SHAH ALAM: Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAF) on February 14 inducted into service its first two C295W medium tactical transport aircraft. Brunei ordered four C295s in 2022 though it is unclear when the other two aircraft will be delivered. Brunei joined four other countries in Asean – Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia to operate the twin-engine transporter.
Brunei Defence Ministry release:
RIMBA AIR FORCE BASE, Wednesday, 14 February 2024 – His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam today graced the Introduction to Service Ceremony for two of the four newly acquired C295MW aircraft for the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) held at Rimba Air Force Base.
The Introduction to Service of the first two C295MW aircraft was from the recent proceedings following His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, after gracing the Aircraft Arrival Ceremony at the Rimba Air Force Base on 24 January 2024.
Accompanying His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to the Introduction to Service Ceremony was His Royal Highness 920 Major (U) Prince ‘Abdul Mateen ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah.
Upon arrival, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was greeted by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd. Yussof, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II, Yang Mulia Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and Yang Mulia Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohd Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim, Commander of the RBAirF.
Also present at the ceremony were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Service Commander, Acting Service Commander, Acting Joint Force Commander (JFC) RBAF, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Senior officers of the RBAF, and delegation from Airbus Defence and Space.
The ceremony began with His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam being escorted to the Military Apron of Hangar B where His Majesty received the Royal Salute and inspected the Guard of Honour, comprising 103 RBAirF personnel and the RBAF Band, led by the Parade Commander, Major (U) Muhammad Izdihar bin Haji Imran.
His Majesty then delivered a Titah to officiate the Introduction to Service of the two C295MW aircraft. This was followed by the recitation of Selawat and Doa Selamat, led by Commander Haji Ainolnizam bin Haji Ibrahim, Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), Director of the Religious Department RBAF (JAMA’AT). The ceremonial proceedings continued with His Majesty’s signing of a plaque to mark the inauguration.
His Majesty was ushered to view the two C295MW aircraft, designated as ‘TUDB 502’ and ‘TUDB 503’, and introduced to the members of the project team involved in the aircraft procurement project including RBAirF pilots, aircrews and engineers. His Majesty was then invited for a group photo session and was presented with a pesambah before proceeding to the Air Movement Centre.
Upon arrival at the Air Movement Centre, His Majesty received a flight and safety brief from Major (U) Mohammad Adieb bin Abdul Rahman, Officer Commanding 15 Squadron before boarding and piloted the C295MW TUDB 502 aircraft.
Upon landing, His Majesty proceeded for the Royal Luncheon at the Air Movement Centre. His Majesty was then invited to sign the Royal Parchment before departing the Rimba Air Force Base.
The ceremony was held to officiate the C295MW Transport Aircraft Capability into service for the RBAirF following its arrival on 24 January 2024. Its pilots and aircrews will begin training in the Southeast Asian region in preparation for various strategic and tactical transport missions at the regional and international levels including Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, Medical Evacuations (MEDEVAC), Aeromedical Evacuations (AE) and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. The aircrafts are capable of fulfilling various roles including Troop and Cargo Transport, VIP Transport, Freefall, Airborne Static Jumps and Cargo Drop.
The procurement and the introduction of the C295MW aircraft into the RBAirF’s fleet is an important historical chapter for the development of RBAirF in particular, and RBAF in general, in its effort to strengthen RBAirF’s capability to carry out missions for the nation, as well as regionally and internationally.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (28)
more info on brunei MINDEF page itself
http://www.mindef.gov.bn/Lists/News/DispForm.aspx?ID=6132
http://www.mindef.gov.bn/News_Images/2024/2%20FEB%202024/140224%20kdymm/9.jpg
Interestingly, RBAF fixed wing transport fleet has grown from just 1x CN-235 to now additional 4x C-295MW (Modernized Winglets). The C-295MW serials are sequential to the CN-235 meaning for now the CN-235 looks to still be in RBAF fleet.
RBAF currently has outsourced all primary flight training to a private company in Australia, so all 4x of its PC-7 MkII is currently stored. Helicopter training is done in-Brunei, with its blackhawk simulators is one of the most advanced in the region.
The 4x Blackhawks that it planned to donate to Malaysia is still operational in RBAF, with a 2nd Blackhawk helicopter squadron (14 Squadron), so the information in wiki is totally wrong.
http://www.mindef.gov.bn/airforce/Airforce%20Image/No_1_Wing_002a.jpg
"with its blackhawk simulators is one of the most advanced in the region".
Why didn't we send our PUTD pilot to Brunei rather than to Turkey?
As the one in Turkey was meant for the Black Hawks - A or A + models - we are supposed to be getting. The one in Brunei, which I toured a few years ago, was meant for the latest version of the Black Hawks.
Where are the blackhawks then? Its already February.
