List of air forces

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of air forces, sorted alphabetically by country, followed by a list of former countries' air forces. It includes naval air arms, army aviation corps, and coast guards. Country names in italics indicate countries that are not generally recognized internationally.


Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] A

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Abkhazia Abkhazia Abkhazian Air Force 1992
Flag of Afghanistan Afghanistan Afghan National Army - Air Corps
Afghan Melli-e Ourdou
2002[1]

Air and Air Defense Force of the Islamic State of Afghanistan (Mujahideen)[2]

1996-2001

Army Air Force of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban)[3]

1996-2001

Air and Air Defense Force of the Islamic State of Afghanistan[4]

1992-1996

Afghan Republican Air Force
De Afghan Hanoi Quirah

1983-1992

Afghan Army Air Force[5]
De Afghan Hawa-e Quvah

1980-1983

Afghan Republican Air Force
De Afghan Hanoi Quirah

1973-1979

Royal Afghan Air Force

1948-1973

Afghan Air Force
Afghan Hawa-e Ourdou

1937-1947

Afghan Military Air Arm

1924[6]-1929
Flag of Albania Albania Albanian Air Force
Forcave Ajrore
1947
Flag of Algeria Algeria Algerian Air Force
Al Quwwat aljawwija aljaza'eriiya
1962
Flag of Angola Angola People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola
Força Aérea Popular de Angola/Defesa Aérea y Antiaérea
 

Angolan People's Air Force & Anti-Aircraft Defence
Força Aérea Popular de Angola/Defesa Anti-Aviões

1976-?
Flag of Argentina Argentina Argentine Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Argentina
1945

Servicio Aéronautico del Ejército

1912-?
Argentine Naval Aviation
Comando de Aviación Naval Argentina
1919
Argentine Army Aviation
Comando de Aviación del Ejército Argentino
1957
Coast Guard Air Division
Servicio de Aviación de la Prefectura Naval Argentina
1970s
Flag of Armenia Armenia Armenian Air Force 1994
Flag of Australia Australia Royal Australian Air Force 1921

Australian Air Corps

1921

Australian Flying Corps

1914-1921
Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm 1947
Australian Army Aviation Corps 1968
Flag of Austria Austria Austrian Air Force
Östereichische Luftstreitkräfte
1955

Luftwaffen Kommando Österreich

1938-1945

Heimwehr Flieger Korps

1927-1938

Austro-Hungarian Air Corps
Kaiserliche und Königliche Luftfahrtruppen

1912-1919

KuK. Militär-Aeronautische Anstalt

1893-1912
Flag of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Air Force 1991

[edit] B

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of The Bahamas Bahamas Royal Bahamas Defence Force Air Wing 1981
Flag of Bahrain Bahrain Royal Bahraini Air Force 2002

Bahrain Ameri Air Force

1987-2002

Bahrain Defence Force Air Wing

1977-1987
Flag of Bangladesh Bangladesh Bangladeshi Air Force
বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী
Bangladesh Biman Bahini
1971
Flag of Barbados Barbados Barbados Defence Force 1981[7]
Flag of Belarus Belarus Belarus Air Force post 1995

Belarus Air Force

1991-1995
Flag of Belgium Belgium Belgian Air Force[8]
Belgische Luchtmacht, Force Aérienne Belge
1946

Militair Vliegwezen, Aviation Militaire

1915-1940

Compagnie des Ouvries et Aérostiers

1910-1915
Flag of Belize Belize Belize Defence Force Air Wing 1983
Flag of Benin Benin Benin Air Force
Force Aérienne Populaire de Benin
1975

Dahomey Air Force
Force Aérienne de Dahomey

1961-1975
Flag of Bhutan Bhutan Bhutan Air Force
Flag of Bolivia Bolivia Bolivian Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Boliviana
1923
Flag of Botswana Botswana Botswana Defence Force Air Wing 1977
Flag of Brazil Brazil Brazilian Air Force
Força Aérea Brasileira
1918
Brazilian Naval Aviation
Força Aeronaval
1965
Brazilian Army Aviation
Aviação do Exército Brasileiro
1931

(Roundel used during WWII)

1941-1945
Flag of Brunei Brunei Royal Brunei Air Force
Angkatan Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei
1991

Royal Brunei Armed Forces Air Wing

1984-1991

Royal Brunei Malay Regiment Air Wing

1965-1984
Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria Bulgarian Air Force
Български Военно въздушни Сили
Bulgarski Voenno Vzdushni Sili (BVVS)
1992

Bulgarian Air Defense and Air Force
Protivo-Vzdushna Otbrana i Voenno Vzdushni Sili (PVOiVVS)

1961-1992

Bulgarian Air Defense and Air Force
Bulgarski Voenno Vzdushni Sili (BVVS)

1952-1961

Bulgarian People's Air Force
Voenno Vozdushny Sily (VVS)

1948-1952

Bulgarian Air Force
Bulgarski Vozdusni Vojski (BVV)

1946-1948

 

1945-1946

Royal Bulgarian Air Force
Vazhdushnite na Negovo Velichestvo Voyski (VNVV)

1941-1944

 

1938[9]-1941

(1st Roundel)

1937-1938

Air Army
Vazdushni Voyski (VV)

