TheKyrgyz Air Force (Kyrgyz:Кыргыз Республикасы Аскер-аба күчтөрү) is the official air force of theArmed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic. Its current commander is ColonelKylychbek Aidaraliev.[2] The official holiday of the air forces is Aviation Day on August 18.[3]
| Kyrgyz Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Кыргыз Республикасы Аскер-аба күчтөрү | |
 Kyrgyz Air Force roundel | |
| Founded | 27 July 1992; 32 years ago (1992-07-27)[1] |
| Country |  Kyrgyzstan |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Part of | Kyrgyz Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | Bishkek |
| Anniversaries | 18 August (Aviation Day) |
| Engagements | 1999 Batken Conflict 2022 Isfara missile attacks |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | PresidentSadyr Japarov |
| Chief of the Air Force | ColonelKylychbek Aidaraliev |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel | |
| Fin flash |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Helicopter | Mil Mi-8 Mil Mi-24 |
| Transport | Antonov An-26 |
History
editThe military aviation in theKyrgyz SSR dates back to December 1991.[4] Kyrgyzstan's air arm was inherited from the centralSoviet Air Force training school (now theMilitary 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 atKant, alongside the Russian999th 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 theJoint 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 useManas air base for support operations in theWar on terror. This agreement lasted till June 2014.[6][7]
The Air Defense Forces were created by the decree of PresidentKurmanbek 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 theChüy Region.[10]
Structure
edit- Air Force HQ (Bishkek)
- 5th Guards Independent Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade (Bishkek)
- 11th Air Defense Brigade (Osh)
- 44th Independent Radio Engineering Battalion (Grigor'yevka)
- Frunze-1 Air Base (Bishkek)
- Central Command Post of the Northern Group of Forces (Bishkek)
Aircraft
editCurrent inventory
edit.jpg)
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | |||||
| Antonov An-26 | Russia | Transport | 2[11] | ||
| Helicopters | |||||
| Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | Utility | Mi-8MT | 3[12] | |
| Mil Mi-17 | Soviet Union | Utility | Mi-17V-5 | 2[12] | |
| Mil Mi-24 | Russia | Attack | Mi-24V | 2[12] | |
| UAV | |||||
| Orlan-10 | Russia | Surveillance | On order[13] | ||
Air defence
edit| System | Origin | Type | Variant | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S-75 Dvina | Soviet Union | Medium-range surface-to-air missile | S-75M3 | 6[14] | |
| S-125 Neva/Pechora | Soviet Union | Short-range surface-to-air missile | S-125M1 | 8[14] |
Retired
editPrevious aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of theL-39 Albatros,MiG-21,MiG-23,MiG-29,An-12,An-2 and theTupolev Tu-134[15]
References
edit
- ^"ELGEZIT Hа сайте ведутся технические работы!".
- ^MOKRENKO, Anastasia (2017-01-25)."Kylychbek Aidaraliev appointed Commander of Air Defense Forces of Kyrgyzstan".24.kg (in Russian). Retrieved2017-09-15.
- ^КАБАР, КНИА."Bishkek celebrates the Aviation Day of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic".Archived from the original on 2017-09-17. Retrieved2017-09-16.
- ^"Кыргызстан отмечает День военной авиации".
- ^"World Air Forces 2000 pg. 73". flightglobal.com. Retrieved4 May 2015.
- ^"World Air Forces 2004 pg. 70". flightglobal.com. Retrieved4 May 2015.
- ^Joshua Kucera."U.S. Formally Closes Its Kyrgyzstan Air Base".Eurasianet. Retrieved17 June 2014.
- ^K-News (2013-07-26)."Силам воздушной обороны Кыргызстана исполнится 7лет".K-News (in Russian). Retrieved2021-05-06.
- ^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). Retrieved2021-05-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^"Кыргызстан отметил 60-летие военной авиации воздушным парадом".
- ^International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2021).The Military Balance 2021.Routledge. p. 189.ISBN 978-1032012278.
- ^abcHoyle, Craig (2024)."World Air Forces 2025". Flight Global. Retrieved29 January 2025.
- ^Cranny-Evans, Samuel (2021-10-25)."Kyrgyzstan to acquire Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey".Jane's. Retrieved2021-12-26.
- ^abMilitary Balance 2024. IISS. 2024.ISBN 978-1032780047.
- ^"Военная авиация Кыргызстана".techinformpress.ru. Retrieved2022-06-08.