@hulubalang
"The 4x Blackhawks that it planned to donate to Malaysia"
Are you still buying into the Hishammuddin spiel? It was long revealed that Brunei never had intentions to donate them but rather it was for sale at a friendly prices, cheap maybe but defo not free donation.
>C295
>Brunei
Probably enough for their tactical transport need. Besides whenever they need bigger transport aircraft for evacuation of their people from other countries or to send their peacekeepers to other countries they always tumpang sekaki on our A400M anyway.
dundun - “send their peacekeepers to other countries they always tumpang sekaki on our A400M anyway”
Have Bruneian troops ever deployed on a UN mission when not part of a Malaysian contingent? Brunei had some observers under the IMT in Mindanao but it was separate from us.
@ joe
" Are you still buying into the Hishammuddin spiel? "
No, but how else am i going to describe specifically those four blackhawks so it is not confused with other blackhawks?
Whatever it is, those 4 Blackhawks are still operational with RBAF, no matter what most of the reports in the internet say.
As for joint Brunei-Malaysian military ops, I do really hope that there will be more joint ops, especially for any major HADR events (earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis) in south-east asia. I would also love to see more Bruneian officers seconded to malaysian units. Most of the time it is malaysian officiers seconded to Brunei military (especially KAGAT officers).
Option for the future of CN-235
Currently all 7 are now operated by No.1 Skuadron, TUDM Kuching.
3x in MSA spec (M44-01, M44-03, M44-05)
3x in utility transport spec (M44-02, M44-04, M44-06)
1x in VIP spec (M44-08)
My proposal :
1) All MSA-spec aircraft + 1 more convert to MSA spec to pass to APMM starting around 2027/28. As these are all MSA standard fitout, it is suitable for use by APMM. So in total APMM would have 2x CL-415MP and 4x CN-235 MSA in its disposal for maritime surveillance patrol.
2) 3x CN-235 of the utility transport and VIP version to pass to PUTD starting 2027/28. As TUDM is going to divest itself from medium transport taskings, those 3x CN-235 would probably find a good new home with PUTD. It would complement the PUTD medium lift helicopters transport mission while enabling organic freefall parachuting support for 10PARA and GGK.
3) the 1 Skuadron TUDM would then transision to operating Airborne Early Warning aircraft (AEW) and Electronic Attack (EA). My proposal is to get ERIEYE ER radar mounted on Global 6000 aircraft (essentially a GlobalEye Lite without the maritime radar and complex integration of the 2 radars).
Used business jet Global 6000 (by 2026 should be around USD20-25 million each) would be used for the conversion. Each AEW to cost around USD100 million. Budget : 2x ERIEYE ER Global 6000 in RMK13 2026-2030 USD200 mil + USD400 mil sustainment contract. 2x ERIEYE ER Global 6000 in RMK14 2031-2035 USD200 mil.
TUDM already used to flying the predecessor to the Global 6000, which is the Global Express.
https://cdn.radarbox.com/photo/M48-02-1698552608-0.jpg
For electronic attack, to get the Turkiye HavaSOJ (Stand Off Jammer) system, also installed on the Global 6000. This will enable an airborne electronic attack capability (aka non-kinetic attack capability) similar to Growlers.
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ez7buYmXoAIp7aO.jpg
Budget : 2x HavaSOJ Global 6000 in RMK14 2031-2035 USD240 mil.
So in total 1 Skuadron TUDM would have a fleet of :
4x ERIEYE ER Global 6000
2x HavaSOJ Global 6000
@hulubalang
"how else am i going to describe specifically those four blackhawks"
By saying the truth and not what you perceived based on a politician words. Active service choppers that Brunei are willing to let go at friendly prices but most certainly its not free, and depends on TDM/PUTD if they wan used and they could convince the beancounters that basing maint cost to the VIP Whitehawks is a blunder and it would be better to compare with the summary costing of upkeeping those Brunei choppers or get the details direct from Sikorsky. This goes the same if they want to get the retired Lima Blackhawks.
"MSA spec to pass to APMM"
Disagree. We will not have enough MPA to sufficiently cover all of Msia maritime interest in view of the tight budget so the MSAs will help to fill in these gaps.
@ joe
" not what you perceived based on a politician words "
It is just a description FFS.
What is the benefit of blowing up and making a big fuss of this non-issue anyway??? If you don't have positive things to contribute to the discussion, you know the drill.
" We will not have enough MPA to sufficiently cover all of Msia maritime interest in view of the tight budget so the MSAs will help to fill in these gap "
If those CN-235 MSA is passed to APMM they will be used patrol the coast of Madagascar is it??
As the 2x ATR-72 MPA is batch 1, a batch 2 in RMK12 2026-2030 of 2x ATR-72 MPA would be done. So by 2030
TUDM
4x ATR-72 MPA
APMM
2x CL-415MP
4x CN-235 MSA
ALL used to patrol Malaysian (not Madagascar) maritime interests.