List of air forces

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

A

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Abkhazia Abkhazian Air Force1992 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 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
Força Aérea Popular de Angola/Defesa Anti-Aviões

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 [1]1955 Armenia Armenian Air Force
Հայաստանի Ռազմաօդային Ուժեր 1992 Australia Royal Australian Air Force1921

Australian Air Corps

1921

Australian Flying Corps

1914-1921 Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm1947 Australian Army Aviation1968 Austria Austrian Air Force
Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte 1955

Luftwaffen Kommando Österreich

1938-1945

Heimwehr Flieger Korps

1927-1938 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Air Force1991

B

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Bahamas Royal Bahamas Defence Force Air Wing1981 Bahrain Royal Bahraini Air Force2002

Bahrain Ameri Air Force

1987-2002

Bahrain Defence Force Air Wing

1977-1987 Bangladesh Bangladeshi Air Force
বাংলােদশ িবমান বািহনী
Bangladesh Biman Bahini 1971 Barbados Barbados Defence Force1981[8] Belarus Belarus Air Forcepost 1995

Belarus Air Force

1991-1995 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 Wing1983 Benin Benin Air Force
Force Aérienne Populaire de Benin 1975

Dahomey Air Force
Force Aérienne de Dahomey

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

Republika Srpska Air Force
Ратно Ваздухопловство и ПВО ВРС
Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo i PVO VRS

1992-2007

Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Air Force
Zručne Snage Armije Republike BiH

1992-1996 Botswana Botswana Defence Force Air Wing1977 Brazil Brazilian Air Force
Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB) 1941

(Roundel used during World War II)

1941-1945

National Air Forces
Forças Aéreas Nacionais

1941

Military Aviation Service
Serviço de Aviação Militar (AvM)

1918-1941 Brazilian Naval Aviation
Força Aeronaval 1952

Naval Aviation Service
Serviço de Aviação Naval (AvN)

1952-1941 Brazilian Army Aviation
Aviação do Exército Brasileiro 1986 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 Bulgaria Bulgarian Air Force
Български Военновъздушни Сили
Balgarski Voennovazdushni Sili (BVVS) 1992

Bulgarian Air Defense and Air Force
Противовъздушна отбрана и Военновъздушни сили

Protivovazdushna Otbrana i Voennovazdushni Sili (PVOiVVS)

1961-1992

Bulgarian Military Air Force
Български Военновъздушни Сили

Balgarski Voennovazdushni Sili (BVVS)

1952-1961

Bulgarian Military Air Force
Български Военновъздушни Сили

Balgarski Voennovazdushni Sily (VVS)

1949-1952

Air Army
Въздушни Войски

Vazdusni Voiski (VV)

1945-1949

1941-1944

Royal Bulgarian Air Force[10]
Vazhdushnite na Negovo Velichestvo Voiski (VNVV)

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
Zhandarmeriisko Aeroplanno Otdelenie

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
Otdelna Protivolodachna Eskadrila na VMF (OPLEV-VMF)

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

C

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

Kampuchean People's Air Force

1984-1991[14]

Air Force of the Kampuchean Liberation Army

1977-1979[15]

Khmer Air Force
Aviation Nationale Khmer

1970-1975

Royal Khmer Air Force
Aviation Royale Khmere

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

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
Servició de Aviación Militar de Chile date=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[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

Nanyuan Flying Group[20]

1949

Red Army of China Air Force

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 Taiwan (ROC)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]

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[23]

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 Colombia Colombian Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Colombiana 1922 Colombian Naval Aviation
Aviación Naval 1935 Colombian Army Aviation
Aviación del Ejército 1995 Congo [24]Congolese Air Force
L'Armée de l'Air du Congo 1961 Dem. Rep. of the Congo [25]Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Force Aérienne du Congo

Zaire Air Force

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
Sección Aérea del Ministerio de Seguridad Pública

