Royal Brunei Armed Forces

The Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), also natively known as Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB), is the collective term for all of the military forces or service branches of the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. The RBAF consists of three primary military branches; the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF / TDDB), the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN / TLDB), and the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF / TUDB).

The supreme commander of the RBAF is held by the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, holding the rank of field marshal. Its professional head is known as the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, with the rank of major general, Haszaimi Bol Hassan. The RBAF are controlled and managed by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), from their headquarters within Bolkiah Garrison.

The forerunner to the RBAF, the Brunei Malay Regiment, was formed on 31 May 1961, with British military support, and has continued to include officers on loan from the British military. 31 May is annually marked as Armed Forces Day.

Brunei Malay Regiment
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces, initially called the Brunei Malay Regiment (BMR), natively known as Askar Melayu Brunei (AMB), faced a significant challenge during their establishment due to the Brunei revolt on the night of 7–8 December 1962. This uprising highlighted the need for stronger national security, prompting the government to expedite the development of a more robust defense force. Despite this urgency, the trained BMR members were restricted to their camp during the insurrection, missing the chance to prove their effectiveness. In response, Britain deployed its own forces, including the Gurkhas, to Brunei.

In 1963, BMR personnel continued their training in the Federation of Malaya without issues. Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak hoped Brunei would send more soldiers to complete a battalion. Recruitment for additional soldiers, aged 18 to 25, took place in May, and Brunei also called for volunteers for short-service commissions in December. Selected candidates from Segenting Camp underwent a six-week officer cadet training program at the Federation Military College in Sungai Besi. By the end of 1963, the regiment's strength had reached 410 personnel. When Brunei declined to join the Federation of Malaya in August 1963, Malaya withdrew its personnel from Brunei, affecting the BMR. The abrupt withdrawal from Malayan training sites posed some issues for Brunei, although backup plans were in place.

By early 1964, it became clear that the Royal Malay Regiment could no longer provide officers, trainers, or services. Despite this, the initial phase of Brunei’s Berakas Camp was nearly complete. Lieutenant Colonel D. M. Fletcher replaced the Malayan commanding officer of the BMR. British Army troops on secondment filled the adjutant and regimental sergeant major positions. On 2 May 1964, the BMR moved from Segenting Camp to their permanent headquarters at Berakas Camp. By the end of the year, the regiment was ready to take on many internal security duties previously handled by the British Forces Brunei. Although specific details were not disclosed, Major General Dato Walter confirmed on 11 July 1964, that the BMR was now operational within the state. Mid-year, the Sultan named the new encampment Bolkiah Camp, designed to house the Brigade Headquarters, support troops, and accommodate 700 to 800 men.

Royal Brunei Malay Regiment
In 1965, the BMR was further strengthened and officially became the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR), natively known as the Askar Melayu Diraja Brunei (AMDB), on 31 May, receiving the title "Royal" at its fourth-anniversary parade. The RBMR's expansion continued in 1966, despite Malaysia's temporary halt in providing military training to Brunei. However, rifle companies did train in Kota Belud in February and March. During the regiment's fifth-anniversary celebrations, the RBMR was presented with the Royal Colours, which remained until 31 May 1971, when they were revised. Around this time, British officers began transferring some of their duties to local officers, with Captain Mohammad being appointed as Adjutant. In October, soldiers from the regiment's number 6 and 9 platoons conducted small-scale operations in Bukit Belalong, Temburong District, capturing four TNKU members who had infiltrated from Sarawak. The following year, on 18 April, the Sultan honored several troops, including Second Lieutenant Musa and Second Lieutenant Hussien, at an investiture ceremony at Istana Darul Hana.

In 1967, the hat emblem and shoulder titles of the RBMR were updated from black and white backgrounds to new business colours. Operational dress code changes included adopting the olive green shirt and pants design from the British Army, with flashes worn on jungle helmets instead of company colours. A new advancement policy for Brunei commissioned officers, modeled after the British Army system, was implemented. Three local officers, Captain Sulaiman, Captain Awangku Ibnu, and Captain Mohammad, attended a three-month advanced course in small arms and tactics at the School of Infantry in Warminster. Upon completion, they were to attach to an infantry brigade in England and then spend a month each with three different British battalions in Germany.

