Royal Cambodian Air Force

Air warfare branch of Cambodia's armed forces

កងទ័ពជើងអាកាស
Badge of the Royal Cambodian Air Force
Founded9 November 1953; 70 years ago (1953-11-09)Country CambodiaAllegianceHM The KingTypeAir forceRoleAerial warfarePart ofRoyal Cambodian Armed ForcesHeadquartersPhnom Penh, CambodiaMotto(s)"ការពារព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា" (Khmer)
("Defend the Kingdom of Cambodia")Mascot(s)Aafra Zarnaz AuhonaEngagements
  • Indochina Wars
    • First Indochina War
    • Second Indochina War
      • Cambodian Civil War
CommandersCurrent
commanderGeneral Soeung SamnangInsigniaRoundelFin flash
Military unit

The Royal Cambodian Air Force (Khmer: កងទ័ពជើងអាកាស, romanized: Kâng Toăp Cheung Akas [kɑːŋtɔəp cəːŋ ʔaːkaːh]; lit. 'Air Army') is the branch of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces which is charged with operating all military aircraft in Cambodia.

Organisation

The Royal Cambodian Air Force is commanded by General Soeung Samnang, who has four deputy commanders beneath him. The Air Force itself is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defence.

Air Force headquarters are located at Phnom Penh International Airport and is still sign posted Pochentong Air Base. The only operational aircraft at Pochentong Air Base are from the VIP squadron. Maintenance of aircraft and helicopters is also at Pochentong. The airworthy Z-9 and Mi-17 helicopters from the helicopter squadron are based at Phnom Penh International Airport and Siem Reap International Airport.

Recently, the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense plans to purchase five L-39NG light fighter jets from the Czech Republic. In the past, the Cambodian Air Force has already purchased Mil Mi-17 and Mil Mi-171 helicopters.

Inventory

Previous inventory

In the past some MiG-21 fighters were operational. These aircraft in 2023 could be seen on ground in Phnom Penh international airport.

Current inventory

A former Mil Mi-26 Halo of the Royal Cambodian Air Force.[1]
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
Airbus A320 France VIP transport 1[2]
Xian MA60 China transport 2[3]
Harbin Y-12 China transport / utility 1[3]
Britten-Norman BN-2 United Kingdom transport 1[3]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-8 Russia transport 9[3]
Mil Mi-17 Russia transport 6[3]
Harbin Z-9 China utility 9[3]
Eurocopter AS350 France utility 3[3]
AgustaWestland AW109 Italy utility 2[4]
Trainer
Aero L-39 Czechoslovakia trainer / light attack L-39C 5[5]

Sport

The force maintains a professional association football team as one of its branches, which formerly played in the C-League.

Air Force ranks and insignia

Rank group General/Flag/Air officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
 Royal Cambodian Air Force
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 General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Sub Lieutenant
នាយឧត្តមសេនីយ៍
Néay ŭtdâmôséniy 		ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ឯក
Ŭtdâmôséniy êk 		ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ទោ
Ŭtdâmôséniy toŭ 		ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ត្រី
Ŭtdâmôséniy trei 		វរសេនីយ៍ឯក
Vôrôséniy êk 		វរសេនីយ៍ទោ
Vôrôséniy toŭ 		វរសេនីយ៍ត្រី
Vôrôséniy trei 		អនុសេនីយ៍ឯក
Ânŭséniy êk 		អនុសេនីយ៍ទោ
Ânŭséniy toŭ 		អនុសេនីយ៍ត្រី
Ânŭséniy trei 		នាយចំណង់
Néay châmnáng
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Royal Cambodian Air Force
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Warrant Officer Command Sergeant Major Master Sergeant Staff Sergeant Chief Corporal Corporal Airman 1st Class Airman 2nd Class Airman

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of Cambodia.
  1. ^ "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 12". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Air Force One of Cambodia". alfredmeier.me. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  5. ^ Vogel, Ben (16 October 2019). "Cambodia could buy more L-39s". janes.com. Jane's Defence Industry. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  • Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, 11–17 December 2012, Vol. 182 No. 5370. pp. 40–64. ISSN 0015-3710.
  • Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International. Vol. 194, No. 5665, 4–10 December 2018, pp. 32–60. ISSN 0015-3710
  • World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 337 Sheet 05
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