KUALA LUMPUR: Sukhoi squadron now 12th. RMAF chief Gen Ackbal Samad in his speech for the 62nd anniversary today announced that No 11 Squadron, now operating the Sukhoi Su-30MKM will now be nameplated as No. 12 Squadron. NO. 11 Squadron will now reverted to a new UAS squadron which was also stood up today though Ackbal did not mentioned the type or the base for the squadron apart from saying it would be delivered soon.
Gen Ackbal admitted that the move would not be a happy one for the Flanker squadron but it was done for historical reasons. The transfer of the squadron nameplate will also involved in the swapping of ranks and staffing in both squadrons. It is likely that the ranks and staffing in the Flanker squadron will remained as it is, as the CO is currently a Lieutenant Colonel with the XO as Major. The last time 12th Squadron was operational, a few years back, the CO was just a Major, so it is likely the new No. 11 Squadron CO will be a Major only with the XO a Captain and so on.
RMAF Flanker armed with four R-77 and two R-73. It is unclear whether the picture, published RMAF, of a Flanker operating out of Labuan for the exercise.
No 12 Squadron was previously the unit that previously operated the 16 F-5E fighters at RMAF Butterworth, was stood up in 1975, it was quietly disbanded when the fighters were progressively retired in mid-2000s. No. 11 Squadron was stood up in 1969 to operate the Avon Sabre fighter jets donated by Australia before it was disbanded when the jets were retired in the 70s.
RMAF RF-5E Tiger II M29-19 at LIMA 2007.
The squadron was re-stood up in late-70s early 80s to operate the reconnaisance version of the F-5s, the RF-5Es until the squadron number and others was taken up by the Flankers. The operational F-5s and RF-5Es then took over the No. 12 Squadron until they were retired a few years ago. The No. 12 Squadron gained notoriety several years back over the action of the then CO, who was later court martialed and after being found guilty, was sacked.
It must be noted that RMAF got 10 respond from its UAV RFI which was issued out late 2018. The UAVs are
1.UAV ANKA keluaran Turkish Aerospace Industries, Turki melalui syarikat Unmanned System Technology Sdn Bhd;
2.UAV ANKA keluaran Turkish Aerospace Industries, Turki melalui syarikat Quantum Virtuality;
3.UAV Predator-B keluaran General Atomics Aeronautical, Amerika Syarikat melalui syarikat Insansiz Aircraft System Sdn Bhd;
4.UAV Wing Loong 2 keluaran China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), China melalui syarikat Paragon Avtech Sdn Bhd;
5.UAV Patroller keluaran Safran Electronic & Defense, Perancis melalui Safran Aerospace Defense Security Malaysia Sdn Bhd;
6.UAV CH-4 keluaran China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASTC), China melalui syarikat Mount Matrik Sdn Bhd;
7.UAV Watchkeeper keluaran Thales, United Kingdom melalui Thales Malaysia Sdn Bhd;
8.UAV Orion-E keluaran Kronstadt Technologies, Rusia melalui syarikat Alaf Research & Technology;
9.UAV Falco Evo keluaran Leonardo, Itali melalui Leonardo (Malaysia Office); dan
10.UAV Aurora keluaran Amerika Syarikat melalui syarikat VisionGen Group
It is likely one of the above UAV/UASs will be the one chosen by RMAF. The million dollar question is which one.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (74)
Selamat hari TUDM ke 62 to all.
My opinion on this??
See marhalim, it can be done! But this is really not fully thought of.
IMO the most important historically is to renumber the 22 Skn into a more proper 1 Skn or even 8 Skn.
The MKM should remain the 11 Skn. The 12 Skn number plate should be kept for future 5th Gen MRCA. UAV squadron could carry other former fighter squadron nameplates like ex skyhawk and hawk 9 Skuadron, or even the 17 Skuadron MiG-29. Also why not use the helicopter squadron nameplates like the 3 Skuadron or 7 Skuadron for UAVs?
Renumbering an operational skuadron flying our most advanced fighters into a UAV squadron will do badly for the morale of TUDM personnel. Seriously what are they thinking???
Reply
Of course it could be done but its administrative one,
New UAS squadron? Is that mean air force getting new UAV?
Reply
Yes
"did not mentioned the type or the base for the squadron apart from saying it would be delivered soon."
Well that went under the radar. IIRC I don't think Marhalim have reported that we had bought any UAS. There was mention in DWP and before this the CAP55 plans to acquire this capability but there wasn't any tenders or discussions or whatnot. This isn't related to the recently received ScanEagles, right?
Reply
No, the ScanEagles are to be operated by the RMN
"The transfer of the squadron nameplate will involved in the swapping ranks and staffing in both squadrons. It is likely that the ranks and staffingin the Flanker squadron will remained as it is, as the CO is currently a Lieutenant Colonel with the XO as Major. The last time 12th Squadron was operational, a few years back, the CO was just a Major, so it is likely the new No. 11 Squadron CO will be a Major only with the XO a Captain and so on
What is this business about? Why must TOE change just because a unit is renumbered or rotated in place? Are the ranks and posts in a unit written in stone?
"Gen Ackbal admitted that the move would not be a happy one for the Flanker squadron but it was done for historical reasons. "
Both 11 and 12 have long histories. I see very little difference in their lineage and thus very little point in moving the Flankers from one to another.
“did not mentioned the type or the base for the squadron apart from saying it would be delivered soon.”
Soon? No tenders and award given out and suddenly it the UAV is "soon"?
It would be a nightmare if the senior 11 Skn is suddenly operating a lowly UAVs like the Scaneagles from a Su-30MKM.
I would really prefer TUDM to operate at least a MALE UAV in the shape of something like the Bayraktar TB2. But as it is right now, there is no RFQ, tenders or even awards given out for such a thing. This makes the skuadron renumbering announcement even more demoralizing for all those involved, and to those who are looking on the side like me.
New UAV. I hope its ANKA.
if is a close door tender, I guess only Turki or China solution will make the call.
On the MALE UAVs, I think both of the 2 Chinese tenders for surely will not be chosen due to current south china sea development.
Aurora Orion from US definitely have long endurance of 5 days but none is in operational use.
Falco is currently being operated by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The falco evo is a larger version having 22 hours endurance. Price unknown
Orion E from Russia have endurance of 24 hours. Though buying anything from Russia may lead to CAATSA from US. Price unknown
Watchkeeper is developed from Israeli UAV and its development involves Elbit systems of Israel. We will unlikely be buying this.
Patroller has endurance of up to 30 hours and will enter service with France in the near future. France bought 14 units at $24million each
Predator B (or officially MQ9A Reaper) is used by US, UK and Italy. Endurance up to 30 hours. Can carry Hellfires, JDAM, Paveway II and Brimstone. Estimated cost is $30million each
Anka from Turkey have endurance of 24 hours currently operated by Turkey. Tunisia bought 6 units for $40million each.
UAV ?, tell me if The Predator, Wing Loong, Reaper or Anka to be delivered by RMAF. This would be good boosting our Air forces.
@ marhalim
" Of course it could be done but its administrative one "
Why i have always said that you need to think carefully about the history of skuadrons before assigning them for new aircrafts.
Ironically they are mentioning about "history" when changing the UAV squadron to 11 Skn, but conveniently forgetting about "history" when they created the 22 Skn for the A400M!
Seriously I cannot see a good reason on why they are doing this now for the UAV skn, and why didnt they do the same for the A400M skn.