On 7 April 1969, the RBMR established a Training Wing, marking the beginning of significant growth. By the end of the year, the regiment had reorganised and expanded to 928 soldiers. Bolkiah Camp became home to an independent training facility, with administrative components of Berakas Camp combined under a new headquarters wing. A trial army cadet program in secondary schools was introduced, turning these schools into a source of prospective recruits. On the regiment's fourteenth anniversary, the 2nd Battalion was formed after nearly two years of training. In 1976, a major recruiting campaign was launched to fill the specialized Gurkha Reserve Unit, created from former British Gurkha troops. Additionally, in 1981, the RBMR Women's Company (Kompeni Askar Wanita) was established, with Pengiran Isteri Hajah Mariam serving as its Colonel-in-Chief.

Due to Britain's planned military withdrawal, Brunei's defence strategies evolved significantly from 1979 to 1984, leading up to its independence. The British withdrawal was scheduled for 1979, marking a critical juncture with the signing of the 1979 Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Brunei and Britain. In response, Brunei accelerated the acquisition of advanced military weaponry and increased military spending to strengthen the RBMR and prepare it for independence from British rule.

Royal Brunei Armed Forces
On 1 January 1984, the RBMR officially adopted its current name, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), coinciding with Brunei's independence from the United Kingdom. Brunei reorganised its military administration and bureaucracy, placing oversight of the defence system under the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). By 1984, the RBAF comprised 3,900 ranks, an increase of 400 from 1982. The RBAF unified land, sea, and air forces into a single, cohesive unit. The RBAF's training and support services included the Women's Company, the Training Centre, Medical and Dental Services, the Logistics Depot, the Procurement Branch, Engineer Workshops, the Provost Unit, the Fire Service, and the RBAF band. In 1987, the establishment of the Royal Brunei Reserve Regiment (RBRR) significantly bolstered personnel numbers.

n the late 1990s, defense spending in Brunei declined from its peak levels but stabilised at around 3% of GDP. As of 1 October 1991, the RBAF was structured into five divisions: the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), the Royal Brunei Land Forces (RBLF), RBAF Support Services (RBAF SS), and the Training Institute RBAF (TI RBAF). By the fiscal year ending in March 2002, Brunei had spent B$1.5 billion (US$870 million) on British-made weapons, making it the second-largest buyer of such weapons outside the Middle East and spending nearly five times more than Malaysia. In May 2001, the RBAF introduced its mission statement, "Vision in the 21st Century," coinciding with the 40th anniversary of its formation. Despite having only around 5,000 soldiers, Brunei's defence spending remained disproportionately high at the beginning of the millennium.

Service branches
Overseen by Joint Forces Headquarters Royal Brunei Armed Forces (JFHQ RBAF; Markas Angkatan Bersama ABDB) headquartered at Bolkiah Garrison, the RBAF consists of three primary service branches operating within the sovereign nation of Brunei.

Royal Brunei Land Force
The Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF), also natively known as Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei (TDDB), is a brigade-sized army formation. Headquartered at Berakas Garrison, it consists of three operational battalions (First Battalion RBLF, Second Battalion RBLF, and Third Battalion RBLF), along with a fourth Support Battalion RBLF. The role of the RBLF is to maintain the security of Brunei, and to defend the sovereignty of the country. Its main responsibility is to oppose any threat from within or outside the country, and to maintain peace and security in the country. RBLF is the largest of the three armed service branches of Brunei Darussalam.

Royal Brunei Navy
The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), also natively known as Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (TLDB), is the naval defence force of Brunei. It is a small, but relatively well-equipped force, whose main responsibility is to conduct search and rescue (SAR) missions, and to deter and defend the Brunei sovereign waters against attack mounted by sea-borne forces. Headquartered at Muara Naval Base,, the RBN has an operational inventory of twenty ships or similar surface vessels; the RBN does not operate any submarines or submersibles.

