List of air forces
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This alphabetically arranged list of air forces identifies the current and historical names and roundels for the military aviation arms of countries fielding an air component, whether an independent air force, a naval air arm, army aviation unit, or coast guard. At the end is a separate list of no longer extant nations that once operated air forces. Country names in italics indicate that they are not generally recognized internationally as independent states but which nonetheless managed to field an active air service.
| 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
[edit] B
[edit] C
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Cambodia.svg Cambodia | Image:Royal Cambodian Air Force roundel.svg | Royal Cambodian Air Force Toap Akas Khemarak Phoumin Force Aérienne Royale Cambodge | 1993 | |
|
Kampuchean People's Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1984-1991[14] | ||
|
Air Force of the Kampuchean Liberation Army | Image:Transparent.png | 1977-1979[15] | ||
|
Khmer Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1970-1975 | ||
|
Royal Khmer Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1954-1970 | ||
| Image:Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon | Image:Roundel of the Cameroonian Air Force.svg | Cameroon Air Force Armée de l'Air du Cameroun | 1960 | |
| Image:Flag of Canada.svg Canada | Image:RCAF-Roundel.svg | Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) | 1968 | |
| Image:Rcaf roundel old wht.png | 1924-1968 | |||
| Image:Flag of Cape Verde.svg Cape Verde | Image:Transparent.png | Cape Verde Air Force Força Aérea Caboverdiana | 1982 | |
| Image:Transparent.png | Cape Verde Coast Guard Guarda Costeira de Cabo Verde | 1992[16] | ||
| Image:Flag of the Central African Republic.svg Central African Republic | Image:Roundel central african republic.svg | Central African Republic Air Force Force Aérienne Centrafricaine | 1961 | |
| Image:Flag of Chad.svg Chad | Image:Roundel Tchad.svg | Chad Air Force Force Aérienne Tchadienne | 1973 | |
| Image:Flag of Chile.svg Chile | Image:Chilean Air Force roundel.svg | Chilean Air Force Fuerza Aérea de Chile (FACh)[17] | 1930 | |
|
Chilean Military Aviation Service | Image:Transparent.png | 1910-1930 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Chilean Naval Aviation Servicio de Aviación de la Armada de Chile (popularly, Aviación Naval) | 1953 | ||
|
Chilean Naval Aviation Service | Image:Transparent.png | 1919-1930[18] | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Chilean Army Aviation Comando de Aviación del Ejército de Chile (popularly, Aviación del Ejército) | 1970[19] | ||
| Image:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China (PRC) | Image:Roundel of the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force.svg | People's Liberation Army Air Force 中国人民解放军空军 Zhongguo Renmin Jiefangjun Kongjun | 1949 | |
|
Nanyuan Flying Group[20] | Image:Transparent.png | 1949 | ||
|
Red Army of China Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | c. 1930[21] | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force 中国人民解放军海军航空兵 Zhongguo Renmin Jiefangjun Haijun Hangkongbing | 1953 | ||
| Image:Flag of the Republic of China.svg Taiwan (ROC) | Image:Republic of China National Emblem.svg | Republic of China Air Force 中華民國空軍 Chung-Hua Min-Kuo K'ung-Chün | 1938 | |
|
Nationalist Chinese Air Force (Central Government)[22] | Image:Transparent.png | 1925-1938 | ||
|
Chinese Aviation Ministry | Image:Chinese Air Force Roundel 1920-1921.svg | 1920-1925? | ||
|
Chinese Aviation Service | Image:Beiyang star.svg | 1916?-1919? | ||
|
Chinese Army Air Arm | Image:Transparent.png | 1914-1916? | ||
|
Airplane Corps of the Chinese Army | Image:Transparent.png | 1913-1914 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Republic of China Army Aviation and Special Forces Command | 1999 | ||
|
Army Paratroops and Special Forces Command | Image:Transparent.png | 1979-1999 | ||
|
Army Aviation Command[23] | Image:Transparent.png | 1976-1979 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Republic of China Navy Aviation Command | 1995 | ||
|
Naval Anti-Submarine Group | Image:Transparent.png | 1991-1995 | ||
|
Fleet Helicopter Squadron | Image:Transparent.png | 1977-1991 | ||
|
Chinese Naval Air Service | Image:Transparent.png | 1927-1938 | ||
| Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia | Image:Colombian Air Force Roundel.svg | Colombian Air Force Fuerza Aérea Colombiana | 1922 | |