1934[10]-1937

Air Regiment

1932-1934

Aeronautical Regiment

1930-1932

Gendarmerie Air Squadron
Gendarmerie Air Otdelenie

1921-1922

Army Aviation Corps

1913-1920

Aeroplane Platoon

1912-1913

Aeronautical Platoon[11]

1906-1912
Bulgarian Naval Aviation
Aviatzia Na Bulgarski Voennomorski Flot (AnBVMF)
1990

Independent ASW Squadron of the Navy
Otdelna Protivolodachna Eskadrila na VMF (OPLEV-VMF)

1959-1990

Bulgarian Naval Aviation

1917-??
Flag of Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Air Force
Force Aérienne de Burkina Faso
1964
Flag of Burundi Burundi Burundi Army Aviation
Force Armée du Burundi
1966

[edit] C

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Cambodia Cambodia Royal Cambodian Air Force
Toap Akas Khemarak Phoumin
Force Aérienne Royale Cambodge
1993

Kampuchean People's Air Force

1984-1991[12]

Air Force of the Kampuchean Liberation Army

1977-1979[13]

Khmer Air Force
Aviation Nationale Khmer

1970-1975

Royal Khmer Air Force
Aviation Royale Khmere

1954-1970
Flag of Cameroon Cameroon Cameroon Air Force
Armée de l'Air du Cameroun
1960
Flag of Canada Canada Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) 1968

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)

until 1968
Flag of Cape Verde Cape Verde Cape Verde Air Force
Forza Aérea Caboverdaine
1982
Cape Verde Coast Guard
Guarda Costeira de Cabo Verde
1992[14]
Flag of Central African Republic Central African Republic Central African Republic Air Force
Force Aérienne Centrafricaine
1961
Flag of Chad Chad Chad Air Force
Force Aérienne Tchadienne
1973
Flag of Chile Chile Chilean Air Force
Fuerza Aérea de Chile (FACh)[15]
1930

Chilean Military Aviation Service
Servició de Aviación Militar de Chile

1910-1930
Chilean Naval Aviation
Servicio de Aviación de la Armada de Chile (popularly, Aviación Naval)
1953

Chilean Naval Aviation Service
Servicio de Aviación Naval de Chile

1919-1930[16]
Chilean Army Aviation
Comando de Aviación del Ejército de Chile (popularly, Aviación del Ejército)
1970[17]
Flag of People's Republic of China China (PRC) People's Liberation Army Air Force
中国人民解放军空军
Zhong Guo Ren Min Jie Fang Jun Kong Jun
1949

Nanyuan Flying Group[18]

1949

Red Army of China Air Force

c. 1930[19]
People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
中国人民解放军海军航空兵
Zhong Guo Ren Min Jie Fang Jun Hai Jun Hang Kong Bing
1953
Flag of Republic of China Taiwan (ROC) Republic of China Air Force
中華民國空軍
Chung Hua Min Kuo Kung Chuan
1938

Nationalist Chinese Air Force (Central Government)[20]

1925-1938

Chinese Aviation Ministry

1920-1925?

Chinese Aviation Service

1916?-1919?

Chinese Army Air Arm

1914-1916?

Airplane Corps of the Chinese Army

1913-1914
Republic of China Army Aviation and Special Forces Command 1999

Army Paratroops and Special Forces Command

1979-1999

Army Aviation Command[21]

1976-1979
Republic of China Navy Aviation Command 1995

Naval Anti-Submarine Group

1991-1995

Fleet Helicopter Squadron

1977-1991

Chinese Naval Air Service

1927-1938
Flag of Colombia Colombia Colombian Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Colombiana
1922
Colombian Naval Aviation
Aviación Naval
Colombian Army Aviation
Aviación del Ejército
Flag of Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo[22] Congolese Air Force
L'Armée de l'Air du Congo
1961
Flag of Democratic Republic of the Congo Dem. Rep. of the Congo[23] Congolese (DRC) Air Force
Force Aérienne du Congo

Zaire Air Force

1971-1997
Flag of Costa Rica Costa Rica Air Force of Costa Rica
Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea
Flag of Côte d'Ivoire Côte d'Ivoire Côte d'Ivoire Air Force
Force Aérienne de la Côte d'Ivoire
Flag of Croatia Croatia Croatian Air Force and Defense
Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzracna Obrana
1991

Croatian Inderpendent state Air Force and Defense[24]
Kroatische Luftwaffen Legion

1941-1945
Flag of Cuba Cuba Cuban Revolutionary Air Force[25]
Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria
1959

Cuban Rebel Air Force[26]
Fuerza Aérea Rebelde

1958

Cuban Army Air Force
Fuerza Aérea del Ejército de Cuba

1952-1958

Cuban Army Aviation Corps
Cuerpo de Aviación del Ejército de Cuba

1934-1952

Cuban Army Air Corps
Cuerpo Aéreo del Ejército de Cuba

1915-1934

Cuban Army Aviation Corps
Cuerpo de Aviación del Ejército de Cuba

1913-1915
Cuban Naval Aviation[27]
Aviación Naval
1934-1952
Flag of Czech Republic Czech Republic Czech Air Force
Vzdušné síly armády České republiky
1993

[edit] D

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Denmark Denmark Royal Danish Air Force
Flyvevåbnet
1950

