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. For information on the size of air forces, see list of countries by size of armed forces.
| 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 |
||||
 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 |
 |
1983-1992 | ||
|
Afghan Army Air Force[5] |
 |
1980-1983 | ||
|
Afghan Republican Air Force |
 |
1973-1979 | ||
|
1948-1973 | |||
|
Afghan Air Force |
 |
1937-1947 | ||
.svg){kind=small} |
1924[6]-1929 | |||
 Albania |
 |
Albanian Air Force Forcave Ajrore |
1991 | |
|
|
 |
1960-1990 | ||
|
|
 |
1958-1960 | ||
|
|
 |
1951-1957 | ||
|
Albanian Air Corps |
|
1914-1939 | ||
 Algeria |
 |
Algerian Air Force Al Quwwat aljawwija aljaza'eriiya |
1962 | |
 Angola |
 |
People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola Força Aérea Popular de Angola/Defesa Aérea e Antiaérea |
||
|
Angolan People's Air Force & Anti-Aircraft Defence |
 |
1976-? | ||
 Argentina |
 |
Argentine Air Force Fuerza Aérea Argentina |
1945 | |
|
Servicio Aéronautico del Ejército |
|
1912-1945? | ||
 |
Argentine Naval Aviation Comando de Aviación Naval Argentina |
1919 | ||
|
Argentine Army Aviation Command Comando de Aviación del Ejército Argentino |
1956[7] | ||
|
Coast Guard Air Service Servicio de Aviación de la Prefectura Naval Argentina |
1970s | ||
|
Border Guard Air Service Dirección de Aeronáutica de Gendarmería [2] |
1955 | ||
 Armenia |
 |
Armenian Air Force Հայաստանի Ռազմաօդային Ուժեր |
1992 | |
 Australia |
 |
Royal Australian Air Force | 1921 | |
|
1921 | |||
 |
1914-1921 | |||
 |
Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm | 1947 | ||
|
Australian Army Aviation | 1968 | ||
 Austria |
 |
Austrian Air Force Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte |
1955 | |
|
Luftwaffen Kommando Österreich |
 |
1938-1945 | ||
|
Heimwehr Flieger Korps |
 |
1927-1938 | ||
 Azerbaijan |
 |
Azerbaijan Air Force | 1991 | |
[edit] B
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Bahamas |
 |
Royal Bahamas Defence Force Air Wing | 1981 | |
 Bahrain |
 |
Royal Bahraini Air Force | 2002 | |
|
1987-2002 | |||
|
1977-1987 | |||
 Bangladesh |
 |
Bangladeshi Air Force বাংলােদশ িবমান বািহনী Bangladesh Biman Bahini |
1971 | |
 Barbados |
|
Barbados Defence Force | 1981[8] | |
 Belarus |
 |
Belarus Air Force | post 1995 | |
 |
1991-1995 | |||
.svg){kind=small} Belgium |
 |
Belgian Air Force[9] Belgische Luchtmacht, Composante Air |
1946 | |
|
Militair Vliegwezen, Aviation Militaire |
|
1915-1940 | ||
|
Compagnie des Ouvries et Aérostiers |
|
1910-1915 | ||
 Belize |
|
Belize Defence Force Air Wing | 1983 | |
 Benin |
 |
Benin Air Force Force Aérienne Populaire de Benin |
1975 | |
|
Dahomey Air Force |
|
1961-1975 | ||
 Bhutan |
|
Bhutan Air Force | ||
 Bolivia |
 |
Bolivian Air Force Fuerza Aérea Boliviana |
1923 | |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
 |
Air Force and Air Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ваздухопловство и ПВО Zrakoplovstvo i PZO |
2007 | |
|
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Air Force Air Force |
 |
1996-2006 | ||
|
Republika Srpska Air Force |
 |
1992-2006 | ||
|
Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Air Force |
 |
1992-1996 | ||
 Botswana |
 |
Botswana Defence Force Air Wing | 1977 | |
 Brazil |
 |
Brazilian Air Force Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB) |
1941 | |
|
(Roundel used during World War II) |
|
1941-1945 | ||
|
National Air Forces |
|
1941 | ||
|
Military Aviation Service |
|
1918-1941 | ||
 |
Brazilian Naval Aviation Força Aeronaval |
1952 | ||
|
Naval Aviation Service |
|
1952-1941 | ||
 |
Brazilian Army Aviation Command Comando de Aviação do Exército Brasileiro |
1986 | ||
 Brunei |
 |
Royal Brunei Air Force Angkatan Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei |
1991 | |
|
1984-1991 | |||
|
1965-1984 | |||
 Bulgaria |
 |
Bulgarian Air Force Български Военновъздушни Сили Balgarski Voennovazdushni Sili (BVVS) |
1992 | |
|
Bulgarian Air Defense and Air Force |
 |
1961-1992 | ||
|
Bulgarian Military Air Force |
|
1952-1961 | ||
|
Bulgarian Military Air Force |
|
1949-1952 | ||
|
Air Army |
 |
1945-1949 | ||
|
|
 |
1941-1944 | ||
|
Royal Bulgarian Air Force[10] |
 |
1937-1941 | ||
|
Department of Aeronautics under Ministry of Railways, Posts and Telegraphs |
|
