part of its commitment to the Five Power Defence Agreement. This squadron was withdrawn in 1983, although occasional deployments of RAAF aircraft continue.
[edit] Modernization
The '90s saw the arrival of first the BAE Hawk Mk108/208 which replaced the T/A-4PTMs, followed by the MiG-29N/NUB in 1995 in the air superiority role and delivery of the F/A-18D Hornet in 1997 to provide an all weather interdiction capability. In 2003 a contract was signed for eighteen Su-30MKMs for delivery in 2007 to fulfill a requirement for an initial order of multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA). A requirement for a further eighteen MRCAs remains unfulfilled. TUDM is also looking for an AWACS aircraft, although no firm orders have been placed.
On 8 December 2005 four Airbus Military A400M aircraft were ordered to enhance the airlift capability. The first Malaysian A400M will be delivered in 2016.[2] In late 2006, the Government signed a contract to purchase eight Aermacchi MB-339CMs to add to the eight MB-339AMs already in service.
In March 2007, then-Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak notified the public that the MiG-29s would continue in service until 2010. Later that year, Najib announced the Nuri (Sikorsky S-61A-4) helicopter, in service since 1968 with 89 crew members killed in 15 accidents, would be phased out by 2012 and replaced by the Eurocopter EC725.[3] 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 would occur in early 2008.[4]
In June 2009, RMAF chief General Azizan Ariffin said that the air force would replace their MiG-29s with aircraft that have better agility and the capability to attack enemy forces.[5]
At the 12th Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition 2010,[6] a Letter of Agreement (LOA) was signed for 12 EC725 helicopters to be supplied to the RMAF.[7] With that, EADS, (the European Aeronautical Defence and Space Company), has pledged 100 million Euros to set up a comprehensive helicopter centre in Subang for an aeronautical academy, training, simulation and a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility for the EC725 Cougar military version and the EC225 civilian model.[8]
[edit] Ranks of The Royal Malaysian Air Force
Main article: Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces
Up until the late 1970s, the Royal Malaysian Air Force used the same officer ranking system as the Royal Air Force. They were replaced by army-style designations and the list of ranks which are currently used are shown below (in descending order).[edit] Ranks until 1970
Flag Officer| Rank | Air Chief Marshal | Air Marshal | Air Vice Marshal | Air Commodore |
| Rank | Group Captain | Wing Commander | Squadron Leader | Flight Lieutenant | Flying Officer | Pilot Officer | Cadet Officer |
| Rank | Warrant Officer I|Warrant Officer II | Flight Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Leading Aircraftman | Aircraftman 2nd Class | Aircraftman 1st Class |
[edit] Royal Malaysian Air Force ranks from 1990 onward
SNCOs and NCOs- Warrant Officer 1 (Pegawai Waran 1)
- Warrant Officer 2 (Pegawai Waran 2)
- Flight Sergeant (Flait Sarjan)
- Air Sergeant (Sarjan Udara)
- Air Corporal (Koperal Udara)
- Leading Aircraftman (Laskar Udara Kanan)
- Aircraftman 1st Class (Laskar Udara I)
- Aircraftman 2nd Class (Laskar Udara II)
- Recruit (Perajurit Muda)
Officers
All officers apply the Air Force acronym (RMAF, TUDM) to their rank title.
- Colonel RMAF (Kolonel TUDM). RAF rank equivalent: Group Captain
- Lieutenant Colonel RMAF (Leftenant Kolonel TUDM). RAF rank equivalent: Wing Commander
- Major RMAF (Mejar TUDM). RAF rank equivalent: Squadron Leader
- Captain RMAF (Kapten TUDM). RAF rank equiavlent: Flight Lieutenant
- Lieutenant RMAF (Leftenant TUDM). RAF rank equivalent: Flying Officer
- Junior Lieutenant RMAF (Leftenant Muda TUDM). RAF rank equivalent: Pilot Officer
All general officers apply the Air Force acronym (RMAF, TUDM) to their rank title.
