Royal Brunei Air Force | |
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Malay: Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei Jawi: تنترا اودار دراج بروني | |
Founded | 1 October 1991 (33 years, 1 month) (in current form) 24 June 1966 |
Country | Brunei Darussalam |
Type | Air force |
Role | Aerial warfare, air defence, air policing, search and rescue |
Size | 22 manned aircraft,[1] plus 5 UAVs |
Part of | Royal Brunei Armed Forces |
Headquarters | Rimba, Brunei-Muara, Brunei |
Anniversaries | 24 June |
Website | Official website |
Commanders | |
Commander | Brig Gen Sharif Ibrahim[2][3] |
Deputy commander | Col Haszahaidi Ahmad Daud |
Chief of Staff | Col Mohammad Albadii Shahnoel[4] |
Sergeant major | WO1 Suridi Ibrahim |
Notable commanders |
|
Insignia | |
Fin flash | |
Ensign | |
Aircraft flown | |
Multirole helicopter | S-70i, Bell 214ST |
Trainer helicopter | Bell 206 |
Reconnaissance | RQ-21 |
Trainer | PC-7 Mk.II |
Transport | IPTN 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[update], 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]