1924-1937 | ||
|
Section of Aeronautics under Ministry of Railways, Posts and Telegraphs[11] |
|
1920-1924 | ||
|
Gendarmery Aeroplane Detachment |
|
1919-1920 | ||
|
Aeroplane Group |
|
1918-1919 | ||
|
Army Aviation Corps[12] |
|
1915-1918 | ||
|
Aeronautical Battalion |
|
1914-1915 | ||
|
Aeronautical Detachment[13] |
|
1906-1914 | ||
|
Bulgarian Naval Aviation Aviatsia Na Bulgarskiya Voennomorski Flot (AnBVMF) |
1992 | ||
|
Independent ASW Squadron of the Navy |
|
1959-1990 | ||
|
Bulgarian Naval Aviation |
|
1915-1918 | ||
 Burkina Faso |
 |
Burkina Faso Air Force Force Aérienne de Burkina Faso |
1964 | |
 Burundi |
 |
Burundi Army Aviation Force Armée du Burundi |
1966 | |
[edit] C
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Cambodia |
 |
Royal Cambodian Air Force Toap Akas Khemarak Phoumin Force Aérienne Royale Cambodge |
1993 | |
|
1984-1991[14] | |||
|
1977-1979[15] | |||
|
Khmer Air Force |
|
1970-1975 | ||
|
Royal Khmer Air Force |
|
1954-1970 | ||
 Cameroon |
 |
Cameroon Air Force Armée de l'Air du Cameroun |
1960 | |
 Canada |
 |
Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) | 1968 | |
|
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Canadian Aviation Corps, Canadian Air Force |
.svg){kind=small} |
1924-1968, 1914-1915, 1918-1922 | ||
 Cape Verde |
|
Cape Verde Air Force Força Aérea Caboverdiana |
1982 | |
|
Cape Verde Coast Guard Guarda Costeira de Cabo Verde |
1992[16] | ||
 Central African Republic |
 |
Central African Republic Air Force Force Aérienne Centrafricaine |
1961 | |
 Chad |
 |
Chad Air Force Force Aérienne Tchadienne |
1973 | |
 Chile |
 |
Chilean Air Force Fuerza Aérea de Chile (FACh)[17] |
1930 | |
|
Chilean Military Aviation Service |
|
1910-1930 | ||
|
Chilean Naval Aviation Servicio de Aviación de la Armada de Chile (popularly, Aviación Naval) |
1953 | ||
|
Chilean Naval Aviation Service |
|
1919-1930[18] | ||
|
Chilean Army Aviation Comando de Aviación del Ejército de Chile (popularly, Aviación del Ejército) |
1970[19] | ||
 China (PRC) |
 |
People's Liberation Army Air Force 中国人民解放军空军 Zhongguo Renmin Jiefangjun Kongjun |
1949 | |
|
1949 | |||
|
c. 1930[21] | |||
|
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 | ||
|
People's Liberation Army Ground Force Aviation 中国人民解放军陆军 |
???? | ||
 Colombia |
 |
Colombian Air Force Fuerza Aérea Colombiana |
1922 | |
 |
Colombian Naval Aviation Aviación Naval |
1935 | ||
|
Colombian Army Aviation Aviación del Ejército |
1995 | ||
 Congo[22] |
 |
Congolese Air Force L'Armée de l'Air du Congo |
1961 | |
 Dem. Rep. of the Congo[23] |
|
Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Force Aérienne du Congo |
||
 |
1971-1997 | |||
 Costa Rica |
|
Air Surveillance Service Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea (SVA) - Fuerza Pública |
1994 | |
|
Air Section of the Costa Rica Ministry of Public Security |
 |
1964-1994 | ||
|
Air Section of the Costa Rica Civil Guard |
|
1957-1964 | ||
|
Costa Rican Air Force |
|
1955-1957 | ||
|
Costa Rican Military Air Force |
 |
1947/48-1949[24] | ||
 Côte d'Ivoire |
 |
Côte d'Ivoire Air Force Force Aérienne de la Côte d'Ivoire |
c. 1965 | |
 Croatia |
 |
Croatian Air Force and Defense Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzračna Obrana |
1991 | |
|
Kroatische Luftwaffen Legion[25] |
 |
1941-1945 | ||
 Cuba |
 |
Cuban Revolutionary Air Force[26] Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria |
1959 | |
|
Cuban Rebel Air Force[27] |
|
1958 | ||
|
Cuban Army Air Force |
|
1952-1958 | ||
|
Cuban Army Aviation Corps |
|
1934-1952 | ||
|
Cuban Army Air Corps |
|
1915-1934 | ||
|
Cuban Army Aviation Corps |
|
1913-1915 | ||
|
Cuban Naval Aviation[28] Aviación Naval |
1934-1952 | ||
 Czech Republic |
 |
Czech Air Force Vzdušné síly armády České republiky |
1993 | |
[edit] D
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Denmark |
 |
Royal Danish Air Force Flyvevåbnet |
1950 | |
|
Royal Danish Army Air Corps[29] |
|
1912-1950 | ||
|
Royal Danish Naval Aviation |
|
1911-1950 | ||
|
Royal Danish Navy Helicopter Service Søværnets Helikoptertjeneste |
2003 | ||
|
Royal Danish Navy Flying Service |
|
1962-2003 | ||
 Djibouti |
 |
Djibouti Air Force Force Aérienne du Djibouti |
1977 | |
 Dominican Republic |
 |
Dominican Air Force Fuerza Aérea Dominicana (FAD) |
1962 | |