| Insignia | Description | |
|---|---|---|
 | Brigadier General, RMAF (Brigadier Jeneral TUDM) | Typically serves as Deputy Commander to the Commanding General of a division and assists in overseeing the planning and coordination of a mission. In an infantry brigade not attached to a division, a Brigadier General serves as the unit's commander, while a Colonel serves as deputy commander. |
 | Major General of the RMAF (Mejar Jeneral TUDM) | Typically commands division-sized units (10,000 to 16,000 soldiers). |
 | Lieutenant General, RMAF (Leftenan Jeneral TUDM) | The rank is bestowed on the commanders of the various RMAF commands, and by the Deputy Commander, RMAF. |
 | General, RMAF (Jeneral TUDM) | Commands all operations that fall within his geographical area. The Chief of Defence Force and the Chief of the Air Force are four-star Generals. |
 | Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (Marsyal Tentera Udara Di Raja Malaysia) | This rank is only used by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces. |
Assets
Main article: List of aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force
| Total Aircraft In Service | 226 (36 on order) |
Organisation
- 1st Division
- 2 Squadron - Fokker F-28 Fellowship, Falcon 900, Global Express, Boeing BBJ (737-700), Subang AFB
- 3 Squadron - S-61A4A Nuri, Butterworth AFB
- 6 Squadron - BAE Hawk 108/Hawk 208, Kuantan AFB
- 10 Squadron - S-61A4A Nuri, Kuala Lumpur AFB
- 11 Squadron - Su-30MKM Flanker, Gong Kedak AFB
- 12 Squadron - Northrop F-5E/F, RF-5E, Butterworth AFB
- 15 Squadron - BAE Hawk 108/208, Aermacchi MB-339AM, Butterworth AFB
- 16 Squadron - Beech 200T, Subang AFB
- 18 Squadron - Boeing F/A-18D Hornet, Butterworth AFB
- 19 Squadron - MiG 29N/UB, Kuantan AFB
- 20 Squadron - Lockheed C-130H Hercules, C-130T Subang AFB
- 21 Squadron - CN-235-200M, Subang AFB
- 2nd Division
- 5 Squadron - S-61A4A, Nuri Labuan AFB
- 7 Squadron - S-61A4A, Nuri Kuching AFB
- 14 Squadron - Lockheed C-130H Hercules, Labuan AFB
- Training Division
- 1 FTC PC-7/PC-7 Mk II, Alor Setar AFB
- 2 FTC Alouette III Alor, Setar AFB
- 3 FTC MB-339AM/CM, Kuantan AFB
Airbases
Airbases include:- TUDM Alor Setar, Kedah (RMAF Alor Setar) (Air Force Academy)
- TUDM Bukit Ibam, Pahang (RMAF Bukit Ibam)
- TUDM Bukit Jugra, Selangor (RMAF Bukit Jugra)
- TUDM Butterworth, Penang (RMAF Butterworth)5°27′52″N 100°23′28″E / 5.464434°N 100.391178°E, Penang
- TUDM Gong Kedak, Kelantan (RMAF Gong Kedak) satellite imagery
- TUDM Ipoh, Perak (RMAF Ipoh) (Air Force School)
- TUDM Kinrara, Selangor (RMAF Kinrara (School of Logistic Management; also houses a central hospital facility)
- TUDM Kuantan, Pahang (RMAF Kuantan) satellite imagery
- TUDM Kuching, Sarawak (RMAF Kuching)
- TUDM Labuan (RMAF Labuan)
- TUDM Subang, Selangor (RMAF Subang)3°07′08″N 101°32′40″E / 3.119005°N 101.544399°E, Selangor
- TUDM Kuala Lumpur (RMAF Simpang)3°06′51″N 101°42′07″E / 3.114120°N 101.701813°E
- TUDM Bukit Lunchu Johor (RMAF Skn 323)
Royal Malaysian Air Force Regiment
The RMAF Regiment is the ground and air defence support unit of the RMAF. It is composed of the various units of the regiment tasked to fulfill the RMAF's mission and vision. These units are:- PASKAU TUDM (Special Air Service, RMAF)
- RMAF Provost Unit
- RMAF Infantry
- RMAF Ground Base Air Defence
Special Forces
Main article: PASKAU
