Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat
Encyclopedia
The Malaysian Army Aviation is the Army Aviation branch of the Malaysian Army
. Currently equipped with helicopters in both the liaison and light observation roles, the Malaysian Army plans to equip PUTD with attack helicopters in support of Malaysian Army
units.
, Johor
. The Army Aviation Project Team was formed to oversee the planning and implementation into the formation of an Army Aviation Wing for the Malaysian Army
. At the beginning six RMAF Officers and six Army Officers were attached to this Pioneer Team to establish PUTD. They are two pilots is Colonel Stephen Ngiau Tai Kong RMAF (Director of the Project Team), Lieutenant Colonel Hj Ibrahim Bin Hj Hashim RMAF, three air force engineering officers named Major Mohd Asri Bin Hamzah RMAF , Major Norazman Bin Saparon RMAF dan Captain Izaidi Bin Musa RMAF and one air force logistics officer is Major Sarudin Bin Chonil RMAF. Where as another six army officers headed by Lieutenant Colonel Masood Bin Zainal Abidin from RAMD
(retired as Deputy Chief of Army with Lieutenant General rank) as Deputy Director, Major Azmi Bin Ariffin from Royal Armoured Corps, Major Idris Bin Mohamad from REMEC
, Captain Nazri from KP, Captain Othman Bin Badron from REMEC and Captain Adnan Bin Mat Din from Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja
. A combination of expertise from various specialization that made PUTD where it is today. Malaysia is very proud of them. They are twelve dedicated Officers of Malaysian Armed Forces that become "PIONEER" in this new establishment. New Era of Malaysian Armed Forces with multi tasking especially for the Malaysian Army.
PUTD was started flying operations on March 11, 1995, and 881 Squadron as declared operational, with an initial complement of 10 SA316B Alouette III liaison helicopters that were transferred from RMAF. The Kluang Air base was handed over to PUTD in January 1996. 881 Squadron was declared fully operational on March 29, 1997.
The Malaysian Army has identified the requirement of an attack helicopter
for the PUTD. Several makes have been considered and evaluated, including the Denel
Rooivalk, Boeing AH-64 Apache Longbow
and the Eurocopter Tigre. No announcements has been made.
PUTD has taken delivery of 11 AgustaWestland A109 Hirundo
s for LOH duties.
This remains a responsibility of the Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia, though it is a logical progression that PUTD will be equipped with light and medium utility helicopters in the future.
: German Army Aviation Corps: British Army Air Corps: United States Army Air Forces
Malaysian Army
The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy...
. Currently equipped with helicopters in both the liaison and light observation roles, the Malaysian Army plans to equip PUTD with attack helicopters in support of Malaysian Army
Malaysian Army
The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy...
units.
History
The PUTD was formed on 1 July 1994 at the Royal Malaysian Air Force helicopter base in KluangKluang
Kluang is a town and district located roughly in the middle of the state of Johor in Malaysia. Kluang lies about 110 km north of Johor Bahru, east-southeast of Batu Pahat, west of Mersing and south of Segamat...
, Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
. The Army Aviation Project Team was formed to oversee the planning and implementation into the formation of an Army Aviation Wing for the Malaysian Army
Malaysian Army
The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy...
. At the beginning six RMAF Officers and six Army Officers were attached to this Pioneer Team to establish PUTD. They are two pilots is Colonel Stephen Ngiau Tai Kong RMAF (Director of the Project Team), Lieutenant Colonel Hj Ibrahim Bin Hj Hashim RMAF, three air force engineering officers named Major Mohd Asri Bin Hamzah RMAF , Major Norazman Bin Saparon RMAF dan Captain Izaidi Bin Musa RMAF and one air force logistics officer is Major Sarudin Bin Chonil RMAF. Where as another six army officers headed by Lieutenant Colonel Masood Bin Zainal Abidin from RAMD
Royal Malay Regiment
The Royal Malay Regiment is the premier unit of the Malaysian Army's two infantry regiments. At its largest, the Malay Regiment comprised 27 battalions. At present, two battalions are parachute trained and form part of the Malaysian Army Rapid Deployment Force...