Royal Danish Army Air Corps[28]
Hærens Flyvertropper

1912-1950

Royal Danish Naval Aviation[29]
Marinens Flyvevæsen

1911-1950
Flag of Djibouti Djibouti Djibouti Air Force
Force Aérienne du Djibouti
1977
Flag of Dominican Republic Dominican Republic Dominican Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Dominicana (FAD)
1962

Dominican Military Aviation
Aviación Militar Dominicana (AMD)

1957-1962

Dominican Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Dominicana (FAD)

1955-1957

Dominican Military Aviation
Aviación Militar Dominicana (AMD)

1952-1955

Dominican Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Dominicana (FAD)

1950-1952

Dominican Military Aviation Corps (DMAC)
El Cuerpo de Aviación Militar Dominicana (CAMD/AMD)

1948-1950
Air Cavalry Squadron
Escuadrón de Caballería Aérea (EdCA)
2002

Air Transport Cavalry Brigade
Brigada de Caballería Aerotransportada

2001-2002

Aviation Company of the National Army
Compañía de Aviación del Ejército Nacional

1942-1948[30]

Dominican Army Aviation Company
Compañía de Aviación del Ejército Dominicano

1939-1942

Aviation Detachment of the National Army
Destacamento de Aviación del Ejército Nacional

1936-1939

National Air Transport Company, Aviation Arm
Compañía Nacional de Transporte Aérea, Arma de Aviación

1934-1935

Aviation Company
Compañía de Aviación

1933-1934

Aviation Arm of the National Army
Arma de Aviación del Ejército Nacional

1932-1933
Dominican Republic Naval Aviation Corps
Cuerpo de Aviación Naval Dominicana
2003

Coastguard Search and Rescue Squadron
Escuadrón de Vigilancia y Rescate de Guardacostas

1951-1952[31]

[edit] E

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Ecuador Ecuador Ecuadorian Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana
1920
Ecuadorian Naval Aviation
Aviación Naval Ecuatoriana
Ecuadorian Army Aviation
Aviación del Ejército Ecuatoriano
Flag of Egypt Egypt Egyptian Air Force
Al Quwwat Al Jawwiya Il Misriya

United Arab Republic Air Force

1958-1961

Egyptian Air Force

1952-1958

Royal Egyptian Air Force

1937-1952

Egyptian Army Air Force

1931-1937
Flag of El Salvador El Salvador El Salvador Air Force
Fueza Aerea Salvadorena
Flag of Eritrea Eritrea Eritrean Air Force
Flag of Estonia Estonia Estonian Air Force
Eesti Õhuvägi
Flag of Ethiopia Ethiopia Ethiopian Air Force
Ye Ithopya Ayer Hayl

Imperial Ethiopian Air Force

1946-?

[edit] F

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Fiji Fiji none

Air Wing, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

1987-1998
Flag of Finland Finland Finnish Air Force
Suomen Ilmavoimat
1918

 

1918-1945
Finnish Army Aviation
Suomen Maavoimat - Helikopterilentue
1997
Finnish Frontier Guard
Rajavartiolaitos
1919

Finnish Coast Guard
Merivartiolaitos

1919-1944
Flag of France France French Air Force
Armée de l'Air
1933

Normandie-Niémen squadron
Groupe de Chasse Normandie-Niémen

1942-1945

RAF squadrons 326-329 and 340-347
Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres

1940-1945

French Army Aviation
Aviation Militaire

1910-1933
French Naval Air Arm
Aviation Navale
1925
French Army Light Aviation
Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre
1954

[edit] G

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Gabon Gabon Gabon Air Force
Armée de l'Air Gabonaise
1961
Flag of The Gambia Gambia Gambian Air Wing
Flag of Georgia (country) Georgia Georgian Air Force 1990
Flag of Germany Germany German Air Force
Luftwaffe
1955

East German Air Force
Luftstreitkräfte der Nationale VolksArmee

1956-1990

German Air Force
Luftwaffe

1935-1945

Marineluftschiffe-Abteilung

1912-1919

Die Marinefliegerabteilung des deutschen Kaiserreiches

1911-1919

Imperial German Army Air Service
Luftstreitkräfte (Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches)

1910-1919

Heeresluftschiffe-Abteilung

1909-1917
German Naval Aviation
Marineflieger
1955
German Army Aviators Corps
Heeresfliegertruppe
1955
Flag of Ghana Ghana Ghana Air Force 1959
Flag of Greece Greece Greek Air Force
Πολεμική Αεροπορία
Polemiki Aeroporia
1930
Greek Army Aviation
Αεροπορία Στρατού
Aeroporia Stratou
1956
Greek Naval Aviation
Πολεμική Ναυτικο
Polemiko Navtiko
1976
Greek Coast Guard
Λιμενικό Σώμα
Limeniko Soma
Flag of Guatemala Guatemala Guatemalan Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca
Flag of Guinea Guinea Guinea Air Force
Force Aérienne de Guinée
1959
Flag of Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Air Force
Força Aérea da Guiné-Bissau
1978
Flag of Guyana Guyana Guyana Defence Force 1968

[edit] H

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Haiti Haiti Haiti Air Corps
Corps d'Aviation d'Garde d'Haiti
1942
Flag of Honduras Honduras Honduran Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Hondureña
Flag of Hungary Hungary Hungarian Air Force
Magyar Légierő
1939