|
Dominican Military Aviation |
|
1957-1962 | ||
|
Dominican Air Force |
|
1955-1957 | ||
|
Dominican Military Aviation |
|
1952-1955 | ||
|
Dominican Air Force |
|
1950-1952 | ||
|
Dominican Military Aviation Corps (DMAC) |
|
1948-1950 | ||
|
Air Cavalry Squadron Escuadrón de Caballería Aérea (EdCA) |
2002 | ||
|
Air Transport Cavalry Brigade |
|
2001-2002 | ||
|
Aviation Company of the National Army |
|
1942-1948[30] | ||
|
Dominican Army Aviation Company |
|
1939-1942 | ||
|
Aviation Detachment of the National Army |
|
1936-1939 | ||
|
National Air Transport Company, Aviation Arm |
|
1934-1935 | ||
|
Aviation Company |
|
1933-1934 | ||
|
Aviation Arm of the National Army |
|
1932-1933 | ||
|
Dominican Republic Naval Aviation Corps Cuerpo de Aviación Naval Dominicana |
2003 | ||
|
Coastguard Search and Rescue Squadron |
|
1951-1952[31] | ||
[edit] E
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Ecuador |
 |
Ecuadorian Air Force Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (FAE) |
1944 | |
|
Ecuadorian Army Air Force |
|
1935-1944 | ||
|
Army Military Aviator Corps |
|
1927-1935 | ||
|
Army Aviation Company |
|
1925-1927 | ||
|
Military Aviation School |
|
1920-1925 | ||
|
Ecuadorian Naval Aviation Aviación Naval Ecuatoriana (ANE) |
1967 | ||
|
Ecuadorian Army Aviation Aviación del Ejército Ecuatoriano (AEE) |
1978 | ||
|
Ecuadorian Army Air Service |
|
1954-1978 | ||
 Egypt |
 |
Egyptian Air Force Al Quwwat Al Jawwiya Il Misriya |
1961 | |
 |
1958-1961[32] | |||
|
Egyptian Air Force |
 |
1952-1958 | ||
|
1937-1952 | |||
|
Egyptian Army Air Force |
|
1931-1937 | ||
 El Salvador |
 |
El Salvador Air Force Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña (FAS) |
1946 | |
|
Salvadoran Army Air Force |
|
1927-1946 | ||
|
Salvadoran Aviation Corps |
|
1925-1927 | ||
|
Salvadoran Air Flotilla |
|
1923-1925 | ||
|
El Salvador Military Aviation Service |
|
1922-1923 | ||
 Eritrea |
 |
Eritrean Air Force | 1994 | |
 Estonia |
 |
Estonian Air Force Eesti Õhuvägi |
1991 | |
|
1943-1944 | |||
|
1942-1943 | |||
|
Aircraft Squadron of the 22nd Territorial Corps of the Soviet Army |
|
1940-1941 | ||
|
Aviation Regiment |
 |
1920?-1940 | ||
|
Aviation Company |
|
1918-1920? | ||
 Ethiopia |
 |
Ethiopian Air Force Ye Ithopya Ayer Hayl |
1975[35] | |
|
1946-1975 | |||
|
1929-1935 | |||
[edit] F
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Fiji |
|
none | ||
|
1987-1998 | |||
 Finland |
 |
Finnish Air Force Suomen ilmavoimat Finländska flygvapnet |
1918 | |
|
|
 |
1918-1945 | ||
|
Roundel variant on some aircraft |
 |
1943-45 | ||
|
Finnish Army Aviation Suomen maavoimat - Helikopteripataljoona Finländska armén - Helikopterbataljonen |
1997 | ||
 |
Finnish Border Guard Rajavartiolaitos Gränsbevakningsväsendet |
1919 | ||
|
Finnish Coast Guard |
|
1919-1944 | ||
 France |
 |
French Air Force Armée de l'Air |
1933 | |
|
Normandie-Niémen squadron |
 |
1942-1945 | ||
|
RAF squadrons 326-329 and 340-347 |
|
1940-1945 | ||
|
French Air Force |
 |
1933-1940 | ||
|
French Army Aviation |
|
1909-1933 | ||
 |
French Naval Air Arm Aviation Navale |
1925 | ||
|
|
 |
1925-1940 | ||
|
French Army Light Aviation Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre |
1954 | ||
[edit] G
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Gabon |
 |
Gabon Air Force Armée de l'Air Gabonaise |
1961 | |
 Gambia |
|
Gambian Air Force[36] | c.2003?[37] | |
 Georgia |
 |
Georgian Air Force | 1990 | |
 Germany |
 |
German Air Force Luftwaffe |
1955 | |
|
East German Air Force |
.svg){kind=small} |
1956-1990 | ||
|
German Air Force |
|
1935-1945 | ||
|
1912-1919 | |||
|
Die Marinefliegerabteilung des deutschen Kaiserreiches |
|
1911-1919 | ||
|
Imperial German Army Air Service |
|
1910-1919 | ||
|
1909-1917 | |||
|
German Naval Aviation Marineflieger |
1955 | ||
|
German Army Aviators Corps Heeresfliegertruppe |
1955 | ||
 Ghana |
 |
Ghana Air Force | 1959 | |
 Greece |
 |
Hellenic Air Force Πολεμική Αεροπορία Polemikì Aeroporia |
1930 | |
|
Hellenic Army Aviation Αεροπορία Στρατού Aeroporia Stratou |
1956 | ||
|
Hellenic Naval Aviation Πολεμικό Ναυτικό Polemiko Navtiko |
1976 | ||
|
Hellenic Coast Guard Λιμενικό Σώμα Limeniko Soma |
1982 | ||
 Guatemala |
 |
Guatemalan Air Force Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca (FAG) |
