Royal Cambodian Air Force

Royal Cambodian Air Force
កងទ័ពឤកាសខេមរភូមិន្ទ
Kangtorp Cheung Akas
Royal Cambodian Air Force wings
Founded 1953 (1953)
Country Cambodia 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. 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

A Cambodian Air Force Mil Mi-26T
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

Equivalent
NATO Code		OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Cambodia Cambodia
(Edit)		 No equivalent
No equivalent
General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain 1st Lieutenant 2nd Lieutenant
Equivalent
NATO Code		OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
Cambodia Cambodia
(Edit)
Chief Warrant Officer Warrant Officer Command Sergeant Major Master Sergeant Staff Sergeant Chief Corporal Corporal Airman 1st Class Airman 2nd Class Airman

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Air Force One of Cambodia". alfredmeier.me. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "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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