Georgian Air Force

The Georgian Air Force (Georgian: საქართველოს საჰაერო ძალები, sak’art’velos sahaero dzalebi) is the air force of the Defense Forces of Georgia. It was established as part of the Georgian Armed Forces in 1992 and dissolved in 2010, when it was incorporated into the Georgian Land Forces. As of September 2009, the Georgian Air Force had 2,971 military and civilian personnel.[1] As part of reforms in the Georgian military, the Air Force was reestablished as a separate branch of the Defense Forces in 2016.[2]

Not to be confused with Georgia Air National Guard.
Georgian Air Force
Georgian: საქართველოს საჰაერო ძალები
Georgian Air Force emblem
Founded1992 (1992)
Country Georgia
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size2,971 personnel, 59 aircraft (2009)
Garrison/HQAlekseevka, Tbilisi
EngagementsGeorgian Civil War, Russo-Georgian War
Insignia
Roundel
Flag
Aircraft flown
AttackMi-24, Su-25
TrainerYak-52, L-39
TransportMi-8, UH-1

History

The Georgian Air Force and Air Defense Division was established on January 1, 1992. On August 18, 1998, the two divisions were unified in a joint command structure and renamed the Georgian Air Force.[1]

The first combat flight was conducted by Izani Tsertsvadze and Valeri Nakopia on September 19, 1992, during the separatist war in Abkhazia. This date was later designated as the Georgian Air Force Day.[1] Relative to the Georgian ground forces, the air force was comparatively underfunded following Georgian independence. During the August 2008 war with Russia, [3] The Georgian Ministry of Defense reported 5 air force personnel were killed in action.[4]

In 2010, the Georgian Air Force was reorganized. It was abolished as a separate branch and incorporated into the Georgian Land Forces as Air and Air Defense brigades.[5]

Reestablishment and modernisation

In 2012 the Georgian military, with government approval, decided to reestablish the air force as its own separate arm. It will undergo a massive transformation and modernisation process, getting rid of almost its entire Soviet helicopter inventory and replace it with US and French aircraft. It was also announced by the ministry of defense that six Su-25 aircraft would be sold at an unknown date to add to the finances. As a result of the 2014 Wales summit, Georgia was granted a NATO military assistance package which includes support in acquiring military equipment from alliance members and partners, practically lifting the unofficial arms ban on Georgia.

In 2016, the Air Force was reestablished as one of the four branches of the Defense Forces.[2]

Ranks

Commissioned officers
Georgian armed forcesO-1O-2O-3O-4O-5O-6O-7O-8O-9O-100-11
Insignia
Title Second lieutenant Lieutenant First lieutenant Captain Major Lieutenant colonel Colonel Brigadier general Major general Lieutenant general General
Abbreviation2LTLT1LTCPTMAJLTCCOLBGMGLTGGEN
NATO code OF-1 OF-2 OF-3 OF-4 OF-5 OF-6 OF-7 OF-8 OF-9

Mission and objectives

The objectives of the Georgian Air Force are defined as follows:

  • Warfare and mobilization readiness of the Air Forces sub-units
  • Protection of sovereignty and control of the air space of Georgia
  • The fight against air terrorism
  • Participate in the fight against terrorism on land and at sea
  • Air defence of state entities and troops
  • Destruction of land and naval targets at the enemy's front line and tactical inmost. Providing air support for friendly land and naval forces
  • Participation in collective and multinational exercises.

Functions of the Georgian Air Forces:

  • Troop and cargo transportation
  • Search and rescue of downed aircraft and pilots
  • MEDEVAC
  • Informing the leadership of the Air Force and the Army about enemy air assaults
  • Destruction of enemy manpower, land and naval targets
  • Air forces landing
  • Aerial reconnaissance

The two major airfields are located near Tbilisi at Alekseevka and Marneuli.

Current inventory
A Georgian Mi-24 in flight
A Georgian Su-25 in flight
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Sukhoi Su-25 Russia CAS 10[6]
Transport
Antonov An-28 Ukraine transport 2[6]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-8 Russia utility Mi-8/171 15[6]
Mil Mi-14 Soviet Union ASW / SAR 2[6]
Mil Mi-24 Russia attack 9[6]
Bell UH-1 United States utility UH-1H 12[6]
Trainer Aircraft
Aero L-39 Czech Republic trainer and light attack 4[6]
Aero L-29 Czech Republic trainer and light attack 4[6]

References
  1. Defence Today 27: 1. September 2009. Accessed February 10, 2012.
  2. "საქართველოს თავდაცვის შესახებ" [On Defense of Georgia]. Law No. 1030 of 31 October 2018 (in Georgian).
  3. Georgian Air Force. The Global Security. Accessed February 10, 2012.
  4. List of Casualties among the Georgian Military Servicemen Archived June 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Ministry of Defense of Georgia. Accessed on February 10, 2012.
  5. Structure of Land Forces Archived 2013-11-05 at the Wayback Machine. Ministry of Defense of Georgia. Accessed on February 10, 2012.
  6. "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
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