1964-1994

Air Section of the Costa Rica Civil Guard
Sección Aérea de la Guardia Civil

1957-1964

Costa Rican Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Costarricense

1955-1957

Costa Rican Military Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Militar

1947/48-1949[26] 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 Protuzracna Obrana 1991

Kroatische Luftwaffen Legion[27]

1941-1945 Cuba Cuban Revolutionary Air Force [28]
Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria 1959

Cuban Rebel Air Force[29]
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[30]
Aviación Naval 1934-1952 Czech Republic Czech Air Force
Vzdušné síly armády České republiky 1993

D

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

Royal Danish Army Air Corps[31]
Hærens Flyvertropper

1912-1950

Royal Danish Naval Aviation
Marinens Flyvevæsen

1911-1950 Royal Danish Navy Helicopter Service
Søværnets Helikoptertjeneste 2003

Royal Danish Navy Flying Service
Søværnets Flyvetjeneste (SVF)

1962-2003 Djibouti Djibouti Air Force
Force Aérienne du Djibouti 1977 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[32]

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[33]

E

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Ecuador Ecuadorian Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (FAE) 1944

Ecuadorian Army Air Force
Fuerza Aérea del Ejército Equatoriana (FAEE)

1935-1944

Army Military Aviator Corps
Cuerpo de Aviadores Militares del Ejército

1927-1935

Army Aviation Company
Compañia de Aviación del Ejército

1925-1927

Military Aviation School
Escuela Militar de Aviación

1920-1925 Ecuadorian Naval Aviation
Aviación Naval Ecuatoriana (ANE) 1967 Ecuadorian Army Aviation
Aviación del Ejército Ecuatoriano (AEE) 1978

Ecuadorian Army Air Service
Servicio Aéreo del Ejército (SAE)

1954-1978 Egypt Egyptian Air Force
Al Quwwat Al Jawwiya Il Misriya

United Arab Republic Air Force

1958-1961[34]

Egyptian Air Force

1952-1958

Royal Egyptian Air Force

1937-1952

Egyptian Army Air Force

1931-1937 El Salvador El Salvador Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña (FAS) 1946

Salvadorean Army Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Ejército de Salvador (FAES)

1927-1946

Salvadorean Aviation Corps
Cuerpo de la Aviación Salvadoreña

1925-1927

Salvadorean Air Flotilla
Flotilla Aérea Salvadoreña

1923-1925

El Salvador Military Aviation Service
Servicio de Aviación Militar de Salvador

1922-1923 Eritrea Eritrean Air Force1994 Estonia Estonian Air Force
Eesti Õhuvägi 1991

Luftwaffe units[35]

1943-1944

Sonderstaffel Buschmann[36]

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[37]

Imperial Ethiopian Air Force

1946-1975

Imperial Ethiopian Aviation

1929-1935

F

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Fiji none

Air Wing, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

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 Frontier Guard
Rajavartiolaitos
Gränsbevakningsväsendet 1919

Finnish Coast Guard
Merivartiolaitos
Sjöbevakningssektionen

1919-1944 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 Air Force
Armée de l'Air

1933-1940

French Army Aviation
Aviation Militaire

1909-1933 French Naval Air Arm
Aviation Navale 1925

1925-1940 French Army Light Aviation
Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre 1954

G

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Gabon Gabon Air Force
Armée de l'Air Gabonaise 1961 Gambia Gambian Air Force [38]c.2003?[39] Georgia Georgian Air Force1990 Germany German Air Force
Luftwaffe 1955

East German Air Force
Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen 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
Marineflieger1955 German Army Aviators Corps
Heeresfliegertruppe 1955 Ghana Ghana Air Force1959 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
Cuerpo de Aeronáutica Militar (CAM)

1935-1948

Guatemalan Military Aviation Corps
Cuerpo de Aviación Militar de Guatemala (CAM)

1929-1935

Guatemalan Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca (FAG)

1921-1929

Army Aviation Corps
Cuerpo de Aviación de Ejército

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 Force1968

H

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Haiti Haiti Air Corps
Corps d'Aviation d'Garde d'Haiti 1942 Honduras Honduran Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Hondureña 1954

