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, or army aviation unit. At the end is a separate list of no longer existent 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 military forces, see list of countries by size of armed forces.
A[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan
|
|
Afghan Air Force[1] دافغانستان هوايۍ ځواک |
2010 | |
|
Afghan Army Air Corps[2] |
|
2002–2010 | ||
|
Afghan National Army Air Corps[3] |
|
1996–2001 | ||
|
Air and Air Defense Force of the Islamic State of Afghanistan[4] |
|
1992–1996 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1983–1992 | ||
|
Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Air Force |
|
1979-1983 | ||
|
Afghan Republican Air Force |
|
1973–1979 | ||
|
Royal Afghan Air Force |
|
1948–1973 | ||
|
Afghan Air Force |
|
1937–1947 | ||
|
Afghan Military Air Arm |
|
1924[5]-1929 | ||
 Albania
|
|
Albanian Air Force | 1951 | |
|
1951–1990 | |||
|
Royal Albanian Air Corps |
|
1914–1939 | ||
 Algeria
|
|
Algerian Air Force Al-quwwa al-jawwiyya al-jazaeriyya, Armée de l'Air Algérienne |
1962 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1962–1964 | ||
|
|
Algerian Navy | |||
|
|
Algerian Gendarmerie | |||
 Angola
|
|
National Air Force of Angola Força Aérea Nacional de Angola |
2007 | |
|
Angolan People's Air Force And Air Defence Force |
|
1975-2007 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1975–1980 | ||
 Argentina
|
|
Argentine Air Force Fuerza Aérea Argentina |
1945 | |
|
Army Aeronautical Service |
|
1912–1945 | ||
|
Argentine Naval Aviation Comando de Aviación Naval Argentina |
1919 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
|||
|
|
Argentine Army Aviation Comando de Aviación del Ejército Argentino |
1956[6] | ||
|
Argentine Coast Guard Air Service Servicio de Aviación de la Prefectura Naval Argentina |
1970 | ||
|
|
Argentine Gendarmería Dirección de Aeronáutica de Gendarmería [1] |
1955 | ||
 Armenia
|
|
Armenian Air Force Հայաստանի Ռազմաօդային Ուժեր |
1992 | |
 Australia
|
|
Royal Australian Air Force | 1921 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1945–1956 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1943-1946 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1942–1946 | ||
|
Royal Australian Air Force |
|
1921–1942 | ||
|
Australian Air Force |
|
March–August 1921 | ||
|
|
1920–1921 | |||
|
|
1912–1919 | |||
|
|
Fleet Air Arm | 1947 | ||
|
Australian Army Aviation | 1968 | ||
|
1st Aviation Regiment (Divisional) |
|
1966–1968 | ||
|
|
1960–1966 | |||
 Austria
|
|
Austrian Air Force Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte |
1955 | |
|
Austrian Air Force |
|
1928-1938 | ||
|
Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops |
|
1893–1918 | ||
 Azerbaijan
|
|
Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force Azərbaycan hərbi hava qüvvələri |
1991 |
B[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bahamas
|
|
Royal Bahamas Defence Force Air Wing | 1981 | |
 Bahrain
|
|
Royal Bahraini Air Force | 2002 | |
|
Bahrain Amiri Air Force |
|
1987-2002 | ||
|
Bahrain Defence Force Air Wing |
|
1977-1987 | ||
 Bangladesh
|
|
Bangladesh Air Force বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী Bangladesh Biman Bahini |
1971 | |
|
|
1971-1972 | |||
|
Bangladesh Naval Aviation | 2011 | ||
|
|
Bangladesh Army Aviation Group | 1978 | ||
 Barbados
|
|
Barbados Defence Force | 1981[7] | |
 Belarus
|
|
Belarusian Air Force | post 1995 | |
|
Belarus Air Force |
|
1991–1995 | ||
 Belgium
|
|
Belgian Air Component Luchtcomponent, Composante Air |
2002 | |
|
Belgian Air Force |
|
1946-2001 | ||
|
Free Belgian Air Force |
|
1940-1946 | ||
|
Military Aviation |
|
1915-1940 | ||
|
Company of Aviators |
|
1910–1915 | ||
|
|
Belgian Navy | 1962–2002 | ||
|
|
Belgian Army | 1954–2002 | ||
|
|
Belgian Gendarmerie | 1968-2001 | ||
 Belize
|
|
Belize Defence Force Air Wing | 1983 | |
 Benin
|
|
Benin Air Force Force Aérienne de Benin |
1990 | |
|
People's Republic of Benin Air Force |
|
1975–1990 | ||
|
Dahomey Air Force |
|
1961-1975 | ||
 Bhutan
|
|
Royal Bhutan Army | 1972 | |
 Bolivia
|
|
Bolivian Air Force Fuerza Aérea Boliviana |
1944 | |
|
Bolivian Military Aviation Corps |
|
1923–1944 | ||
|
|
Bolivian Naval Aviation | |||
|
|
Bolivian Army Aviation | |||
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
|
Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ваздухопловство и ПВО Zrakoplovstvo i PZO |
2007 | |
|
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Air Force |
|
1996–2006 | ||
|
Republika Srpska Air Force |
|
1992–2006 | ||
|
Croatian Defence Council aviation |
|
1992– | ||
|
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 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1941–1945 | ||
|
Military Aviation Service |
|
1918–1941 | ||
|
Brazilian Naval Aviation Força Aeronaval |
1916 | ||
|
Brazilian Army Aviation Command Comando de Aviação do Exército Brasileiro |
1986 | ||
|
Brazilian Military Police Brazilian Army Military reserve force – National and state gendarmerie forces of Brazil. |
|||
 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 |
|
1966-1984 | ||
 Bulgaria
|
|
Bulgarian Air Force Български Военновъздушни Сили |
1992 | |
|
Bulgarian People's Army Air Force |
|
1949–1992 | ||
|
Air Army |
|
1945–1949 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1941–1944 | ||
|
Royal Bulgarian Air Force[8] |
|
1937–1941 | ||
|
Gendarmery Aeroplane Detachment |
|
1919-1920 | ||
|
Army Aviation Corps[9] |
|
1915–1918 | ||
|
Aeronautical Detachment[10] |
|
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 |
1984 | |
|
|
|
1964–1984 | ||
 Burundi
|
|
Burundi Army Aviation Force Armée du Burundi |
1966 |
C[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cambodia
|
|
Royal Cambodian Air Force Toap Akas Khemarak Phoumin Force Aérienne Royale Cambodge |
1993 | |
|
1989–1993 | |||
|
former insignia |
|
1989–1993 | ||
|
1979-1989[11] | |||
|
Air Force of the Kampuchean Revolutionary Army |
|
1977–1979[12] | ||
|
Khmer Air Force |
|
1970–1975 | ||
|
Royal Khmer Air Force |
|
1954–1970 | ||
 Cameroon
|
|
Cameroon Air Force Armée de l'Air du Cameroun |
1960 | |
 Canada
|
|
Royal Canadian Air Force Aviation Royale Canadienne |
2011 | |
|
Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) |
|
1968-2011 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1924–1968 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1967 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1945–1948 | ||
|
Canadian Air Force |
|
1920-1924 | ||
|
Canadian Air Force |
|
1918–1920 | ||
|
|
1917–1919 | |||
|
|
1914–1915 | |||
|
|
Royal Canadian Naval Air Service | 1918-1919 | ||
|
|
Canadian Army | 1947–1968 | ||
 Cape Verde
|
|
Cape Verde Air Force Força Aérea Caboverdiana |
1982 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1982–1992[13] | ||
 Central African Republic
|
|
Central African Republic Air Force Force Aérienne Centrafricaine |
1979– | |
|
Central African Empire Air Force |
|
1976–1979 | ||
|
|
1961–1976 | |||
 Chad
|
|
Chadian Air Force Force Aérienne Tchadienne |
1973 | |
 Chile
|
|
