Royal Malaysian Air Force

Royal Malaysian Air Force Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia
Royal Malaysian Air Force ensign
Founded	2 June 1958[1]
Country	Malaysia
Branch	Malaysian Armed Forces
Type	Air Force
Role	Defence and Dominance of Malaysia's airspace and its territory
Motto	Sentiasa di angkasa raya
Colors	Navy Blue, Maya Blue
Anniversaries	June 2nd 1958 (founded)
Engagements	Malayan Emergency Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation Communist Insurgency War
Commanders
Chief of Air Force	General Tan Sri Dato' Sri Rodzali bin Daud
Deputy Chief of the Air Force	Lieutenant General Dato' Roslan bin Saat
Insignia
Roundel & Fin Flash
Roundel 1963-1982
Aircraft flown
Attack	BAE Hawk Mk.208
Electronic warfare	Sapura UVA, RJX1 UVA
Fighter	Sukhoi Su-30 MKM Flanker, Boeing F/A-18D Hornet, Mikoyan MiG-29N Fulcrum
Interceptor	Mikoyan MiG-29N Fulcrum
Patrol	Beechcraft Super King Air
Reconnaissance	Northrop RF-5
Trainer	Aermacchi MB-339, MD3-160 Aerotiga, BAE Hawk Mk.108, Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer
Transport	Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Airbus A400M, CASA CN-235, Sikorsky S-61 Sea King, Mil Mi-17, Eurocopter EC 725, Boeing Business Jet

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) (Malay: Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia (TUDM)) was formed on 2 June 1958 as the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Persekutuan). However, its roots can be traced back to the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force formations of the British Royal Air Force in then colonial British Malaya. Today, the Royal Malaysian Air Force operates a unique mix of modern US, European and Russian-made aircraft.

Early years

A Twin Pioneer Mk.1 “Lang Rajawali” (FM1064 c/n:583) on display at the Melaka Transport Museum

The Malaysian air forces trace their lineage to the Straits Settlements Volunteer Air Force and the Malaya Volunteer Air Force first formed in 1940 and dissolved in 1942 during the height of the Japanese advance over Malaya. The MVAF was reestablished in 1950 in time for the Malayan Emergency and contributed very much to the war effort. On 2 June 1958, the MVAF finally became the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force, this date is celebrated as RMAF Day yearly.

On 25 October 1960, after the end of the Malayan Emergency, the British Royal Air Force handed over their first base in Malaya to the RFMAF, at Simpang Airport; it was established on 1 June 1941, in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur which was formerly part of Selangor and the national capital city.

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.

Modernization

A Northrop RF-5E Tigereye tactical reconnaissance aircraft

With the withdrawal of British military forces, TUDM underwent gradual modernisation from the 1970s to the 1990s. The Sabres were replaced by 16 Northrop F-5E Tiger-IIs. A reconnaissance capability was acquired with the purchase of two RF-5E Tigereye aircraft. TUDM also purchased 88 ex-US Navy Douglas A-4C Skyhawks, of which 40 of the airframes were converted/refurbished by Grumman Aircraft Engineering at Bethpage into the A-4PTM ('Peculiar To Malaysia'), configuration (similar to A-4M standard). TUDM has traditionally looked to the West for its purchases, primarily to the United States. However, limitations imposed by the US on "new technology" to the region, such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM fire-and-forget air-to-air missile, has made TUDM consider purchases from Russia and other non-traditional sources.

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]

Ranks of The Royal Malaysian Air Force

Main article: Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces

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 given Malay title equivalents. The list of ranks which are currently used are shown below (in descending order). NCOs and enlisted ranks remained unchanged, and retain their pre-1970s names.