| Image:Transparent.png | Colombian Naval Aviation Aviación Naval | 1935 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Colombian Army Aviation Aviación del Ejército | 1995 | ||
| Image:Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Congo[24] | Image:Roundel of the Congolese Air Force.svg | Congolese Air Force L'Armée de l'Air du Congo | 1961 | |
| Image:Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Dem. Rep. of the Congo[25] | Image:Transparent.png | Congolese (DRC) Air Force Force Aérienne du Congo | ||
|
Zaire Air Force | Image:Roundel of Zaire Air Force.svg | 1971-1997 | ||
| Image:Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica | Image:Transparent.png | Air Surveillance Service Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea (SVA) - Fuerza Pública | 1994 | |
|
Air Section of the Costa Rica Ministry of Public Security | Image:Transparent.png | 1964-1994 | ||
|
Air Section of the Costa Rica Civil Guard | Image:Transparent.png | 1957-1964 | ||
|
Costa Rican Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1955-1957 | ||
|
Costa Rican Military Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1947/48-1949[26] | ||
| Image:Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Côte d'Ivoire | Image:Roundel ivory coast.svg | Côte d'Ivoire Air Force Force Aérienne de la Côte d'Ivoire | c. 1965 | |
| Image:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia | Image:Roundel of the Croatian Air Force.svg | Croatian Air Force and Defense Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzracna Obrana | 1991 | |
|
Kroatische Luftwaffen Legion[27] | Image:Croatian roundel WW2.svg | 1941-1945 | ||
| Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba | Image:CU AF Insignia1961.svg | Cuban Revolutionary Air Force[28] Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria | 1959 | |
|
Cuban Rebel Air Force[29] | Image:Transparent.png | 1958 | ||
|
Cuban Army Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1952-1958 | ||
|
Cuban Army Aviation Corps | Image:Transparent.png | 1934-1952 | ||
|
Cuban Army Air Corps | Image:Transparent.png | 1915-1934 | ||
|
Cuban Army Aviation Corps | Image:Transparent.png | 1913-1915 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Cuban Naval Aviation[30] Aviación Naval | 1934-1952 | ||
| Image:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic | Image:Czech roundel.svg | Czech Air Force Vzdušné síly armády České republiky | 1993 | |
[edit] D
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark | Image:Royal Danish Air Force Roundel.svg | Royal Danish Air Force Flyvevåbnet | 1950 | |
|
Royal Danish Army Air Corps[31] | Image:Royal Danish Air Force Roundel.svg | 1912-1950 | ||
|
Royal Danish Naval Aviation | Image:Royal Danish Air Force Roundel.svg | 1911-1950 | ||
| Image:Royal Danish Air Force Roundel.svg | Royal Danish Navy Helicopter Service Søværnets Helikoptertjeneste | 2003 | ||
|
Royal Danish Navy Flying Service | Image:Royal Danish Air Force Roundel.svg | 1962-2003 | ||
| Image:Flag of Djibouti.svg Djibouti | Image:Djibouti Air Force roundel.svg | Djibouti Air Force Force Aérienne du Djibouti | 1977 | |
| Image:Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic | Image:Dominican Air Force roundel.svg | Dominican Air Force Fuerza Aérea Dominicana (FAD) | 1962 | |
|
Dominican Military Aviation | Image:Transparent.png | 1957-1962 | ||
|
Dominican Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1955-1957 | ||
|
Dominican Military Aviation | Image:Transparent.png | 1952-1955 | ||
|
Dominican Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1950-1952 | ||
|
Dominican Military Aviation Corps (DMAC) | Image:Transparent.png | 1948-1950 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Air Cavalry Squadron Escuadrón de Caballería Aérea (EdCA) | 2002 | ||
|
Air Transport Cavalry Brigade | Image:Transparent.png | 2001-2002 | ||
|
Aviation Company of the National Army | Image:Transparent.png | 1942-1948[32] | ||
|
Dominican Army Aviation Company | Image:Transparent.png | 1939-1942 | ||
|
Aviation Detachment of the National Army | Image:Transparent.png | 1936-1939 | ||
|
National Air Transport Company, Aviation Arm | Image:Transparent.png | 1934-1935 | ||
|
Aviation Company | Image:Transparent.png | 1933-1934 | ||
|
Aviation Arm of the National Army | Image:Transparent.png | 1932-1933 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Dominican Republic Naval Aviation Corps Cuerpo de Aviación Naval Dominicana | 2003 | ||
|
Coastguard Search and Rescue Squadron | Image:Transparent.png | 1951-1952[33] | ||
[edit] E
