Royal Malaysian Air Force

Source:[15]

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, but the sleeve insignia remained the same mirroring the RAF practice, but all General Officers wear 1 to 5 stars on the shoulder board in addition to the existing sleeve insignia. 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	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
	Commander-in-Chief		Generals								Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer Cadets
	Pemerintah Tertinggi		Pegawai Tinggi								Pegawai Kanan						Pegawai Muda								Pegawai Kadet
Royal Malaysian Air Force																									No insignia
	Marshal of the Air Force		General		Lieutenant General		Major General		Brigadier General		Colonel		Lieutenant Colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant			Officer Cadet
	Marsyal Tentera Udara		Jeneral TUDM		Leftenan Jeneral TUDM		Mejar Jeneral TUDM		Brigedier Jeneral TUDM		Kolonel TUDM		Leftenan Kolonel TUDM		Mejar TUDM		Kapten TUDM		Leftenan TUDM			Leftenan Muda TUDM			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.

Equivalent NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
	Warrant Officers								Senior Non-Commissioned Officers														Junior Non-Commissioned Officers						Others
	Pegawai Waran								Pegawai Tanpa Tauliah Kanan														Pegawai Tanpa Tauliah Rendah						Lain-lain
Royal Malaysian Air Force																													No insignia						No insignia
	Pegawai Waran Udara I Warrant Officer Class 1						Pegawai Waran Udara II Warrant Officer Class 2		Flait Sarjan Flight Sergeant		Sarjan Udara Sergeant												Koperal Udara Corporal				Laskar Udara Kanan Leading Aircraftman		Laskar Udara I Aircraftman First Class						Laskar Udara II Aircraftman Second Class	Perajurit Muda Recruit

The RMAF Regiment is the ground and air defence support unit of the RMAF. The regiment is composed of four sub-units tasked with fulfilling the RMAF's mission. These units are:

PASKAU

PASKAU detachments with dressed in the No.4 Digital Camouflage, tactical gear and ghillie suits parading during the 60th National Day Parade of Malaysia at Sultan Abdul Samad Street, Kuala Lumpur.

The special forces arm of the RMAF is known as PASKAU (a Malay acronym for Pasukan Khas Udara, which loosely translates as 'Special Air Service'). 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. 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 airbases.

RMAF Infantry

The unit that equipped with firearms for combat duties.

RMAF Ground Air Defence Artillery

This regiment responsible for providing air defense protection by using Ground Base Air Defence (GBAD) to the important places such as airbases as well as RMAF asset.

The Kris Sakti (English: Magic Dagger) is the aerobatic display team of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. It made its debut on 2011 Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show in December 2011. They operated four Extra 300L aircraft.

Airbases of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

List:

• TUDM Butterworth, Penang (RMAF Butterworth), (Base of F/A-18 Hornets)
• TUDM Kuantan, Pahang (RMAF Kuantan)
• TUDM Gong Kedak, Kelantan (RMAF Gong Kedak) (Base of Su-30MKMs)
• TUDM Labuan, Sabah (RMAF Labuan) (Base of BAE Hawks)
• TUDM Kuala Lumpur (RMAF Kuala Lumpur)
• TUDM Subang, Selangor (RMAF Subang)
• TUDM Kuching, Sarawak (RMAF Kuching)
• TUDM Alor Setar, Kedah (RMAF Alor Setar) (Air Force Academy)
• TUDM Ipoh, Perak (RMAF Ipoh) (Air Force School)
• TUDM Bukit Lunchu, Johor (RMAF Bukit Lunchu) (Control and Reporting Post)
• TUDM Kinrara, Selangor (RMAF Kinrara) (School of Logistic Management; also houses a central hospital facility)
• TUDM Bukit Jugra, Selangor (RMAF Bukit Jugra) (PASKAU headquarters)
• TUDM Bukit Ibam, Pahang (RMAF Bukit Ibam)

• Since 1989, around 95 armed forces personnel (most of those are the RMAF) have been killed in 18 crashes involving the ageing type American-made Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King (Nuri) helicopter.[16] This led the RMAF to purchase the French-made EC725 helicopter to replace it. But with the nation having ordered only 12 of a planned 28 EC725 helicopters as replacements, the RMAF was forced to prolong the life of its Sikorskys.[17] On 21 October 2016, it was reported that a Canadian helicopter company Heli-One will upgrade all Malaysia's Nuri helicopter.[18]
• 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 an RMAF 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,[19] and it was reported a brigadier-general together with 40 other armed forces personnel had been sacked over the incident.[20] Further investigation led to the arrest of two RMAF personnel and a civilian contractor were charged in connection with the theft and disposal of both engines on 6 January 2010.[21] 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 of Uruguay 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 between 20 December 2007 to 1 January 2008 before being sent to a warehouse in Subang Jaya to be shipped out of Malaysia to South America.[22][23]
• On 26 February 2016, the RMAF Indonesian made-CN-325-220M version were forced to make an emergency landing into mangrove swamps near Kuala Selangor due to engine failure.[24] The aircraft co-pilot sustained a broken left arm during the incident while the rest of the crew managed to escape without major injuries. A fisherman who trying to help the crews out of the aircraft were reported drowned after his foot got stuck in a mud. The black box from the aircraft was found on the next day and sent to Bandung, Indonesia for analysing by Indonesian manufacturer over the cause of the accident.[25]
• On 21 December 2016, an American-made Beechcraft King Air 200T crashed into Butterworth airbase during its training mission from Subang airbase, killing one pilot while injuring three others.[26]
• On 14 June 2017, two pilots were killed after a British-made BAE Hawk (Mk 108) crashed at the Pahang - Terengganu border.[27] Previously, several other Hawks had crashed during training missions.[28]

RMAF personnel performing combat air rescue at Cope Taufan 2012.