The special arm of the RMAF is known as PASKAU (a Malay acronym for Pasukan Khas Udara, which loosely means 'Special Air Service'), and is part of the RMAF Regiment. PASKAU was formed in response to a mortar attack by the then Communist Party of Malaya on a DHC-4 Caribou in the 1970s at the Kuala Lumpur Air Base.[9] During peacetime, the unit is tasked with responding to aircraft hijacking incidents as well as protecting Malaysia's numerous offshore RMAF airbases and civilian airports. Its wartime roles include ground designation, sabotaging of enemy air assets and equipment and the defence of RMAF aircraft and bases. This unit is also deployed for counter-terrorism duties as well as Urban warfare/Close quarters combat.RMAF Provost Unit
This is the military police unit of the RMAF Regiment.Missing jet engines scandal
In May 2008, two J85-GE-21 engines that power the Northrop F-5E Tiger II fighter jets belonging to the Royal Malaysian Air Force were reported missing, as of sometime in 2007, from a RMAF gowdown (warehouse) in Kuala Lumpur during Najib's tenure as Defence Minister in Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Cabinet. The jet engines belonged to the 12th Squadron (Scorpion) based in Butterworth. The issue became a matter of political dispute,[10] and it was reported a brigadier-general, 40 other armed forces personnel, had been sacked over the incident.[11] On 6 January 2010, two Malaysians, an Airman (Sergeant) and a civilian contractor, were charged in connection with the theft and disposal of both engines.[12]Engines diverted to Uruguay
On 5 February 2010, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail revealed that the two missing engines had been found in Uruguay with the help of the government there and the Malaysian government is proceeding with the necessary measures to secure their return. Investigations showed that the engines were taken out of the RMAF base on 20 December 2007 and 1 Jan 2008, and sent to a gowdown in Subang Jaya before being shipped out of Malaysia to South America.[13][14]This list identifies the military aircraft which are currently being operated or have formerly been operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Current assets
[edit] Combat aircraft
| Aircraft | Origin | Role | Versions | In service[1] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighter Aircraft | ||||||
| Sukhoi Su-30 |  Russia | Multirole Aircraft | Su-30MKM | 18 | Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE) | |
| Boeing F/A-18 Hornet |  United States | All weather multi-role fighter | F/A-18D | 8 | Capable of, and Intended for multirole missions at sea and maritime interdiction. Operable at night/in all weather. | |
| Northrop F-5 Tiger II | United States | Reconnaissance | F-5E RF-5 | 16 2 | Upgraded, however operation status unknown. | |
| Mikoyan MiG-29 | Russia | air superiority fighter | MiG-29N | 14 | Still in service and also being used as attack aircraft. Provide support for the new Su-30MKM multirole fighters.[2]. However, these aircraft are in the process of being replaced, and will only be in service until the replacement aircraft are selected and deliveries have arrived. | |
| BAE Hawk |  United Kingdom | light attack aircraft | Mk.208 | 13 | Being used as a fighter-bomber. Provide support for MIG-29 and SU-30 MKM | |
| Trainer Aircraft | ||||||
| Aermacchi MB-339 |  Italy | Training aircraft | MB-339AM MB-339CM | 9 8 | replaced by MB-339CM | |
| MD3-160 Aerotiga |  Malaysia | Training aircraft | 20 | Unknown | ||
| BAE Hawk | United Kingdom | Training aircraft | Mk.108 | 5 | ||
| Mikoyan MiG-29 | Russia | training aircraft | MiG-29NUB | 2 | ||
