Kyrgyz Air Force
Кыргыз Республикасы Аскер-аба күчтөрү
Kyrgyz Air Force roundel
Founded27 July 1992; 31 years ago (1992-07-27) [1]
Country Kyrgyzstan
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Part ofKyrgyz Armed Forces
HeadquartersBishkek
Anniversaries18 August (Aviation Day)
Engagements1999 Batken Conflict
2022 Isfara missile attacks
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefPresident Sadyr Japarov
Chief of the Air ForceColonel Kylychbek Aidaraliev
Insignia
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
HelicopterMil Mi-8
Mil Mi-24
TransportAntonov An-26

The Kyrgyz Air Force (Kyrgyz: Кыргыз Республикасы Аскер-аба күчтөрү) is the official air force of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic. Its current commander is Colonel Kylychbek Aidaraliev.[2] The official holiday of the air forces is Aviation Day on August 18.[3]

History

The military aviation in the Kyrgyz SSR dates back to December 1991.[4] Kyrgyzstan's air arm was inherited from the central Soviet Air Force training school (now the Military Institute of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic). This presented the nation a fleet with several L-39s, some dismantled MiG-21s, Mi-8s and Mi-24s. However, only a few L-39s and some helicopters are capable of flight. All aircraft are reportedly based at Kant, alongside the Russian 999th Air Base.[5] Because of expense and military doctrine, Kyrgyzstan has not developed its air capability; a large number of the MiG-21 interceptors that it borrowed from Russia were returned in 1993, although a number of former Soviet air bases remain available. In 1996, about 100 decommissioned MiG-21s remained in Kyrgyzstan, along with ninety-six L-39 trainers and sixty-five helicopters. The air defence forces have received aid from Russia, which has sent military advisory units to establish a defence system. The Russians also help patrol Kyrgyz airspace as part of the Joint CIS Air Defence System Presently Kyrgyzstan has twenty-six SA-2 and SA-3 surface-to-air missiles in its air defence arsenal. In 2002, the Kyrgyz government allowed the United States to use Manas air base for support operations in the War on terror. This agreement lasted till June 2014.[6][7]

The Air Defense Forces were created by the decree of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on July 27, 2006.[8] On its 11th anniversary in 2017, it was presented with its battle banner.[9] In August 2019, the 60th anniversary of military aviation in the nation was celebrated by the air force, holding an air parade in the Chüy Region.[10]

Structure

Aircraft

Current inventory

A MiG-23 on display in Tokmok
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
Antonov An-26 Russia transport 2[11]
Antonov An-2 Soviet Union transport 4[11]
Helicopters
Mi-8MT Soviet Union utility 3[12] 1 to be donated[13]
Mi-8 hip Soviet Union utility 7[14] 1 crashed in 2024[15]
Mil Mi-24 Russia attack Mi-24V 2[16]
Trainer aircraft
L-39 Albatros Czechoslovakia Jet trainer 4[11]
UAV
Orlan-10 Russia surveillance on order[17]

Retired

Previous aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of the L-39 Albatros, MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-29, An-12 and the Tupolev Tu-134[18]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of Kyrgyzstan.
  1. ^ "ELGEZIT Hа сайте ведутся технические работы!".
  2. ^ MOKRENKO, Anastasia (2017-01-25). "Kylychbek Aidaraliev appointed Commander of Air Defense Forces of Kyrgyzstan". 24.kg (in Russian). Retrieved 2017-09-15.
  3. ^ КАБАР, КНИА. "Bishkek celebrates the Aviation Day of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic". Archived from the original on 2017-09-17. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  4. ^ "Кыргызстан отмечает День военной авиации".
  5. ^ "World Air Forces 2000 pg. 73". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  6. ^ "World Air Forces 2004 pg. 70". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  7. ^ Joshua Kucera. "U.S. Formally Closes Its Kyrgyzstan Air Base". Eurasianet. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  8. ^ K-News (2013-07-26). "Силам воздушной обороны Кыргызстана исполнится 7лет". K-News (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  9. ^ Экономика; Политика; Общество; Президент; Парламент; Правительство; Аналитика; Covid-19; Выборы 2020. "Силы воздушной обороны ВС КР отпраздновали свое 11-летие". Информационное Агентство Кабар (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-05-06.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Кыргызстан отметил 60-летие военной авиации воздушным парадом".
  11. ^ a b c International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. Routledge. p. 189. ISBN 978-1032012278.
  12. ^ Allport, Dave (2021-06-06). "Kyrgyz Air Force Mi-8MT crashes near Kichi-Alai". Key Publishing. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  13. ^ "Russia to hand over Mi-8 helicopter to Kyrgyzstan". Kyrgyz National News Agency. 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  14. ^ "The Military Balance 2023 p181".
  15. ^ "1 killed in Mi-8 military helicopter crash in Kyrgyzstan".
  16. ^ "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  17. ^ Cranny-Evans, Samuel (2021-10-25). "Kyrgyzstan to acquire Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey". Jane's. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  18. ^ "Военная авиация Кыргызстана". techinformpress.ru. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
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