Royal Cambodian Air Force

The Royal Cambodian Air Force (Khmer: កងទ័ពជើងអាកាស, Kangtorp Cheung Akas) is the branch of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces which is charged with operating all military aircraft in Cambodia.

Royal Cambodian Air Force
កងទ័ពឤកាសខេមរភូមិន្ទ
Kangtorp Cheung Akas
Royal Cambodian Air Force wings
Founded1953 (1953)
Country Kingdom of Cambodia
TypeAir Force
RoleAerial warfare
Size2,500 (2010)
Part ofRoyal Cambodian Armed Forces
Garrison/HQPhnom Penh
Motto(s)Defending the Kingdom of Cambodia
Mascot(s)Aafra Zarnaz Auhona
Anniversaries9 November 1953
EngagementsFirst Indochina War
Cambodian Civil War
Commanders
Current
commander		Soeung Samnang
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash

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.

  • 76th Air Defence Division - Kampong Chhnang Airport
  • 118th Air Defence Division - Battambang Airport
  • 340th Air Defence Division - Kampong Thom Airport

History

During the early 1990s 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 former Mil Mi-26T helicopter of Cambodian Air Force[1]
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
Airbus A320 France VIP 1[2]
Xian MA60 China transport 2[3]
Harbin Y-12 China transport 2[3]
Britten-Norman BN-2 United Kingdom utility 1[3]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-8 Russia transport 6[3]
Harbin Z-9 China utility Z-9W 9[3]
Eurocopter AS355 France utility 1[3]
Training
Aero L-39 Albatros Czech Republic Trainer 5[4]

Sport
Main article: Royal Cambodian Air Force FC

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
(Edit)		 No equivalent
General
Lieutenant General
Major General
Brigadier
Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Captain
Lieutenant
Sub Lieutenant
 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
(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. "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. "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  4. 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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