RMAF Kuantan Air Base

{{Short description|Air force base in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia}} {{Infobox airport | nativename = TUDM Kuantan | location = Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia | pushpin_label = | r1-surface = Asphalt | metric-rwy = y | name = RMAF Kuantan | image = File:USN-RMAF CARAT 2004 (040715-N-0493B-040).jpg | caption = A photo of RMAF and USN crewmembers at RMAF Kuantan during CARAT | IATA = | ICAO = WMKD | type = Military | owner = Royal Malaysian Air Force, Ministry of Defence | operator = Royal Malaysian Air Force | city-served = | timezone = MST | utc = UTC+08:00 | elevation-f = 55 | coordinates = {{coord|03|46|11|N|103|12|34|E|region:MY|display=inline,title}} | image_map = | image_map_caption = Pahang state in Malaysia | pushpin_map = Malaysia Pahang#Malaysia West#Malaysia | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Pahang | website = | r1-number = 18/36 | r1-length-m = 2804 | footnotes = Sources: AIP Malaysia<ref name=AIP>[http://aip.dca.gov.my/aip%20pdf/AD/AD2/WMKD/WMKD-Kuantan%20Airport.pdf WMKD – KUANTAN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227212845/http://aip.dca.gov.my/aip%20pdf/AD/AD2/WMKD/WMKD-Kuantan%20Airport.pdf |date=2013-12-27 }} at Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia</ref> }}

'''RMAF Kuantan''' ({{langx|ms|TUDM Kuantan}}) is an airbase of the Royal Malaysian Air Force ({{langx|ms|Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia}}). It is located in Kuantan, Pahang in Peninsular Malaysia. It shares the runway and other facilities with Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Airport.<ref>[http://www.malaysiaairports.com.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=76 Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport, Kuantan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831221012/http://www.malaysiaairports.com.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=76 |date=2017-08-31 }} official page at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad</ref>

==History== thumb|RMAF Kuantan air base entrance as seen from main road. thumb|Mothballed Mikoyan MiG-29 of RMAF under shelter in RMAF Kuantan in 2022.

Kuantan began life as '''RAF Kuantan'''.

The following squadrons were here at some point: * No. 32 Squadron RAF detachment between July 1961 and February 1969 with the English Electric Canberra B.15{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=39}} * No. 36 Squadron RAF detachment between July 1935 and December 1941 with the Vickers Vildebeest III{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=40}} * No. 45 Squadron RAF detachment between September 1962 and April 1965 with the Canberra B.15{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=43}} * No. 60 Squadron RAF detachment between February and July 1941 with the Bristol Blenheim I{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=47}} * No. 62 Squadron RAF detachment between February and December 1941 with the Blenheim I{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=47}} * No. 100 Squadron RAF detachment between December 1941 and January 1942 with the Bristol Beaufort I{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=56}}

RMAF Kuantan was established on 24 June 1968. Its early squadrons consisted of No. 3 Squadron and No. 9 Squadron that flew Canadair CL-41G ''Tebuan'' jet trainers. In 1985 the CL-41G Tebuans were replaced by Douglas A-4 Skyhawks and BAE Systems Hawks. In 1995, the RMAF received Russian-made Mikoyan MiG-29s, which are based at Kuantan and operated by No. 17 Squadron and No. 19 Squadron.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atsc.com.my/mtc.htm|title = Authorized Maintenance Centre for MiG 29}}</ref> Other than being a base for fixed-wing aircraft, RMAF Kuantan is also a base for helicopters such as the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King and Eurocopter EC725.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airforce.mil.my/mengenaikami/pangkalan-udara/kuantan|title=Portal Rasmi Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia TUDM - Kuantan|website=www.airforce.mil.my|access-date=2020-10-10|archive-date=2019-12-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203102830/http://www.airforce.mil.my/mengenaikami/pangkalan-udara/kuantan|url-status=dead}}</ref> The ATSC MiG Technical Centre, which is the company responsible for providing maintenance for the Mikoyan MiG-29s, is also located on the base.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atsc.com.my/mtc.htm|title = Authorized Maintenance Centre for MiG 29}}</ref>

==Squadrons assigned== ===Main squadron=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Division ! Squadrons ! Aircraft assigned ! Notes |- | 1st Division | No. 17 Squadron | Mikoyan MiG-29 | In reserve |- | 1st Division | No. 19 Squadron | Mikoyan MiG-29 | In reserve |- | 1st Division | No. 10 Squadron | Eurocopter EC725 | |- |}

===Training squadron=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Division ! Squadrons ! Aircraft assigned ! Notes |- | Training Division | 3 FTC | Aermacchi MB-339 | |- |}

==See also== {{Portal|Aviation}} * Royal Malaysian Air Force bases * List of airports in Malaysia

==References== {{reflist}}

*{{cite book |last1=Jefford |first1=C. G. |title= RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 |year=2001 |edition=2nd |publisher= Airlife Publishing |location= Shrewsbury, UK |isbn= 1-84037-141-2 }}

Category:Airports in Pahang Category:Kuantan Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in British Malaya