Honduran Air Force & Military Aviation School
Fuerza Aérea y Escuela de Aviación Militar

1936-1954

National Aviation School
Escuela Nacional de Aviación (ENA)

1931-1936 Hungary Hungarian Air Force
Magyar Légierő 1991

1990-1991

Air Force of the Hungarian People's Army
Magyar Néphadsereg légiereje

1951-1990

1949-1951

1948-1949

Royal Hungarian National Defense Air Force
Magyar Királyi Honvéd Légierő

1941-1945

1938-1941 Red Hungarian Air Corps
Vörös Légjárócsapat 1919

Insignia variant

I

For Ivory Coast, see Côte d'Ivoire above.

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

Royal Indian Air Force

1945-1950

Indian Air Force

1932-1945 Army Aviation Corps 1986 Naval Air Arm1953 Indian Coast GuardAir Wing
Bharatiya Tatarakshak Dal 1978 Indonesia Indonesian Air Force
Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU) 1946

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 Iran Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران 1979

Imperial Iranian Air Force
Nirou Havai Shahanshahiye Iran

1925-1979 Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Aviation 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 [40]
Aeronautica Militare 1946

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

1943-1946

Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana [41]

1943-1944

Royal Italian Air Force
Regia Aeronautica [42]

1935-1943

Royal Italian Air Force
Regia Aeronautica [43]

1923-1936

Royal Naval Aviation
Aviazione della Regia Marina

1912-1923

Military Air Corps[44]
Corpo Aeronautico Militare

1911-1923

Royal Army Air Service
Servizio Aeronautico

1884[45]-1911 Italian Naval Aviation
Aviazione Navale 1956 Italian Army Aviation
Cavalleria dell'Aria 1951 Helicopter Service of the Carabinieers
Nucleo Elicotteri Carabinieri 1965

J

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Jamaica Jamaican Defence Force1963

Jamaica Air Squadron

1963 Japan Japan Air Self-Defense Force [46]
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 [47]
大日本帝国海軍航空本部 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun Kōkū Hombu

1910-1945 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
陸上自衛隊 Rikujō Jieitai

Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
大日本帝国陸軍航空本部 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun Kōkū Hombu

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

Arab Legion Air Force

1946-1955

K

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Air Defense Force
Sil Vozdushnoy Oborony Respubliki Kazakhstan 1992 Kenya Kenya Air Force1964 North Korea Korean People's Army Air Force1955 South Korea Republic of Korea Air Force
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 Force1991

L

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Laos Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force [48]1975

Royal Lao Air Force[49] [50]

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 Squadronc.1988 Liberia Liberian Army Air Wing1987 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
Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya al Libiyya

1951-1970 Lithuania Lithuanian Air Force
Karinės Oro Pajėgos 1992 Luxembourg NATO Airborne Early Warning Force [51]1982

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 Wing1978

Malawi Young Pioneers Air Arm[52]

1970-1978 Malaysia Royal Malaysian Air Force
Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia 1963

Royal Malayan Air Force
Tentera Udara Diraja Persekutuan

1958-1963 Maldives Air Elements
Maldives National Defence Force 1978 Mali Mali Air Force
Force Aérienne de la République du Mali 1961 Malta Armed Forces of Malta No.2 Regiment – Air Squadron1992 Mauritania Mauritanian Air Force
Force Aérienne de la Islamique de Mauritanie 1961 Mauritius Mauritius Coast Guard1987

Mauritius Police Force Marine Wing

1970-1987 Mexico Mexican Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Mexicana 1915 Mexican Naval Aviation
Fuerza Aeronaval 1926[53] Moldova Moldovan Air Force [54]1991 Mongolia Mongolian Air Defense Forces Command
Agaaryn Dovtolgoonoos Khamgaalakh Tsergiyn Komandlal 1993

Mongolian People's Air Force

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
Aviation Royale Chérifienne

1956-1961 Mozambique Mozambique Air Force
Força Aérea de Moçambique c.1976/77?