1948 | |
|
Military Aeronautical Corps |
|
1935–1948 | ||
|
Guatemalan Military Aviation Corps |
|
1929–1935 | ||
|
Guatemalan Air Force |
|
1921–1929 | ||
|
Army Aviation Corps |
|
1914–1921 | ||
 Guinea |
 |
Guinea Air Force Force Aérienne de Guinée |
1959 | |
 Guinea-Bissau |
 |
Guinea-Bissau Air Force Força Aérea da Guiné-Bissau |
1978 | |
 Guyana |
 |
Guyana Defence Force | 1968 | |
[edit] H
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Haiti |
 |
Haiti Air Corps Corps d'Aviation d'Garde d'Haiti |
1942 | |
 Honduras |
 |
Honduras Air Force Fuerza Aérea Hondureña |
1974 | |
|
Honduran Air Force & Aviation Military School |
|
1938-1974 | ||
|
Aviation Military School |
|
1933-1938 | ||
|
National Aviation School |
|
1931-1933 | ||
 Hungary |
 |
Hungarian Air Force Magyar Légierő |
1991 | |
|
|
.svg){kind=small} |
1990-1991 | ||
|
Air Force of the Hungarian People's Army |
.svg){kind=small} |
1951-1990 | ||
|
|
.svg){kind=small} |
1949-1951 | ||
|
|
.svg){kind=small} |
1948-1949 | ||
|
Royal Hungarian National Defense Air Force |
.svg){kind=small} |
1941-1945 | ||
|
|
|
1938-1941 | ||
.svg){kind=small} |
Red Hungarian Air Corps Vörös Légjárócsapat |
1919 | ||
|
Insignia variant |
_border.svg){kind=small} |
|||
|
Insignia variant |
.svg){kind=small} |
|||
[edit] I
For Ivory Coast, see Côte d'Ivoire above.
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Iceland |
|
Iceland Air Defense System Íslenska Loftvarnarkerfið |
1987 | |
.svg){kind=small} |
Icelandic Coast Guard Aeronautical Division Landhelgisgæsla Íslands - Flugdeild |
1955 | ||
 India |
 |
Indian Air Force भारतीय वायु सेना Bharatiya Vayu Sena |
1950 | |
 |
1945-1950 | |||
|
Indian Air Force |
|
1932-1945 | ||
|
Army Aviation Corps | 1986 | ||
|
Naval Air Arm | 1953 | ||
|
Indian Coast Guard Air Wing Bharatiya Tatarakshak Dal |
1978 | ||
 Indonesia |
 |
Indonesian Air Force Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU) |
1946 | |
|
Republic of Indonesia Air Force |
|
1946-1974 | ||
 |
Indonesian Naval Aviation Dinas Penerbangan TNI Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL) |
1974 | ||
|
Indonesian Naval Aviation Service |
|
1956-1974 | ||
 |
Indonesian Army Aviation Dinas Penerbangan TNI Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD) |
1974 | ||
|
Indonesian Army Aviation Service |
|
1959-1974 | ||
 Iran |
 |
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران |
1979 | |
|
Imperial Iranian Air Force |
|
1925-1979 | ||
|
Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation | |||
|
Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Aviation | |||
|
Air Force of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution | |||
 Iraq |
 |
Iraqi Air Force Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Iraqiya |
1958 | |
|
Royal Iraqi Air Force |
|
1931-?1958 | ||
 Ireland |
 |
Irish Air Corps Aer-Chór na h-Éireann |
1922 | |
 Israel |
 |
Israeli Air Force חיל האוויר Heyl Ha'Avir |
1948 | |
|
Haganah Sherut Avir |
|
1947-1948 | ||
 Italy |
 |
Italian Air Force[38] Aeronautica Militare |
1946 | |
|
Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force |
|
1943-1946 | ||
|
Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana [39] |
 |
1943-1944 | ||
|
Royal Italian Air Force |
 |
1935-1943 | ||
|
Royal Italian Air Force |
|
1923-1936 | ||
|
Royal Naval Aviation |
|
1912-1923 | ||
|
Military Air Corps[42] |
|
1911-1923 | ||
|
Royal Army Air Service |
|
1884[43]-1911 | ||
|
Italian Naval Aviation Aviazione Navale |
1956 | ||
|
Italian Army Aviation Cavalleria dell'Aria |
1951 | ||
|
Helicopter Service of the Carabinieers Nucleo Elicotteri Carabinieri |
1965 | ||
[edit] J
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Jamaica |
 |
Jamaican Defence Force | 1963 | |
|
1963 | |||
 Japan |
 |
Japan Air Self-Defense Force[44] 航空自衛隊 Kōkū Jieitai |
1954 | |
|
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 海上自衛隊 Kaijō Jieitai |
|||
|
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service[45] |
|
1910-1945 | ||
|
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 陸上自衛隊 Rikujō Jieitai |
|||
|
Imperial Japanese Army Air Service |
|
1910-1945 | ||
 Jordan |
 |
Royal Jordanian Air Force Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya Almalakiya al-Urduniya |
1955 | |
|
1946-1955 | |||
[edit] K