Chilean Air Force Fuerza Aérea de Chile (FACh) |
1930 | |
|
Chilean Naval Aviation Servicio de Aviación de la Armada de Chile |
1953 | ||
|
|
Chilean Army Aviation Comando de Aviación del Ejército de Chile |
1970[14] | ||
|
Carabineros de Chile | 1960 | ||
 China (PRC)
|
|
People's Liberation Army Air Force 中国人民解放军空军 Zhongguo Renmin Jiefangjun Kongjun |
1949 | |
|
c. 1930[15] | |||
|
|
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航空兵 |
1988 | ||
 Colombia
|
|
Colombian Air Force Fuerza Aérea Colombiana |
1922 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1927–1953 | ||
|
Colombian Naval Aviation Aviación Naval |
1984 | ||
|
|
Colombian National Army Aviation Aviación del Ejército |
1995 | ||
 Comoros
|
|
Comoros Military Aviation Command | 1976 | |
 Congo
|
|
Air Force of the Republic of Congo Force 'Aérienne Congolaise |
||
|
People’s Republic of Congo Air Force |
|
1970–1992 | ||
|
Congolese Air Force |
|
1961–1970 | ||
 Dem. Rep. of the Congo
|
|
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 Rican Civil Guard |
|
1955-1994 | ||
|
Costa Rican Military Air Force |
|
1947–1949 | ||
 Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) |
|
Côte d'Ivoire Air Force Force Aérienne de la Côte d'Ivoire |
c. 1965 | |
 Croatia
|
|
Croatian Air Force and Air Defense Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo i protuzračna obrana |
1991 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1991–1994 | ||
|
Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia |
|
1941–1945 | ||
 Cuba
|
|
Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force[16] Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria |
1959 | |
|
Cuban Rebel Air Force[17] |
|
1958 | ||
|
Cuban Army Air Force |
|
1952–1958 | ||
|
Cuban Army Air Corps |
|
1915–1952 | ||
|
Cuban Naval Aviation[18] Aviación Naval |
1934-1952 | ||
 Cyprus
|
|
Air Command of Cyprus Διοίκηση Αεροπορίας Κύπρου |
1996 | |
|
insignia variant |
|
|||
|
Cyprus National Guard Air Wing |
|
1973–1996 | ||
 Czech Republic
|
|
Czech Air Force Vzdušné síly armády České republiky |
1993 |
D[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Denmark
|
|
Royal Danish Air Force Flyvevåbnet |
1950 | |
|
Danish Navy Air Squadron[19] |
|
2003-2010 | ||
|
Royal Danish Army Flying Service[20] |
|
1971-2003 | ||
|
|
|
1962–2003 | ||
|
Danish Brigade in Sweden |
|
1943-1945 | ||
|
|
|
1912–1950 | ||
|
|
|
1911–1950 | ||
 Djibouti(formerly the French Territory of Afars and Issas) |
|
Djibouti Air Force Force Aérienne du Djibouti |
1977 | |
 Dominican Republic
|
|
Dominican Air Force Fuerza Aérea Dominicana (FAD) |
1962 | |
|
|
|
1957–1962 | ||
|
Dominican Air Force |
|
1955–1957 | ||
|
|
|
1952–1955 | ||
|
Dominican Air Force |
|
1950–1952 | ||
|
(DMAC) |
|
1948-1950 | ||
|
|
Air Cavalry Squadron Escuadrón de Caballería Aérea (EdCA) |
2002 | ||
|
|
|
2001–2002 | ||
|
|
|
1942–1948[21] | ||
|
|
|
1939-1942 | ||
|
|
|
1936–1939 | ||
|
|
|
1934–1935 | ||
|
Aviation Company |
|
1933-1934 | ||
|
|
|
1932–1933 | ||
|
|
Cuerpo de Aviación Naval Dominicana |
2003 | ||
|
|
|
1951-1952[22] |
E[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 East Timor
|
|
Timor Leste Defence Force Air Component | 2020 | |
 Ecuador
|
|
Ecuadorian Air Force Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana |
1944 | |
|
Ecuadorian Naval Aviation Aviación Naval Ecuatoriana |
1967 | ||
|
|
Ecuadorian Army Aviation Aviación del Ejército Ecuatoriano |
1954 | ||
 Egypt
|
|
Egyptian Air Force Al Quwwat Al Jawwiya Il Misriya |
1961 | |
|
United Arab Republic Air Force |
|
1958–1961[23] | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1952-1958 | ||
|
Royal Egyptian Air Force |
|
1937–1952 | ||
|
Egyptian Army Air Force |
|
1932–1937 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1932 | ||
 El Salvador
|
|
Air Force of El Salvador Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña |
1923 | |
 Equatorial Guinea
|
|
Equatorial Guinea Air Corps | 1979 | |
 Eritrea
|
|
Eritrean Air Force | 1994 | |
 Estonia
|
|
Estonian Air Force Eesti Õhuvägi |
1991 | |
|
Aviation Regiment |
|
1920?–1940 | ||
|
|
1918–1920? | |||
 Eswatini(formerly Swaziland) |
|
Military of Eswatini Air Wing | 1979 | |
|
Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force Air Wing |
|
1979-2018 | ||
 Ethiopia
|
|
Ethiopian Air Force Ye Ithopya Ayer Hayl |
1975[24] | |
|
former air force insignia |
|
1996-2009? | ||
|
Ethiopian Air Force |
|
1975 (re-established in 1995) | ||
|
Ethiopian Air Force |
|
1975 (disestablished in 1991) | ||
|
Imperial Ethiopian Air Force |
|
1946–1975 | ||
|
Imperial Ethiopian Avaiton |
|
1929-1935 | ||
|
|
Ethiopian Navy aviation | 1955–1996 | ||
|
|
Ethiopian Ground Forces Aviation | 1970s |
F[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fiji
|
|
Air Wing of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces | 1987–1997 | |
 Finland
|
|
Finnish Air Force Suomen ilmavoimat Finländska flygvapnet |
1918 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1918-1945 | ||
|
Roundel variant on some aircraft |
|
1943–45 | ||
|
Army Corps of Aviation |
|
1918–1928 | ||
|
|
Finnish Army Aviation Suomen maavoimat – Helikopteripataljoona Finländska armén – Helikopterbataljonen |
1997 | ||
 France
|
|
French Air and Space Force Armée de l'Air et de l’Espace |
2020 | |
|
French Air Force |
|
1933–2020 | ||
|
Free French Air Force[25][26] |
|
1940–1945 | ||
|
Vichy French Air Force |
|
1940–1942 | ||
|
French Air Force |
|
1933-1940 | ||
|
French Army Aviation |
|
1909–1933 | ||
|
French Naval Aviation Aéronautique navale |
1912 | ||
|
Free French Naval Air Service |
|
1940–1945 | ||
|
French Naval Air Arm |
|
1912–1940 | ||
|
|
French Army Light Aviation Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre |
1954 | ||
|
|
National Gendarmerie aviation | 1943 |
G[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Gabon
|
|
Gabonese Air Force Armée de l'Air Gabonaise |
1961 | |
 Gambia(formerly part of the Senegambia Confederation) |
|
Gambian Air Force[27] | c.2003?[28] | |
 Georgia
|
|
Georgian Air Force საქართველოს სამხედრო-საჰაერო ძალები sak’art’velos samxedro-sahaero dzalebi |
1991 | |
|
Democratic Republic of Georgia People's Guard air detachment |
|
1917–1920 | ||
 Germany
|
|
German Air Force Luftwaffe |
1955 | |
|
Air Forces of the National People's Army |
|
1956–1990 | ||
|
Volkspolizei-Luft (of the German Democratic Republic / East Germany) |
|
1950–1956 | ||
|
German Air Force |
|
1935-1945 | ||
|
Lipetsk fighter-pilot school |
|
1926-1933 | ||
|
Marineluftschiffe-Abteilung |
|
1912–1919 | ||
|
Die Marinefliegerabteilung des deutschen Kaiserreiches |
|
1911–1919 | ||
|
Imperial German Army Air Service |
|
1910–1919 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1913–1914 | ||
|
Heeresluftschiffe-Abteilung |
|
1909–1917 | ||
|
|
German Naval Aviation Marineflieger |
1957 | ||
|
East German Navy, Naval Air Force |
|
–1990 | ||
|
German Imperial Navy aviation |
|
–1918 | ||
|
|
German Army Aviation Corps Heeresfliegertruppe |
1957 | ||
 Ghana(formerly the Gold Coast) |
|
Ghana Air Force | 1959 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1964-1966 | ||