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Ecuador.svg Ecuador | Image:Ecuadorian Air Force roundel.svg | Ecuadorian Air Force Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (FAE) | 1944 | |
|
Ecuadorian Army Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1935-1944 | ||
|
Army Military Aviator Corps | Image:Transparent.png | 1927-1935 | ||
|
Army Aviation Company | Image:Transparent.png | 1925-1927 | ||
|
Military Aviation School | Image:Transparent.png | 1920-1925 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Ecuadorian Naval Aviation Aviación Naval Ecuatoriana (ANE) | 1967 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Ecuadorian Army Aviation Aviación del Ejército Ecuatoriano (AEE) | 1978 | ||
|
Ecuadorian Army Air Service | Image:Transparent.png | 1954-1978 | ||
| Image:Flag of Egypt.svg Egypt | Image:Egyptian Air Force Roundel.svg | Egyptian Air Force Al Quwwat Al Jawwiya Il Misriya | ||
|
United Arab Republic Air Force | Image:Roundel of the Syrian Air Force.svg | 1958-1961[34] | ||
|
Egyptian Air Force | Image:Royal Egyptian Air Force roundel.svg | 1952-1958 | ||
| Image:Royal Egyptian Air Force roundel.svg | 1937-1952 | |||
|
Egyptian Army Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1931-1937 | ||
| Image:Flag of El Salvador.svg El Salvador | Image:El Salvador Air Force roundel.svg | El Salvador Air Force Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña (FAS) | 1946 | |
|
Salvadorean Army Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1927-1946 | ||
|
Salvadorean Aviation Corps | Image:Transparent.png | 1925-1927 | ||
|
Salvadorean Air Flotilla | Image:Transparent.png | 1923-1925 | ||
|
El Salvador Military Aviation Service | Image:Transparent.png | 1922-1923 | ||
| Image:Flag of Eritrea.svg Eritrea | Image:Eritrean Air Force roundel.svg | Eritrean Air Force | 1994 | |
| Image:Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia | Image:Estonia roundel.svg | Estonian Air Force Eesti Õhuvägi | 1991 | |
| Image:Transparent.png | 1943-1944 | |||
|
Sonderstaffel Buschmann[36] | Image:Transparent.png | 1942-1943 | ||
|
Aircraft Squadron of the 22nd Territorial Corps of the Soviet Army | Image:Transparent.png | 1940-1941 | ||
|
Aviation Regiment | Image:Transparent.png | 1920?-1940 | ||
|
Aviation Company | Image:Transparent.png | 1918-1920? | ||
| Image:Flag of Ethiopia.svg Ethiopia | Image:Roundel ethiopia.svg | Ethiopian Air Force Ye Ithopya Ayer Hayl | 1975[37] | |
|
Imperial Ethiopian Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1946-1975 | ||
|
Imperial Ethiopian Aviation | Image:Transparent.png | 1929-1935 | ||
[edit] F
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji | Image:Transparent.png | none | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | 1987-1998 | |||
| Image:Flag of Finland.svg Finland | Image:Finland roundel border.svg | Finnish Air Force Suomen ilmavoimat Finländska flygvapnet | 1918 | |
|
| Image:Finland roundel WW2 border.svg | 1918-1945 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Finnish Army Aviation Suomen maavoimat - Helikopteripataljoona Finländska armén - Helikopterbataljonen | 1997 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Finnish Frontier Guard Rajavartiolaitos Gränsbevakningsväsendet | 1919 | ||
|
Finnish Coast Guard | Image:Transparent.png | 1919-1944 | ||
| Image:Flag of France.svg France | Image:French-roundel.svg | French Air Force Armée de l'Air | 1933 | |
|
Normandie-Niémen squadron | Image:Red star.svg | 1942-1945 | ||
|
RAF squadrons 326-329 and 340-347 | Image:RAF roundel.svg | 1940-1945 | ||
|
French Army Aviation | Image:French-roundel.svg | 1909-1933 | ||
| Image:Cocarde-aviation-marine.svg | French Naval Air Arm Aviation Navale | 1925 | ||
| Image:French-roundel.svg | French Army Light Aviation Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre | 1954 | ||
[edit] G
[edit] H
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Haiti.svg Haiti | Image:Transparent.png | Haiti Air Corps Corps d'Aviation d'Garde d'Haiti | 1942 | |
| Image:Flag of Honduras.svg Honduras | Image:Transparent.png | Honduran Air Force Fuerza Aérea Hondureña | 1954 | |
|
Honduran Air Force & Military Aviation School | Image:Transparent.png | 1936-1954 | ||
|
National Aviation School | Image:Transparent.png | 1931-1936 | ||
| Image:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary | Image:Roundel of the Hungarian Air Force.svg | Hungarian Air Force Magyar Légierő | 1989 | |
|
Air Force of the Hungarian People's Army | Image:Transparent.png | 1947-1989 | ||
|
Royal Hungarian National Defense Air Force | Image:Hungarian roundel WW2.jpg | 1939-1945 | ||
[edit] I
For Ivory Coast, see Côte d'Ivoire above.
