The Air Wing has responsibility for the security of Maltese airspace, conducts maritime patrol and Search and Rescue duties, medical evacuation, VIP transport and provides military assistance to other government departments of Malta.

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

The Air Wing serves primarily as a support branch of the ground forces (as troops transport, security escort and fire support) and Maritime Squadron of the AFM (for maritime surveillance and border control mission) and has so far never operated combat aircraft.

[2][3] 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 lasted more than 40 years with the Italian AB212s and their predecessors the AB 204 logging over 15,000 flight hours in both training and SAR missions whilst saving over 270 people.