RMAF Labuan TUDM Labuan | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RMAF Labuan with CAC Sabre in 1965 | |||||||||||
Summary | |||||||||||
Airport type | Military | ||||||||||
Owner | Royal Malaysian Air Force, Ministry of Defence | ||||||||||
Operator | Royal Malaysian Air Force | ||||||||||
Location | Labuan, Malaysia | ||||||||||
Time zone | MST (UTC+08:00) | ||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 101 ft / 31 m | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 05°18′06″N115°14′54″E / 5.30167°N 115.24833°E | ||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||
![]() | |||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
RMAF Labuan (Malay : TUDM Labuan) is an air force base operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (Malay : Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia). It is located in the Federal Territory of Labuan in East Malaysia. It is collocated with the Labuan Airport.
RMAF Labuan started with the deployment of one detachment of the Royal Air Force, under the command of Group Captain S.J. Rawling. After the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963, some personnel were deployed to this airbase under the Air Force Borneo. At that early time, RMAF Labuan owned some Twin Pioneer aircraft for logistic and patrol role. The Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation in 1963 aroused the demand for this airbase to be upgraded as a main airbase for Malaysia. From 1965, RMAF Labuan saw a significant upgrade with the formation of the main administration branch, the expansion of the existing detachment, the formation of a new squadron and the commissioning of new aircraft. In 1966, RMAF Labuan received its first batch of DHC-4 Caribou to strengthen the No 8 Squadron that already operated Twin Pioneer transport aircraft. The No 5 Squadron that formed in Kuala Lumpur also moved to the RMAF Labuan with their Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopters to provide a rotorcraft element. RMAF Labuan was inaugurated by the defence minister at the time, in 1968. [2] Nowadays, RMAF Labuan is an important airbase for the RMAF as it grants direct access to the South China Sea and protects Borneo's East Malaysia. RMAF Labuan is now the base of the RMAF's BAE Hawk 108 and BAE Hawk 208. [3]
Division | Squadrons | Aircraft assigned | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2nd Division | No. 5 Squadron | Eurocopter EC-725 | |
2nd Division | No. 6 Squadron | BAE Hawk 108/BAE Hawk 208 | |
2nd Division | No. 14 Squadron | Lockheed C-130H Hercules | |
The Malaysian Armed Forces, are the armed forces of Malaysia, consists of three branches; the Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The number of MAF active personnel is 113,000 along with reserve forces at 51,600.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force was formed on 2 June 1958 as the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force. However, its roots can be traced back to the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force formations of the British Royal Air Force in then-colonial British Malaya. The Royal Malaysian Air Force operates a mix of modern American, European and Russian-made aircraft.
The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. Instead, the title is bestowed on selected army corps and regiments who have been accorded the honour by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who is the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
The Malaysian Army Aviation is the army aviation branch of the Malaysian Army. Currently equipped with helicopters in the liaison, transport and light attack roles. The Malaysian Army also plans to equip PUTD with dedicated attack helicopters in support of Malaysian Army units.
RMAF Kuala Lumpur was an air base in Kuala Lumpur. It is also known as Sungai Besi Air Base, Simpang Airport, Old Airport.
RMAF Butterworth is an active Air Force Station of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) situated 4.5 nautical miles from Butterworth in Penang, Malaysia. It is currently home to the Headquarters Integrated Area Defence System (HQIADS), part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).
Malaysia's armed forces, which encompasses three major branches, originate from the formation of local military forces in the first half of the 20th century, during British colonial rule of Malaya and Singapore prior to Malaya's independence in 1957. The branches have undergone several restructuring, but fundamentally includes the army, navy and air force.
The RMAF Special Forces, better known as PASKAU, is the special forces of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
RMAF Gong Kedak is an air force base operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force. It is located in Gong Kedak, Pasir Puteh District, Kelantan, Malaysia.
The Chief of Air Force is the most senior appointment in the Royal Malaysian Air Force and has been held by a four-star officer in the rank of General since 1996. The Chief of Air Force is a member of the Malaysian Armed Forces Council and directly reports to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
Azizan bin Ariffin is the 17th and the former Chief of Defence Forces. He is the first ever head of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) appointed from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).
The Special Forces and Elite Forces include both a specially and higher trained unit and a small percentage of personnel from a specific Malaysian military branch, law enforcement or government agency. In Malaysia, the term 'Special Forces' is widely used by uniformed services for special forces, special operations forces and 'special' trained units while 'Elite Forces' for units that more trained and capable combat. Regular personnel must undertake specialized and higher training to be able to join the units of the 'Special and Elite Forces'. These "Special Elite Forces" are denoted by different beret colours, shoulder tabs, unit patches, skill badges and uniforms.
RMAF Kuantan is an airbase of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. It is located in Kuantan, Pahang in Peninsular Malaysia. It shares the runway and other facilities with Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport.
RMAF Subang is a military airport operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force. It is located on the edge of Shah Alam, a town in Selangor in Peninsular Malaysia and shares runway facilities with the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport.
RMAF Kuching is an air force base operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force. It is located in Kuching, Sarawak in East Malaysia and colocated with the Kuching International Airport.
Officially known as Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba, commonly known as Rimba Air Force Base, occasionally known as Rimba Airbase, and informally abbreviated Rimba AFB; it is the military headquarters and main operating airbase of the Royal Brunei Air Force. It is located near the Bruneian village of Kampong Rimba, opposite, and sharing its main runway of 3,685 metres with the Brunei International Airport (BIA), at Bandar Seri Begawan, in the Brunei-Muara District of the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force Regiment 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.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force Ground Defence Force, previously known as the Royal Malaysian Air Force Air and Ground Defence Force, is an infantry unit of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. This unit is better known by its abbreviation from its Malay name, HANDAU. It is one of three ground combat units within the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and has been part of the RMAF Regiment since the regiment's inception. In addition to their role as light infantry, their responsibilities include providing security forces and serving as air assault infantry.
Jugra Air Base, a heliport and military installation under the Royal Malaysian Air Force, is situated approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Klang and just 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the Straits of Malacca. Also known as RMAF Jugra, Kem Jugra and Rejimen TUDM Jugra, this base serves as the home for both the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) special forces and infantry units.