Royal Brunei Air Force

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This article is about military air force. For commercial airline, see Royal Brunei Airlines.

Royal Brunei Air Force
Royal Brunei Air Force emblem.svg
Badge of the Royal Brunei Air Force
Founded1966; 55 years ago (1966)
Country Brunei
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size27 aircraft [1]
Part of Royal Brunei Armed Forces
HeadquartersRimba Air Force Base
Commanders
Commander of Royal Brunei Air ForceBrigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohammad Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim
Deputy Commander of Royal Brunei Air ForceColonel (U) Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin
Notable
commanders		Brigadier General (U) Haji Mahmud bin Saidin (first Bruneian with fighter pilot's licence)
Insignia
Fin flashFin Flash of Brunei.svg
EnsignEnsign of the Royal Brunei Air Force.svg
Aircraft flown
HelicopterSikorsky S-70, MBB Bo 105, Bell 214ST
TrainerPilatus PC-7, Bell 206
TransportCASA CN-235

The Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAF) (Malay: Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei, abbreviation TUDB) is the air force of the sultanate of Brunei. It is mainly based at the Rimba Air Base within the Brunei International Airport.[2] The role of the Royal Brunei Air Force is to defend the national airspace and to provide air surveillance of the land and maritime borders.[3]

The Royal Brunei Air Force was formed on 1 October 1991 from the Air Wing of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The Air Wing of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces had operated helicopters (the Bell 205) since 1966.[2] The Royal Air Force provides human resources specialists such as pilots and aircraft technicians to assist the Royal Brunei Air Force.[4]

History[]

Royal Brunei Air Force was established as the Air Wing of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment in 1965. It was first tasked to fly doctors to rural area with two Sikorsky S-55 aircraft, which was operated by pilots from the Worldwide Helicopter Company. In 1966, the tasks were taken over by pilots from the British Royal Air Force operating three Westland Whirlwind helicopters.[5]

In 1967, the unit was renamed as the Helicopter Platoon and received five Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopters. The Air Technical Training School was established in 1980. In 1981, the Second Squadron was established and equipped with six Bolkow BO 105 helicopters. The Third Squadron was established in 1982 and equipped with SIAI-Marchetti SF260s. When Brunei assumed responsibility for its own defence from the United Kingdom in 1984 the Air Wing was expanded. On 1 October 1991, with the consent of The Sultan, the Air Wing was officially renamed the Royal Brunei Air Force.[5]

The Fourth Squadron was established in 1997 and was equipped with the Blackhawk S-70A helicopters. The Fifth Squadron was also established in 1997 and was equipped with a CN-235 plane and the Base Defence Squadron. In the same year, the Third Squadron received the Pilatus PC-7 Mark II training aircraft. The Thirty-Eight Squadron was established in 1999 and is equipped with the Mistral surface-to-air missile.[5]

As of 28 August 2020, the commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force is Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohd Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim.

Organisation[]

The Air Force is divided into 7 Wings:[6][7]

The Operation Wing consists of 4 Flying Squadrons and two addition units:[8]

  • No 1 Squadron is equipped with Bell 212 and Bell 214ST helicopters. The primary roles of the First Squadron are for trooplift, casualty evacuation, medical evacuation, fire suppression, VVIP lift and search and rescue.[8]
  • No 2 Squadron is equipped with Bolkow BO 105 helicopters. The primary roles of the Second Squadron are to provide flying doctor, reconnaissance, surveillance, provides close air support, VVIP lift and search and locate services.[8]
  • No 4 Squadron is equipped with Blackhawk S-70A helicopters. The primary roles of the Fourth Squadron are special combat squadron operation task, trooplift, casualty evacuation, medical evacuation, fire fighting, VVIP lift and search and rescue.[8]
  • No 5 Squadron is equipped with a CN-235 aircraft. The primary roles of the fifth Squadron are to provide trooplift, surveillance and search and locate capabilities.[8]
  • The Parachute Airborne Tactical Delivery Unit (PATDU) provides jungle rescue team, jungle line resupply, multi rope abseil. The PATDU are also involved in parachute competitions at the regional or international level.[9]
  • The Fire Unit provides cover if any aircraft during an emergency.[9]

The Air Regiment consists of 3 Squadrons and Technical Training School:[9]

  • The 33rd Squadron was formerly known as the Air Battery. The 33rd Squadron is equipped with the Rapier missile launcher.[9]
  • The 38th Squadron is equipped with the Mistral missile launcher.[9]
  • The Base Defence Squadron is responsible for the protection of the Rimba Air Base at the Brunei International Airport and any Forward Operating Base.[9]
  • The Technical Training School is responsible for producing qualified technicians for Air Regiment and organising courses related to Air Regiment.[9]