[edit] I

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Iceland Iceland Iceland Air Defense System
Íslenska Loftvarnarkerfið
1987
Icelandic Coast Guard Aeronautical Division
Landhelgisgæsla Íslands
1955
Flag of India India Indian Air Force
भारतीय वायु सेना
Bharatiya Vayu Sena
1950

Royal Indian Air Force

1945-50

Indian Air Force

1932-?1945
Army Aviation Corps 1986
Naval Air Arm 1953
Indian Coast Guard Air Wing
Bharatiya Tatarakshak Dal
1978
Flag of Indonesia Indonesia Indonesian Air Force
Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU)
1974

Republic of Indonesia Air Force
Angkatan Udara Republik Indonesia (AURI)

1946-1974
Indonesian Naval Aviation
Dinas Penerbangan TNI Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL)
1974

Indonesian Naval Aviation Service
Dinas Penerbangan Angkatan Laut RI (ALRI)

1956-1974
Indonesian Army Aviation
Dinas Penerbangan TNI Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD)
1974

Indonesian Army Aviation Service
Dinas Penerbangan Angkatan Darat RI (DINAS PENERBAD)

1959-1974
Flag of Iran Iran Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران
1979

Imperial Iranian Air Force
Nirou Havai Shahanshahiye Iran

1925-1979
Flag of Iraq Iraq Iraqi Air Force
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Iraqiya
1958

Royal Iraqi Air Force

1931-?1958
Flag of Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland Irish Air Corps
Aer-Chór na h-Éireann
1922
Flag of Israel Israel Israeli Air Force
חיל האוויר
Heyl Ha'Avir
1948

Haganah Sherut Avir

1947-1948
Flag of Italy Italy Italian Air Force[32]
Aeronautica Militare
1946

Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force
Aviazione Cobelligerante ed Aeronautica Militare Italiana

1943-1946

Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana [33]

1943-1944

Règia Aeronautica[34]

1923-1943

Royal Naval Aviation
Aviazione della Règia Marina

1912-1923

Military Aeronautical Corps
Corpo Aeronautico Militare

1911-1923

Balloon Corps
Servizio Aeronautico

1884-?1911
Italian Naval Aviation
Aviazione Navale
1956
Italian Army Aviation
Cavalleria dell'Aria
1951
Air Service of the Italian Paramilitary Police Force
Nucleo Elicotteri Carabinieri
1965
For Ivory Coast, see Côte d'Ivoire above.

[edit] J

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Jamaica Jamaica Jamaican Defence Force 1963

Jamaica Air Squadron

1963
Flag of Japan Japan Japan Air Self-Defense Force[35]
航空自衛隊
Nihon Koku-Jieitai
1954
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Kaijo Jieitai

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service[36]
Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun Koku Hombu

1910-1945
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Rikujo Jieitai

Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun Koku Hombu

1910-1945
Flag of Jordan Jordan Royal Jordanian Air Force
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya Almalakiya al-Urduniya
1955

Arab Legion Air Force

1946-?

[edit] K

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Air Defense Force
Sil Vozdushnoy Oborony Respubliki Kazakhstan
1992
Flag of Kenya Kenya Kenya Air Force 1964
Flag of North Korea North Korea Korean People's Army Air Force 1955
Flag of South Korea South Korea Republic of Korea Air Force
대한민국 공군 (大韓民國空軍)
Daehan Minguk Gonggun
1949
Flag of Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Air Force
Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya
1988

Kuwait Air Force and Air Defense

1961
Flag of Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Air Force 1991

[edit] L

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Laos Laos Laotian Air Force
Flag of Latvia Latvia Latvian Air Force
Latvijas Gaisaspeki
1991

 

1926-1940
Flag of Lebanon Lebanon Lebanese Air Force
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnamia
Flag of Lesotho Lesotho Lesotho Defence Force
Flag of Liberia Liberia Liberian Army Air Wing
Flag of Libya Libya Libyan Air Force
Al Quwwatal Jawwiya al Jamahiriya al Arabia al Libyya
1978

Libyan Arab Republic Air Force

1969-?1978

Royal Libyan Air Force
Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya al Libiyya

1951-?1969
Flag of Lithuania Lithuania Lithuanian Air Force
Karinės Oro Pajėgos
1992
Flag of Luxembourg Luxembourg NATO Airborne Early Warning Force

[edit] M

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Republic of Macedonia Republic of Macedonia Macedonian Air Force and Air Defense Force
Военно Воздухопловство и Противвоздушна Одбрана
Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo i Protivvozdushna Odbrana
1992
Flag of Madagascar Madagascar Malagasy Air Force
Armée de l'Air Malgache
Flag of Malawi Malawi Malawi Army Air Wing
Flag of Malaysia Malaysia Royal Malaysian Air Force
Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia
1963

