Royal Brunei Air Force

The Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) is a compact, helicopter-centric force structured to support the nation's land and naval branches and secure its sovereign airspace. The force is organized into several functional wings, including Operations, Air Regiment, Training, Engineering, and Administration. Its operational capabilities are primarily focused on tactical airlift, maritime and border surveillance, medical evacuation, and search and rescue. The RBAirF does not operate combat jet aircraft, centering its aerial capabilities on a fleet of rotary-wing and transport assets. The Air Regiment provides ground-based air defence for key installations using the Rapier and Mistral missile systems.

The strategic doctrine of the RBAirF is guided by Brunei's national Defence White Papers, which prioritize deterrence, holistic defence, and the ability to respond to regional security challenges, including tensions in the South China Sea. In 2020, the air force published its first Air Power Doctrine (ADP 01 / BJDP 05), establishing a formal framework for the employment of air power in line with the broader joint doctrine of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. This doctrine emphasizes joint operations, surveillance, and developing self-reliance to protect territorial integrity. Operational tasking reflects this, with a focus on ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) over its maritime territories and land borders, along with providing mobility for the Royal Brunei Land Force.

The force lacks combat experience but participates in regional humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and peacekeeping missions. Operational readiness is maintained through internal exercises, such as the Forward Operating Base (FOB) deployment exercise conducted in 2021 to validate deployment procedures and interoperability with land forces.

The RBAirF is replacing its single CN235 with four Airbus C295MW tactical transport aircraft, the first two of which arrived in January 2024. In May 2024, the Ministry of Defense ordered six Airbus H145M helicopters to replace the decommissioned BO105 fleet, intended to enhance troop deployment and close air support capabilities. To advance its surveillance capabilities, the RBAirF is operationalizing its Insitu RQ-21 Blackjack unmanned aerial systems.