Royal Brunei Air Force

Royal Brunei Air Force
Malay: Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei
Jawi: تنترا اودار دراج بروني
Badge of the Royal Brunei Air Force
Founded1 October 1991
(33 years, 1 month)
(in current form)

24 June 1966
(58 years, 4 months)
(as the Air Wing)


CountryBrunei Brunei Darussalam
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare, air defence, air policing, search and rescue
Size22 manned aircraft,[1] plus 5 UAVs
Part ofRoyal Brunei Armed Forces
HeadquartersRimba, Brunei-Muara, Brunei
Anniversaries24 June
WebsiteOfficial website
Commanders
CommanderBrig Gen Sharif Ibrahim[2][3]
Deputy commanderCol Haszahaidi Ahmad Daud
Chief of StaffCol Mohammad Albadii Shahnoel[4]
Sergeant majorWO1 Suridi Ibrahim
Notable
commanders
  • Brig Gen Mahmud Saidin
  • Muhammad Saidin (first Bruneian with fighter pilot's licence)
Insignia
Fin flash
Ensign
Aircraft flown
Multirole helicopterS-70i, Bell 214ST
Trainer helicopterBell 206
ReconnaissanceRQ-21
TrainerPC-7 Mk.II
TransportIPTN CN-235, Airbus C295MW

The Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), natively known as the Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei (TUDB), is the air force of the sultanate of Brunei. It is headquartered and mainly based at the Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba, opposite the Brunei International Airport (BIA).[5] Its role is to defend the national airspace and to provide air policing and surveillance of its land and maritime borders.[6] As of 2024, it operates twenty-two manned aircraft[1] and five unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

The RBAirF was formed as an independent air force on 1 October 1991. It was originally created in 1965 as the Air Wing of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (Askar Melayu Diraja Brunei; AMDB), the forerunner of today's Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). The Air Wing had operated helicopters (the Bell 205) since 1966.[5] The annual anniversary ceremony of RBAirF's inception was place on 24 June every year.[7][8][9]

  1. ^ a b "World Air Forces 2023". FlightGlobal.com. Flightglobal International. 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force". MinDef.gov.bn. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  3. ^ Fadley Faisal (25 June 2022). "Call to remain flexible, adaptable and professional". BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin Online. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Royal Brunei Air Force – Chief of Staff". MinDef.gov.bn. Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. n.d. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b Introduction Royal Brunei Air Force Archived 2 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 21 April 2007
  6. ^ Roles Royal Brunei Air Force Archived 20 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine - Retrieved 21 April 2007
  7. ^ "ROYAL BRUNEI AIR FORCE CELEBRATES 49TH ANNIVERSARY". www.mindef.gov.bn. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  8. ^ "ROYAL BRUNEI AIR FORCE'S 56TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION". www.mindef.gov.bn. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  9. ^ "ROYAL BRUNEI AIR FORCE CELEBRATES ITS 57TH ANNIVERSARY". www.mindef.gov.bn. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2024.