Equivalent NATO Code	Pre 1970s Rank	Current Rank
Flag Officers
OF-10	Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force	Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (Marsyal Tentera Udara Di Raja Malaysia) [9]
OF-9	Air Chief Marshal	General (Jeneral) [10]
OF-8	Air Marshal	Lieutenant General (Leftenan Jeneral) [11]
OF-7	Air Vice Marshal	Major General (Mejar Jeneral)
OF-6	Air Commodore	Brigadier General (Brigadier Jeneral)
Senior Officers
OF-5	Group Captain	Colonel (Kolonel)
OF-4	Wing Commander	Lieutenant Colonel (Leftenan Kolonel)
OF-3	Squadron Leader	Major (Mejar)
Junior Officers
OF-2	Flight Lieutenant	Captain (Kapten)
OF-1	Flying Officer	Lieutenant (Leftenan)
OF-1	Pilot Officer	Junior Lieutenant (Leftenan Muda)
Cadets
	Officer Cadet	Officer Cadet (Pegawai Kadet)

All officers, with the exception of the Marshal of the Royal Malaysian Air Force apply the Air Force acronym (RMAF, TUDM) to their rank title, to differentiate from their Malaysian Army equivalents. For example, a Colonel in the Air Force would be titled Colonel, RMAF or Kolonel, TUDM in Malay.

Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Enlisted personnel

• 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)

Assets

Main article: List of aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force

A TUDM MiG-29 in formation with a US Navy F-14 Tomcat

Four TUDM F/A-18 aircraft perform aerial manoeuvres for exhibition crowds.

A CASA 235, serial number M44-03, of the Royal Malaysian Air Force at the 2006 Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, England.

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 / 5.464434; 100.391178, 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 / 3.119005; 101.544399, Selangor
• TUDM Kuala Lumpur (RMAF Simpang)3°06′51″N 101°42′07″E / 3.114120°N 101.701813°E / 3.114120; 101.701813
• 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 Air Defence Artillery

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.^[12] During peacetime, the unit is tasked with responding to aircraft hijacking incidents as well as protecting the country's numerous 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, mandated to provide military police duties in RMAF air bases.

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 godown (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,^[13] and it was reported a brigadier-general, 40 other armed forces personnel, had been sacked over the incident.^[14] 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.^[15]

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.^[16][17]

References

Notes

1. ^ Note: Originally founded as Malaysian Auxiliary Air force in 1936
2. ^ Malaysia: Military plane delivery delayed
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ International Tender For Nuri Replacement To Open Soon
5. ^ http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=0604&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_13.htm&arc=hive
6. ^ http://www.dsaexhibition.com/dsa2010/index.php
7. ^ http://www.defenseworld.net/go/defensenews.jsp?id=4404
8. ^ http://www.nst.com.my/articles/23eads/Article/
9. ^ This rank is only used by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
10. ^ The Chief of Defence Force and the Chief of the Air Force hold this four-star rank.
11. ^ This three-star rank is bestowed on the commanders of the various RMAF commands, and by the Deputy Commander, RMAF.
12. ^ http://www.airforce.gov.my/info/paskau/
13. ^ "Stolen engines case was covered up from the start". Malaysian Insider. http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/breaking-views/47311-stolen-engines-case-was-covered-up-from-the-start--the-malaysian-insider. Retrieved 2009-12-22. 
14. ^ "PM: Fighter jet engine reported stolen to cops". TheStar Online. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/22/nation/5345668&sec=nation. Retrieved 2009-12-22. 
15. ^ "Two Malaysian Indians charged with aircraft engine theft". Deccan Herald. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/45250/two-malaysian-indians-charged-aircraft.html. Retrieved 2010-01-07. 
16. ^ "Missing jet engines found". TheStar Online. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/2/5/nation/20100205204636&sec=nationn. Retrieved 2010-02-06. 
17. ^ [2]

External links

• RMAF Official Website
• Malaysian Armed Forces Official Website
• Malaysian Ministry of Defense Official Website
• Scramble, Malaysian Forces Overview, Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM)

• Royal Malaysian Air Force Museum
• Bases and Squadrons