 Greece
|
|
Hellenic Air Force Πολεμική Αεροπορία (literally "War Aviation") Polemikì Aeroporia |
1930 | |
|
|
1941-1946 | |||
|
Royal Hellenic Air Force |
|
1935-1973 | ||
|
|
1912-1930 | |||
|
Hellenic Naval Air Service |
|
1915–1930 | ||
|
|
Hellenic Army Aviation Αεροπορία Στρατού Aeroporia Stratou |
1947 | ||
|
|
Navy Aviation Command | 2018 | ||
|
Hellenic Navy Helicopter Command |
|
1975-2018 | ||
 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(formerly Portuguese Guinea) |
|
Guinea-Bissau Air Force Força Aérea da Guiné-Bissau |
1974-2015 | |
 Guyana(formerly British Guyana) |
|
Guyana Defence Force Air Command | 1973 | |
|
Guyana Defence Force Air Wing |
|
1968-1973 |
H[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Haiti
|
|
Haiti Air Corps Corps d'Aviation d'Garde d'Haiti |
1942–1994 (2013 re-establishment) | |
|
former insignia |
|
1964–1986 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1942–1964 | ||
 Honduras
|
|
Honduran Air Force Fuerza Aérea Hondureña |
1954 | |
|
Air Force and Military Aviation School |
|
1938-1954 | ||
|
Aviation Military School |
|
1931–1938 | ||
|
National Aviation School |
|
1924–1931 | ||
 Hungary
|
|
Hungarian Air Force Magyar Légierő |
1991 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1990-1991 | ||
|
Air Force of the Hungarian People's Army |
|
1951–1990 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1949-1951 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1948-1949 | ||
|
Royal Hungarian National Defense Air Force |
|
1941–1945 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1938-1941 | ||
|
Red Hungarian Air Corps |
|
1919 | ||
|
Insignia variant |
|
|||
|
Insignia variant |
|
I[]
For Ivory Coast, see Côte d'Ivoire above.
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Iceland
|
|
Icelandic Coast Guard Aeronautical Division Landhelgisgæsla Íslands – Flugdeild |
1955 | |
|
Icelandic aircraft insignia |
|
|||
 India
|
|
Indian Air Force | 1932 | |
|
Royal Indian Air Force |
|
1945–1950 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1942–1945 | ||
|
Indian Air Force |
|
1932–1942 | ||
|
|
Army Aviation Corps | 1986 | ||
|
|
Indian Naval Air Arm | 1948 | ||
|
Indian Coast Guard Air Wing | 1978 | ||
|
Indian Coast Guard aircraft insignia |
|
|||
 Indonesia
|
|
Indonesian Air Force Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU) |
1946 | |
|
Republic of Indonesia Air Force |
|
1946–1974 | ||
|
Republic of Indonesia Air Force |
|
1946–1949 | ||
|
Indonesian Naval Aviation Dinas Penerbangan TNI Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL) |
1974 | ||
|
Indonesian Naval Aviation Service |
|
1956–1974 | ||
|
Indonesian Army Aviation Command Pusat Penerbangan TNI Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD) |
1974 | ||
|
Indonesian Army Aviation Service |
|
1959–1974 | ||
 Iran(formerly Persia) |
|
Air Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps | 1985 | |
|
|
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران |
1979 | ||
|
Imperial Iranian Air Force |
|
1932–1979 | ||
|
Air Officer of the Imperial Iranian Army |
|
1922-1932 | ||
|
|
Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation | 1979 | ||
|
Imperial Iranian Army Aviation |
|
1962–1979 | ||
|
|
Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Aviation | 1979 | ||
|
Imperial Iranian Navy Aviation |
|
–1979 | ||
 Iraq
|
|
Iraqi Air Force Al Quwwa al-Jawwiya al-Iraqiya |
1931 | |
|
former insignia |
|
2011-2019 | ||
|
Iraqi Air Force |
|
1958 | ||
|
Royal Iraqi Air Force |
|
1931–1958 | ||
|
|
Iraqi Army, Aviation | |||
 Ireland
|
|
Irish Air Corps Aer-Chór na h-Éireann |
1924 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1939–1954 | ||
|
Irish National Army, Air Service |
|
1922–1924 | ||
 Israel
|
|
Israeli Defence Force / Air Force חיל האוויר Heyl Ha'Avir |
1951 | |
|
Israeli Air Force |
|
1948-1951 | ||
|
Sherut Avir |
|
1947-1948 | ||
|
Palavir |
|
1943-1947 | ||
 Palestine
|
|
late 1960s-early 2000s | ||
 Italy
|
|
Italian Air Force Aeronautica Militare |
1991-current | |
|
former insignia |
|
1946–1991 | ||
|
Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force |
|
1943–1964 | ||
|
Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana |
|
1943–1945 | ||
|
Royal Italian Air Force |
|
1935–1943 | ||
|
Royal Italian Air Force |
|
1923–1935 | ||
|
Royal Naval Aviation |
|
1912–1923 | ||
|
Military Air Corps |
|
1915-1923 | ||
|
Colonial Aviation Service |
|
1912-1915 | ||
|
Military Aviation Service |
|
1912-1915 | ||
|
Aviation Battalion |
|
1912 | ||
|
Royal Army Air Service |
|
1884[34]–1911 | ||
|
|
Italian Navy Aviation Aviazione Navale |
1956 | ||
|
naval aviation insignia |
|
|||
|
Italian aircraft insignia |
|
|||
|
|
Italian Army Aviation Air Cavalry, Cavalleria dell'Aria |
2000 | ||
|
Aviazione Leggera dell'Esercito |
|
1951-2000 | ||
|
|
Helicopter Service of the Carabinieri Corps Nucleo Elicotteri Carabinieri |
1965 | ||
|
Italian Coast Guard Air Service Italian Navy |
1989 | ||
|
Italian aircraft insignia |
|
J[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Jamaica
|
|
Jamaican Defence Force | 1963 | |
 Japan
|
|
Japan Air Self-Defense Force[35] 航空自衛隊 Kōkū Jieitai |
1954 | |
|
Imperial Japanese Army Air Service |
|
1912–1945 | ||
|
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service[36] |
|
1912–1945 | ||
|
|
Fleet Air Force (JMSDF) 海上自衛隊 Kaijō Jieitai |
1954 | ||
|
|
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 陸上自衛隊 Rikujō Jieitai |
1954 | ||
 Jordan(formerly Transjordan) |
|
Royal Jordanian Air Force Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya Almalakiya al-Urduniya |
1955 | |
|
Arab Legion Air Force |
|
1949–1955 |
K[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kazakhstan
|
|
Kazakh Air Defense Forces Áue qurǵanysy kúshteri / Әуе қорғанысы күштері |
1992 | |
 Kenya
|
|
Kenya Air Force Jeshi la Anga la Kenya |
1994 | |
|
The Kenya '82 Air Force |
|
1982-1994 | ||
|
|
Kenya Army Aviation | |||
 North Korea
|
|
Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force[37] | 1945 | |
 South Korea
|
|
Republic of Korea Air Force[38] 대한민국 공군 (大韓民國空軍) Daehan Minguk Gonggun |
1949 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1951–2000 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1950s | ||
|
Willows Korean Aviation School |
|
1920-1921 | ||
|
Republic of Korea Navy, Air Wing Six | 1986 | ||
|
|
1977–1986 | |||
|
|
Republic of Korea Army aviation | 1965 | ||
 Kuwait
|
|
Kuwait Air Force Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya |
1988 | |
|
Free Kuwait Air Force |
|
1990-1991 | ||
|
Kuwait Air Force |
|
1960-1990 | ||
|
Directorate of Public Security, Air Wing |
|
1954-1960 | ||
 Kyrgyzstan
|
|
Kyrgyz Air Force | 1992 |
L[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Laos
|
|
Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force[39] | 1975 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1975– | ||
|
1960–1975 | |||
|
Laotian Aviation |
|
1955-1960 | ||
 Latvia
|
|
Latvian Air Force Latvijas Gaisa Spēki |
1991 | |
|
Latvian Air Force |
|
1919–1940 | ||
|