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland | Image:Transparent.png | Iceland Air Defense System Íslenska Loftvarnarkerfið | 1987 | |
| Image:Icstateflag.svg | Icelandic Coast Guard Aeronautical Division Landhelgisgæsla Íslands | 1955 | ||
| Image:Flag of India.svg India | Image:IAF-roundel.svg | Indian Air Force भारतीय वायु सेना Bharatiya Vayu Sena | 1950 | |
| Image:Transparent.png | 1945-1950 | |||
|
Indian Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1932-1945 | ||
| Image:IAF-roundel.svg | Army Aviation Corps | 1986 | ||
| Image:IAF-roundel.svg | Naval Air Arm | 1953 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Indian Coast Guard Air Wing Bharatiya Tatarakshak Dal | 1978 | ||
| Image:Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia | Image:Roundel indonesia.svg | Indonesian Air Force Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU) | 1974 | |
|
Republic of Indonesia Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1946-1974 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Indonesian Naval Aviation Dinas Penerbangan TNI Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL) | 1974 | ||
|
Indonesian Naval Aviation Service | Image:Transparent.png | 1956-1974 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Indonesian Army Aviation Dinas Penerbangan TNI Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD) | 1974 | ||
|
Indonesian Army Aviation Service | Image:Transparent.png | 1959-1974 | ||
| Image:Flag of Iran.svg Iran | Image:Iran Air Force roundel.svg | Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران | 1979 | |
|
Imperial Iranian Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1925-1979 | ||
| Image:Flag of Iraq.svg Iraq | Image:IQAF Symbol.svg | Iraqi Air Force Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Iraqiya | 1958 | |
|
Royal Iraqi Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1931-?1958 | ||
| Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland | Image:Irish Air Corps roundel.svg | Irish Air Corps Aer-Chór na h-Éireann | 1922 | |
| Image:Flag of Israel.svg Israel | Image:IAF roundel.svg | Israeli Air Force חיל האוויר Heyl Ha'Avir | 1948 | |
|
Haganah Sherut Avir | Image:Transparent.png | 1947-1948 | ||
| Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy | Image:Roundel of the Italian Air Force.svg | Italian Air Force[39] Aeronautica Militare | 1946 | |
|
Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force | Image:Roundel of the Italian Air Force.svg | 1943-1946 | ||
|
Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana [40] | Image:ASD.svg | 1943-1944 | ||
| Image:Italy-Royal-Airforce.svg | 1923-1943 | |||
|
Royal Naval Aviation | Image:Roundel of the Italian Air Force.svg | 1912-1923 | ||
|
Military Aeronautical Corps | Image:Roundel of the Italian Air Force.svg | 1911-1923 | ||
|
Balloon Corps | Image:Transparent.png | 1884-?1911 | ||
| Image:Roundel of the Italian Air Force.svg | Italian Naval Aviation Aviazione Navale | 1956 | ||
| Image:Roundel of the Italian Air Force.svg | Italian Army Aviation Cavalleria dell'Aria | 1951 | ||
| Image:Roundel of the Italian Air Force.svg | Air Service of the Italian Paramilitary Police Force Nucleo Elicotteri Carabinieri | 1965 | ||
[edit] J
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Jamaica.svg Jamaica | Image:Jamaican Defence Force roundel.svg | Jamaican Defence Force | 1963 | |
|
Jamaica Air Squadron | Image:Transparent.png | 1963 | ||
