MNDF Air Corps
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The MNDF Air Corps is the air arm of the Maldives National Defence Force.
| Air Corps | |
|---|---|
 MNDF Air Corps flag | |
| Founded | 2024 |
| Country |  Maldives |
| Type | Air force |
| Part of | Maldives National Defence Force |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-In-Chief | President Mohamed Muizzu |
| Commandmant | Brigadier General Abdul Rauf |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
History
On 15 March 2024, President Mohamed Muizzu inaugurated the MNDF Air Corps to protect the Maldives' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the airspace of the country.[1][2][3]
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) recently acquired the Baykar Bayraktar TB2 UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), a widely used drone originally developed by the Turkish defense company Baykar. The Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV renowned for its versatility, particularly in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) roles, as well as its ability to conduct precision strikes.
Aircraft
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAVs | ||||||
| Bayraktar TB2 | Turkey | UCAV | 6[4] | Bought from Turkey.[5] | ||
| Transport | ||||||
| Dornier 228 | Germany / India | Maritime patrol | 1[6] | Gifted by India[7][8] | ||
| ATR 72MP | France | Maritime patrol | ATR 72-600 | 1 | Bought by ATR and modified by Italy | |
| Helicopters | ||||||
| HAL Dhruv | India | SAR / Utility | Mk.3 | 2[9] | Gifted by India[10] | |
Radars
| Name | Origin | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selex RAT-31DL | Italy | AESA Air Search Radar | 2 installations[11] |
| 1L-117[12] | Russia | Air Search Radar | 2 installations[11] |
| AN/TPS-43 | United States | 3D Air Search Radar | 4 installations[11] |
| JH-16 | China | Air Search Radar | |
| JY-11B[13] | China | 3D Air Search Radar | |
| KRONOS LAND[14] | Italy | AESA Air Search Radar | 1 installation[11][15] |
| YLC-6[16] | China | Air Search Radar | |
| Plessey AR15 | United Kingdom | Air Search Radar | |
| RL-64I[17] | Czech Republic | S-Band Airport Surveillance Radar(ASR) |