(retired as Deputy Chief of Army with Lieutenant General rank) as Deputy Director, Major Azmi Bin Ariffin from Royal Armoured Corps, Major Idris Bin Mohamad from REMEC
Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera DiRaja
Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera DiRaja is a corps of the Malaysian Army that is responsible for the maintenance of all vehicles, mechanical and electrical equipment of the Malaysian Army, with the exception of heavy equipments of the Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja and signals equipment of the...
, Captain Nazri from KP, Captain Othman Bin Badron from REMEC and Captain Adnan Bin Mat Din from Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja
Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja
Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja is a group combat support military units of the Malaysian Army that provides combat engineering and other engineering support to the Malaysian Army.- History :...
. A combination of expertise from various specialization that made PUTD where it is today. Malaysia is very proud of them. They are twelve dedicated Officers of Malaysian Armed Forces that become "PIONEER" in this new establishment. New Era of Malaysian Armed Forces with multi tasking especially for the Malaysian Army.
PUTD was started flying operations on March 11, 1995, and 881 Squadron as declared operational, with an initial complement of 10 SA316B Alouette III liaison helicopters that were transferred from RMAF. The Kluang Air base was handed over to PUTD in January 1996. 881 Squadron was declared fully operational on March 29, 1997.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Role of PUTD includes the following :- provide tactical support to Army formations
- light reconnaissanceReconnaissanceReconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
role - operate as part of a combined armsCombined armsCombined arms is an approach to warfare which seeks to integrate different branches of a military to achieve mutually complementary effects...
team with other Army formations - provide limited aerial fire support to army formations
- anti armour support to Army formations
- direct fire support
- attack targets of opportunity
- tactical transport (limited capability)
- emergency medevacMEDEVACMedical evacuation, often termed Medevac or Medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to the wounded being evacuated from the battlefield or to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of an accident to receiving medical facilities using...
- long range observation and scouting
- in theatre search and rescueSearch and rescueSearch and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
Equipments
- Attack Helicopters
The Malaysian Army has identified the requirement of an attack helicopter
Attack helicopter
An attack helicopter is a military helicopter with the primary role of an attack aircraft, with the capability of engaging targets on the ground, such as enemy infantry and armored vehicles...
for the PUTD. Several makes have been considered and evaluated, including the Denel
Denel
Denel Ltd is a South African state owned aerospace and defence technology conglomerate established in 1991. It was created when the manufacturing subsidiaries of Armscor were split off in order for Armscor to become the procurement agency for South African Defence Force , now known as the South...
Rooivalk, Boeing AH-64 Apache Longbow
AH-64 Apache
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement, and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. The Apache was developed as Model 77 by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the...
and the Eurocopter Tigre. No announcements has been made.
- Light Observation Helicopters
PUTD has taken delivery of 11 AgustaWestland A109 Hirundo
Agusta A109
The AgustaWestland AW109 is a light-weight, twin-engine, eight-seat multi-purpose helicopter built by the Anglo-Italian manufacturer AgustaWestland...
s for LOH duties.
- Tactical Transport
This remains a responsibility of the Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia, though it is a logical progression that PUTD will be equipped with light and medium utility helicopters in the future.
Units
At the moment Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat has one operational squadron (No. 881 Squadron), though more units are planned.- 881 Squadron
- No. 881 Squadron was formed in 1995 with 10 SA.316 Alouette III liaison helicopters transferred from the Royal Malaysian Air Force along with a group of pilots. The unit is commanded by a Leftenan Kolonel.
- In 2006, the squadron was strengthened with the delivery of 11 A109 Hirundo Light Observation Helicopters (LOH). 5 of the A109s were delivered in December 2005 with the balance of the delivery made during 2006. Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat becomes the first operator of the A109 LOH in Asia.
- The helicopters will be armed with 70-mm. rocketRocketA rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
s and 20-mm machine gunMachine gunA machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
s.
Alliance
: Australian Army AviationAustralian Army Aviation
Australian Army Aviation is a corps of the Australian Army, and was formed on 1 July 1968 with a strength of 106 officer pilots, although it has a history dating back to 1911, when the Minister of Defence at the time, Senator George Pearce, decided there should be a flying school in the Defence...
: German Army Aviation Corps: British Army Air Corps: United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....