| Image:Flag of Japan.svg Japan | Image:Japan Air Self-Defense Force roundel.svg | Japan Air Self-Defense Force[42] 航空自衛隊 Kōkū Jieitai | 1954 | |
| Image:Transparent.png | Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 海上自衛隊 Kaijō Jieitai | |||
|
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service[43] | Image:Japan.svg | 1910-1945 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 陸上自衛隊 Rikujō Jieitai | |||
|
Imperial Japanese Army Air Service | Image:Japan.svg | 1910-1945 | ||
| Image:Flag of Jordan.svg Jordan | Image:Roundel of the Royal Jordanian Air Force.svg | Royal Jordanian Air Force Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya Almalakiya al-Urduniya | 1955 | |
|
Arab Legion Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1946-1955 | ||
[edit] K
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Kazakhstan | Image:Transparent.png | Kazakhstan Air Defense Force Sil Vozdushnoy Oborony Respubliki Kazakhstan | 1992 | |
| Image:Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya | Image:Roundel of the Kenyan Air Force.svg | Kenya Air Force | 1964 | |
| Image:Flag of North Korea.svg North Korea | Image:Roundel of the Korean Peoples Army Air Force.svg | Korean People's Army Air Force | 1955 | |
| Image:Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea | Image:Roundel of the Republic of Korea Air Force.svg | Republic of Korea Air Force 대한민국 공군 (大韓民國空軍) Daehan Minguk Gonggun | 1949 | |
| Image:Flag of Kuwait.svg Kuwait | Image:Roundel Kuwait.svg | Kuwait Air Force Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya | 1988 | |
|
Kuwait Air Force and Air Defense | Image:Transparent.png | 1961 | ||
| Image:Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg Kyrgyzstan | Image:Transparent.png | Kyrgyzstan Air Force | 1991 | |
[edit] L
[edit] M
[edit] N
[edit] O
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Oman.svg Oman | Image:Transparent.png | Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanya al-Omanya | 1990 | |
|
Sultan of Oman's Air Force (SOAF) | Image:Transparent.png | 1959-1990 | ||
| Image:Flag of the OECS.svg OECS[52] | Image:Transparent.png | Regional Security System | 1999 | |
[edit] P
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan | Image:Roundel of the Pakistani Air Force.svg | Pakistani Air Force پاکستانی فضائيہ | 1956 | |
|
Royal Pakistani Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1947-1956 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Army Aviation Wing | 1958 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Pakistan Navy Air Arm | 1973 | ||
| Image:Flag of Panama.svg Panama | Image:Roundel of the Panamanian Air Force.svg | Panamanian Air Force Servicio Aéreo Nacional | 1983 | |
| Image:Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea | Image:Transparent.png | Papua New Guinea Defence Force | 1974 | |
| Image:Flag of Paraguay.svg Paraguay | Image:Roundel of Paraguay.svg | Paraguay Air Force Aeronautica Militar Paraguaya | 1989 | |
| Image:Flag of Peru.svg Peru | Image:Roundel of the Peruvian Air Force.svg | Peruvian Air Force Fuerza Aérea del Perú | 1950 | |
|
Peruvian Aeronautical Corps | Image:Transparent.png | 1936-1950 | ||
|
Peruvian Aviation Corps | Image:Transparent.png | 1929-1936 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Peruvian Naval Aviation Fuerza Aviación Naval | 1980 | ||
|
