RMAF Regiment
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Malaysia
Royal Malaysian Air Force| RMAF Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Rejimen TUDM | |
| Founded | 1 April 1980 |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Branch | Royal Malaysian Air Force |
| Type | Air force ground forces and special forces formation |
| Part of | Air Operations Command |
| Headquarters | RMAF Jugra Air Base |
| Colors | (Amaranth Red, Maya Blue, Navy Blue and Air force Golden Yellow) |
| Anniversaries | 1 April |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Brigadier General Mohd Zairul Hisham Muhamad Ibrahim RMAF |
| Colonel-in-chief | Sultan Abdullah of Pahang |
| Insignia | |
| Cap badge backing |  |
The Royal Malaysian Air Force Regiment (Abbr.: RMAF Regiment, Malay: Rejimen Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia – Rejimen TUDM, Jawi: ريجيمن تنترا اودارا دراج مليسيا) is a ground-based formation that is part of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. It comprises units that serve as special forces, air force infantry, security forces, and ground combat instructors. The regiment's headquarters are located at RMAF Jugra Air Base in Banting, Selangor.[1]
Brigadier General Mohd Zairul Hisham Muhamad Ibrahim RMAF is the current commander of the RMAF Regiment, having succeeded Brigadier General Meor Ahmad Kamal Meor Termizi RMAF on 24 April 2024.[2]
RMAF Security Regiment
The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) established the RMAF Security Regiment on 1 April 1980, at RMAF Kuala Lumpur Air Base as a command for the Royal Malaysian Air Force Air and Ground Defence Force (RMAF HANDAU) squadrons. RMAF HANDAU, the security forces of the RMAF, later expanded to 11 squadrons spread throughout Malaysia.[3]
Renamed to RMAF Regiment
In June 1983, the RMAF underwent a restructuring that moved the RMAF Security Regiment from Air Force Command (Malay: Markas Tentera Udara) to Air Operations High Command (Malay: Markas Besar Operasi Udara—MABES, now known as Air Operations Command). During this restructuring, the RMAF Security Regiment was renamed the RMAF Regiment. Additionally, the RMAF Regiment established two special operations units under its authority: the Combat Air Rescue Team and the Rapid Deployment Force.[3]
On 1 June 1993, the RMAF HANDAU squadrons under the regiment were renamed the RMAF Provost squadrons. Concurrently, the RMAF Regiment combined both special operations units into a new entity called Pasukan Khas Udara (PKU)[note 1] in Malay, which has been known as the RMAF Special Forces (PASKAU) since 2002.[3]
Relocated to RMAF Jugra Air Base; Provost squadrons separated from the RMAF Regiment
On 17 March 1999, the Air Force Command separated the RMAF Provost squadrons from the RMAF Regiment, leaving only the special forces elements under the RMAF Regiment. At the same time, the RMAF Regiment relocated to a new garrison, RMAF Jugra Air Base, located in Banting, Selangor.[3][4]
Colonel-in-Chief
On 24 January 2008, Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang was appointed Colonel-in-chief of the regiment. His Royal Highness was honoured with the blue beret of RMAF Special Forces by the then Chief of Air Force, General Azizan Ariffin RMAF, during a ceremony at the RMAF Jugra Air Base in Banting, Selangor.[citation needed]
RMAF Combat Training School established
On 1 March 2018, the RMAF Combat Training School officially began operations. The school, which falls under the Air Education and Training Command, employed instructors from units within the RMAF Regiment. Consequently, the RMAF Regiment is no longer responsible for conducting special forces selections.[5]
HANDAU units were reactivated and reattached to the RMAF Regiment
Under the Capability Development 55 (CAP55), a plan to restructure and modernise the RMAF from 2018 to 2055, the Air Force Command reactivated RMAF HANDAU on 1 June 2020. Some personnel from the existing RMAF Provost squadrons were retrained as RMAF HANDAU squadrons. As a result, the RMAF Provost was split and solely tasked with military police duties, while the RMAF HANDAU assumed roles such as air force infantry and security forces. The Air Force Command reattached the RMAF HANDAU squadrons to the RMAF Regiment.[6][7]