Royal Malayan Air Force
Tentera Udara Diraja Persekutuan

1958-1963
Flag of Mali Mali Mali Air Force
Force Aérienne de la République du Mali
Flag of Malta Malta Armed Forces of Malta No.2 Regiment – Air Squadron 1992
Flag of Mauritania Mauritania Mauritanian Air Force
Force Aérienne de la Islamique de Mauritanie
Flag of Mauritius Mauritius Mauritius Coast Guard
Flag of Mexico Mexico Mexican Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Mexicana
1913
Mexican Naval Aviation
Fuerza Aeronaval
Flag of Moldova Moldova Moldovan Air Force
Flag of Mongolia Mongolia Mongolian Air Defense Forces Command
Agaaryn Dovtolgoonoos Khamgaalakh Tsergiyn Komandlal
Flag of Montenegro Montenegro Montenegrin Air Force
Vazdušne snage Crne Gore
2006
Flag of Morocco Morocco Royal Moroccan Air Force
Alkowat al malakiya al jawiya
(Force Aérienne Royale Marocaine)
1961

Sherifan Royal Aviation
Aviation Royale Chérifienne

1956-1961
Flag of Mozambique Mozambique Mozambique Air Force
Força Aérea de Moçambique
Flag of Myanmar Myanmar Myanmar Air Force
Tatmdaw Lei
1947

[edit] N

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Namibia Namibia Namibian Air Force
Flag of Nepal Nepal Royal Nepal Army Air Wing
Flag of Netherlands Netherlands Royal Netherlands Air Force[37]
Koninklijke Luchtmacht
1953

 

1939-1940

Luchtvaartafdeeling

1913-1940
Netherlands Naval Aviation
Marineluchtvaartdienst
1917
Flag of New Zealand New Zealand Royal New Zealand Air Force[38][39] 1934

New Zealand Squadrons of the RAF Nos. 75, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 490

1939-1945

New Zealand Territorial Air Force

1930-1957

New Zealand Permanent Air Force

1923-1934

New Zealand Army Flying Corps

1913-?1923
Flag of Nicaragua Nicaragua Nicaraguan Air Force
Fuerza Aérea de Nicaragua
Flag of Niger Niger Niger Air Force
Force Aérienne du Niger
Flag of Nigeria Nigeria Nigerian Air Force
Flag of Norway Norway Royal Norwegian Air Force
Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret
1944

Royal Air Force squadrons 331 and 332

1942-1945
Army Air Service
Hærens Flyvevesen
1915-1944
Naval Air Service
Marinens Flyvevesen
1916-1944

[edit] O

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Oman Oman Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO)
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanya al-Omanya
1990

Sultan of Oman's Air Force (SOAF)

1959-1990
 OECS[40] Regional Security System 1999

[edit] P

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Pakistan Pakistan Pakistani Air Force
پاکستانی فضائيہ
1956

Royal Pakistani Air Force

1947-1956
Army Aviation Wing 1958
Pakistan Navy Air Arm 1973
Flag of Panama Panama Panamanian Air Force
Servicio Aéreo Nacional
1983
Flag of Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Defence Force 1974
Flag of Paraguay Paraguay Paraguay Air Force
Aeronautica Militar Paraguaya
1989
Flag of Peru Peru Peruvian Air Force
Fuerza Aérea del Perú
1950

Peruvian Aeronautical Corps
Cuerpo Aeronáutico del Perú

1936-1950

Peruvian Aviation Corps
Cuerpo de Aviación del Perú

1929-1936
Peruvian Naval Aviation
Fuerza Aviación Naval
1980

Aeronaval Service
Servicio Aeronaval

1963-1980
Peruvian Army Aviation
Aviación del Ejército
1977

Army Light Aviation Group
Grupo de Aviación Ligera del Ejército

1973-1977
Flag of Philippines Philippines Philippine Air Force
Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas
1947
Flag of Poland Poland Polish Air Force
Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
1993

 

1947-1993

Soviet Air Force's Ludowe Lotnictwo Polskie

1943-1946

RAF squadrons 300-309, 315-318 and 663

1940-1947

Forces Aerienes Polonaises

1940

Wojska Lotnicze

1918-1939
Polish Army Aviation
Lotnictwo Wojsk Lądowych
1994
Polish Naval Aviation
Lotnictwo Marynarki Wojennej
1947
Flag of Portugal Portugal Portuguese Air Force
Força Aérea Portuguesa
1952

Army Air Service
Arma da Aeronáutica Militar

1924-?1952

Military Aeronautical Service
Serviço Aeronáutico Militar

1914-?1924

Balloon Corps
Companhia de Aerosteiros

1911-?1914
Navy Helicopter Squadron
Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha
1993

Portuguese Naval Aviation
Aviação Naval

1957-?1993

Formerly Aeronaval Forces
Forças Aeronavais

1952-1957

Naval Aeronautical Service
Serviço da Aeronáutica Naval'

1918-?1952

Naval Aviation Service
Serviço de Aviação da Armada

1917-1918

[edit] Q

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Qatar Qatar Qatar Emiri Air Force 1968

[edit] R

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Romania Romania Romanian Air Force
Fortele Aeriene Române
1989

Aeronautica Regalâ Românã

Flag of Russia Russia Russian Air Force
Военно-воздушные cилы России
Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily Rossii
1991

Soviet Air Force
Военно-воздушные силы
Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily

1918-1991

Imperial Russian Air Force
Императорский военно-воздушный флот

1910-1917
Russian Naval Aviation
Авиация Военно-Морского Флота
Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskogo Flota
Flag of Rwanda Rwanda Rwandan Air Force
Force Aérienne Rwandaise

