[3] Aviation in the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam arose due to a government desire to provide medical services in the rural areas of its territory.

[6][8][7] In 1967, the Whirlwinds were replaced by a pair of Westland Wessex Mk54 (Bruneian export version of the RAF HC2 variant; construction numbers and registration: wa563 (built 1966) / AMDB-106, and wa695 (1969) / AMDB-101).

2 Squadron was formed in 1981, equipped with six German Bolkow BO105-CBS helicopters[8][11] (construction numbers and registration: S-408 / 123, S-409 / 124, S-410 / 125, S-411 / 126, S-412 / 127, and S-581 / 100) operating in the close air support (CAS) role.

[6] At the now established airbase of Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba, 1997 saw the arrival of Sikorsky S70A-14 Blackhawk helicopters,[6][8][15] and more significantly, a fixed-wing military transport aircraft, namely the IPTN CN235-110M[6][8][16][17] (construction number: N-033, registration: ATUDB 501, subsequently re-registered TUDB 501).

[6][8] Security of the RBAirF at Rimba was enhanced on 4 January 1999, with the formation of an Air Regiment and a Base Defence Squadron, along with the introduction of the French-made Mistral missile system operated by No.

[25] On 30 September 2013, the newly completed Air Movement Centre (AMC) within the airbase was officially handed over to the RBAirF; during the ceremony, the main contractor LSL Sdn Bhd presented a mock key (via a formal chain of Bruneian officials and government ministers) to the then Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force, Brigadier General Wardi Abdul Latip.

[6][13] BRIDEX 2013 again had participation from the United States of America, by sending a single USAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster III of the 545th Airlift Squadron from Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii,[28] a United States Marine Corps (USMC) Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey, and a Lockheed Martin KC-130J Super Hercules.

[35] A month later, United States and Brunei joint exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) was held at the base on 22 October 2019.

Muhammad Firdaus failed to enter a plea to the charge of 'committing an act endangering the lives of the public' when appearing at the Magistrates' Court on 4 November 2019.

The defendant could face a fine and up to three years imprisonment if convicted; his case was referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for a further hearing on 11 November 2019,[38] which was then adjourned by three weeks until 2 December.

[39] On 8 February 2021, local man Muhammad Firdaus bin Mohammad Salleh was given a custodial sentence of two years six months imprisonment plus three strokes of the cane after pleading guilty at the High Court.

3 Wing RBAirF completed an Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) exercise at the Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba.

[46] Aside from testing the competency and effectiveness of the firefighting crews and associated emergency services, its aim was also to refine and produce an updated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

[47][48] The decommissioning ceremony of the RBAirF's Bolkow BO105 fleet was held at the AMC within the Air Force Base, Rimba, on 5 February 2022.

2 Squadron, Air Wing in 1981,[11][14] administered and maintained by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) from the United Kingdom until 1993, this ended 41 years' service of the type as latterly operated by No.

[49][50] From 24 until 26 January 2023 at Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba, Major (U) Muhammad Isyhak bin Haji Ismail, Acting Commanding Officer of No.