| Northrop F-5 Tiger II | United States | Operation Conversion | F-5F | 4 | ||
| Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer |  Switzerland | Training aircraft | PC-7 PC-7 Mk II | 37 5 | Basic trainer. | |
| UAV | ||||||
| CTRM Eagle ARV | Malaysia | Reconnaissance UAV | 3 | Reconnaissance UAV | ||
| Transport Aircraft | ||||||
| Airbus 319 |  Europe | VIP transport | - | 1 | PMB/RMAF | |
| Airbus A400M | Europe | military transport | A400M | 4 | 4 aircraft on order. | |
| Beechcraft Super King Air | United States | maritime patrol aircraft | B200T | 4 | ||
| Boeing 737 | United States | VIP transport | 737-700 | 1 | used for the Prime Minister and/or Deputy Prime Minister. | |
| Bombardier Global Express |  Canada | VIP transport | BD700 | 1 | - | |
| CASA CN-235 |  Indonesia | VIP transport light military transport | CN-235-220M-VIP CN-235-220M | 8 | Military transport for humanitarian and for army airborne (PAC) *4 aircraft recently ordered for Maritime Patrol* Edited on 25 March 2010. | |
| Cessna 402 | United States | light Transport | 402B | 10 | - | |
| Dassault Falcon 900 |  France | VIP transport | 900B | 1 | - | |
| Fokker F28 Fellowship |  Netherlands | VIP transport | F28-1000 | 1 | ||
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules | United States | tactical transport tactical transport tactical transport | C-130H-30 C-130H C-130MP | 16 3 1 | Tactical airlift | |
| Helicopter and Non Fixed wing Aircraft | ||||||
| Aérospatiale Alouette III | France | multipurpose | SA-316B/SA-319B | 20 | Total 36 received (not including 7× SA-316Bs transferred from Republic of Singapore Air Force in 1978/9), 20× SA-316Bs were transferred to the Malaysian Army's air wing (PUTD) | |
| Agusta A109 | Italy | multipurpose | A109C | 1 | stored | |
| Agusta AS-61N1 | Italy | VIP transport | AS-61N1 | 2 | VIP transport. | |
| Eurocopter EC 725 | France | combat search and Recue (CSAR) | Super Cougar | 12 | On order. Delivery from 2013[3] | |
| Mil Mi-171Sh | Russia | combat search and rescue (CSAR) | Mi-171Sh | 4 | 4 Unit's received. | |
| Sikorsky S-61 Sea King | United States | transport (multipurpose) | S61A-4 Nuri | 30 | Multipurpose transport. Carrying troops & humanitarian aid. | |
| Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk | United States | VIP transport | S-70 | 2 | VIP transportations. | |
[edit] Former assets
| Type | Variant | Origin | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bell 47 | Bell 47G | United States | |
| Canadair CL-41 Tutor | CL-41G Tebuan | Canada | Light Strike |
| CAC Sabre | Sabre Mk. 32 |  Australia | Fighter |
| De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou | DHC-4A | Canada | Medium Transport |
| Douglas A-4 Skyhawk | A-4PTM and TA-4PTM | United States | Strike |
| Grumman HU-16 Albatross | HU-16B | United States | Utility |
| Handley Page Dart Herald | United Kingdom | Transport | |
| Hawker Siddeley HS125 | United Kingdom | VIP Transport | |
| Percival Provost | T51 | United Kingdom | Trainer |
| Scottish Aviation Bulldog | United Kingdom | Trainer | |
| Scottish Aviation Pioneer | United Kingdom | Light transport | |
| Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer | United Kingdom | Light transport |
[edit] Gallery
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Su-30MKM and Aermacchi MB-339 aircraft on show during the LIMA 2009 -
TUDM F/A-18D Hornet -
A TUDM Mig-29 in formation with a United States Navy Grumman F-14 Tomcat -
Four TUDM F/A-18 aircraft perform aerial maneuvers for exhibition crowds -