Aeronaval Service | Image:Transparent.png | 1963-1980 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Peruvian Army Aviation Aviación del Ejército | 1977 | ||
|
Army Light Aviation Group | Image:Transparent.png | 1973-1977 | ||
| Image:Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines | Image:Roundel of the Philippines Air Force.svg | Philippine Air Force Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas | 1947 | |
| Image:Flag of Poland.svg Poland | Image:Szachownica.svg | Polish Air Force Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej | 2004 | |
|
Air and Air Defence Forces | Image:Szachownica.svg | 1993-2004 | ||
|
| Image:Szachownica-till1993.svg | 1990-1993 | ||
|
Air Force | Image:Szachownica-till1993.svg | 1962-1990 | ||
|
Air Defence Force of Country | Image:Szachownica-till1993.svg | 1962-1990 | ||
|
Air and Air Defence Forces of Country | Image:Szachownica-till1993.svg | 1954-1962 | ||
|
Air Force | Image:Szachownica-till1993.svg | 1947-1954 | ||
|
Air Force of the Polish Army | Image:Szachownica-till1993.svg | 1945-1947 | ||
|
| Image:Red star.svg | 1943-1945 | ||
|
RAF squadrons 300-309, 315-318 and 663 | Image:RAF roundel.svg | 1940-1947 | ||
|
Forces Aerienes Polonaises | Image:French-roundel.svg | 1940 | ||
|
Air Force | Image:Szachownica-till1993.svg | 1918-1939 | ||
| Image:Szachownica.svg | Polish Army Aviation Lotnictwo Wojsk Lądowych | 1994 | ||
| Image:Szachownica.svg | Polish Naval Aviation Lotnictwo Marynarki Wojennej | 1947 | ||
| Image:Polish Border Guard roundel.svg | Aviation of Polish Border Guard Lotnictwo Straży Granicznej | 1990 | ||
| Image:Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal | Image:Portuguese Air Force roundel.svg | Portuguese Air Force Força Aérea Portuguesa | 1952 | |
|
Army Air Service | Image:Transparent.png | 1924-1952 | ||
|
Military Aeronautical Service | Image:Transparent.png | 1914-1924 | ||
|
Balloon Corps | Image:Transparent.png | 1911-1914 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Navy Helicopter Squadron Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha | 1993 | ||
|
Portuguese Naval Aviation | Image:Transparent.png | 1957-1993 | ||
|
Formerly Aeronaval Forces | Image:Transparent.png | 1952-1957 | ||
|
Naval Aeronautical Service | Image:Transparent.png | 1918-1952 | ||
|
Naval Aviation Service | Image:Transparent.png | 1917-1918 | ||
[edit] Q
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Qatar.svg Qatar | Image:Roundel Qatar.svg | Qatar Emiri Air Force | 1968 | |
[edit] R
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Romania.svg Romania | Image:Roundel of the Romanian Air Force.svg | Romanian Air Force Forţele Aeriene Române | 1989 | |
|
Aeronautica Regală Românã | Image:Romanian aircraft marking WW2.svg | 1913 | ||
| Image:Flag of Russia.svg Russia | Image:URSS-Russian aviation red star.svg | Russian Air Force Военно-воздушные cилы России Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily Rossii | 1991 | |
|
Soviet Air Force | Image:URSS-Russian aviation red star.svg | 1918-1991 | ||
|
Imperial Russian Air Force | Image:Imperial Russian Aviation Roundel.svg | 1910-1917 | ||
| Image:Transparent.png | Russian Naval Aviation Авиация Военно-Морского Флота Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskogo Flota | 1991 | ||
| Image:Flag of Rwanda.svg Rwanda | Image:Roundel Rwanda.svg | Rwandan Air Force Force Aérienne Rwandaise | 1972 | |
[edit] S
[edit] T
For Taiwan, see Taiwan (Republic of China) under section C above.
