The RMAF Special Forces (, Jawi: ڤاسوكن خاص تنترا اودارا), better known as PASKAU from an abbreviation of its Malay name, are the special forces of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF; ). It is one of the three components that make up the RMAF Regiment ().
Its main functions are to carry out high-value target protection, ground forward air controller, combat search and rescue and rescuing downed aircrew assignments. RMAF Special Forces is also tasked as the principal anti-hijack response force for military and civil aircraft in Malaysia. This task was taken over from 21st Special Service Group. All RMAF Special Forces members are airborne and commando-trained and can be deployed behind enemy lines via air, land and sea to assist in target designation for the Malaysian Armed Forces and RMAF missions.
The commanding officer of the RMAF Special Forces is Colonel Muhammad Mustafa Omar , having held the position since July 2023.
History The RMAF Special Forces were officially established on 1 April 2002, but their lineage traces back to the RMAF Air and Ground Defence Force, better known as HANDAU (an abbreviation of its Malay name), which was an infantry unit of the RMAF.
Origin: RMAF Air and Ground Defence Force (HANDAU)
The RMAF Special Forces traces its lineage back to 1974, following a mortar attack by Malayan Communist Party members outside RMAF Kuala Lumpur. Another mortar attack in 1979 damaged an RMAF DHC-4 Caribou transport aircraft. These incidents prompted a specific directive from the Air Force Command to form a new security force to take over the security of RMAF air bases from the Malaysian Army's Malaysian Military Police Corps (now known as the Royal Military Police Corps).
The unit was drafted at the end of 1976 by Group Captain Abdul Kadir Abu Bakar, Squadron Leader Lai Kiat Meng, and Flight Lieutenant Mior Rosli. Flight Lieutenant Mior Rosli was later selected as the unit's first commanding officer. Corporal Mahazir became the first airman to receive commando training at the Special Warfare Training Centre in Malacca. Subsequently, more officers and airmen were trained, leading to the establishment of the Pasukan Pertahanan Darat dan Udara (the "Air and Ground Defence Force"), abbreviated as HANDAU, on 1 April 1980. This new force was tasked with the security of RMAF air bases, and the first HANDAU squadron was named No. 102 Squadron HANDAU ().In Bahasa Malaysia
The HANDAU was reactivated on 1 June 2020, by the Air Force Command ( – MTU). Existing RMAF Provost Squadrons were restructured, with half of them being designated as HANDAU squadrons. This restructuring expanded their responsibilities beyond military police duties to include roles as air force ground forces and security forces.
Expansion and the RMAF Security Regiment On 1 April 1980, the No. 102 Squadron formally assumed base security duties at RMAF Kuala Lumpur from the Military Police. To oversee the new squadrons, the RMAF Security Regiment (, abbreviated MAREJ) was established as the command headquarters. Between 1980 and 1 March 1987, ten additional HANDAU squadrons were raised.
+ List of RMAF HANDAU squadronsNameGarrisonNo. 102 Squadron HANDAURMAF Kuala Lumpur1980-04-01No. 103 Squadron HANDAURMAF Kuantan1980-11-18No. 104 Squadron HANDAURMAF Butterworth1981-01-10No. 105 Squadron HANDAURMAF Kuching1981-04-07No. 106 Squadron HANDAURMAF Labuan1987-03-01No. 107 Squadron HANDAURMAF Alor Setar1981-07-07No. 109 Squadron HANDAURMAF Aircraft Overhaul Depot (DEBKAT), Subang Airport1981-08-06No. 201 Squadron HANDAURMAF Jugra1987-08-27No. 202 Squadron HANDAURMAF Ipoh1981-02-09No. 204 Squadron HANDAURMAF Kluang1981-08-19No. 208 Squadron HANDAURMAF Subang1987-09-01Combat Air Rescue TeamRMAF Kuala Lumpur1983Rapid Deployment ForceRMAF Kuala Lumpur1983
Transition to the RMAF Regiment
Since its establishment in 1980, the RMAF Security Regiment reported directly to the Air Force Command ( – MTU) for all operations involving HANDAU squadrons. Following a major reorganisation of the RMAF in June 1983, the RMAF Security Regiment was transferred to the RMAF Air Operations High Command ( – MABES, now known as the RMAF Air Operations Command) and was subsequently renamed the RMAF Regiment.
As part of the same reorganisation, two special operations elements were established within the regiment: the Combat Air Rescue Team (CART) () and the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) (). CART included a small number of Gerak Khas commandos seconded from the Malaysian Army, while the RDF was composed of HANDAU personnel trained in commando skills and stationed at major RMAF bases. The RDF functioned as an air assault unit, capable of reinforcing armed forces units or jungle police paramilitary elements in need of support, while CART specialised in combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions. Both formations are widely regarded as the precursors of the modern RMAF Special Forces.
In 1993, the HANDAU squadrons were redesignated as the RMAF Provost Squadrons. Their role was expanded to include military police duties alongside their primary responsibility for air base security.
Merger and formation of PKU, later redesignated as PASKAU
In 1996, the Combat Air Rescue Team (CART) and the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) were merged to form a new unit, the Pasukan Khas Udara (PKU) (), also referred to as the "RMAF Special Air Service". The PKU was expanded, and its remit broadened to include counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, and search and rescue operations. For these new roles, its personnel received training from the British Special Air Service (SAS) and the United States Special Operations Forces.
On 17 March 1999, the PKU was relocated from RMAF Kuala Lumpur to RMAF Jugra. At the same time, the RMAF Provost Squadrons were separated from the RMAF Regiment and transferred to the newly established RMAF Provost Marshal Department, which assumed responsibility for air force law enforcement.