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Kazakhstan |
 |
Kazakhstan Air Defense Force Sil Vozdushnoy Oborony Respubliki Kazakhstan |
1992 | |
 Kenya |
 |
Kenya Air Force | 1964 | |
 North Korea |
 |
Korean People's Army Air Force | 1955 | |
 South Korea |
 |
Republic of Korea Air Force[46] 대한민국 공군 (大韓民國空軍) Daehan Minguk Gonggun |
1949 | |
 Kuwait |
 |
Kuwait Air Force Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya |
1988 | |
|
Kuwait Air Force and Air Defense |
|
1961 | ||
 Kyrgyzstan |
 |
Kyrgyzstan Air Force | 1991 | |
[edit] L
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Laos |
|
Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force[47] | 1975 | |
|
1960-1975 | |||
|
Aviation Laotienne |
|
1955-1960 | ||
 Latvia |
 |
Latvian Air Force Latvijas Gaisa Spēki |
1991 | |
|
|
 |
1926-1940 | ||
 Lebanon |
 |
Lebanese Air Force Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnamia |
1945 | |
 Lesotho |
|
Lesotho Defence Force - Air Squadron | c.1988 | |
 Liberia |
|
Liberian Army Air Wing | 1987 | |
 Libya |
 |
Libyan Air Force Al Quwwatal Jawwiya al Jamahiriya al Arabia al Libyya |
1978 | |
|
Libyan Arab Republic Air Force |
 |
1970-1978? | ||
|
Royal Libyan Air Force |
 |
1951-1970 | ||
 Lithuania |
 |
Lithuanian Air Force Karinės Oro Pajėgos |
1992 | |
 Luxembourg |
 |
NATO Airborne Early Warning Force [50] | 1982 | |
[edit] M
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Republic of Macedonia |
 |
Macedonian Air Force and Air Defense Force Военно Воздухопловство и Противвоздушна Одбрана Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo i Protivvozdushna Odbrana |
1992 | |
 Madagascar |
 |
Malagasy Air Force Armée de l'Air Malgache |
1961 | |
 Malawi |
|
Malawi Army Air Wing | 1978 | |
|
Malawi Young Pioneers Air Arm[51] |
|
1970-1978 | ||
 Malaysia |
 |
Royal Malaysian Air Force Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia |
1963 | |
|
Royal Malayan Air Force |
|
1958-1963 | ||
 Maldives |
|
Air Elements Maldives National Defence Force |
1978 | |
 Mali |
|
Mali Air Force Force Aérienne de la Republique du Mali |
1961 | |
 Malta |
 |
Armed Forces of Malta No.2 Regiment – Air Squadron | 1992 | |
 Mauritania |
 |
Mauritanian Air Force Force Aérienne de la Republique Islamique de Mauritanie |
1961 | |
 Mauritius |
|
Mauritius Coast Guard | 1987 | |
|
1970-1987 | |||
 Mexico |
 |
Mexican Air Force Fuerza Aérea Mexicana |
1915 | |
|
Mexican Naval Aviation Fuerza Aeronaval |
1926[52] | ||
 Moldova |
 |
Moldovan Air Force[53] | 1991 | |
 Mongolia |
 |
Mongolian Air Defense Forces Command[54] Агаарын Довтолгооноос Хамгаалах Цэргийн Командлал |
1993-presents | |
 |
1925-1993 | |||
 Montenegro |
 |
Montenegrin Air Force Vazdušne snage Crne Gore |
2006 | |
 Morocco |
 |
Royal Moroccan Air Force القوات الجوية الملكية المغربية Al Quwwat Al Jawwiya Al Malikiya Al Maghrebiya (Force Aérienne Royale Marocaine) |
1961 | |
|
Sherifan Royal Aviation |
|
1956-1961 | ||
 Mozambique |
 |
Mozambique Air Force Força Aérea de Moçambique |
c.1976/77? | |
|
People's Liberation Air Force of Mozambique |
|
1975-c.1976/77? | ||
 Myanmar |
 |
Myanmar Air Force Tatmdaw Lei |
1947 | |
[edit] N
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Namibia |
|
Namibian Air Force | 2005 | |
|
1994-2005 | |||
 Nepal |
 |
Nepalese Army Air Service | c.2008 | |
|
1979-c.2007 | |||
|
1965-1979 | |||
 Netherlands |
 |
Royal Netherlands Air Force[55] Koninklijke Luchtmacht |
1953 | |
|
|
 |
1939-1940 | ||
|
|
|
1921-1940 | ||
|
Luchtvaartafdeling |
 |
1914-1921 | ||
|
Netherlands Naval Aviation Marineluchtvaartdienst |
1917 | ||
 New Zealand |
 |
Royal New Zealand Air Force[56][57] | 1934 | |
|
New Zealand Squadrons of the RAF Nos. 75, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 490 |
|
1939-1945 | ||
|
1930-1957 | |||
|
1923-1934 | |||
|
New Zealand Army Flying Corps |
|
1913-1923 | ||
 Nicaragua |
|
Nicaraguan Army Air Force Fuerza Aérea – Ejército de Nicaragua |
1995 | |
|
Nicaraguan Air Force |
|
1990-1995 | ||
|
Sandinista Air Force |
|
1979-1990 | ||
|
Air Force of Nicaragua |
|
c.1950-1979 | ||
|
Guard Air Force of Nicaragua |
|
c.1947-c.1950 | ||
|
Air Force of the National Guard |
|
1938-c.1947 | ||
|
Air Corps of the National Guard |
|
1936-1938 | ||
|
Military Aviation Corps |
|
1926-1936 | ||
|
National Guard |