[edit] U
[edit] V
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Venezuela.svg Venezuela | Image:Roundel of Venezuela.svg | Venezuelan Air Force Aviación Militar Venezolana | 2006[62] | |
|
Fuerza Aérea Venezolana | Image:Transparent.png | 1949-2006 | ||
| Image:Roundel of Venezuela.svg | Venezuelan Army Aviation Servicio Aéreo del Ejército Venezolana | 1970 | ||
| Image:Roundel of Venezuela.svg | Venezuelan Naval Aviation Aviación de la Marina Venezolana | 1922 | ||
| Image:Roundel of Venezuela.svg | National Guard of Venezuela Comando de Apoyo Aéreo de Guardia Nacional | 1999 | ||
| Image:Flag of Vietnam.svg Vietnam | Image:Roundel of the Vietnamese Air Force.svg | Vietnam People's Air Force Không Quân Nhân Dân Việt Nam | 1975 | |
|
North Vietnamese Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1959-1975 | ||
|
Cochin China Air Force | Image:Transparent.png | 1941-1945 | ||
[edit] Y
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Yemen.svg Yemen | Image:Roundel yemen.svg | Yemen Air Force Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Yemeniya | 1990 | |
[edit] Z
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer | ||||
| Image:Flag of Zambia.svg Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia) | Image:Roundel of Zambia.svg | Zambian Air Force and Air Defence Command | 1968 | |
|
Zambia Air Wing | Image:Transparent.png | 1964-1968 | ||
|
Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland Air Force | Image:Federation-roundel.gif | 1954-1963 | ||
| Image:Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) | Image:Roundel zimbabwe.svg | Air Force of Zimbabwe | 1980 | |
| Image:Rhodesiaroundel.gif | 1970-1979 | |||
| Image:Rhodpostfed-roundel.gif | 1963-1970 | |||
|
Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland Air Force | Image:Federation-roundel.gif | 1954-1963 | ||
| Image:Srafroundel.gif | 1939-1954 | |||
| Image:RAF roundel.svg | 1935-1939 | |||
[edit] Former countries
[edit] Notes
- ^ Operations resumed in 2002, but the new name may not have been applied until the after the 2003 defense reforms were promulgated.
- ^ 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'.
- ^ Little is known about the Taliban regime's air force establishment.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Soviet Union-installed regime.
- ^ Official establishment occurred in 1924, but the AMAA received its first aircraft in 1921 (aside from some captured in 1919).
- ^ As in most cases, Argentina's air arms began as an Army formation. Following a period of service unification, the Army Aviation Command was reformed on 27 November 1956, but did not gain independence from the Air Force until 3 November 1959.
- ^ Date first aircraft obtained; the Barbados Defence Force itself was established in 1979.
- ^ Preceded by RAF Squadrons 349 and 350 (1942-1946).
- ^ The indicated roundel was introduced in 1937 - according to Иван Бориславов и Румен Кирилов, "Самолетите на България", част втора, София, 1996, стр. 246-253 (in Bulgarian; in English: Ivan Borislavov and Rumen Kirilov, "The Airplanes of Bulgaria", part two, Sofia, 1996, pages 246-253).
- ^ After the First World War in accordance with the Treaty of Neuilly Bulgaria lost the right to own military air force and because of this from 1920 to 1937 its air force operated as a part of the Bulgarian civil administration - according to Иван Бориславов и Румен Кирилов, "Самолетите на България", част първа, София, 1996, стр. 62-81 (in Bulgarian; in English: Ivan Borislavov and Rumen Kirilov, "The Airplanes of Bulgaria", part one, Sofia, 1996, pages 62-81).
- ^ The indicated version of the German Cross was slightly modified and introduced in 1915 as most widespread Bulgarian aviation sign during the First World War along with the less employed St. Andrew's Cross - according to Иван Бориславов и Румен Кирилов, "Самолетите на България", част втора, София, 1996, стр. 246-253 (in Bulgarian; in English: Ivan Borislavov and Rumen Kirilov, "The Airplanes of Bulgaria", part two, Sofia, 1996, pages 246-253).
- ^ Initially operated balloons. In 1912 Bulgaria received its first airplane Bleriot XXI, with which on 13 August 1912 Simeon Petrov flew to become the first Bulgarian to pilot an airplane over Bulgaria.
- ^ 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.
- ^ The Vietnamese invasion of 1979 resulted in the forcible disbandment of the AFKLA; formation of a successor force did not begin until 1984.
- ^ The Cape Verde Coast Guard received its first aircraft in November 1992; its actual date of formation is unknown at this time.
- ^ The Fuerza Aérea de Chile was briefly named Fuerza Aérea Nacional in 1930.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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 World War II (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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Also known as Congo-Brazzaville.
- ^ Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as Congo-Kinshasa.
- ^ Although Costa Rica established its air force in 1947, it did not begin flying operations until 1948.
- ^ The Kroatische Luftwaffen Legion was a World War II German Luftwaffe unit formed from Croatian volunteers on 2 June 1941, and had a fighter and a bomber squadron. The fighter squadron was designated 15.(Kroatische)/JG 52, and served on the Eastern Front from 6 October 1941 until July 1944. The bomber squadron was designated 15.(Kroatische)/KG 53, and served on the Eastern Front from 25 October 1941 until December 1942.