[edit] S

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Royal Saudi Air Force
Al Quwwat al Jawwiya as Sa'udiya
1950
Flag of Senegal Senegal Senegalese Air Force
Armée de l'Air du Sénégal
1960
Flag of Serbia Serbia Serbian Air Force
Srpsko Vazduhoplovstvo i PVO
2006[41]

Serbian Military Air Service
Srpska Avijatika

1913-18[42]

Serbian Aviation Service Aircraft Command
Vazduhoplovna Komanda

1912-13
Flag of Seychelles Seychelles Coast Guard Air Wing (Seychelles) 1980
Flag of Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Defence Force 1973
Flag of Singapore Singapore Republic of Singapore Air Force
Tentera Udara Singapura
1971
Flag of Slovakia Slovakia Slovak Air Force
Velitelstvo Vzdušnych Sil
1993

Slovenske Vzdusne Zbrane

1939-1944
Flag of Slovenia Slovenia Slovenian Air Force
Vojaško letalstvo in zracna obramba Slovenske vojske
Flag of Somalia Somalia Somali Air Corps
Cuerpo Aeronautica della Somalia
1991
Flag of South Africa South Africa South African Air Force
Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag
1920

South African Aviation Corps

1915-?1920
Flag of Spain Spain Spanish Air Force
Ejército del Aire
1939

Fuerzas Aérea Republicanas

1936-?1939

Aeronáutica Militar

Aeronáutica Militar Española

1911-?1936

Servicio Militar de Aerostacion

1896-?1911
Spanish Army Aviation
Fuerzas Aeromóviles del Ejército de Tierra
1973
Spanish Naval Aviation
Arma Aérea de la Armada
1954

Aeronáutica Naval

1917-1936
Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Air Force 1971

Royal Ceylon Air Force

1951-?1971
Flag of Sudan Sudan Sudanese Air Force
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya As-Sudaniya
1956
Flag of Suriname Suriname Suriname Air Force
Surinaamse Luchtmacht
1982
Flag of Swaziland Swaziland Swazi Air Force 1979
Flag of Sweden Sweden Swedish Air Force
Svenska Flygvapnet
1926

Aircraft Coy of the Signal Corps
Flygkompaniet

1912-1926

Naval Air Service
Marinens Flygväsen

1911-1926
Defence Helicopter Wing[43]
Försvarsmaktens Helikopterflottilj
1998-2003

Swedish Army Aviation
Arméflyget

1954-1998

Swedish Naval Aviation
Marinflyget

1958-1998
Flag of Switzerland Switzerland Swiss Air Force
Schweizer Luftwaffe
Forces Aériennes Suisses
Forze Aeree Svizzere
1946

Independent service under the Swiss Federal Military Department
Schweizerische Flugwaffe

1936-1946

Swiss Army Aviation
Schweizerische Fliegertruppe

1914-1936
Flag of Syria Syria Syrian Air Force
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al Arabiya as-Souriya
1961

 

1948-1958

[edit] T

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
For Taiwan, see Republic of China above.
Flag of Tajikistan Tajikistan Tajik Air Force
Flag of Tanzania Tanzania Tanzanian Air Force
Jeshi la Anga la Wananchi wa Tanzania
Flag of Thailand Thailand Royal Thai Air Force
Kongtap Agard Thai
Flag of Togo Togo Togolese Air Force
Force Aérienne Togolaise
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Air Guard 1966
Flag of Tunisia Tunisia Tunisian Air Force
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah at'Tunisia
Flag of Turkey Turkey Turkish Air Force
Türk Hava Kuvvetleri
1944

Turkish Ministry of Defense,
Undersecretariat of Military Aviation
Hava Müsteşarlığı

1928-1944

Turkish Air Force Inspectorate
Hava Kuvvetleri Müfettişliği

1922-1928

Turkish Air Force General Directorate
Kuva-yı Havaiye Müdüriyet-i Umumiyesi

1921-1922

Turkish Army Air Service
Kuva-yı Havaiye Şubesi

1920-1921

Ottoman Air Force Inspectorate
Kuva-yı Havaiye Müfettişliği

1918-1920

Ottoman Aviation Affairs Inspectorate
Umur-u Havaiye Müfettişliği

1915-1918

Ottoman Aviation Organization Inspectorate
Teşkilat-ı Havaiye Müfettişliği

1914-1915

Ottoman Aviation Commission
Havacılık Komisyonu

1911-1914
Turkish Land Force Aviation
Türk Kara Kuvvetleri Havacılığı
1948
Turkish Naval Aviation
Türk Donanma Havacılığı
1971

Ottoman Naval Aviation Academy and Service
Bahriye Tayyare Mektebi ve Havacılık Şubesi

1914-1919
Turkish Coast Guard Aviation
Türk Sahil Güvenlik Havacılığı
1993
Flag of Turkmenistan Turkmenistan Turkmenistan Air Force

[edit] U

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Uganda Uganda Ugandan Air Force
Flag of Ukraine Ukraine Ukrainian Air Force
Військово-Повітряні Сили України
Viys'kovo-Povitriani Syly Ukrayiny
Ukrainian Naval Aviation
Авіація Військово-Морських Сил
Aviatsiya Viys'kovo-Mors'kykh Syl
Flag of United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates Air Force[44]
Flag of United Kingdom United Kingdom Royal Air Force 1918

Royal Naval Air Service

1914-1918

Royal Flying Corps

1912-1918
Fleet Air Arm[45] 1937
Army Air Corps[45] 1942
Flag of United States United States United States Air Force 1947

 

1947-1990?