Aviation component of the Latvian National Guard | 1993–2000 | ||
|
Aviation Regiment of the Aizsargi |
|
1937-1940 | ||
 Lebanon
|
|
Lebanese Air Force Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnania, Force Aérienne Libanaise |
1949 | |
 Lesotho(formerly Basutoland) |
|
Lesotho Defence Force – Air Squadron | c. 1988 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1987–2006 | ||
|
Lesotho Police Mobile Unit – Air Wing |
|
1978-1988 | ||
 Liberia
|
|
Liberian Army Air Wing | 1987 | |
|
Liberian Army Air Reconnaissance Unit |
|
1970s–1980s | ||
 Libya
|
|
Libyan Air Force القوة الجوية الليبية Al-quwwa al-jawwiyya al-libyya |
2011–current date | |
|
Free Libyan Air Force |
|
2011 | ||
|
Air Force of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya |
|
1977-2011 | ||
|
Libyan Arab Republic Air Force |
|
1969–1977 | ||
|
Royal Libyan Air Force |
|
1951–1969 | ||
 Lithuania
|
|
Lithuanian Air Force Karinės Oro Pajėgos |
1992 | |
|
|
|
1920–1921 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1919–1920 | ||
|
Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces, Aviation Unit | 1992 | ||
 Luxembourg
|
|
Luxembourg Army Aviation | 1952–1968 |
M[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 North Macedonia
|
|
Air Force of North Macedonia Военно Воздухопловство и Противвоздушна Одбрана Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo i Protivvozdushna Odbrana |
1992 | |
|
former insignia |
|
early 1990s | ||
 Madagascar(formerly the Malagasy Republic) |
|
Malagasy Air Force Tafika Anabakabaka Malagasy Armée de l'Air Malgache |
1961 | |
 Malawi(formerly Nyasaland) |
|
Malawi Army Air Wing | 1976 | |
|
former aircraft insignia |
|
2010-2012 | ||
|
Malawi Young Pioneers Air Arm[42] |
|
1970–1978 | ||
 Malaysia(formerly Malaya) |
|
Royal Malaysian Air Force Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia |
1963 | |
|
insignia variant |
|
|||
|
former insignia |
|
1963–1982 | ||
|
Royal Malayan Air Force |
|
1958–1963 | ||
|
Malayan Auxiliary Air Force |
|
1950–1958 | ||
|
Malayan Volunteer Air Force |
|
1940–1950 | ||
|
Straits Settlement Volunteer Air Force |
|
|||
|
Royal Malaysian Navy Aviation | 1988 | ||
|
Malaysian Army Aviation Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat |
1994 | ||
 Maldives
|
|
Air Elements Maldives National Defence Force |
1978 | |
 Mali
|
|
Malian Air Force Force Aérienne de la Republique du Mali |
1961 | |
 Malta
|
|
Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta Skwadra tal-Ajru tal-Forzi Armati ta' Malta |
1992 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1980–1988 | ||
 Mauritania
|
|
Mauritania Islamic Air Force Force Aérienne de la Republique Islamique de Mauritanie |
1960 | |
|
former aircraft insignia |
|
1960-2019 | ||
 Mauritius
|
|
Military of Mauritius | 1987 | |
 Mexico
|
|
Mexican Air Force Fuerza Aérea Mexicana |
1915 | |
|
Mexican Naval Aviation Fuerza Aeronaval |
1926[43] | ||
 Moldova
|
|
Moldovan Air Force[44] | 1991 | |
 Mongolia
|
|
Mongolian Air Force[45] Агаарын Довтолгооноос Хамгаалах Цэргийн Командлал |
1993-presents | |
|
Mongolian People's Army Air Force |
|
1925–1992 | ||
 Montenegro
|
|
Montenegrin Air Force Vazdušne snage Crne Gore |
2006 | |
|
former insignia |
|
2006-2018 | ||
 Morocco
|
|
Royal Moroccan Air Forceⴰⴷⵡⴰⵙ ⴰⴳⴻⵍⴷⴰⵏ ⴰⵎⴻⵔⵔⵓⴽⴰⵏ ⵓⵊⴻⵏⵏⴰ القوة الجوية الملكية المغربية Al-quwwa al-jawwiya al-malikiyya al-maghribiyya (Force Aérienne Royale Marocaine) |
1961 | |
|
insignia variant |
|
|||
|
|
|
1956–1961 | ||
|
Royal Moroccan Navy, Aviation | |||
|
|
Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie | 1962 | ||
 Mozambique
|
|
Mozambique Air Force Força Aérea de Moçambique |
c.1976/77? | |
|
People's Liberation Air Force of Mozambique |
|
1975–c.1976/77? | ||
 Myanmar(formerly Burma) |
|
Myanmar Air Force Tatmdaw Lei |
1989 | |
|
Burmese Air Force |
|
1947-1989 |
N[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Namibia(formerly South West Africa) |
|
Namibian Air Force | 2005 | |
|
|
1994–2005 | |||
|
South West African Territorial Force, Air Wing |
|
1980–1989 | ||
 NATO
|
|
Allied Air Command | 2013 | |
 Nepal
|
|
Nepalese Army Air Service | c.2008 | |
|
Royal Nepal Army Air Wing |
|
1979–c.2007 | ||
|
Royal Nepal Army Air Service |
|
1965–1979 | ||
 Netherlands
|
|
Royal Netherlands Air Force Koninklijke Luchtmacht |
1953 | |
|
Free Dutch Air Force |
|
1940–1945 | ||
|
Army Aviation Brigade |
|
1939–1940 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1921–1940 | ||
|
Army Aviation Group |
|
1913–1939 | ||
|
|
Dutch Naval Aviation Service Marineluchtvaartdienst |
1917 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1942–c.1945 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1939–1942 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1921–1940 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1917–1921 | ||
|
Netherlands Coastguard Royal Netherlands Navy |
|||
| Dutch Caribbean
|
|
Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard Royal Netherlands Navy |
||
 New Zealand
|
|
Royal New Zealand Air Force Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa |
1937 | |
|
|
|
|||
|
former insignia |
|
1943–1946 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1939–1945 | ||
|
|
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 |
1996 | |
|
Sandinista Air Force |
|
1979–1996 | ||
|
Air Force of Nicaragua |
|
c.1950–1979 | ||
|
former insignia (fuselage) |
|
1962–1979 | ||
|
Guard Air Force of Nicaragua |
|
c.1947–c.1950 | ||
|
former insignia (wings) |
|
1938-1962 | ||
|
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 | |
|
insignia variant |
|
|||
|
Nigerian Navy, Air Arm | 1985 | ||
 Norway
|
|
Royal Norwegian Air Force Luftforsvaret |
1944 | |
|
1940-1944 | |||
|
Norwegian Army Air Service |
|
1914–1944 | ||
|
Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service |
|
1912–1944 |
O[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Oman(formerly Muscat and Oman) |
|
Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO)[46] Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanya al-Omanya |
1990 | |
|
Sultan of Oman's Air Force (SOAF) |
|
1959–1990 |
P[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Pakistan
|
|
Pakistan Air Force پاک فضائيہ |
1956 | |
|
Royal Pakistan Air Force |
|
1947–1956 | ||
|
|
Pakistan Army Aviation Corps | 1958 | ||
|
Pakistan Naval Air Arm | 1971 | ||
|
|
Pakistan Coast Guard Paramilitary forces of Pakistan |
|||
 Panama
|
|
Panamanian National Aeronaval Service Panama Servicio Aéreo Nacional |
1989 | |
|
Panamaian Air Force |
|
1969-1989 | ||
 Papua New Guinea
|
|
Papua New Guinea Air Wing | 1990s | |
|
Papua New Guinea Defence Force, Air Transport Wing |
|
1975-1990s | ||
 Paraguay
|
|
Paraguayan Air Force Fuerza Aérea Paraguaya |
late 1940s | |
|
Paraguaryan Army Aviation Corps |
|
1920s–1940s | ||
|
|
Paraguayan Naval Aviation Aviación Naval Paraguaya[47][48] |
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 | ||
|
Peruvian Coast Guard Peruvian Navy |
|||
 Philippines
|
|
Philippine Air Force ᜑᜒᜃ᜔ᜊᜒᜅ᜔ ᜑᜒᜋ᜔ᜉᜉᜏᜒᜇ᜔ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜉᜒᜎᜒᜉᜒᜈᜐ᜔ Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas |
1947 | |
|
Philippine Army Air Corps |
|
1936–1947 | ||
|
Philippine Constabulary Air Corps |
|
1935–1936 | ||
|
1917–1935 | |||
|
|
Philippine Navy Naval Air Wing | 2019 | ||
|
Philippine Navy Naval Air Group |
|
1975–2019 | ||
|
|
Philippine Army Aviation Regiment | 2019 | ||
|
Philippine Army Aviation Battalion |
|
1980–2019 | ||
|
|
Philippine Coast Guard Aviation Force | 1998 | ||
|
Philippine Coast Guard racing stripe |
|
|||
|
Philippine National Police Special Action Force Air Unit | |||
 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 | ||
|
Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain |
|
1939-1946 | ||
|
Air Force |
|
1918–1939 | ||
|
|
Polish Army Aviation Lotnictwo Wojsk Lądowych |
1994 | ||
|
|
Polish Naval Aviation Lotnictwo Marynarki Wojennej |
1947 | ||
 Portugal
|
|
Portuguese Air Force Força Aérea Portuguesa |
1952 | |
|
Military Aeronautics Arm |
|
1924-1952 | ||
|
|
|
1918-1924 | ||
|
Military Aeronautical Service |
|
1914-1918 | ||
|
Balloon Company |
|
1911-1914 | ||
|
|
Portuguese Naval Aviation 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 | ||
|
|
Portuguese Army Light Aviation Unit Unidade de Aviacão Ligeira do Exército |
2000-2015 |
Q[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Qatar
|
|
Qatar Air Force | 1974 | |
|
Qatar Public Security Forces Air Wing |
|
1968-1974 |
R[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Romania
|
|
Romanian Air Force Forţele Aeriene Române |
1989 | |
|
|
|
1985-1989 | ||
|
Air Force of the Socialist Republic of Romania |
|
1965-1985 | ||
|
Forţele Aeriene ale Republicii Populare Române |
|
1964-1965 | ||
|
Forţele Aeriene ale Republicii Populare Romîne |
|
1954-1964 | ||
|
Air Force of the People's Republic of Romania |
|
1947-1954 | ||
|
|
|
1944-1947 | ||
|
Royal Romanian Air Force |
|
1941-1944 | ||
|
Romanian Royal Aeronautics |
|
1915-1941 | ||
|
|
Romanian Naval Forces, Aviation | 2008 | ||
|
|
1920s–1940s | |||
 Russia
|
|
Russian Air Force[49][failed verification] Военно-воздушные cилы России Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily Rossii |
2010 | |
|
Russian Air Defence Force |
|
1991-2008 | ||
|
Soviet Air Defence Force |
|
1948-1991 | ||
|
Soviet Air Forces |
|
1918-1991 | ||
|
|
|
1922–1943 | ||
|
Imperial Russian Air Service |
|
1910-1917 | ||
|
|
Russian Naval Aviation Авиация Военно-Морского Флота Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskogo Flota |
2010 | ||
|
|
|
1991-2010 | ||
|
Soviet Naval Aviation |
|
1918-1991 | ||
|
|
|
1922–1943 | ||
|
|
Russian Army Aviation | 1992-2010s | ||
|
Soviet Army Aviation |
|
1970s–1991 | ||
 Rwanda(formerly Ruanda-Urundi) |
|
Rwandan Air Force Force Aérienne Rwandaise |
1972 |
S[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Saudi Arabia
|
|
Royal Saudi Air Force القوات الجوية الملكية السعودية Al-Quwwāt al-Jawwiyyah al-Malakiyyah as-Suʿūdiyyah |
1950 | |
|
Hejaz Air Force |
|
1921-1932 | ||
|
Royal Saudi Naval Aviation | 1985 | ||
|
Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation | 1990s | ||
|
|
General Security Aviation Command | 1975 | ||
|
|
Saudi Arabian National Guard, Aviation | 2011 | ||
 Senegal(formerly part of the Senegambia Confederation) |
|
Senegalese Air Force Armée de l'Air du Sénégal |
1989 | |
|
Senegambia Air Force |
|
1982-1989 | ||
|
Senegalese Air Force |
|
1961-1982 | ||
 Serbia
|
|
Serbian Air Force and Air Defence Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздухопловна одбрана Војске Србије Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazduhoplovna odbrana Vojske Srbije |
2006[50] | |
|
Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro |
|
2003–2006[51] | ||
|
Air Force of FR Yugoslavia |
|
1992–2003 | ||
|
Royal Yugoslav Army Air Force |
|
1929–1941 | ||
|
Yugoslav Royal Army Aviation Department |
|
1918–1929 | ||
|
Serbian Aviation |
|
1915-1918[52] | ||
|
|
|
1912-1915 | ||
|
|
Royal Yugoslav Navy, Naval Air Service | -1941 | ||
 Seychelles
|
|
Seychelles People's Defence Force Air Wing (part of the Seychelles People's Defence Force) | 2008 | |
|
Seychelles Defence Force Air Wing |
|
1978 | ||
 Sierra Leone
|
|
Sierra Leone Defence Force Air Force | 1973 | |
 Singapore
|
Link to file | Republic of Singapore Air Force Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura 新加坡空军部队 சிங்கப்பூர் ஆகாயப்படை |
1975 | |
|
Singapore Air Defence Command |
|
1968-1975 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1968-1973 | ||
|
|
1950-1960 | |||
 Slovakia
|
|
Slovak Air Force Vzdušné sily Slovenskej republiky |
1993 | |
|
Slovak Insurgent Air Force |
|
August–October 1944 | ||
|
Slovak Air Force |
|
1939-1945 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1939-1940 | ||
 Slovenia
|
|
Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence Brigada zračne Obrambe in Letalstva Slovenske Vojske |
2004 | |
|
15th Aviation Brigade |
|
1995-2004 | ||
|
15th Aviation Brigade |
|
1991-1995 | ||
|
Slovenian Air Force upon the break-away from the Habsburg Empire |
|
1918-1919 | ||
 Somalia
|
|
Somali Air Force Ciidamada Cirka Soomaaliyeed[53] |
1960 | |
|
Somali Aeronautical Corps |
|
1954-1968 | ||
 South Africa
|
|
South African Air Force (SAAF) Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag |
1920 | |
|
|
|
1982-2003 | ||
|
|
|
1958-1981 | ||
|
|
|
1947-1957 | ||
|
South African Air Force |
|
1924-1947 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1920-1921 | ||
|
South African Aviation Corps |
|
1915-1920 | ||
 South Sudan
|
|
South Sudan Air Force | 2011 | |
 Spain
|
|
Spanish Air Force (SPAF) Ejército del Aire |
1939 | |
|
Nationalist Air Force[54] |
|
1936-1939 | ||
|
Nationalist Air Force insignia (wings) |
|
1937-1939 | ||
|
Nationalist Air Force insignia variant |
|
1936-1939 | ||
|
Spanish Republican Air Force |
|
1936-1939 | ||
|
Military Aviation |
|
1931-1936 | ||
|
Military Aviation |
|
1911-1931 | ||
|
Military Aerostatics Service |
|
1896-1911 | ||
|
|
Spanish Army Airmobile Force Fuerzas Aeromóviles del Ejército de Tierra (FAMET) |
1973 | ||
|
Army Light Air Force |
|
1965-1973 | ||
|
|
Spanish Navy Air Arm Arma Aérea de la Armada |
1954 | ||
|
Naval Aviation |
|
1931-1936 | ||
|
Naval Aviation |
|
1917-1931 | ||
 Sri Lanka(formerly Ceylon) |
|
Sri Lanka Air Force ශ්රි ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව Sri Lanka Guwan Hamudawa |
1972 | |
|
Royal Ceylon Air Force |
|
1951-1972 | ||
 Sudan(formerly the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan) |
|
Sudanese Air Force القوّات الجوّيّة السودانيّة Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya As-Sudaniya |
1956 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1956-1970 | ||
 Suriname(formerly Dutch Guyana) |
|
Suriname Air Force Surinaamse Luchtmacht |
1982 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1982-1990s | ||
 Sweden
|
|
Swedish Air Force Svenska Flygvapnet |
1926 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1937-1940 | ||
|
Swedish Air Force |
|
1926-1937 | ||
|
Defence Helicopter Wing[55] |
|
1998-2003 | ||
|
Swedish Army Aviation |
|