People's Liberation Air Force of Mozambique
Força Populare Aérea de Libertação de Moçambique

1975-c.1976/77? Myanmar Myanmar Air Force
Tatmdaw Lei 1947

N

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Namibia Namibian Air Force2005

Namibia Defence Force Air Wing

1994-2005 Nepal Royal Nepal Army Air Wing1979

Royal Nepal Army Air Service

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

New Zealand Territorial Air Force

1930-1957

New Zealand Permanent Air Force

1923-1934

New Zealand Army Flying Corps

1913-1923 Nicaragua Nicaraguan Army Air Force
Fuerza Aérea – Ejército de Nicaragua 1995‎

Nicaraguan Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Nicaraguënse‎

1990-1995

Sandinista Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Sandinista‎

1979-1990

Air Force of Nicaragua
Fuerza Aérea de Nicaragua‎

c.1950-1979

Guard Air Force of Nicaragua
Fuerza Aérea Guardia de Nicaragua‎

c.1947-c.1950

Air Force of the National Guard
Fuerza Aérea de la Guardia Nacional‎

1938-c.1947

Air Corps of the National Guard
Cuerpo de Aviación de la Guardia Nacional‎

1936-1938

Military Aviation Corps
Cuerpo Militar de Aviación‎

1926-1936

National Guard
Guardia Nacional‎

1920-1926 Niger National Squadron of Niger
Escadrille Nationale du Niger 2003

Niger Air Force
Force Aérienne du Niger

1961-2003? Nigeria Nigerian Air Force1964 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

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 System1999

P

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

Royal Pakistani Air Force

1947-1956 Army Aviation Wing 1958 Pakistan Navy Air Arm 1973 Panama Panamanian Air Force
Servicio Aéreo Nacional 1983 Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Defence Force1974 Paraguay Paraguay Air Force
Aeronautica Militar Paraguaya 1989 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 Philippines Philippine Air Force
Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas 1947 Poland Polish Air Force
Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej 2004

Air and Air Defence Forces
Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej

1993-2004

1990-1993

Air Force
Wojska Lotnicze

1962-1990

Air Defence Force of Country
Wojska Obrony Powietrznej Kraju

1962-1990

Air and Air Defence Forces of Country
Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Przeciwlotniczej Obszaru Kraju

1954-1962

Air Force
Wojska Lotnicze

1947-1954

Air Force of the Polish Army
Lotnictwo Wojska Polskiego

1945-1947

Air Force of the Polish Army
Lotnictwo Wojska Polskiego

1943-1945

RAF squadrons 300-309, 315-318 and 663

1940-1947

Forces Aerienes Polonaises

1940

Air Force
Wojska Lotnicze

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

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

Q

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Qatar Qatar Emiri Air Force1968

R

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Romania Romanian Air Force
Forţele Aeriene Române 1989

Forţele Aeriene ale Republicii Socialiste Română

1985-1989

Forţele Aeriene ale Republicii Socialiste Română

1965-1985

Forţele Aeriene ale Republicii Populare Română

1947-1965

1944-1947

Forţele Aeriene Regale ale României

1941-1944

Aeronautica Regală Românã

1915-1941 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
Pre-reform Russian:Императорскiй военно-воздушный флотъ

1910-1917 Russian Naval Aviation
Авиация Военно-Морского Флота
Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskogo Flota 1991 Rwanda Rwandan Air Force
Force Aérienne Rwandaise 1972

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[60]

Serbian Military Air Service
Српска Авијатика
Srpska Avijatika

1915-1918[61]

1913-1915

Serbian Aviation Service Aircraft Command
Ваздухопловна Команда
Vazduhoplovna Komanda

1912-1913 Seychelles Coast Guard Air Wing (Seychelles)1980 Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Defence Force1973 Singapore Republic of Singapore Air Force
Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura 1975 Slovakia Slovak Air Force
Velitelstvo Vzdušnych Sil 1993