United States Army Air Forces

1943-1947

 

1942-1943

 

1941-1942

United States Army Air Corps

1926-1941

United States Army Air Service

1917-1926

Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps

1907
Army Aviation 1947
U.S. Naval Aviation 1911

 

1947-1990?

 

1943-1947

 

1942-1943

 

1926-1942
Marine Corps Aviation
Air National Guard 1947
Flag of Uruguay Uruguay Uruguayan Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya
Flag of Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Uzbek Air Force

[edit] V

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Venezuela Venezuela Venezuelan Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Venezolana
1949
Venezuelan Army Aviation
Servicio Aéreo del Ejército Venezolana
1970
Venezuelan Naval Aviation
Aviación de la Marina Venezolana
1922
National Guard of Venezuela
Comando de Apoyo Aéreo de Guardia Nacional
1999
Flag of Vietnam Vietnam Vietnamese Air Force
Khong Quan Nhan Dan Viet Nam

Cochin China Air Force

1941-1945

[edit] Y

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Yemen Yemen Yemen Air Force

[edit] Z

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Zambia Zambia Zambian Air Force and Air Defence Command 1968

Zambia Air Wing

1964-1968
Flag of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Air Force of Zimbabwe 1980

Rhodesian Air Force

1970-1979

Royal Rhodesian Air Force

1954-1970

Southern Rhodesian Air Force

1939-1954

Rhodesian Regiment Air Unit

1935-1939

[edit] Former countries

Country Established
Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer
Flag of Biafra Biafra Biafran Air Force
1967-1970
Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Czechoslovak Air Force[46]
Češkoslovenske Vojenske Letectvo
1945-1993

Czechoslovak Army Air Force
Češkoslovenske Letectvo

1918-1939
Flag of German Democratic Republic East Germany East German Air Force
Luftstreitkräfte und Luftverteidigung der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik
1956-1990
Flag of Yemen Arab Republic North Yemen Yemen Arab Republic Air Force 1967-1990
Flag of South Vietnam South Vietnam Vietnam Air Force
Khong Quan Viet Nam
1954-1975
Flag of People's Democratic Republic of Yemen South Yemen South Yemen Air Force 1967-1990
Flag of Soviet Union Soviet Union Soviet Air Force
Военно-воздушные силы
1930-1991

Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet
Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная воздуха флот

1918-1930
Flag of United Arab Republic United Arab Republic United Arab Republic Air Force 1958-1961

Egyptian Air Force

1952-1958

Syrian Air Force

1948-1958
Flag of Kingdom of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia/
Flag of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia /
FR Yugoslavia (FRY)
Air Force of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro
JRV/RV SCG
1991-2006[47]

SFR Yugoslav Air Force[48]
Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo i Protivvazdusna Odbrana

1945-1991

Yugoslav Royal Air Force
Jugoslovensko Kraljevsko Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo

1930-1941

Yugoslav Army Aviation Department

1918-1929
Navy Aviation of FRY/ Serbia and Montenegro
Mornarička Aviacija SRJ/SCG
1991-2006[49]

Navy Aviation of SFR Yugoslav
Mornarička Aviacija

1950-1991
Flag of Zaire Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Zaire Air Force 1971-1997