On 1 April 2002, exactly 22 years after the establishment of HANDAU, the PKU was officially redesignated as the Pasukan Khas TUDM (PASKAU), or "RMAF Special Forces".
On 24 January 2008, Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the RMAF Regiment and simultaneously became patron of the RMAF Special Forces. The investiture ceremony was held at Jugra Air Base, Selangor, where the Chief of Air Force, General Azizan Ariffin (later Chief of Defence Force in 2009), presented the blue beret of the RMAF Special Forces to Sultan Ahmad Shah.In Bahasa Malaysia
Structures
1980–2023 1980–1993 RMAF Security Regiment Air and Ground Defence Force (HANDAU) HANDAU squadrons (x11 squadrons) Combat Air Rescue Team Rapid Deployment Force
1993–2002 RMAF Regiment RMAF Provost RMAF Special Air Service Combat Air Rescue Team Rapid Deployment Force
2002–2020
RMAF Regiment RMAF Special Forces Combat Wing Squadron Flight Hostage Rescue Team Ground Forward Air Controller Combat Air Rescue Squadron Maritime Pararescue Team Field Protection Squadron
2020–2021
RMAF Regiment RMAF Special Forces Combat Wing Squadron Flight Hostage Rescue Team Ground Forward Air Controller Combat Air Rescue Squadron Maritime Pararescue Team Field Protection Squadron RMAF Ground Defence Force
Current structures Today, the RMAF Regiment operates directly under the RMAF Air Operations Command and is based at Jugra Air Base in Banting. Here are the five main squadrons of RMAF Special Forces:
+ RMAF Special Forces squadrons, responsibility and rolesSquadronResponsibilityRolesSpecial Air Combat Assault SquadronPathfinders and forward air controllersThe Special Air Combat Assault Squadron (SACA) provides the RMAF and Malaysian Armed Forces with pathfinders and forward air controllers. This unit, also known as RMAF FAC (Royal Malaysian Air Force Forward Air Controllers), can be deployed behind enemy lines via helicopter or parachute. They use AN/PEQ-1 SOFLAM Ground Laser Target Designation (GLTD) teams for forward target acquisition and tracking for attacking aircraft. Each mission involves six personnel with various specialisations, including cross-trained signallers, medics, weapons specialists, demolition experts, snipers, and boatmen. This squadron was officially created in 2021. Despite being a newly established squadron, it has a long track record as the Ground Forward Air Controller (GFAC), which was previously part of the Combat Wing Squadron. The Combat Wing Squadron was officially disbanded in 2021.
This squadron functions similarly to both U.S. Air Force Combat Control Team and U.S. Air Force Special Operations Force Tactical Air Control Party within the Air Force Special Operations Command. Combat Air Rescue Squadron Land-based combat search and rescue The Combat Air Rescue Squadron (CARS; ) is capable of conducting combat search and rescue operations behind enemy lines. It consists of six flights operating from air bases with Rescue Sub-Centres (RSC) located at Subang Air Base, Kuantan Air Base, Butterworth Air Base, Gong Kedak Air Base, Kuching Air Base, and Labuan Air Base. CARS is equivalent to the U.S. Air Force Pararescue in terms of its capabilities and functions. Force Protection Squadron Special protections, security force and counter-terrorism The Force Protection Squadron (FPS; ) is responsible for securing high-value military assets such as hangars, air defence radars, and fire support bases. Their duties include protecting infrastructure and conducting close or special escort operations. For area protection, the squadron uses the Field Intrusion Detection System (FIDS). Prior to 2021, this unit was known as the Field Protection Squadron. As part of the RMAF Regiment's restructuring under the Capability Development 55 (CAP55) plan in 2021, and with the reactivation of the RMAF Ground Defence Force (RMAF HANDAU) in 2020, the responsibility for securing air force bases was shared between RMAF HANDAU's squadrons and the FPS. While the FPS continues its security role, its focus has shifted to more sensitive areas and bases behind enemy lines. Additionally, the Hostage Rescue Team, the RMAF Special Forces' counter-terrorist unit, which was previously under the Combat Wing Squadron, was transferred to the FPS.
The FPS is equivalent to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron and U.S. Air Force DAGRE in terms of its capabilities and functions.Maritime Para Rescue SquadronMaritime-based combat search and rescueThe Maritime Para Rescue Squadron is a combat search and rescue squadron specialising in search and rescue operations at sea. They operate from air bases near the ocean. Before 2021, they were known as the Maritime Pararescue Team and were part of the Combat Air Rescue Squadron. Following the reorganisation, the Combat Air Rescue Squadron now focuses on combat search and rescue operations on land and in the jungle.Special Operations Support SquadronCombat supportThe Special Operations Support Squadron provides all RMAF Special Forces squadrons with combat support.
Deactivated squadron
Combat Wing Squadron The Combat Wing Squadron (CWS; ) was the primary combat arm of the RMAF Special Forces. While other squadrons focused on search and rescue or security operations, the CWS specialised in counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, infiltration, sabotage, and covert operations targeting high-value objectives. Based at Jugra Air Base, the squadron included the Flight Hostage Rescue Team (FHRT), a counter-terrorism unit specifically trained for aircraft hostage rescue operations.
As part of the Capability Development 55 plan, the CWS was disbanded in 2021. Its responsibilities were redistributed between the Force Protection Squadron and the Special Air Combat Assault Squadron, ensuring continuity of its critical roles in Malaysia's defence strategy.
National special operations force