The Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara DiRaja Malaysia) was formed in 1958 as the "Tentera Udara Diraja Persekutuan" or Royal Malayan Air Force. However, its roots could be traced to the Malayan Auxiliary AF formations of the British royal Air Force in then colonial Malaya.

The first aircraft for the fledgling air force was a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer named “Lang Rajawali” by the then Prime Minister. Several Malayans serving with the Royal Air Force transferred to the Royal Malayan Air Force. The role played by TUDM was limited initially to communications and the support of ground operations against communist insurgents. TUDM received the first combat aircraft with the delivery of 20 Canadair CL41G Tebuan (an armed version of the Canadair Tutor trainer). TUDM also received the Aerospatiale Alouette III helicopters, used in the liaison role.

With the formation of Malaysian Federation on September 16th, 1963, the name of the force was changed to "Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia" or Royal Malaysian Air Force". New types introduced into service included the Handley Page Herald transport, the DeHavilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou. TUDM received the Sikorsky S-61A-4 Helicopters in the late sixties and early seventies and used in the transport role. TUDM gained an air defence capability when the Australian Government donated 10 ex-RAAF Commonwealth Aviation CA27 Sabre fighters. These were based at the Butterworth Air Base.

After the withdrawal of British military forces from Malaysia and Singapore at the end of 1971, a five-nation agreement between Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, and Great Britain was concluded to ensure defense against external aggression. The Royal Australian Air Force maintained a Mirage III-O squadron at the Butterworth air base as part of its commitment to the Five Power Defence Agreement. This squadron has been withdrawn in the 1980s though occasional deployments of RAAF aircraft continue.

With the withdrawal of the British military forces, TUDM underwent gradual modernisation in the 1970s and through the 1990s. The CA27 Sabre were replaced by 16 Northrop F5E Tigers. A reconnaisance capability was acquired with the purchase of 4 RF5E Tigereye aircraft. TUDM also purchased 88 surplus Ex US Navy McDonnell Douglas A-4C Skyhawks and Grumman Bethpage refurbished 40 of the airframes into the A4PTM configuration (similar to A4M standard). TUDM has looked to the west for its purchases, primarily to the United States. However, limitation imposed by the United States on “new technology’ to the region such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM fire and forget air to air missiles has made TUDM to consider purchases from Russia and other eastern bloc nations.

The 90's saw the arrival first with the British Aerospace Hawk Mk108/208 which replaced the T/A-4PTM's followed by the MiG-29N/NUB in 1995 to take on the air superiority role, and finally the delivery of the F/A-18D in 1997 to provide the all weather interdictor capability. In 2003 a contract was signed for eighteen Su-30MKM's for delivery in 2006/2007 to complement the MiG 29s. TUDM is also contemplating exchanging the F/A-18D with the more capable F/A18-F models coming into service with the US Marines. TUDM is also looking for an AWACS aircraft, though no form orders has been place.

Ten Mi-171Sh (Mi-8AMTSh) helicopters worth $120 million has been ordered in 2003. These helicopters will probably be used in the (C)SAR role as support for the ageing S-61 Nuri's. Another 39 Mi-171's could be purchased. The requirement for attack helicopters remain unfulfilled at present, though an armed version of the A-109 has been considered. Interest in the Denel Rooivalk seems to have cooled down.

Present TUDM assets include :

Fighters

• 14 x MiG-29N
• 2 x MiG-29NUB
• 8 x F/A-18D Hornet
• 7 x AerMacchi M.B. 339A
• 17 X MB 339C (EX RNZAF aircraft procured in 2003 but yet to be in service)
• 16 x BAe Hawk 208
• 6 x BAe Hawk 108
• 2 x Northrop RF5E Tigereye
• 3 x Northrop F5F
• 10 x F5E Tiger II
• 18 x 18 X SU 30MKM (ON ORDER, DELIVERY 2006)

Transport

• 8 x Hercules C-130-30
• 2 x Hercules C-130
• 4 x Hercules KC-130H Aerial tanker (2 on conversion)
• 8 x Cessna 402B communications transport
• 8 x CN235-220M
• 1 x GLOBAL EXPRESS
• 1 x CRJ700 REGIONAL JET
• 1 x FALCON 900B
• 1 x FOKKER F-28 VUP Transport

Maritime

• 4 x Beechcraft Super Kingair B200T MPA
• 2 x Lockheed Hercules PC-130H

Helicopter

• Aérospatiale_Alouette_IIIB(transferred to the Army Air Wing)
• 28 x Sikorsky S61A-4 Nuri
• 2 x Agusta Sikorsky A56-N1
• 1 x Agusta A-109C
• 2 x Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk (VIP configuration)

Training Aircraft

• 36 x Pilatus PC-7
• 8 x Pilatus PC-7MkII
• 20 x MD3-160 Aerotiga

• 3 X EAGLE ARV LONG RANGE UAV

• DHC-4A Caribou has been retired from active service

Airbases include RMAF Alor Setar (Training), RMAF Butterworth, RMAF Kuantan, RMAF Kuala Lumpur-Subang, RMAF Kuala Lumpur-Sungai Besi, RMAF Kuching and RMAF Labuan. A new airfiled is being built in Gong Kedak in Terengganu.

See also: Military of Malaysia