RMAF CN-235 MSA (photo : Akang Aviation)
After acquiring 8 Indonesian-made IAe CN-235-220M and CN-235-100VIP transport aircraft in two batches beginning from 1999, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is set to perform first line and second line maintenance on its remaining 7 aircrafts in 2022.
All of the CN-235s are operated by No 1 Skn (which was previously No 21 Skn) out of the squadron’s homebase in Kuching as well as detachments in Subang AFB and Labuan AFB. As of 2022, there will be 3 variants of the operated by the squadron namely tactical transport (3 aircraft), maritime surveillance aircraft or MSA (3 aircraft) and VIP transport aircraft (1 aircraft out of 2 after which 1 was destroyed in a crash in 2017).
As per RMAF’s latest strategic plan known as the RMAF Capability Transformation Plan 2055 (CAP55), there will be no plan for additional CN-235 as apparently these will be replaced by a single type transport aircraft that will also replace the Lockheed C-130H/H-30 Hercules and the Airbus A-400M Atlas by 2040.
(MFH)