Turkmen Air Force

Turkmen Air Force

Turkmenistan Air Force roundel
Country  Turkmenistan
Branch Air force
Role Air defense
Size 3,000 personnel, 250+ aircraft
Headquarters Ashgabat
Colors Yellow, blue, and white
Commanders
Commander-in-chief Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
Insignia
Ensign

The Turkmen Air Force is the air force branch of the armed forces of Turkmenistan. It was formed from former Soviet Air Forces units within that region of the Turkestan Military District. The Turkmen Air Force inherited some 300 Soviet aircraft, and has pilots trained in Ukraine.[1]

Aircraft

Mi-8s fly near the presidential palace

The IISS in 2012 said the Air Force had 3,000 personnel with 94 combat capable aircraft.[2]

The total number of aircraft is around 120.[3] It said there were two fighter/ground attack squadrons with MiG-29/MiG-29UB (total of 24 both types), Sukhoi Su-17 Fitter-Bs (65) and two Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoots (with 41 more being refurbished). It reported one transport squadron with Antonov An-26 'Curl' (1), and Mi-8s and Mi-24s (8 and 10 listed in service respectively). Training units had Sukhoi Su-7 Fitter-As (3 listed in service) and L-39 Albatross. Air defence missile units had SA-2, SA-3, and SA-5.

Aircraft Inventory

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service[4] Notes
Trainer Aircraft
Aero L-39 Albatros  Czechoslovakia training/light attack L-39 2
Fighter Aircraft
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum  Soviet Union fighter MiG-29A
MiG-29UB
22
2
Attack Aircraft
Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot  Soviet Union close air support Su-25 43
Transport Aircraft
Antonov An-24 Coke  Soviet Union tactical transport An-24 1
Attack Helicopter
Mil Mi-24 Hind  Soviet Union attack Mi-24 10
Transport Helicopter
Mil Mi-8 Hip  Soviet Union transport/attack Mi-8 8
AgustaWestland AW101  United Kingdom VVIP transport AW101 VVIP 2 1 delivered in 2013[5]

Organization

AgustaWestland AW101 flying overhead

References

  1. Игорь Елков, Вся постсоветская рать: Какая из бывших советских республик всех сильнее, Российская газета - Неделя №3893 от 7 октября 2005 г.
  2. IISS 2012 p.290
  3. Turkmenistan Air Force at globalsecurity.org
  4. https://www.agustawestland.com/news/first-two-aw101-vvip-helicopters-delivered-turkmenistan
  5. Vad777, Turkmenistan