SHAH ALAM: Since its return from Bandung after undergoing the conversion process, the CN-235 MSA M44-05 have been camera shy. While its sister ship – M44-03 – was displayed at LIMA 23, 05 remained at the Kuching airbase, the home of its squadron, the No 1 Skuadron.

However, thanks to Eks Angsa 23 – the trilateral Armed Forces exercise – RMAF has given us a number of pictures of tail number 05. In its announcement for the start of Eks Angsa – RMAF and RMN – had stated that the MSA will take part in the exercise.

Indeed, the pictures shared here is part of Eks Angsa. Of course RMAF did not share the details of Eks Angsa apart from showing tail number 05 being used as the target aircraft for a force down exercise.

The force down exercise involved the interception of an aircraft by interceptors and in this case, two Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighters forcing tail number 05 to land at the Labuan airbase.

RMAF release

LATIHAN ‘FORCE DOWN PROCEDURE FTX EKSESAIS PARADISE’ SIRI 10/23
‘Force Down Procedure’ merupakan langkah yang akan dilaksanakan sekiranya terdapat pesawat yang mencurigakan memasuki ruang udara tanah air atau sekiranya pesawat ditawan musuh. Di dalam siri eksesais PARADISE siri 10/23 kali ini latihan ‘Force down Procedure’ telah dilaksanakan di Pangkalan Udara Labuan melibatkan penglibatan CRC 2 Kota Samarahan dengan pesawat SU-30MKM, CN235, elemen HANDAU, ‘Explosive Ordnance Disposal’ (EOD) Cawangan Kejuruteraan, BOMBA serta RSAT pangkalan

The release said the force down exercise involved the CRC 2 Kota Samarahan which controlled the airspace over Sabah and Sarawak. Handau personnel – the air base defence unit – was the main element on the ground for the force down exercise.

They are not to be confused with Paskau – the RMAF special forces qualified operators. Paskau operators will be needed if there is a hostage scenario. There was a time both units became almost indistinct though recently Paskau operators have converted to the Harimau Belang uniform which made them distinct from Handau and other RMAF personnel.

— Malaysian Defence

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