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RMAF Ground Defence Force
Pasukan Pertahanan Darat TUDM
Founded	1 April 1980 (1980-04-01)
Country	Malaysia
Branch	Royal Malaysian Air Force
Type	Air force infantry
Role	Light infantry Security forces Air assault
Size	10 squadrons and 4 flights
Part of	RMAF Regiment
Headquarters	RMAF Jugra Air Base
Nickname(s)	"RMAF HANDAU", "HANDAU"
Anniversaries	1 April
Engagements	Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–1989)

The Royal Malaysian Air Force Ground Defence Force (Abbr. RMAF GDF, Malay: Pasukan Pertahanan Darat TUDM), previously known as the Royal Malaysian Air Force Air and Ground Defence Force, is an infantry unit of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. This unit is better known by its abbreviation from its Malay name, HANDAU. It is one of three ground combat units within the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and has been part of the RMAF Regiment since the regiment's inception. In addition to their role as light infantry, their responsibilities include providing security forces and serving as air assault infantry.

Currently, there are 10 squadrons and 4 flights dispersed across all RMAF air bases and air control bases.

History

Created as Security Forces

Initially, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) relied on the Malaysian Army's Malaysian Military Police Corps, now known as the Royal Military Police Corps, for security at its air bases. However, in 1974, a mortar attack by Malayan Communist Party members on the RMAF Kuala Lumpur Air Base caused some damage. In 1979, another mortar attack at the same base caused more serious damage, destroying an RMAF DHC-4 Caribou transport aircraft.

The 1974 incident prompted the Air Force Command to revise its standard operating procedures for air base security. By the end of 1976, a team led by Group Captain Abdul Kadir Abu Bakar, Squadron Leader Lai Kiat Meng, and Flight Lieutenant Mior Rosli proposed establishing a dedicated security unit under the RMAF, modelled after the Royal Air Force's RAF Regiment. The proposal was approved, and an experimental unit was formed under Flight Lieutenant Mior Rosli's leadership. Corporal Mahazir became the first RMAF airman to receive commando training at the Special Warfare Training Centre in Malacca, followed by more airmen undergoing similar training. A year after the 1979 mortar attack, a squadron from this unit was ready for duty.

On 1 April 1980, the unit was officially established as the Royal Malaysian Air Force Air and Ground Defence Force (Malay: Pasukan Pertahanan Darat dan Udara), taking over security responsibilities from the Malaysian Military Police Corps at the RMAF Kuala Lumpur Air Base. The unit became popularly known by its Malay abbreviation, HANDAU, and it was placed under the RMAF Security Regiment, which is now known as the RMAF Regiment.

Restructured as Military Police

In 1983, HANDAU underwent a restructuring. As it completely took over the responsibilities from the Malaysian Military Police Corps, additional military police roles were incorporated into HANDAU. During this period, HANDAU's official name was changed to RMAF Provost, although it continued to be referred to as HANDAU until around 1993.

In addition to security forces and military police roles, a detachment of Malaysian Army commandos was attached to HANDAU, forming two special operations sections specialising in search and rescue and air assault roles. These sections were known as the Combat Air Rescue Team and the Rapid Deployment Force.

In 1995, Air Force Command transferred the role of air defence from the RMAF Provost to the RMAF Ground Base Air Defence. The RMAF Ground Base Air Defence, an artillery formation responsible for air defence, operates under the command of the air bases where they are stationed.

Separated from RMAF Regiment

On 17 March 1999, the Air Force Command separated the RMAF Provost Squadrons from the RMAF Regiment, leaving only the special forces elements under the RMAF Regiment. Concurrently, the RMAF Regiment relocated to a new garrison at RMAF Jugra Air Base in Banting, Selangor. The RMAF Provost Squadrons were placed under a newly established department, the RMAF Provost Marshal Department, which was responsible for overseeing all military police activities within the RMAF. The headquarters of the RMAF Provost Marshal Department were located at RMAF Kuala Lumpur Air Base.

In 2018, the headquarters of the RMAF Provost Marshal Department were relocated to RMAF Sendayan Air Base following the official closure of RMAF Kuala Lumpur Air Base.