1954-1998 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1914-1915 | ||
|
Aircraft Coy of the Signal Corps |
|
1912-1926 | ||
|
Swedish Naval Aviation |
|
1958-1998 | ||
|
Naval Air Service |
|
1911-1926 | ||
 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 Arab Air Force القوات الجوية العربية السورية Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al Arabiya as-Souriya |
1961 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1972-1980 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1963-1972 | ||
|
United Arab Republic Air Force |
|
1958-1961[23] | ||
|
Syrian Air Force |
|
1948-1958 |
T[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 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)[56] |
|
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[57] |
|
1976-1979 | ||
|
|
Republic of China Naval Aviation Command | 1995 | ||
|
Naval Anti-Submarine Group |
|
1991-1995 | ||
|
Fleet Helicopter Squadron |
|
1977-1991 | ||
|
Chinese Naval Air Service |
|
1927-1938 | ||
 Tajikistan
|
|
Tajik Air Force | 2006[58] | |
 Tanzania(formerly Tanganyika) |
|
Tanzania Air Force Command Jeshi la Anga la Wananchi wa Tanzania |
1964 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1964-2010 | ||
 Thailand(formerly Siam) |
|
Royal Thai Air Force กองทัพอากาศไทย Kongthap Akat Thai |
1937 | |
|
Former marking |
|
1942-1945[59] | ||
|
Former marking |
|
1940-1941 | ||
|
Royal Siamese Air Force Division |
|
1935-1937 | ||
|
Royal Siamese Air Division |
|
1921-1935 | ||
|
Siamese Army Aviation Division |
|
1917-1921 | ||
|
Siamese Army Aviation Unit |
|
1914-1917 | ||
|
|
Royal Thai Army Aviation Center กองบินทหารบกไทย Kong Bin Tahan Bok Thai |
1977 | ||
|
|
Royal Thai Naval Air Division กองการบินทหารเรือไทย Kongkanbin Tahan Ruea Thai |
1921 | ||
 Tonga
|
|
Tonga Defence Services aviation | 2013[60] | |
|
HMAF Air Wing |
|
1996-2013 | ||
 Togo
|
|
Togolese Air Force Force Aérienne Togolaise |
1964[61] | |
 Trinidad and Tobago
|
|
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Air Guard | 2005 | |
|
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Air Wing |
|
1977-2005 | ||
|
Air Wing of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Coast Guard |
|
1966-1977 | ||
 Tunisia
|
|
Tunisian Air Force القوات الجوية التونسية Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya At'Tunisia |
1959[62] | |
 Turkey
|
|
Turkish Air Force Türk Hava Kuvvetleri |
1972 | |
|
former insignia |
|
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 Army Aviation Command Kara Kuvvetleri Havacılık Komutanlığı |
1948 | ||
|
|
Naval Forces Aviation Command Deniz Kuvvetleri Havacılık Komutanlığı |
1971 | ||
|
naval aviation insignia |
|
|||
|
Coast Guard Aviation Command Sahil Güvenlik Havacılık Komutanlığı |
1993 | ||
|
Turkish aircraft insignia |
|
|||
|
|
Gendarmerie Aviation Command Jandarma Havacılık Komutanlığı |
1968 | ||
 Turkmenistan
|
|
Turkmen Air Force | 1991 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1991-2011 |
U[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Uganda
|
|
Ugandan People's Defence Force | 2005 | |
|
Uganda Police Air Wing |
|
1964–1987 | ||
|
Uganda Army Air Force |
|
1964-1987 | ||
 Ukraine
|
|
Ukraine Air Force Військово-Повітряні Сили України Viys'kovo-Povitriani Syly Ukrayiny |
1992 | |
|
1992-2004 | |||
|
|
1918-1921 | |||
|
1917-1921 | |||
|
Ukrainian Naval Aviation Авіація Військово-Морських Сил Aviatsiya Viys'kovo-Mors'kykh Syl |
1992 | ||
|
|
Ukrainian Army Aviation | 1992 | ||
|
|
National Guard of Ukraine, Aviation | 2014 | ||
 United Arab Emirates
|
|
United Arab Emirates Air Force | 1976[63] | |
|
Sharjah Amiri Guard Air Wing |
|
1984-1997 | ||
|
Dubai Police Air Wing |
|
1973-1976 | ||
|
Dubai Union Defence Force Air Wing |
|
1971-1973 | ||
|
Abu Dhabi Air Force |
|
1972-1976 | ||
|
Abu Dhabi Defence Force Air Wing |
|
1968-1972 | ||
|
|
United Arab Emirates Navy, Aviation | |||
 United Kingdom
|
|
Royal Air Force | 1918 | |
|
insignia variant |
|
|||
|
former insignia |
|
1942-1947 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1942-1945 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1937-1942 | ||
|
Royal Air Force |
|
1918-1937 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1915-1918 | ||
|
Royal Flying Corps |
|
1912-1915 | ||
|
Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers |
|
1911-1912 | ||
|
|
1888-1911 | |||
|
|
Fleet Air Arm | 1937 | ||
|
insignia variant |
|
|||
|
former insignia |
|
1944-1945 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1942-1947 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1937-1942 | ||
|
Fleet Air Arm of the RAF |
|
1924-1937 | ||
|
Royal Naval Air Service |
|
1914-1918 | ||
|
Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps |
|
1912-1914 | ||
|
|
Army Air Corps[65] | 1957 | ||
|
|
1941-1957 | |||
|
|
3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron Royal Marines |
1968-1995 | ||
 United States
|
|
United States Air Force[66] | 1947 | |
|
|
|
1947– | ||
|
insignia variant |
|
1973 | ||
|
United States Army Air Forces |
|
1941-1947 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1943 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1943 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1942-1943 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1942 | ||
|
|
1926-1941 | |||
|
United States Army Air Service |
|
1918-1926 | ||
|
|
20–24 May 1918 | |||
|
former insignia |
|
1917-1919 | ||
|
1914-1918 | |||
|
Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps |
|
1907-1914 | ||
|
|
1861-1863 | |||
|
|
United States Army Aviation Branch | 1983 | ||
|
Army Aviation |
|
1947-1983 | ||
|
|
United States Navy, Naval Air Forces | 1911 | ||
|
|
|
1947– | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1943-1947 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1943 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1943 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1942-1943 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1942 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1919-1942 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1918-1919 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1917-1918 | ||
|
Naval Flying Corps |
|
1916-1917 | ||
|
|
United States Marine Corps Aviation[67] | 1912 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1912 | ||
|
|
United States Coast Guard | 1916 | ||
|
US Coast Guard racing stripe |
|
|||
 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
|
|
Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces | 1992 |
V[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Venezuela
|
|
Venezuelan Air Force Aviación Militar Bolivariana |
2006[68] | |
|
Venezuelan Military Aviation |
|
2001–2006 | ||
|
Venezuelan Air Force |
|
1946–2001 | ||
|
Army Aeronautical Service |
|
1944–1946 | ||
|
Aviation Regiment N° 1 |
|
1936–1944 | ||
|
Venezuelan Military Aviation School |
|
1920–1936 | ||
|
|
Venezuelan Army Aviation Servicio Aéreo del Ejército Venezolano |
1970 | ||
|
Venezuelan Naval Aviation Aviación de la Marina Venezolana |
1985 | ||
|
Servicio de Aviacion Naval Venezolana |
|
