MNDF Air Corps
| Air Corps | |
|---|---|
 MNDF Air Corps flag | |
| Active | 2024 — present |
| Country |  Maldives |
| Type | Air force |
| Part of | Maldives National Defence Force |
| Commanders | |
| Commandmant | Brigadier General Abdul Rauf |
The MNDF Air Corps are the combat forces in the air to protect the Maldives' exclusive economic zone.
History
[edit]On 15 March 2024, President Mohamed Muizzu inaugurated the MNDF Air Corps to protect the Maldives' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the airspace of the country.[1][2][3]
The **Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF)** recently acquired the **Baykar Bayraktar TB2** UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), a widely used drone originally developed by the Turkish defense company **Baykar Technologies**. The Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV renowned for its versatility, particularly in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) roles, as well as its ability to conduct precision strikes.
Key Features of the Bayraktar TB2
- 1. **Endurance**: Up to 27 hours, making it ideal for extended missions
- 2. **Altitude**: Operates at medium altitudes (up to 25,000 feet).
- 3. **Range**: Has a communication range of around 300 km.
- 4. **Payload**: Can carry a variety of payloads, including EO/IR (electro-optical/infrared) cameras, laser range finders, and laser-guided munitions.
- 5. **Armament**: Can be equipped with lightweight precision munitions, such as the MAM-L (Smart Micro Munition) and MAM-C, which are effective against armored targets.
- Uses and Strategic Importance
For the MNDF, the Bayraktar TB2 enhances **maritime security, border surveillance, and counter-terrorism** efforts. In a country like the Maldives, where vast stretches of ocean separate hundreds of islands, the TB2 can monitor large areas efficiently, identifying unauthorized vessels, potential threats, or environmental hazards like illegal fishing or pollution.
- Why the Bayraktar TB2?
The Bayraktar TB2 has proven its capabilities in various conflict zones around the world and has a track record of being cost-effective and relatively easy to operate compared to other high-end drones. Its acquisition signals the Maldives’ commitment to modernizing its defense capabilities and improving its capacity to maintain security across its extensive maritime territory.
This acquisition aligns the MNDF with other countries in the region that have also adopted advanced UAVs to enhance their operational capabilities.
Aircraft
[edit]| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unmanned combat aerial vehicle | ||||||
| Bayraktar TB2 | Turkey | UCAV | 6[4] | Bought from Turkey.[5] | ||
| Transport | ||||||
| Dornier 228 | Germany/India | maritime patrol | 1[6] | Gifted by India[7][8] | ||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| HAL Dhruv | India | SAR / utility | Mk.3 | 2[9] | Gifted by India[10] | |
References
[edit]- ^ "MNDF Air Corps launched, surveillance ensured 24/7". PSM News. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ Mohamed, Mariyath (15 March 2024). "MNDF Air Corps established". The Edition. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "President launches the MNDF Air Corps and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) into service". The President's Office. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "Türkiye-ABD Savunma Ticareti Diyaloğu için anlaşma sağlandı" (in Turkish). 2024-03-09. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ^ "Maldives receives renowned Turkish drones amid India tensions". Daily Sabah. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ Hadi, Ahmedulla Abdul (1 October 2020). "MNDF puts off disclosing info on Indian donated aircraft". Sun. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "India Hands Over Surveillance Aircraft to Maldives Amid Strategic Tussle with China". xairforces.com. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "HAL workers may replace military staff in Maldives". The Times of India. 9 February 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ Anandan, S. (14 December 2013). "India donates second naval Advanced Light Helicopter to Maldives". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 October 2024.