RMAF Special Forces

The RMAF Special Forces (Malay: Pasukan Khas TUDM, Jawi: ڤاسوكن خاص تنترا اودارا), better known as PASKAU from an abbreviation of its Malay name, is the special forces of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF; Malay: Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia – TUDM).

Its main functions are to carry out high-value target protection, ground forward air controller, combat search and rescue and rescuing downed aircrew assignments. RMAF Special Forces is also tasked as the principal anti-hijack response force for military and civil aircraft in Malaysia. This task was taken over from 21st Special Service Group. All RMAF Special Forces members are airborne and commando-trained and can be deployed behind enemy lines via air, land and sea to assist in target designation for the Malaysian Armed Forces and RMAF missions.

RMAF Special Forces is one of the two combat units comprising the RMAF Regiment (Malay: Rejimen TUDM).

The RMAF Special Forces were officially established on 1 April 2002, but their lineage traces back to the RMAF Air and Ground Defence Force, better known as HANDAU (an abbreviation of its Malay name), which was an infantry unit of the RMAF.

The RMAF Special Forces traces its lineage back to 1974, following a mortar attack by Malayan Communist Party members outside RMAF Kuala Lumpur. Another mortar attack in 1979 damaged an RMAF DHC-4 Caribou transport aircraft. These incidents prompted a specific directive from the Air Force Command to form a new security force to take over the security of RMAF air bases from the Malaysian Army's Malaysian Military Police Corps (now known as the Royal Military Police Corps).

The unit was drafted at the end of 1976 by Group Captain Abdul Kadir Abu Bakar, Squadron Leader Lai Kiat Meng, and Flight Lieutenant Mior Rosli. Flight Lieutenant Mior Rosli was later selected as the unit's first commanding officer. Corporal Mahazir became the first airman to receive commando training at the Special Warfare Training Centre in Malacca. Subsequently, more officers and airmen were trained, leading to the establishment of the Pasukan Pertahanan Darat dan Udara (the "Air and Ground Defence Force"), abbreviated as HANDAU, on 1 April 1980. This new force was tasked with the security of RMAF air bases, and the first HANDAU squadron was named 102nd HANDAU Squadron.

The HANDAU was reactivated on 1 June 2020, by the Air Force Command (Malay: Markas Tentera Udara – MTU). Existing RMAF Provost Squadrons were restructured, with half of them being designated as HANDAU squadrons. This restructuring expanded their responsibilities beyond military police duties to include roles as air force ground forces and security forces.

On 1 April 1980, the 102nd HANDAU Squadron formally assumed base security duties at RMAF Kuala Lumpur from the Military Police. To oversee the new squadrons, the RMAF Security Regiment (Malay: Markas Rejimen Keselamatan TUDM, abbreviated MAREJ) was established as the command headquarters. Between 1980 and 1 March 1987, ten additional HANDAU squadrons were raised.