Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta

Armed Forces of Malta Air Wing Skwadra tal-Ajru tal-Forzi Armati ta' Malta
Maltese Air Wing emblem
Active	1973–Present
Country	Malta
Branch	Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta
Size	14 aircraft
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Patrol	Beechcraft Super King Air, AgustaWestland AW139, Agusta-Bell AB 212
Reconnaissance	Aérospatiale Alouette III, Agusta-Bell AB 212
Trainer	Scottish Aviation Bulldog
Transport	Britten-Norman Islander, Beechcraft Super King Air

The Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta is the aerial component of the current Maltese military. The Air Wing has responsibility for the security of Maltese airspace, conducts maritime patrol and Search and Rescue duties, and provides military assistance to other government departments of Malta.

The Air Wing of the Armed Forces is based at the AFM terminal at the Malta International Airport.

While Malta has a rather long tradition of military aviation within its territory, including the housing of Royal Air Force bases and squadrons during World War Two, the nation had no official military aviation of its own until gaining independence in 1964 (and the building of an independent national military that followed).

The Air Wing was founded as an operational branch of the Armed Forces of Malta in the early 1970s. The Air Wing serves primarily as a support branch of the ground forces and Maritime Squadron of the AFM and has so far never operated combat aircraft. The Air Wing's current Commanding Officer is Lieutenant Colonel Clinton O'Neill.

In a bilateral agreement with Italy, the Italian Air Force provided two AB 212 helicopters to perform SAR duties with Maltese rescuers on board. This was operated under the name of Italian Military in Malta which was initially intended to help the Maltese Government establish and maintain a modern military force as well operate a SAR detachment. This lasted more than 40 years with the Italian AB212's and their predecessors the AB 204 logging over 15,000 flight hours in both training and SAR missions whilst saving over 270 people. By 2015 the intended role of this mission had been fulfilled with the Maltese Air Wing able to operate a modern SAR force and due to budget cuts the mission started to wind down, until eventually the final chapter of service was closed in 2016 with the Italian AB212's going home.

The main divisions of the Air Wing are :