1974-1985 | ||
|
Naval Aviation Centre |
|
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 | |
|
Vietnam Democratic Republic Air Force |
|
1965–1975 | ||
|
Vietnam Democratic Republic Air Force |
|
1955–1965 | ||
|
Republic of Vietnam Air Force |
|
1955–1975 | ||
|
|
|
1941–1945 | ||
|
|
Naval Aviation Armed Services |
Y[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Yemen
|
|
Yemeni Air Force Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Yemeniya |
1990 | |
|
North Yemen Air Force |
|
1962–1990 | ||
|
South Yemen Air Force |
|
1969–1990 |
Z[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Zambia(formerly Northern Rhodesia) |
|
Zambian Air Force | 1968 | |
|
Zambia Air Wing |
|
1964–1968 | ||
|
Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland Air Force |
|
1954–1963 | ||
 Zimbabwe(formerly Southern Rhodesia) |
|
Air Force of Zimbabwe | 1980 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1982–1994 | ||
|
Zimbabwe-Rhodesian Air Force |
|
1979–1980 | ||
|
|
1970–1979 | |||
|
Royal Rhodesian Air Force |
|
1963–1970 | ||
|
Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland Air Force |
|
1954–1963 | ||
|
Southern Rhodesian Air Force |
|
1947–1954 | ||
|
Rhodesian Regiment Air Unit |
|
1935–1939 |
Former countries and movements[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Abu Dhabi
|
|
Abu Dhabi Air Force | 1968–1976 | |
 Austria-Hungary
|
|
Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops Kaiserliche und Königliche Luftfahrtruppen |
1912–1919 | |
|
|
|
1915–1918 | ||
|
|
|
1914–1916 | ||
|
Imperial and Royal Aviation Service |
|
1893–1912 | ||
|
|
Austro-Hungarian Navy | 1916–1918 | ||
 Biafra
|
|
Biafran Air Force | 1967–1970 | |
 Bophuthatswana
|
|
Bophuthatswana Air Force | 1987–1994 | |
|
|
1981-1987 | |||
| Central African Empire
|
|
Central African Empire Air Force | 1976–1979 | |
 Ceylon
|
|
Royal Ceylon Air Force රාජකීය ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව Rajakeeya Lanka Guwan Hamudawa |
1951–1972 | |
 Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
|
|
Chechen National Guard aviation | 1990s | |
 Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China
|
|
Collaborationist Chinese Army | 1940–1945 | |
 Ciskei
|
|
Ciskei Defence Force | 1980–1994 | |
 Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia
|
|
Croatian Defence Council aviation | 1992– | |
Czechoslovakia
|
|
Czech and Slovakian Air Force | 1990–1993 | |
|
Czechoslovak Air Force |
|
1945–1990 | ||
|
|
August–October 1944 | |||
|
1st Czechoslovak Mixed Air Division |
|
1944-1945 | ||
|
Czechoslovak Air Force in the West |
|
1940-1946 | ||
|
Czechoslovak Army Air Force |
|
1918–1939 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1918–1920 | ||
 Slovak Republic
|
|
Slovak Air Force | 1939–1945 | |
| Dahomey
|
|
Dahomey Air Force Force Aérienne de Dahomey |
1961–1975 | |
 Dubai
|
|
Dubai Police Air Wing | 1971-1976 | |
 Free City of Danzig
|
|
Free City of Danzig Police Air Squadron | 1919- | |
 Free France
|
|
Free French Air Force | 1940–1945 | |
|
|
Free French Naval Air Service | 1940–1945 | ||
 East Germany
|
|
Air Forces of the National People's Army Luftstreitkräfte und Luftverteidigung der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik |
1956-1990 | |
|
|
People's Navy | -1990 | ||
|
Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic | |||
 Second East Turkestan Republic
|
|
Ili National Army aviation | 1945-1949 | |
| Irish Free state
|
|
Irish National Army | 1922–1924 | |
 Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz Kingdom of Hejaz
|
|
Hejaz Air Force[69] القوات الجوية الحجازية |
1921–1932 | |
 Imperial State of Iran
|
|
Imperial Iranian Air Force | 1925–1979 | |
Italian Social Republic Kingdom of Italy
|
|
Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana | 1943–1945 | |
|
Regia Aeronautica |
|
1923–1943 | ||
 People's Republic of Kampuchea Democratic Kampuchea Kingdom of Cambodia Khmer Republic
|
|
Cambodian People's Air Force | 1989–1993 | |
|
|
1979–1989 | |||
|
Kampuchean Revolutionary Armed Forces Air Force |
|
1977–1979 | ||
|
Khmer Air Force |
|
1970–1975 | ||
| Makhnovia |
|
Air Fleet of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine | 1918-1921 | |
| Malagasy Republic
|
|
Malagasy Air Force | 1961 | |
 Straits Settlements / Federated Malay States /Unfederated Malay States / Malayan Union / Malaya
|
|
Royal Malayan Air Force | 1958–1963 | |
|
Malayan Auxiliary Air Force |
|
1950–1958 | ||
|
Malayan Volunteer Air Force |
|
1940-1950 | ||
|
Straits Settlements Volunteer Air Force |
|
|||
 Manchukuo
|
|
Manchukuo Air Force | 1937–1945 | |
|
Manchukuo Air Transport Company |
|
1931-1937 | ||
 Muscat and Oman
|
|
Sultan of Oman's Air Force | 1959–1990 | |
 Nazi Germany
|
|
Luftwaffe | 1933–1945 | |
| Dutch East Indies
|
|
Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force | 1939-1950 | |
|
Free Dutch East Indies Air Force |
|
1942–1945 | ||
 Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen/ North Yemen
|
|
Yemen Arab Republic Air Force | 1962–1990 | |
|
Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen Air Force |
|
-1962 | ||
 North Vietnam
|
|
North Vietnam Air Force | 1955–1975 | |
 Ottoman Empire
|
|
Ottoman Air Force Kuva-yı Havaiye Müfettişliği |
1909–1920 | |
|
Ottoman Naval Aviation Academy and Service Bahriye Tayyare Mektebi ve Havacılık Şubesi |
1914–1919 | ||
| Pathet Lao
|
|
Pathet Lao aviation | 1960–1975 | |
 Southern Rhodesia  Rhodesia and Nyasaland  Rhodesia  Zimbabwe Rhodesia
|
|
Rhodesian Air Force | 1970–1979 | |
|
Royal Rhodesian Air Force |
|
1963–1970 | ||
|
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Air Force |
|
1954–1963 | ||
|
Southern Rhodesian Air Force |
|
1939–1954 | ||
|
Rhodesian Regiment Air Unit |
|
1935–1939 | ||
| Senegambia Confederation
|
|
Senegambia Air Force Armée de l'Air du Sénégambia |
1982–1989 | |
 Republika Srpska |
|
Republika Srpska Air Force | 1992–2006 | |
 Republic of Serbian Krajina
|
|
105th Aviation Brigade Army of the Republic of Serb Krajina |
1991–1995 | |
 Rattanakosin Kingdom of Siam
|
|
Royal Siamese Air Division | 1921–1935 | |
|
Siamese Army Aviation Division |
|
1917–1921 | ||
|
Siamese Army Aviation Unit |
|
1914–1917 | ||
 South West Africa
|
|
South West Africa Territorial Force, Air Wing | 1980–1989 | |
 State of Vietnam / South Vietnam
|
|
Republic of Vietnam Air Force Không lực Việt Nam Cộng hoà |
1955–1975 | |
|
Vietnam National Army, Air Force |
|
1951–1955 | ||
 Federation of South Arabia / South Yemen
|
|
Air Force of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen | 1967-1990 | |
|
Federation of South Arabia Air Force |
|
1967 | ||
| Swaziland
|
|
Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force Air Wing | 1979-2018 | |
Russian Empire Russian Provisional Government Russian Republic  Russian SFSR  Soviet Union
|
|
Soviet Air Forces[70] Военно-воздушные силы |
1930–1991 | |
|
|
|
1943–1992[71] | ||
|
|
1937–1941 | |||
|
|
1910–1917 | |||
|
|
Soviet Air Defence Forces | 1948–1991 | ||
|
|
Soviet Naval Aviation | 1918–1991 | ||
|
Sovet Border Troops Aviation | -1991 | ||