The Logistics Wing consists of three units which are the Engineering Squadron, Supply Squadron and Technical Equipment Maintenance Department (TEMD). The role of the Engineering Squadron is to provide and maintain aircraft serviceability for operational use. The role of Supply Squadron is to provide logistical support and equipment for the personnel. The role of the TEMD is to provide maintenance for the aircraft.[10]

The Training Wing consists of the Third Squadron, which is also known as the Flying Training School (FTS), the Air Technical Training School (ATTS) and the Standard and Evaluation Squadron (STANEVAL). The Training Wing is responsible for recruiting and training pilots and technicians, as well as preparing pilot instructor courses and flying standards. The Third Squadron is equipped with Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopters and Pilatus PC-7 Mk 2 aircraft.[10]

The Administration Wing consists of the Physical Training Section, Pay Office, Regimental Police, Military Transport and Civilian Office.[11]

Incidents[]

A Bell 212 operated by the air force crashed in Kuala Belait on 20 July 2012 with the loss of 12 of the 14 crew on board.[12] The cause of the accident has yet to be ascertained.[13] The crash is the worst aviation incident in the history of Brunei.

Aircraft[]

Sikorsky S-70

Current inventory[]

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
CASA/IPTN CN-235 Indonesia transport 1[14]
Helicopters
Bell 214ST United States utility 1[14]
MBB Bo 105 Germany utility/scout 6[14]
Sikorsky S-70 United States utility / transport S-70i 12[14] produced in Poland
Trainer Aircraft
Bell 206 United States rototcraft trainer 3[14]
Pilatus PC-7 Switzerland trainer 4[14]

There have been plans to secure fighter capability by purchasing several BAE Hawk aircraft, but these plans have been delayed on several occasions.[15] In November 2011, the White House announced that a deal has been secured by Sikorsky to sell 12 UH-60Ms to the Royal Brunei Air Force.[16] The RBAirF is to acquire 3 CN235-220 CASA-IPTN CN 235M aircraft for maritime operations.[17] Brunei decided to acquire C-130J as its modernisation for air lift capabilities in October 2014[18]

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) transferred four of its S-70A Black Hawk to the Royal Malaysian Air Force.[19][20] In 2014 eight Bell 212 helicopters were retired from service.[21]

During Royal Brunei Armed Forces Diamond Jubilee Celebration in 2021, a Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) program was launched by the Sultan of Brunei and a RQ-21 Blackjack model was unveiled by a US company, Insitu to the Sultan. This UAS will be introduce in the future for maritime security surveillance role.[22]

Retired[]

Previous notable aircraft operated by the Air Force were the Hawker Siddeley HS 748, SF.260, Bell 206A JetRanger, Bell 212 and the Westland Whirlwind helicopters.[23]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Introduction Royal Brunei Air Force Archived 2 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 21 April 2007
  3. ^ Roles Royal Brunei Air Force Archived 20 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 21 April 2007
  4. ^ Bilateral Relations - Royal Brunei Air Force Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 21 April 2007
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c History Royal Brunei Air Force Archived 20 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 21 April 2007
  6. ^ http://www.mindef.gov.bn/airforce/_layouts/15/start.aspx#/SitePages/About%20Us.aspx
  7. ^ Organisation Royal Brunei Air Force Archived 20 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 21 April 2007
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Operation Wing Squadrons Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 21 April 2007
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Air Regiment Squadrons Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 21 April 2007
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Logistics and Training Wing Royal Brunei Air Force Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 21 July 2007
  11. ^ Administration Wing Royal Brunei Air Force Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 21 July 2007
  12. ^ AFP (21 July 2012). "Brunei helicopter crash kills 12: air force". Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  13. ^ CNN Wire Staff. "12 killed in Brunei helicopter crash". Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "World Air Forces 2021". Flightglobal Insight. 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  15. ^ British Aerospace Hawk Still Leads the Pack Flug Revue Online Archived 23 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 21 April 2007
  16. ^ http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/awx/2011/11/17/awx_11_17_2011_p0-395706.xml
  17. ^ "Janes | Latest defence and security news". Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  18. ^ "US clears way for Brunei purchase of Lockheed C-130J". Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  19. ^ Marcel Burger (23 January 2015). "Brunei gives four Black Hawks as present to Malaysia". AIRheads. Archived from the original on 24 January 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  20. ^ "Brunei transfers S-70A Blackhawks to Malaysian Armed Forces". Borneo Bulletin. 29 January 2015. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  21. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ^ Shareen Han (31 May 2021). "RBAF to use drones for maritime security surveillance". The Scoop.
  23. ^ "All-Time Aircraft Used List | Royal Brunei Air Force".
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