Royal Cambodian Air Force

The Royal Cambodian Air Force (Khmer: កងទ័ពជើងអាកាស, romanized: Kâng Toăp Cheung Akas [kɑːŋtɔəp cəːŋ ʔaːkaːh]; lit. 'Air Army') is the branch of the Royal 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
Founded	9 November 1953; 70 years ago (1953-11-09)
Country	Cambodia
Allegiance	HM The King
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Part of	Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
Headquarters	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Motto(s)	"ការពារព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា" (Khmer) ("Defend the Kingdom of Cambodia")
Mascot(s)	Aafra Zarnaz Auhona
Engagements	Indochina Wars First Indochina War Second Indochina War Cambodian Civil War
Commanders
Current commander	General Soeung Samnang
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash

Organisation

The Royal Cambodian Air Force is commanded by 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 aircraft and 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.

Recently, the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense plans to purchase five L-39NG light fighter jets from the Czech Republic. In the past, the Cambodian Air Force has already purchased Mil Mi-17 and Mil Mi-171 helicopters.

Inventory

Previous inventory

In the past some MiG-21 fighters were operational. These aircraft in 2023 could be seen on ground in Phnom Penh international airport.

Current inventory

 

A former Mil Mi-26 Halo of the Royal Cambodian Air Force.^[1]

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Transport
Airbus A320	France	VIP transport		1^[2]
Xian MA60	China	transport		2^[3]
Harbin Y-12	China	transport / utility		1^[3]
Britten-Norman BN-2	United Kingdom	transport		1^[3]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-8	Russia	transport		9^[3]
Mil Mi-17	Russia	transport		6^[3]
Harbin Z-9	China	utility		9^[3]
Eurocopter AS350	France	utility		3^[3]
AgustaWestland AW109	Italy	utility		2^[4]
Trainer
Aero L-39	Czechoslovakia	trainer / light attack	L-39C	5^[5]

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

Rank group	General/Flag/Air officers										Senior officers						Junior officers								Officer cadet
Royal Cambodian Air Force v t e
			នាយឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ Néay ŭtdâmôséniy		ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ឯក Ŭtdâmôséniy êk		ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ទោ Ŭtdâmôséniy toŭ		ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ត្រី Ŭtdâmôséniy trei		វរសេនីយ៍ឯក Vôrôséniy êk		វរសេនីយ៍ទោ Vôrôséniy toŭ		វរសេនីយ៍ត្រី Vôrôséniy trei		អនុសេនីយ៍ឯក Ânŭséniy êk		អនុសេនីយ៍ទោ Ânŭséniy toŭ			អនុសេនីយ៍ត្រី Ânŭséniy trei			នាយចំណង់ Néay châmnáng

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Cambodian Air Force v t e
	Warrant Officer						Command Sergeant Major		Master Sergeant		Staff Sergeant						Chief Corporal						Corporal				Airman 1st Class		Airman 2nd Class						Airman

See also

• Cambodian Civil War
• Khmer National Armed Forces
• Khmer Air Force
• Royal Cambodian Army
• Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
• Royal Cambodian Navy
• Weapons of the Cambodian Civil War

References

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of Cambodia.

1. "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 12". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
2. . alfredmeier.me. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
3. "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
4. "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
5. 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