Royal Cambodian Air Force
| Royal Cambodian Air Force កងទ័ពឤកាសខេមរភូមិន្ទ Kangtorp Cheung Akas | |
|---|---|
 Royal Cambodian Air Force wings | |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Cambodia |
| Type | Air Force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 2,500 (2010) |
| Part of | Royal Cambodian Armed Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Phnom Penh |
| Motto(s) | Defending the Kingdom of Cambodia |
| Mascot(s) | Aafra Zarnaz Auhona |
| Anniversaries | 9 November 1953 |
| Engagements | First Indochina War Cambodian Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Soeung Samnang |
| Insignia | |
| Ensign |  |
| Roundel |  |
The Royal Cambodian Air Force (Khmer: កងទ័ពជើងអាកាស 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 Lieutenant 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.[citation needed] The only operational aircraft at Pochentong Air Base are from the VIP squadron. Maintenance of 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.
History
During the early 1990 Mi-8, Mil Mi-26 Halo and Mi-17 helicopters entered service with the Air Force, as well as Harbin Y-12 and BN-2 Islander transport aircraft. A VIP transport unit was formed in 1995 using the An-24RV and Beech 200 Super King Air. In 2000 a deal was made with Israeli Aircraft Industries to overhaul MiG-21s and which saw the delivery of L-39C Albatross aircraft for lead in trainers and entered service during 1995–2000.
Aircraft serviceability
Only the Mi-8, Mil Mi-26 Halo, Mi-17 and the Harbin Z-9 helicopters are currently serviceable. The VIP fleet of helicopters and passenger aircraft is under the control of the civilian authorities.
Aircraft
Current inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | ||||||
| Airbus A320 | France | VIP | 1[1] | |||
| Xian MA60 | China | transport | 2[2] | |||
| Harbin Y-12 | China | transport | 1[2] | |||
| Britten-Norman BN-2 | United Kingdom | utility | 1[2] | |||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| Mil Mi-17 | Russia | transport | 5[2] | |||
| Mil Mi-26 | Russia | transport | Mi-26T | 2[2] | ||
| Harbin Z-9 | China | utility | 11[2] | |||
| Eurocopter AS350 | France | utility | 1[2] | |||
| Eurocopter AS355 | France | utility | 1[2] | |||
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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Royal Cambodian Air Force |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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
- Cambodian Civil War
- Khmer National Armed Forces
- Khmer Air Force
- Royal Cambodian Army
- Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
- Royal Cambodian Navy
- Weapons of the Cambodian Civil War
References
- ^ "Air Force One of Cambodia". alfredmeier.me. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 12". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, 11–17 December 2012, Vol. 182 No. 5370. pp. 40–64. ISSN 0015-3710.
- World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 337 Sheet 05
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