Royal Brunei Air Force
The Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), also natively known as Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei (TUDB), is a small, primarily helicopter-based air force, which is tasked with supporting the other branches of the armed services, defending Bruneian air space, and carrying out search and rescue (SAR) operations. It was originally created in 1965, as the Air Wing of the RBMR, and was established as an independent air force on 1 October 1991. Headquartered at Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba, the RBAirF main inventory consists of a range of rotary-wing helicopters; formerly ten Bell 212, four Sikorsky S-70A-14 (now transferred to the Royal Malaysian Air Force), and a solitary Bell 214ST. The Bell 212s were replaced between 2013 and 2015 by twelve Poland-manufactured Sikorsky S-70i Blackhawks Two Bell 206 helicopters are used for rotary-wing training.

In 2023, the RBAirF fixed-wing inventory was limited to four Swiss-built Pilatus PC-7 Mk.II turboprop tandem-seat training aircraft (three of which are also used by the Alap-Alap Formation aerobatic display team), and a solitary Indonesian-built IPTN CN 235-110M aerial transport aircraft. On 14 July 2014, the Commander of the RBAF announced plans to order the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules in the near future, though this never materialised. Subsequently, an order for four new Airbus C295MW was placed in December 2022 with European manufacturer Airbus Defence and Space; the first being accepted in December 2023, and the first two arriving at Rimba in January 2024. , RBAirF operates twenty-two manned aircraft and four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

Support Services
The former Support Services of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (SS RBAF) had the responsibility of providing support services to units within the RBAF, in all aspects pertaining to their administration, security, health, logistics, communication, transportation, and technical equipment service support. The SS RBAF also worked closely with other units of all service branches in the RBAF to undergo and help co-ordinate military training and operations. As part of the reorganisation of the RBAF, it was disbanded in early 2009, and its various units were relocated.

Bands
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces Band (RBAF Band) was established on 31 May 1962, at Port Dickson in Malaysia. It originally had twenty-one members, and was then badged as the regimental band of the BMR. On 1 January 1984, Major Haji Manaf bin Kamis became the first local musician to be appointed Director of Music. Kamis was the judge at a competition which chose the official anthem of ASEAN. Since 2003, the band has been led by Major Jaya bin Metussin. Along with its official military engagements, it has participated in events such as the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Brunei Darussalam International Tattoo, and the Berlin Military Music Festival. The RBAF Band first participated in the Hari Merdeka celebrations and the Kuala Lumpur International Tattoo in Malaysia in 2007, and has since become a regular participant.

The 2nd and 3rd Battalion Royal Brunei Land Force Pipes and Drums are also part of the larger RBAF Band, and are more modelled on those of the British Army Brigade of Gurkhas, which has a battalion stationed in rotation in Brunei. Bands are also maintained in the RBN and the RBAirF.

Affiliated to the RBAF Band is the Band of the Armed Forces Military Cadet Corps.

Training establishments
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces is supported by two permanent training establishments. Each service branch also have their own specialist training schools.

Training Institute
The Training Institute Royal Brunei Armed Forces (TI RBAF), also natively known as Institut Latihan Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (IL ABDB), is also known as the Military Training Institution. Headquartered at and based within Penanjong Garrison, at Pekan Tutong in the Tutong District, TA2741. The TI RBAF conducts basic military training to all new recruits to the RBAF. Other military courses are also offered and conducted in the institution to personnel of the RBAF.

Defence Academy
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces Defence Academy (RBAF DA), also natively known as Akademi Pertahanan Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (AP ABDB), is headquartered and located at Kampong Tanah Jambu, Mentiri, in the Brunei-Muara District, BU1129. It provides initial officer training (IOT) to all prospective persons seeking to be a commissioned officer in the RBAF. The academy also offers staff officer courses, along with seminars and further learning to commissioned officers who have been promoted to senior officer ranks.

Recruitment
Only Bruneian citizens of the Malay ethnicity (Bumiputera) are allowed to enlist in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The Malay ethnicity comprises the Belait, Bisaya, Brunei, Dusun, Kedayan, Murut, and Tutong indigenous races, as defined in the 1959 Constitution of Brunei. Military service is not compulsory for any segment of the population; there is no conscription. Both women and men work equally in the military.