Slovenske Vzdusne Zbrane

1939-1944 Slovenia Air Force of the Slovenian Army
Vojaško Letalstvo in Zracna Obramba Slovenske Vojske 2004

15th Aviation Brigade of the Slovenian Army

1995-2004

15th Aviation Brigade of the Territorial Defense Force

1992-1995

Slovenian Territorial Defense Force - Air Force Unit

1991-1992 Somalia Somali Air Corps
Cuerpo Aeronautica della Somalia 1991 South Africa South African Air Force
Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag 1920

Royal South African Air Force

1924-1947

South African Aviation Corps

1915-1920 Spain Spanish Air Force
Ejército del Aire 1939

Nationalist Air Force[62]
Aviación Nacional

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 FAMETSpanish 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 Force1972

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 Force1979 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[63]
Försvarsmaktens Helikopterflottilj 1998-2003

Swedish Army Aviation
Arméflyget

1954-1998

Swedish Naval Aviation
Marinflyget

1958-1998 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 Syria Syrian Air Force
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al Arabiya as-Souriya 1961

United Arab Republic Air Force

1958-1961[34]

Syrian Air Force
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al Arabiya as-Souriya

1948-1958

T

For Taiwan, see Taiwan (Republic of China) under section C above.

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Tajikistan Tajikistan Air and Air Defense Troopsc. 1993-1994[64] 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

Air Force Division
กรมทหารอากาศ
Krom Tahan Akat

1935-1937

Air Division
กรมอากาศยาน
Krom Akatsayan

1921-1935

Army Aviation Division
กรมอากาศยานทหารบก
Krom Akatsayan Tahan Bok

1917-1921

Army Aviation Unit
กองบินทหารบก
Kong Bin Tahan Bok

1914-1917 Togo Togolese Air Force
Force Aérienne Togolaise 1964[65] Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Air Guard1966 Tunisia Tunisian Air Force
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah at'Tunisia 1959[66] Turkey Turkish Air Force
Türk Hava Kuvvetleri 1972

former marking

1944-1972

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 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 Force1992

U

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Uganda Ugandan Air Force1964 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 [67]1976[68] United Kingdom Royal Air Force1918

Royal Naval Air Service

1914-1918

Royal Flying Corps

1912-1918 Fleet Air Arm [69]1937 Army Air Corps [69]1942 United States United States Air Force1947

1947-

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 Army Aviation Branch1983

Army Aviation

1947-1983 U.S. Naval Aviation1911

1947-

1943-1947

1942-1943

1926-1942 United States Marine Corps Aviation1912 Air National Guard1947

component of the United States National Guard

1916-1947 Uruguay Uruguayan Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya 1953

Military Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Militar

1952-1953

Uruguayan Military Aviation
Aeronáutica Militar Uruguaya

1935-1952

Military School of Aeronautics
Escuela Militar de Aeronáutica

1916-1935

Military Aviation School
Escuela de Aviación Militar

1913-1916 Uruguayan Naval Aviation
Aviación Naval Uruguaya 1951

Naval Air Service
Servicio Aeronáutico

1925-1951 Uzbekistan Uzbek Air and Air Defense Force1992

V

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Venezuela Venezuelan Air Force
Aviación Militar Venezolana 2006[70]

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

North Vietnamese Air Force

1959-1975

Cochin China Air Force

1941-1945

Y

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Yemen Yemen Air Force
Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Yemeniya 1990

Z

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Zambia
(formerly Northern Rhodesia) Zambian Air Force and Air Defence Command1968

Zambia Air Wing

1964-1968

Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland Air Force

1954-1963 Zimbabwe
(formerly Southern Rhodesia) Air Force of Zimbabwe1980

Rhodesian Air Force

1970-1979

Royal Rhodesian Air Force

1963-1970

Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland Air Force

1954-1963

Southern Rhodesian Air Force

1939-1954

Rhodesian Regiment Air Unit

1935-1939

Former countries

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Austria-Hungary Austro-Hungarian Air Corps
Kaiserliche und Königliche Luftfahrtruppen 1912-1919

