SHAH ALAM: RMAF has decided that a new unit – 22nd Squadron – will be raised for the four Airbus A400M transport planes it will be getting starting this year.
The motto of the new squadron is “Gagah Berani or The Strong and The Bold. The number and motto of the new squadron was revealed at the RMAF website through a “Design the logo” contest. Unfortunately the contest is only open to RMAF personnel only.
It appears that RMAF no longer wants to reuse previous squadrons for its new aircraft and therefore had decided to raise a new unit complete with the number, motto and logo.
Will this mean 12th, 17th and 19th squadrons colours will be confined to the museum soon? It is likely.
By the way, I was told that Airbus has been told that the first RMAF A400M should be delivered in time for Lima 15. Whether or not this will work out remained to be seen. Perhaps the decision to run the contest is an indication that it just might happen.
— Malaysian Defence
If you like this post, buy me an espresso. Paypal Payment
azlan says:
January 14, 2015 at 12:24 pm
RedSot,
I disagree. Squadron crests can be re-designed if the RMAF wants to. Also, from the 1960’s most crests and costs if arms were tweaked to give it a more local look. A good example would be the RMN’s crest which a former RMN (Australian) Chief asked to be redesigned. In the case of the RMAF it changed its RAF style rank structure in the 1990’s and also did away with the RAF style khaki uniforms and forage cap.
No doubt the RMAF has its own reasons for raising a new squadron (with a new crest or coat of arms) but it has nothing to do with wanting to break away from its “colonial masters” or to give it a more “modern” look.
RedSot says:
January 14, 2015 at 10:35 am
The reason behind the all new sqn and all is because tudm wants to have a more modern outlook with more modern logo and motto with the old sqn u can never change the sqn logo n motto to give it a modern twist…..just compare the logo of MM and the rest of colonial logo of atm.tudm and tldm there is a shift in ideas not necessary all the logo we must follow our colonial master…this shows one thing we are an independent country we create our own logo and doctrine instead of being tied down by colonial histories like most of us who are unable to break the chain of their past masters…singapore is one good example their ranks.arms crest dont follow thepast colonial masters….
H says:
January 13, 2015 at 10:17 pm
For the few good people that do good, they deserved a fresh start.
Kubai says:
January 13, 2015 at 1:49 pm
I agree that we should reuse available squadron numbers first before creating new ones.
Traditions brings the sense of pride and it instills the willingness to ensure that the traditions are maintained.
Additionally, the old sqns already have their colors (panji).
Look at the army, they retire the later numbered batallion first. They know the importance of tradition to a soldier’s fighting spirit.
… says:
January 13, 2015 at 1:29 pm
TUDM leadership…
It happened before to the cn235 squadron. They established a brand new squadron number (the 21 skuadron) only to back track and rename the 21 skuadron as the historic 1 skuadron. Now even the new 21 skuadron number is dormant, and they want to create another new squadron number with the 22 skuadron? I really can’t see any sense in this…
Current squadron number that is dormant
4 skuadron (ex c-130)
8 skuadron (ex caribou)
9 skuadron (ex hawk, to be regroup 2015 at labuan still with hawk)
21 skuadron (ex cn235)
To be disbanded in near future
12 skuadron f-5
17 skuadron mig-29
19 skuadron mig-29
AM says:
January 12, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Rokuth, think a few years into the future. Having a whole list of short lived, inactivated squadrons is shallow, hollow, you name it. .
It is better to build on the rich histories of established squadrons and create new ones only when necessary.
Rokuth says:
January 12, 2015 at 4:17 pm
To compare apples with oranges, I was thinking of the British RAF which has been in operation for over a century. They have been in the forefront of military aviation but continue to use legacy squadrons for their existing aircraft. It instills an espirit de corps for the crew coming in and a history to look back on.
By comparision, the TUDM is relatively young. Raising a new squadron number with a new motto for a new aircraft may be a good thing. It will create a sense of been on the leading edge of the future of the TUDM. That,by itself will create its own espirit de corps for the new squadron.
… says:
January 12, 2015 at 12:55 pm
@ zek Mr
This is the military, which should have current and future units with glorious past history, not a low cost airline with new everything…
Look at the RAF, which strives to have historical squadrons alive with new aircrafts. Each squadron proud with their WW1, WW2 and other operations. If everytime new aircraft have to raise a new squadron number, what things can the crew be proud of?
ZekMR says:
January 12, 2015 at 11:22 am
A400 M itself is a new generation
of transport and utility aircraft,
to come out with a
new squadron,
along the way with new logo and motto
is a nice move basically.
… says:
January 12, 2015 at 10:24 am
Why raise up a new squadron number with no previous history, and traditions whatsoever when historical squadron numbers are available and dormant?
I want a valid and credible reasons from the panglima TUDM about this…
So who wants to start a petition to name the a400m squadron with the historic 8 Skuadron TUDM?