 Tamil Eelam
|
|
Air Tigers Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam |
1998–2009 | |
 Transkei
|
|
Transkei Defence Force, Air Wing | 1986–1994 | |
 United Arab Republic
|
|
United Arab Republic Air Force | 1958–1961 | |
|
Egyptian Air Force |
|
1952–1958 | ||
|
Syrian Air Force |
|
1948–1958 | ||
 Upper Volta
|
|
Upper Volta Air Force Force Aérienne de Haute-Volta |
1964–1984 | |
 Venda
|
|
Venda Defence Force | 1983–1994 | |
| Vichy France
|
|
Vichy French Air Force | 1940–1942 | |
| West Germany
|
|
German Air Force Luftwaffe |
1955 | |
|
|
German Naval Aviation Marineflieger |
1957 | ||
|
|
German Army Aviation Corps Heeresfliegertruppe |
1957 | ||
| West Ukrainian People's Republic
|
|
Ukrainian Galician Army Aviation | 1918-1919 | |
| Ukrainian People's Republic
|
|
Ukrainian People's Republic Air Fleet | 1917-1921 | |
 Kingdom of Serbia / State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs / Kingdom of Yugoslavia /Yugoslav government-in-exile /  Democratic Federal Yugoslavia / SFR Yugoslavia / FR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro
|
|
Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздушна одбрана Војске Србије и Црне Горе Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdushna odbrana Vojske Srbije i Crne Gore |
2003–2006[51] | |
|
FR Yugoslavia Air Force |
|
1992–2003 | ||
|
SFR Yugoslav Air Force[72] |
|
1945–1991 | ||
|
|
1941–1945 | |||
|
Yugoslav Partisans Air Force |
|
1941-1945 | ||
|
Royal Yugoslav Air Force |
|
1929–1941 | ||
|
Yugoslav Royal Army Aviation Department |
|
1918–1929 | ||
|
Serbian Military Air Service |
|
1912–1918 | ||
|
|
Royal Yugoslav Navy, Naval Air Service | -1941 | ||
 Independent State of Croatia
|
|
Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia | 1941–1945 | |
|
1941–1945 | |||
 Zaire   Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) Belgian Congo
|
|
Zaire Air Force Force Aerienne Zairoies |
1971–1997 | |
|
Congolese Air Force |
|
1960–1971 | ||
|
former insignia |
|
1960–1964 | ||
|
Force Publique Air Arm |
|
1944–1960 | ||
 Katanga
|
|
Katangese Air Force Force Aerienne Katangaise |
1960–1963 |
Other[]
| Country | Current |
Service Indigenous name |
Former |
Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Abkhazia
|
|
Abkhazian Air Force | 2008 | |
|
former insignia |
|
1992– | ||
 Hong Kong
|
|
Government Flying Service | 1993 | |
|
|
1951-1993 | |||
|
|
|
1949-1951 | ||
|
|
|
1930-1949 | ||
 Republic of Artsakh |
|
Artsakh Defense Army aviation | 1990s | |
 South Ossetia
|
|
South Ossetian Air Corps | 1990s | |
 Sovereign Military Order of Malta
|
|
1947-1950 | ||
 Transnistria
|
|
Transnistrian Air Force | 1991 | |
 Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
|
|
Security Forces Command | 1974 |
See also[]
- Lists of military aircraft by nation
- List of militaries by country
- List of armies by country
- List of navies
- List of space forces
- List of gendarmeries
Notes[]
- ^ Leese, Capt. Robert. "Afghan National Army Air Corps now Afghan National Army Air Force". US Air Force, 14 June 2010. Archived 11 February 2011 at WebCite
- ^ Operations resumed in 2002, but the new name may not have been applied until the after the 2003 defense reforms were promulgated.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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).
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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 in 1949.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 2011 placed under the Air Force as Squadron 723.
- ^ 2003 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.
- ^ Jump up to: a b From 1958–1961, the Egyptian and Syrian air forces were unified as the United Arab Republic Air Force
- ^ 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.
- ^ Also used the ordinary French roundel:
with the Cross of Lorraine as a fin flash.
- ^ Also used a variant of the ordinary French roundel with bars like the USAAF insignia:
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Indian Air Force – Government of India". indianairforce.nic.in. Archived from the original on 23 July 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ^ 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):
- ^ (in 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:
- ^ Edwards, Paul M. (2010). "Korean People's Air Force (KPAF)". Historical Dictionary of the Korean War (2nd ed.). Lanham: Scarecrow Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-8108-7461-9.
- ^ The first ROKAF roundel was simply a red-blue Taegeuk, later, a roundel resembles that of the USAF was used until the 2000s (click to enlarge):
- ^ For some time LPLAAF also used this roundel (clik to enlarge):
(www.acig.org Archived 3 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine)
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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:
- ^ The yellow variant of the soyombo roundel is also reported:
.
- ^ There is also the alternate version:
- ^ "Paraguayan Air Arms". Archived from the original on 8 May 2009.
- ^ "Paraguay Naval Aviation". Archived from the original on 29 January 2008.
- ^ A new tricolour star has been reported since 2007 on several planes and helicopters: airliners.net Archived 13 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine:
- ^ The Serbian-Montenegrin union of Yugoslavia was dissolved in 2006 and the former nation's military assets were divided between them.
- ^ Jump up to: a b 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.
- ^ After World War I, Serbia was united with other Balkan states into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
- ^ Finflash (click to enlarge):
- ^ Some units customize their roundels, painting in white inside, their own symbol or motto.
- ^ Merged with Swedish Air Force 2003
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Japanese use of Type 45 Siamese Mauser?". forums.gunboards.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- ^ Admin (10 March 2017). "Tonga Defence Services". Aeroflight. Aeroflight Publishing. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Official date of integration of the several emirate air arms, but actual integration took many years.
- ^ Jump up to: a b RNAS and RFC merged to form RAF
- ^ Jump up to: a b Formerly part of the Royal Air Force.
- ^ Also uses a low-visibility roundel:
- ^ Previous roundels as per US Navy
- ^ "Aviación Militar Bolivariana – Paladín del Espacio Soberano". Archived from the original on 6 April 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ Andersson, Lennart (2004). "Wings Over the Desert: Aviation on the Arabian Peninsula Part One: Saudi Arabia". Air Enthusiast: 39–40.
- ^ Until the fifties was in use the single bordered star, also painted on fuselage and rudder (click to enlarge)
- ^ Red outline added to celebrate victory over Nazi Germany and is referred to as the Victory Star.
- ^ Preceded by the Partizanska Eskadrila NOVJ and RAF squadrons 351 and 352 (the RAF Balkan Air Force, 1942–1945)
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