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Operations resumed in 2002, but the new name may not have been applied until the after the 2003 defense reforms were promulgated.
  2. ^ As they continued the fight against the Taliban, the Mujahideen leaders individually retained the trappings of elements of the Islamic State of Afghanistan. Most of the country's military aircraft not captured by the Taliban were retained by factions remaining aligned with former President Burhanuddin Rabbani. These groups would later form the 'United Islamic Front', which is more commonly known as the 'Northern Alliance'.
  3. ^ Little is known about the Taliban regime's air force establishment.
  4. ^ The pro-Soviet regime collapsed in late April 1992 and was succeeded by the UN-sponsored government, the "Islamic State of Afghanistan", led by Burhanuddin Rabbani until overthrown by the Taliban in September 1996.
  5. ^ Soviet Union-installed regime.
  6. ^ Official establishment occurred in 1924, but the AMAA received its first aircraft in 1921 (aside from some captured in 1919).
  7. ^ Date first aircraft obtained; the Barbados Defence Force itself was established in 1979.
  8. ^ Preceded by RAF Squadrons 349 and 350 (1942-1946).
  9. ^ The indicated roundel was introduced in 1938.
  10. ^ Clandestine air squadrons were actually formed as early as 1927.
  11. ^ Operated balloons
  12. ^ The KPAF's name was changed to "Cambodian People's Air Force" in 1989, following the restoration of the nation's former name of Cambodia. In 1992, the PKAF was briefly resurrected as the "State of Cambodia Air Force", but it never actually became operational under that title.
  13. ^ The Vietnamese invasion of 1979 resulted in the forcible disbandment of the AFKLA; formation of a successor force did not begin until 1984.
  14. ^ The Cape Verde Coast Guard received its first aircraft in November 1992; its actual date of formation is unknown at this time.
  15. ^ The Fuerza Aérea de Chile was briefly named Fuerza Aérea Nacional in 1930.
  16. ^ The year 1919, when its first aircraft were received, is the traditional establishment date of Chile's Aviación Naval (the name by which it is still popularly referred); however, it was not officially established and recognized as a branch within the Navy until 1923.
  17. ^ When Chile's unified national air force was dissolved in 1953, the Army did not regain an air arm of its own. Disappointment with this outcome led to the founding of the Club Aéreo del Personal del Ejército (Army Personnel Aero Club) in 1959. Although never formally established as an air arm, it nevertheless served as an important and foundational predecessor to the modern CAEC.
  18. ^ The NFG was formed in the summer of 1949 for the air defense of Beijing, but was replaced by the PLAAF in November of that year.
  19. ^ On 28 February 1930, the Red Army captured a Nationalist Chinese O2U-4 Corsair reconnaissance aircraft that had been forced to land due to having run out of fuel; given a red star and named after Lenin, it was later used against the Nationalist government. This may have been the first aircraft in the Red Army. Small numbers of captured aircraft were also used against the Japanese during World War II, but the first regular Communist Chinese air force would be organized as the Nanyuan Flying Group in 1949.
  20. ^ Information on the organization of Chinese military aviation prior to 1925, when the Kuomintang began establishing its Aviation Bureaus around China, is very spotty as many records have been lost during the conflicts raging from 1931-1949 and the subsequent Cultural Revolution; in fact, during most of these earlier years, China fielded multiple air forces, most being the personal air arms of various warlords — some allied with the national government and some not. During WWII (which began for the Chinese with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931), the Japanese established a number of puppet governments, several of which were permitted to field small air forces.
  21. ^ Although a formal aviation arm was not stood up until 1979, the ROC Army created an Aviation Section for each of its two corps and an Aviation Platoon for its General Headquarters in 1956.
  22. ^ Also known as Congo-Brazzaville.
  23. ^ Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as Congo-Kinshasa.
  24. ^ Kroatische Luftwaffen LegionPreceded by the German-controlled Kroatische Luftwaffen Legion (KG-5/JG-4, 1941-1945) during World War II.
  25. ^ Full formal name is the Cuban Air Defense and Revolutionary Air Force (Defensa Anti-Aérea y Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria).
  26. ^ Established by Fidel Castro in 1958, but operations with a captured Aviación Naval aircraft began the previous year.
  27. ^ Split off from the Cuban air force in 1934, but remerged in 1952 reorganization.
  28. ^ Army aviation was resurrected from 1971-2003 as Hærens Flyvetjeneste (HFT) — Royal Danish Army Flying Service. Now placed under the Air Force as Squadron 724.
  29. ^ Naval aviation was resurrected from 1962-2003 as Søværnets Flyvetjeneste (SVF) — Royal Danish Navy Flying Service. Now placed under the Air Force as Squadron 728.
  30. ^ In early 1948, Army aviation became an independent and separate service as the Dominican Military Aviation Corps (DMAC) El Cuerpo de Aviación Militar Dominicana (CAMD/AMD). The Army regained an air arm of its own in 2001.
  31. ^ At the beginning of 1951, the Navy was authorized to establish its own aviation arm, but it was absorbed into the Air Force the following year. The Navy regained an air arm of its own in 2003.
  32. ^ Also uses a low-visibility roundel:
  33. ^ Flank roundel:
  34. ^ Conglomerate of the Aviazione della Règia Marina and Corpo Aeronautico Militare. Flank insignia (click to enlarge):
  35. ^ Patterned on the US Air Force.
  36. ^ Also used the Imperial Japanese Navy's ensign:
  37. ^ Preceded by RAAF squadrons 18, 119 and 120 (1942-1946) and RAF squadrons 320, 321 and 322 (1940-1945).
  38. ^ Includes Royal New Zealand Navy aircraft as No. 6 Squadron and formerly No. 6 Squadron.
  39. ^ Also included RAF squadrons 75 and 485-490 during World War II.
  40. ^ Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
  41. ^ The Serbian-Montenegrin union of Yugoslavia was dissolved in 2006 and the former nation's military assets were divided between them.
  42. ^ After World War I, Serbia was united with other Balkan states into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
  43. ^ Merged with Swedish Air Force 2003
  44. ^ Includes the Dubai Defence Force Air Wing (formed 1971); Abu Dhabi Army Air Wing (formed 1968); and Abu Dhabi Air Force (formed 1972).[citation needed]
  45. ^ a b Formerly part of the Royal Air Force.
  46. ^ Preceded and supported by RAF squadrons 310-313 (1940-1946) and the Soviet Air Force's 1st Czech Fighter Regiment[citation needed].
  47. ^ Montenegro voted to secede from the FRY in 2006 and the union with Serbia was dissolved, with FRY military assets being divided between the (now) two nations.
  48. ^ Preceded by the Partizanska Eskadrila NOVJ and RAF squadrons 351 and 352 (the RAF Balkan Air Force, 1942-1945)
  49. ^ Montenegro voted to secede from the FRY in 2006 and the union with Serbia was dissolved, with FRY military assets being divided between the (now) two nations.

[edit] External links