Cadets
There are two separate types of cadet in Brunei which are linked or affiliated to the RBAF; both with seemingly similar names.

The Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Military Cadet should not be confused with the RBAF Military Cadets of Higher Institutions (not officially members, from the University Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), University Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Institute Technology Brunei (ITB), and Brunei Polytechnic (PB)) despite sharing the same name. The two are visually identified by the uniforms they wear; the higher institutions wear the older disruptive pattern material (DMP) woodland camouflage, while the official Military cadets wear the newer multi-scale digital camouflage.

Women's Company
The Women's Company (PDW) was founded on 29 June 1981, to commemorate the RBAF's 20th anniversary. One civilian clerk and five female loan service employees from the British Army were involved at first. There were 28 women in the inaugural intake, six of them were officer cadets and the other 22 were recruits. The 22 recruits received training at the Women's Company Training Centre, Bolkiah Garrison, from officers from the Women's Royal Army Corps and multiple RBAF male instructors, while the officer cadets were sent to the Woman's Royal Army Corps College in Camberley, United Kingdom, for an eight-month course. Five of the six officer cadets in this groundbreaking class completed their education and were commissioned as second lieutenants. These officers served as Recruit Platoon Officers in the Women's Company Headquarters of the Royal Australian Air Force.

The female cadets received instruction in fundamentals such as physical endurance, small weapons training, yearly shooting drills, and parade drill. The course also covered courses on parachute jumping in Singapore, counseling and guidance at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, air technician and map reading instructor courses in the UK, dental technician courses in Australia and Malaysia, midwifery and medical orderly courses in Hong Kong and Singapore, signals and navigation courses, physical training instructor courses in the UK, driving, cooking, logistics, and storekeeping courses, as well as information technology courses.

Within the RBAF, the trained female soldiers held a variety of positions including those of engineers, instructors, legal officers, intelligence officers, information technology specialists, administrators, and financial officers; they also worked as radio and telex operators, cooks, store assistants, medical and dental orderlies, safety harness fitters, and radar plotters. Increasing the number of ranks allowed for the discharge of more troops for front-line work. They took actions that would increase their value and worth in the sports, intellectual, military, and skill domains. The PDW has also accomplished noteworthy things, such participating in national and international events that the nation has hosted, like the 1999 SEA Games, where local women athletes won medals and honours.

The PDW has also organised and executed charity events as part of its extensive involvement in welfare and community activities. In particular, the most isolated areas in the nation have benefited from the medical assistance and relief offered by its medical and dental officers and orderlies. Even if there aren't many women joining the RBAF, they have made a substantial contribution thus far and will continue to do so in the years to come.

The RBAF Supreme Commander approved the introduction of new uniforms for the PDW on 31 May 2005. Alumnus of the PAW, Hasimah Abu Bakar became the first female lieutenant colonel in 2006, and Norsuriati Sharbini became the first woman to be appointed to colonel in 2021.

Equipment and operations
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) use a wide range of foreign-procured equipment across all three service branches; with a large percentage originating from the United Kingdom, France/Europe, and the United States of America.

The Bruneian military in its post-independence form lacks any combat experience. However, it has been deployed regionally in humanitarian and peacekeeping missions; notably, since 2004, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces have formed part of the peacekeeping mission in Mindanao, the Philippines. Brunei continues to maintain extensive military relations with the United Kingdom, with British Forces Brunei permanently based in the sultanate since its independence by invitation. Furthermore, the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Hassanal Bolkiah, is an honorary air chief marshal of the Royal Air Force, and an honorary admiral of the Royal Navy, and also an honorary admiral of the Republic of Singapore Navy.

On 6 May 2023, as part of the Commonwealth of Nations, ten members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces took part in the 6,000-strong royal parade in London, England, to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III.

31 May is the Armed Forces Day of Brunei Darussalam, which celebrates the founding of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. It is an annual national holiday, and the events on the day include military parade in front of the Sultan, and public exhibition of its equipment and armament. On May 31, 2011, Royal Brunei Armed Forces celebrated its golden jubilee.