Royal Brunei Air Force

, 1975.|alt= The Royal Brunei Air Force was established as the Air Wing of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR) 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 three British pilots from the Royal Air Force (RAF) operating three RAF Westland Whirlwind helicopters. 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, No. 2 Squadron was established and equipped with six Bölkow BO105 helicopters. No. 3 Squadron was established in 1982 and equipped with SIAI-Marchetti SF260s. On 1 September 1983, the No. 2 Wing was founded at what was previously the Air Defence Battery. 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. In 2019, the RBAirF unveiled the Digital Disruptive Pattern BDU in digital grey colours at the 58th anniversary celebration at the Bolkiah Garrison. 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. Following an order made in 2020, the RBAirF acquired five Boeing Insitu RQ-21 Blackjack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) from the United States in 2021. They will be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) around Brunei's territorial waters in the South China Sea. The first was unveiled by the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, an event held in June 2021 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. In collaboration with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on 3 December 2021, pilots from the Philippines will carry out their training with the S-70i Blackhawk flight simulator at the Canadian Aviation Electronics (CAE) Brunei Multi-Purpose Training Centre (BMPTC). The decommissioning ceremony of the RBAirF's Bölkow BO105 fleet was held at the AMC within the Air Force Base, Rimba, on 5 February 2022. First introduced as a fleet of six helicopters into No. 2 Squadron, Air Wing in 1981, administered and maintained by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) from the UK until 1993, this ended 41 years' service of the type as latterly operated by No. 1 Wing, Operations Group. ==Organisation==

The Royal Brunei Air Force is divided into seven (7) Wings: The Operation Wing consists of four flying wings and three addition units: • No. 1 Wing consisted of four flying squadrons in it. Each squadron has unique operating requirements for their respective functions with the capability to conduct maritime and border patrol. • No. 11 Squadron (formerly No. 1) is equipped with Bell 214ST helicopters. 1 Sqn previously operated the Bell 212 until their retirement in 2013. The primary roles of 1 Squadron are for troop lift, casualty evacuation, medical evacuation, fire suppression, VVIP lift, and search and rescue. • No. 12 Squadron (formerly No. 2) was previously equipped with Bölkow BO105 helicopters. The primary roles of 2 Squadron are to provide flying doctor, reconnaissance, surveillance, close air support, VVIP lift, and search and locate services. • No. 233 Squadron (formerly No. 33 and Air Battery) is equipped with the Rapier FSB1 missile launcher. • The Fire Brigade Unit (formerly Fire Unit) provides fire and rescue cover of any aircraft during an emergency. • Domestic Supply Squadron (DSS) is tasked with providing logistical support and equipment for the personnel. • Standard Engineering Cell provide all of the reference material that No. 5 Wing's squadrons and departments. • No. 51 Squadron • No. 52 Squadron • No. 53 Squadron • No. 54 Squadron • No. 55 Squadron • Engineering Support Flight provides additional assistance to the squadrons. Ground Support Equipment (GSE) personnel are in charge of providing all necessary equipment for maintenance tasks, Flight Line Mechanics (FLM) personnel are in charge of moving the aircraft on the hangar floor or outside at the apron, and Survival Equipment Section (SES) personnel are in charge of all maintenance and survival equipment provision inside the aircraft. is tasked with overseeing personnel welfare as well as administrative concerns and base upkeep related to RBAirF activities. • Regimental Police Fleet (RP Flt) is tasked to prevent unauthorized entry to any restricted areas. • No. 73 Squadron, also known as Flying Training School (FTS) and formerly No. 3 and No. 63 Squadron, is tasked to give aspiring pilots basic training in both fixed and rotary wings. In addition to training pilots for the RBAirF, it also train crew members. All things considered, the squadron marks the start of a pilot and crewman's career. It is equipped with Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopters and Pilatus PC-7 Mk.II aircraft. • No 75 Squadron, also known as Air Technical Training School (ATTS), to offer fundamental and advanced technical training to all RBAirF technicians in order to create skilled, energetic technicians who can meet operational needs and help the air force realize its aim of being the Center of Excellence in Air Technical Training. • No. 77 Squadron is based at Berakas Garrison, and it instructs members of the RBAirF and the No. 2 Wing in air defense. • Physical Training Instructor ==Equipment==

of the Royal Brunei Air Force during the 2023 National Day|alt= In 2015, the Commander of the Air Force, Brigadier General Wardi Abdul Latip, stated that the Air force was actively working with Lockheed Martin to purchase a C-130J Super Hercules, with delivery expected in 2018. As of 2024, this plan is yet to materialize. In January 2015, the RBAirF transferred four of its S-70A Black Hawk’s to the Royal Malaysian Air Force. In 2014, eight Bell 212 helicopters were retired and decommissioned from service. During Royal Brunei Armed Forces diamond jubilee celebration in 2021, an unmanned aerial system (UAS) programme 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 used for maritime security surveillance role. The newly acquired M134D Minigun will be expected to be integrated into the RBAirF later in 2022. Armaments for the aircraft consist of M134 Minigun's, FZ rockets and unguided air-to-surface SURA rockets. There have been plans to secure fighter capability by purchasing several BAE Hawk aircraft, but these plans have been delayed on several occasions. 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. Aircraft Retired Previous aircraft operated were the Hawker Siddeley HS 748, Bell 212, Sikorsky S-55, MBB Bo 105, SIAI-Marchetti SF.260, Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Westland Wessex, and the Westland Whirlwind. Radar The No. 2 Wing operate the P-STAR ground-based radar which provides a picture of the controlled airspace over Brunei Incidents A Bell 212 operated by the RBAirF crashed in Kuala Belait on 20 July 2012 with the loss of 12 of the 14 crew on board. The cause of the accident has yet to be ascertained. The crash is the worst aviation incident in the history of Brunei. ==Commander==

Commissioned officers The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the Royal Brunei Air Force. Enlisted Unlike most Commonwealth armed forces, Brunei has maintained 4 warrant officer ranks, used in conjunction with the standard Commonwealth NCO and enlisted personnel and ratings ranks. The following are the rank insignia for enlisted personnel for the Royal Brunei Air Force. ==See also==