|
1920-1926 | ||
 Niger |
|
National Squadron of Niger Escadrille Nationale du Niger |
2003 | |
|
Niger Air Force |
 |
1961-2003? | ||
 Nigeria |
 |
Nigerian Air Force | 1964 | |
 Norway |
 |
Royal Norwegian Air Force Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret |
1944 | |
|
Royal Air Force squadrons 331 and 332 |
|
1942-1945 | ||
|
Army Air Service |
 |
1915-1944 | ||
|
Naval Air Service |
|
1916-1944 | ||
[edit] O
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Oman |
 |
Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO)[58] Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanya al-Omanya |
1990 | |
|
Sultan of Oman's Air Force (SOAF) |
|
1959-1990 | ||
| OECS[59] | |
Regional Security System | 1999 | |
[edit] P
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Pakistan |
 |
Pakistani Air Force پاک فضائيہ |
1956 | |
|
Royal Pakistani Air Force |
|
1947-1956 | ||
|
Army Aviation Wing | 1958 | ||
|
Pakistan Navy Air Arm | 1973 | ||
 Panama |
 |
National Air-Sea Service Servicio Nacional Aeronaval |
2008 | |
 Papua New Guinea |
 |
Papua New Guinea Defence Force | 1974 | |
 Paraguay |
 |
Paraguayan Air Force Aeronautica Militar Paraguaya |
1989 | |
|
Paraguayan Naval Aviation Aviación Naval Paraguaya[60][61] |
1980 | ||
 Peru |
 |
Peruvian Air Force Fuerza Aérea del Perú |
1950 | |
|
Peruvian Aeronautical Corps |
|
1936-1950 | ||
|
Peruvian Aviation Corps |
|
1929-1936 | ||
|
Peruvian Naval Aviation Fuerza Aviación Naval |
1980 | ||
|
Aeronaval Service |
|
1963-1980 | ||
|
Peruvian Army Aviation Aviación del Ejército |
1977 | ||
|
Army Light Aviation Group |
|
1973-1977 | ||
 Philippines |
 |
Philippine Air Force Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas |
1947 | |
 Poland |
 |
Polish Air Force Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |
2004 | |
|
Air and Air Defence Forces |
|
1993-2004 | ||
|
|
 |
1990-1993 | ||
|
Air Force |
|
1962-1990 | ||
|
Air Defence Force of Country |
|
1962-1990 | ||
|
Air and Air Defence Forces of Country |
|
1954-1962 | ||
|
Air Force |
|
1947-1954 | ||
|
Air Force of the Polish Army |
|
1945-1947 | ||
|
Air Force of the Polish Army |
|
1943-1945 | ||
|
RAF squadrons 300-309, 315-318 and 663 |
|
1940-1947 | ||
|
Forces Aerienes Polonaises |
|
1940 | ||
|
Air Force |
 |
1918-1939 | ||
|
Polish Army Aviation Lotnictwo Wojsk Lądowych |
1994 | ||
|
Polish Naval Aviation Lotnictwo Marynarki Wojennej |
1947 | ||
 |
Aviation of Polish Border Guard Lotnictwo Straży Granicznej |
1990 | ||
 Portugal |
 |
Portuguese Air Force Força Aérea Portuguesa |
1952 | |
|
Military Aeronautics Arm |
|
1924-1952 | ||
|
|
|
1918-1924 | ||
|
Military Aeronautical Service |
 |
1914-1918 | ||
|
Balloon Company |
|
1911-1914 | ||
|
Navy Helicopter Squadron Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha |
1993 | ||
|
Aeronaval Forces |
|
1952-1957 | ||
|
Navy Air Forces |
|
1931-1952 | ||
|
Naval Aeronautics Service |
|
1918-1931 | ||
|
Navy Aviation Service |
|
1917-1918 | ||
[edit] Q
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Qatar |
 |
Qatar Emiri Air Force | 1968 | |
[edit] R
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Romania |
 |
Romanian Air Force Forţele Aeriene Române |
1989 | |
|
Forţele Aeriene ale Republicii Socialiste România |
|
1985-1989 | ||
|
Forţele Aeriene ale Republicii Socialiste România |
.svg){kind=small} |
1965-1985 | ||
|
Forţele Aeriene ale Republicii Populare Română |
|
1947-1965 | ||
|
|
|
1944-1947 | ||
.svg){kind=small} |
1941-1944 | |||
|
Aeronautica Regală Românã |
|
1915-1941 | ||
 Russia |
|
Russian Air Force[62] Военно-воздушные cилы России Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily Rossii |
1991 | |
|
Soviet Air Force |
|
1918-1991 | ||
|
Imperial Russian Air Force |
 |
1910-1917 | ||
|
Russian Naval Aviation Авиация Военно-Морского Флота Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskogo Flota |
1991 | ||
 Rwanda |
 |
Rwandan Air Force Force Aérienne Rwandaise |
1972 | |
[edit] S
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Saudi Arabia |
 |
Royal Saudi Air Force Al Quwwat al Jawwiya as Sa'udiya |
1950 | |
 Senegal |
 |
Senegalese Air Force Armée de l'Air du Sénégal |
1960 | |
 Serbia |
 |
Serbian Air Force Ваздухопловство и ПВО Војске Србије Vazduhoplovstvo i PVO Vojske Srbije |
2006[63] | |
|