Reactivated as Air Force Infantry

Under the Capability Development 55 (CAP55) plan, on 1 June 2020, the Air Force Command reactivated the HANDAU squadrons, now called the RMAF Ground Defence Force. This change was made because the air defence role had been assigned to the RMAF Ground Base Air Defence squadrons. Members of the newly reactivated unit were transferred from the RMAF Provost, which still exists but is now limited to military police and close protection roles. The RMAF Ground Defence Force was placed back under the RMAF Regiment and continued to be abbreviated by its historic name, RMAF HANDAU.

The RMAF HANDAU squadrons now have roles as light infantry, security forces, and air assault units for the RMAF. They are trained to participate in airfield seizures, defend air bases and other RMAF facilities, and provide fly-away security, deploying from aircraft to protect assigned objectives. Besides that, there is a small section from the RMAF HANDAU squadrons at each base tasked with close-quarters combat roles.

Structure

During communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–1989)

RMAF Regiment

• • 102nd HANDAU Squadron, based at RMAF Kuala Lumpur Air Base
  • 103rd HANDAU Squadron, based at RMAF Kuantan Air Base
  • 104th HANDAU Squadron, based at RMAF Butterworth Air Base
  • 105th HANDAU Squadron, based at RMAF Kuching Air Base
  • 106th HANDAU Squadron, based at RMAF Labuan Air Base
  • 107th HANDAU Squadron, based at RMAF Alor Setar Air Base
  • 109th HANDAU Squadron, based at RMAF Aircraft Overhaul Depot in Subang
  • 201st HANDAU Squadron, based at RMAF Jugra Air Base
  • 202nd HANDAU Squadron, based at RMAF Ipoh Air Base
  • 204th HANDAU Squadron, based at RMAF Kluang Air Base (Now known as Kluang Army Air Base)
  • 208th HANDAU Squadron, based at RMAF Subang Air Base
  • Combat Air Rescue Team (search and rescue), based at RMAF Kuala Lumpur Air Base
  • Rapid Deployment Force (special operations), based at RMAF Kuala Lumpur Air Base

Current structure

Name (English)	Name (Bahasa Melayu)	Station
211st HANDAU Squadron	Skuadron 211 HANDAU	RMAF Subang Air Base
212nd HANDAU Squadron	Skuadron 212 HANDAU	RMAF Gong Kedak Air Base
213rd HANDAU Squadron	Skuadron 213 HANDAU	RMAF Kuantan Air Base
214th HANDAU Squadron	Skuadron 214 HANDAU	RMAF Butterworth Air Base
215th HANDAU Squadron	Skuadron 215 HANDAU	RMAF Kuching Air Base
216h HANDAU Squadron	Skuadron 216 HANDAU	RMAF Labuan Air Base
217th HANDAU Squadron	Skuadron 217 HANDAU	RMAF Jugra Air Base
221st HANDAU Squadron	Skuadron 221 HANDAU	RMAF Sendayan Air Base
222nd HANDAU Squadron	Skuadron 222 HANDAU	RMAF Alor Setar Air Base
223rd HANDAU Squadron	Skuadron 223 HANDAU	RMAF Ipoh Air Base
231st HANDAU Flight	Flait 231 HANDAU	RMAF Bukit Lunchu Air Force Base
232nd HANDAU Flight	Flait 232 HANDAU	RMAF Kota Samarahan Air Force Base
233rd HANDAU Flight	Flait 233 HANDAU	RMAF Bukit Ibam Air Force Base
234th HANDAU Flight	Flait 234 HANDAU	RMAF Kinrara Air Force Base

In addition to the above squadrons and flights, each RMAF Ground Defence Force squadron includes small sections specialised in close-quarters combat. These sections, known as the RMAF HANDAU Quick Response Force, function as SWAT teams for the air bases where they are stationed.

Lineage

1980	1983 Name changes	1993 Separated	2020 CAP 55
RMAF Air and Ground Defence Force	RMAF Provost	RMAF Provost	RMAF Ground Defence Force
			RMAF Provost
		RMAF Special Air Service	RMAF Special Forces