- ^ Full formal name is the Cuban Air Defense and Revolutionary Air Force (Defensa Anti-Aérea y Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria).
- ^ Established by Fidel Castro in 1958, but operations with a captured Aviación Naval aircraft began the previous year.
- ^ Split off from the Cuban air force in 1934, but remerged in 1952 reorganization.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b From 1958-1961, the Egyptian and Syrian air forces were unified as the United Arab Republic Air Force.
- ^ In 1943, 'Sonderstaffel Buschmann' was redesignated Aufklärungsgruppe 127 (AGr 127) and became a regular unit of the German Luftwaffe. On 18 October 1943, AGr 127 was divided into two units, See-Aufklärungsgruppe 127 and Nachtschlachtgruppe 11
- ^ 'Sonderstaffel Buschmann' was a German Luftwaffe auxiliary unit for coastal patrol. It was formed on 12 February 1942.
- ^ The Ethiopian Air Force effectively ceased to exist in 1991, following the victory of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) in the civil war]]; it was reestablished in 1995.
- ^ The Gambia formed the nucleus of an air force in 2002 and sent personnel to the Ukraine for a four-year pilot training course. The Gambia bought its first aircraft, a single Su-25 from Georgia in the first half of 2003. However, by 2007, the government had yet to announce its air force's formal establishment.
- ^ Also uses a low-visibility roundel: Image:LV Italian Air Force roundel.svg
- ^ Flank roundel: Image:ASDF.svg
- ^ Conglomerate of the Aviazione della Règia Marina and Corpo Aeronautico Militare. Flank insignia (click to enlarge): Image:Italy-Royal Airforce.png
- ^ Patterned on the US Air Force.
- ^ Also used the Imperial Japanese Navy's ensign: Image:Naval Ensign of Japan.svg
- ^ The communist Pathet Lao insurgents operated their own small air arm from 1960-1975; it became part of the LPLAAF.
- ^ Following a failed attempt at a coup d'état, the Kong Le rebel faction also briefly operated a small air arm from 1960-1963, when it was re-incorporated into the RLAF.
- ^ Luxembourg has no air force of its own, but NATO-owned aircraft are operated under Luxembourg registration.
- ^ The Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP) was a paramilitary adjunct of the League of Malawi Youth activist organization of the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP). Established in 1963, the first militarily trained cadres appeared in 1964, and the MYP obtained aircraft beginning in 1970.
- ^ Although founded in 1926, aircraft were not supplied until the following year.
- ^ Preceded by RAAF squadrons 18, 119 and 120 (1942-1946) and RAF squadrons 320, 321 and 322 (1940-1945).
- ^ Includes Royal New Zealand Navy aircraft as No. 6 Squadron and formerly No. 6 Squadron.
- ^ Also included RAF squadrons 75 and 485-490 during World War II.
- ^ Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
- ^ The Serbian-Montenegrin union of Yugoslavia was dissolved in 2006 and the former nation's military assets were divided between them.
- ^ After World War I, Serbia was united with other Balkan states into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
- ^ Merged with Swedish Air Force 2003
- ^ Russia provided Tajikistan with several helicopters in 1993 and began to organize an indigenous air force by no later than 1994; however, most sources express doubts as to its operational effectiveness.
- ^ Although some aircraft were obtained after independence in 1960 and further aircraft were supplied by France in 1963, the air force was not formally established until 1964.
- ^ However, Tunisia's first aircraft were not obtained until 1960.
- ^ 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]
- ^ Official date of integration of the several emirate air arms, but actual integration took many years.
- ^ a b Formerly part of the Royal Air Force.
- ^ http://www.aviacion.mil.ve
- ^ Preceded and supported by RAF squadrons 310-313 (1940-1946) and the Soviet Air Force's 1st Czech Fighter Regiment[citation needed].
- ^ The Manchukuo Air Transport Company served as a para-military airline which performed transport and reconnaissance missions for Japanese military forces.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Preceded by the Partizanska Eskadrila NOVJ and RAF squadrons 351 and 352 (the RAF Balkan Air Force, 1942-1945)
[edit] External links
- (French) (English) Cocardes du monde entier - Roundels of the World
- http://www.xairforces.com
Lists relating to aviation | |
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| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
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