Serbian Military Air Service |
 |
1915-1918[64] | ||
|
|
 |
1913-1915 | ||
|
Serbian Aviation Service Aircraft Command |
|
1912-1913 | ||
 Seychelles |
|
Coast Guard Air Wing (Seychelles) | 1980 | |
 Sierra Leone |
 |
Sierra Leone Defence Force | 1973 | |
 Singapore |
 |
Republic of Singapore Air Force Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura |
1968 | |
 Slovakia |
 |
Slovak Air Force Velitelstvo Vzdušnych Sil |
1993 | |
|
Slovenske Vzdusne Zbrane |
 |
1939-1944 | ||
 Slovenia |
 |
Air Force of the Slovenian Army Brigada zračne Obrambe in Letalstva Slovenske Vojske |
2004 | |
|
15th Aviation Brigade of the Slovenian Army |
|
1995-2004 | ||
|
15th Aviation Brigade of the Territorial Defense Force |
 |
1991-1995 | ||
|
Slovenian Airforce upon the break-away from the Hapsburg Empire |
|
1918-1919 | ||
 Somalia |
|
none | ||
 |
1960-1991 | |||
|
Somali Aeronautical Corps |
|
1958-1968 | ||
 South Africa |
 |
South African Air Force Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag |
1920 | |
 |
1947-1957 | |||
|
|
 |
1924-1947 | ||
|
South African Aviation Corps |
|
1915-1920 | ||
 Spain |
 |
Spanish Air Force Ejército del Aire |
1939 | |
|
Nationalist Air Force[66] |
 |
1936-1939 | ||
|
" |
 |
1937-1939 | ||
|
Fuerzas Aéreas de la República Española (F.A.R.E.) |
 |
1931-1939 | ||
|
Aeronáutica Militar Española |
|
1911-1931 | ||
|
Servicio Militar de Aerostacion |
|
1896-1911 | ||
|
FAMET Spanish Army Aviation Fuerzas Aeromóviles del Ejército de Tierra |
1973 | ||
|
Armada Española Air Arm Arma Aérea de la Armada |
1954 | ||
|
Aeronáutica Naval |
|
1917-1936 | ||
 Sri Lanka |
 |
Sri Lanka Air Force | 1972 | |
|
Royal Ceylon Air Force |
|
1951-1972 | ||
 Sudan |
 |
Sudanese Air Force Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya As-Sudaniya |
1956 | |
 Suriname |
 |
Suriname Air Force Surinaamse Luchtmacht |
1982 | |
 Swaziland |
|
Swazi Air Force | 1979 | |
 Sweden |
 |
Swedish Air Force Svenska Flygvapnet |
1926 | |
|
Aircraft Coy of the Signal Corps |
|
1912-1926 | ||
|
Naval Air Service |
|
1911-1926 | ||
|
Defence Helicopter Wing[67] Försvarsmaktens Helikopterflottilj |
1998-2003 | ||
|
Swedish Army Aviation |
|
1954-1998 | ||
|
Swedish Naval Aviation |
|
1958-1998 | ||
 Switzerland |
 |
Swiss Air Force Schweizer Luftwaffe Forces Aériennes Suisses Forze Aeree Svizzere |
1946 | |
|
Independent service under the Swiss Federal Military Department |
|
1936-1946 | ||
|
Swiss Army Aviation |
|
1914-1936 | ||
 Syria |
|
Syrian Air Force Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al Arabiya as-Souriya |
1961 | |
|
1958-1961[32] | |||
|
Syrian Air Force |
.svg){kind=small} |
1948-1958 | ||
[edit] T
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Taiwan (ROC) |
 |
Republic of China Air Force 中華民國空軍 Chung-Hua Min-Kuo K'ung-Chün |
1938 | |
|
1925-1938 | |||
 |
1920-1925? | |||
 |
1916?-1919? | |||
|
1914-1916? | |||
|
1913-1914 | |||
|
Republic of China Army Aviation and Special Forces Command | 1999 | ||
|
1979-1999 | |||
|
1976-1979 | |||
|
Republic of China Navy Aviation Command | 1995 | ||
|
1991-1995 | |||
|
1977-1991 | |||
|
1927-1938 | |||
 Tajikistan |
|
Tajikistan Air and Air Defense Troops | c. 1993-1994[70] | |
 Tanzania |
 |
Tanzanian People's Defense Force Air Wing Jeshi la Anga la Wananchi wa Tanzania |
1965 | |
 Thailand |
 |
Royal Thai Air Force กองทัพอากาศไทย Kongthap Akat Thai |
1937 | |
|
Siamese Air Force Division |
|
1935-1937 | ||
|
Siamese Air Division |
|
1921-1935 | ||
|
Siamese Army Aviation Division |
|
1917-1921 | ||
|
Siamese Army Aviation Unit |
|
1914-1917 | ||
 Togo |
 |
Togolese Air Force Force Aérienne Togolaise |
1964[71] | |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
|
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Air Guard | 1966 | |
 Tunisia |
 |
Tunisian Air Force Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah at'Tunisia |
1959[72] | |
 Turkey |
 |
Turkish Air Force Türk Hava Kuvvetleri |
1972 | |
|
former marking |
 |
1944-1972 | ||
|
Turkish Ministry of Defense, |
|
1928-1944 | ||
|
Turkish Air Force Inspectorate |
|
1922-1928 | ||
|
Turkish Air Force General Directorate |
|
1921-1922 | ||
|
Turkish Army Air Service |
|
1920-1921 | ||
|
Turkish Land Force Aviation Türk Kara Kuvvetleri Havacılığı |
1948 | ||
|
Turkish Naval Aviation Türk Donanma Havacılığı |