To boost Malaysia's security in eastern Sabah from the threats of militants from the southern Philippines as well as to dispose of older inventory, the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAF) agreed to transfer four of its S-70A Black Hawk to the RMAF.[29][30] BAE Hawk 208 squadrons have been stationed in various bases across East Malaysia in order to launch air-to-ground operations and attacks against foreign militants attempting intrusion into Sabah.[31] In 2016, BAE Systems entered into a strategic partnership with a Malaysian aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre AIROD to upgrade the avionic systems on the Malaysian BAE Hawk aircraft.[32] As part of the Malaysia's Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) program, Malaysia is looking to replace its ageing MiG-29 and F-5 fighters which have long since passed retirement age.[33][34] Due to financial difficulties, the plan was postponed year after year. Announcement of the winner of the project, as well as purchasing of the new generation fighters will most likely occur between 2016 and 2020.[35] The major contenders of this project would be the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Sukhoi Su-30 and the Sukhoi Su-35.[35][36][37][38] While ATSC has launched a bid to upgrade the ageing MiG-29 fighters,[39] Dassault Rafale has offered a financial package with a ten-year repayment loan from a French commercial bank and guaranteed by the government of France to assist procurement of their fighter.[40] This offer was countered by BAE Systems' Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab JAS 39 Gripen which has offered competitive leasing deals instead.[33][41][42] EADS and BAE Systems has offered to set up joint venture companies for maintenance and repair of the aircraft if it is selected, along with competitive financial support extended by the UK government.[43] Beside promoting their jet fighters, Saab is pitching their airborne early warning and control aircraft, the Global Eye (Bombardier 6000) equipped with Erieye radar system and is looking for local partners in Malaysia for manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul.[44]

Russia is ready to offer their jet fighters to meet Malaysia's requirements.[45] The Russian defence export corporation, Rosoboronexport which supplied the Royal Malaysian Air Force with Sukhoi Su-30MKM expressed its readiness to discuss the prospect of establishing joint and licensed production facilities in Malaysia.[46] The Russians have argued that despite some initial advantages especially in terms of meeting the high cost for maintenance, fuel, parts and insurance in the short term, the lessors the aircraft will require frequent checks to be assured that terms of the lease are upheld, and the aircraft will eventually have to be returned after the leasing period is up. As such, leasing fighter aircraft will have significant drawbacks in the defence of sovereignty of the nation.[38] Instead, the Russian offering their Sukhoi Su-35 at lower prices than their western rivals. However, according to the Malaysian Ministry of Defence, the race for new fighter jets has narrowed down to the Dassault Rafale and the Typhoon instead, the latter built by BAE Systems.[47]

In the late 2015, it was rumoured that Malaysia might purchase the Sino-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder,[48] but the report was denied by Malaysian Defence Minister and said they were still determining to choose.[49] It was believed that there was an immediate requirement for new fighters due to the increase of China's aggression in the South China Sea dispute.[50] Belarusian company also expressed their interest to help Malaysia to upgrade and repair their Russian-made fighter jets.[51] Following the visit of Saudi King in early 2017, Malaysia are reportedly seek to buy the excessive Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) jet fighters and helicopters.[52]

Following the visit by French President also in early 2017, Malaysia said they remain undecided whether to buy the French fighters although it has become the leader on the list of all jet fighters suggested,[53] with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak assured the French President that they considering to buy.[54] The French government confirmed that negotiation is on the way although no final deal have yet been signed.[55]

In other hand Malaysia also in planned to acquire airborne early warning and control aircraft. Malaysia also urgently need to boost their maritime patrol capability with new Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Malaysia is reportedly considering an offer from Japan for P-3C Orion maritime patrollers if it can persuade the Japanese government to pay for the cost.[56] In July 2017, the plan to acquire new jet fighters were shelved by looking instead to upgrade its aerial surveillance capabilities to confront the growing threat of Islamist militants in the Southeast Asian region.[57]

In December 2017, the Royal Malaysian Air Force's Brigadier General Yazid Bin Arshad announced it had shortlisted four aircraft types to replace the force's ageing fleet of Beechcraft Super King Air maritime patrol aircraft. The selected types are the EADS CASA C-295 from Airbus, the P-8 Poseidon from Boeing, ATR 72 MP from ATR, a joint venture between Airbus and Leonardo, and the CASA/IPTN CN-235, which could be provided by either Airbus or Indonesian Aerospace, which acquired a licence to produce it. Brigadier General Yazid Bin Arshad added, however, that while "these four types are shortlisted, the door is not closed yet", indicating other options may still be possible.[58] On 7 January 2020, it is confirmed that the RMAF retired its Nuri or Sea King helicopters and remarked that there was an evaluation of a new utility helicopter to replace the Nuris.

• Malaysian Armed Forces
  • Malaysian Army
  • Royal Malaysian Navy
• Malaysia Coast Guard
• Royal Malaysia Police
• Royal Johor Military Force
• Joint Forces Command

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Malaysian Air Force.

• RMAF Official Website
• Malaysian Armed Forces Official Website
• Malaysian Ministry of Defence Official Website
• Scramble, Malaysian Forces Overview, Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM)
• Royal Malaysian Air Force Museum
• Bases and Squadrons