MNDF Air Corps

Last updated
Air Corps
Flag of the MNDF Air Corps.svg
MNDF Air Corps flag
Founded2024
Country Flag of Maldives.svg Maldives
Type Air force
Part of Maldives National Defence Force
Commanders
Commander-In-Chief President Mohamed Muizzu
Commandmant Brigadier General Abdul Rauf
Insignia
Roundel Roundel of the Maldives.svg

The MNDF Air Corps is the air arm of the Maldives National Defence Force.

Contents

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.

HAL Dhruv ALH gifted by India to Maldives HAL Dhruv ALH gifted by India to Maldives.jpg
HAL Dhruv ALH gifted by India to Maldives

Aircraft

AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
UAVs
Bayraktar TB2 Turkey UCAV 6 [4] Bought from Turkey. [5]
Baykar Bayraktar Akıncı TurkeyUCAV2 [4] Bought from Turkey. [5]
Transport
Dornier 228 Germany / India Maritime patrol 1 [6] Gifted by India [7] [8]
Helicopters
HAL Dhruv India SAR / Utility Mk.32 [9] Gifted by India [10]

Radars

NameOriginTypeNotes
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)

Air defence

NameOriginTypeNotes
SAM
FM-90 China SAM 14 batteries received [18]
FN-6 China MANPADS 15 [18]
QW-2 Vanguard 2 ChinaMANPADS5 [18]
Type 81 Tan-SAM Japan SAM7
Shahin Iran SAM7000 gifted by Iran
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) United States SAM1000 gifted by the US

References

  1. ↑ "MNDF Air Corps launched, surveillance ensured 24/7". PSM News . 15 March 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  2. ↑ Mohamed, Mariyath (15 March 2024). "MNDF Air Corps established". The Edition . Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  3. ↑ "President launches the MNDF Air Corps and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) into service". The President's Office . 15 March 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Türkiye-ABD Savunma Ticareti Diyaloğu için anlaşma sağlandı" (in Turkish). 2024-03-09. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  5. 1 2 "Maldives receives renowned Turkish drones amid India tensions". Daily Sabah . 11 March 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "World Air Forces 2023" . Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  7. ↑ Hadi, Ahmedulla Abdul (1 October 2020). "MNDF puts off disclosing info on Indian donated aircraft". Sun. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  8. ↑ "India Hands Over Surveillance Aircraft to Maldives Amid Strategic Tussle with China". xairforces.com. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  9. ↑ "HAL workers may replace military staff in Maldives". The Times of India . 9 February 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  10. ↑ Anandan, S. (14 December 2013). "India donates second naval Advanced Light Helicopter to Maldives". The Hindu . Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Trade Registers Archived 14 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine . Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 23 December 2017
  12. ↑ "1L117 - Radartutorial". www.radartutorial.eu.
  13. ↑ "cmano-db.com". cmano-db.com.
  14. ↑ "KRONOS LAND". electronics.leonardo.com.
  15. ↑ "Bangladesh orders Leonardo's high-tech air surveillance radar". Leonardo S.p.A. (Press release). 29 October 2019. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  16. ↑ "President inducts Air Defence Radar". The Independent. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  17. ↑ "RL-64I - Radartutorial". www.radartutorial.eu.
  18. 1 2 3 International Institute for Strategic Studies (2020). "Chapter Six: Asia". The Military Balance. 120 (1): 254. doi:10.1080/04597222.2020.1707967. S2CID   219627149.
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