Imperial and Royal Aviation Service
KuK. Militär-Aeronautische Anstalt

1893-1912 Biafra Biafran Air Force
1967-1970 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovak Air Force [71]
Češkoslovenske Vojenske Letectvo 1945-1993

Czechoslovak Army Air Force
Češkoslovenske Letectvo

1918-1939 East Germany East German Air Force
Luftstreitkräfte und Luftverteidigung der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik 1956-1990 Manchukuo Manchukuo Air Force1938-1945 Manchukuo Air Transport Company[72]
Manchu Kokuyuso Kabushiki Kaisha 1932-1945 North Yemen Yemen Arab Republic Air Force 1962-1990 Ottoman Empire Ottoman Air ForceInspectorate
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 Ottoman Naval Aviation Academy and Service
Bahriye Tayyare Mektebi ve Havacılık Şubesi 1914-1919 South Vietnam Vietnam Air Force
Khong Quan Viet Nam 1954-1975 South Yemen South Yemen Air Force 1967-1990 Soviet Union Soviet Air Force [73]
Военно-воздушные силы 1930-1991

Workers' and Peasants' Air Fleet
Рабоче-крестьянский воздушный флот

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

Egyptian Air Force

1952-1958

Syrian Air Force

1948-1958 Kingdom of Yugoslavia/
SFR Yugoslavia/
FR Yugoslavia Serbia and Montenegro Air Force
Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздушна одбрана Војске Србије и Црне Горе
Ratno vazdukhoplovstvo i protivvazdushna odbrana Vojske Srbije i Tsrne Gore 2003-2006[74]

FR Yugoslavia Air Force
Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздушна одбрана Војске Југославије
Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana Vojske Jugoslavije

1992-2003

SFR Yugoslav Air Force [75]
Југословенско Ратно Ваздухопловство и Противваздушна Одбрана
Jugoslovensko Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo i Protivvazdušna Odbrana

1945-1991

Yugoslav Royal Air Force
Југословенско Краљевско Ратно Ваздухопловство и Поморска Авиацијса
Jugoslovensko Kraljevsko Ratno VAzduhoplovstvo i Pomorska Aviacija

1929-1941

Yugoslav Royal Army Aviation Department
Авиацијско Одељење Југословенске Краљевске Армије
Aviacijsko Odeljenje Jugoslovenske Kraljevske Armije

1923-1929 Zaire
(now Democratic Republic of Congo) Zaire Air Force1971-1997

Other

Country Established Service
Indigenous nameCurrentFormer Hong Kong

Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps - Air Arm RAF

1930-1949

Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force/RAF

1949-1951

Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force

1951-1993 People's Liberation Army Air Force- People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison
1997-

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 national flag is used as a fin flash.
^ 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:
^ Flank roundel:
^ Conglomerate of the Aviazione della Regia Marina and Corpo Aeronautico Militare. Tailfin insignia (click to enlarge): , flank roundel (click to enlarge):
^ Tailfin insignia (click to enlarge):
^ Tailfin insignia (click to enlarge):
^ (Italian) Baldassare Catalanotto, Hugo Pratt, In un cielo lontano : 70 anni di aeronautica militare. Lizard editore, 1993. ISBN 88-86456-01-8
^ Patterned on the US Air Force.
^ Also used the Imperial Japanese Navy's ensign:
^ For some time LPLAAF also used this roundel (clik to enlarge): (www.acig.org)
^ 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.
^ On the flanks are used also the national flag, it seems to be used also this roundel:
^ 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.
^ There is also the alternate version:
^ 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.
^ Some units customize their roundels, painting in white inside, their own symbol or motto.
^ 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.
^ Aviación Militar Bolivariana - Paladín del Espacio Soberano
^ 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.
^ Until the fifties was in use the single bordered star, also painted on the flanks (click to enlarge):
^ 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)