1971 | ||
|
Turkish Coast Guard Aviation Türk Sahil Güvenlik Havacılığı |
1993 | ||
 Turkmenistan |
|
Turkmenistan Air Force and Air Defense Force | 1992 | |
[edit] U
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Uganda |
 |
Ugandan Air Force | 1964 | |
 Ukraine |
 |
Ukrainian Air Force Військово-Повітряні Сили України Viys'kovo-Povitriani Syly Ukrayiny |
1992 | |
 |
Ukrainian Naval Aviation Авіація Військово-Морських Сил Aviatsiya Viys'kovo-Mors'kykh Syl |
1992 | ||
 United Arab Emirates |
 |
United Arab Emirates Air Force[73] | 1976[74] | |
 United Kingdom |
|
Royal Air Force | 1918 | |
 |
1914-1918 | |||
|
1912-1918 | |||
|
1911-1912 | |||
|
1888-1911 | |||
|
Fleet Air Arm[75] | 1937 | ||
|
Army Air Corps[75] | 1942 | ||
 United States |
 |
United States Air Force | 1947 | |
|
|
 |
1947- | ||
 |
1943-1947 | |||
|
|
 |
1943 | ||
|
|
 |
1942-1943 | ||
|
|
 |
1941-1942 | ||
|
1926-1941 | |||
|
1917-1926 | |||
|
Army Aviation Branch | 1983 | ||
|
Army Aviation |
|
1947-1983 | ||
|
U.S. Naval Aviation | 1911 | ||
|
|
|
1947- | ||
|
|
|
1943-1947 | ||
|
|
|
1943 | ||
|
|
|
1942-1943 | ||
|
|
|
1926-1942 | ||
|
United States Marine Corps Aviation | 1912 | ||
|
Air National Guard | 1947 | ||
|
component of the United States National Guard |
|
1916-1947 | ||
 Uruguay |
 |
Uruguayan Air Force Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya |
1953 | |
|
Military Air Force |
|
1952-1953 | ||
|
Uruguayan Military Aviation |
|
1935-1952 | ||
|
Military School of Aeronautics |
|
1916-1935 | ||
|
Military Aviation School |
|
1913-1916 | ||
|
Uruguayan Naval Aviation Aviación Naval Uruguaya |
1951 | ||
|
Naval Air Service |
|
1925-1951 | ||
 Uzbekistan |
|
Uzbek Air and Air Defense Force | 1992 | |
[edit] V
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Venezuela |
 |
Venezuelan Air Force Aviación Militar Venezolana |
2006[76] | |
|
Fuerza Aérea Venezolana |
|
1949-2006 | ||
|
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 | ||
 Vietnam |
 |
Vietnam People's Air Force Không Quân Nhân Dân Việt Nam |
1975 | |
|
1959-1975 | |||
|
1941-1945 | |||
[edit] Y
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Yemen |
 |
Yemen Air Force Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Yemeniya |
1990 | |
[edit] Z
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Zambia(formerly Northern Rhodesia) |
 |
Zambian Air Force and Air Defence Command | 1968 | |
|
1964-1968 | |||
|
Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland Air Force |
 |
1954-1963 | ||
 Zimbabwe(formerly Southern Rhodesia) |
 |
Air Force of Zimbabwe | 1980 | |
 |
1970-1979 | |||
 |
1963-1970 | |||
|
Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland Air Force |
|
1954-1963 | ||
 |
1939-1954 | |||
|
1935-1939 | |||
[edit] Former countries
| Country | Established | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Indigenous nameCurrentFormer |
||||
 Austria-Hungary |
|
Austro-Hungarian Air Corps Kaiserliche und Königliche Luftfahrtruppen |
1912-1919 | |
|
Imperial and Royal Aviation Service |
|
1893-1912 | ||
 Biafra |
 |
Biafran Air Force |
1967-1970 | |
 Czechoslovakia |
|
Czechoslovak Air Force[77] Československé Vojenské Letectvo |
1945-1993 | |
|
Czechoslovak Army Air Force |
|
1918-1939 | ||
 East Germany |
|
East German Air Force Luftstreitkräfte und Luftverteidigung der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik |
1956-1990 | |
 Manchukuo |
 |
Manchukuo Air Force | 1938-1945 | |
 |
Manchukuo Air Transport Company[78] Manchu Kokuyuso Kabushiki Kaisha |
1932-1945 | ||
 North Yemen |
 |
Yemen Arab Republic Air Force | 1962-1990 | |
 Ottoman Empire |
|
Ottoman Air Force Inspectorate Kuva-yı Havaiye Müfettişliği |
1918-1920 | |
|
Ottoman Aviation Affairs Inspectorate |
|
1915-1918 | ||
|
Ottoman Aviation Organization Inspectorate |
|
1914-1915 | ||
|
Ottoman Aviation Commission |
|
1911-1914 | ||
|
Ottoman Naval Aviation Academy and Service Bahriye Tayyare Mektebi ve Havacılık Şubesi |
1914-1919 | ||
 South Vietnam |
_roundel.svg){kind=small} |
Vietnam Air Force Khong Quan Viet Nam |
1954-1975 | |
 South Yemen |
 |
South Yemen Air Force | 1967-1990 | |
 Soviet Union |
|
Soviet Air Force[79] Военно-воздушные силы |
1930-1991 | |
|
Workers' and Peasants' Air Fleet |
|
1918-1930 | ||
 United Arab Republic |
||||