SHAH ALAM: It appears that RMAF MSA fleet is complete, with the third aircraft already operational with No 1 Skuadron at the Kuching airbase in Sarawak. Tail number 01 – which was the last to be sent to Bandung for the MSA conversion – was pictured at the airbase in a RMAF social media post on February 1.
The pictures were taken during a visit to the airbase by officers from the Defence Ministry policy and strategic planning division. They were there ahead of the inauguration of the MSI funded project by Defence Minister DS Khaled Nordin soon.
The release from RMAF
LAWATAN DELEGASI BAHAGIAN DASAR DAN PERANCANGAN STRATEGIK (BDPS) KE PANGKALAN UDARA KUCHING
KUCHING, 30 Januari 2024 – Timbalan Setiausaha BDPS, Encik Sahipuljaiman bin Sulaiman bersama delegasi BDPS telah melaksanakan Lawatan Kerja ke Pangkalan Udara Kuching bagi melihat pesawat CN235-220M yang telah dinaiktaraf sebagai Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) di bawah Program Maritime Security Initiative (MSI).
Tujuan utama lawatan kerja ini adalah untuk melihat dan mendengar taklimat pengoperasian ketiga-tiga pesawat CN235-220M yang telah dinaiktaraf kepada MSA di bawah program MSI yang telah dilaksanakan pada tahun 2018 hingga 2022. Selain daripada itu, lawatan kerja ini juga adalah untuk membuat persediaan kepada majlis penerimaan pesawat-pesawat MSA oleh YB Menteri Pertahanan yang akan diadakan bersama dengan bakal Duta Besar Amerika Syarikat yang dirancang pada tahun ini.
Ketibaan beliau dan delegasi di Pangkalan Udara Kuching telah disambut oleh Kolonel Baharin bin Mohamad TUDM, Komander Pangkalan Udara Kuching; Leftenan Kolonel Raja Ismail Fahmi bin Raja Ibrahim TUDM, Pegawai Memerintah No 1 Skuadron serta Pegawai-pegawai di Pangkalan Udara Kuching.
Taklimat pengoperasian CN235-220 MSA telah disampaikan oleh Mej Mohamad Hafiz bin Shamsudin TUDM, Ketua Flait Operasi No 1 Skuadron.
Sepanjang lawatan ini, Encik Sahipuljaiman bin Sulaiman bersama delegasi berpeluang melihat sendiri semua pesawat CN235-220M yang telah dinaiktaraf sebagai MSA dan juga sistem Mobile Adhoc Network (MANET).
It is unclear when 01 returned to Kuching as Malaysian Defence had posted on June 7 last year that PTDI – the manufacturer – had stated that aircraft was ready for delivery. RMAF typically never announced such deliveries. The first two MSA – M44-03 and M44-05 – returned to Kuching in June and October 2022, without any official announcement from RMAF.
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (23)
On paper the Beechcrafts [whats left of them] should be primarily focused on the Melaka Straits where their range, endurance and cramped conditions would be less of a factor. The CNs in turn would be focused on the South China Sea.
What is the status of the MMEA’s Bormbadiers?
Thanks Uncle Sam but I guess associating with him these days may not be such a good image.
Speaking of which, any updates on MPA after the ATR72 was selected?
@joe
Not as bad as the early 2000s as Uncle Sam nowadays appear to be kinda confused which side in the middle east conflict they should root for
15 Skn (with the Beechcraft MPA) is now to be the MECU squadron and move to Kuantan AB.
1 Skn is still in Kuching, now with 3x CN-235 MSA
What Skn will the new ATR-72 MPA will be?
What used to be 1 Squadron always maintained a detachment at Subang even though it relocated to Kuching; where the simulator is also based.
@Zaft
No it is worse as they are now seen by the world and even in the UN as colluding & protecting a nation genociding another nation and trying to wipe them from the face of this planet. Unlike the 2000s socmed has far reaching influence and their own people are viraled protesting the war crime actions of their own states. Being seen standing beside Uncle Sam isnt a good idea for now.
" What is the status of the MMEA’s Bormbadiers? "
Operational, and very active in 2023.
Operating both in east and west malaysia. Did maritime patrols of melacca straits and south china sea off miri and bintulu. Done firefighting missions in Pengerang and Miri.
Additional 1 more cn235 should be enough.
Royal Brunei AF is getting 4x new C-295
Probably will retire its single CN-235. We could buy that from RBAF
@hulubalang
We cant even stomach buying 4 RBAF Blackhawks on the cheap, why would we even consider to buy their used CN235 when TUDM did not mind reducing their light transport capacity with the MSA conversions?