PASKAU

Pasukan Khas Udara
Official PASKAU crest
Active	1 April 1980 – known as HANDAU 1 June 1993 – PASKAU
Country	Malaysia
Branch	Royal Malaysian Air Force
Type	Air Force Special Operations
Role	Special operations Counter-terrorism Reconnaissance Hostage rescue
Size	Flight Hostage Rescue Team Combat Air Rescue Squadron Force Protection Squadron
Part of	Malaysian Armed Forces Malaysian Joint Forces Command National Special Operations Force
Garrison/HQ	Regimental: Bukit Jugra, Selangor FHRT: Bukit Jugra, Selangor CARS: All Malaysian AFB FPT: All Malaysian AFB
Nickname(s)	Komando Tentera Udara (English: Air Force Commando)
Motto(s)	Cepat, Senyap, Pasti (English: Fast, Stealth and Sure)
Regimental Colours Colour of Beret	Amaranth red, Navy blue, Maya Blue and Airforce Golden Yellow                    Sky Blue
Engagements	Gunung Gerah incident Bukit Galla incident PASKAU Boat Capsizing Piper 28 crash Brinchang incident Bukit Batu Tiban incident Hawk 208 crash Genting Sempah Incident MALCON – UNIFIL Operation Enduring Freedom MALCON-ISAF Operation Daulat
Commanders
Chief of RMAF	General Tan Sri Dato' Sri Roslan Bin Saad RMAF
Colonel of the Regiment	Colonel Haji Khalil bin Mohd Ali RMAF
Insignia
Identification symbol	Parachute Badge with Wings PASKAU
Abbreviation	PASKAU

The Pasukan Khas Udara (English: Air Force Special Air Service, Jawi:ڤاسوكن خاص اودارا) formerly the Malaysian abbreviation known as PASKAU, is a special counter-terrorism force and special operations within the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). Its main responsibility is to conduct combat search and rescue missions (CSAR) and the recovery of downed aircrew. PASKAU is also a fully qualified counter-terrorist assault unit.

It has a specialised Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) and can be deployed behind enemy lines to assist in target designation for RMAF offensive missions.

On 24 January 2008, the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah, was made an Honorary Colonel of the unit when he honoured the Honor Beret of PASKAU by Chief of Air Force, General Tan Sri Azizan Bin Ariffin RMAF at RMAF Regiment, Bukit Jugra, Selangor.

PASKAU can trace its beginnings to the 1970s and a mortar attack by Malayan Communist Party agents from outside an RMAF airbase, Kuala Lumpur; it resulted in the destruction of a RMAF DHC-4 Caribou transport aircraft.

From this incident, a specific directive from the RMAF led to the formation of an operation force for the security of RMAF airbases which was previously the responsibility of the Royal Military Police Corps (RMPC). An elite force, it was known as Pasukan Pertahanan Darat dan Udara (English: Air and Ground Defence Force) or by its abbreviation HANDAU; it was established on 1 April 1980. The new force received training from the army's special forces. They also received special training from the British Special Air Service and the US Special Forces.