Royal Cambodian Air Force

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

Royal Cambodian Air Force
កងទ័ពជើងអាកាស
Badge of the Royal Cambodian Air Force
Founded9 November 1953 (1953-11-09)
Country Cambodia
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size2,500 (2010)
Part ofRoyal Cambodian Armed Forces
HeadquartersPhnom Penh
Motto(s)"Defending the Kingdom of Cambodia"
Mascot(s)Aafra Zarnaz Auhona
Engagements
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.

Some airbases in various locations in Cambodia were built by French, Japanese (World War II), and Royal Air Force.

  • 1st Air Squadron - Phnom Penh Airport
  • 2nd Air Squadron - Siem Reap Airport
  • 11th Air Squadron - Mondulkiri Airport
  • 76th Air Squadron - Kampong Thom Airport
  • 118th Air Squadron - Battambang Airport
  • 340th Air Squadron - Pailin 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
1956-built Morane-Saulnier MS.733 registered in the United Kingdom as G-SHOW but painted in the markings of the Royal Cambodian Air Force. On display at the 1981 Mildenhall Air Show.
A former Mil Mi-26T helicopter of Cambodian Air Force[1]
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
Airbus A320 France / China 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]
Mil Mi-171E VIP 2[4]
Mil Mi-171A2 transport 3[5] Planned.
AgustaWestland AW109 Italy transport 2[6]
Harbin Z-9 China utility Z-9W 9[3]
Eurocopter AS355 France utility 1[3]
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil France utility 1[7]
Training
Aero L-39 Albatros Czech Republic Trainer 5[8] Planned to buy 3 more.
FTC-2000G China Attack aircraft 5[9] Planned.

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
Royal Cambodian Air Force
 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 Air Force
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. "Cambodia air force used new mil mi-171e for VIP transport".
  5. "Cambodia planned to new transport helicopter".
  6. "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  7. http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/user/in-service/cambodia-af-current-inventory.htm
  8. Vogel, Ben (16 October 2019). "Cambodia could buy more L-39s". janes.com. Jane's Defence Industry. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  9. "Is Cambodia the Mystery Buyer of China's FTC-2000G Trainer/Fighter Jet?". www.defenseworld.net. Retrieved 21 December 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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